PROFILE
Patricia Vekich Waldron
Contributing Editor, RetailWire; Founder and CEO, Vision First
For over two decades, Patricia has lived at the crossroads of consumers, technology, and data. Her track record is filled with the stories of companies who have, with her help, differentiated themselves through innovative strategies, solutions, and marketing initiatives.
Patricia is CEO and Founder of Vision First an advisory firm that helps companies stand out in a crowded market where many are vying for visibility. She is known for identifying new market opportunities to drive growth, launching, repositioning offerings, and showing up differently in the marketplace.
Patricia speaks at global industry events, including World Retail Congress, Consumer Goods Forum, Retail Leaders Forum, and the National Retail Federation (NRF) and is well known by clients, partners, press, and analysts around the world.
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- Posted on: 06/23/2022
There might soon be no one left to hire at Amazon’s warehouses
Amazon would do well to apply some of their customer retention strategies to employees. COVID-19 and immigration policies have made this an employee's market and companies need to be creative in how they address employee experience and retention. - Posted on: 06/22/2022
Will Deal Days help Target clear its inventory?
Summer sales will appeal to cash-strapped consumers. It’s a good time to promote new merchandise and get stale stock out of stores before the holiday season. - Posted on: 06/21/2022
Are retailers and consumers misaligned on trust?
Another set of data that exposes the gap between corporate strategies, field execution and customer perception. Executives would be well served to spend time with key cohorts - associates, customers, detractors, partners as well as competitors - to learn how the brand promise is being delivered. - Posted on: 06/17/2022
Do Twitter users want to hear and tweet about product drops?
Sounds like catch-up functionality, but if implemented well (UX) it could help certain brands engage with targeted audiences. Twitter has become a digital cesspool so I’d caution brands about potential trolls and viral blowback. It wouldn’t be the first place I’d go for product information, browsing or shopping. - Posted on: 06/16/2022
Should analytics drive category planning?
Insights from all types of data should be central to making category planning decisions. There are many information sources and analytic techniques that can help planners and merchants make better decisions. - Posted on: 06/10/2022
Could better technology have averted the supply chain crisis?
Universal visibility across all nodes is the most important capability, but is effective only when people and processes are aligned around it. - Posted on: 06/08/2022
Is an urban retail recovery underway?
In our downtown SD neighborhood there is a blend of OG and new retail and restaurant concepts. Conventions, tourists and workers are out-and-about and patronizing businesses. I wouldn’t call it a recovery but a rebirth. - Posted on: 06/07/2022
Target isn’t wasting any time in cutting the glut from its inventory
Taking a short-term bottom line hit from a course correction is the right move. It’s much better to act quickly when the marketplace is changing, and get back on track. - Posted on: 06/06/2022
Does Lululemon have to sweat inflation?
Lululemon has a strong reputation as a premium brand with a loyal customer base as well as many aspirational customers. Incremental price increases and continuation of desirable merchandise will be a good strategy to continue their market position. - Posted on: 06/03/2022
Are off-pricers holding a glass that is half-full or half-empty?
Off-prices will need to make sure they have attractive merchandise. The Ross in my downtown neighborhood has many gaps in their typical breadth and depth of assortment. - Posted on: 06/02/2022
Should Instacart discard shopper ratings from chronically grumpy customers?
When did 5 become default for OK? I think an overhaul of rating systems -- especially for gig-economy workers -- is in order. It will take time to recalibrate the metrics and algorithms, but having ratings go both ways, flagging chronic complainers, dropping "curve-breaker" scores and giving shoppers some latitude in who they serve are all good steps. It should be an iterative process and evolve over time. - Posted on: 05/25/2022
Will a TikTok-like video feature make a grocery app go viral?
It’s a smart strategy for a targeted customer cohort who is interested in a niche set of products. - Posted on: 05/24/2022
Are ‘neighborhood stores’ what Google fans have been searching for?
Having an inviting and exciting place for consumers to engage will help Google in the hardware wars. It’s important that they have a homey hands-on place - they're coming from behind in the market and are playing catch-up, so the sooner the better. - Posted on: 05/23/2022
Do consumers want highly-personalized fridges?
I'd rather they focus on functional and supply chain upgrades, especially given the refrigerator we ordered in February is tentatively scheduled for delivery in August. - Posted on: 05/20/2022
Has science-based marketing taken a pandemic hit?
The science of segmentation is constantly changing, and organizations are well-advised to keep a finger on the public pulse to identify new attributes, preferences and characteristics of buyer pools. As far as invoking "scientifically approved products" as a selling feature, it’s useful for a certain set of products and consumer cohorts.
