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.

“As Corporate Surf Shops Shutter, Independent Shops Offer a Path Forward” by Jake Howard via Surfer.com plus link to SES article about Liberated Brand Retail Store Liquidation

by admin | Feb 10, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Commercial Real Estate, Industry, News, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy, Surf

ecker Surfboards in Malibu may be closing, but in its wake shop manager Mitch Taylor sees an opportunity to open his own business. Malibu‘s had a rough go lately, and the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Liberated Brands isn’t helping. Caught in the downward spiral of the...

“OK Gen X: Purchasing Behavior of the Sandwich Generation” by Jasmine Glasheen

by admin | Feb 8, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Community, Consumer Behavior, Generations, News, Retail Strategy

Which generational cohort has big middle-child energy? Enter the least discussed generation of all, born between 1965 and 1980, Gen X is dubbed “the Sandwich Generation” because they’re sandwiched between infamous baby boomers and equally infamous millennials. Gen X...

“From Family Legacy to Modern Success: The Island Water Sports Story” by Cheyne Cottrell (Co-Owner of Island Water Sports via Trackfly blog

by admin | Feb 6, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Community, News, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies, Surf

Hi, I’m Cheyne Cottrell, General Manager and Co-Owner of Island Water Sports. My family has been riding the waves of the surf retail industry since 1977. This is my short story of how we navigated decades of challenges and expanded into new opportunities. I’ve also...

“Why Personalization Remains an Advantage for Independent Retailers” by Gourav Pani via Total Retail

by admin | Feb 4, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Local Search, News, Opinion, Retail Strategy

Credit: iStock.com by Marko Geber In today’s world, mega-retailers have changed the way we shop. They offer same-day delivery and auto-shipment and sell cheaper versions of popular brands. Because of this, consumers now expect faster, easier transactions. Yet,...

“How Retailers Are Investing in Their Sales Associates” by BOF Insights, McKinsey & Company via Business of Fashion

by admin | Jan 30, 2025 | Apparel /Fashion, Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Service, HR, News, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Sales staff have a valuable role to play in connecting with customers. (Shutterstock) Differentiating the in-store experience is key to reigniting demand for in-person shopping, according to the BoF-McKinsey State of Fashion 2025. Brands can achieve that by empowering...

“Winter Returns: Up to Two Feet Expected in Parts of Western U.S.” by Joe Carberry via the Inertia

by admin | Jan 26, 2025 | Community, Industry, News, Seasonal Products, Snowboard

Please and thank you. Photo: Ikon Pass It’s been a lovely January for many parts of the West: clear and cold. But those regions sitting on healthy snowpacks received little, to no snow during the month. But winter is about to make a serious return as forecasters...