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.

“Retailers: In-Store Surveys Lie. Mystery Shops Don’t.” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor

by admin | Aug 25, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Service, News, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Your customer surveys are lying to you. I know that’s harsh, but it’s true. Those QR codes and website URLs printed on every receipt? The feedback they generate is about as reliable as asking your mother if she likes your cooking. Receipt surveys attract...

“If You’re Always Running a Sale, You’re Always Losing Margin” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Aug 3, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Clearance Sales / Discounting, Consumer Behavior, Customer Experience, Event Planning, Resources, Retail Strategy

From independent boutiques to national chains, many retailers lean heavily on coupons, sales, and markdowns to drive traffic. On the surface, discounting seems like an easy win to boost sales. In fact, almost all American shoppers (a whopping 94%) redeem at least one...

“How to Level the Technology Playing Field for Brick-and-Mortar Retail” by Kal Amin via Total Retail

by admin | Jul 27, 2025 | Artificial Intelligence / CHAT GPT, Brick & Mortar, News, Resources, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies, Reviews

Credit: Getty Images by MoMo Productions Competing in the tech-saturated business landscape is easier than you might think Industries are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence. Today, 83 percent of companies are prioritizing AI in their business plans,...

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

by admin | Jul 17, 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...

“Retail Supply Chains Are Broken – Here’s How Unified Platforms Fix Them” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Jul 8, 2025 | Artificial Intelligence / CHAT GPT, Brick & Mortar, News, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies, Sales Training

If you’ve spent any time in Enterprise retail, you’ve seen it: departments that don’t talk to each other, systems that weren’t designed to share data, and a patchwork of bolt-on software that leaves you with more questions than answers.I had a conversation...

“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...