Retail Revolution....

Last night at Concordia University, St. Paul, we had the opportunity to host the Network of Executive Women -- Twin Cities chapter for an event entitled "The Power of Personal Networking". The evening presented both a panelists view and a mentorship view of key areas in the consumer product goods world.

The panelists and mentors were engaging, witty and very knowledgeable about how the industry is transforming -- where technology -- consumer behavior and  customer value is taking the business today. Watch for the panelists discussion on a YouTube video over the next few weeks.

In the meantime enjoy the link to this article on the last 50 years that created a retail revolution.

http://adage.com/article/news/walmart-target-kmart-kohl-s-lead-retail-revolution/233379/

Walmart, Target, Kmart, Kohl's Lead 50 Years of Retail Revolution

Shaking Up Retail Landscape, Big Four Discounters Reshaped Our Idea of Shopping

Published: March 18, 2012 {Advertising Age}

The year was 1962.
John F. Kennedy was president. The nation was increasingly engaged in Vietnam, and the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Johnny Carson became host of the "The Tonight Show," Marilyn Monroe died and the Rolling Stones made their debut in London. And in quiet cities across Middle America, a retail revolution was taking place.
Middle-class households were booming, and suburbs, as well as the first enclosed shopping malls, were catering to them. But savvy retailers were looking for ways to bring value to customers within a more profitable building footprint, according to Dan Butler, a VP at the National Retail Federation. Pioneers such as Walmart founder Sam Walton realized that people wanted value year-round, not just once a season when department stores cleared out merchandise".

So opens the article by Natalie Zmuda in Advertising Age on 3/22/2012 that describes the revolution that has occured in retailing over the last 50 years. Here is the link to the entire article with a revolving chart in it that when you scroll over it shows the timeline of these five retailers in the 50 years. It is a wonderful way to view the years and the impact in our retailing history.


http://adage.com/article/news/walmart-target-kmart-kohl-s-lead-retail-revolution/233379/