Below you will find helpful and relevant articles that we carefully curate for the benefit of our B.R.A. Retail Members almost every day. Be sure to scroll through the most recent article or use the Search/Lookup feature to find topics and keywords related to articles that may help you to lower costs, increase margins or create more remarkable customer experiences.
by admin | Sep 9, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Industry, News, Opinion, Surf, Surf Expo
Every few months someone in the surf industry asks the same question: “How do we grow surfing?” The answers usually revolve around social media strategy, influencer marketing, YouTube analytics, paid advertising, or the latest content campaign. What rarely gets...
by admin | Sep 6, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence / CHAT GPT, Brick & Mortar, Consumer Behavior, Holiday, Internet, m-commerce, News, Opinion, Predictions, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies
This upcoming holiday shopping season is already shaping up to be unpredictable. Inflation, geopolitics and fickle consumer sentiment are conspiring against retailers’ best-laid plans. But here’s one prediction that requires no crystal ball: this will be known as the...
by admin | Sep 3, 2026 | Industry, News, Opinion, Resources, SUP, Surf, Surf Expo, Trade Shows
Katin is one of the many brands returning to Surf Expo this month. File photo courtesy of Surf Expo. From a new creator program built with Popfly to Lightspeed’s title sponsorship of the Industry Party and fashion shows, plus new education programming from...
by admin | Aug 31, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Opinion, Resources, Sales Training
Theft is the reason usually given. Labor is the reason that keeps surfacing underneath it. And in the most-watched case of 2026, no reason was given at all. Four companies have closed their fitting rooms in the last three years. Their stated reasons do not match, and...
by admin | Aug 27, 2026 | Resources, Retail Strategy, Shipping
When you think about how to optimize your shipping operations, the freight you receive from vendors might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, you have more control over your inbound shipping than you may realize, and when you have the right resources...
by admin | Aug 24, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, E-Commerce, News, Retail Crime
The NRF attributes a slowdown in shoplifting to retailers’ investments in “technologies, training and measures to harden stores.” Some have resorted to locking up merchandise. Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive Phone and gift card scams, plus supply chain vulnerabilities like...
by admin | Aug 21, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Service, HR, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training
Why is turnover so high in your stores? Why are your managers exhausted by closing time? And how do you get the same selling behavior in location 1 and location 200? Your team is your customer experience. In a punishing labor market, the retailers who win are the ones...
by Doug Works | Aug 20, 2026 | Associate Members, Brick & Mortar, News, Opinion, Product Reviews
A Sun Care Brand With Strong Shelf Appeal, Smart Repeat Sales Potential, And A Story Customers Connect With Not every sunscreen belongs in every store. Big-box SPF may work in a supermarket aisle, but independent surf, skate, wake, SUP, and outdoor retailers know...
by admin | Aug 17, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, News, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training
Brick-and-mortar stores struggle without sales training because the purchase decision is made on the sales floor, and most associates were never taught how to influence it. In first-time mystery shops across our client base, associates score an average of 36%. They...
by admin | Aug 8, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence / CHAT GPT, Brick & Mortar, Community, Consumer Behavior, Customer Experience, Customer Service, News
It’s summer-escape time, and we’ve all run into the addictive, slow-burn love stories typically found on epic, multi-episodic romantic streamers. You’re rooting for the intractable lead character who just needs a persistent love-washing treatment to reveal his or her...
