Sunday, September 14, 2025
Department stores are struggling. Luxury is losing share to resale. Big brands are boring customers with uninspired assortments.
That means specialty and small retailers have a chance to win.
I spent last week in Norfolk, VA working with the Retail Alliance, a non-profit organization that supports local retailer.
During my walkthrough in the community, I saw Main Street store owners eager to sharpen their fundamentals from planning their buys to improving their merchandising execution.
Their energy and passion for what they do is unmistakable.
Here’s what else stands out. Because they are small businesses, they have an advantage in being able to test quickly, adapt, and connect with their communities.
(btw, I also coined the phrase “Main Street Merchandising” while working with store owners. Pretty catchy, no?)
Small is hardly a weakness.
Small is a superpower.
#mainstreetmerchandising
About Retail Strategy Group
Founded in 2020, Retail Strategy Group works with market-leading brands to help them improve profitability and increase organizational effectiveness. The firm produces a weekly newsletter, The Merchant Life, where retail executives find the best retail insights and new, provocative ideas. For more information, visit www.retailstrategygroup.com.