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.

“Back-to-School Spending Surge Set to Break Records: Report” by Samantha Schober via NRF Newsletter Report

by admin | Jul 15, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Consumer Behavior, Holiday, News, Predictions, Retail Economy

While online shopping is still holding its own, its share of spending among both K-12 and college households is slipping year by year. Yearly BTS spending for college students cracks $100B for the 1st time Back-to-school spending is on track to smash records this...

“The State of Stores” by RB Staff via Retail Brew

by admin | Jun 13, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, News, Opinion, Predictions, Retail Economy

The death of the physical store was exaggerated. Nearly 78% of retailers report moderate or significant in-store investment, and with more than 5,000 store openings forecast for 2026 (Coresight Research), this isn’t a boom. It’s a recalibration. What’s...

“Gift cards gain popularity as top choice for holiday shoppers in 2025” by Lea Grgich via National Retail Federation (NRF) Newsletter articles

by admin | Dec 24, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, E-Commerce, Gift Cards, News, Retail Economy

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is in full swing, and plenty of consumers have gift cards on their shopping list. Gift cards rank as the second-most popular gift this holiday season and total spending on gift cards is expected to reach $29 billion this...

“Foot Locker shareholders approve Dick’s Sporting Goods acquisition” by Cara Salpini via Retail Dive

by admin | Aug 31, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Footwear, Industry, News, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy

A Foot Locker store in Chicago. The proposed acquisition would combine Foot Locker’s 2,400 stores with Dick’s Sporting Goods’ 800 or so. Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive Dick’s Sporting Goods said Tuesday the deal has received all regulatory approvals and should close...

“Retail buyers are reacting to tariffs with AI and early orders” by Dani James via Retail Dive

by admin | Aug 7, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Holiday, News, Retail Economy, Seasonal Products, Tariffs

Customers shop at a Target store during the holidays. A Deloitte survey found that most retail buyers are worried about adequate inventory this holiday season. Courtesy of Target A Deloitte report found the industry is using the tech to navigate a shifting trade...

“Wholesale Isn’t Dead, It’s Revitalizing Growth” by Shelley E. Kohan via The Robin Report

by admin | Jul 19, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, DTC, Industry, News, Opinion, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies

The traditional wholesale model isn’t dying—it’s evolving into something far more strategic and profitable than many executives realize. The widespread belief that direct-to-consumer channels automatically deliver superior margins is a myth. Successful brands are...