The retail landscape is changing. There is a seismic shift in the way consumers shop. Shoppers have unlimited choices when it come to where they spend their hard-earned money. Retailers who follow these simple steps will gain a significant sustainable competitive advantage.  

Retailers cannot possibly be experts in everything they sell and in every category. They need brands to help them. They need brands to provide actionable insights, information they currently do not have access to. 

Savvy retailers want and need brands to up their game – to provide true category leadership. This does not mean that brands need to spend money they currently do not have to invest in expensive tools. On the contrary, retailers need brands to educate them on who their shoppers are, how they shop their stores, and the items they purchase alongside their brand. 

The category leader is any brand willing and able to provide additional insights to the retailer to help them drive sustainable sales, increase shopper foot traffic, and provide insights into current and future trends in the category. A category leader is an expert in their products as well as their competitor’s products. A category leader is a brand that has a solid selling story that includes insights into their shoppers in addition to fact-based actionable insights into the category and the market.  

An excellent example of a retailer doing things right is Lucky’s Market. I interviewed Ben Friedland on episode 43 of the BulletProof Your Brand podcast. Here are some the recommendations we discussed:

Read the rest of the article on Whole Foods Magazine g these simple strategies can create a win-win for the retailer and the brands that support them. Working together, you can help meet the needs of your local community turning occasional shoppers into loyal evangelists. This is how you remain relevant and competitive in any economy.