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.

“Solving the Supply Chain Puzzle: How Inicio Apparel Delivers High-Quality Blanks Without the Hassle” by Alyzah Mohammed

by admin | Nov 15, 2025 | Apparel /Fashion, Brick & Mortar, News, Opinion, Outdoor, Private Label, Resources, Surf

Why retailers are turning to this solution as a smarter, more sustainable alternative to traditional sourcing models. In today’s retail climate, finding high-quality blank apparel that’s both reliable and affordable shouldn’t feel like a gamble. But for many...

“Chris Bacon: Driving Passion, Culture, and a Skateboarding Legacy” via Trackfly community blog

by admin | Nov 4, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Data Driven Performance, Point of Sale, Resources, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies

Few stories in the skateboarding world capture both the passion and dedication of a local shop owner quite like Chris Bacon’s journey with Board of Missoula. From humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of Montana’s skate and snowboard community, Chris’s story is...

“Why “Cash Is King” Kills Retail Sales (and Why Credit Card Fees Are Really Marketing Costs)” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Oct 11, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Consumer Behavior, Credit Card Processing, Customer Experience, Opinion, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Credit card customers spend more than cash customers … a lot more. Research shows card users spend 12 to 18 percent more per transaction than those paying with cash. The Federal Reserve found non-cash purchases average more than four...

“Your Best Customers Are Forgetting You (While You Send More Emails)” by Bob Phibbs via The Retail Doctor Blog

by admin | Sep 23, 2025 | Customer Experience, Customer Loyalty, Customer Service, Direct Mail, Resources, Retail Strategy, Sales Training

Customer acquisition costs are up 38%, while retention rates keep sliding. Your marketing budget is working harder and delivering less. Your best customer hasn’t walked through the door in three months. Meanwhile, you’re on your 17th email blast… and they forgot about...

“TrackFly and ActionWatch Announce New Partnership” by Tiffany Montgomery via Shop Eat Surf X Outdoor

by admin | Sep 16, 2025 | Brick & Mortar, Community, Data Driven Performance, Industry, News, Resources, Retail Partners, Retail Strategy, Retail Technologies, Surf Expo, Trade Shows

The surf and skate industry’s main data firm is joining forces with a data company that provides a unified platform that is compatible with all retailer and POS systems, which will reduce data turnaround from days to hours. TrackFly, a company specializing in...

“What About Brands?” by Jeff Harbaugh via JH & A Market Watch Blog

by admin | Sep 4, 2025 | Industry, News, Opinion, Resources

Many years ago, I wrote a Market Watch column on branding.  I opined that the importance of brands might be declining in the action sports world as products became reliable and similar.  My friend and, at that time, editor Sean O’Brien at Transworld thought...