{"id":16477,"date":"2025-12-28T09:23:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T09:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/why-retails-biggest-problem-isnt-technology-its-human-execution\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T09:23:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T09:23:28","slug":"why-retails-biggest-problem-isnt-technology-its-human-execution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/why-retails-biggest-problem-isnt-technology-its-human-execution\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Retail\u2019s Biggest Problem Isn\u2019t Technology, It\u2019s Human Execution"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/online-workshops-list\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-496\" src=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png\" alt=\"Retail Online Training\" width=\"729\" height=\"91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png 729w, https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90-300x37.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px\" \/><\/a><\/p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"hs_cos_wrapper_post_body\">\n<p data-start=\"660\" data-end=\"734\" style=\"font-weight: normal;\"><em>This is a curated look back at what I saw and shared in 2025<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"660\" data-end=\"734\"><strong data-start=\"660\" data-end=\"734\">Retail didn\u2019t lose customers in 2025. It lost the moment that matters.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"660\" data-end=\"734\">Across podcasts, business radio, live store walks, and a YouTube channel that crossed 1.3 million views this year, the same retail problems kept surfacing.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2274\" data-end=\"2315\">The format changed. The diagnosis didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"736\" data-end=\"923\">Different platforms.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"736\" data-end=\"923\">Different audiences.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"736\" data-end=\"923\">But the same question kept coming back.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"925\" data-end=\"1034\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><em>Why are retailers investing more than ever in technology, yet still leaving so much money on the sales floor?<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1036\" data-end=\"1171\">The answer didn\u2019t come from dashboards or demos. It showed up in stores, conversations, and the first few minutes of a conversation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1173\" data-end=\"1341\">Below is a curated \u201cbest of\u201d from 2025, with direct links to the original pieces. Each one reflects what I saw, said, and learned about modern retail selling this year. Click the image to listen, watch, or read.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"1348\" data-end=\"1404\">Thought Leadership: Where Retail Is Actually Breaking Down<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1406\" data-end=\"1633\"><strong data-start=\"1406\" data-end=\"1508\">Wisdom Behind the Windows: The Greatest Challenge in Retail is Merging Technology with Human Touch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1406\" data-end=\"1633\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png?width=240&amp;height=240&amp;name=Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Podcast - Wisdom behind the windows EP4 (1) (1)\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 240px; float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png?width=120&amp;height=120&amp;name=Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png 120w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png?width=240&amp;height=240&amp;name=Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png 240w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png?width=360&amp;height=360&amp;name=Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png 360w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png?width=480&amp;height=480&amp;name=Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png 480w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png?width=600&amp;height=600&amp;name=Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png?width=720&amp;height=720&amp;name=Podcast%20-%20Wisdom%20behind%20the%20windows%20EP4%20(1)%20(1).png 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\"\/>One of my 140 podcasts<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1635\" data-end=\"1770\">Why it resonated: Retail doesn\u2019t lack innovation. It lacks consistency in how humans execute the basics once shoppers are in the store.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"1825\">\u00a0<\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"1825\">\u00a0<\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"1825\">\u00a0<\/h2>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"957\" data-end=\"1017\">Business Radio Perspective: Retail Through a Broader Lens<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1019\" data-end=\"1067\"><strong data-start=\"1019\" data-end=\"1067\">Chicago Business Radio Hour \u2013 WBBM Newsradio\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1069\" data-end=\"1313\">Weekly radio interview: Is mall culture making a comeback?<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"663\" data-end=\"826\">Talking about retail on a business radio show forces the conversation out of the industry echo chamber and into the broader business context.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"828\" data-end=\"961\">When you have to explain what\u2019s happening on the sales floor to CEOs, economists, and business leaders, the signal gets clearer fast.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"963\" data-end=\"1150\">Week after week, the same themes kept surfacing: technology moving faster than training, leaders assuming behavior instead of coaching it, and retailers confusing activity with execution.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1770\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"1825\">The Buying Moment: Why Shoppers Stay or Leave<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1827\" data-end=\"1945\"><strong data-start=\"1827\" data-end=\"1886\">3 \u201cSwitches\u201d That Decide If a Shopper Buys or Walks Out<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1827\" data-end=\"1945\"><strong data-start=\"1827\" data-end=\"1886\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg?width=240&amp;height=240&amp;name=Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Retail Today - Logo (FULL COLOR)_Retail Today (COLOR)\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 240px; float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg?width=120&amp;height=120&amp;name=Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg?width=240&amp;height=240&amp;name=Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg?width=360&amp;height=360&amp;name=Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg?width=480&amp;height=480&amp;name=Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg?width=600&amp;height=600&amp;name=Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg?width=720&amp;height=720&amp;name=Retail%20Today%20-%20Logo%20(FULL%20COLOR)_Retail%20Today%20(COLOR).jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\"\/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1827\" data-end=\"1945\">One of my 300+ short podcasts<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1947\" data-end=\"2092\">Why it resonated: Conversion still hinges on a few simple behaviors. When those behaviors don\u2019t happen, no amount of marketing can save the sale.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2099\" data-end=\"2136\">\u00a0<\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"2099\" data-end=\"2136\">\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"2099\" data-end=\"2136\">Short Lessons With Long Shelf Life: Retail Fundamentals That Still Work<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2138\" data-end=\"2253\"><strong data-start=\"2138\" data-end=\"2194\">The Brilliant Sales Strategy My Boss Taught Me at 16<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2138\" data-end=\"2253\" style=\"font-weight: normal;\">One of my 100+ YouTube Shorts<\/p>\n<div class=\"hs-embed-wrapper\" data-service=\"youtube\" data-responsive=\"true\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 100%; height: auto; padding: 0px; max-width: 600px; min-width: 256px; display: block; margin: auto;\">\n<div class=\"hs-embed-content-wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Brilliant Sales Strategy My Boss Taught Me at 16\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RQMlqEvZC94?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"2255\" data-end=\"2388\">Why it resonated: The fundamentals that worked decades ago still work today. They\u2019re just no longer taught, practiced, or reinforced.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"2009\" data-end=\"2082\"><strong data-start=\"2009\" data-end=\"2082\">Training That Goes Beyond Motivation: How Retail Teams Actually Learn<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2436\" data-end=\"2563\"><strong data-start=\"2436\" data-end=\"2507\">How to Train Luxury Sales Teams That Convert High Net Worth Clients<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2436\" data-end=\"2563\" style=\"font-weight: normal;\">One of my 550+ YouTube Full Videos<\/p>\n<div class=\"hs-embed-wrapper\" data-service=\"youtube\" data-responsive=\"true\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 100%; height: auto; padding: 0px; max-width: 600px; min-width: 256px; display: block; margin: auto;\">\n<div class=\"hs-embed-content-wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Train Luxury Sales Teams That Convert High Net Worth Clients\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DnwBq7vKr30?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"2436\" data-end=\"2563\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2565\" data-end=\"2717\">Why it resonated: High-end customers aren\u2019t buying products. They\u2019re buying clarity, reassurance, and expertise delivered with confidence, not pressure.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"2724\" data-end=\"2774\">Walking the Stores: What Real Retail Execution Looks Like<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2776\" data-end=\"2953\"><strong data-start=\"2776\" data-end=\"2800\">Bloomingdale\u2019s Visit<br \/><\/strong>One of my 1000s of Facebook Lives\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2776\" data-end=\"2953\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=807&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"807\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-12-23 at 9.19.55 AM\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png?width=300&amp;height=404&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png 300w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=807&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png?width=900&amp;height=1211&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png 900w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png?width=1200&amp;height=1614&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png?width=1500&amp;height=2018&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png?width=1800&amp;height=2421&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.19.55%20AM.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><br data-start=\"2816\" data-end=\"2819\"\/>It is referenced here:<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2955\" data-end=\"3109\">Why it resonated: Beautiful stores don\u2019t sell on their own. People do. When employees disengage, the experience collapses, no matter how good the brand is.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"2696\" data-end=\"2761\"><strong data-start=\"2696\" data-end=\"2761\">Listening to Retailers: What Feedback Reveals About Execution<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3164\" data-end=\"3348\"><strong data-start=\"3164\" data-end=\"3216\">Who Uses Faire Out There? What Do You Like Most?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3164\" data-end=\"3348\">One of my 1000&#8217;s of\u00a0Facebook Posts<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3164\" data-end=\"3348\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=173&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"173\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-12-23 at 9.16.15 AM\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png?width=300&amp;height=87&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png 300w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=173&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png?width=900&amp;height=260&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png 900w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png?width=1200&amp;height=346&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png?width=1500&amp;height=433&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png?width=1800&amp;height=519&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.16.15%20AM.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3350\" data-end=\"3464\">Why it resonated: Engagement happens when curiosity replaces commentary. Retailers want to be heard, not lectured. And I&#8217;ll be doing a few posts about how Faire helps specialty retailers compete.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"3471\" data-end=\"3501\">Real-Time Retail Commentary: What Store Visits Reveal<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3503\" data-end=\"3650\"><strong data-start=\"3503\" data-end=\"3545\">Nordstrom Flagship Experience, Seattle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3503\" data-end=\"3650\">One of my dozens of LinkedIn Lives<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3503\" data-end=\"3650\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=413&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"413\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-12-23 at 9.17.44 AM\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png?width=300&amp;height=207&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png 300w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=413&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png?width=900&amp;height=620&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png 900w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png?width=1200&amp;height=826&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png?width=1500&amp;height=1033&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png?width=1800&amp;height=1239&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.17.44%20AM.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3652\" data-end=\"3816\"><strong data-start=\"3652\" data-end=\"3679\">Harry Rosen Store Visit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3652\" data-end=\"3816\">One of my hundreds of LinkedIn Posts<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3652\" data-end=\"3816\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=678&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"678\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-12-23 at 9.21.47 AM\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png?width=300&amp;height=339&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png 300w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=678&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png?width=900&amp;height=1017&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png 900w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png?width=1200&amp;height=1356&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png?width=1500&amp;height=1695&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png?width=1800&amp;height=2034&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.21.47%20AM.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><br data-start=\"3695\" data-end=\"3698\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1535\" data-end=\"1570\">What Leadership Response Reveals<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1572\" data-end=\"1681\">One of the most interesting moments for me in 2025 wasn\u2019t the store visit itself. It was what happened after.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1683\" data-end=\"1883\">After I shared my experience at Harry Rosen, Ian Rosen, the company\u2019s CEO, reached out to me directly. Shortly after, he published a thoughtful post on his own page addressing the experience publicly.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1885\" data-end=\"1941\">What stood out wasn\u2019t an apology. It was accountability.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1943\" data-end=\"2165\">He acknowledged the miss without hiding behind history, scale, or \u201coff days.\u201d He reinforced a principle his grandfather built the company on: when you\u2019re given the gift of feedback, listen, reflect, and act, in that order.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2167\" data-end=\"2346\">They reviewed the experience. They owned it. And they used it as a training moment inside their Hospitality Masterclass, which they are now rolling out across their store network.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2348\" data-end=\"2427\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\">That response said more about the brand than any marketing campaign ever could.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2429\" data-end=\"2616\">By contrast, after my Bloomingdale\u2019s visit, the company also reached out. We met for lunch, which I appreciated. The conversation was open and professional, but there was no visible follow-through beyond that discussion.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2618\" data-end=\"2740\">I\u2019m not sharing this to judge either organization. I\u2019m sharing it because it illustrates something essential about retail.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2742\" data-end=\"2789\">Feedback doesn\u2019t change culture.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2742\" data-end=\"2789\">In that sense, the experience may have been the best gift I could give Ian before the holidays.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2791\" data-end=\"2881\">Customers never see your intentions. They only experience the moment in front of them.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"3652\" data-end=\"3816\"><strong data-start=\"3818\" data-end=\"3910\">You Spent Millions Getting Customers in the Door. Then Your Associate Let Them Walk Out.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3818\" data-end=\"4042\">One of my dozens of LinkedIn Newsletters<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3818\" data-end=\"4042\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=524&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"524\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-12-23 at 9.23.10 AM\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png?width=300&amp;height=262&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png 300w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=524&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png?width=900&amp;height=786&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png 900w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png?width=1200&amp;height=1048&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png?width=1500&amp;height=1310&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png?width=1800&amp;height=1572&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.23.10%20AM.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><br data-start=\"3932\" data-end=\"3935\"\/>Why they resonated: Retail looks very different when you stop theorizing and start walking the floor.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"4152\" data-end=\"4179\">What Shanghai Made Clear About Retail Behavior<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"442\" data-end=\"484\">Late this year, I spoke to more than 2000 retailers in Shanghai.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"489\" data-end=\"573\">Different culture.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"489\" data-end=\"573\">Different retail environments.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"489\" data-end=\"573\">Different scale and speed.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"578\" data-end=\"661\">What surprised me wasn\u2019t the technology. It was the <strong data-start=\"630\" data-end=\"660\">intentionality of behavior<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"666\" data-end=\"872\">Expectations were explicit. Conduct was reinforced. Even public signage focused on what civilized behavior looks like in shared spaces. There was far less assumption that \u201cpeople will just know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"877\" data-end=\"958\">Standing there, it hit me how casually we assume behavior rather than train it.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"963\" data-end=\"1114\">In many Western retailers, we invest heavily in systems and hope behavior sorts itself out. In Shanghai, behavior is designed, coached, and reinforced.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1220\">It was a reminder that retail excellence isn\u2019t accidental.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1220\">It\u2019s trained, practiced, and expected.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1220\">Here&#8217;s a clip from that speech.\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"3735\" data-end=\"3801\"><strong data-start=\"3735\" data-end=\"3801\">High-Performance Social Moments: What Resonated With Retailers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4918\" data-end=\"5051\"><strong data-start=\"4918\" data-end=\"4984\">The Customer Who Walks Through Your Door Isn\u2019t Buying Products<\/strong><br data-start=\"4984\" data-end=\"4987\"\/>One of my most popular Facebook Reels<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4918\" data-end=\"5051\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=994&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"994\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-12-23 at 9.26.23 AM\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png?width=300&amp;height=497&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png 300w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=994&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png?width=900&amp;height=1491&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png 900w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png?width=1200&amp;height=1988&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png?width=1500&amp;height=2485&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png?width=1800&amp;height=2982&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.26.23%20AM.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5053\" data-end=\"5173\"><strong data-start=\"5053\" data-end=\"5108\">How to Double Your Average Sale Without Being Pushy<\/strong><br data-start=\"5108\" data-end=\"5111\"\/>One of my Instagram Reels<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5053\" data-end=\"5173\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=944&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"944\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-12-23 at 9.28.08 AM\" style=\"height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 600px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png?width=300&amp;height=472&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png 300w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png?width=600&amp;height=944&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png 600w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png?width=900&amp;height=1416&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png 900w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png?width=1200&amp;height=1888&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png?width=1500&amp;height=2360&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png 1500w, https:\/\/www.retaildoc.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png?width=1800&amp;height=2832&amp;name=Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%209.28.08%20AM.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5175\" data-end=\"5282\">Why they resonated: Selling doesn\u2019t have to feel like pressure when associates know how to guide, not push.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2 data-start=\"5289\" data-end=\"5312\">What 2025 Made Clear<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5314\" data-end=\"5386\">Retail didn\u2019t lose customers in 2025. It lost the moment that matters.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5388\" data-end=\"5551\">The retailers who win next won\u2019t be the ones chasing the next tool or waiting for the next platform to save them. They\u2019ll be the ones training, practicing, and coaching human behavior where decisions are made.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5553\" data-end=\"5585\">That\u2019s where the money still is.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"5592\" data-end=\"5632\">Want Help Fixing This in Your Stores?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5634\" data-end=\"5789\">If you\u2019re seeing traffic but inconsistent conversion, it\u2019s rarely a marketing problem. It\u2019s usually a training and execution gap on the sales floor.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5791\" data-end=\"5842\">That\u2019s exactly what <strong data-start=\"5811\" data-end=\"5822\">SalesRX<\/strong> was built to solve.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5844\" data-end=\"5998\">\ud83d\udc49 Learn how SalesRX helps retailers train, practice, and coach real selling behaviors that drive conversion and average sale. Find out more here.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"hs-cta-embed hs-cta-simple-placeholder hs-cta-embed-181759414690\" style=\"max-width:100%; max-height:100%; width:690px;height:250.3046875px\" data-hubspot-wrapper-cta-id=\"181759414690\">\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Let's Solve This Together\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/69769\/interactive-181759414690.png\" style=\"height: 100%; width: 100%; object-fit: fill\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<p data-start=\"5844\" data-end=\"5998\">TL;DR<\/p>\n<p>Retail didn\u2019t lose customers in 2025. It lost execution in the moments that matter.<\/p>\n<p>Across podcasts, business radio, store walks, social media, and speaking in China, the same problems kept surfacing.<\/p>\n<p>Technology moved faster than training, and behavior was assumed instead of coached.<\/p>\n<p>Leadership response to feedback revealed more about culture than any strategy deck.<\/p>\n<p>Retail excellence isn\u2019t accidental. It\u2019s trained, practiced, and reinforced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><p><a href=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/online-workshops-list\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-496\" src=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png\" alt=\"Retail Online Training\" width=\"729\" height=\"91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png 729w, https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90-300x37.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px\" \/><\/a><\/p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is a curated look back at what I saw and shared in 2025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16478,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16477","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16477"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16477\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}