Retail Strategy

Practical thinking for retailers and brands on growth, customer experience, marketing, merchandising, and execution.

Value and Promotions

Jun 25, 2026

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3 min read

Back-to-School Is Not One Trip Anymore

Parents are not just shopping for supplies. They are solving a stressful, multi-trip mission in real time. | Edition: June 25 2026

Chris Parsons

AI Moment of Discovery

When AI Becomes the Front Door to Retail | SPECIAL EDITION

Jun 21, 2026

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3 min read

When AI Becomes the Front Door to Retail | SPECIAL EDITION

Search changed retail discovery once. AI is about to change it again | Edition: December 2026

Chris Parsons

Consumer Confidence

47% of Shoppers Walked Away from Black Friday Unsure They Won | SPECIAL EDITION

Jun 21, 2026

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4 min read

47% of Shoppers Walked Away from Black Friday Unsure They Won | SPECIAL EDITION

Black Friday still drove transactions, but the real loss was shopper confidence. | Edition: December 2026

Chris Parsons

Customer Experience

+12

Your customer didn’t stop spending. They just got a lot more selective | Issue 15

Jun 15, 2026

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3 min read

Your customer didn’t stop spending. They just got a lot more selective | Issue 15

In a tighter economy, retailers do not win by doing more. They win by helping customers spend with confidence. | Edition: April 2026

Chris Parsons

Community Retail

From Hyperlocal Marketing to Hyperlocal Merchandising | Issue 14

Jun 15, 2026

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4 min read

From Hyperlocal Marketing to Hyperlocal Merchandising | Issue 14

Marketing may bring customers in, but merchandising is what proves a retailer truly understands the local community. | Edition: April 2026

Chris Parsons

Marketing Strategy

Your Marketing Calendar Isn’t a Contract | Issue 13

Jun 15, 2026

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3 min read

Your Marketing Calendar Isn’t a Contract | Issue 13

The best retail plans are not the ones that stay fixed. They are the ones that adjust quickly when customers, markets, and business realities change. | Edition: March 2026

Chris Parsons

Canadian Retail

Kit + Ace : Built for Real Life, Built to Win | Issue 11

Jun 15, 2026

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4 min read

Kit + Ace : Built for Real Life, Built to Win | Issue 11

A look at how clarity, discipline, AI investment, value pressure, and brand focus are shaping retail momentum across Canada and the U.S. | Edition: February 2026

Chris Parsons

Retail Fundamentals

Where Retail Pressure Is Coming From Right Now | Issue 10

Jun 14, 2026

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7 min read

Where Retail Pressure Is Coming From Right Now | Issue 10

This week’s roundup looks at how financial pressure, product data friction, ecommerce resets, and operational gaps are revealing where retail stress is really building. | Edition: February 2026

Chris Parsons

AI Shopping

Where Retail Decisions Are Really Made Now | Issue 6

Jun 12, 2026

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6 min read

Where Retail Decisions Are Really Made Now | Issue 6

How AI, smarter stores, budget discipline, and connected operations are changing the way retailers compete. | Edition: December 2026

Chris Parsons

Marketing Budgeting

When Systems Start Thinking Together | Issue 5

Jun 12, 2026

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5 min read

When Systems Start Thinking Together | Issue 5

This week’s roundup looks at how AI, connected decisions, smarter stores, and operational pressure are reshaping the way retailers plan, serve customers, and compete. | Edition: December 2026

Chris Parsons

Retail Rewired Roundup

Shoppers Want Ease. Retailers Want Proof. A week defined by speed, reach, and measurable impact. | Issue 2

Jun 12, 2026

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5 min read

Shoppers Want Ease. Retailers Want Proof. A week defined by speed, reach, and measurable impact. | Issue 2

This week’s roundup looks at how Walmart, Target, Amazon, Bath & Body Works, Old Navy, and ShopLiftr are reshaping retail through marketplaces, AI, faster fulfillment, and smarter customer experiences. | Edition: November 2026

Chris Parsons