RPW 7-1-2008

Retail Paradox Weekly

Retail News Analysis by RSR Research

7/1/2008

SCV's Not-so-Small Side Benefit: Build-A-Bear Workshop Case Study

By Nikki Baird, Managing Partner
6/24/2008

I recently spoke with Jonah McIntire, Supply Chain Improvement Bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop, about some of the company’s supply chain initiatives. Nearly 375 stores operate under the Build-A-Bear Workshop name in 20 countries. The company has experienced rapid growth since its inception a little over 10 years ago. After the successful launch of the concept around entertainment retailing focused on stuffed animals, the retailer is experimenting with expansion across dolls and cars.

The company has a unique perspective on... More

On the Fast Track to Next Gen Payment Systems

By Brian Kilcourse, Managing Partner
7/1/2008

In 2004, Gail Murray ran for an open position on the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors because she wanted to make a difference. Specifically, Murray ran on a platform to make the SF area’s trans-bay commuter rail system more consumer-friendly. BART is one of only three transportation districts in the U.S. that elects its leaders. Bay Area voters must have agreed with her point of view, because they elected her to the BART Board on November 2, 2004 . Subsequently, in December, 2007, her fellow Board members elected her to a one-year term as president of the Board in a unanimous vote.

So what does rapid transit have in common with the retail industry?... More

Merchandising Sneak Preview: What Does Localization Mean to You?

By Steve Rowen, Managing Partner
7/1/2008

We’ve already dedicated quite a bit of research this year to unearthing how customer centricity really shakes out in retail. Sure, every retailer outwardly states that the empowered customer dictates their every action, but it doesn’t take much more than a shopping trip on a Saturday afternoon to expose these claims as hyperbole. As a result, we launched the “Customer Centric” series: In April, we released the Customer Centric Store Report, and found that while stores may be improving, they have a long way to go to actually “delight” anyone.

Now, just a few months later, we’re set to release our next benchmark study in the series: the Customer-Centric Merchandising Report... More

RSR Featured FastFact: Customer-Centric Store

As we approach nearly 100% penetration of broadband home office to store connectivity, only 23% of respondents in our recent Customer-Centric Store Study have wireless available throughout the body of the store; 44% have no wireless available in the store at all. While it is true that this data is skewed to the smallest retailers, 62% of whom have no wireless installed, it is also true that even among the largest retailers, those with over $5 billion a year in revenue, 32% use their wireless infrastructure solely for receiving and other inventory related tasks, and 25% have no wireless installed at all.

We’re excited to see retailers’ desire to empower store employees with technologies of all sorts, but disappointed they aren’t putting someone on the selling floor to actually MANAGE those employees. While this statement may sound exaggerated, the more KPI’s, alerts and tasks are sent to a desktop computer, the less time a manager has to walk the selling floor and observe his domain.

To read the full report, click here.