Lupin 2024

Rebuilding shoppers’ trust

Rebuilding shoppers’ trust

One of the key insights coming out of our latest How America Shops research is how much people’s trust has been eroded over the last several years. I suppose that shouldn’t be a surprise in this day and age when the world is in such turmoil. However, we can’t only blame politicians and bankers and

The best new stores are innovative and inspirational

The best new stores are innovative and inspirational

The physical store was changing long before 2020, but the pandemic injected a dose of urgency into often-sluggish or piecemeal efforts. The pandemic not only redefined how people shop, it has forced companies to reengineer what stores need to look like now and will in the future. In recent months, as the world opened up,

Let points of innovation define the new retail environment

Let points of innovation define the new retail environment

We’ve all learned a lot in the last 12 months. Personally and in our business lives. We’ve all learned to “pivot” (the designated word of the pandemic), and we’ve heard time and again “you’re on mute.” Both defined the new world we found ourselves in, assuming we were fortunate enough to have a job, could

A brick-and-mortar player too — with many differences

A brick-and-mortar player too — with many differences

Today, Amazon’s success goes far beyond how it has transformed the way we think about and embrace digital shopping. It’s too obvious to talk about how Amazon’s approach to search, click and buy has transformed our definition of convenience and service. Twenty years after it launched as a place to buy secondhand school texts, it

Shoppers have seen the future and are acting on it

Shoppers have seen the future and are acting on it

Never underestimate the strength of the American consumer. That was clear from the very early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As our world imploded in a matter of weeks, and uncertainty around both health and economic issues roiled the country, consumers got on with it. It was evident in the first of our COVID-19 series

Physical stores out of touch with modern consumers

Physical stores out of touch with modern consumers

Recently, I was sitting in a meeting with clients from a large consumer packaged goods company who were discussing amongst themselves how the company’s CMO had added an extraordinary number of people with digital and omnichannel expertise to his team, while they, the customer team leads, had a hiring freeze. Yet, they’re the ones who

Health: An opportunity for everyone

Health: An opportunity for everyone

If ever there was a topic on everyone’s mind these days it is health. No, don’t panic: I’m not referring to all the vitriol coming out of Washington around the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (although clearly that’s one reason). What I am talking about is how, in this retail environment, where growth is

Where did the chain drug store shopper go?

Where did the chain drug store shopper go?

If you do business in the drug channel, the question of what happened to drug store traffic over the last few months is one I’m sure you’ve been seriously puzzling over. That and several others: Was it an aberration? When will traffic return? Will it return? Why did it happen? And, oh yes, how should

Is it doomsday for retail chains? Not yet

Is it doomsday for retail chains? Not yet

The continuous roller coaster of retail sales results could make even the greatest optimist weep. In recent months, when retailers like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Kohl’s, J.C. Penney and Target reported less than stellar results, it was hard not to take on a Chicken Little view that the sky was falling. Retailers blamed a variety of factors:

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