Tag: retail
Ravenous for E-Grocery
April 11, 2021
We crave convenience. Consumers’ migration to e-commerce has made grocery the most exciting (& strategically significant) retail category, as: – Consumers desire time savings– Brands adapt to changing consumer tastes– Retailers seek omnichannel loyalty for a competitive edge Also, physical grocery stores have evolved to support omnichannel success with buy online pick up in store […]
Delivering the Goods
April 4, 2021
The mall has arrived on our doorsteps. As e-commerce matures, we’ve seen remarkable growth in delivery services now that online shoppers expect home delivery that is: Fast Free Convenient These trends are fuelling demand for delivery that connects retailers, brands and restaurants with consumers (especially since we’ve been home all year). How often do you […]
Porter’s 5 Forces: Retail 2021
March 28, 2021
A strategy classic. Porter’s 5 Forces model helps to explain market influences as retail undergoes tremendous upheaval. To manage fierce competition, companies can boost their bargaining power if they: Differentiate their offerings Reflect in-demand consumer trends Invest in e-commerce for omnichannel agility Also, as tech-driven supply chains grow in power, companies are establishing strategic partnerships […]
Home Sweet Home
March 21, 2021
There’s no place like home. A full year of working, learning and exercising at home has inspired us to reimagine our domestic space. See how our homebody lifestyle sparked a cross-category retail boom. Thank you to the brilliant Santosh Kushwaha of Visual Best for designing this stunning infographic. How has your home changed over the […]
COVID-19’s Retail Legacy
March 14, 2021
What. A. Year. Let’s look at COVID-19’s profound influence on global reatil over the past 12 months, including 5 mega-trends. OVERALL THEMES: 1. WOW!So much has changed in so little time. 2. STORES ARE RESILIENTBrick-and-mortar stores faced capacity constraints yet their appeal is inextinguishable. 3. TECH IS UNSTOPPABLEAutomating traditional retail processes has made the industry […]
Ladies Who Launch
March 7, 2021
Women make their mark in business. In time for International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate women-owned businesses — and their growing influence. Notable trends: – 82% of female business owners are Gen X or Boomers – Their top industries (health, beauty & fitness), are in-demand in retail right now – Diversity reigns, as half of these […]
2021 Retail Acquisitions
February 28, 2021
Retail companies go shopping … It’s barely March yet we’ve already seen intriguing retail acquisitions this year, as: – Amazon knows what Selz– Walmart’s Thunderstruck– ASOS wants its diverse assortment to be a HIIT. (I’ll show myself out.) TRENDS: – Health & wellness– Value & luxury tiers boom– Big retailers connect with small brands BIG […]
China’s Retail Innovation
February 15, 2021
For a glimpse of retail’s future, let’s look at China. Since Friday kicked off the Lunar New Year, it’s the perfect time to examine China’s growing influence on global e-commerce. Many retail tech investments we’ve seen in North America and Europe over the past year have been common for years in China. These innovations are […]
How Retail Giants Compete
January 31, 2021
Rivals reveal where retail is heading. This final post in a series highlights how Amazon and Walmart lead with their strengths to earn lucrative consumer loyalty. For instance: – Amazon’s tech mastery delights consumers– Walmart’s low-cost leadership saves shoppers money– Both want to wow young, urban adults with e-commerce In addition: Walmart’s supplier diversity efforts […]
Walmart 2021 Strategy Diamond
January 24, 2021
Frugal is fashionable — and Walmart’s making moves to stay ahead. As value shopping and value-tier rivalry soar, this framework shows how Walmart stays resilient with: 🧩 Strategic partnerships to fill omnichannel gaps Digital investments to counter under-capacity stores Everyday low price leadership to save shoppers money Studying retail leaders gives us a glimpse of […]
Amazon 2021 Strategy Diamond
January 17, 2021
How Amazon keeps winning … As this framework (Hambrick & Frederickson’s Strategy Diamond) reveals, the e-commerce giant sets industry standards, dazzles consumers and spooks rivals. For instance: CONSUMERS save time & money from unmatched tech efficiencies SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERS gain resources that fuel growth & agility🥊 RIVALS had to react to an October Prime Day, […]
2021 Retail PEST Analysis
January 11, 2021
What keeps CEOs up at night … Retail companies’ C-suite teams juggle staggering complexity and ambiguity as they navigate market factors like: – Pandemic risks– Tech upheaval– Mass protests As this 2021 PEST analysis shows, macro themes include: 1. CONSTANT CHANGEDiverse market factors are all moving at once. 2. ACCELERATIONMany of these trends have emerged […]
Why Tech is Winning
January 10, 2021
Revenge of the nerds? The 43% surge in the tech-heavy NASDAQ index in 2020 proves it pays to be digitally-savvy. That’s because, more than ever, we rely on technology to meet our universal needs. For instance: Zoom connects us with loved onesDoorDash delivers dinner to our doorstepsDuolingo languages prepare us for future exotic escapes In […]
2021 Retail Tech Trends
January 3, 2021
In 2021, e-commerce will catapult forward. The pandemic sparked a mass migration to digital to satisfy our basic needs, from food to social connection. This year, we can expect the entire e-commerce infrastructure to mature with tech innovations like: Livestreaming E-grocery evolution Autonomous vehicles What other retail tech trends will influence the supply chain in […]
2020 Bestsellers
December 27, 2020
Which products sold well in 2020? Pants? No way. High heels? So silly. Baby Yoda tree toppers? Now you’re talkin’! According to 2020’s in-demand products, the pandemic transformed us into a mash-up of Molly Maid, Martha Stewart and RuPaul. That’s because top categories included: – Cleaning products – Baking – Domestic comfort – Beauty – Personal care Electronics […]
2021 Retail Strategy Trends
December 13, 2020
What does 2021 have in store? Reinvigorating retail and getting closer to consumers are macro strategic trends we’ll see in the new year, as retailers and brands: – Fuel sales and consumer excitement– Cut inefficiencies– Gain lucrative new strengths See related infographics on:– 2020 Retail Partnerships– 2020 Retail PEST Analysis– Social Commerce is the Future […]
2020 Retail Partnerships
November 15, 2020
Look who’s hooking up … These 2020 retail partnerships reveal where retail is heading, retailers’ strategic priorities and which core competencies matter to delight consumers. Overarching themes: 1. Speedy delivery 2. Tech innovation 3. Omnichannel options Most importantly, these partnerships prove collaboration is essential, as a company can’t manage this year’s retail upheaval all on […]
Social Commerce is the Future of Retail
November 1, 2020
Last week’s announcement of the new partnership between TikTok and Shopify dazzled global retail markets. This partnership unites social media, video and e-commerce to make shopping more exciting and interactive. Already pervasive and popular in China, social commerce is taking off in North America by bringing the mall to popular social platforms during the pandemic. […]
Walmart SWOT Analysis (Q4)
October 21, 2020
Walmart wants to win. This high-level SWOT analysis shows how Walmart has faced certain weaknesses to strengthen its competitive position during this year’s pandemic. Additional recent moves to adapt to the times include: Diversity: A commitment to ensure its workforce and suppliers reflect the people in the communities Walmart serves Domestic partners: Walmart has launched […]
Amazon SWOT Analysis (Q4)
October 19, 2020
Profitable pivots: 2020’s COVID-19 curveball rattled even the biggest retail leaders. In this SWOT analysis check-in, we see how Amazon has responded to market pressures, including changes that directly address specific weaknesses and threats. Additional overarching patterns I see are: Building brand trust (beyond anti-counterfeit measures), ranging from humanizing the brand for a softer corporate […]