Are YOUR Career Skills on Target for the Future?

Posted on August 21, 2017 by bermanevansretail

Are YOU forward-looking in YOUR career skills in looking to the future? Click here for a post we ran last year on this subject.

Below is a new infographic on job skills from Guthrie Jensen. As Guthrie Jensen reports:

“In a future where machines seem to be taking the place of humans, ‘human skills’ become increasingly important. These are the skills that would take years to be replicated by machines if it becomes possible down the road. Creative problem solving tops the list of most essential skills in 2020. The ability to look at problems from different perspectives and come up with effective solutions is a valuable skill to have, given the increasing number of technological innovations that could crop up in the next few decades.”

“While half of the skills needed to thrive in the future are related to cognitive functioning, the other half are more connected to making human connections at work. Collaborating with others on huge projects is a must, as more and more companies will be utilizing agile strategies with their teams to accomplish their goals. Self-awareness or knowing what you feel and managing your emotions is also a top requirement in the future, especially for leadership and managerial positions. Companies will try to keep up with the pace of technology, and they’ll need more competent and flexible leaders that can take on many hats to rally their team and steer the company in the right direction.”

 

 

Posted in Career Useful Information, Careers in Retailing, Part 5: Managing a Retail Business | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Online Grocery Shopping by Age and Location

Posted on August 17, 2017 by bermanevansretail

Online grocery shopping is still in infancy; but it is consistently growing — especially with the same-day delivery services expanding rapidly.

According to  Monica Melton, writing for eMarketer:

“With Amazon, Walmart, and other big players jockeying for a position in the grocery market, it’s easy to forget that digital grocery shopping is still in the early stages. The latest evidence of that comes from a Gallup survey, which found that most grocery shopping still takes place in stores. In fact, many U.S. consumers surveyed — more than eight in 10 — said they have never bought groceries online for pickup or delivery. Overall, very few respondents said they placed online grocery orders. Just 5% said they purchased their groceries online once or twice a month.”

“Among the relatively few digital grocery shoppers, Millennials and city dwellers only marginally outpace their older and more rural counterparts when it comes to buying groceries online. While older people were less likely to shop for groceries online, as many other studies have pointed out, the difference, when compared to younger people, was only slightly less according to the Gallup study. For example, 15% of 18- to 29-year-olds said they bought groceries online at least 1 to 2 times a month, compared to 10% of 50- to-64-year-olds.”


 

 

Posted in Online Retailing, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 5: Managing a Retail Business | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Uniqlo Opening Vending Machines at Airports

Posted on August 16, 2017 by bermanevansretail

Japan-based Uniqlo has been a retailing powerhouse for years — with its fast-fashion approach. Today, it operates more than 1,000 stores around the world. Here is Uniqlo’s basic business model.


 
Recently, Uniqlo announced that it would be introducing vending machines (kiosks) at airports and shopping centers. As reported by Khadeeja Safdar for the Wall Street Journal:

“Your flight is boarding soon, but you forgot to pack warm clothes. What to do? Uniqlo is betting that you might consider a lightweight down jacket from a vending machine. The Fast Retailing-owned retailer plans to roll out 10 of them this month and next in airports and shopping malls near New York, Houston, Oakland, Calif., and other U.S. cities.”

“The machines are part of the company’s retooled expansion plans after a more-ambitious effort to increase Uniqlo’s U.S. presence fell short of expectations. Vending machines are cheaper to operate than physical stores and are a convenient way of selling basic, travel-friendly clothes to harried consumers. After opening 45 stores in the U.S., Uniqlo is now using vending machines, temporary stores and a few flagship locations to expand its physical footprint. It has two new locations planned for Washington this fall, including a store in Union Station and a pop-up shop.”

 
Click the image to read more.

“Uniqlo’s machines will sell heat-retaining shirts and lightweight down jackets.” PHOTO: C WAGNER/UNIQLO


 

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