Across two huge levels at the Javits Centre in New York, Retail’s Big Show has been presenting an extraordinary array of technology, data, management and other solutions for retailers. From the giants of IBM and Microsoft to tiny players, retailers at the trade show and conference have had access to the very latest in innovation to make business more efficient and successful.
It has been a thrill to speak to some visionary experts about opportunities they see in retail generally and, with some, in specialty retail, and how they are preparing for the the opportunities. It has also been exciting to play with some very cool gadgets. What I have really loved, though, is the opportunity of seeing how businesses at the conference, the trade show and on the streets of Manhattan define themselves – how they speak to their point of difference.
In this market that is becoming more crowded and with consumers who are more powerful than ever before, if you do not speak with a clear voice about who you are and what that matters then you will not be heard. Many retailers are not being heard and their numbers speak to that. Some, large and small, are being heard because their values are clear and easily understood.
I wish I could have had a bunch of newsagents with me here here at the trade show, conference and on the streets on New York.
Over the next few weeks I will be gathering my thoughts and considering these in the context of the latest Newsagency sales trends. I am preparing for a fresh look at the Newsagency of the Future and plan to offer a round of workshops shortly with completely fresh content that is relevant to recent innovation and opportunities.
We are in the midst of the most exciting period in the history of the newsagency channel. We have decisions to make, decisions that are for each of us ours alone, decisions we have not had to make previously. Exciting times ahead!