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.

“Toxic SPF Is Costing You More Than You Think—Here’s What Smart Retailers Are Doing About It” by Maggie Raymond via BRA Blog

by admin | Jun 17, 2025 | Opinion, Outdoor, Product Reviews, Skateboard, Snowboard, SUP, Surf

Sunscreen is a staple in any outdoor, resort, or beachside retail environment—but many retailers are just now waking up to a growing problem: the harmful ingredients hiding inside conventional SPF. For shop owners and buyers trying to align their inventory with...

“Why Experienced Retail Staff Still Struggle To Convert Shoppers” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Jun 13, 2025 | Customer Experience, Customer Service, HR, News, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

You’ve hired smart people. Some have been with your store for years. They know your products inside and out. So why aren’t they closing more sales? Here are the two issues: Experience doesn’t equal engagement. And… Product knowledge doesn’t...

“This Is Going To Be A Buckwild Hurricane Season” by Owen James Burke via Surfer Mag

by admin | Jun 9, 2025 | News, Opinion, Safety and preparedness, Surf

Satellite view of Hurricane Dorian (with digital enhancements) from 2019.Roberto Machado Noa/Getty Images NOAA cuts are here…and they’re not good. Heading into the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, National Weather Service forecasters at the National Oceanic and...

“What It Takes to Be an Awesome Assistant Store Manager” by Bob Phibbs via Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Jun 5, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Service, HR, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training, Staffing

If you’re looking for the top skills to be a good shop assistant or assistant store manager, you’ve come to the right post. One of the biggest stories I’ve not heard talked about is that retail didn’t lose so many associates or managers as shift leads and...

“Why retail’s e-commerce disruption era is over” by Daphne Howard via Retail Dive

by admin | Jun 1, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Commercial Real Estate, E-Commerce, News, Opinion, Predictions, Retail Economy

In the last 15 years, the value of in-store sales fell just once, amid 2020’s pandemic lockdowns, according to a report from Colliers Monday. Daphne Howland/Retail Dive Brick-and-mortar stores drive the vast majority of core retail sales, and that won’t change any...

“How Retailers Can Pivot at the Speed of Employee, Customer, and Market Needs” by Hunter Kafcsak via Total Retail

by admin | May 26, 2025 | HR, News, Opinion, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy, Tariffs

Credit: Getty Images by Flamingo Images In retail, speed is no longer optional. Customer expectations shift fast, and technology evolves even faster. Strategic priorities can flip overnight in response to market volatility, operational challenges, or competitive...