The Martec Minute

Welcome to the Martec Minute
21st March 2024

Welcome to the Martec Minute

Welcome to the Martec Minute. This is a weekly article (excluding holidays) on a topic of interest to those working in the retail and consumer...
The Marketplace Revolution is Here
13th September 2024

The Marketplace Revolution is Here

Marketplaces have taken the e-commerce world by storm, and consumer goods companies and retailers are joining the revolution. Did you know that...
One Tip For Maximizing Gross Profit in Stores
6th September 2024

One Tip For Maximizing Gross Profit in Stores

Making life easy for shoppers is one of the most effective ways to encourage sales and grow store gross profit. Most shoppers will often not...
The Power of Planning
30th August 2024

The Power of Planning

"No plan survives first contact with the enemy," said military strategist Helmuth von Moltke. So why bother planning at all? Here's...
Omni-Channel Beats Online Only Every Time
23rd August 2024

Omni-Channel Beats Online Only Every Time

In today's digital age, you might think online shopping dominates. But here's a revelation that challenges this assumption: Up to...
Real-Time Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be
16th August 2024

Real-Time Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be

We often hear about the "need" to migrate to real-time processes for better business outcomes. But is real-time always the best move?...
The Power of Inspiration to Grow Sales
12th August 2024

The Power of Inspiration to Grow Sales

While many predicted the demise of physical stores in the face of e-commerce, a fascinating trend is emerging post-pandemic: stores are making...
Loyalty Programs are Much Misunderstood
2nd August 2024

Loyalty Programs are Much Misunderstood

In the world of retail, we have long celebrated the power of loyalty programs. But it's time we face an uncomfortable truth: these programs...
CG Companies - Grow Your Retail Business
26th July 2024

CG Companies - Grow Your Retail Business

Are your Consumer Goods Account Managers (AMs) struggling to close deals with retail buyers? Let's uncover the hidden barriers: Positioning...
Supply Chain Challenges will Continue to Get Worse as Time Goes On
19th July 2024

Supply Chain Challenges will Continue to Get Worse as Time Goes On

Recent news paints a bleaker picture for supply chains. This week the Houthi rebels released a video of a ship being hit in the Red Sea again...
Optimizing Selling Space for a New Store
12th July 2024

Optimizing Selling Space for a New Store

Optimizing selling space deployment is especially critical in new stores to get them off to a good start, but it’s more difficult because...
Upskilling The Business
5th July 2024

Upskilling The Business

Let’s imagine you are a retail merchandiser. Your buyer is introducing a new flavoured pink gin. Calculate the quantity the buyer needs...
If in Doubt, Go Back to Basics
28th June 2024

If in Doubt, Go Back to Basics

My wife and I spent some time in a store of a well-known brand. My wife found two dresses that she really liked. The store stock included the...
Customer Segmentation is Vital for Retailers
21st June 2024

Customer Segmentation is Vital for Retailers

Very few retailers understand how to fully use customer segmentation to improve trading. Martec recommends lifestyle segmentation over demographic...
Generative AI - a Costly Process?
14th June 2024

Generative AI - a Costly Process?

I read two articles recently that are eye opening. If you are interested in AI and how it is progressing, you should be aware of these. You...
All Retail Management Should Know This
7th June 2024

All Retail Management Should Know This

A recent white paper from Robling gave some very good advice on how to improve retail management in a recession, it’s worth a read. However,...
Are Retailers Getting the Customer Service Message?
31st May 2024

Are Retailers Getting the Customer Service Message?

Several studies published recently by organisations like RSR (Retail Systems Research) and the IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution) highlight...
Sourcing Diversification
24th May 2024

Sourcing Diversification

In a recent survey, 53% of retailers were looking at expanding their supplier base to mitigate risks associated with supply chain disruption....
More On AI and Investment Priorities
17th May 2024

More On AI and Investment Priorities

A recent survey of retailers and consumer goods companies by Relex, and reported by Chain Store Age this April, showed 57% of these companies...
AI in Retail Status
13th May 2024

AI in Retail Status

AI is increasingly deployed in the retail industry in 8 main areas, namely: Personalized marketing Customer service Inventory management Dynamic...
Upskill People to Drive Selling Space Productivity
3rd May 2024

Upskill People to Drive Selling Space Productivity

The cost of selling space, also known as occupancy cost, is a major cost factor in retailing, second only to people costs in most companies....
Optimizing Selling Space Productivity
26th April 2024

Optimizing Selling Space Productivity

Selling space is one of the most expensive assets retailers have after payroll. Hence it is vital to optimize space productivity as much as...
Disaster Recovery - Think Wider!
19th April 2024

Disaster Recovery - Think Wider!

In 2019 economic losses from 409 natural disasters exceeded $232 billion. But it isn’t just natural disasters that we have to worry about....
Omni-Channel Retailing Scores Higher Than Online Only Retailing
12th April 2024

Omni-Channel Retailing Scores Higher Than Online Only Retailing

A recent US study by ICSC called The Halo Effect III examined store and online sales for 69 retailers and 2,103 individual stores. The findings...
Maximizing Sales
5th April 2024

Maximizing Sales

There is a tried and tested formula for planning store sales. Here’s Martec’s extended version to include online. Sales =...
Payment Systems Keep Advancing
29th March 2024

Payment Systems Keep Advancing

Payment systems are advancing faster in Europe than the US. Contactless payment is more widely adopted in Europe, as is advances in open banking....
E-Commerce Data From an IHL and RIS News Survey
22nd March 2024

E-Commerce Data From an IHL and RIS News Survey

Some interesting E-Commerce statistics from a recent survey by IHL Consulting and RIS News. The chart shows the share of retail sales taken by...
Direct to Consumer Companies Opening Stores
15th March 2024

Direct to Consumer Companies Opening Stores

A recent US study by ICSC called The Halo Effect III examined store and online sales for 69 retailers and 2,103 individual stores. The findings...
Imports Via the Panama and Suez Canals Face More Trouble
8th March 2024

Imports Via the Panama and Suez Canals Face More Trouble

The risk to inventory availability due to shipping problems continues to be challenging. Historically, the Panama Canal averaged 38 ship transits...
Computer Vision Is Coming of Age
3rd March 2024

Computer Vision Is Coming of Age

Computer Vision is coming of age thanks to AI. There are applications now to detect attempted thefts in store. AI applications can alert the...
Challenges for Retailers Selling to Younger Consumers
23rd February 2024

Challenges for Retailers Selling to Younger Consumers

There are increasingly mixed views about self-checkout in stores. Many retailers are rolling out more self-checkout, but some are taking them...
Return Fraud Keeps Growing
9th February 2024

Return Fraud Keeps Growing

NRF also released data on returns fraud from a survey by Apriss retail. Key types of return fraud are: - Returns of used, non-defective merchandising,...
More on Returns
2nd February 2024

More on Returns

NRF has estimated that returns from US online sales totalled $247bn in 2023, 17.6% of total online orders. Total returns across all channels...
The Height of Madness
26th January 2024

The Height of Madness

A recent survey published by IDC and sponsored by Sensomatic, said that 53% of European consumers surveyed would choose to shop elsewhere, if...
What Keeps CEO's Up At Night
26th January 2024

What Keeps CEO's Up At Night

A survey of 1200 global executives including 630 CEOs summarised recently by Chain Store Age showed most US CEOs are worried about recession...
Estimating Demand for Something You Have Never Sold
17th January 2024

Estimating Demand for Something You Have Never Sold

When bringing in new items, how can you improve your estimate of demand for purchasing? When you create a new product in your system, define...
End of Season/End of Year Issues
5th January 2024

End of Season/End of Year Issues

Most retailers are approaching the end of their financial year (end January). By now, the end of season sale will be in full swing and every...
Shipping Problems Via Canals
22nd December 2023

Shipping Problems Via Canals

For different reasons, two major waterways crucial to international merchandise sourcing are experiencing major constraints, roughly halving...
Rising Shrink with Self-Checkouts
16th December 2023

Rising Shrink with Self-Checkouts

A recent survey by Grabango said that 7% of self-checkout transactions have some element of shrink. Losses at self-checkouts apparently average...