Linda Voracek

Ulta Beauty has some big plans for Holiday 2024... 🎄 What is the #1 retail beauty destination prioritizing through Q4? 🤔 🧴 Categories on the Rise - Ulta has invested in in-demand categories such as body care and wellness to ensure it remains the go-to destination for trending products. It's also positioned itself as a leader in the Gen Alpha skincare craze. 🤩 Bringing Joy to Stores - With cultural sentiment seeming to always be negative, Ulta has an initiative to bring more joy to stores, and the gifting season presents the perfect opportunity to communicate this to customers. 👂 Listening to Customers - With 44 million loyalty members, Ulta has an incredible opportunity to learn about trends and get feedback on initiatives. This enhances a sense of community and ensures that retailer continues to deliver what customers truly want. My bet is that Ulta Beauty will continue its beauty dominance through the holiday season and grow as a major retail beauty destination through 2025. #ultabeauty #beautyretail #giftingretail #beautygifts New Ground

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Great insights from a recent article on Franchising.com! Contrary to common belief, consumers prioritize factors other than price when making purchases. According to the article, product/service quality (65%), convenience (58%), excellent customer service (53%), and brand reputation (45%) outweigh price for more than half of consumers. Interestingly, economically pessimistic Baby Boomers place even greater emphasis on these factors, with 77% prioritizing quality, 66% favoring convenience, 56% valuing customer service, and 54% considering brand reputation more important than price. You obviously need great quality food and/or products but most importantly the way you treat your GUEST, is the most important thing. How they feel when they are interacting with you and your team is paramount

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We sat down with Blaine Elliott, Associate Director of Sales at Jun Group, to discuss her career journey, navigating disruptions and challenges in shopper marketing, and more. "Our success in the shopper vertical ultimately ties back to Jun Group’s flexibility and how our platform is uniquely well-suited for the low-funnel metrics that our partners need. Although we’ve developed an effective formula for nearly every type of goal, we’re always eager to pull different levers and create bespoke strategies for clients." Read the interview: https://lnkd.in/eQRCSD5j #digitaladvertising #shoppermarketing #CPG #influencermarketing #digitalmedia

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Retail Today / Retail Renaissance: Costco’s not so secret weapon, “Kirkland Signature”, the private label powerhouse. The envy of the retail world! #costco #kirkland Yes, WalMart has their new premier line “Better Goods”, Target’s “Good & Gather”, even Trader Joe’s and Aldi are known for their private brands. #walmart #target #traderjoes #aldi But nothing comes close to “KIRKLAND”, this asset is worth $60 Billion Dollars in sales a year! 💥 See attached, it’s a “who’s who” of vendor partners. From nuts, to socks, water, wine, apparel, peanut butter, olive oil to booze. #vendorpartners #apparelindustry “Kirkland Signature” spirits, gin, vodka, bourbon, whiskey, even single malt whiskey from Scotland. Costco is the largest seller of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. at $7 Billion Dollars! Costco’s business model just keeps growing stronger, with a people-first mentality and product driven. With 876 stores worldwide, producing +$260 Billion Dollars in sales. #peoplefirst #product PEOPLE - PRODUCT - PRESENTATION - PROCESS = PROFITABILITY Sales Trend: 🔥🔥🔥 February +5% March +8% April +6% #retail #retailtrends #retailindustry #groceryindustry #wine #spirits #shoppingexperience #privatelabel #TopRetailExpert

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"We thought, ‘We can do more with a lot less,’ and that didn’t work out for us.” On the back of #TerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBad quarterly results, it's quite refreshing to hear Kohl's (outgoing) CEO speak so openly about the current state of the business and the decisions they / he made that did not work out. The full transcript (link in the comments) is worth a read. CEO Tom Kingsbury started with ... "Over the last several quarters, we have implemented a significant amount of change across our assortment, value strategies, and in-store experience. We believe these actions will make us more competitive over the long term. However, we undervalued the short-term impact this change could have on our sales performance." And then went into details on the three areas that drove performance: "a decline in traffic, especially early in the quarter, during the back-to-school season; a reduction in receipts in our private apparel brands, which impacted our ability to drive sales in our key value items; and categories where we have lost traction that represented opportunities for us going forward such as fine jewelry, petites and intimate apparel, and legacy home products." He didn't blame the macro environment or the weather, despite both playing a factor. Frankly, the only thing not addressed -- in the narrative nor in the Q&A -- was how to overcome the challenge of operating in the department store sector as a whole (for those not following closely, department stores have been in a 30-year decline). And yes, I imagine that knowing you're no longer in charge is part of why he was able to "own" the issues, effectively "cleaning the plate" for incoming CEO Ashley Buchanan. But still a welcome change from the "corporate speak" of most quarterly calls. https://lnkd.in/ez8PJ2t7

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Returns can significantly impact a brand’s financial health. Beyond the immediate revenue hit, returns bring added costs, including logistics, warehousing, restocking, and even refurbishing. For emerging brands with limited resources, these expenses can quickly pile up, creating substantial challenges. Being strategic about returns not only protects the bottom line but also fosters stronger, more profitable relationships with your retailers. Here are a few tips to help you proactively manage the financial risks of returns: ✅ Provide clear, detailed product information—online and on packaging. This helps set accurate customer expectations, reducing returns caused by misunderstandings. ✅ Monitor return rates and analyze trends. Dive deep into return reasons to uncover and address root issues proactively. ✅Collaborate closely with retailers to ensure your brand's capabilities align seamlessly with their terms and policies. Are returns impacting your business? DM to talk about how I can help improve your business performance!

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Retail Today / Retail Renaissance: Tractor Supply’s run has finally cooled off, why? Tractor Supply Company What’s causing flat same store sales? DEI? Competition? Merchandising? Leadership? #DEI #competition #merchandising #leadership #growthstrategy With +2,400 stores, many of the easy rural locations have been built, so much of their new growth is in more city or suburban neighborhoods. A much tougher competitive environment, #homedepot #lowes #acehardware etc… #rural #city #suburbs How is merchandising adapting to this environment? 🧑🏻‍🌾 “Green Acres vs City Life” #shoppingexperience Here’s the opportunity, revist your growth strategy? Adjust your merchandising to reflect the new reality? Look at sales production by category and department. Change out your end caps to reflect a more promotional picture, driving “value”. Reduce salesfloor on rural feed items, expand dog/cat. Get out of Garden Retail, you don’t understand that business, “Coconuts vs Bananas”. #sales “Cookie Cutter merchandising is holding you back”. This week I visited two stores in the market. “Grab the opportunity, stop waiting on sales, drive them”! #opportunity #salesfloor Where are the “MERCHANTS”? #merchants The good news, most of your issues are in your control, it’s a matter of “4-wall mentality”. #retail #retailtrends #retailindustry #TopRetailExpert

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Aloha Friday! 🤙🏼 Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Friday, December 6: 💄 Shares of Ulta Beauty rallied after hours on Thursday after it offered a more upbeat full-year sales forecast, saying efforts to counterbalance steeper competition were showing signs of gaining traction. 🚛 Dollar General said it is testing same-day delivery from about 75 of its stores. On an earnings call, CEO Todd Vasos said the company ultimately expects it will expand the offering to thousands of stores. 🍋 Kroger on Thursday said lower fuel prices and the sale of its specialty-pharmacy business weighed on third-quarter sales, and that it expects fourth-quarter same-store sales to be lower than those in the third. 🚜 Tractor Supply Company outlined its long-term financial targets at its Investment Community Day event, targeting top- and bottom-line growth through 2030. It is aiming to increase net sales by between 6% and 8%. 🐶 Chewy reported Q3 net sales grew nearly 5%year over year to $2.9 billion, exceeding the high end of its guidance for the quarter. It moved into the black during the quarter, reporting an operating income of $25.6 million. 🚚 DoorDash delivery now includes David’s Bridal. The new partnership makes David’s Bridal the first merchant of Doordash’s wedding and special occasion category. 🧘🏽‍♂️ lululemon’s US growth is continuing to slow, but the athletic apparel retailer is making big gains abroad, leading to a 9% increase in sales year over year. And the yoga pants company on Thursday beat Wall Street’s expectations. 👙 Victoria's Secret raised its full-year sales outlook after making gains via the back-to-school season and a new sportswear launch, noting that improved performance had continued through Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 🎮 GameStop’s shares jumped on Thursday after a cryptic post from meme stock influencer Keith Gill. Following his post, GameStop’s shares spiked and traded as high as $30.87. The stock closed up 6% at $28.63. 🚙 Vehicle owners are falling behind on routine maintenance, with many experts attributing this to the rising cost of repairs. More than 30 million cars that are on the road are behind on both oil changes and tire rotations. 📉 Mortgage rates moved lower for the second consecutive week, sending purchase applications higher in further signs of pent-up demand amid an ongoing affordability crisis in the housing market. 🍺 Miller High Life is releasing High Life Dive Bar-Fume, a perfume meant to evoke to scents of beer, barstools, greasy food, and everything else that can be found at one's preferred watering hole. 🕯️ Bath & Body Works' highly anticipated event of the year, Candle Day, is returning in stores and online this weekend. 💤 Luxury sleepwear brand Petite Plume is ramping up product partnerships outside of fashion in an effort to expand into a lifestyle brand. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Wednesday, July 17: 5️⃣ Five Below CEO Joel Anderson has stepped down after more than a decade in post. Five Below also cut its outlook for the second quarter as the discount retailer continues to grapple with slower consumer spending. 🛍️ Shoppers paused their spending in June from May, defying economic forecasts for a pullback and proving their resilience in the face of an uncertain economy. Year-over-year retail sales rose by 0.2%. 📦 Amazon kicks off Prime Day with higher order sizes. The average order size was $59.78, up 6% from $56.26 in 2023. Some 45% of households shopping Prime Day have already placed two or more separate orders. 👕 Macy's has relaunched Epic Threads, a private label kids apparel and accessories line. The relaunch is part of an ongoing private label revamp, which will see the entire portfolio refreshed by 2025. 🍕 Texas-based restaurant Mr Gatti's Pizza announced its plans to open 92 corporate-owned units inside Walmart locations across Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kentucky. 👖 Old Navy is once again promoting back-to-school shopping with a money-back guarantee. Old Navy promises to provide a full refund if products don’t stand up to the wear and tear of a school year. 👟 New Balance has signed a multiyear deal with the WNBA. The agreement will make New Balance an official partner of the WNBA and will include broadcast, digital and retail content. 👚 Walmart has spent three years revamping adult apparel to make it stylish middle America. The company is now relaunching its 30-year-old brand, No Boundaries, with a new fall collection aimed at Generation Z. 🥫 Food maker Kraft Heinz has hired longtime PepsiCo marketer Todd Kaplan as its chief marketing officer for North America. The appointment comes as the food giant pursues a multiyear effort to improve the nutrition of products. 🚚 Ocado Group CEO Tim Steiner has said he doesn’t think the rapid grocery delivery market will ever be as large as the big basket market. He noted that quick delivery comes with a prime premium that not all are willing to pay. 🛹 VF Corporation is officially selling Supreme. The streetwear imprint is set to be acquired by global optical industry leader, EssilorLuxottica. The group will pay for $1.5bn in cash for the brand - lower than the $2.1bn VF paid. 🚑 A report released by Senator Bernie Sanders suggests that Amazon's Prime Day sales event has been a major cause of injuries for warehouse workers in the United States. 📈 Shopify shares have struggled this year, but BofA Global Research thinks that could change. Analysts upgraded the shares from neutral to buy on the basis that growth and margin could improve. 💊 Grocers like Hy-Vee, Inc. and Kroger are freeing up pharmacists to interact more with customers and offering an expanding range of healthcare services #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Retail sales rose significantly, showing strong increases both month-over-month and year-over-year, as consumers continued to spend and drive growth https://lnkd.in/ekHc4QcA Total retail sales (excluding automobiles and gasoline but including restaurants) rose 1.35% month-over-month in May and were up 3.03% year-over-year #retail Chain Store Age

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𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 Grocery Outlet, the extreme-value retailer, has announced its entry into the private label market with the introduction of 'GO Brands'. Key Facts: • Three new private label lines: SimplyGO, GO Home & Haven, and GO Paw & Pamper • 100 new private label SKUs to be available by end of 2024 • Products include grocery basics, household essentials, and pet items • Roll-out begins this month, with pet products launching in 2025 According to Grocery Outlet's CEO, RJ Sheedy, this initiative aligns with their mission to provide quality products at competitive prices. The company, which operates over 520 locations across 16 states, ranks 66th on Progressive Grocer's 2024 list of top food and consumables retailers in North America. This development represents a significant expansion of Grocery Outlet's product offerings and business model. | Progressive Grocer https://lnkd.in/enB9SgGg #retail #supermarkets #grocery #privatelabel #storebrands #pet

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I keep hearing about how “brick and mortar retail is in trouble.” The numbers tell a different story. This year alone, there are over 1,000 stores opening across the U.S., with brands like TJ Maxx, Dollar Tree Stores, Dollar General, and Warby Parker leading the charge. This is unprecedented growth. And it’s a testament to the evolving retail landscape. But there’s a catch. Overall, most retailers today operate fewer stores due to the high costs. The stores that are around now serve multiple roles, including integrating both online and offline shopping experiences. Whether starting in-store and shipping home or ordering online and picking up in-store, it's all about meeting the customer where they are. Despite having fewer and smaller stores, the stakes are higher than ever for retailers. When customers visit a store today, they are serious about their intent. They're there to learn, fix, exchange, or buy something specific. If you miss the opportunity to serve them properly, you lose that sale—and likely won't get a second chance. This is especially critical for specialty stores—hardware, home improvement, electronics, books—where customers come in with a clear purpose. Failing to engage and assist them effectively means losing them to a competitor. In a world where retail is both online and offline, ensuring that every in-store interaction is handled perfectly is essential. It's about making the most of each moment, because you might not get another chance.

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General Mills 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁) 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 Net revenue acceleration will likely take time Jeff Harmening, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Mills: “Our top priority in fiscal 2025 is to accelerate our organic net sales growth, and we made expected progress on that goal in the first quarter along multiple fronts, with more work still ahead. We strengthened our core by delivering more remarkable experiences to consumers, which translated into improved volume, net sales, and market share trends versus the previous quarter. And we took another significant step to reshape our portfolio for stronger growth and profitability by announcing the proposed sale of our North American Yogurt business to Lactalis and Sodiaal” “With those strong plans and having delivered expected improvement in Q1, we are reaffirming our full-year outlook for fiscal 2025.” Q1 FY’25 | Q3 CY2024 • NR: $4.8Bn • OSG: -1%; Volume: -%, Price/ mix: -1% • GM%: 34.8%; -130 bps vs Q1 FY24 • Adj. OP%: 17.8%; -50 bps vs Q1 FY24 • Beats analysts’ consensus for revenue and EPS Results by Region • North America Retail: $ 3,017m NR; OSG: -2%; Volume: -3%, Price/ mix: +1% • North America Pet: $576m NR; OSG: -1%; Volume: +3%, Price/ mix: -3% • International: $717m; OSG: -1%; Volume: +6%, Price/ mix: -7% Fiscal 2025 Outlook - Reaffirms • Organic net sales: between flat and up 1% • Adjusted operating %: between -2% to flat in constant currency • Adjusted diluted EPS: -1% to +1% in constant currency 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝘀: FF&A solves the most complex strategic problems of the world largest FMCG companies across Corporate Strategy, Organic Growth, Digital RTM (Ecommerce, DTC and EB2B) and M&A. 14 out of the world 20 largest FMCG companies are repeat Clients 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 (𝘃𝗼𝗹.) 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱-𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵®: https://lnkd.in/eEAJ5-D9 𝗧𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝘀 & 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗠𝗖𝗚 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: https://lnkd.in/ea4gy65y #fmcg #cpg The Coca-Cola Company PepsiCo Procter & Gamble Unilever The HEINEKEN Company Danone Carlsberg Group AB InBev Henkel Reckitt Haleon Opella Bayer | Consumer Health Kenvue Bel Mars Ferrero Mondelēz International Lindt & Sprüngli JDE Peet's Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. Campbell's General Mills Kimberly-Clark Essity Diageo Pernod Ricard Campari Group L'Oréal The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Coty Beiersdorf https://lnkd.in/eKCqJ8fu

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BJ's Wholesale Club Doubles Down on Fresh: Driving Loyalty and Growth with Fresh 2.0 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀: • Fresh 2.0 Initiative Gains Momentum: BJ’s Wholesale Club reported strong Q3 results, with perishables leading comp sales growth, driven by dairy, meat, and produce categories. • Data-Driven Fresh Strategy: Members shopping BJ’s as their primary fresh destination visit weekly and spend ~30% more per trip compared to non-fresh shoppers, with an average of eight additional trips annually. • Investments in Fresh: Enhancements include expanded vendor relationships, improved produce in-stocks, seasonal assortments, and front-entrance coolers to emphasize quality and value. • Fresh Training Across Clubs: Comprehensive employee training is contributing to better execution and customer satisfaction. • Performance Highlights: Produce categories saw low double-digit comp growth in Q3, largely driven by unit volumes. Net Promoter Scores (NPS) in fresh categories have significantly improved. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀: ✅ BJ’s strategic focus on fresh demonstrates a clear path to stronger member loyalty and higher spending per visit. ✅ Investments in produce and perishables underscore the importance of fresh as a traffic driver and key differentiator in the competitive wholesale market. ✅ Training initiatives ensure consistent execution and improved member experience across all locations. ✅ Improved NPS and fresh comp growth signal long-term value creation, attracting higher-tier memberships and boosting member retention. ✅ Digital and membership growth further strengthen BJ’s ability to compete and innovate in the grocery retail landscape. Progressive Grocer | https://lnkd.in/gfGqa-KF #retail #supermarkets #freshproduce #membershipgrowth #grocerystores #businessstrategy #clubstores

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Has your retail organization re-examined the employee experience recently? Ulta Beauty took a concerted effort during the pandemic to better understand what would resonate with associates so that they could keep stores staffed at an optimal level. Several years later, staff retention at the retail level is at its highest and continuing to grow. They’ve now looked at how those efforts might fuel their recruiting efforts, as well. During our recent webinar, Paul D., Vice President of Talent Strategy, Learning and Development at Ulta, discussed how Ulta used a frontline survey to learn more about why people stay, which provided insights not only from a recruiting perspective but also how they could enhance the employee experience even further.  This led them to revisit all of their job descriptions for store level associates and then rethink how the jobs are posted, who they target for different roles, and where they should be looking to find the right person for these jobs. In tandem with this, DeSousa says they’ve shifted and reshaped their recruiting approach on social media to be more focused on associate-level storytelling, showcasing the Ulta Beauty culture and what it’s like to work there, helping reach a broader market. Ulta has also broadened its reach by expanding the hiring pool to include 16- and 17-year-olds in 46 states. DeSousa says this group is trending at a much higher level than they anticipated in terms of both retention and engagement. Ulta has done an incredible job building its unique approach to recruitment. How is your retail organization pivoting to improve recruitment? #LearnMOHR #RetailRecruiting #RetailTraining #UltaBeauty

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As the holiday season approaches, retailers are gearing up for a challenging time with a shorter shopping period and cautious consumers. With spending expected to be lower this year, companies like Macy’s and Lululemon are launching sales earlier and adding more promotions to entice shoppers. This shift in strategy reflects the changing landscape of retail, where innovation and adaptability are key to success in attracting budget-conscious customers. It’s clear that consumer confidence is wavering, and the impact of the upcoming elections adds another layer of uncertainty. Retailers are not only competing for sales but also navigating economic factors that could influence holiday spending. By offering new products, expanding deals, and adjusting their promotional tactics, companies are aiming to stay ahead in a crowded market. As we head into the holiday season, it will be interesting to see how these strategies play out and which retailers come out on top amidst these unique challenges. Shop smart and support businesses that are adapting to meet your needs during this festive time of year! #RetailTrends #HolidayShopping #ConsumerIntent

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Executive Leaders across Retail have two types of customer that they must consider when it comes to building their brand’s revenue generating and cost-saving strategies and roadmaps. Their external customers - their brand’s consumers. And, their internal customers - their internal people. It’s easy to be swayed toward investing far more heavily in customer-facing technologies. Because these generate revenue through enticing and encouraging consumers to purchase your product(s) - and customer experience and the customer journey is key in making this happen. But investing in non customer-facing technologies, and fostering a strong learning and development environment, is essential in enabling your internal customers to carry out their jobs in the most efficient, effective and enjoyable ways - and also in ensuring that the service offered to the external customer is seamless and positive. Top-line and bottom-line growth, and improved customer and employee experience, will come from focussing and strategically investing in both sets of customers. #retail #transformation

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