Katrina Douglas’ Post

Did you know that July is National Independent Retailer Month!? Let's celebrate the incredible independent retailers who bring uniqueness, passion, and a personal touch to our communities. These small businesses are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods, offering products and services crafted with love and care. This month, take the time to visit your favorite local stores, explore new ones, and share your finds! Tag your favorite independent retailer and let’s show them some love! #SustainableBusiness #SocialImpact #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy

Ever wondered about Aaron Paul's "no half-measures" tattoo? Rewatch Season 3 of Breaking Bad. The moral of the story, as Mike puts it: “I chose a half-measure when I should have gone all the way. I’ll never make that mistake again. No more half-measures, Walter.” In his latest Reiser’s Pieces blog, Jason Reiser implores eCommerce marketers to heed the advice given to Walter White. It’s time to abandon half-measures to win back the Buy Box from unauthorized resellers hurting sales, profit margins, and brand equity. Read on for the steps Jason believes are critical to eliminating these bad eCommerce actors – once and for all: https://lnkd.in/e-daR7Gc To learn more about how MPG’s unique strategies are working to clean up the marketplace for CPG brands, reach out to Jason.reiser@mpgllc.com #MarketPerformanceGroup #MPG #eCommerce #Amazon #marketplace

Q4 is (finally) here and everything's ramping up. This week's Friday Blog looks at how the market is shaping up, with feedback from the Toymaster Ltd regional show. Plus there's comment on last week's major acquisition news from HTI Group, and a few gentle thoughts as toy companies start to plan for '25. We are not the same... it's the Friday Blog!

In a crowded marketplace, your brand isn't a bullhorn; it's a beacon. It's not about shouting the loudest, it's about guiding those who resonate with your values. Embrace the whispers that turn into loyal customers, for a brand built on authenticity speaks volumes even in silence.  #WestMidsBusiness #WMBranding #AuthenticMarketing #WestMidsHustle #WMBuildYourBrand #FindYourTribe #WestMidsWhisperLoud #WMAuthenticityMatters #StandOutInTheCrowd

🌼 Reflecting on Mother's Day 2024 As we bid adieu to another Mother's Day, we're highlighting on the timeless ways we celebrate the moms in our lives. 💖 According to the National Retail Federation, there was a return to the classics amidst 2024's trends and innovations! 🌸 How did you celebrate this year? COMMENT below! #MothersDay #TrendReporting #RetailTrends 🌟

When Price Wars Go Wrong – The JCPenney Story Price wars can be a double-edged sword. JCPenney is a classic case of how aggressive price-cutting can backfire. When JCPenney tried to revamp its business model in the early 2010s, the focus shifted heavily toward “everyday low prices,” removing the frequent sales and coupons customers had come to expect. While this aimed to simplify the shopping experience, it confused loyal shoppers, leading to significant losses and a rapid decline in market share. By the time JCPenney reverted to its old model, it was too late to win back customer trust. This teaches us that price isn’t the only factor—customer perception matters just as much. A quick question: "Do you think price wars can be sustained long-term without hurting brand identity?" For more insights on JCPenney’s pricing failure, here is an article: https://lnkd.in/dAkaTZGv #PriceStrategy #CustomerPerception #BusinessInsights #BBA

WHAT WOULD BOWIE DO? What was a journaling prompt, is now a t-shirt that YOU can wear to keep Bowie's spirit of creativity, evolution, and change front of mind...and body ; ) For me, ALL leadership is about CHANGE. No matter the endeavour, we are leading ourselves and others from one reality into another. David Robert Jones is the poster boy for ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...see what I did there; ) Through his work he encourages us to face it. Embrace it. Sometimes even beat it to the punch and make it happen on our terms. I reckon this is the perfect catch cry, call to arms, and provocation for reflection for any Gen Xers out there feeling stuck in life and leadership. Ask yourself this simple question: What would Bowie do? There was so much demand after her recent pre-order for this tee/sweater closed a few weeks ago that my sister Amanda Billing is doing it again - closing THIS SUNDAY, 8 September. A great little gift to lift the spirits in these tricky times, for your Self or for a friend or partner. Even order it now and stash it for Christmas...its not that many sleeps away! Amanda does all of her printed merch production by PREORDER, using Auckland-based businesses as partners. Preorder means she doesn’t have stock sitting about. It also means things take a while: Amazon or ShEiN, she is not! So if you have patience, an admiration for Bowie’s insatiable creativity and/or need reminding about what makes a human life fulfilled, join the WWBD preorder via the link in the comments below. #GenX #humancentred #leadership

Tired of the “white-lies” we accept in society. For brands we buy “New and Improved” or “Reformulated” aren’t necessarily a good thing for the consumer. Renovating our house bit-by-bit over the last few years the phrase “Builder Grade” has become a sore spot for me. Seeing commercials of big box stores talking of “Rolling Back” prices after jacking them up is infuriating. Just want to fight back by eating in more, DIY’ing, and buying used items. Where are the days of a buyer’s market that drive competition and quality?

🏄♂️ We love this fun spring catalog from Howler Brothers! 😎 It's another great example of a beautiful mini-catalog which has become a larger trend for retailers looking to optimize their spend. 🔗 In our latest article, we've got tips for retailers on how to optimize formats as the industry confronts rising USPS postage costs: https://lnkd.in/gV5bnAEr

RAD + RAE turns 2 tomorrow! Using this time to reflect on our Wins + Lessons in the last year. Wins: - We scaled our wholesale business to 100+ stores in 10 months - We opened our Showroom - Launched size-inclusive Rad + Rae branded clothing - Grew the business by over 100% - We doubled the size of our amazing community + count my luck stars every day for the genuine support you show my small business Lessons: - Getting comfortable with cash flow. It takes A LOT of money to scale a product based business - Giving myself permission to suck at things. Just because you’re bad at something doesn’t mean you have to invest time getting better at it - The art of the follow up - To be selfish with my time. How I spend it + who I spend it with Cheers to another year! 🥂