Below you will find helpful and relevant articles that we carefully curate for the benefit of our B.R.A. Retail Members almost every day. Be sure to scroll through the most recent article or use the Search/Lookup feature to find topics and keywords related to articles that may help you to lower costs, increase margins or create more remarkable customer experiences.

“NRF finds shoplifting stabilizing as online fraud grows” by Daphne Howland via Retail Dive

by admin | Aug 1, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, E-Commerce, News, Retail Crime

The NRF attributes a slowdown in shoplifting to retailers’ investments in “technologies, training and measures to harden stores.” Some have resorted to locking up merchandise. Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive Phone and gift card scams, plus supply chain vulnerabilities like...

“Why Specialty Retailers Are Adding The Beach Rooster To Their Shelves” by Maggie Raymond via TBR Blog

by Doug Works | Jul 28, 2026 | Associate Members, Brick & Mortar, News, Opinion, Product Reviews

A Sun Care Brand With Strong Shelf Appeal, Smart Repeat Sales Potential, And A Story Customers Connect With Not every sunscreen belongs in every store. Big-box SPF may work in a supermarket aisle, but independent surf, skate, wake, SUP, and outdoor retailers know...

“Why Do Brick-and-Mortar Stores Struggle Without Sales Training?” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Jul 24, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, News, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Brick-and-mortar stores struggle without sales training because the purchase decision is made on the sales floor, and most associates were never taught how to influence it. In first-time mystery shops across our client base, associates score an average of 36%. They...

“The Slow Burn in Retail” by Deborah Patton via The Robin Report

by admin | Jul 21, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence / CHAT GPT, Brick & Mortar, Community, Consumer Behavior, Customer Experience, Customer Service, News

It’s summer-escape time, and we’ve all run into the addictive, slow-burn love stories typically found on epic, multi-episodic romantic streamers. You’re rooting for the intractable lead character who just needs a persistent love-washing treatment to reveal his or her...

“Back-to-School Spending Surge Set to Break Records: Report” by Samantha Schober via NRF Newsletter Report

by admin | Jul 15, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Consumer Behavior, Holiday, News, Predictions, Retail Economy

While online shopping is still holding its own, its share of spending among both K-12 and college households is slipping year by year. Yearly BTS spending for college students cracks $100B for the 1st time Back-to-school spending is on track to smash records this...

“College Students Develop Device to Save Skiers and Riders Trapped in Tree Wells” by Cooper Gegan via The Inertia

by admin | Jul 3, 2026 | Industry, News, Opinion, Outdoor, Resources, Snowboard

Avalanche beacons are a crucial part of backcountry skiing. However, even if the devices have saved many lives already, we haven’t yet reached the pinnacle (pun intended) of the technology’s potential. Students at OSU Cascades are working to change that, though. As...