Category: Strategic Opportunities

Isn't It About Time for Good News?!

11/7/2023

Undoubtedly you'll agree with this. We read and hear a lot in the business press, but we treat 100% of it rather skeptically.

And so it is with articles and commentary about this coming Holiday Season, specifically about retailers' inventory and margins.

Nevertheless, there is considerable good news being trumpeted. Most recently, this feature article in the Wall Street Journal: "Retailers Hone Inventory for Holidays" *

Customer Service Woes of The Big Guys

9/26/2023

"In-Person Shopping Keeps Getting Worse"

That was the headline in a recent business page editorial*. And the writer was able to cite chapter and verse of all-too-prevalent lousy shopping experiences for customers.

"More American stores are doing with fewer employees and many have locked items up to keep them from being pilfered."
"The retail industry slashed head count in 2020 and has never returned to pre-pandemic staffing levels."
Meanwhile, "store employees are spending more time fulfilling online orders, leaving them less time for helping [in-store] customers."
Then this warning: "Head-count reductions will become even more tempting in the quarters ahead, as the economy dampens consumers' appetite for shopping."

As noted by a Wharton School professor, "retailers frequently reduce headcount because 'you immediately see the savings in payroll but you don't necessarily know what damage that does to the top line.'" Of course, the retailers that professor is referencing are the Big Guys who have to satisfy their investors every quarter.

As independent retailers, you have advantages that are unavailable to the Big Guys.

In Retail, WHO'S Job Is Growing?

5/8/2023

Think about the prominent characteristics of today's shopping experience:

More "self-service" for the customers (that is, less staff on the floor.)
Self check-out by the customer.
Reduced in-store merchandise selection; "Just check our website."
Limited in-store signage or knowledgeable staff.
Presumptions that customers will search online for product information, reviews, etc.
Automated, "menu-driven" phone systems replacing "real people."

Hmm.

Are these providing more "convenience" for shoppers?
Improving their shopping experience?
Or – just shifting the work to them?!

Who's Buying What's Selling – And Where?!

4/17/2023

It's a given that your sales volume is a very big deal. Granted, you are analyzing it every day. But here's a slightly different approach which you may find very revealing.

Let's start with a couple truisms. The definition of retailing is “selling to the ultimate consumer.”

Retailing also is having "the right product at the right price at the right place at the right time for the right customer."

But, as retailers ponder how best to manage sales in the current consumer environment, does it really matter whether their "right customers" buy from them in-store or online?

Actually, it might! And here’s a simple, free "pilot project" to find out a little more.

"Let's Just Wait and See." Au contraire!

3/27/2023

Are we alone, or have you also noticed it?

Everything seems to be kind of stalled right now. Maybe that's for good reason. Or maybe this period of malaise is a great opportunity for the bold. Whatever, it seems weird.

Look at these examples:

Sure, now the Silicon Valley Bank has been sold. Finally. But the fragileness of the entire banking system hasn't been corrected. So, if a retailer needs something from a lender, expect to hear "Let's just wait to see how this shakes out."
On the world stage, all sorts of powerful players are jostling for attention and position. It can be unsettling. Whether it's Russia, China, North Korea, Brazil, Israel or whomever, it's happening daily. And it seems to have many observers saying, "Let's just wait to see how this plays out."

Might Stores Need a Shorter "Work Week?"

2/28/2023

It's that time of year. As you review your Profit & Loss statement for 2022, your thoughts most likely are turning to "How do we make 2023 a better year than that?"

As we look around, we see a popular cost-saving and productivity-boosting tactic being instituted by many national retailers, shopping malls, and restaurants. They are open fewer hours.

This offers an opportunity for you to revisit your store hours and employee scheduling practices. Maybe it's time to consider some changes, if you haven't already.

Start with the mass of data resting comfortably in your POS system. Look for all the reports by the day of the week. (Be prepared; this may require you to gather information from several reports.)

What you are looking for is data such as this:

Total sales by day of week
Total # of transactions (e.g., customers) by day of week
Total gross margin dollars by day of week
Hours per day of week the store was open
Total employee hours and payroll per day of week

Just a few more days until...the 26th!

12/19/2022

The savvy retailers know that now is the time to be putting the finishing touches on – wait for it – being ready for December 26!

Yes, this unique time period between December 26 and New Year's Day is a tremendous make-or-break opportunity. Indeed, many retailers find they net more from this time than any earlier stretch of 6-10 days!

Why? Three main reasons.
First, the many opportunities to reduce expenses "back to normal". Less advertising cost. Less staff. Fewer hours.

Increase the "Productivity" of Your Customers

11/28/2022

For most retailers, especially this year, reducing inventory is priority #1. With talk of a 2023 recession still in the air, lingering inflation driving up costs, and rising interest rates, cash is definitely king this year.

Time to revisit your year-end strategies for meeting your targeted ending inventory on December 31. If you are like many retailers this year, with plenty of merchandise in your stores, you know the challenge: how best to turn that inventory into cash? Quickly! Especially without looking like a distressed merchant.

One answer? Focus on improving the productivity of each shopper who comes to your store. That is, increase the IPTs (Items Per Transaction.)

Make it easier, more compelling and more fun for them to buy more items from you.

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Tips, Tactics & Insights from Retail Strategists