Do you choose your snacks based on what you already like or on what jumps out at you in the store? Progressive Grocer recently shared that two thirds of American adults are snacking more at home. Snack food's accessibility and affordability puts it at the top of the list for busy adults who are managing different roles during the COVID pandemic.

With some much of the workforce still working remotely, it's no surprise that more snacking is happening at home. It's easy to pick up some extra items for the long work day when you make your regular grocery pilgrimage - and you don't even have to remember to take the snacks to the office!

Converting these increased snackers into buyers must happen in...

Every four years in the United States, Americans choose a President. This pandemic-affected year, how we vote has taken on new significance as people fret about voter registration, mail-in ballots, potential hazards of in-person voting, and the timely counting of all ballots.

Though only about two-thirds of eligible voters typically cast ballots in a Presidential election, many consider voting almost sacred. We declared our independence from British rule over our ability to have representation. Countless lives and livelihoods have been consumed by efforts to secure the right to self-determination by men and women of every race and creed. Voting is a big, scary deal, right?

In truth, we’r...

Parents watching “Moana” on repeat during quarantine are well aware of the term “wayfinding.” Stores continue to navigate being open in a COVID world, including new expectations from shoppers, driving changes in operations Some stores are utilizing one-way aisles and directional signage that creates a specific flow to traffic within the store. For Aldi’s shoppers, this is nothing new. Aldi’s has long had a specific funnel style set-up that most customers learn and adhere to. And when someone goes “against the flow” it is almost unsettling. The expectation is there that others will follow the set order that is expected for visiting certain store...

Store reopenings across the country continue to face new issues of keeping workers and customers safe. Some, such as Menard’s, are requiring staff and customers to wear masks and are not admitting anyone under the age of 16 to their stores. Super centers and other larger chains are facing issues with staffing as well, Vox has reported that as much as 10% of Walmart’s workforce has been out on leave at one time. Workers who are high risk or have high risk family members are having to choose between returning to work and keeping themselves or their family members safe.

Staffing issues will continue to impact organizations for weeks and months to come, as we head into the fall and tr...

No, that’s no character from the mind of JK Rowling or Dr Seuss. It stands for “What you see is what you get.” Pronounce it “Whizzy-wig.”

In a 1000 US malls, thousands of smaller strip centers, and countless stand-alone stores, retailers and property developers hope that shoppers will return to both SEE and GET products from physical retail locations. Overall, retail has rebounded from the depths of the lockdown period in Apr-May but life remains precarious for many retailers.

Online shopping took a leap forward during the pandemic and Buy Online Pick Up In Store (BOPIS) has gained new adherents. Companies like Kroger, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods made ...

At Tusco Display, we have focused our approach to the COVID-19 pandemic on maintaining operations while keeping our teams safe. At the onset of state government concerns for the outbreaks, we took the time to have our facilities deep cleaned to protect our staff. Tusco then implemented a staffing strategy that allowed for only half of our team to be on site at a time and moved our office staff to remotely working from home. By moving to a split schedule, we were able to increase our distancing and allow for fewer individuals to be impacted if we were to have a positive case.

In addition to physically distancing our staff members, we are also requiring the use of masks or face shields, includi...

You can learn a lot about a person by seeing how they spend their money. It exposes hobbies, interests, passions, and preferences. Do you eat out often? Cook at home? Travel a lot? Hunt for bargains? Do crafts? What charities do you support? Show me what you spend your money on and I’ll show you who you are.

Retail landscapes do the same thing for a community. Think of touristy places like Berlin, OH or artsy neighborhoods like SoHo in Manhattan, NY. Even one-of-a-kind stores like Hartville (OH) Hardware or Keim Lumber in Charm, OH say something significant about the communities of sellers and buyers. You won’t find a Whole Foods in blue-collar Newcomerstown, OH but you will in to...

Many of us have heard of personal shopping companies such as Stitch Fix and Fabletics, companies that offer subscription programs for purchasing clothing from home. But what about your favorite in store retailer? Some stores are finding the means to connect at-home shoppers with remote associates to help get fit and style recommendations from the comfort of their own homes. Modern Retail shares how big names such as Lululemon are utilizing Zoom for 15-30 minute style session appointments that give the personalized touch of having the in store experience – all from the comfort of your own home.

Although we have seen some consumers eager to return to in store experiences, looking for the ...

The United States is well into the summer months and that includes spending more time outdoors for most Americans. Stores looking to rebound from the restrictions that shuttered them, in most cases, for multiple months this spring are welcoming shoppers back. With the weather, it may be time to look to the outdoors, where many experts believe that the risk of transmission for COVID-19 can be mitigated due to distance and the open air. The New York Times offers a look at how to determine risk for different activities, and being outdoors ranks lower than meeting indoors.

Retailers can learn from open air markets and other outdoor events on how to utilize the coming weather to encourage shoppers...

Normally, retailers and brands would be executing well-established plans to master Back to School (BTS). Merchandise is ordered and in transit. Sales and promotions are planned. For obvious reasons, this year will be wildly different than usual. Will kids be in school or at home? Will colleges operate online or in-person or follow a hybrid model? Will fewer college-aged students actually go away to school vs taking a gap year? Many unknowns persist. Then again, we’re only 90 days since the economy tanked and we’re still 60 days away from the start of school. Much remains uncertain.

We suspect that shoppers will seek some semblance of normalcy in buying new apparel – kids gro...