Bob Ghafouri

Bright Future for Bricks & Mortar Stores. Great piece covering Advise by John Walshe @ Retail Media Group, and highlighting: ·      Vast Majority of Grocery Sales still happen in Brick & Mortar Stores (80% plus) ·      CPG/ FMCG manufacturers are drowning in data and leaving enormous volumes and value on the shop floor, on the shelf, in the storeroom, with the competition, wasted… take your pick! ·      When manufacturers don’t engage with data they already have access to, they can’t automate processes, increase margins, increase efficiencies, reduce costs & retail talent. ·      Almost forgot… Manufacturers have to embrace AI, where it makes sense, like everyone else… 😊 See full article here: https://lnkd.in/erNY7bnH #cpganalytics #drowningindata #ecrireland #catmanglobal

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Clarkston Consulting recently partnered with a #footwear company on a MP&A platform vendor selection. The client needed to leverage modern merchandising systems to support their merchandise teams across multiple functions (e.g., planning, allocations), enabling teams to evolve from excel-driven processes to integrated systems, allowing for more advanced capabilities and less reliance on manual processes. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ggg8rEkD #FootwearRetailer #Retail #VendorSelection

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What does commerce without interruption look like? Listen to Jillian Walker, Vice President at Everest Group, talk through invisible commerce and its impact on the future of retail. Reach out to our Advanced SciTech team: Jillian Walker Vinay Venkatesan Isaac Premsingh Learn more in the report, Mega Forces: Retail Reimagined: https://okt.to/dYWhlf Discover more: https://okt.to/ntoU4c

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“Things we do with a chainsaw today, we’ll be able to do with a scalpel in the future.” Ulta Beauty’s Natalie Fong on the opportunities around AI and how women are well-positioned to lead the next era of retail. Elaine Brooke IBM IBM Consulting #AI

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In Harvard Business Review, my colleagues Mikey Vu, Maureen Burns, and Aaron Cheris explore how AI-powered shopping agents are reshaping the retail landscape: https://bit.ly/49csnp7

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This Retail Dive trendline nails something we’re seeing in real engagements: AI is compressing timelines in retail — faster discovery, faster price transparency, faster shifts in demand, faster markdown pressure. Three implications from an inventory appraiser/liquidator + turnaround seat: Inventory quality is becoming a competitive moat. If your product data and on-hand visibility are messy, AI-powered search/shopping and omnichannel promises will amplify the problem. Forecasting improvements are great — but reliability matters. AI outputs still need guardrails. In a distressed scenario, one bad assumption can turn into a liquidity event. AI will change liquidation velocity and pricing expectations. As shopping moves more conversational and automated, “findability” and content quality can influence sell-through — and ultimately recovery. The play isn’t “AI everywhere.” It’s AI where it moves cash, reduces surprises, and tightens execution. #RetailTech #AI #Restructuring #Inventory #WorkingCapital #Turnaround

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Leading brands are refocusing on customers, physical retail, and loyalty. Check out this latest article recapping NRF 2026 with strong, practical insights from my colleagues, Heidi Rustin and Jim Ipema. https://lnkd.in/enkiZWef

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Panel: Retail Re-imagined – Omnichannel, Sustainability & Consumer Expectations What does the future shopper expect? Ann Marie Ippoliti (Michael Kors), Walter Yosafat (Former Capris Holdings CIO and Avasant Technical Fellow), and Glenn Kalokira (Johnson & Johnson) joined Harvey Gluckman (Avasant) to explore how retail leaders are delivering seamless, sustainable, and personalized experiences. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q03lm2FQ0 #RetailTech #ConsumerExperience #EBS2025

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In the first half of 2025, retail M&A activity has been nothing short of remarkable — from Skechers’ sale to a wave of acquisitions across beauty, fashion, and home. As my colleague Alain Krakirian at Columbus Consulting International notes, this deal-heavy climate is being driven by global economic shifts and the lasting influence of digital-first consumer behaviour. With margins under pressure and the need for diversification, retailers are seizing the moment to grow and stay relevant. Five standout deals so far include: E.l.f. Beauty acquiring Rhode – expanding into prestige beauty and skincare. Dick’s Sporting Goods buying Foot Locker – creating a $21B sports and lifestyle powerhouse. Michaels acquiring Joann’s IP – reshaping the craft retail landscape. Beyond’s acquisition spree – including Kirkland’s, BuyBuy Baby, and Zulily. Skechers’ sale – signalling shifts in global footwear competition. The pace shows no signs of slowing. In retail, timing really is everything. #Retail #MergersAndAcquisitions #RetailStrategy #ConsumerTrends #ColumbusConsulting

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  On a recent segment of CBS Evening News, my BCG colleague Nicholas Goad breaks down the ripple effects of trade policy on retailers and consumers. Nick explains that “retailers are all trying to do their best with the uncertainty that's been handed to them.” He notes that many have set up internal command centers to plan for a range of scenarios. He also points out that “the tariff rates right now are still quite high relative to the baseline that we were at,” showing how sustained trade pressures are reshaping pricing, sourcing, and inventory strategies—especially in electronics and produce. This is a timely look at how global trade dynamics continue to affect retailers, consumers, and supply chains. Watch the full segment: https://lnkd.in/eukTv5nW

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Noli, aka the AI Beauty Matchmaker, is reinventing how people discover and shop beauty products by addressing the number one pain point for beauty customers—the overwhelm of product choice and lack of unbiased, often conflicting, advice in the market. Currently, 90% of beauty shoppers “buy products that don’t work for them” (Noli research 2024/2025). Using Noli helps at least 85% of beauty users shop with more confidence (Noli research 2024/2025). https://lnkd.in/g7sBg7qe

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I'm delighted to share our new Consumer Pulse research! We're seeing a profound shift in the consumer buying journey in the age of AI. Our research found that more than half of consumers have used #GenAI and 30% of people who are active Gen AI users trust its recommendations over retailers, friends or search engines. At the same time, consumers want to feel more confident as they navigate these uncertain times—and AI presents an opportunity to better support their needs. Explore our new report to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gGdQf2AN #ConsumerInsights #Retail

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Interesting insights on the future of retail from Bain & Company: https://lnkd.in/gJtbm5BF These potential outcomes include a commoditization of core capabilities by automation, an erosion of shopper loyalty by AI agents, and a redefinition of value. Thoughts?

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AI Shopping has the potential to be EXTREMELY disruptive to Retailers. It's very interesting to think about what the consumer experience may look like in the not-too-distant future...and how retailers should position themselves. In Harvard Business Review, my colleagues Mikey Vu, Maureen Burns, and Aaron Cheris explore how AI-powered shopping agents are reshaping the retail landscape. https://bit.ly/4hKnOV2

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Clarkston Consulting recently partnered with a #footwear company on a MP&A platform vendor selection. The client needed to leverage modern merchandising systems to support their merchandise teams across multiple functions (e.g., planning, allocations), enabling teams to evolve from excel-driven processes to integrated systems, allowing for more advanced capabilities and less reliance on manual processes. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZTEW9rv #FootwearRetailer #Retail #VendorSelection

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