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Dear Retail Ledership: Where art thou ??? Your establishments are whitering away. Your hard working staff have no guidance, no pride in serving customers, no sense of treating customers as guests to your once proud and blossoming social and pleasureable gathering locations. You have surrendered to lackluster service, poor manners, hiding behind “online” “clicks” and faceless non interaction. From high fashion, to budget clothing stores, grocery and food shopping, to luxury goods and sweet treats, you have surrendered to poor service and mediocre, if not pathetic, service. Customers come to you with cash in hand, ready to hand it to you, yet you treat them with disrespect. Wake up, your customers deserve better, and they will love you for it. Or shall I say “catch a wake up”! You are tarnishing a once proud profession.

#PartyCity #RetailNews #BusinessClosure Hey everyone! 🌟 Have you heard the news? Party City is shutting down after almost 40 years of bringing joy to our celebrations. 🥳 According to a recent story from CNN, they plan to close all their stores, and corporate employees were informed that today is their last day of work. Here are a few thoughts I have on this sad news: - **It's a bummer**: Party City has been a go-to spot for party supplies, costumes, and holiday decorations. Losing such a beloved store is tough. 😞 - **Shifts in shopping habits**: With the rise of online shopping, it seems like many brick-and-mortar stores are facing challenges. What do you think has contributed to their decline? - **Memories made**: Think back to all the special events you've celebrated with help from Party City! 🎉 What’s your favorite memory tied to their products? I'm curious to hear what you all think about this! - **Have you noticed any trends in retail?** - **What tips do you have for findin... How Will Party City's Closure Impact Your Upcoming Celebrations? Answers:  https://lnkd.in/g2UDudPj Let's Connect! Have you faced similar challenges? Shar...

Life as a former Walmart, present Sam's Club associate Hey ppl. I'm a former Walmart associate who became a Sam's Club associate 3 months ago and I'm here to help you guys gain a perspective of what it's like to be a Sam's Club associate by publishing this post. I've seen some of the Walmart associates are interested in Sam's Club jobs so I decided, why not help the associates who are curious to know what's going on at this place? So let's start with this, working at Sam's Club is not much different or better than working at Walmart. Let me repeat that again for the people in the back: Sam's Club jobs are extremely similar to Walmart jobs. This might sound pretty obvious to so many of you people but I've seen a lot of people who worked for both, and they exaggerate Sam's Club so much, that it got to a point where it started to bother me. They are just selling untrue dreams to people and giving them hope for no reason. It's not like we are chilling in this place for the half of the shift and we are helping extremely kind, caring, and understanding members for the other half. No. People are rude and stupid here too and you will face very very similar challenges that you face at Walmart. I can't lie, I thought dealing with people, and when I say people I mean the customers aka members, would be a lot easier. I thought that because people actually pay to get in here. So the membership should decrease the number of people that you deal with, and since you deal with fewer and fewer people, you would get better and calmer conversations with customers aka members. But unfortunately, that was not the case for me. The arrogance of these people is hilarious. I'm gonna be honest, I thought the customers at Walmart were arrogant just because they bought the most buyable items, but I realized they were nothing compared to Sam's Club members. I swear these people make you feel like you are working at a 5 star hotel. Cause they expect the same service level of a 5 star hotel. Just because you pay 50-100$ per year, you don't get to be a billionaire you idiot. Anyway, let's stay on track. I also thought I would be in a more well organized working environment in terms of not mixing the duties of one associate with another. For example, I never wanted to do anything that wasn't in my job description but that wasn't the case. And I realized I was naive to think that it was gonna be different. So if there is any of you who are thinking that the problem is actually your Store Manager or your Team Lead, they are not. It's the same at other stores and other companies as well. I witnessed it personally. #walmart #walmartchat #walmartemployees #thebluetalk #SamsClubJobs #SamsCareers #SamsClub #SamClubReality #SimilarNotDifferent #CustomerArrogance #WorkingChallenges #UntrueExpectations #OrganizedWorkplace #ServiceLevelIssues #RetailInsights #NaiveExpectations #AssociatePerspective

When it comes to department stores, just 1% of the highest spenders contribute to around 25% of average sales. Is it any wonder that stores are embracing their VIP clients? Special offerings, custom change rooms and lounges, restaurants and balconies and curated service are some of the perks. #vip #luxuryretail #customerexperience #retailtrends #departmentstores

🌟 It’s not about what you offer; it’s about how you make people feel. 🌟 On a busy street corner were two grocery stores: Store A and Store B, across from one another. They both sold the same products, priced at about the same as one another. One store was always packed, and the other store, well, they always struggled to get the people in to buy from them. Why? Store A had Mr. Kapoor, an owner who knew his customers by name. He always welcomed Mr. Desai with a warm smile and, whenever he came in with his son, would manage to sneak a free candy into the boy’s bag, always greeting all with a warm smile. It wasn't about the free candy; it was the connection. ???? Store B, across the street, decided to compete only on price. No welcomes, no friendliness-just buy and go. Eventually, loyal customers wandered off in search of a friendly atmosphere. One day, Ravi went to Store B on a sale day and stood in line, feeling the chill of cold, unwelcoming air. He looked across the street and saw Mr. Kapoor helping a customer to pick fresh tomatoes with a smile. Ravi placed his basket on the floor and walked out, straight to Store A. ???? The Lesson? Whether it is a grocery store or an organization across the world, it is not about what one sells but about how one makes people feel. The real secret to retention isn't just low prices or fancy perks; it is in the culture of belonging that you build out for people. ???????? #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement #CustomerExperience #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #HumanConnection #CorporateCulture

INSIGHTFUL VIDEO: Why Restaurants Have Become So Important To Shopping Malls https://lnkd.in/eScCDisv Foot traffic to suburban shopping malls has returned to pre-pandemic levels and high-end malls are thriving. Yelp found that 17 out of the top 25 brands driving consumers to malls are restaurants #retail CNBC

GREAT INSIGHTS TO RESTAURANTS AND FAST FOOD CHAINS. When human engagement and creative marketing come together, the outcomes can be quite remarkable. I was astonished by the number of vehicles at a vintage IHOP located on Route 9 in Roswell, Georgia. The atmosphere was inviting, with the hostess greeting most customers by name as they entered. The staff was efficient, and their T-shirts reflected the values they stood for. Investing in people pays dividends for both franchise owners and business operators. Many retail stores are understaffed, and while employees put in hard work, they often don’t have the time to connect with customers. Introducing a dedicated host or hostess can significantly enhance the customer experience by establishing that unique human connection that each brand or store can provide. Furthermore, three key branding elements that can make a notable impact are scent, music, and the cleanliness of restrooms, especially when given a feminine touch. These aspects should not be overlooked. And naturally, a T-shirt featuring the ideal message can truly make a difference. #marketing #branding #ihop #retail

What have brands been up to this week? 🤿⤵️ 💪 Myprotein has partnered with Southern Comfort to launch a Whiskey Sour-flavored pre-workout drink, as they expand their flavour variation 🌸 AllSaints is extending its partnership with Boots UK, launching a new fragrance range in 93 stores across the UK for the first time ❄️ SKIMS x The North Face launched a limited edition winter collection this week, which sold out within hours ☕ John Lewis & Partners announced they are opening Caffè Nero in-shop cafés within Waitrose & Partners and John Lewis & Partners locations across the UK 👀 IKEA is offering the chance to win a giant 6kg turkey-sized meatball for Christmas that can feed up to 24 people, complete with their Lingonberry Jam, cream sauce gravy and mash 📱eBay has launched a UK trade-in service, offering customers the chance to trade old tech for cash with no fees

Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga explain why Memorial Day shines as our second favorite holiday and celebrate its significance and traditions with pride and gratitude. Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gXCpdjPD #retail #retailing #advertisingandmarketing #onlineshopping #shoppingandtheretailindustry 

Service vs. Hospitality Years ago, I frequently visited a Starbucks in Wildwood, Missouri. Christy was the barista, and she always made me feel special. This was back when they used to write your name on the cup. What she did stood out from every other Starbucks I visited. As she handed me my drink with a smile, she'd say, "Jeff, I made this especially for you. I want it to be perfect—let me know if it isn't, because I want it to be just right for you." By the way, she said this to every customer, but I always felt like it was meant just for me. This is a clear example of the difference between "service" and "hospitality." Service is often a simple transaction—a quick "thank you" or "have a nice day" (which, sadly, is becoming rare these days). Hospitality, on the other hand, is more than that. It’s an art form, an experience, and a strategy with the intent to create a lasting impression—to make you want to return, leave a positive review, and tell your friends and family about it. If you can train your organization to adopt this mindset, it can be a game changer. It’s a thought process that’s rare but highly impactful. By offering genuine hospitality, you can set your business apart from the competition. Engage me to help you create a "blue ocean" customer experience. #clientsforlife #hospitality #blueocean #strategy #experienceecomony #wintercreativegroup #starbucks