I'd invite arm chair critics to actually come along to the Melbourne breakfast and hear what Bernie Brookes actually has to say.

Relatively free of jargon Bernie's astute innovations at Myer have been sourced from contemporary expertise around the world and are rivaled by few (except perhaps Macy's) in terms of success. Many principles are transferable to smaller retailers and I suspect Bernie prides himself on being a 'coal face' kind of CEO.

http://www.retaildoctor.com.au/events/details/42-fit-for-business-breakfast.html

This breakfast event is held in response to the very need and frustration that Jim mentions here and that many retailers are also experiencing. - The need for practical implementation solutions on how to face the challenges in the current and future retail marketplace.

Bernie Brookes was chosen as the retailer to present at this event as he really is one successful retailer who is, as he proved in his presentation, very much in touch with the shop floor. Bernie provided many practical examples of what Myer has done to improve their business from a tough position. I for one, believe that Bernie is a great example of a merchant as opposed to just a corporate leader.

The feedback we have received from attendees has shown that there was much to be learnt from this event. I welcome you to contact me to discuss further.

Louise Davis
Marketing Manager
Retail Doctor Group
louise@retaildoctor.com.au

This is an incredibly complex problem and we are still in the early days of understanding. I am desperate to find a path forward but the path hasn't been cleared. I value all the opinions expressed at breakfast seminars and on sites like this. However, I am not convinced that our valuable consumers are any clearer than we are as they grapple with a complete reassessment of their decision making. Do they remedy debt before purchasing? Do they embrace new technologies? Do they really need anymore of this consumer stuff anyway?
As a retailer, I am getting my operation in order - policing price movements, online and offline, to ensure I remain competitive - actively engaging my customers at every opportunity - standardising my offer at my physical store and online so that "multi-channel" becomes a transparent reality - testing the water in social networking - and waiting for that tap on the shoulder that says "this is the way to go".

Bricks and mortar retail is not dead, for some; those who survive the current downturn will be in a better position than now for a few more years to come, but for them to be there others need to fall by the wayside. As the internet savvy consummer grows older and advances in communication technology increases, the need for bricks and mortar retail will decrease, only the large retail groups with massive financial backing or the risk adverse entreprenurial retailer will survive, for most in retail today they will be doing something different in the years to come. Those spruiking the need for change to survive, perhaps they have a vested interest! their own survival

It can't be said that customer service, price and range are the things to blame for the current B&M retail struggle. I know many a store with fabulous service and they are struggling like the rest.
What I have to ask, is who really knows what the problem is, who knows how to fix it. I haven't seen anybody who actually does yet, and it has been a very very long haul so far.

It could all be said in two words. Customer Service.

Whilst I don't think one can expect a hands-on 'how to do modern retailing and win' seminar in a brief write-up about a brekky chat, the previous posters are representative of the frustration being expressed by many small retailers (whose wallets it's safe to assume are more closely related to the bottom line than that of Bernie Brookes). Great opportunity for a cluey consultant like Brian to create practical tools and assistance for SMB retailers. Less of the Doctor, more of the coal face operator!

Attract more customers, sell more to customers! I have to agree with Jim, these are hardly pearls of retail wisdom. And yet again the tired old statistic of 'Facebook as a country' is rolled out. It would be nice if just once someone would actually talk about what this practically means for retailers. The reason bricks and mortar is dying at the top end of town is quite simple - the service is completely rubbish, the range usually lacking and let's not get started on the price.

The retail sector is struggling, they have had their say, everybody knows what is happening, yet these supposed leaders just want to go to another free breakfast joll to say it again!! Come on guys get real & get to the coal face & stop repeating youselves , suggest solutions,( I say suggest tongue in cheek !!) stop just reminding us all what the problems are , you may be business leaders in your own right but that does not give you a monopoly on repetiive CRAP !!
Previously known as the corporate crap brigade many of these so called corporate leaders enjoy the benefits of their exhaulted positions & are out of touch with the shop floor and the multitude of difficulties their line managers face on a daily basis ( No I am not a bitter line manager either!)