Publications
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Retail Trends You Need to Know - John Williams
IDA's 57th Annual Conference & Tradeshow
How is the retail world evolving and what does this change mean for downtowns? What does the future hold for downtown’s competitors? What are the retail trends emerging from this post great recession period? How can downtown districts use this information to compete in the retail marketplace? This session will help attendees think on a strategic level.
The Canadian Retail Scene—Current State and Forecast—March 2010
Canadians are getting older, and visible minorities are the only driver for Canadian population growth. At the same time, consumer behavior and attitudes are changing at a rapid pace. These and other factors will have an immense impact on the Canadian retail landscape. Retailers who are able to adapt to the new reality will succeed.
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The Future is Flyers? It depends - John Torella
The purpose of this presentation is to review flyers from a broad strategic perspective. The objective is to share information, ideas, and, most importantly, insights into the world of flyers. Where they are now and where they need to go in the future if they are going to remain important and relevant. The presentation focuses on observations on some of the issues facing marketers and, more importantly, approaches and actions needed for success. The dominant idea of the presentation is that flyers need to rethink and rebrand for the future.
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Building Business/Brands in a Down Economy
This presentation includes a set of strategies and tactics gathered from our Ebeltoft partners from around the world; a series of best practices for dealing with a down market; and a tactical model to build your programs around.
There are insights on emerging retail trends while also drawing upon global best practices in visual merchandising. This comprehensive look at retailers’ latest attempts to seduce shoppers through their in-store experience will enlighten and inspire both novice and veteran merchandisers alike.
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J.C.Williams Group studies the correlation between online commerce and social networking in Canada.
Traps To Avoid In Creating A Multi-Channel Retailer—Download our 2006 multi-channel study: Transformation of the Multi-channel Shopper.
John Williams' POPAI University 2007 Speech
There is just no more demanding a job than being a retailer. And today’s competitive marketplace puts more pressure on retailers and those who serve retailers to be up-to-date in their knowledge of the marketplace. Here is your opportunity to learn more about what retailers are facing.
Visa Press Release on Chip & Pin Migration Study
This J.C. Williams Group study provides a cost-benefit analysis of Chip & Pin migration for Canadian retailers.
John Torella's CMA Lifetime Achievement Award Strategy Magazine
Dominant Factors in Retail Today
A speech to the International Council of Shopping Centers, June 2006 .
Many consumer trends are impacting how retailers do business …customers are time starved, and more stressed than ever. Retailers must recognize this and know how to make the shopping experience easier and more convenient, while maximizing on the “experience.” Successful retailers understand their customers better than ever, through effective customer segmentation and CRM strategies. All of these factors play a role in the complex world of online and offline retail today.
New Multi-channel Research from J.C. Williams Group!—Multi-channel Shopping: Canadian Style
Traps To Avoid In Creating A Multi-Channel Retailer—Download Jim Okamura's Speech from Internet Retailer Conference June 5–7, 2006
With the belief that everyone can learn from mistakes, this presentation features new proprietary JCWG multi-channel retail research from our 2006 multi-channel study: Transformation of the Multi-channel Shopper. In addition, we list the top 10 traps to avoid as a multi-channel retailer.
Multi-channel Retailing as a Competitive Advantage ACCM Conference Intensive—May 8, 2006
Session #1: 8:15 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Developing a Multi-channel Strategy
The competitive intensity continues in most retail categories, yet multi-channel leaders are separating themselves from the pack. This session deals with the planning and analysis behind developing a multi-channel strategy that fits your retail strengths, and addresses unique needs and skills to execute your multi-channel plan.
Moderator: Jim Okamura, Senior Partner—J.C. Williams Group
Panelists: Laura Van Sickle, Director of E-commerce and Catalog Johnston & Murphy; Linda Spellman, Director of Multi-channel Business Home Depot Direct Brands
Session #2: 9:45 a.m.–10:45 a.m.
Challenges and Solutions in Multi-channel Branding
Extending your retail brand to an effective multi-channel strategy requires so much more than just consistent creative treatments. The Branding plan should drive decision making in all divisions in your organization, and include a comprehensive internal branding plan to ensure that senior executives and front line staff alike are working towards the same goals. Join John Torella, an internationally acclaimed retail Branding expert, as he takes you through a Branding process tailored for multi-channel retailers.
Speaker: John Torella, Senior Partner—J.C. Williams Group
Session #3: 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Integrated Marketing Comes of Age
The quest for Marketing ROI has changed marketing forever. Leading multi-channel retailers have forged ahead with integrated marketing plans that sync with multi-channel shopping behavior of their customers, and have measurable results to prove it (and refine the plan). Understand the skills your marketing department will need and business partnerships that will make your marketing investment work harder for you.
Moderator: Maris Daugherty, Senior Consultant—J.C. Williams Group
Panelists: Dave Abbott, Vice President & Director of Marketing JCPenney Direct;
Patti Freeman Evans, Senior Analyst, Retail Jupiter Research; Ian Gadsby, Principal 4th Wall Media
Session #4: 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Multi-channel Organization and Metrics
Many retailers have had a steep learning curve as they transition to become multi-channel retailers. Multi-channel key performance indicators (KPI) have forced senior executives and mid-level managers to think about their business in a different way. Learn how some retailers are measuring performance to better manage their multi-channel plans.
Moderator: Jim Okamura, Senior Partner—J.C. Williams Group
Panelists: Warren Raisch, Senior Vice President of Professional Services WebSideStory; Chris Henger, Vice President of Marketing & Product Development Performics; David Beaton, Senior Partner Custometrics
Managing Uncertainty and The New Normal
New! thought provoking insight from John Williams.
Bridging the Gap
Retailers are struggling to get people and processes connected across departments, functions, databases, and applications. The result: a consistent gap between planning and execution. Learn how innovative retailers are improving results with a new approach: one central database and application suite, with plans linked across departments.
Building a Brand
John Torella divulges the secrets to building a brand for Canadian Jeweler Magazine.
Defining Downtown Retailing through the Customer Es
A presentation given by Maureen Atkinson at the 2005 Capital City’s Conference in Charlottetown, PEI.
Looking at downtown revitalization through the eyes of the customer: focusing on the customer’s attitude and priorities regarding Economy, Efficiency, Ego, and Experience.
The Downtown Experience: How It's Evolving
Instead of looking at downtown revitalization as creating new buildings or physical areas, downtown professionals should focus on the experience that various downtown users have. Structuring the experience so that it is memorable and unique is the way to win an increased number of visitors.
The Economic Power of Arts Districts
A new study demonstrates how arts related development impacts the area around that development. Benefits include economic and social changes within the target area. The challenge for community development professionals is to maximize these positive impacts.
Branding Your Community
A Presentation by Maureen Atkinson given at the Michigan Society of Planning, 2004 Annual Conference.
What do you want people to say about your community? This presentation will help communities understand that branding is not just about developing a catchy phrase or fun design. It is about clearly identifying who you are trying to reach and what will make them notice you.
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Understanding and Thriving in the Hyper-competitive Canadian Retail World!
A Presentation by John Williams given at the 2004 CCTFA/CCSPA Joint Annual Business Conference.
It is not about change, it is about the speed of change. What consumers and retailers were like a few years ago has nothing to do with where they are today—and where they will be tomorrow. Research clearly shows that there are very significant shifts in shopper's attitudes towards shopping and purchases of fashion products, sophistication, brands, convenience, and value offers. This is being reflected in where they shop, what retailers they visit, and where suppliers should be going.
Important Trends and Issues Facing Canadian Retailing
• Gift Cards—Why Retailers Should Take Them Seriously
• The Decline of Fashion—Will Fashion Spending Ever Rebound?
• Commoditization—Friend or Foe?
ICSC Advanced Retailing Workshop
Workshop given by John Williams at an ICSC special learning program held on the campus of Michigan State University in August 2004.
Please see the special workshops and consulting services we provide for shopping centers, retailers, and downtowns.
Great Retail Around the World—Better Take Notice
Speech conducted by John Williams at the Retail Council of Canada's Annual Conference 2003.
In this speech, John Williams shows new technologies and great retailers from around the world.
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Thinking Retail
January 2004—What Has Margaret Mead Got To Do With Shopping?
Why is it so difficult to predict customer behavior based on market research? This article looks at new retail research techniques based on those developed in anthropology. These techniques are being used successfully by retailers to gain new insights into their customers.
October 2002—Project Yourself Into the Future: Taking a Brand to a Multi-channel
The move from where your brand has been, where it is now, and where you want it to go in the future starts with a clear understanding of your brand's identity.
This article takes you through some of the thinking you need to move your brand into multi-channel. Envisioning your brand, multi-channeling tips, and the need for consistency at every touch point are some of the key concepts covered. The article ends with some pros and cons, and the idea of "is it all worth it?"
August 2002—Research For Whole Branding
by Maureen Atkinson, Senior Partner
Branding is an important tool for differentiation among retailers. Creating and maintaining a viable retail brand is accomplished through a series of stages that include:
• Initiation/reality check,
• Brand building,
• On-going development, and
• Reinventing.
Each of these steps has distinctive information needs that track the brand assets both within the retailer and in the external environment. Brand assets include perceptual, attitudinal and behavioral assets. The enhancement of these assets leads directly to better financial performance. Effectively tracking key performance measures helps retailers make the right strategic decisions at each of the branding stages.
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Professional Market Research Society, BC Chapter
Speech conducted by Jim Okamura, May 27, 2002, Multi-channel Retail Strategies.
Consumers are increasingly demonstrating shopping behavior that includes store, catalog and Internet channels of major national retail chains, while retailers continue to face many challenges in multi-channel integration. This was the topic for discussion among research professionals, marketers and retailers at the PMRS, BC Chapter, breakfast event held in Vancouver on May 27, 2002.
The Multi-channel Retail Report
Copy of presentation given by Jim Okamura at the National Retail Federation conference in New York, January 2002.
J.C. Williams Group and BizRate.com collaborated with Shop.org, the online division of the National Retail Federation, to produce industry leading research and thinking on how consumers are changing their shopping behavior by using store, catalog and Internet channels of major retailers. The presentation was used to provide context to a retail executive panel discussion that included executives from Toys 'R' Us, Hudson's Bay Company and the Army Air Force Exchange Services.
Emerging Trends: Best of the Best in Retail, June 2001
Copy of presentation by John Williams at the Retail Council of Canada’s Annual Conference.
What do the best in retail do? They know retail trends and their customers. They have a great company culture. They have a unique strategy. They focus on the merchandise that their customer wants. This is what retail is all about.
Minding the Store: Trends in Retail Pharmacy
Copy of presentation done by John Williams for the Canadian Wholesale Drug Association, January 2001.
Change in retail is never ending! At the bottom of this is the consumer who is continually demanding more and more. While retailers and pharmacies are the institutions directly impacted by this, all industries that are part of the distribution chain must be prepared to be part of these changes at retail.
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Stop Talking Start Doing Retail Branding
Copy of presentation done by John Torella at the National Retail Federation's Annual Convention, 2001.
Learn the strategies and how-to's of creating, managing, and measuring retail branding. Learn how today's most successful retailers have shifted from a product/store focus to a business/brand building focus (e.g., Nordstrom, Target, Ralph Lauren). Learn the strategies from a traditional retail "sell" attitude to a "serve" attitude that provides life-style solutions and builds customers for life. Learn how the great retail brands connect with their customers and provide a total rational, emotional, and sensory experience. This session is designed for non-marketing executives and will provide valuable insight into the role of branding throughout the various departments within a retail organization.
New Retail Models and Strategies for Turbulent Times
A document that explores the need for retailers and suppliers to rethink their business strategies.
New competitors and new channels require a new distribution strategy, and the ever demanding customer wants clear solutions to their needs.
Internal Branding
Copy of presentation done by Shirley Murray at the Canadian Conference for Credit Union Executives, May 2000.
Brands and the Concept of Whole Branding
Copy of presentation done by John Torella at the Retail Ad Club, Toronto, October 1999.
Store Branding: A Way to Build Long-term Profitable Growth
Copy of a presentation by John A. Torella done at the National Retail Federation 88th Annual Convention & Expo.
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