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.

“Do Shoppers Want to Be Left Alone in Stores?” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Sep 26, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Loyalty, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

No. Shoppers want to be left alone by an associate who opens with “Can I help you find anything?” They welcome one who earns their trust in order: a greeting, a personal connection, then one question about what brought them in. Skip those steps and you get...

“Why Are Stores Closing Fitting Rooms?” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Sep 12, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Opinion, Resources, Sales Training

Theft is the reason usually given. Labor is the reason that keeps surfacing underneath it. And in the most-watched case of 2026, no reason was given at all. Four companies have closed their fitting rooms in the last three years. Their stated reasons do not match, and...

“Unlocking Inbound Shipping Success: 5 Must-Have Resources to Overcome Your Challenges” by Leah Palnick via PartnerShip plus expanded BRA Shipping Program Benefit for DRMs

by admin | Sep 8, 2026 | Resources, Retail Strategy, Shipping

When you think about how to optimize your shipping operations, the freight you receive from vendors might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, you have more control over your inbound shipping than you may realize, and when you have the right resources...

“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...

“Retail Staff Management: How to Hire, Develop, and Keep a Team That Sells” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Aug 23, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Service, HR, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Why is turnover so high in your stores? Why are your managers exhausted by closing time? And how do you get the same selling behavior in location 1 and location 200? Your team is your customer experience. In a punishing labor market, the retailers who win are the ones...

“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...