INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
Discounts and promotions are at an all-time high, often comprising the single-biggest cost within many retailers’ P&Ls. The good news is that many large retail organizations already have the tools and data they need to craft more effective promotions. John Rizzo/Getty Images. MORE
Smart retailers know that consumers expect omnichannel experiences. Even smarter retailers understand that the omnichannel goal posts continue to move. Retailers must balance business objectives with the flexibility to adapt to new customer expectations and industry trends. MORE
Virtual reality (VR), along with its sister technology augmented reality (AR), offers retailers the opportunity to transform how people shop. The successful incorporation of VR and AR into retail models also has the potential to vastly change the way retailers are thinking about stores of the future. Retailers looking to develop a virtual commerce strategy should consider breaking it down along the following dimensions. Your camping trip is coming up. MORE
Retail profits are plummeting. Sure enough, the Census Bureau just released data showing that online retail sales surged 15.2 But before you dump all of your retail stocks, there are more facts you should consider. percent of retail sales in the first quarter of 2016. MORE
For retailers, the cloud can do much more than reduce the cost of computing and data storage. To maximize value from cloud, retailers need to prioritize workflows that can best benefit from it. We share six opportunities for leveraging the cloud as a catalyst for accelerating delivery of business results. Digital Insights MORE
Retail firings continue. is attempting to right-size itself by closing 33 under-performing stores around the country and eliminating 2,000 positions, the retailer said Wednesday. In addition to the workers losing their jobs, some associates will be reassigned or transferred, the retailer said. Today, Wal-Mart announced a 2% Reduction in Sam''s Club Employees to thin middle-manager ranks. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. MORE
Revenue could pick up significantly in the next five years. The region’s winners are likely to emphasize a few key themes—such as going digital first or making banking leaner and simpler. Insights on Financial Services MORE
Below, we take a regional look at how incumbents in retail payments can excel in an increasingly digital world. Overall, growth in retail payments revenues will be driven by account and debit card revenues. Article Monday, September 26, 2016. MORE
One of the biggest questions faced by brick-and-mortar retailers today is whether prices should be the same online and in stores. Gaining clarity on this issue is critical for traditional retailers to successfully compete in both environments. Brick-and-mortar retailers have been struggling with pricing since Amazon’s inception, 23 years ago, so why is it so important to resolve this issue now? Well, the news for retailers keeps getting worse. MORE
Markit reports the Eurozone Retail PMI shows further drop in sales at year-end. Key Points: Retail sales fall at faster rate in December Rates of contraction accelerate in France and Italy , while growth eases in Germany Wholesale price inflation remains close to November’s recent low Summary: Latest PMI® data from Markit showed deteriorating trends with in the eurozone retail sector in December. MORE
As the battle for profitability increases, energy retailers are embarking on digital transformations to lower costs. Insights on Electric Power & Natural Gas MORE
So how can a low-wage retailer increase productivity? But it’s a different story for retailers and fast-food companies — the largest low-wage employers. So far, the technology we hear most about in retail is self-checkout. MORE
The news is part of a larger trend of closings that some are calling the retail apocalypse. The rise of e-commerce, combined with a shift in consumer preference toward dining out over shopping and with years of overbuilding , has made for distinctly unattractive economics in traditional retail. Amazon has made a big push into physical retail, capped off by its $13.7 None of these ideas are necessarily bad, but they fail to address the shifting economics of retail. MORE
A small but growing number of retailers and restaurants are experimenting with selling their wares through unstaffed kiosks, often linked to apps and e-payment systems MORE
If retailers treat indirect costs as an opportunity for business transformation rather than just a procurement matter, they can boost return on sales by as much as 2 percent. Retail Insights MORE
A call to arms for the digital executive MORE
Major structural shifts in the region will compel retailers to transform their businesses both commercially and operationally. Our Insights MORE
Retail InsightsOur survey of 23,000 European shoppers reveals specific ways grocers can win in fresh fruits and vegetables, boosting sales by as much as 10 percent even in a flat market. MORE
Traditional retailers are feeling the heat. Even as competition intensifies , shoppers’ visits to retail stores are declining every year, leading one industry veteran to ominously ask his peers , “Is anyone not seeing large traffic declines?” ” Online retail, on the other hand, is thriving. Retail sales through digital channels (including mobile sales) increased by a massive 23% in 2015. Much of these gains have gone to online retailers. MORE
Findings from a recent PwC Consumer Intelligence Series (CIS) survey of 15,000 global consumers confirm that technology will remain central to retailers' ability to understand and predict customer behavior. But none of these high-tech capabilities would be possible without people MORE
Census bureau reports show wholesale and retail inventories jumped in November. more…). Economics MORE
Today, retailers approach the last mile making more nuanced trade-offs among speed, variety, and convenience. The right combination entails a complex set of compromises that depend on the product type, consumer segment, shopping occasion, and retailer positioning Nearly two decades ago, the first home delivery startups focused on speed at the expense of variety -- they could get you a small selection of goods relatively quickly. MORE
Economists missed the mark on retail sales this month by a mile. The Bloomberg Econoday consensus estimate was +0.4% in … Continue reading → Economics MORE
Nearly eight years after the financial crisis, the performance of many retail banks is still disappointing investors and financial markets, particularly in Europe. In fact, retail banks have to reinvent themselves. Article Tuesday, June 21, 2016. MORE
New methodologies, powered by big data and advanced analytics, can help retailers attract value-conscious consumers without sacrificing margins. Our Insights MORE
How to convert extraordinary behaviors into ordinary parts of your culture MORE
Article Friday, January 20, 2017 During the past decade, the global retail industry established a solid record of very strong value creation. Ninety-four of the companies were in the retail industry. Overall, from 2011 through 2015, the retail companies in our sample returned an annualized TSR of 16% (down from 21% for the five-year period ending in 2014). MORE
Alain Bejjani, CEO of conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim, shares his perspectives on retail’s future and on his own leadership journey. Our Insights MORE
For retailers, 2017 will be remembered as the year of store closings. This article appeared originally in Customer Strategist. Nearly 13,000 stores are expected to shut their doors this year, compared with 4,000 in 2016, Bloomberg reports. MORE
Brands, retail stores, and marketers quickly realized the opportunity inherent in the success of Pokémon Go. In fact, AR may offer physical retailers a competitive advantage against brick-and-mortar competitors. MORE
BCG’s Retail-Banking Excellence benchmarking study (REBEX) profiles the operational and digital practices and performance of 20 of the world’s leading retail banks, a group of 40 institutions chosen for their size and the strength of their capabilities. Article Tuesday, May 10, 2016. MORE
For retailers, customer data is at a tipping point. From image recognition to shopping assistants, many of the hot new products that were unveiled at the annual tradeshow were designed to help retailers act on in MORE
The return of economic growth to many of the world's markets, albeit at different rates, should help to boost the overall outlook for retail banking. Article Tuesday, May 10, 2016. MORE
Retail Related Topics McKinsey
NOVEMBER 29, 2018
In the United States and Western Europe, many traditional grocery retailers are seeing their sales and margins fall—and things could get even worse. Retail InsightsHere’s how to reverse the trend.
McKinsey
DECEMBER 7, 2018
For retailers, the cloud can do much more than reduce the cost of computing and data storage. To maximize value from cloud, retailers need to prioritize workflows that can best benefit from it. We share six opportunities for leveraging the cloud as a catalyst for accelerating delivery of business results. Digital Insights
McKinsey
AUGUST 22, 2018
As merchandising in retail continues to evolve with the integration of analytics and other digital solutions, merchants need to become much more nimble and ready to fulfill customer needs. Retail Insights
McKinsey
AUGUST 21, 2018
If retailers treat indirect costs as an opportunity for business transformation rather than just a procurement matter, they can boost return on sales by as much as 2 percent. Retail Insights
McKinsey
JULY 27, 2018
Using advanced geospatial analytics, retailers can now quantify the true economic value of each of their stores across channels—and they’re uncovering surprising insights. Retail Insights
Strategy+Business
OCTOBER 17, 2016
Target is the latest retailer to double down on mini versions of its stores -- and hopes to avoid others' pitfalls
BCG
SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
Below, we take a regional look at how incumbents in retail payments can excel in an increasingly digital world. Overall, growth in retail payments revenues will be driven by account and debit card revenues. Article Monday, September 26, 2016.
McKinsey
APRIL 4, 2018
Retail InsightsOur survey of 23,000 European shoppers reveals specific ways grocers can win in fresh fruits and vegetables, boosting sales by as much as 10 percent even in a flat market.
BCG
JUNE 21, 2016
Nearly eight years after the financial crisis, the performance of many retail banks is still disappointing investors and financial markets, particularly in Europe. In fact, retail banks have to reinvent themselves. Article Tuesday, June 21, 2016.
McKinsey
NOVEMBER 8, 2016
New methodologies, powered by big data and advanced analytics, can help retailers attract value-conscious consumers without sacrificing margins. Our Insights
Harvard Business
MAY 30, 2016
Retail profits are plummeting. Sure enough, the Census Bureau just released data showing that online retail sales surged 15.2 But before you dump all of your retail stocks, there are more facts you should consider. percent of retail sales in the first quarter of 2016.
Strategy+Business
NOVEMBER 8, 2015
Today, retailers approach the last mile making more nuanced trade-offs among speed, variety, and convenience. The right combination entails a complex set of compromises that depend on the product type, consumer segment, shopping occasion, and retailer positioning Nearly two decades ago, the first home delivery startups focused on speed at the expense of variety -- they could get you a small selection of goods relatively quickly.
1 to 1
JULY 24, 2017
For retailers, 2017 will be remembered as the year of store closings. This article appeared originally in Customer Strategist. Nearly 13,000 stores are expected to shut their doors this year, compared with 4,000 in 2016, Bloomberg reports.
McKinsey
DECEMBER 14, 2018
Leading apparel retailers are embracing advanced analytics and blending intuition with science to price smarter. Retail Insights
McKinsey
SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
Customers are leading the way toward next-generation retail-banking distribution strategies. Our Insights
Strategy+Business
AUGUST 14, 2017
A small but growing number of retailers and restaurants are experimenting with selling their wares through unstaffed kiosks, often linked to apps and e-payment systems
MishTalk
JANUARY 24, 2014
Retail firings continue. is attempting to right-size itself by closing 33 under-performing stores around the country and eliminating 2,000 positions, the retailer said Wednesday. In addition to the workers losing their jobs, some associates will be reassigned or transferred, the retailer said. Today, Wal-Mart announced a 2% Reduction in Sam''s Club Employees to thin middle-manager ranks. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Strategy+Business
MARCH 1, 2015
How to convert extraordinary behaviors into ordinary parts of your culture
McKinsey
NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Major structural shifts in the region will compel retailers to transform their businesses both commercially and operationally. Our Insights
MishTalk
AUGUST 12, 2016
Economists missed the mark on retail sales this month by a mile. The Bloomberg Econoday consensus estimate was +0.4% in … Continue reading → Economics
1 to 1
JUNE 25, 2018
Smart retailers know that consumers expect omnichannel experiences. Even smarter retailers understand that the omnichannel goal posts continue to move. Retailers must balance business objectives with the flexibility to adapt to new customer expectations and industry trends.
McKinsey
FEBRUARY 16, 2018
Revenue could pick up significantly in the next five years. The region’s winners are likely to emphasize a few key themes—such as going digital first or making banking leaner and simpler. Insights on Financial Services
BCG
MAY 9, 2016
BCG’s Retail-Banking Excellence benchmarking study (REBEX) profiles the operational and digital practices and performance of 20 of the world’s leading retail banks, a group of 40 institutions chosen for their size and the strength of their capabilities. Article Tuesday, May 10, 2016.
McKinsey
NOVEMBER 13, 2017
Scrutiny of retail banking sales practices is at a high pitch—banking leaders should also see this as an opportunity to reset and strengthen relationships with their customers. Our Insights
MishTalk
DECEMBER 29, 2016
Census bureau reports show wholesale and retail inventories jumped in November. more…). Economics
BCG
MAY 9, 2016
The return of economic growth to many of the world's markets, albeit at different rates, should help to boost the overall outlook for retail banking. Article Tuesday, May 10, 2016.
Strategy+Business
MAY 16, 2018
Findings from a recent PwC Consumer Intelligence Series (CIS) survey of 15,000 global consumers confirm that technology will remain central to retailers' ability to understand and predict customer behavior. But none of these high-tech capabilities would be possible without people
McKinsey
OCTOBER 18, 2016
Here’s how retailers can make the quality investments that yield the highest returns. In fresh foods, quality is critical—but hard to define and measure. Our Insights
McKinsey
JUNE 9, 2018
As the battle for profitability increases, energy retailers are embarking on digital transformations to lower costs. Insights on Electric Power & Natural Gas
1 to 1
JANUARY 23, 2018
For retailers, customer data is at a tipping point. From image recognition to shopping assistants, many of the hot new products that were unveiled at the annual tradeshow were designed to help retailers act on in
McKinsey
AUGUST 2, 2017
Alain Bejjani, CEO of conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim, shares his perspectives on retail’s future and on his own leadership journey. Our Insights
MishTalk
JANUARY 7, 2015
Markit reports the Eurozone Retail PMI shows further drop in sales at year-end. Key Points: Retail sales fall at faster rate in December Rates of contraction accelerate in France and Italy , while growth eases in Germany Wholesale price inflation remains close to November’s recent low Summary: Latest PMI® data from Markit showed deteriorating trends with in the eurozone retail sector in December.
McKinsey
NOVEMBER 29, 2018
Retail InsightsThe industry as a whole is embracing new opportunities—even as dangers lurk.
Harvard Business
JANUARY 3, 2017
Traditional retailers are feeling the heat. Even as competition intensifies , shoppers’ visits to retail stores are declining every year, leading one industry veteran to ominously ask his peers , “Is anyone not seeing large traffic declines?” ” Online retail, on the other hand, is thriving. Retail sales through digital channels (including mobile sales) increased by a massive 23% in 2015. Much of these gains have gone to online retailers.
Strategy+Business
MAY 1, 2014
A call to arms for the digital executive
Harvard Business
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
Virtual reality (VR), along with its sister technology augmented reality (AR), offers retailers the opportunity to transform how people shop. The successful incorporation of VR and AR into retail models also has the potential to vastly change the way retailers are thinking about stores of the future. Retailers looking to develop a virtual commerce strategy should consider breaking it down along the following dimensions. Your camping trip is coming up.
BCG
JANUARY 20, 2017
Article Friday, January 20, 2017 During the past decade, the global retail industry established a solid record of very strong value creation. Ninety-four of the companies were in the retail industry. Overall, from 2011 through 2015, the retail companies in our sample returned an annualized TSR of 16% (down from 21% for the five-year period ending in 2014).
McKinsey
MARCH 27, 2017
The secret is in customization: dynamic-pricing solutions must be tailored to a retailer’s business context, objectives, and ways of working. Our Insights
Harvard Business
JANUARY 26, 2017
One of the biggest questions faced by brick-and-mortar retailers today is whether prices should be the same online and in stores. Gaining clarity on this issue is critical for traditional retailers to successfully compete in both environments. Brick-and-mortar retailers have been struggling with pricing since Amazon’s inception, 23 years ago, so why is it so important to resolve this issue now? Well, the news for retailers keeps getting worse.
Strategy+Business
FEBRUARY 26, 2017
Brands, retail stores, and marketers quickly realized the opportunity inherent in the success of Pokémon Go. In fact, AR may offer physical retailers a competitive advantage against brick-and-mortar competitors.
Harvard Business
AUGUST 23, 2016
So how can a low-wage retailer increase productivity? But it’s a different story for retailers and fast-food companies — the largest low-wage employers. So far, the technology we hear most about in retail is self-checkout.
Harvard Business
SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
The news is part of a larger trend of closings that some are calling the retail apocalypse. The rise of e-commerce, combined with a shift in consumer preference toward dining out over shopping and with years of overbuilding , has made for distinctly unattractive economics in traditional retail. Amazon has made a big push into physical retail, capped off by its $13.7 None of these ideas are necessarily bad, but they fail to address the shifting economics of retail.
McKinsey
SEPTEMBER 22, 2018
But surprising insights are reshaping the retail sector. Retail InsightsPrime Day has emerged as a mammoth shopping event.
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