Retailers...Don't Be MYTH-LED!

As Retail Strategists, we follow retailing trends and their impacts on 55 retail segments. In so doing, we've identified that some of the accepted "truisms" in retailing actually are myths. We are exposing them as myths, to prevent retailers from being myth-led.

Here are three examples:
Amazon will eventually run all retailers out of business.

Don't Be Myth-Led! The customer has the final say. 

Until Amazon solves the fact that 90% of customers want to touch, feel, test, try on or taste before buying, their growth from retailing will be limited.

Because of the soft and disappointing Back-to-School sales, 2013 Holiday sales are commonly predicted to be lackluster.

Don't Be Myth-Led! What matters is how consumers are spending.

BTS results were affected by the uptick in sales of homes and cars. In November and December, houses and cars will not suck disposable dollars away from Holiday spending.

Struggling malls can be turned around as the economy improves.

Don't Be Myth-Led!  Probably 15-20% of them have no future as malls.

How to get the highest and best use from that real estate? Retrofit them into retirement homes!