Thoughts on Retail in 2012

The retail sector has grown incredibly as the American middle class has grown over the last 6-decades. It has surpassed almost every other sector of our economy with the exception of services for employment. Of course, often there is also a blurred line the between retail and service sector, after all without customer service or bundling strategies it's very hard for retailers to stay in business or grow.

Having been in the carwash sector over the years and watching the various simple strategies to improve retail sales, and having founded a franchising company I've decided that I ought to be sharing my insight, experiences, observations, and strategies with all of you. Perhaps, why I've set out on a mission to write articles such as this on the retail sector, you see, today, Brick and Mortars are pitted against online web sales, and some wise retailing companies are harnessing the power of the web and creating synergistic strategies - some are paying off, others were ahead of their time and flopped miserably.

Having the right mix and agility to adapt quickly may just determine which brick and mortars survive and which fail to perform or remain viable in the future. We are indeed witnessing this reality now, and it's no secret, one only has to read the financial news or retail industry trade journals to see what's occurring.

Okay so, you are probably wondering to whom I want to reach with this article? Well it is for new start-up retailers, small mom and pop businesses, online retailers, business students, and large retail executives who are still trying to hone their strategies. My main point is that perhaps more retailing executives need to stop looking back and start looking forward, to stop copying the industry leaders, and carve out a niche which includes both sides of the game, the virtual space as well as the real estate retail locations.

No, it's not going to be easy, and small start-ups can often come in and rock your world, but it's time to stop complaining and crying over "Who Stole My Cheese" and acting like a big bear running around screaming with a thorn through its paw. This is the real world, and the forest is a tough environment, and it's a jungle out there. The game has changed in 2012, and you are either the snow plow or the road kill, it's time to choose, or you will by default lose. Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative eBook on Retail Business. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net