How to Win RFP’s Today
I recently read “RIP, RFP — This Is Not Your 1990s Vendor Selection Process” by Elaine Hutton, on the Forrester blog. First of all, she nailed it if you are doing RFP’s the old-fashioned way - meaning months and months to gather, process, score, evaluate and select....
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11 Apps Every Consultant Needs
Today, I share the secrets of being a successful consultant with 11 Apps Every Consultant Needs. In earlier posts, I helped readers estimate their readiness in Will You Succeed As A Retail Consultant and 5 Steps in One Week To Transition to Independent...
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Miller Zell Publishes Delaney Post
Miller Zell publishes Delaney blog post. "Flash Over Substance Fails in Retail." The Atlanta retail experience design firm tackles a taboo subject in retail design. Flora Delaney's post outlines difficulties in a major store re-design deployment. Get insight into the...
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An Icelandic Lesson in Retail Strategy
How a retail strategy is critical for success - even for a country In January 2009, Iceland's almost bankrupt economy caused the government to collapse. The small, beautiful and still remote island northwest of Ireland was home to 319,000 people who suddenly saw their...
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2 Reasons Regional US Grocers Thrive
How do the regional US grocers continue to dominate their markets? Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Aldi and Target use a national grocery strategy. How do the “HEB / Publix / Wegmans / Byerlys” chains continue to thrive? How do they build such deep...
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The most expensive souvenir of my executive career
We stood in a circle. Would-be executives who had been sent to an expensive executive-molding “experience.” Our companies spent tens of thousands of dollars hoping that we would become self-aware. Banks, manufacturers, retailers and pharmaceutical companies sent their...
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The Worst Time to Delegate
As a manager, you might think you are doing your job well when you delegate a task to an employee. Surely your staff member feels trusted and empowered when you ask them to take on an important assignment, right? Hang on. When you ask a team member to take...
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What a Board of Directors Does for an Independent Retailer
In the business world, independent retailers are often seen as not “really” a business. Vendors and technology solutions focus on the big players. Small retailers who deliver every day know that is not true. That is why retailers building for the long term bring on a...
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Creating A Successful Spa or Salon Sales Event
A spa or salon sales event should be fun and profitable. Here is what to do to make your event a success for your customers and your bottom line. Balance the products you sell at the event When hosting a spa or salon sales event, consider a mix of...
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Customer Service: First Among Equals
While all 7 Timeless Principles are critical, Customer Service may be the one that is the most fundamental requirement for a retailer's longevity. Previously, I had written that "for retailers who struggle, customer service is almost always below par." Think about the...
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