Health Food Retailers Make Way for the Next Generation
A younger generation is inheriting many natural and health food stores across the country, as the owners who opened stores in the 1970s and 80s reach retirement age. The trend has grown enough that the Natural Products Association created a Next Generation Leadership Committee to ease the transition. While...
How Are Retailers Enhancing the In-store Experience?
Perpetually challenged by a cutthroat competitive climate, notoriously thin profit margins, and demanding — and often dichotomous — patrons, the grocery business can be brutal, which speaks directly to the need for grocers to concentrate heavily on enhancing the in-store experience to stand apart from both traditional and upstart...
Customer Rewards Mash-Up
It’s no secret that rewards programs are effective for businesses, both large and small. Repeat customers are rewarded and sales go up—everybody wins. But sometimes it’s tough for smaller businesses to give big discounts or appeal to their customer base all of the time. So why not join forces...
Five Ways Grocers Can Stop Consumers from Visiting Multiple Retailers
Grocers are no longer just competing against each other. They now face an onslaught of new competitors, as big box retailers, pharmacies, dollar stores and deep-pocketed online players all push to sell grocery. In this environment, grocers are increasingly experimenting with strategies to prevent customers from splitting their grocery...
Total mobility is a competitive advantage for local merchants
Small businesses face challenges on a daily basis. Not only do they have to operate using limited resources, they must also keep pace in an increasingly sophisticated marketplace. Local merchants need to differentiate themselves from their competition, and a great way to do that is through total mobility. Read...
Softer Side of Customer Service
It should come as no surprise that consumers make the bulk of their purchasing decisions based on emotion vs. any kind of rational calculation—and more emotionally engaged customers will probably recommend a company, product or service more often. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pull at the heart...
You’re about to get a new credit card … and it’s an epic failure
A huge, $33 billion upgrade is coming to the American credit card system this year. But it looks like a dud. Read more …
Food Retailers Adopt Experiential Marketing Tactics to Draw New, Repeat Customers
When it comes to food, experts say traditional marketing, such as newspaper ads with weekly deals, just doesn’t cut it anymore. More retailers and specialty food brands are investing in experiential marketing, including Midwestern grocery chain Hy-Vee. Read more …
Online Grocery Growth Set to Outpace Broader Market
Online food shopping is showing its potential. Growth of the retail sector is accelerating, and is set to outpace the overall market through 2018, according to an analysis by BMO Capital Markets. Read More …
Boomers still have lots to spend, study says
Aging Baby Boomers still represent a major marketing opportunity but one that is generally being under-served, according to a study by Fung Business Intelligence Centre, New York. Read more …