Nancy Zimmerman

Highlights from last week's NYC #RetailSafari -- focus was the intersection of #technology, #customers, and #operations, primarily in specialty apparel and fashion. Key themes: 1. Technology goes backstage – Brand new formats / concepts at H&M, Banana Republic, Zara, AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS INC., lululemon, and J.Crew and none come across as tech-forward w/ regard to customers. On the other hand, associates were all mobile enabled and doing most of their work leveraging phones / tablets. 2. Old tech; new tricks – Widespread use of #RFID and #QR codes (both generally on the price ticket), with a mix of internal and external use cases -- self-checkout, RFID-assisted full-service checkout, inventory counts, inventory finding, #BOPIS, etc. 3. Apps are an entry point – #Retailers without a clienteling / selling culture are using apps to drive customer capture. #Lulu uses app-based membership to enable exchanges on sale items; UNIQLO offers special discounts to app members. 4. Unified is still a unicorn – Despite a decade of focus on #omnichannel and unified commerce, many gaps exist. Very few #retail apps recognize when you’re in store, send a notification, and/or assist in the shopping experience. Many didn’t even have their newest stores listed as an option for #BOPIS (despite in-store signage).  5. Video is the new visual – ultra-large format (8-10ft x 12-16ft) video screens were a common feature of many new stores, and really helped to bring the brand lifestyle to life.  6. It’s hard to (re)teach people how to shop – Across all stores except Bonobos, Glossier, Inc., and Reformation, the shopping process is the same as it’s been for the past 50+ years. The ones that don't are focused on a niche customer with a unique product offering. IMO, the product is the driver and consumers "accept" the experience. 7. The "future" is not here yet, but you can start to see the shape of it – Demoing the Apple #VisionPro, we could think of multiple use cases (mostly internal / operational), and while it’s too early (and too expensive) to fully commit, it’s certainly worth considering a pilot as part of an #innovation lab. It's also worth noting there was no apparent use of #AI by customers or associates. Curious to hear comments, feedback from other markets. #ibmretail

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Join the Rock Fight, LLC for my podcast conversation with Colin True. In a world of expanding consumerism, staggering choice and increasing product affordability, with decades trying to change consumer behavior otherwise, #appliedinnovation allows that all options are on the table to finally solve for waste and sustainability where we discuss: - The polarization of the American Consumer Market: the appeal and impressive price elasticity of brands that are truly connected to consumer ( HOKA, On, lululemon, HUGO BOSS ), the Rise and Rise of Value ( Walmart, Target, SHEIN ), and The Rest: brands stuck in the #MessyMiddle in between ( thank you Scott Belsky ) - The Brand Conundrum: Fiduciary Responsibility or Environmental Responsibility: can we have it both ways ? ( Patagonia ) and is it fair to keep blaming brands (?) - #digitalinnovation leading the way to the Outdoor UX ( Strava, DashLX ) and Brand Loyalty - The democratization of the Outdoors ( Hipcamp , Outdoorsy, HOLO Footwear, Jimmy Chin on Netflix , climbing walls at Public Lands, and a shout out to Tae Kim and his pioneering vision at Alite ) - The reality of ( imminently ) pending legislation and our industry organizations helping us prepare ( American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) )thank you Steve Lamar and Matt Priest - Moving beyond 'the bottle' from recycling to circularity ... mechanical, chemical, and molecular ( Circ®, Reju, Ambercycle, LanzaTech Mango Materials , Eastman, Invisible Company ) on the march to commodity price parity - The hope for the future of our industry and our planet when all options are being #innovated

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Here at Ulta Beauty, we believe that beauty is a force for good, for all. So in a world where beauty standards are always changing, our brand new Ulta Beauty study revealed and confimred that every generation shares a deep emotional connection to beauty starting as early as Gen Alpha that is deeply rooted in self care and joy! Introducing our “Generation Joy: Defined by Beauty Enthusiasts of All Ages, United by Joy” report, uncovering a new generation of beauty enthusiasts who are bonded by beauty and united by JOY. We dug deep to discover how consumers across generations, including #GenAlpha, perceive, experience, and are influenced by beauty – and how joy is at the heart of beauty rituals, no matter your age. Among the topline “Generation Joy” insights: ✨Universal Joy from Beauty Routines: All generations look to self-care to increase joy in their lives - with 77% agreeing that maintaining a beauty or wellness routine helps them feel more joyful on a day-to-day basis. ✨Early Beauty Experimentation: Gen Alpha females and males are starting to experiment with beauty products at an average age of 8, five years earlier than Gen Z females. ✨Holistic Beauty Definition: 91% of Gen Alpha believes beauty is about looking and feeling good beyond physical appearance, with a focus on holistic self-care. ✨Parental Guidance: 77% of Ulta Beauty Rewards members who are parents to Gen Alpha actively encourage their child’s interest in beauty, with 70% using beauty routines as a bonding activity. And over two-thirds of these Gen Alpha parents agree that it is healthy and “normal” for their child to want to explore beauty at their age. ✨Natural Preferences: 92% of Gen Alpha prefers a more natural look, 87% prioritize skincare over makeup, and 97% believe skincare is self-care, reflecting their beauty goals – cleanliness, hydration, and enhancing natural beauty. Check out the report to explore how joy and beauty unite us! 👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/gSFpqYXu #UltaBeauty #TheJoyProject #JoyForward

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For those of you who work in retail, sell to retail, follow retail - this is worth reading. Having worked in retail - the value of a delightful in-store experience is critical. When the experience is amazing - you can turn a first-time transaction into a loyal omni customer because the customer feels valued and can see there is value in coming back. Too often, we see the experience being diluted because the focus is on the immediate profit & labor is easy to cut and the mantra that brick and mortar retail is dead. With that approach - you will push customers to your competitors who have a better experience or to Amazon. And what is interesting is that the healthiest sector in real estate is in retail because customers still want to experience products in real life before they purchase.

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US department stores' business model is broken. Do you agree? In my conversation with Steve Dennis we talked about why transformations fail and what happens when businesses don't transform and we talked about the example of US department stores. With Macy's announcing the closure of 150 stores and Kohl's shares down almost 15% YTD and almost 50% within the last 5 years. Is there a way out? #retail #retailtransformation #leadersleap

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Today’s results from Kohl's are dismal. They show a company that remains in freefall at a time when most other retailers are at least maintaining their elevation. A 5.3% decline in overall sales, underpinned by a 4.4% decline in comparables, is way worse than the market which, across the categories Kohl’s sells, grew by 2.9% over the quarter. This is the third year in which first quarter sales have declined. And, compared to the same period in 2019, sales are down by a sharp 16.8%. In cash terms, this means Kohl’s has lost $643 million in revenue. Unfortunately, the problems on the sales line are now filtering through to the bottom line where last year’s modest profit of $14 million has been replaced with a $27 million loss. Kohl’s management team says a lot of the right things around merchandising and the essentials of retail. However, not much has changed on the shop floor, which is one of the reason why Kohl's continues to lose customers on top of the 1.5 million it lost over the past five years. Thanks to The Wall Street Journal for including my comments in the article linked in the comments.... #retail #retailnews #departmentstores #trading #KSS

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Good read for points to consider. I would add a few more. On data, capture the right level of detail that allows observable corrections to improve the scorecards. Get agreement from all stakeholders on the measurement and the details behind the measurement. I remember a previous role where it took several months for accounting and merchandising to agree on the inputs for the margin calculation. Do not underestimate the need for change management. You create a scorecard to ensure success. It will flush issues that require change in the retailer and supplier networks. Leaders must be expect and support those changes. Some of those changes will be uncomfortable and may strike close to home.

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I have never met Mr. Rosen but he seems to be an exceptional person, visionary, leader and results driven. Taking a historic brand and moving it forward step-by-step in a measured, intelligent, customer and brand/product oriented way. I mean this in the best possible way - it’s like he is a hybrid of old school best practices/training and applying that in a new and relevant way to change today and create a relevant brand that almost disappeared. To actually say that JC Penney does have a bright future is really mind blowing. #JCPENNEY #RETAIL #TURNAROUND #STRATEGIC #TEAMWORK

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In an exclusive interview, #RugsDirect discusses how it uses #AI merchandising technology from #Constructor:

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With the 8.1% sales decline accelerating over the last quarter and with losses growing on the bottom line, JCPenney has started its new fiscal year on a sour note. Unfortunately, the market has been soft which has not helped revenue, but as it is only part way through its reinvention program JC Penney also isn’t firmly on the front foot. Lower credit income is also unhelpful, with revenues here down by 20.5 over last year.   The changes JCP has been making to some stores and to assortments seem to be delivering, with refurbished shops performing better and some categories like womenswear producing stronger numbers. Sadly, these things are not yet sufficiently developed or widespread enough to offset staleness in the balance of the business. Basically, there is still a lot of work to do to put JCP on a more stable footing.   Fortunately for JCPenney, it is well financed and has a strong financial partner in its owners. As such, management won’t lose too much sleep over being in the red. However, the company needs to produce some better results across the remainder of this fiscal to prove its strategy is working. It was great to chat with Daphne Howland of Retail Dive about the latest Q1 numbers - link to article in the comments. #retail #retailnews #departmentstores #trading #apparel

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Is store shopping more sustainable? Of course, it depends...on a lot of things. Marketing broad-based angles drowns out moves that really matter. My RetailWire weigh-in. https://lnkd.in/gzP-gtB6

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Retail design always is a meaningful part of the #retail experience, and I enjoyed sharing my insight with National Jeweler on how design is impacting store design and consumer engagement alike. What are your thoughts on how merchandising + design impact stores… jewelry focused like discussed here or any category of retail?

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Established fashion companies must invest in fashion technology. To maintain parity with the exponential surge of ultra-fast fashion, traditional players’ tech strategies must fulfill three missions. Learn more in this recent report: https://lnkd.in/gVW8nxpx

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Will JCPenney's loyalty and rewards program be the key to its turnaround? It's mind-boggling how many brands and retailers do NOT have a loyalty program. Without a loyalty program, customers are just individual transactions, and there's no way to connect the same person from marketing to physical store to e-commerce. First-party data is gold and shoppers have shown they are willing to share information in exchange for personalization and promotions. What keeps retailers and brands from rolling out a loyalty program? #ecommerce #loyaltyprograms #firstpartydata

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If you need a jolt of joy and a virtual fist bump 👊 you need to check out this video!

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Speed and accuracy are the new business norm. Is your brand competitive? Today's retailers are looking for ways to be more responsive to financial variances, more proactive with data applications and more efficient with real-time decision making.  What if I told you finding a connected planning solution could do just that? Below are just a few benefits of having a connected platform: 1) Dynamic – planning and analytics performed rapidly as situations dictate. 2) Collaborative – involving the right people at the right times within the process including customers. 3) Intelligent – leverage internal and external data to unlock predictive insights. Columbus Consulting International has spent over a decade implementing connected planning solutions for Retail clients within finance and supply chain. We would be happy to schedule a discovery call to learn more about your business and help tailor a connected planning solution for you.

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This article details the importance of client segmentation, customer loyalty and brand maturation. As business owners, the ability to differentiate and stand out is essential to long-term success. Onyx Strategic Partners, LLC we continue to research and implement new trends to sustain growth. #marketing #customerexperience #AI

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