Results Count ... everything else is conversation.

What are analytics and whose job is it anyway …

Why leaders must be engaged in business analytics

There seems to be two buzz phrases in the headlines these days: “big data” and “analytics”.  In working with a number of Fortune 500 clients, there certainly is no lack of data.  Executives don’t lack data; they need more business intelligence to answer some very tough business questions.  One of the hottest buttons of the C Suite today is “business analytics”.   Just what is “analytics” and whose job should it be in today’s big data world?

Social Media Has the Power to Kill Pink Slime

Bettina Siegel is the poster child for what a blog can do!

Social media gets a lot of hype, but how much power does it really have to change things?  If you don’t know Bettina Elias Siegel, you are probably in good company.  Ms. Siegel is the author of a small blog that popularized the term “pink slime”.  Her blog could be a case study in the power of “viral branding,” which impacted an entire industry.  Now, if she would just take on “meat glue”.

Another nail in the coffin of big box stores?

Ability to sustain traffic will be a critical success factor 

You don’t need to look very far to see another article on the growth of online retailing.  The phenomenon of online shopping is truly worldwide. While Amazon grabs the headlines with record profits in the west, Alibaba dominates China. Consumers are voting.  The biggest threat to traditional bricks and mortar stores is not the loss of just sales, but the ability to drive future traffic.  Two recent tests offer a crystal ball of new challenges traditional big box stores will face in maintaining consumer traffic.

Retailers are missing Mother’s Day “wow” factor

Don’t just click … Give Mum an experience to remember    

Everyone has one … a “Mum”.  So, how can you not remember her on this holiday!  Yet, in this time crunched world a majority of kids will purchase something quick and easy.  Want to give your Mom something to remember this year?  How about giving her a “dog fight”!  Retail stores would do well to think outside of the box to capitalize on the emerging trend of gifting “experience” over token gifts purchased online.

7 Ways to Wake the Dead and Inspire Action

How to use PowerPoint without boring people 

If you are in business, most of you probably put together “decks of slides”.  Outside of business, many of us get called upon as leaders to orchestrate meetings.  Even if you have a slick deck with cool graphics doesn’t mean you won’t bore your group.  I often get asked how we put together decks that engage workshop attendees.  I had an opportunity to provide our 7 tips in a recent guest blog for “SmartBlog on Leadership”.

What’s a name change worth … Results Count!

The shoemaker’s kids finally have some new shoes! 

When you are in a client service business, the focus is rightfully on the clients.  And, when you work with some the largest Fortune 500 companies, there never seems to quite enough time to work on your “own stuff”.  The classic saying is that the “shoemaker’s kids are barefoot and have no shoes.”  Well, 2012 became our year to get new look and a new name.  

Invest in the Front line to grow the Bottom line!

Why the front line has become the battle ground in retail

In the not too distant past, retailers did not pay much attention to staff on the retail floor. They primarily hired “clerks” to run registers for checkout. The front line staff in retail has historically been the lowest paid and received the least amount of training. Yet your experience as a consumer today is literally in the hands of the person on the retail floor. In today’s sterile world of “lowest price”, retailers must re-evaluate investing in the front line to grow their bottom line.

Ukraine: A case study for emerging markets

It’s not just the west, retail is changing everywhere 

I’m always excited about the opportunity to take IMS retail workshops on the road to other countries.  Last week I had opportunity to not only visit the Ukraine, but to meet with the senior management from top retailers in this emerging market.  There are always some unique local challenges. However, there are more similarities than differences across retailers today.  At the end of the day, results count … no matter where your retail stores are located.

5,280 … Miles (Not Feet) From Home

IMS Retail University Heads to the Ukraine

In retail we usually talk about feet, that is, square foot metrics of a retailer.  And, you could say we have walked miles touring retail store fronts and sales floors worldwide.  But not this week, the IMS Retail U “professor” found himself 5, 280 miles from his homeland.  IMS Retail University had the opportunity and pleasure to facilitate several different workshops in Kiev, Ukraine.

Harvesting Low Hanging Fruit from Out of Stocks

Why retailers & vendors must address shelf availability 

In these economic times, retailers have pressed so hard for lean inventory that now many of their high volume stores are often out of stock.  If the item is missing from the shelf, consumers are quickly turning to online retailers.  Out of stocks represent “low hanging” fruit for capturing lost sales, and profit potential without additional market spend.  As typical in retail, this sounds enticing.  But, the harvesting this opportunity requires visible inventory and collaboration between both retailers and vendors.