Blogs
April 2021
Apr 30
5 Myths to Bust about Post-Pandemic Tech Strategy
Retailers are urgently closing gaps and heavily investing in the supply chain, e-commerce and in-store tech, aren’t they? Not exactly, according to the 2021 RIS Retail Technology Study.
March 2021
Mar 29
Social Justice Plays a Growing Role in Retail
Protests over mass shootings, attacks on Asian and Black Americans, and lack of diversity have roiled the retail landscape. In response, retailers are pledging action. Will shoppers buy it?
February 2021
Feb 24
Why Retailers Are Learning to Love Robots
The pandemic lit a fire under retailers to expand the use of robotics, but COVID-19 is not the only accelerant.
Feb 01
Rethinking the Post-Pandemic “Store of the Future”
Attempts to create a “store of the future” are littered with failure due to gimmicky concepts that over-promised and under-delivered. Here are concepts that change the rules and work.
January 2021
Jan 13
Hip Hop Legend Inspires at RetailROI SuperFriday
Darryl McDaniels, superstar founder of Run-DMC, learned he was in foster care and adopted at age 35. His inspiring story exemplifies the mission of RetailROI’s SuperFriday event.
December 2020
Dec 22
Hello 2021, Farewell Year of Chaos
The year of chaos is finally ending. However, instead of doomscrolling, here’s a look at tectonic shifts and lessons learned that will continue to transform retail in 2021.
Dec 14
Who Are the Top Software Vendors in Retail?
There is one sure way to find out who the top software vendors in retail are – checking out the 2021 RIS Software LeaderBoard. Here is an inside look at this year’s leading tech vendors in retail.
November 2020
Nov 19
Store Closures Mask Retail as an Investment Hot Spot
Stories about store closures and bankruptcies mask the fact that retail is an active investment hot spot where cash flows, IPOs flourish, and opportunities boom. Here’s the rundown.
October 2020
Oct 26
Will It Take a Supply Chain Moonshot to Save Apparel?
There have been 97 major retail bankruptcies in the last four years. A big majority (57%) were in apparel. Clearly, the apparel business model is broken. Here’s how to fix it.
September 2020
Sep 28
Voice Transforms Kiosks from Touchscreen to Touchless
Development of voice-recognition technology is shifting into high gear as contactless methods gain importance during the pandemic for touchless ordering, payment and a wide range of retail services.
Sep 16
Pandemic Lessons Learned: Fixing Supply Chain Blind Spots
Blind spots were exposed in the retail supply chain during the pandemic. The RIS Supply Chain Technology Study 2020 identifies them and recommends investments to help retailers recover quickly from future disruptions.
August 2020
Aug 31
Planning for a 2020 Holiday Season Like No Other
Holiday planning 2020 will be “like no other,” according to Kohl’s CEO, Michelle Gass. To succeed, retailers need to make sharp adjustments to align with changes in consumer behavior caused by the at-home economy.
July 2020
Jul 27
How Kroger Solved the ROI of Home Delivery
Some of retail’s smartest brains believe profitable home delivery, especially in grocery, can’t be done. Kroger proves them wrong.
Jul 13
Why “Essential” Is the Gangster Move in Retail
The pandemic has had a profound impact on shopper behavior and retail success, but will it last? One thing will. “Essential” retailing. Find out why.
June 2020
Jun 29
Kroger Tech Investments Deliver Impressive ROI
The big lesson learned from Kroger’s recent quarterly report is that its massive investment in technology, which Wall Street considered risky, is delivering huge returns.
Jun 10
Time to Break Up a Broken Supply Chain
Many shoppers experienced break downs in the retail supply chain during the crisis. This exposed a decades-old, slow-to-change system that needs kicking into high gear.
May 2020
May 27
Retail’s Moonshot Moment: Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
Retailers have a unique opportunity to shoot for the moon and re-engineer their businesses after coronavirus.
May 06
Retail Heroes Stand Tall in Tough Times
Store associates have become heroes by supplying essential items during the pandemic. Now, as stores reopen, retailers need to live up to the high bar set by their frontline workers.
Retail matters today like never before.
April 2020
Apr 22
Spring Season Merchandise Is Dead, Now What?
Will stores be able to sell spring inventory when they fully open? Unfortunately, no, and, moreover, surplus inventory will have long-lasting effects.
Apr 08
Coronavirus Response: Best Practices Emerge for Retail
The urgent question among retailers today is, who’s doing it right? Fortunately, best practices for responding to the pandemic are emerging. Here’s a smart, targeted list.
March 2020
Mar 25
Retailing Post-Coronavirus: Part 2
There are two big questions in retail today: What can we do now and how can we plan for the future? Here are answers provided by experts in a follow up blog that incorporates insider feedback.
Mar 16
Retailing Post-Coronavirus: What to Expect
An altered landscape will emerge for both consumers and retailers after Covid-19 passes. Here’s a look at some long-lasting effects to plan for.
February 2020
Feb 26
CBD and Alcohol: Big Buzz in Retail
Despite store closings and ghosted malls, one strategy in retail is experiencing a period of high times.
Feb 05
Three Supermarkets Collapse in a Week: Turmoil Ahead for Grocers
Three regional grocers declared bankruptcy in a week – Earth Fare, Lucky’s Market and Fairway. Here’s why this turmoil will likely spread to the big national chains.
January 2020
Jan 29
Rebirth of the Resilient Store: 2020 Store Experience Study
Say “goodbye” to the 2010s with its brick-and-mortar turmoil and “hello” to the 2020s when the essential beauty and strength of stores converge with the intelligence and efficiency of digital technology.
Jan 27
Inside Vitamin Shoppe’s Reinvention and Store Transformation
Change agents Sharon Leite, CEO, and Andy Laudato, COO, of the Vitamin Shoppe offer an inside look at how the 750-store retailer transformed its business model and reinvented its stores.
Jan 15
NRF 2020: MegaTakeaways Overheard at the Big Show
The NRF Big Show is the world’s greatest showcase for technology designed to create exceptional shopping experiences. Retailers go to the show to listen and learn.
December 2019
Dec 15
Smart Stores for Smart Shoppers
Say adios to a record number of stores that failed in 2019. They will not be missed except as an example of what not to do. Find out specific steps to take to avoid making 2020 another record year.
Dec 09
Top 10 Software Vendors in Retail
Customer feedback is critical to every retailer and essential to the "2020 RIS Software LeaderBoard." Based on retailer feedback, here are the top-10 software vendors of the year.
November 2019
Nov 20
5G Timeline and Everything Retailers Need to Know
Digital transformation and the store of the future are impossible without advanced data networks. Fortunately, the rollout of 5G will be a gamechanger that supports the next generation of retail services and in-store innovations.
October 2019
Oct 28
Where Do Walmart, Nike and REI Stand?
By taking a stand on social issues retailers risk alienating 30%-40% of their customers, so why do it? Because taking a stand adds a layer of meaning to a retailer’s brand image and deepens engagement with shoppers.
Oct 02
What Retailers Can Learn from Iron Man
Whenever Iron Man gets into trouble he requests data-backed options from Jarvis. Jarvis is not a superhero. He is an advanced analytics engine, a futuristic example of real-world technology retailers can use to win their battles in the marketplace.