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.

“Is Using Cash Cringe to Gen Z?” by YPulse via The Robin Report

by admin | Jun 21, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Get Paid, News, Opinion, Predictions

Has Gen Z really made using cash cringe? Recent headlines definitely make it sound that way. Cash App recently reported that over half of Gen Z only use cash as a “last resort,” and nearly a third say people who pay with cash are “out of touch.”...

“Retailers’ Ace in the Hole Was Product Knowledge – in the 1950s. Here’s What It Has to Be in 2026.” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor blog

by admin | Jun 17, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Industry, News, Opinion, Resources, Sales Training

Product knowledge was a legitimate competitive edge when customers had no other way to get it. That world ended decades ago. Today’s customer walks in already researched. The retailers winning in 2026 aren’t the ones with the most knowledgeable associates...

“The State of Stores” by RB Staff via Retail Brew

by admin | Jun 2, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, News, Opinion, Predictions, Retail Economy

The death of the physical store was exaggerated. Nearly 78% of retailers report moderate or significant in-store investment, and with more than 5,000 store openings forecast for 2026 (Coresight Research), this isn’t a boom. It’s a recalibration. What’s...

“Curate or Get Curated” by Rich Honiball via The Robin Report

by admin | May 22, 2026 | Apparel /Fashion, Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Merchandising, Opinion, Retail Strategy

We live in an age of abundance: more information, more options, more products, more channels, more noise. On the surface, this abundance appears to be a gift—greater access, freedom, and personalization. But beneath that promise lies a growing tension: complexity...

“Do Wave Pools Actually Make Money? We Asked an Industry” by Evan Quarnstrom via The Inertia

by admin | May 18, 2026 | Customer Experience, Debate, Insurance, News, Opinion, Outdoor, Surf, Tourism

The Wavegarden pool under construction at DSRT SURF in Palm Springs, California. Photo: Wavegarden It feels like a lifetime ago that Kelly Slater unveiled his clandestine wave pool project in the Central California farmland. It’s been a little over a decade since...

“How retailers can leverage their private label marketing advantage over national brands” by Erin Cabrey via Retail Boss

by admin | May 12, 2026 | Brick & Mortar, Customer Experience, Customer Loyalty, Private Label, Resources, Retail Strategy

Private label sales continue to grow, reaching a record $283 billion last year, with sales and unit volume growth outpacing those of national brands. While retailers are often selling private label products that are similar to, or even dupes of,...