Very interesting insight from Fred on the current economic climate,
Consumer spending most likely will stay level for some time. This means consumer product companies will lead to create relevant stories and relevant products in order to win consumers,
http://www.cnbc.com/id/32901157 Continue
Added by Mike Reilly on September 17, 2009 at 9:02pm —
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Fast fashion is the key to apparel success. Having the right product at the right time in the right spot for your customers is key. Also not having too much of one item so the consumer will think "I will wait until it goes on sale". Scarcity is one of the top compliance gaining tactics to change purchasing behavior and this is what limited/unique runs of product can bring to the table. Not to mention if done right it will increase inventory turns, and decrease inventory carrying costs which incl…
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Added by Mike Reilly on September 10, 2009 at 9:37am —
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Cool mention of Quik going to China for lost sales. They already have 43 stores. Good place to pick up the slack as China has 200 million people between 15-24 and their parents usually only have one child,
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/08/23/business-mobile-telecommunications-as-china-youth-market_6806343.html?partner=alerts Continue
Added by Mike Reilly on August 24, 2009 at 9:06am —
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Can your own website create more of an emotional connection to your brand then a TV Ad or a Magazine Ad? I think it can if you can execute a platform that lets your fans stay engaged. Updating new content daily is crucial. This blog will never gain traction as we don't update it enough. Yet look at Hurley.com or their facebook page and they have fresh/interesting content everyday. Sometimes more interesting then our endemic online sources of news and storey,…
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Added by Mike Reilly on July 21, 2009 at 4:42pm —
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Added by Mike Reilly on July 16, 2009 at 4:48pm —
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Corporate Culture is so crucial for progression of a company as it stimulates innovation and lowers attrition. Most importantly it helps in recruiting the top minds in each field which is the fastest way to create a competitive advantage. Zappos and Tony are legends when it comes to creating a flourishing company culture and this powerpoint outlines some ideas,
I was so compelled that I went out and bought the Happiness Hypothesis and it is currently one of the books I'm reading,…
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Added by Mike Reilly on May 6, 2009 at 3:28pm —
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Added by Mike Reilly on May 5, 2009 at 2:21pm —
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Shops need to continously improve their business each and every day. They need to ask questions such as how can I differentiate or create strategic separation from my competitors? How can I give the ultimate value proposition (sum total of benefits) to my customers so they will buy and most important they will become loyal brand advocates and buy again in the future and maybe even tell some friends.
Check the tips in this article below from the LA Times,…
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Added by Mike Reilly on May 5, 2009 at 2:00pm —
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We are mostly a content aggregator here at The Rookery with small synopsis's to intro the content. We have full time jobs so it is tough to bring relevant posts with empirical evidence to back it up.
This is great insight on what occurred at Sima Boot Camp this week for those of us that don't have the money to attend or who were actually surfing (kind of unique sometimes in our surf industry) or working.
I personally think green initiatives are stale , although beneficial to our environment wh…
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Added by Mike Reilly on April 17, 2009 at 3:21pm —
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This could get interesting. A great opportunity for entrepenouers with cash and a defense situation for current companies,
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-04-06-web-site-domain-names_N.htm?csp=YahooModule_Money Continue
Added by Mike Reilly on April 6, 2009 at 7:40pm —
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This doesn't have much to do with specialty retail but it is relevant in that most of us use social networking to build our relationships and create new ones.
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Organization/Talent/When_job_seekers_invade_Facebook_2317 Continue
Added by Mike Reilly on March 6, 2009 at 10:00am —
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I'm not sure how accurate this is? What about Dyrdek or Andy Irons? I have a feeling they make over a million annually,
At any rate it is a good read and nice to see action sports hitting the mainstream enough that they are talking about athlete salaries,
http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/17/shaun-white-tony-hawk-business-sports_0218_action_sports.html?partner=alerts Continue
Added by Mike Reilly on February 18, 2009 at 8:34am —
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Amazon is getting deeper into the apparel retail game. Pac Sun has joined forces with them to expand their reach. It makes sense from a sales standpoint but with all the fees and the dilution of the brand it might hurt more then it will help?
http://www.internetretailer.com/internet/marketing-conference/84967-amazon-finds-that-apparel-fits-retail-strategy.html Continue
Added by Mike Reilly on February 11, 2009 at 7:48am —
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Added by Mike Reilly on February 2, 2009 at 3:10pm —
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Check this video about Japan's market leader in fashion innovation, Uniqlo. They are doing some interesting things with design strategy and innovation. Yet as always with fast growing retailers who's sales are still solid they all have one commone theme-----FAST FASHION. Getting products designed and created with short lead times and having new products on the floor on a weekly basis so consumers have a compelling reason to shop more often and it pushes them to buy as the product might not be th…
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Added by Mike Reilly on January 8, 2009 at 8:42am —
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I just finished the book Globality by some Boston Consulting gurus. Overall it was a great look at the way some companies in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are managing their strategy and ways large U.S based MNC's can do the same to take advantage of the huge growth opportunities in these markets due to the millions of middle class consumers who are becoming more brand conscious.
That being said one line at the end of the book hit me which could resonate with specialty re…
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Added by Mike Reilly on January 5, 2009 at 2:21pm —
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Check the article below. It shows that if you have the right product at the right time you will drive sales. Right now customers are looking for value in this down economy and our price focused.
For the last few years I have been preaching that specialty retailers need to give consumers a reason to visit their store more often and to have merchandise that resonates with the consumer enough to correlate to more buying behavior. I think for action sports retailers to do this they need a complete…
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Added by Mike Reilly on January 2, 2009 at 2:54pm —
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The past few weeks speculation and uneasiness have swelled in the action sports industry. While I agree that times are tough, smart brands and retailers are throwing the baby out with the bath water. Marketing budgets and employee reductions might appear to be a quick and easy decision for those in charge of company financials but I believe it will come back to haunt business in the long term. I believe these are 2 sure fire ways to kill moral and brand equity.
In a recent interview with Tom…
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Added by Vipe Desai on December 17, 2008 at 12:00pm —
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The opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange, once the exuberant signal of a day of robust and largely escalating financial activity, now sounds like a frantic alert. And when the trading day is over, the closing bell sounds like a clamorous alarm clock waking us from nightmares, but not rescuing us from them.
As disconcerting and glaring as the recent Wall Street meltdown has been, however, it was only one of many looming economic problems. On the way up: the Consumer Price Index has more t…
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Added by Vipe Desai on December 16, 2008 at 3:35pm —
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Great info on eccomerce growth and what consumers are looking for. Returns, shipping, selections and discriptions are top of mind for consumers. If you get this equation right the upside growth is huge.
eCommerce Forecast.pdf Continue
Added by Mike Reilly on December 15, 2008 at 8:34am —
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