July was steady to last year with similar markdowns and inventory levels. Tariff chatter is loud and everywhere, but so far sales have not pulled back. As we transition into Fall, stay on offense: pull sell-through and Inventory Action Reports weekly, double-down on what’s moving, and take early markdowns on what’s not. Keep vendor conversations going to protect IMU and curb any freight or tariff surcharges before they land. 

When it comes to increasing retail sales, how you arrange your merchandise matters just as much as what you sell. A smart store layout guides customer movement, highlights your most profitable items, and ultimately drives more conversions—without increasing your square footage. 

Here’s how to use proven layout strategies to turn browsers into buyers.

In retail, profits may drive headlines—but it’s cash flow that keeps the lights on. According to Forbes, 82% of small businesses fail due to poor cash flow management, not lack of profit. And that’s where retail forecasting becomes a game-changer. Find out the three key moves to help you take control of your cash flow, no matter the season.

Too often, retail success is measured by the wrong number : profit on paper. But when it comes to staying in business and growing long-term, cash flow is king.

Inventory represents 50% or more of your cash investment—making it the one major expense you can fully control. Find out how you can turn cash strain into cash confidence from our latest webinar with retail experts.

How many of our business decisions are dictated by the stories we tell ourselves?

When I listen to retailers share their fears, concerns, and challenges, it becomes clear that their decisions are often based on internal narratives rather than hard data. These stories, while understandable, can lead to choices that undermine the very advantages that make smaller retailers competitive.

Cash flow is the lifeblood of every retail business—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood challenges. When money runs tight, overbuying is often blamed, but it’s rarely the full story !

Find out the hidden causes of cash flow pressure and the actionable strategies that have helped retailers turn their inventory into a true profit engine.

Over the last quarter, most verticals finished flat to slightly up—a reminder that every shopper counts. Despite perceived headwinds in the economy and consumer sentiment, stores that maintained focus on execution and customer engagement continued to perform. This spotlights the importance of setting daily sales goals and sharpening conversion rates. Strong execution of fundamentals can still drive growth even if foot traffic is leveling or slowing.

Your vendor relationships can make or break your business. 

51% of businesses plan to collaborate more closely with suppliers—sharing data and forecasting together—to reduce uncertainty and improve outcomes in 2025.

Find out three ways to improve your vendor partnerships by making the most of your data.

Incentives work, but only when they’re clear, fair, and tied to the right behaviors. Find out four best practices to help you build smarter, more effective sales performance incentives.

Inventory planning isn't just about reordering what's selling—it’s about strategically deciding how much to buy, when to buy it, and how long it should stay on the floor. In this deep-dive conversation with Paul Erickson, Executive Director at Management One, we explore what inventory planning actually is. From defining open-to-buy budgets to the psychology of customer engagement, Paul shares his insights from 40+ years as a retail educator along with real-world examples that show how inventory planning can turn struggling stores into growth engines.

For our latest webinar, we asked participants to share how they’re feeling about 2025. Find out their top concerns, recession-tested strategies, and what they expect for the year ahead.

Tariffs necessitate careful financial and accounting adjustments for retailers, impacting balance sheets and cash flow.

Read our webinar recap to discover the 4 steps and 3 P’s to help independent retailers navigate uncertainty with confidence — from data-driven planning to team activation and smart inventory decisions.

As usual, performance varied meaningfully by retail vertical and by class of merchandise.  See below for results by vertical for our key groups, with sales growth led by the toy and hobby category.  One callout is that luxury fashion markdowns grew meaningfully, suggesting they were needed to support continued sales growth.  Is the luxury consumer feeling pinched after a long stretch of strong spending?

Following our recent webinar "Tariffs Are Here – Now What?", we asked participants how tariffs are impacting their business — and what strategies they are putting in place to protect their margins. Discover what retailers shared, the top strategies they're prioritizing, and key insights from our speakers Marc Weiss and Dane Cohen.

In a world dominated by big box giants and online marketplaces, independent retailers have powerful advantages that national chains often can’t match. Here are three effective ways local retailers can compete with big box stores in 2025.