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.

“The USPS Must Roll Back its Recent Postage Increases” by Jim Coogan via Total Retail

by admin | May 24, 2024 | Brick & Mortar, Direct Mail, News, Omnichannel, Opinion, Shipping

The postal price increases in the near term have proven to be a failure. The USPS modeling predicted that revenue would increase and demand wouldn’t fall. However, the data tells a different story. In 2023, revenue of “marketing mail” decreased by $920 million...

“Hollywood Sucks at Surfing: Five Times They Got It Right” by Nathan Myers via Surfer Magazine

by admin | Apr 6, 2024 | Film Review, Opinion, Surf

The definitive list of Hollywood’s only successful drops from the only man qualified to make it. From Beach Blanket Bingo to Blue Juice, they just don’t seem to get it. The list of laughable missteps has come to occupy our daily...

“What is a skateboard shop? – ‘A cultural hub, capitalist outpost, the scene of my gravest sin?'” by Cole Nowicki

by admin | Feb 27, 2024 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Opinion, Retail Crime, Skateboard

This is an extended version of a story that initially appeared in SBC Skateboard Vol. 24.1. You can look at that whole issue online here and subscribe to the mag here. The obvious, business-registry-grade answer is that it’s a place to buy hard and...

“Relationships vs. Transactions and the Future of Email” by Jon Stamell via Total Retail

by admin | Feb 5, 2024 | Artificial Intelligence / CHAT GPT, Community, Customer Loyalty, Customer Service, E-Commerce, Opinion, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies

Credit: Jon Stamell Do you know how many emails are sent every day around the world? I ask people that all the time and I get some surprising answers. I’ve heard 10 million, 100 million and up to a billion. The answer is that in 2024, people around the world will send...

“Retail Holiday Sales: How to Sell to Men and Help Them Buy Like Heroes” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Dec 16, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Community, Customer Service, Holiday, Merchandising, Opinion, Retail Strategy

As a retailer, I loved the day before Christmas Eve. All the planners had purchased, and the after-Christmas sales had begun. The guys were now considering going shopping… Historically, on Christmas Eve, the crowds gradually thin out, and you begin to notice...

“The AR Revolution in Retail Is (Almost) Here by Arick Wierson via the Robin Report

by admin | Nov 30, 2023 | Customer Experience, E-Commerce, m-commerce, News, Opinion, Resources, Retail Technologies

Augmented Reality (AR) is emerging as a game-changing technology in the retail sector with the promise of revolutionizing the way consumers interact with brands and products. AR technology empowers the user to see his or her real-world environment overlaid with...