BLOG
Retail Coach Insights
Category Results
The Last Week Before Christmas Is About Getting Out of the Way
As Christmas approaches, urgency stops working. This piece explores why late-December shoppers crave control, clarity, and completion—and how brands that reduce friction now earn trust that outlasts the season.
The Silent Signals That Shape December Spending
Most holiday strategies rely on the same KPIs—conversion, traffic, basket size—only to realize those numbers arrive after the moment that mattered. In 2025, shoppers are more price-sensitive, promotions are starting earlier, and demand is shifting faster than traditional dashboards can keep up. This post breaks down why retailers need leading indicators—unexpected proxy metrics that reveal intention before purchases happen. From back-to-school spend patterns to décor drop-offs, replenishment-rate volatility and search spikes, these early signals offer a real advantage in a season where margin is tight and timing is everything. For leaders entering the most compressed holiday cycle yet, this guide shows how to turn subtle shifts into proactive pricing, promotion, and inventory decisions that protect profit and sharpen strategy before peak weeks arrive.
Thanksgiving Weekend Is No Longer the Starting Line
Thanksgiving weekend used to mark the official kickoff of holiday retail. But in 2025, the season has already been underway for weeks by the time shoppers line up for Black Friday deals. Thanksgiving is no longer the starting signal—it’s the mid-season diagnostic. This post breaks down how the shift toward earlier promotions, extended demand curves, value-tier gifting, and evolving consumer emotion has transformed Thanksgiving from a conversion event into a strategic checkpoint. Retailers will learn which signals matter more than sales—the deal-to-full-price ratio, the strength of value-tier gifting, and early return intent—and how these cues shape margin, pricing strategy, and demand health heading into December. For leaders navigating a compressed, volatile holiday cycle, this piece reframes Thanksgiving as the moment to recalibrate, not launch.
When Everyone Sounds the Same: Standing Out in the Age of AI Content
Chasing AI tools without clear strategy is draining budgets and derailing growth. Learn why the smartest teams focus on outcomes over hype—and how to make AI decisions that actually move your business forward.
