Joe Craparotta, on October 26, 2019
The so-called “retail apocalypse” started in 2010, when large chain stores in the U.S. began to close thousands of brick-and-mortar locations after the Great Recession of 2008. When Sears, JCPenney, Sports Authority, Payless Shoes, Radio Shack, and other once-dominant brands announced bankruptcies and liquidations, they only accelerated the trend.
Joe Craparotta, on October 15, 2019
Joe Craparotta, on September 27, 2019
Hispanic Heritage Month, which lasts from mid-September to mid-October, celebrates the history and culture of Americans whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, and Central America. The tribute started over 50 years ago when President Lyndon Johnson established a week-long national observance of the many ways Hispanic citizens contribute to U.S. culture and commerce.
Joe Craparotta, on September 15, 2019
Just a few days ago we witnessed the fury of Hurricane Dorian and its terrible toll on the Bahamas. The devastation caused by the giant storm is reminiscent of the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico in 2017. We know, because our Cura Resources Group team has been instrumental in helping the people of Puerto Rico rebuild their lives ever since.
Joe Craparotta, on August 26, 2019
The purchase process for many goods has become a completely digital experience, with buyers and sellers all but eliminating human interaction. Almost everything can be done online. Unfortunately, that eliminates in-person customer service when purchasing a product. Is that really what consumers want?
Joe Craparotta, on July 16, 2019
When I sat down to write this blog, I planned to talk about the growing importance of “buy online pick-up in store” (BOPIS) and “buy online return in store” (BORIS) to today’s omnichannel retailers. These customer service tactics are increasingly popular with consumers who like the convenience of accepting deliveries or returning online purchases in person instead of waiting for delivery by mail.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that in-store fulfillment is just one facet of a much more significant retail transformation: by shifting from conventional channels to local fulfillment centers, large e-tailers and big department stores are becoming hyper-focused on neighborhood needs. The ability to meet customers where they are is an increasingly important competitive advantage for even the most successful brands.
Steve Brillati, on July 1, 2019
Online shopping—for both goods and services—has become common practice in nearly every nation around the world. Some people choose to shop online for convenience, with door to door free shipping playing a significant role. Others are more price-conscious: an internet-only sale makes purchasing online a real cost-cutter. Still others shop online due to necessity: there are many brands out there that are online-only, and even some brick-and-mortar retailers only sell particular merchandise, like clearance or artisan goods that you can't find in stores, through an online channel. Or, they live in a region where the store they want to buy from is not local.
Joe Craparotta, on June 23, 2019
In the age of all things digital, it’s easy to make simplistic distinctions between new (online) and old (offline) business models. E-commerce, mobile commerce, chatbots, interactive voice response — these are all digital shopping innovations. Storefronts, physical inventory, cash payments, humans — that’s the old way of doing business. But more and more, progressive retailers are discovering that old-school brick-and-mortar locations are essential assets that can increase sales for even the most digitally evolved brands.
On June 2, 2019, Herbalife Nutrition will bring one of the world’s premier sporting events back to Los Angeles after a three-year hiatus. As a sponsor and the company that manages Herbalife’s two local pick-up centers in California, we’re proud to support their mission to make the world healthier.
Joe Craparotta, on March 18, 2019
If you’re a direct sales individual distributor, you realize that time is money. You want to be able to get the fastest moving products while they’re hot, so you can get them into the hands of your customers.
