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 several 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.
“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...
“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...
“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...
“Dick’s cuts jobs as theft takes a bite out of profit” by Cara Salpini via Retail Dive
A red brick Dick’s storefront under a blue sky. The retailer reported net sales grew 3.6% in the second quarter, but both net and operating income were down double digits. Permission granted by Dick’s Sporting Goods The athletics retailer rolled out a business...
“Neil deGrasse Tyson shares his admiration for skateboarding” by Blair Alley via Transworld Skateboarding
Waiting for him to say it's "Outta this world" Big NdGT fans over here. Have you seen Cosmos?? Anywho, it's not surprising that a brilliant mind of Neil's stature is also a big fan of skating. Peep this new clip from the always-positive Skatepark Project and Humanity...
“The Dirty Truth: 7 Hidden Reasons Behind Poor Retail Store Cleanliness” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Despite tens of thousands of viral TikTok #CleanTok videos, many retailers still show a psychological barrier toward cleaning or requiring their staff to maintain the cleanliness of their store. Yet retail stores are the face of a brand, where customers interact...
“Kelly Slater Could Technically Still Qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics” by Dashel Pierson via Surfer Mag
11x World Champ may not have qualified via the CT; but there's another way. So, you're saying there's a chance... After finishing the 2023 Championship Tour season with a dismal 23rd place, Kelly Slater, the greatest surfer to ever live, was not looking good to...
“Nora” by Cole Nowicki via Simple Magic
Nora Vasconcellos’ Thrasher cover shot by Zander Taketomo. Screengrab of Zander Takemoto’s Thrasher cover photo from Zander Taketomo’s Instagram. It’s a bit surprising that Nora Vasconcellos hadn’t graced the cover of Thrasher until its latest issue, but here we are...
“How Livestreaming Can Help Brands and Retailers Optimize Digital Shelf Space” by Zarnaz Arlia via Total Retail
After first gaining popularity in the mid-1980s when CPG markets saw an explosion of products, slotting fees continue to be a routine cost retailers charge brands. Essentially, a slotting fee is what brands and manufacturers pay to have their products placed in prime...
“Outdoor Retailer Introduces New Format with Expanded Buyer Focus” via OR Newsletter
Courtesy of Outdoor Retailer Outdoor Retailer, the leading U.S. business events for the $862 billion outdoor industry, will introduce a fresh format beginning in 2024. The updates were developed through industry feedback and based on evolving business needs and...
“US retail sales beat estimates with a 0.7% bump in July” by Erin Cabrey via Retail Brew
Spencer Platt/Getty Images US consumers upped their spending at retailers in July, with retail sales beating expectations with a 0.7% rise month over month, according to Census Bureau data. Year over year retail sales were up 3.2%, in line with the higher...
“What Lies in Store for Brick-and-Mortar Retail as It Approaches $4.2 Trillion?” by Bryan Wassel via Retail Wire
PHOTO: CANVA Reports of brick-and-mortar’s death, dubbed the retail apocalypse during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, were greatly exaggerated. Physical store sales rebounded in 2021 as the omnichannel future came into focus, with total...
“Surf Expo Summer Edition Heats Up with New Brands, Floor Category” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop eat Surf
SES file photo Expect plenty of newness come September for the Surf Expo Summer show. That includes roughly 30% of the exhibitor makeup being new, a continued uptick of buyers and brands from specialty outdoor outfitters, and the growing presence of emerging...
“AI is Bringing Conversation Back to Commerce” by Raj De Datta via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by Vithun Khamsong Even in its earliest form, commerce has always been centered around conversation. The evolution to e-commerce seemed to de-center that conversational element, though. Without a person to speak with, conversation was relegated to...
“The Best Advice I Can Give Retailers Right Now” by Dan Jablons of Retail Smart Guys
So let’s get down to something important. In times like these, the winners are those that can become hyper-focused on the truly important things. It’s very easy to get distracted by the problems that exist in our industry, to throw up your hands and just...
“Will TikTok Evolve From Social Commerce Enabler to E-Commerce Titan?” by Brian Wassel via Retail Wire
PHOTO: CANVA TikTok is reportedly preparing to capitalize on its social commerce success with a marketplace that could launch as soon as early August, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. The store would focus on selling...
“Retail sales up despite cooling economy” by Judy Mottl via RetailCustomerExperience.com
Retail sales continued an upward trend in June despite slower job gains and a cooling economy. The U.S. Census Bureau reported retail sales in June were up 0.2% from May and up 1.5% year over year. In May, sales were up 0.5% month over month and up 2% year over year....
“WHY ARE BOARD PRICES ON THE RISE?” by Lucas Wisenthal via JENKEM MAG
The most stable part of skating used to be the price of a skateboard. Whatever the brand, whatever the graphic, in America, a pro board cost about $55. But unless you get skateboards for free, you’ve probably noticed that, lately, you’ve been paying more for them....
“Retail rents rise in Q2 as availability tightens: CBRE” by CBRE National Retail Report via Retail Dive
A busy road lined with strip centers. In Q2, demand for retail space in the suburbs outpaced demand in downtown markets, according to CBRE. “Strip Mall City” by Jacob Norlund is licensed under CC BY 2.0 As more retailers move to strip centers, space is opening up at...
“Top Questions We Get Asked As A Social Media Marketing Agency” by Steph Bechard of Crystal Media plus enter now to win a Social Media Content Strategy Power Hour Coaching Session (valued at $300)
The Crystal Media team is frequently on the road at business conferences, meets retailers at various events, and interacts with business owners on social media. As a result, we often come across a set of common questions from retailers. Today, we'd like to address...
“Unmoderated Reviews: The Secret Killer to Consumer Trust and Experience” by Joshua Buxbaum via Total Retail
Authenticity is at the forefront of every consumer buying decision, thus making reviews a barometer for a product and a company’s trustworthiness. Forty-nine percent of consumers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations...
“Pat Tenore’s “Exit Through The Surf Shop” Offers Timely Industry Commentary Amid Boardriders Sale” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf
Clockwise from left: Duke Aipa and Pat Tenore during the exhibition's opening reception; A floral arrangement and show flyer at the event. Photos by SES. Guest after guest couldn’t stop greeting and taking photos with RVCA founder Pat Tenore last...
“Defensive Selling Isn’t Customer Service: Insights for Retail Managers” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Defensive selling is a sales approach typically driven by a sales associate's anxiety and the assumption that a customer will only make a purchase if the salesperson is proactive to perceived customer objections. Salespeople feel it is customer service, but often, it...
“Tell Congress to act on excessive credit card swipe fees.” by NRF staff via National Retail Federation Newsletter
Momentum is building in Congress to pass the Credit Card Competition Act to address the broken and unfair U.S. payments market. Thousands of retailers and consumers have already contacted Congress telling it to act — and Congress is listening. In fact, it’s...
“NBDs rebroadcast on ABC?” by Cole Nowicki via Simple Magic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_nesOa1SxE Push play to view entire competition During last weekend’s X Games “Real Street Best Trick” event at Rincon Middle School in Escondido, CA, commentator Brandon Graham said that the production team at the long-running action...
“Uncertainty around UPS is ‘kryptonite’ to supply chains, RILA warns” by Daphne Howland via Retail Dive plus link to enroll in BRA FedEx PartnerShip Discount Shipping Program
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien speaks during national contract negotiations with UPS. The Retail Industry Leaders Association urged the two sides to strike a deal in order to avoid risk to supply chains and the economy. Permission granted by...
“Retailers’ Attempts To Dissuade Returns May Impact Brand Loyalty” by Alicia Thorpe via Retail Wire
The tension between retailers and shoppers is growing, and it’s because of returns. Shippo, a leading shipping platform for growing e-commerce businesses, has come out with a 2023 Benchmarks Report that “takes a comprehensive look at how mid-market...
“An otter in Santa Cruz is hassling surfers — and stealing their boards” by Dustin Jones via NPR
A southern otter in Santa Cruz, Calif., catches a wave after stealing a surfer's board.Mark Woodward/@NativeSantaCruz An aggressive sea otter in California is hassling locals by riding boards she stole from surfers in the lineup. Steamer Lane is a legendary point...
“Teaching Could Hurt Your Retail Business” by Bob Phibbs via Retail Doctor Blog
This blog is my (Bob Phibbs) response to a question from a Facebook fan asking me, “What is the difference between training and having to repeat your instructions regularly while not seeing them followed?” The Difference Between Instruction and Training in...
“Direct Mail Strategies for Increasing Retail Sales and Customer Loyalty” by Ryan Wilder via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by TEK IMAGE Since 1872, the retail industry has witnessed the power of direct mail firsthand. Aaron Montgomery Ward's revolutionary mail-order business, Montgomery Ward and Company, kickstarted a retail revolution. A modest one-page "catalog"...
“Police clashed with skaters at ‘hill bomb’ event in San Francisco” by Dustin Jones via NPR
In this photo from 2022, hundreds of young people gather for the 'hill bomb' on Dolores Street and 20th Street in San Francisco. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Officers with the San Francisco Police Department attempted to disperse hundreds of...
“Pro Surfer Mikala Jones Has Died After a Surf Injury in Indonesia” by Dashel Pierson via Surfer Mag
The surf world is mourning following news of a fatal surf injury involving Mikala Jones. Jones was surfing in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, when he suffered an injury that allegedly severed his femoral artery and led to a fatal loss of blood. He was 44 years old....
“Professor Schmitt has released a nice variety of switch plates, frames, coasters and other remarkable PS Stix ‘UpCycle’ skateboard products, which are now available at wholesale pricing to BRA Retail Members” by Doug Works, BRA Executive Director
Paul Schmitt aka Professor Schmitt has been designing and producing skateboards for nearly four decades. A skateboarder himself since he was a young boy, today his products are known world wide for their quality, performance and durability. Paul is the founder of one...
“Community Engagement To Make a Difference” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog
Retailers play an important role in community engagement by supporting local causes, participating in local events, and partnering with other businesses. Retailers are the glue that brings the community together and betters it through cause-related marketing and...
“Customer Effort Score: What it is and How to Use it” by Reilly Nolan via Total Retail
Broadly speaking, a customer effort score measures how easy or difficult it is for a customer to resolve a given issue with a company’s customer service team. Have you ever waited your turn to speak to a customer service representative, only to be transferred to...
“Back-to-school spending to rise 15.7% this year: JLL” by Tatiana Walk-Morris via Retail Dive
Children run to catch a school bus. Inflation continues to eat into parents’ budgets, with many planning to spend more for the same amount of items. FatCamera via Getty Images Dive Brief: With ongoing inflation woes, parents plan to spend 15.7% more this...
“As Retailers Use New Tactics to Drive Loyalty, Here’s How to Tell What’s Working (and What’s Not)” by Mike Debnar via Total Retail
Several companies are experimenting with new initiatives to improve customer loyalty, including Amazon.com paying customers to pick up purchases and retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, Anthropologie, and Gap ramping up discounts. Others, like Jenni Kayne and...
“The Athletes Who Can’t Afford Their Near-Death Experiences” by Adam Elder via The Intelligencer
Tom Lowe surfing in the 2018 Jaws Challenge in Hawaii. Photo: Richard Hallman/World Surf League via Getty Images In late April, British big-wave surfer Tom Lowe paddled for a famous slab wave off the coast of Tahiti called Teahupo’o as its 25-foot wall...
“Harnessing the Power of AI for Retail Merchandising” by Reshma Iyer via Total Retail
Credit: Getty Images by oatawa A retailer’s ability to create a seamless and relevant experience for their customers ultimately can be the difference between gaining loyalty or falling behind competitors. Today’s customers are looking for faster connections to the...
“Create Your Own Trending Reels Audio on Instagram” by Maddie Goode via Crystal Media Blog post
Instagram Reels has become a popular platform for businesses, but many face challenges when it comes to using audio effectively. Currently, there are two types of audio available on Instagram: "Original Audio," which refers to audio uploaded from a video selected from...
“Will Retailers Report Record Father’s Day Sales?” by George Anderson via Retail Wire
Americans are projected to spend a record $22.9 billion to celebrate Father’s Day this year, following a slightly down year in 2022, according to research from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Father’s Day revenues last year...
“Surf Shop Founders and Their Kids Discuss Passing the Torch” by Kari Hamanaka via Shop Eat Surf
Top row (left to right): Tom and Tyler Brown, Josh Hansen, and Mark Richards with sons Brandon and Blake. Bottom row (left to right): Ashlyn and Aaron Pai, LG Shaw, and Ashley Stewart Leines with father Bill Stewart. By Kari Hamanaka | Published Jun 13, 2023 From...