Proactive vs. reactive – pharmacies that thrive
by Kyle Lentz, category analyst 2020 and 2021 provided unique challenges for smaller, independent pharmacies. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that a proactive approach vs. a reactive approach can have a positive impact on business. Now, no one can predict the future, and sometimes, like in the case of unforeseen circumstances, a reactive […]
HRG Anniversary Celebration & Growth Summit — One Guest’s Recap, part 2
As mentioned in One Guest’s Recap, part 1, many memories were shared and relationships established or strengthened during last September’s HRG Anniversary Celebration and Growth Summit. One guest, Jeff Guillebeau of International Paper, summarized his experience, writing, “Top 41 Reasons HRG’s Anniversary Growth Conference Was Awesome!” With his permission, we are sharing part 2 here. […]
HRG Anniversary Celebration & Growth Summit — One Guest’s Recap, part 1
Many memories were shared, and relationships established or strengthened during September’s HRG Anniversary Celebration and Growth Summit. One guest, Jeff Guillebeau of International Paper, summarized his experience, writing, “Top 41 Reasons HRG’s Anniversary Growth Conference Was Awesome!” With his permission, we are sharing it here. 41. I’m in love with the people of Wisconsin, especially […]
Seven principles for business growth
by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations One of the highlights of HRG’s recent Growth Summit was a keynote address delivered by Jerry Jendusa, founder of Stuck, LLC. Jerry is one of the area’s most prominent entrepreneurs and business advisors, and he shared seven principles for business growth. Hope Remain focused and persistent as you […]
Reflections on forty-one years in business
by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations It’s often said that more than half of new businesses fail during their first year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this isn’t necessarily true. Data from the Bureau shows that approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% […]
Assessing whether it’s time to enter or exit a category
from the desk of Colleen Volheim, category research and analysis manager When was the last time you reviewed your product or product line and where it is in its lifecycle? It’s likely part of your annual planning, including a look at your market segment and share overall, as well as competitors’ positions, trends, consumer behavior, and […]
Beauty industry rebound…
…and how do I treat my maskne? by Fran Lewis, business development and marketing strategist In May, when the national mask and social distancing rules for those vaccinated were lifted, I was surprised at how quickly residential areas and businesses were to adapt. By the next day, post-mandate lift, my apartment complex in Milwaukee, WI […]
Understanding category performance within the independent pharmacy channel
from the desk of Colleen Volheim, category research and analysis manager The independent pharmacy channel is unique among its competing retailers in that it doesn’t have a headquarters that can provide comprehensive performance data to help you evaluate a particular category. To gain a cumulative overview, you have to seek out a trusted partner that […]
Data-empowered decision-making in the retail industry
by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations Over the past 15+ months, new applications of analytics across the retail supply chain have been broadly implemented. From merchandising planning to retail pricing elasticity, demand recommendations to shopper personalization, analytics has taken a higher priority within many organizations. The worldwide health crisis put more emphasis on the […]
A brand’s e-commerce strategy should start with taxonomy
By Julie Bonnell, vice president operations In the world of e-commerce and product attributes, proper classification is paramount. Taxonomy is truly unique in that it’s not only about the products themselves, but about the vision a brand manufacturer has for its business and how that shapes the relationship with customers. For me, this quickly brings […]