Still an amazing place if you stop talking … look, listen and appreciate
Its year end, so do you write a blog in the last week, or not? It is extremely tempting to skip writing a blog, since everyone will be offline, or at least taking a mental break the last week of the year. Pardon me for being nostalgic, but I just don't have another measurement or retail blog in me at this year's end. Life's spice is to experience our world through the eyes and customs of others.
Will deregulation change the face of India's retail?
My last stop on my 2012 worldwide tour of retail was Delhi, India this past week. The diverse culture heritage of India's past is reflected in its cities and markets today. This diversity is reflected in everything from food to retailing. Now that India's Parliament voted to allow entry of foreign Big Box retailers, will the 11+ million small shops survive the onslaught of the "whales of retail" … aka Walmart, Tesco and others?
A photo report from the field while searching for "balance" on safari
I've been writing this weekly blog for well over 260 consecutive weeks. That's over 5 years of staring at a blank screen trying to find a compelling headline and something to say. Do bloggers ever get a week off? Do they need one … YES!
After my around the world tour of retail, I had the opportunity to get back on another plane and go on safari in one of my favorite places on this planet – Africa! I can't begin to describe the utter joy to visit a lodge in the bush veldt which had absolutely NO INTERNET! Oh what a relief it is not to be "always on" and reachable by email or cell phone. And, what a perfect excuse not to write a blog for the week!
Brands are in a race to buy the retailer's floor to run stores within stores
On my recent stops in Asia Pacific and Africa, it became obvious that major manufacturing brands are investing mega millions to open their branded shops within retail stores. Not only are they paying for space and fixtures, in some retailers they are literally providing the staff. In consumer electronics with razor thin product margins, it becomes very tempting for the retailer to collect the cash and reduce labor costs by using a vendor's staff. Given these current trends, when does the retailer lose its identity and become just a real estate broker?
There is no question that Walmart will transform retailing via Massmart
It is one thing to read about international retailing, but quite another to experience it firsthand. I visited South Africa several times on safaris, but never to specifically focus on retailing. On my around the world tour delivering IMS Retail University workshops, I had an opportunity last week to visit a number of retailers in Johannesburg. While Walmart was only recently approved as the majority shareholder of Massmart, they are already making waves in retail. If you are a South African based retailer trying to compete, life is going to get very interesting very fast!
An amazing opportunity to study retail in seven different countries
I'm convinced that you don't plan an around the world trip … they just happen. I get an amazing opportunity to deliver IMS Retail University workshops around the world. It's not often that you get to go out and compare retail in seven very different cities: Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Dubai. The only challenge with this travel schedule is managing to blog along the way. The forthcoming blogs will hopefully have more pictures, and allow me to share first impressions from a retail point of view.
Beyond stores … In search of the essence of consumer experience
If you've attended IMS Retail University, you've heard me say many times "get out of town". To fully appreciate the nuances and best practices of retail, you need to go see different kinds of stores in other cities. It's even better if you can visit retailers in other countries. One of my opportunities this year is to take Retail U abroad to many countries. While I've learned a lot in the Ukraine, UK, Brazil and Singapore, nothing quite prepared me for Morocco! If you get to the streets of Marrakesh, you will discover that the real roots of consumer experience are alive and well in the stalls of the market place.
Rapid sales growth can cover retail “sins” of omission
While in much of the world economies and retail are still in recovery mode, Brazil is a bull of an economy. Brazil is bold, brazen and the land of where “beef is truly what’s for dinner”. Brazil has the highest GDP for Latin America, and now ranks in the top economies globally. So, what does retail look like in a booming economy? The Retail U Professor returns with insights, retail snapshots and glowing stories of "picanha"!
It’s not just the west, retail is changing everywhere
I’m always excited about the opportunity to take IMS retail workshops on the road to other countries. Last week I had opportunity to not only visit the Ukraine, but to meet with the senior management from top retailers in this emerging market. There are always some unique local challenges. However, there are more similarities than differences across retailers today. At the end of the day, results count … no matter where your retail stores are located.
In retail we usually talk about feet, that is, square foot metrics of a retailer. And, you could say we have walked miles touring retail store fronts and sales floors worldwide. But not this week, the IMS Retail U “professor” found himself 5, 280 miles from his homeland. IMS Retail University had the opportunity and pleasure to facilitate several different workshops in Kiev, Ukraine.
