Episode Details

Phillip and Brian deliver on their 2019 predictions - AR is here, where is it heading? Retail wages - are they rising? Brands can finally compete with Amazon - and what about Charitable Commerce? All that and more - PLUS what the "retail apocalypse" was REALLY all about. Listen now!

Show Notes:

Main Takeaways:

• It's the prediction episode, so hold on to your hats, and suspend your disbelief.

• 2019 is going to be one big change my mind meme.

• It's the "year of the customer," and retailers are starting to add value instead of deep discounts.

• Can Walmart overtake Amazon in online sales?

• Retail workers will have to adapt to a new skill set, and retail companies will have to pay their workers more.

Is Apple Making All The Wrong Moves in All The Wrong Places?

• Phillip's first prediction for 2019? That Apple will die a slow and painful death.

• Apple has been making a lot of "interesting" choices lately like it's HomePod speaker system that rather resembles a roll of toilet paper.

• Apple seems more focused on gimmicky features like Face ID (which some people may find just slightly creepy), and on making cooler iPhones, but other companies seem to be outpacing them in the long term.

• And Apple products are getting harder and harder to use, and do their upgraded features on IOS really make up for the hassle?

• Phillip wants everyone to know he is, in fact, an Apple fanboy.

• Brian makes the point that one of Apple's problems is that Apple is hitting the wall regarding innovation.

• After a long reign is Apple just not cool enough for consumers anymore?

The End of Boring Retail: The Retail Apocalypse is Still Not a Thing:

• At NRF Doug Stephens stated that "Millennials don't have a low attention span, they just have a higher sensitivity to things which are boring."

• This may finally end talks of a Retail Apocalypse because it is all about adaptability for brands, and how they can build an experience for customers in-store and online.

• And a lot of brands are starting to highlight what this experience should look like, Canada Goose has freezer-esque dressing rooms so that customers can test their outwear against the elements.

• Phillip makes it clear that he doesn't go into boring stores and a personal favorite retail experience is the coach store where a customer can watch luggage tags engraved in-store.

• These experiences help the customer feel like they are a part of the brand's community, and it develops a sense of familiarity between company and consumer.

• This next wave of in-store experience will be the Nordstroms of the world investing in technology that will assistive in the shopping experience.

The Year That Amazon Has To Compete: Also The Year of Walm