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 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...

“Transparency is the New Loyalty: Why Brands Should Treat Tariffs Like Sales Tax” by Dustin Engel via Total Retail

by admin | Jun 7, 2025 | E-Commerce, News, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy, Tariffs

Consumers are waking up to a new economic reality: things cost more. From hot sake to tinted moisturizer to vehicles, the everyday evidence is piling up. For brand leaders, especially in retail, this isn’t just about inflation. It’s about trust — and how it’s...

“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...

“THREE TWEAKS THAT BRING SIGNIFICANT CASH FLOW” by BRA Advisory Member, Retail Consultant, and remarkable speaker Dan Jablons

by admin | Jun 3, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, News, Resources, Retail Strategy

Retailers often think that the next boost in their business is going to come from finding the next amazing line of merchandise, or discovering a new marketing tool (the next Facebook?).  Sometimes they believe it will happen because they hire a killer...

“US Father’s Day gift spending forecast to reach all-time high” by Mohamed Dabo via Retail Insight

by admin | May 30, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, E-Commerce, Event Planning, Holiday, News, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy

The survey shows growing demand for personalised, experience-based gifts, with higher spending and online shopping leading. / Credit: Prostock-studio via Shutterstock Americans are set to spend a record $24bn on Father’s Day in 2025, according to new data from the...

“From Family Legacy to Modern Success: The Island Water Sports Story” by Cheyne Cottrell (Co-Owner of Island Water Sports) via Trackfly blog

by admin | May 28, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Community, News, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies, Surf

Hi, I’m Cheyne Cottrell, General Manager and Co-Owner of Island Water Sports. My family has been riding the waves of the surf retail industry since 1977. This is my short story of how we navigated decades of challenges and expanded into new opportunities. I’ve also...