Shira Goodman

"Let’s face it: consumers are more educated than ever, and with price comparison at their fingertips, they’re also savvier than ever, heightening their expectations to get exactly what they want – and at the best price available,” says Advantage Solutions Michael Taylor in his latest @Forbes piece.    Michael dives into the opportunities and challenges of serving today’s discerning #shoppers. He emphasizes the need for retailers and brands to embrace multicultural influences and adventurous flavor profiles, cater to the diverse tastes of modern consumers, and leverage design, form and function to enhance product appeal.     Highly recommend taking a read for some actionable strategies for staying ahead in a competitive market. Great piece, Michael!    #RetailInnovation #ConsumerTrends #LeadershipInsights #ConsumerBehavior

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Building the capacity, namely the team, is a unique challenge to tackle for fast growing organizations like Emily McCarthy + Co. Did you get to listen to the conversation with Emily McCarthy ? https://lnkd.in/ev8GZAJr #retailgrowth #retailpodcast #scaleyourbusiness #smallbusinesspodcast

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In this episode, Transworld client Laura Haftel tells the listeners how she became a store owner after being a buyer for Macy's and the Gap. Through this experience, she gained valuable insights and a clear vision of what the future holds. 🙌 👉 Listen to this episode or one of the many others on #thedealboardpodcast today! https://lnkd.in/dUrr2-nd #podcast #businesspodcast #episode #interview #sellerstory #businessstory #businessowner #ownabusiness #listen #pod #thedealboard

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The digital revolution has transformed every aspect of the CPG and retail business. However, has it truly impacted category management? This question frequently crossed my mind during my time in retail, but I never received a resounding affirmation from industry practitioners. There are variety of reasons that we could ponder over on why that is the case. However, I am more focused on how do we evolve this space to what the customer shopping behavior is today and what is the experience customers expect of their shopping experience (both physical and digital). At Think Blue we have come up with a list of key items that can help you develop a deeper and meaningful process that helps category management be effective: 1. Is Category Management embedded around consumer centricity? 2. Does Physical retail still drive the decision making with digital business being a bolt on? 3. Are your category roles defined by your #CustomerValueProposition? 4. Do these category roles properly understand the Omni- customers? 5. Are right data inputs being used by practitioners to make the appropriate distribution decisions? 6. Do you have a universal expectation of your category teams to deliver physical and digital shelf at the same time? Or is digital shelf a function of a different team? 7. Pricing Tactics - Are they defined by channels and customer or by store groupings and regions? 8. Promotional Tactics- Do you innovate promotionally by using new digital tools to build loyalty? 9. Tech and Digital Capabilities- Are you embedding your teams with the latest tools around Space Planning and Promotional effectiveness 10. Partnerships- Are you building the right partnerships with your CPG/retail partners to create Joint Value! #categorymanagement #digitaltransformation #thinkblue Sri Rajagopalan Manish Sharma

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Improving the retention of frontline talent is currently challange in many markets and showing up for the first time as a top 3 CEO priority in our #StateOfGrocery CEO survey. My colleagues David Fuller and Bryan Logan investigated how to improve retention and the benefits of it. Three of their key findings: - the benefits of higher retention of frontline talent is even bigger than expected: 1) the happier your employees are the happier your customers: there is a strong correlation between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction. 2) higher retention leads to higher operational efficiency: there is also a strong correlation between retention and cost efficiency beyond just hireing and training cost - while compensation is important, the lack of career opportunities and uninspirational leaders are nearly as important why employees leave the retailer and the retail industry overall - what employees value depends on the group of employees. Therefore segmenting you frontline employees (as you would segment customers) and offering each segment its own value proposition, shows great results for retailers that started to roll this out. See the article below for more insights and details.

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In this episode, Transworld client Laura Haftel tells the listeners how she became a store owner after being a buyer for Macy's and the Gap. Through this experience, she gained valuable insights and a clear vision of what the future holds. 🙌 👉 Listen to this episode or one of the many others on #thedealboardpodcast today! https://lnkd.in/gisjfXma #podcast #businesspodcast #episode #interview #sellerstory #businessstory #businessowner #ownabusiness #listen #pod #thedealboard

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Dear Retail Friends,   If you’re a wholesaler, access to data from suppliers and retail customers is critical in enabling optimal service levels with minimal inventory. But getting that data, and acting upon it, can be challenging.   While there are many hurdles to this kind of collaboration, it can be done. And the benefits are numerous – not just for wholesalers, but their suppliers and retail customers as well.   https://lnkd.in/dbxub36v   #supplychain #supplychainoptimization #wholesaledistribution The future of wholesale supply chain collaboration | RELEX Solutions Unlock insights on boosting wholesale collaboration for supply chain efficiency and profit in this expert interview.

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A recent study by BRG on debt maturity cycles, foresees the next debt maturity wall hitting in 2028/29 with a peak of $530bn of leveraged loans maturing in 2028 and $312bn of high-yield bonds maturing in 2029. High-risk borrowers will have trouble refinancing with widening spreads and the current interest-rate environment. Getting ahead of the maturity wall and being prepared with options is key. The article below outlines our thoughts on how retailers can be better prepared. Interested to hear your thoughts on additional strategies and considerations. Shawn Ashworth, Joe Schmitt, Chap Kistler

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CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer is always entertaining and informative. A recent edition brought to light a critical trend in #consumerbehavior that can’t be ignored: as #consumers push back against high prices, they’re not just seeking bargains—they’re demanding them.    This shift is driving a new era of frugality and value-seeking, from which bargain #retailers and cost-effective services are rising to prominence. The stores and brands that will thrive are those that can meet the demand for affordability without compromising on quality, proving that it's possible to offer both #value and excellence.     https://lnkd.in/guQJazSu  

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This episode we are joined by Kate Berski, Co-Founder of CURLSMITH, a high performance, inclusive haircare brand which she started with her husband in 2018. It soon became one of the fastest growing textured hair brands and would go on to retail at Ulta Beauty, Target, Boots and many more. The idea for Curlsmith was formed out of a family struggle to find suitable haircare products for Kate’s nieces’ curly hair. Kate and her husband Michal soon realised that there was a gap in the market with lots of people unable to find appropriate products for their hair. Using her experience in advertising and brand consulting, combined with Michal’s experience working for some major beauty companies, they soon developed a community around an Instagram page that they launched, which shared advice, recipes and tips for people with curly hair, before they began the process of making their own product. In this episode, we discuss 🤩: - The haircare industry and how Curlsmith was brought to life - The journey (and cost) of developing a product - The pros and cons of staying lean as long as possible - Digital vs retail channels - Going down the VC route and how that helped grow the business - The toll a startup has on your mental health - Having a kid whilst running a business, and realising there’s more to life than work - What it’s like to sell your company  - How entrepreneurship compares to becoming an author And much much more… #Entrepreneurship #StartupMentalHealth #BalancingWorkAndFamily #EntrepreneurshipVsAuthorship #NotMyFirstGuess

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It is Wednesday and time for my weekly citation. This week is Numerator. They are a force for good in our industry because they often are first to publish on hot topics such as the impact of SNAP benefit reduction, impact of GLP-1 on purchase patterns, Amazon Prime events to name a few. This early thought leadership helps us corporate researchers frame and prioritize what we do. Today, I want to share a whimsical insight on pop tarts. Growing up my family was below poverty level and these only made it to our pantry if there was a triple coupon event stacked with a sale from Hy-Vee, our hometown grocer. Waiting for them to toast was part of the experience. But it turns out most of you are eating them straight from the package! "...how do buyers prefer their Pop-Tarts? While 68% say they typically eat their Pop-Tarts warmed up (toasted, microwaved, etc.), many are not toasting their toaster pastries at all—61% eat them at room temperature straight from the package, and 12% eat them cold from the refrigerator or freezer." https://lnkd.in/ej2J9Yzj Happy 4th to you all. Until next week - b.

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𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞... A recent RetailWire discussion ponders whether Walmart can take on Trader Joe's with its latest private brand launch, bettergoods. My take was that the brand seemed more Target-esque (shades of Good & Gather) and that it was about time Walmart upped the ante with a "better" private brand in grocery. This weekend, I headed to the freezer to grab my new favorite plant-based ice cream only to find I was out of it. Keep in mind that 1. I'm plant-based but wasn't always. I know the standards analogs need to meet. 2. I've been hitting this ice cream several times per week. It's rich, not too sweet, with a perfect consistency, even after days in the home freezer. 😋 I started backtracking to remember where I bought it. Was it Whole Foods? Fresh Market? I remembered the bright green packaging...very "Target" - that must be it (my more frequent jaunts to Target for plant-based goods still surprise me). I wasn't completely sure so I headed to the recycle bin. Mystery solved. It was - Walmart's "bettergoods" plant-based ice cream. 😯 Well played, Walmart. Well played! ✅ 👏

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Despite tech advancements, consumers still prefer in-store experiences. A recent EY survey shows most want expert advice and the ability to touch items before buying, while frustration grows over chatbots’ inability to resolve issues. #RetailTrends #CustomerExperience #InStoreShopping

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At this point we've all heard of “shrinkflation,” but a new trend is now facing the #grocery and #retail sectors that marks a significant shift in the way we approach retail marketing and pricing strategies. “Upflation” aims to reclaim sales by introducing innovative uses for existing products -- at premium prices. Confession: I don't know how they're different, but I do love the dog wipes for my beloved canine :)   Upflation is more than just a pricing strategy; it's a response to changing #consumer preferences, where cost-consciousness and a desire for value are paramount. Great reporting by Bloomberg’s Leslie Patton and Deena Shanker about a topic we should all be keeping a close eye on:    https://lnkd.in/dhkhC-sN  

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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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Hello Retail Friends,   It’s no secret that supply chains have faced unprecedented disruption and volatility in recent years, underscoring the need to address vulnerabilities, improve preparedness, and create innovative strategies.   We surveyed 285 retail, CPG, and wholesale leaders globally in February 2024, exploring the challenges, strategic investment areas, and opportunities for retailers and CPGs over the next 3-5 years.   See how retail and CPG executives are tackling these challenges and planning for the future in our report, State of Supply Chain 2024: Retail and CPG Dynamics.     https://lnkd.in/eQQVdNmN     #supplychain #businesstransformation #supplychainplanning

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Are your district and regional leaders ready to address the ongoing change and uncertainty of the retail industry? Now, more than ever, your leaders need to be equipped with the leadership behaviors that get to the core of retail results. MOHR Retail can help. Our upcoming Retail Multi-unit Leadership (RML) course is grounded in national retail research and shares the skills and strategies needed to meet today’s retail demands and build a culture that prioritizes trust, resilience, inclusivity, and safety. The next session starts September 10, so learn more through the document below, then get in touch with me if you have questions. #LearnMOHR #RetailTraining #RetailLeadership

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When it comes to retail trends, NRF’s annual list of the Top 100 Retailers shows that the pandemic and pandemic-era spending are starting to ease. That’s what David Marcotte, senior vice president of global retail and technology for Kantar, terms the “big trend” out of the National Retail Federation’s annual ranking of the industry’s 100 largest retailers by domestic retail sales. Kantar compiles the data and explores the Power Players in a variety of categories. #nrf #kantar #top100retailers

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#HotTake: Retail stores aren’t a shortcut to success. Retail offers bigger POs, visibility, and cash flow Yet, it doesn’t ensure brand sustainability Case in point: JLo Beauty Despite celeb status and prime placement at Sephora, She faced challenges resulting in a US exit Retail alone doesn’t secure loyalty or repeat sales Placement isn’t guaranteed forever For lasting success, think beyond the retail PO Some markers of a sustainable brand include: Authenticity, community, differentiated formulas, and true fans Building a lasting brand legacy requires more than a retail presence – 👋🏾 Hi, I’m Monique, a former retail buyer turned beauty industry advisor who helps emerging brands ready to scale at big retail. If you are ready to scale and invest, book a discovery call, and let’s see if we can work together.

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