I recently was an influencer for Bentley. As I entered the Bentley Paramus dealership, anticipation hung in the air. I wasn’t sure which vehicle they would entrust to me for the weekend, but as General Manager Terence McGouron led us to the back and pointed to the car, my jaw dropped in disbelief. There it was, a 2024 twin-turbo W12 powertrain Bentley Flying Spur, with a mere 98 miles on the odometer ..read more

I have some amazing people I want you to meet and hear their advice for small business owners, but first, while researching this important celebration, I have to take a step back in time to where it all began ..read more

As CEO of upstate New York’s largest beer distributor, Jeff Vukelic boasts over 100 years of family success in the spirits trade. After his recent acquisition of Minogue's Beverage Centers, Jeff was eager to expand the model and try new things, and my client, Andy Heck of Alpin Haus, recommended me to him ..read more

As a retail consultant, one of the most universal concerns major brands and franchisors ask me is, "How can I get franchisees (or dealers) to use the tools we provide for them?" As a former COO and CMO, I feel your compliance pain. You know what they need to do, but like an independent teenager, they do what they want, even though you can see their path is hard. You want the best for them. It's natural to want just to tell them, but you could alienate them. I know. I did that with a few franchisees ..read more

I enjoyed being immersed in IBM’s Watson X at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show last month. The crux of what IBM Watson X is all about is keeping the humanness of this new kind of smart computer technology called generative AI. My colleague Neil Saunders said, “The challenge [with AI in retail] lies in finding the use cases that will actually be revolutionary and separating it from those that are mere flights of fantasy. In many cases, retail remains a very human-centric business and that should not be forgotten.” The important distinction is knowing the difference between artificia ..read more

Discover the exciting future of retail as we delve into the latest trends and innovations that will shape the industry in 2024, as seen at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show in Manhattan last week.  ..read more

As a retail shop owner or manager, it's crucial to understand that the success of any training program is not just about the content but also hinges on effective implementation and staff engagement. As retail experts, we understand that training is more than a schedule; it's a pathway to higher sales and better customer experiences. This blog will explore how retail managers and owners can adeptly apply change management within their training programs, ensuring they resonate with every team member and lead to tangible improvements in in-store performance ..read more

Managers, have you ever shown an employee a training video or document and considered them “trained”? As convenient as this passive approach may seem, it limits performance and sales potential.  Why? Because the brain simply doesn’t learn that way.  Failure is the only way the brain truly learns.  Let me tell you a story that reveals why ..read more

You have undoubtedly heard me speak, read my books, blogs, tweets, and FB fan posts, or been part of the Bob Phibbs Experience. One unifying part of all of that communication to you is that we need to earn trust before we can get a customer to buy something from us ..read more

2023 was a year of unexpected twists and turns for the retail industry. This year, from marketing blunders to economic surprises, has offered a wealth of lessons and insights ..read more