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 [...]
Expo West never fails to disappoint. As a mentor and member of the Pitch-Slam Selection Committee, it’s always exciting to see all of the innovation and disruption in our industry. My team made it into the final four. A common theme and hot topic throughout discussions and presentations this year was how do brands [...]
Proteins will continue to grow in importance. Brands that remain laser focused on their shoppers will have a sustainable competitive advantage. Shoppers are looking for more protein in their foods. According to Nielsen, 61% of shoppers are looking for foods that are high in protein*. Protein is one of the primary factors shoppers consider [...]
To get your brand on a retailer's shelf you need to convince them that your product will help them make more money. Sounds simple, right? Not so fast. First, you must have a compelling retailer sales story. Retailers need and want brands willing and able to help them drive sustainable sales. Gain a competitive [...]
Independent retailers, and especially those in the natural space, are the lifeblood of the communities they serve. They typically have a strong commitment to the community, sustainability, local schools and causes, and educating their loyal customers about brands specifically designed to meet their needs. Independent natural retailers fill a void that larger retailers can’t [...]
The importance of independent food retailers cannot be overemphasized, but they are frequently overlooked. Some larger retailers forget that they were once small independent retailers as well. Independent retailers, and especially those in the natural space, are the lifeblood of the communities they serve. They typically have a strong commitment to the community, sustainability, [...]
Are you committing retail malpractice? Don’t ignore healthy center store products. Most of us grew up believing that the healthy products could only be found along the parameter of the store. We were taught that any of the products in the center the store were either highly processed, chemically enhanced, or contained artificially fortified [...]
How can independent natural retailers remain competitive and grow in a hyper-competitive market? This is a question I get asked a lot. This a question that needs to also include the brands these retailers sell. Most small brands owe their very existence and their start to the small retailer that took a chance on [...]
We’ve all heard that healthy natural organic products are driving sustainable sales across all categories, but what does that really mean and what are the key drivers retailers and brands should be paying attention to? Natural and organic products are driving the sustainable growth in mainstream retail. In the 2016 Category Management handbook, I [...]
You may have been told that you need sales performance reports to better manage your natural business, but where do you start? That makes sense and it sounds like a good idea, but where do you begin? First, it’s important to understand that not all reports are useful and that the wrong reports will [...]
