retail, commerce, grocery, COVID, COVID19, coronavirus
Gary E. Hawkins
Retail Response to COVID19: Innovation in ...

During my many years as a supermarket retailer I saw my share of panic buying related to natural disasters like blizzards and hurricanes. Like many, I lived through the 9/11 crisis and its impact. But I have never experienced anything like what we are currently going through.

I’ve talked with many people across the supply chain these past few days, from brand manufacturers to distributors to retailers. I have been in our local stores seeking supplies but also watching how retailers are responding to a never-before environment.

While healthcare workers are always thought of as the front lines in a pandemic like we are experiencing, it is just as true that the workers in supermarkets and drug stores are equally on the front lines. The commitment by people across the massive grocery industry to serve the people in their communities during this crisis is to be commended. They don’t have to be there - they can stay home like many others, taking care of their families, and self-quarantining. But these store workers are unselfishly putting themselves on the front line of the coronavirus battle, realizing that feeding and providing needed supplies for their communities is as important as the doctors and nurses caring for the ill.

When the current crisis abates - and it will - I believe the retail industry can step back to realize what it has accomplished….

Retail Response to COVID19: Innovation in Realtime

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The Radical Collaborations that are Shaping Retail

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The Radical Collaborations that are Shaping Retail

While it’s true that managing brick and mortar retail grows consistently more challenging each year, and more long-respected brands continue to shutter their doors, it’s important to note there are still many retailers who are thriving.

Businesses who are winning are those who have worked to re-invent themselves, accommodating changing expectations and customer shopping behaviors to create in-store experiences that matter.

To determine how others might be able to recreate these successes – or pioneer new ones – we’ve invited retailers, brands, merchandisers and industry experts to join us for the 9th Annual INSIGHT conference. We’ll gather to share ideas and observations about the people, processes, and tools that are driving superior instore results….

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The Promise and Peril of Data for Retailers and Solution Providers

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The Promise and Peril of Data for Retailers and Solution Providers

Data powers the retail industry, especially in today’s digital age. From in-store analytics to optimized-everything, and from marketing personalization to product customization, big data is the fuel in an age of tech-enabled innovation. Rarely do we see a few weeks go by that some new solution enters the industry that either creates a new data stream or feeds off existing data.