Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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How Gen Z is driving a cultural shift in retail branding
Retailers need to embrace change, the kind that starts from within, if they're to engage today's shopper, writes Meredith Ferguson of TMI Strategy.
Meredith Ferguson • May 02, 2018 -
5 surprising takeaways from Home Delivery World 2018
How Amazon, Walmart and Home Depot are tackling some of the stickiest issues in retail today, and we're not just talking last mile.
Christopher Walton • April 26, 2018 -
The future of payments will be fast, frictionless and convenient
Amazon Go may be the impetus, but a host of new technologies are about to change how shoppers pay for goods, writes Manolo Almagro, managing partner at Q Division.
Manolo Almagro • April 23, 2018 -
The rise of surveillance commerce
Consumers feel spied on as data are bought, sold and stolen. Lee Peterson of WD Partners asks, "Is this good for brands?"
Lee Peterson • April 19, 2018 -
A trade war could hurt retail, jobs and opportunity
The looming trade war between the U.S. and China would hurt small business, writes Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba.
Jack Ma • April 12, 2018 -
How to solve micro issues for big customer experience wins
It's the little things that matter when it comes to finding and solving shopper frustrations, writes Scott Voigt, founder and CEO of FullStory.
Scott Voigt • April 11, 2018 -
Living in a marketplace world
With marketplace sales on the rise, retailers need to develop a strategy to either participate or compete in this new paradigm, writes Michelle Grant, head of retailing research at Euromonitor International.
Michelle Grant • April 09, 2018 -
In the Toys R Us void, toy makers should target grocery
As the massive toy retailer winds down, producers can fill the gaps in their profit-and-loss statements by targeting supermarkets, writes Tim Hall, CEO of research firm Simporter and former Hasbro executive.
Tim Hall • April 05, 2018 -
10 retailers leading the way in AR
Ikea, Anthropologie and Lowe's are among those adopting the immersive tech as it quickly catches on, writes Michael Quoc, CEO and founder of Dealspotr.
Michael Quoc • April 04, 2018 -
The good, the bad and the ugly of Shoptalk 2018
From legacy retailers lackluster messaging to startups in the grocery space, there were lessons on every stage last week in Las Vegas, writes independent consultant Christopher Walton.
Christopher Walton • March 29, 2018 -
10 tips to get the most out of Shoptalk 2018
Shoptalk has quickly become retail’s Golden Globes. Christopher Walton, an independent consultant, breaks down what you need to know.
Christopher Walton • March 14, 2018 -
Walmart hits an e-commerce road bump. What's next?
The retailer's recent news does not bode well for the Doug McMillon and Marc Lore relationship, nor the larger industry, writes Christopher Walton, former vice president of Target's Store of the Future.
Christopher Walton • Feb. 26, 2018 -
The key to unlocking the digitally-enabled store
Investing in IoT devices will be the cornerstone for retail stores that hope to survive in a new era, according to Dell's Jeff Brown.
Jeff Brown • Feb. 22, 2018 -
How to close stores and still succeed
Considering the impact shuttering stores has on digital sales, retailers are better off transforming them into showrooms or BOPIS depots, writes Lee Peterson of WD Partners.
Lee Peterson • Feb. 14, 2018 -
5 ways for brands to inspire customer loyalty in 2018
You can't deliver the best value for your customer unless you understand them and their needs, writes Brian Shimmerlik, CEO of Vengo.
Brian Shimmerlik • Feb. 07, 2018 -
Why retailers should stop waiting for a universal mobile wallet
The promise is intriguing, but brands are already doing mobile payments better on their own, writes Katie Jansen, chief marketing officer of AppLovin.
Katie Jansen • Feb. 06, 2018 -
Amazon Go is more like Amazon 'Uh oh'
This ground-breaking concept should strike fear in the hearts of retailers, but not because it's an awesome new concept, but because it's the latest pyramid-like contract with America, writes Christopher Walton.
Christopher Walton • Feb. 06, 2018 -
What does 'mobile' actually mean in the affiliate world?
Determining the best strategy for a company requires defining what "mobile" means for your business, writes Acceleration Partners's Matthew Wool.
Matthew Wool • Feb. 05, 2018 -
How to thrive in retail's new normal
Retailers should be focused less on channels and more on customer journeys and emotions, writes Lori Mitchell-Keller of SAP.
Lori Mitchell-Keller • Jan. 29, 2018 -
The good, the bad and the ugly of NRF's Big Show 2018
While the conference showcased plenty of "cool tech," the show overall "felt stuck in a time warp" and needs to innovate faster, writes Christopher Walton.
Christopher Walton • Jan. 18, 2018 -
10 tips for getting the most out of NRF's Big Show
A smartly planned trade show can be the difference between retail transformation and spinning wheels, writes independent consultant Christopher Walton.
Christopher Walton • Jan. 09, 2018 -
5 ways to win with Gen Z shoppers
Causes, convenience and calls to action are helping brands successfully court the youngest demographic, writes Oded Edelman of Signet Jewelers.
Oded Edelman • Jan. 09, 2018 -
5 ways to boost your fraud prevention game
Online businesses collectively lose $30-60 billion every year due to fraud, writes Michael Manapat of Stripe. Here's what you can do about it.
Michael Manapat • Jan. 04, 2018 -
How to build a chatbot rich in functionality
By finding and fixing the biggest bottlenecks of a chatbot, users will have a smoother experience and be more likely to return, writes Botanalytics's lker Koksal.
Ilker Koksal • Jan. 02, 2018 -
5 in-store technologies that will save the American mall
Malls aren't dead, but they are changing — and store-based technology is helping to re-imagine the American shopping experience, writes Tony Scherba of Yeti.
Tony Scherba • Dec. 13, 2017