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.

“JAMIE O’BRIEN AND FUN DAY SURF BRING THE STOKE BACK TO SURF SHOPS” via Building The Revolution

by admin | Sep 9, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Industry, News, Opinion, Surf, Surf Expo

Every few months someone in the surf industry asks the same question: “How do we grow surfing?” The answers usually revolve around social media strategy, influencer marketing, YouTube analytics, paid advertising, or the latest content campaign. What rarely gets...

“The Retailers That Win AI-Mediated Shopping Will Do Three Things” by Eric Brackmann via Total Retail

by admin | Sep 6, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence / CHAT GPT, Brick & Mortar, Consumer Behavior, Holiday, Internet, m-commerce, News, Opinion, Predictions, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies

This upcoming holiday shopping season is already shaping up to be unpredictable. Inflation, geopolitics and fickle consumer sentiment are conspiring against retailers’ best-laid plans. But here’s one prediction that requires no crystal ball: this will be known as the...

“Five Things to Know About Surf Expo September 2026” by Tiffany Montgomery via Shop Eat Surf X Outdoor

by admin | Sep 3, 2026 | Industry, News, Opinion, Resources, SUP, Surf, Surf Expo, Trade Shows

Katin is one of the many brands returning to Surf Expo this month. File photo courtesy of Surf Expo. From a new creator program built with Popfly to Lightspeed’s title sponsorship of the Industry Party and fashion shows, plus new education programming from...

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

by admin | Aug 24, 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 | Aug 20, 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 | Aug 17, 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...