Giving Strategic Planning a Boost

As we know, it is crucial for retailers of all sizes and types to have strong, forward-looking strategic plans to guide their efforts. As we also know, many retailers still need to step up their strategic planning efforts.
According to Les McKewon’s article for Inc., there are ten key questions to consider when seeking to jumpstart a strategy:
  1. “What is the one thing your organization was worst at this year? What single thing most needs to happen to fix it?”
  2. “What is the one thing your organization did best this year? What do you need to do to turn that success into a repeatable process?”
  3. “Which individual was most responsible for standing in the way of your organization’s success this year? What are you going to do about it?”
  4. “Which department, division, team, or function was most responsible for standing in the way of your organization’s success this year? What are you going to do about it?”
  5. “Which individual was most responsible for your organization’s success this year? What are you going to do about it?”
  6. “Which department, division, team or function was most responsible for your organization’s success this year? What are you going to do about it?”
  7. “What is the single metric or measurement you least liked hearing about this year? What will you do to prevent the same thing happening next year?”
  8. “What is the single metric you will measure your success by (not how anyone else will measure your success– how you will measure your own success). What are you doing about it?”
  9. “If you fired yourself today, and came back tomorrow as a new boss with a clean sheet, what would you do?”
  10. “If a perfect competitor opened up across the street from you tomorrow, what would they be like?”
Click McKeown’s photo to read more.

 

Posted in Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 8: Putting It All Together | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

McDonald’s Celebrity Endorser Lebrons Burger King’s

For years, Burger King has tried to gain on its long-time competitor McDonald’s. Nonetheless, in the United States and around the globe, McDonald’s is the clear and undisputed king.
Now, come two new commercials. Who do you think comes out on top (again)? 🙂
Burger King is using former NBA great Chris Webber to promote its NCAA March Madness 2 for $5 sandwich deal.
 
Meanwhile, McDonald’s has introduced a new TV ad with current NBA mega superstar Lebron “The King” James.

 

Posted in Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Video Clips (non-career) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Best in Interactive Technology and Digital Signage

The nonprofit Digital Screenmedia Association recently announced its annual DSA Industry Excellence Awards for digital signage, mobile, and self-service kiosk technology.
As reported by Selfserviceworld.com:
“The awards covered a wide spectrum, ranging from educational digital signage kiosks in a children’s park to self-service kiosks in airports and appliance stores. ‘This was truly one of the best sets of entries we have ever seen,’ DSA executive director Paul Flanigan said in announcing the awards. ‘We received entries from all over the world, including Denmark, Australia, Taiwan, Dubai, and Canada, as well as outstanding entries from the United States. So many of these winners are branching out beyond one channel of consumer engagement, many using two or three channels, including digital signage, mobile and kiosks. It’s clear that multichannel interactivity is beginning to dominate the experience in every vertical.'”
Here are video clips about two winners:
  • Best Retail Digital Self-Service/Interactive Kiosk. Project: The Home Depot Appliance Finder. Client: Home Depot. Submitted by: Image Manufacturing Group. From Greg Teffertiller on Vimeo. 


 

  • Best Cultural Digital Signage. Project: Dallas Arboretum — Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. Client: Dallas Arboretum. Submitted by: Reflect Systems and The Old State.

 

Posted in Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 5: Managing a Retail Business, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Technology in Retailing, Video Clips (non-career) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments