TNG RETAIL SERVICES BLOG

In the retail and Consumer Product Goods (CPG) world, we take for granted the success of what flies off the shelves and what gets lost in the shuffle of ever-changing trends. With constant movement and consumer shopping habits, it is easy for products and procedures to fall through the cracks. This is also true for promotional displays throughout stores. The only way to combat this is with top employees equipped with the necessary tools to not only get the job done, but get it done right.

As the Holiday Season approaches, we reflect on the previous year and our accomplishments, memories and events which influence next year’s direction and goals. At TNG Retail Services, 2019 is a year influenced by change. Change which began by the formation of a completely new company focused on bringing growth to retail via product movement.  As we cross the threshold into 2020, we bring with us not only a new mission, but an important focus which will make 2020 our most important year yet: Our people.

As with so many things, Millennials are making changes and redefining how we think about customer experience. Shopper types have changed and continue to evolve. The relentless rise of on-line continues to shape expectations at store level also. Shoppers and consumers are certainly more educated today and peer reviews play into expectations as well creating fluidity of loyalty. No doubt, exceeding expectations at the point of purchase is key in gaining market share, across all industries. For grocers, the opportunities to continue capture this demographic are rife. Most especially, the HBC (health and beauty care) and GM (general merchandise) categories have so much potential to introduce unique products that appeal.

Exciting! This past September TNG completed its 50th Ripley’s Aquarium live fish delivery.

Being part mind-reader, part strategist, helps

So much is in the news about how retail is stumbling, sinking, closing and shuttering. It is true. There are many dying retailers. As times change and customer demands evolve, retailers must keep up or stay ahead. Actually, the successful retailers are the ones that anticipate what their customers want before the customers know themselves – part mind reader, part strategist all wrapped in the most enticing of packaging.

Every retailer knows that times are tough right now. It can seem unrelenting with an onslaught of new issues every day. With one part of the puzzle in hand, another seems to falter in a constant battle to remain relevant and thriving. The pinch is real.

A recent article outlines the wildcard nature of the supply chain as the integral link for retail success. It starts the discussion with: “…as much as grocers continue to invest in building a better shopping experience, consumers still think of a trip to the grocery store as a chore”^1. If that is the case, then consumers will continue to look for alternatives to cut out just one more ‘chore’ in their already busy lives. If we look at retailers that are doing “better than” some of the others, are there patterns? Does the excitement of discovery and treasure hunt in a Costco make the shopping experience better for the shopper? If so, how does grocery incorporate more of that element into their stores? It could be that they customize more, experiment more with different products or try to localize products. It could be how they present that product to shoppers. The store within a store is gaining ground. Retailer operations along with limited distribution space often don’t make this an easy task, however.

Questions you should be asking when shopping for a company to merchandise your product at store-level.

1. Is the company customer-centric?