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.

“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,...

“This skateboarding economist suggests we need more skateparks and less capitalism” by Greg Rosalsky via NPR

by admin | Jan 24, 2025 | Industry, News, Opinion, Retail Economy, Skateboard

A young skateboarder riding in front of the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero in San Francisco California.Adam Hester/Getty Images This first appeared in the Planet Money newsletter. You can sign up here. “The Skateboarding Ethic and the Spirit of...

“Is Surfing an Art Form? Former Z-Boy Stacy Peralta Thinks So” by Owen James Burke via Surfer.com

by admin | Dec 15, 2024 | Community, Debate, Interviews, Opinion, Skate Art, Skateboard, Surf

The skateboard virtuoso and documentary filmmaker on why surfing, skating and well, everything, is a creative endeavor If you ask documentary filmmaker Stacy Peralta, everything in life can be approached as art, down to the most menial of vocations, the most rote and...

“Will Gift Cards Dominate the 2024 Holiday Season?” by Jon Houke via Retail Wire

by admin | Nov 11, 2024 | Brick & Mortar, Gift Cards, News, Opinion, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy

The 2024 holiday shopping season is almost in full swing, and many consumers plan to skip the traditional gift this year, opting to give away gift cards instead. As tighter budgets, increased credit card payments, and higher prices apply pressure to shopping habits,...

“A deal that would change the future of skateboarding forever” by Cole Nowicki via Simple Magic

by admin | Nov 9, 2024 | Footwear, Industry, News, Opinion, Shoe Market, Skateboard

At the beginning of October, Marc Roca, the CEO of Inversal, a company that “find[s] high-potential distressed e-commerce brands… acquire[s] and perform[s] a cost-cutting turnaround to each distressed brand, and make[s] sure lenders are paid...

“17 Ways Your Store Might Be Driving Customers Away” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Nov 5, 2024 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Have you ever walked into a retail store and thought, “Yikes, I hope my shop doesn’t look like this?” We’ve all been there. Store owners sometimes get so caught up in day-to-day operations that they overlook things that are probably less...