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.

“Halt! 10 Ways of Mastering the Art of Getting Your Retail Employees to Listen” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | May 16, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Service, Educational Opportunity, HR, News, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Honing your listening skills can significantly impact the success of your store.As a trained conductor, I’ve learned the importance of attentive listening, focusing on each individual part and questioning whether what I hear aligns with what’s written on...

“The Pros and Cons of P2P Payments in Retail” by  Suresh Dakshina via Total Retail

by admin | May 13, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Get Paid, News, Resources, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies

Credit: iStock.com by People Images Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment platforms aren’t just for splitting restaurant tabs or paying for piano lessons anymore. Platforms like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle took off as a convenient way to negotiate informal electronic...

“When the mall is the target: The state of retail and mass shootings” by Daphne Howland via Retail Dive

by admin | May 12, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Community, News, Political Action, Retail Crime, Safety and preparedness, Social Issues

Protesters against gun violence outside a church on May 7 in Allen, Texas, a day after a mass shooting at the nearby Allen Premium Outlets mall. Joe Raedle / Staff via Getty Images Stores and malls are especially vulnerable to random attacks like the recent killing of...

“9 Best Practices for Improving Gift Card Program Performance” by Joe Keenan via Total Retail

by admin | May 9, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, E-Commerce, Gift Cards, m-commerce, News, Omnichannel, Resources

As part of the 2023 US Merchant Gift Card Omnicommerce Evaluation, US Edition, a comprehensive report produced by Total Retail in conjunction with sponsor partner Blackhawk Network, best practices for the three channels (digital/e-commerce, in-store, mobile)...

“‘We’ve chosen both’: How Nike aims to connect DTC and wholesale” by Cara Salpini via Retail Dive

by admin | May 6, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Debate, DTC, Industry, News, Retail Partners, Shoe Market

Nike Live is a localized store concept and is one of several formats Nike uses to connect with shoppers. Courtesy of Nike While the athletics giant has invested heavily in its own digital channels and physical stores, the retailer is also trying to broaden its...

“History of Surfing: Houses of the Holy – Matt Warshaw explains the history of our beloved cultural watering hole, and where he thinks the future of the surf shop is headed” by Davis Jones via Surfer Mag (originally published Oct. 2017)

by admin | Apr 29, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Community, Industry, News, Retail History, Surf

Hobie Alter’s Dana Point compound. Dale Velzy’s Manhattan Beach showroom. Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith’s San Diego storefront. Jack O’Neill’s San Francisco shack. In the 1950s, California’s first surf shops had personalities as...