Reflections on forty-one years in business
by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations It’s often said that more than half of new businesses fail during their first year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this isn’t necessarily true. Data from the Bureau shows that approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% […]
Beauty industry rebound…
…and how do I treat my maskne? by Fran Lewis, business development and marketing strategist In May, when the national mask and social distancing rules for those vaccinated were lifted, I was surprised at how quickly residential areas and businesses were to adapt. By the next day, post-mandate lift, my apartment complex in Milwaukee, WI […]
A brand’s e-commerce strategy should start with taxonomy

By Julie Bonnell, vice president operations In the world of e-commerce and product attributes, proper classification is paramount. Taxonomy is truly unique in that it’s not only about the products themselves, but about the vision a brand manufacturer has for its business and how that shapes the relationship with customers. For me, this quickly brings […]
Impress your retail partners with this visual tool
From the desk of Colleen Volheim, category and research analysis manager Heat mapping is a great tool to help build your case for deserving shelf space. Using sales data (in units or dollars), heat mapping highlights the top-selling products in a section or department. It’s a vibrant, visual way to depict the products that are […]
Back to the future of retail
by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations According to an April survey from shopping rewards app Shopkick, CPG brands should be optimistic about the re-emergence of shoppers on the retail scene. Once stores reopen, 58% of respondents say they will shop as frequently as before the pandemic, while only 36% say they will shop less […]