Commentary

PRIVATE EQUITY IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND SPECIALTY RETAILING By Paul Grangaard At Allen Edmonds, we’ve had a lot of experience with Private Equity players and the impact they can have on a business. Our company was founded by Elbert Allen in 1922 in Wisconsin, and we’ve survived as an American manufacturer of superior quality men’s…

The National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention & EXPO earned the nickname “Retail’s BIG Show” years ago and because the name was so appropriate, it stuck. Today, Retail’s BIG Show is NRF’s flagship event held annually in New York City. The three day event offers unparalleled education, collegial networking with 33,000 of your newest friends, and…

JOANNE HEALY JOINS JGA AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Branded Environments specialist, JGA, recently named Joanne Healy as Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer. Her involvement will span across strategy, creative and business development, bringing her unique perspective to the rapidly evolving world of retail, service and brand experience. In announcing the appointment…

PLACE-BASED DIGITAL MEDIA By Mason Page Digital technology is rapidly permeating all areas of life, from home to work, and increasingly in the places we shop, learn, and play. The places we visit now have digital experiences embedded into their environments. This merging of the physical and digital worlds is referred to as place-based digital.…

A recent article in Chain Store Age highlights the findings of a study by the technology services company, Mindtree, whose “Shopper Survey 2016” addresses how “good old fashioned human sales associates” can drive consumers from thinking about making a purchase to actually making one.  Remember that traditional, low-tech customer service still can prompt shoppers to follow the path to purchase.  And…

AIRPORTS: “WOW” DINING EXPERIENCES TAKE OFF   by Samir W. Mashni More and more airports are following the trend of developing food and beverage concessions that provide a spectacular dining experience.  Today’s travelers want great food, amazing services and a stunning atmosphere.  The days of fast food chains and overpriced meals are gone.  Now a traveler can expect…

RETAIL REINVENTION WAS NEVER ABOUT OMNI-CHANNEL By Andrea Weiss As retailers continue to reel from yet another quarter of declining in-store traffic and challenging sales, a small, but growing group of retailers are waking up to the reality that truly re-inventing retail shopping experiences will require more than buzz words, “shiny object” technology, new digital job…

The annual VM-RD Design Awards were recently held in India, recognizing the most memorable retail projects of 2016.  JGA and its Indian partner, FRDC were recognized with awards in multiple categories, both collaboratively and individually.  The competition recognized projects in 23 categories, and awarded 11 awards to JGA and FRDC and their clients, where innovation in design propelled them to the top. JGA Chairman, Ken Nisch,…

Why the Future of Retail Needs to Move Beyond Advertising     By Yoram (Jerry) Wind and Catharine Hays, with Alexa de los Reyes “By 2020, advertising will shift from being an additive element to being an invisible, inspirational, and indispensable part of product and service experiences.”               –Karl Isaac, Head of Brand Strategy and Innovation, Adobe…

Detroit Named City of Design: First American City Designated by UNESCO… Detroit was recently named the first and only American city to receive the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) City of Design designation.  Joining a global network of cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for development and cultural vibrancy,…