• For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
  • New Suppliers
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Monday, March 20
  • Subscribe
  • Submit Content
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Advertise
    • Display Advertising
    • Email Marketing Campaigns
    • Newsletter Advertising
    • Sponsored Content
    • Lead Generation Services
  • Top Product Sources
Facebook Twitter Instagram
WholesaleCentral.com Blog
  • For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
  • New Suppliers
WholesaleCentral.com Blog
Home»For Buyers»Retail News»Retail’s BIG Show 2014 and the Future of Retail
Retail News

Retail’s BIG Show 2014 and the Future of Retail

Ron FisherBy Ron FisherJanuary 10, 20143 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

Retail’s BIG Show 2014 and the Future of RetailRetail’s BIG Show 2014 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City starts January 12. Keynote speakers include Sprinkles Cupcakes’ Candace Nelson, designer Rebecca Minkoff and Rick Caruso, founder and CEO of Caruso Affiliated. Nelson, Minkoff and Caruso previewed their thoughts on brick and mortar retail in the 21st century recently with Jennifer Overstreet on Retail’s BIG Blog. Below is an excerpt from that discussion.

“Brick retailers must realize that they are also in the hospitality business,” Caruso states. “Retail’s strength has always been providing hands-on service and its future is ensuring a first-class experience for every customer. At our properties, guests stay three times longer and spend nearly double the industry average because we invest in strong service and important details that make guests feel welcomed, valued and respected.”

Subsidize shipping

At Sprinkles, we found that overnight shipping of our ice cream is very expensive. We subsidize 50 percent of shipping costs for our customers to get the product in their hands. Even though we incur a slight loss, we believe in the marketing component of our product being in home freezers nationwide!

Candace Nelson, Sprinkles Cupcakes’

Nelson says: “It is key to offer customers not near your retail stores a way to get your products. Make the shipping process easy and seamless for them with a simple online order form. At Sprinkles, we found that overnight shipping of our ice cream is very expensive. We subsidize 50 percent of shipping costs for our customers to get the product in their hands. Even though we incur a slight loss, we believe in the marketing component of our product being in home freezers nationwide! It’s also important to give customers a reason to visit your brick and mortar shop. Keep your retail location special with stellar customer service and offerings that can only be found within stores.”

The concept of building community and engagement has evolved for retailers over the last five years, and physical retailers are embracing their role as the lifeblood of local communities, Caruso notes. “In an increasingly digital world, Americans crave real, in-person connections and ownership in the well-being of their communities. From supporting local causes to creating social spaces for people to meet and interact, retailers are reasserting themselves as the heart of American towns and cities.”

Social media interaction

“Right now, social media is key to building a community around a brand,” Minkoff adds. “I have a community that I didn’t have five years ago. Now I can post a picture of a bag on Instagram and get automatic feedback on what my customers like, love and are utterly obsessed with. User feedback is vital to growing a lifestyle brand.”

“Five years ago, social media was just starting to explode. We could essentially drive traffic to our stores with any post on Facebook and Twitter. Today, the large spread of social media platforms and rise in social media advertising has made this far more difficult,” Nelson points out. “That is why we are constantly working on creative new ways to engage with our customers, whether it be through charitable donations, sneak preview events, off-the-menu flavors and more.”

Caruso, Nelson and Minkoff are members of keynote session “Reimagining Main Street—How Brick & Mortar Retail Will Thrive in the 21st Century.” It will be held Sunday, January 12, from 10:30 to 11:30 in the North Hall. For more information, visit bigshow14.nrf.com.

brick and mortar Retail's BIG Show shipping social media
Share. Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleGreetings from Growthville
Next Article 5 Ecommerce Trends For Small Businesses In 2014

Related Posts

5 Essential Tax Season Preparation Tips

January 24, 2023

Technology to Prepare Your Store for the Future

January 19, 2023

2023 Retail Success Guide

January 5, 2023
Sign Up for Buyer Updates
WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

Latest Posts

2023 Wholesale Apparel Trends

March 14, 2023

Top Wholesale Easter Products

February 27, 2023

The Future of Sustainable Manufacturing is a Hybrid Approach

February 23, 2023

Make Money with Foreign-Trade Zones

February 22, 2023

Overstock Liquidations

January 25, 2023

5 Essential Tax Season Preparation Tips

January 24, 2023
how-to
Product News

Overstock Liquidations

January 25, 20236 Mins Read

Overstock inventory refers to the excess goods or merchandise that a retailer has on hand…

Retail News

5 Essential Tax Season Preparation Tips

January 24, 202310 Mins Read

Are you ready for tax season? April 18 is approaching quickly, and many day-to-day decisions…

Wholesale 101 for Buyers

How to Create a Google Business Profile

January 18, 20236 Mins Read

Looking for new ways to get your brand noticed? Creating a Google Business Profile can…

Retail News

Using Color Theory in Window Displays to Increase Foot Traffic

December 1, 20224 Mins Read

by Melissa Stivale While we do not often stop to think about how much color…

  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Find Wholesale Sources
WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

Follow Us:

Copyright © 2023. Sumner Communications, Inc..

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.