Welcome to the Board Retailers Association (BRA) website. Below you will find helpful and relevant articles that we carefully curate for the benefit of our BRA Retail Members three or four times per week. Be sure to scroll through the most recent articles or use the Search/Lookup feature in the Menu above to find topics and keywords related to recent and not-so-recent articles that may help you lower costs, increase margins, or create more remarkable customer experiences. We deliberately made this our site landing page to demonstrate our commitment to “Protecting Retailers and a Lifestyle” for over 20 years (since 2003).
Be sure to visit the About Us, Retail Member Benefits and Join pages on this site to learn more about and benefit from our resourceful nonprofit trade association committed to helping board specialty, outdoor specialty, and lifestyle specialty retailers to survive, thrive, and keep “the special in specialty” for free.
“Retail Tech to Make Shoppers Fall in Love with Your Store” by Pankaj Mathur via iVendRetail Blog
It’s the time of year when the world’s thoughts turn to love. For retailers, Valentine’s Day offers a shopping boost in the after-holiday mid-February slump, but it’s more than that – it’s also a reminder that love comes in many forms, including the love that shoppers...
“Last Year Saw an Uptick In Shark Attacks, Per ISAF Report” by Cooper Gegan via The Inertia
Photo: Jeremy Lanfranchi//Unsplash The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) has released a report detailing 2023 shark attack numbers. The report shows a notable uptick in the number of unprovoked shark attacks, as well as the number of those...
“Relationships vs. Transactions and the Future of Email” by Jon Stamell via Total Retail
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...
“7 Sales-Boosting Social Commerce Retail Marketing Strategies” by Bob Phibbs via Retail Doctor Blog
I remember when a local business group asked me to present for half a day and the focus became social media marketing for retail stores. It was a typical group of small and medium-sized businesses that sold everything from clothing and sporting goods to banking...
“Matching the Speed of Consumers in the Shifting World of Retail” by Abhishek Naidu via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Photographer is my life Analyzing the pressures facing the world of retail and how businesses need to tackle challenges by prioritizing the needs of Gen Z and millennials In the aftermath of the pandemic and the global economic strain, Gen Z...
“Street League Skateboarding Unveils Expanded Eight-Stop 2024 Schedule” by Michelle Bruton via Forbes
Brazil's Rayssa Leal and Portugal's Gustavo Ribeiro took the championship in the 2022 SLS Triple Crown season It’s an Olympic year, which means that skateboarding, which was added to the program for the Tokyo 2020 Games and which will return in Paris this summer, will...
If you missed last week’s relevant and helpful webinar from BRA SVP CohnReznick, not to worry. We got you with the registration link to view it on-demand” by Doug Works, BRA Executive Director
In this outstanding webinar, the people behind BRA Supporting Vendor Partner Cohn Reznick and a couple of their special guests focused on data and lessons learned from the holiday season, margin enhancement opportunities from the investor perspective, and proactive...
“Carissa Moore Announces She’s Stepping Away From the Championship Tour” by Joe Carberry via The Inertia
In news that we’ve heard rumblings about for weeks, Carissa Moore, a five-time world champion and defending Olympic gold medalist is officially stepping away from the World Surf League’s Championship Tour (she doesn’t want to use the word “retire”). She will surf...
“2024 Predictions: 5 Trends That Will Shape the In-Store Shopping Experience” by David Barker via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Busakorn Pongparnit From emerging technologies to AI-enabled retail associates, Honeywell shares thoughts on evolving retail experiences in the year ahead Retail is changing significantly as new technologies pave the way for future shopping...
“An in depth breakdown of the Nike SB Air Max Ishod” by David of Bluetile and Blair Alley via Transworld Skateboarding
Dave is the man and his shop in South Carolina, Bluetile, is one of the gems out there. He's got a great Youtube series going where he gets into the nitty gritty of new shoes. Check his breakdown of the upcoming Nike SB Ishod 2, or as some are calling it the...
“Surf Expo’s Roy Turner to Receive President’s Award from East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame” by Kara Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf
Board Retailers Association Chairman George Leichtweis and Roy Turner. SES file photo. Roy Turner has enjoyed a career in action sports surrounded by what he’s been doing since he was a kid: surfing and skating. “I’m pretty blessed that throughout my...
“3 Ways AI Can Benefit Retailers in 2024” by Yan Zhang via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Marko Geber The National Retail Federation forecasted 2023 holiday sales to grow between 3 percent and 4 percent. And while sales growth has slowed due to the pandemic, economic uncertainty, and other factors, retailers must still compete...
“How To Set A New Direction For Retail 2024” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
The start of a New Year is a good time to assess where you’ve been and where you want to go. Otherwise, it can be just the same problems on a different day.Most of us are good at seeing what we didn't accomplish. Many throw up their hands and say, "Good riddance." But...
“Surf Expo to Host Exciting Lineup of Events, Networking, Seminars and Features at January 2024 Show” by surf Expo staff via Surf Expo blog
Highlights include the 2024 Florida Shape Off, East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Learning Labs on important business topics, and an Industry Party. Surf Expo, the premier watersports and coastal lifestyle trade show, is offering a full roster of...
“2023 year-end tax planning opportunities for hospitality and consumer businesses” by Lauren Precipe, Anton Rayetskyy & Yelena Belaks via CohnReznick blog plus special CR offer for all BRA Retail Members
As another year comes to an end, there are some major tax opportunities and concerns impacting the hospitality and consumer industries that should be considered for planning purposes. Although many COVID-19 related programs and changes are behind us, there are other...
“Does Morocco Boast the Biggest Rideable Wave on Earth? This Group of Chargers Thinks So” by Ben Mondy via The Inertia
Big? Yeah, that big. Mr. Kemper, sampling the goods. Photo: Tim Bonython In 2020, off the coast of the Moroccan port city of Safi, archaeologists found evidence of a centuries-old, submerged city. With the remnants dating back to the second century B.C., one...
“Why Shopify’s 2023 AI Releases Could Change the SMB E-Commerce Game” by David Lachowicz via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Marko Geber Rare is the e-commerce small to midsize business (SMB) that has the time, resources and expertise to build its own website. It’s basically Amazon.com, Shopify, a Shopify competitor, or bust. Thanks to a bunch of artificial...
“Dick’s Redefines Community Service” by Robin Lewis via The Robin Report
Community sports are interchangeable with the American spirit of resilience, optimism, and competition. Dick’s Sporting Goods knows the roles sports and fitness play in America’s communities and is deeply embedded in that world, responding in radical ways. The...
“Retail Holiday Sales: How to Sell to Men and Help Them Buy Like Heroes” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
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 more...
“Martha Presents ‘Surf Shop Stories'” by Martha via PR on Shop Eat Surf
Billy Meistrell, from Dive N' Surf, is featured in Martha's documentary series "Surf Shop Stories." Courtesy of Martha PRESS RELEASES | Published Dec 13, 2023 In a bid to amplify the heartbeat of retail and celebrate the essence of human connection, we...
“It’s Skateshop season! Seasons Skateshop owners interviewed on Dead Air Radio” by Blair Alley via Transworld Skateboarding
The Dead Air guys are back with another great podcast keeping it strictly skateshop owners in their current season. Trevor and CB who own Seasons skateshop up in Albany, New York sit down for some conversation and history of their storied shop. ...
“Uber adds store pickup, reindeer robot delivery for the holidays” by Erin Cabrey via Retail Brew
Image courtesy of Uber The new service grows Uber’s reach beyond the delivery and rideshare service’s current retail partners. This week, Uber announced a series of new features to deliver convenience and a little holiday spirit to its consumers. The rideshare and...
“ISA Releases Statement Regarding Teahupo’o Olympic Judging Tower Debacle” by Alexander Haro via The Inertia
The old judging tower on the reef at Teahupo’o is slated for destruction and replacement in time for the upcoming Olympics. Photo: WSL The proposed new judging tower on the reef at Teahupo’o for the upcoming Olympics has not been well received locally, and a recent...
“Why Retailers Need AI to Reach the Customer and Outshine the Competition This Holiday Season and Beyond” by Cynthia Sener via Total Retail Report
Credit: iStock.com by Userba011d64_201 This year, the U.S. experienced a 14 percent decrease in customer loyalty, falling from 79 percent to 68 percent. With inflation still impacting today’s consumer, businesses must become agile and shift how they reach...
“Store Window Display Design: How To Grab Customer Attention” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Just like people quickly decide if they like a stranger by the look of their clothes, when it comes to retail storefronts, first impressions also happen in seconds. The window displays are your brand's clothes. Those displays' visual impact on your potential shoppers...
“The AR Revolution in Retail Is (Almost) Here by Arick Wierson via the Robin Report
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...
“Loyalty is a Strategy, Not a Program” by Kevin Susman via Total Retail
Credit: iStock.com by PeopleImages In the commercial innovation workshops I lead around the globe, there are many strategies that clients and customers want to cover. However, without fail, I always get asked what can be done to improve customer loyalty. ...
“Apparel Retail Prepares for an Uncertain Holiday Season” by Dennis Limmer via Retail Dive
PHOTO BY PARKER BURCHFIELD ON UNSPLASH In the past year, apparel retailers such as Gap Inc. and Urban Outfitters battled an inventory surplus, forcing them to heavily discount items. This summer, they reported smoother sales, considerably reducing the need for...
“Specialty Retailers Like You Can Now Count Inventory With Smartphones” by Aaron Randall via RICS Software (BRA Supporting Vendor Partner)
RICS POS and Inventory Management solution just released another new app: RICS>Scan. RICS>Scan is a powerful software solution that enables users to scan inventory quickly and accurately with an iPhone or Android device. It can be downloaded to multiple phones...
“2024 Brings Higher Shipping Costs: FedEx and UPS Rates on the Rise” by Jen Deming of BRA Partnership Shipping Program
Get ready for a hit to your shipping budget in 2024 as FedEx and UPS plan to bump up their rates by an average of 5.9%. But don't be fooled by that number alone. Thanks to various fees and other adjustments, your actual shipping costs will likely rise even higher. The...
“What’s working for — and against — retailers heading into the holidays?” by Daphne Howland via Retail Dive
This shopping season isn’t likely to be like last year, or the year before, or the year before that, experts say. Holiday shoppers in Boston’s Downtown Crossing shopping district. This season retailers will be contending with yet another new set of...
“Is Foiling the Future of Surfing?” by Ben Mondy via The Inertia
Mr. Adam Bennetts making small waves more fun. “Ithink surfing will always have its core place and roots in the art of riding waves,” Adam Bennetts told The Inertia recently, “But foiling will provide the future of surfing to some degree.” Bennetts has...
“3 Ways Merchants Can Use TikTok and Instagram to Increase Holiday Sales” by Liam Gerada via Total Retail
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are making strides with online shopping as new features become available. For example, TikTok Shop provides consumers easy access to purchase products directly through the application. As we head into the holiday...
“The Magic Of Retail Is Not Found On A To-Do List” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Retail stores face a challenge from within. Younger sales associates often team up on tasks that could be done individually. This teamwork has benefits, but it can distract from engaging customers. When staff focus too much on tasks, they might miss selling chances,...
“20 Million Dollars: Prize money in skateboarding over the last 8 years” by Blair Alley via Transworld Skateboarding
"$20 million dollars: Rob dove into the data stack to analyze a decade of prize money earnings in skateboarding and how it evolved from women earning just 8% and Japan earning 0% way back in 2015. Following, that, we’ve got highlights from The Boardr Global Rankings...
“How Retailers Can Make the Most of This Year’s Deep Discounting” by Sherene Hillal via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Dicraftsman Retailers, particularly those in high throughput categories like footwear and apparel, are still feeling the effects of the inventory glut that started in 2022. The issue is so severe for some brands that the tactics being used to...
“Unlock Your Best Holiday Season Yet: A Retailer’s Ultimate Guide to Boosting Sales and Winning Customers” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Retailers face intense competition during the holidays. How can you prepare for the holidays with your crew? The key is to start early. This guide offers holiday retail sales strategies to optimize your store's performance. Preparing brick-and-mortar stores for Black...
“REI cuts 275 employees in store operations overhaul” by Cara Salpini via Retail Dive
A brick REI storefront. The outdoor retailer said its operating model is more than a decade old and no longer supports its employees. Daphne Howland/Retail Dive Dive Brief: REI is laying off about 275 people in “lead” roles in stores as it shifts its store...
“Unraveling the Illusion: The Hidden Costs and Dilemmas of ‘Free Shipping’ in E-Commerce” by Mike Robinson via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by asbe All of us are familiar with the phrase, "Nothing in life is free," (including lunch), but this sentiment truly resonates when examining the intricacies of free shipping in e-commerce. What if we changed the script on free shipping, viewing...
“SURF EXPO SEPTEMBER SHOWCASES STRONG DEMAND FOR WATERSPORTS & BEACH LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS HEADING INTO 2024” by Amy Dufour via SurfExpo.com
Surf Expo, the premier watersports and coastal lifestyle tradeshow wrapped up its summer show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. With more than 730 exhibiting brands participating, the event served as the industry launchpad for retailers to discover...
“From Hype to Reality: The Transformative Power of AI in Retail CX” by Sarah Holbrook via The Robin Report
There is an intrusive buzz that is impossible to ignore, it’s an incessant drone that has captured every executive’s attention: the paradigm-shifting nature of artificial intelligence. For retail leaders, the question is not whether we should engage but how. It’s time...
“RIP: Big Surf, America’s First Wavepool – Iconic Arizona Artificial Surf Spot to be Demolished” by Dashel Pierson via Surfer Mag
“Big Surf, the first American wavepool used for surfing was built in Tempe, Arizona, funded by hair-coloring giant Clairol, opened in 1969 and cost $2 million. The pool measured 300' by 400', and was set in a 20-acre Polynesian-themed complex located in the middle of...
“The Best Advice I Can Give Retailers Right Now” by Dan Jablons of Retail Smart Guys
It would be easy to start this article by talking about how we’ve all been through the craziest times in our lives. But you already know that. I could also talk about how challenging things can be now, with the extreme difficulties in the supply chain...
“Some 300,000 Onewheel electric skateboards recalled after 4 deaths and dozens of reported injuries” by Kenneth Niemeyer via Business Insider
OneWheel. Emily Li About 300,000 Onewheel electric skateboards have been recalled. Future Motion received four reports of deaths involving the Onewheel from 2019 to 2021. The recall includes models that lack a haptic buzz alert to warn riders when something is...
“5 Ways How To Sell More By Talking Less” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
How do you become a good retail sales associate and move visitors from shoppers to customers? In the Broadway musical Hamilton, the character Aaron Burr offers this advice to the fast-talking Alexander Hamilton, “Talk less, smile more.” We’ve all had that friend...
“Are US Retail Workers Calling It Quits?” by Dennis Limmer via Retail Wire
According to a recent Bloomberg report, retail employees in the U.S. are “fed up and quitting at record rates.” A McKinsey study from 2022 found that the quit rate for retail and hospitality workers is over 70% higher than the overall U.S. quit rate. “Low...
“Dick’s to shutter 11 Moosejaw stores amid integration with Public Lands” by Cara Salpini via Retail Dive
A Public Lands storefront. Dick’s Sporting Goods operates seven Public Lands stores, and acquired Moosejaw from former owner Walmart in February. Courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods Three Moosejaw locations will remain open, while the rest — and the outdoor retailer’s...
“How retailers plan to promote their stores for last-minute holiday orders” by Gabriel Barkho via Modern Retail
Ivy Liu E-commerce shopping has grown significantly in the last few years — and retail companies naturally invested heavily in digital marketing and online fulfillment. But with shipping costs consistently going up, retailers are nudging more people to do their...
“Quiet Storm, Sun Diego, Katin and Surf Expo Raise Money for Maui Sports Foundation” by Tiffany Montgomery via Shop Eat Surf
Quiet Storm owner Bill Dreibelbis, Hi-Tech Surf Sports owner Kim Ball, Sun Diego owner Dave Nash. Photo by SES. In addition to the buying and selling happening on the floor of Surf Expo, there was philanthropy in the mix as well. High volume retailer Quiet Storm has...
“Americans plan to keep cutting back on spending through the holidays, new survey says” by Harriet Taylor via CNBC
Shoppers along the Magnificent Mile shopping district in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. Jamie Kelter Davis | Bloomberg | Getty Images KEY POINTS The vast majority of adults (92%) have reduced their spending over the past six months, according...
“Optimize Your Retail Store Location To Boost Foot Traffic And Conversions” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Choosing the right location for your retail store is complex but crucial. It requires a deep understanding of your target market, brand, and business model. Whether you're struggling with foot traffic and conversions, looking to add a location, relocate an existing...
“Prepping Your Retail Location for Peak Season Success” by Beth Krantz via Total Retail
Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus by Dragon Images As we transition from Back to School to Black Friday and full-scale holiday shopping, foot traffic in stores continues to rise. Shopping-related destinations started the year off with a 20 percent increase in...
“Surf Expo Offers Launch Pad for Summer 2024 and Beyond” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf & Surf Expo
Top Row (left to right): Rhythm men's and women's boardshorts; Former hoodie; Hurley Moore Aloha collaboration; Rusty's RED collection. Bottom Row (left to right): Roark Bless Up dress; Lotus & Luna Master Healer jewelry; Rip Curl Flashbomb Fusion wetsuit. Photos...
“The New Retail Space Race” by Sanford Stein via The Robin Report
All you contrarians unite: Store-based retail is very much alive — even on fire. In fact, according to real estate services firm CBRE, the rate of available retail real estate fell to 4.8 percent in the second quarter, the lowest level in 18 years. And as...
“Tech Tools That Can Create More Interactive and Informative In-Store Navigation” by Sajid Mohamedy via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Busakorn Pongparnit If you were to sit and watch a video of your customers browsing your store, you would undoubtedly see a mix of those who know exactly what they want and can intuitively find it, combined with a sea of shoppers baffled by the...
“Using a proactive pricing strategy to increase profitability” by Jeff Wissink & Stephen Wyss via Cohn Reznick blog
The pandemic wreaked havoc on the global economy, creating an inflationary business environment that adversely affected material, labor, and transportation costs. To preserve margins, organizations were forced to raise prices and pass those cost increases on to the...
“Tackling Rising Shrink: Strategies to Combat Shoplifting and Employee Theft in Retail Stores” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Shoplifting and employee theft are rising; they make up what retailers call "shrink."Loss prevention is a broad category used to encompass disappearing merchandise from shoplifting customers and employees not ringing up merch correctly, not checking invoices to...
“The flashy and painful parts” by Cole Nowicki via Simple Magic
One thing that is certain is the uncertainty of our shared history, especially in the online age. Like a scar or a gaudy gold ring, the past only exists if we carry it with us and show it to everyone we can. There have always been those who’d rather not, instead,...
“How Can Retailers Attract the Digital Generation?” by Jasmine Glasheen via The Robin Report
When did a career in retail become so unappealing for young folks? Twenty years ago, a position in frontline retail was one of the best jobs a young person could hope to get. Yet today, a staggering 87 percent of retail leaders are worried about talent...
“Ready or Not … The Future of Loyalty Marketing Lies in AI” by Claire Cilip and Todd Hedberg via Total Retail”
In today’s highly competitive retail market, customer loyalty is often a pivotal driver of business success. So much so that studies have shown that increasing customer retention rates by just 5 percent can boost profits up to 95 percent. However, gone are the...