February 6, 2007
RetailWire: Five Years and Still Cranking
Ideas, especially the really good ones, can be powerful things. The problem with many good ideas, unfortunately, is that those who weren’t involved with coming up with them in the first place do not always appreciate their worth.
Mark Twain summed it up nicely. “A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.”
Five years ago this week, RetailWire went online for the very first time and the company’s resident cranks (founders Rick Moss, Al McClain and Santi Briglia) had a new idea for approaching retail industry trade publishing. It is safe to say, that aside from the founders and a few others, many did not get it.
Instead of simply reporting news and/or providing commentary by an editorial staff, RetailWire would invite participants from the industry to contribute to a public dialogue on events and issues important to those who earn their living in this business.
None of the company’s founders would stand up today to claim victory. They and the editor they asked to help nurture their idea all those years ago understand that those who contribute to the discussions here are the ultimate deciders of the venture’s success.
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve spent many hours going back to read stories and discussions starting in Feb. 2002. The best of these, it seemed to us, were all a bit messy with viewpoints coming in from all directions. Again, we found ourselves thinking of another quote from Mr. Twain. “It is not best that we should all think alike; it is a difference of opinion that makes horse races.”
Here’s to new ideas, cranks, differing opinions and horse races. Here’s to you.
Discussion Questions: Following are stories and discussion topics we enjoyed over the past year. Please share others you’ve enjoyed (or not) and/or any other ideas you may have about the site that may make you worthy of being called a crackpot.
Employee motivation and topics about how corporate culture, ethics and management styles influence performance have always appealed to us. There were plenty to choose from over the past 12 months including:
- BrainTrust
Query: Does ‘problem-solving’ solve problems? (1/8/07) - Reflection,
Who’s Got Time for @$%&^ Reflection? (6/29/06) - Everybody
Works Holidays at Best Buy (11/16/06) - Wal-Mart
Sticks to Vendor Relations Code (12/12/06) - The
Uniform Makes the Associate (10/04/06)
Macy’s
Takes Hit Over Name Change (6/7/06) – If the story involves Macy’s,
especially in relation to Chicago, you know the sparks are going to fly. Don’t
believe us – check out Macy’s
Learns New Ways to Communicate (11/09/06) or simply
do a search on RetailWire with the word Macy’s.
Category
Management at the Crossroads (11/9/06) – Category management has
generated a lot of discussion and much of it follows the same path today that
it did in years’ past. Look back at articles: Aye,
Aye Category Captain (8/15/06), Category
Management: Pipe Dream or Reality (10/21/02) and Category
Management Leads to Sameness (2/4/03) to see what we mean.
Discussion Questions
Poll
BrainTrust
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Congratulations RetailWire. You’ve added a freshness to the conversation about innovation and best practices in retail. Tens of thousands are grateful for your vision and consistency and your platform.
Thanks.
I’m proud to have been a “Brain-Truster” from day one. And I wish I was being paid by the word, because five years of 200-word diatribes, 100-word missives and 50-word blurbs do add up.
In all seriousness, it has been and continues to be a privilege to share points of view on the RetailWire platform with a truly distinguished group of colleagues. Debate here has always been cordial and intelligent, thanks to the tone set by the RW principals. And I have multiple, first-hand experiences (media queries, downloads, emails and calls) that prove we are engaging a broad and influential audience, including members of the national media.
Congratulations to the RW founders, Rick, Al and Santi, on both your initial vision and your persistence. Special kudos are due to George for the able hand he keeps on the editorial tiller.
One last word of appreciation to the motley collection of commentators, panelists and visionaries with whom I share this forum on most mornings: You collectively have made me smarter. You challenge me to refine my own interpretations of events. You honor the industry by showing up with your brains switched on.
Add my congratulations to the pile! Hard to believe Al, George and the gang have gotten five years older while the rest of us have remained so young. I’d like us all to take on a challenge. All communities succeed only as long as they continue to grow. Keep the population static and sooner or later the community dies off and is forgotten. It would be great to see each of us recruit at least one new member to our little virtual “town.” That way we might help make sure we’re all around to celebrate RW’s 10th.
Well done to RetailWire and all who sail upon her–not least for giving cranks like me an outlet and an opportunity to participate. In spite of what Scanner and possibly others may think (although I do appreciate the apology and being singled out), I do not offend easily. I should also confess that just occasionally I say things to deliberately provoke so will apologise, in my turn, for any offense I cause–it isn’t intended, even to those with whom I most vehemently disagree (you know who you are). And like both Warren and Scanner and possibly others, I have made friends amongst the contributors so must repeat–thanks to Rick, Santi, Al and George for letting me play.
A “must read” for me every business day. Congrats on your 5th anniversary and looking forward to celebrating many, many more anniversaries down the road.
As a relatively new participant in RetailWire, I believe I would have been much more enriched and successful had I been on board at inception. There is little doubt that collective wisdom strengthens the platform for decision making and leadership. For this reason, I believe we all benefit as we take this knowledge and apply to our various roles. Just as with political debate, RetailWire has created a much improved dynamic and real time forum for the expression of ideas. I thank RetailWire for the foresight that led us to where we are today.
Here’s to cranks and crackpots! Congratulations on the 5 year anniversary. I truly admire the fact that the staff took a big risk on an innovative idea. A big THANKS to the BrainTrust panel and the participating members. You all have provided me with excellent insight into our industry.
Congratulations on your 5th anniversary! Kudos for getting so many diverse people to join in on the discussion. And further credit must be given for the wide array of topics. You seem to have the knack of touching on those issues that are in the news and those that are the most relevant to the retailers.
Congrats! Thanks for providing such a great forum for academics like myself to test out some of our research ideas–and to find such an interesting variety of new ones to pursue!
Congratulations, guys. I always learn a lot here. One of the best features: the archives, where you can search topics and companies you suddenly find you need to know more about. That search function provides better insights than even my other trusty friend, Lexis-Nexis. You really get a feel for the spectrum of opinions, which can help you form your own opinion and make decisions.
Can it possibly be five years?
Thanks for a great portal into conversation with the industry’s best.
It’s been and continues to be a great place to learn, gain insight, become enlightened and converse. In doing so, I have been slammed, agreed with, offended others (apologies again, Bernice), been offended, and most importantly at times even been persuaded towards new and innovative thinking. I’ve even made a few e-mail friends in the process. The diversity of contributors makes a great “horse race.”
Thanks for allowing me to read and learn from the best of the best. Continued success to all at RetailWire…Crank on!
Somebody said it couldn’t be done
The guys from RetailWire replied,
Maybe it can’t and maybe it can
How will we know ’til we’ve tried?
Congratulations and best wishes.
I picked up on the site a few years ago and what a find. And unlike any other discussion board, I learn a considerable amount from RetailWire’s diverse and informative opinions, experiences and dialog. I don’t always agree and others don’t always agree with me but the debate is always of quality. Congratulations and thank you.
Congratulations!! This is an outstanding resource for discussing timely topics for the retail industry. I continue to recommend it to anyone interested in what’s going on in the retail industry. Keep up the good work.
Time flies when we’re having fun–congratulations, RetailWire! What a great resource and reality check for all of our pet theories.
To me, the most interesting stories are about innovation, particularly by local retailers who aren’t well-known. The most inspiring thing about retailing is how very small businesses can use innovation to harvest success. Every big retail company started out small, and many grew very fast once their innovation caught on. eBay, Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods are all relatively recent businesses that used innovation for success.
Favorite topics, eh?
I like things that make Warren wax eloquent.
I like things that make Ryan rant.
I like things that make Hoffman write rhymes and things that make Tenser tense.
I like to see Bernice’s blood boil (figuratively, of course!) and I wish Camille could curse (she probably doesn’t though…)
I like topics so lame that even McClain moans.
I like things that get the whole gang growling.
But most of all, I like the topics that get folks who don’t normally participate to jump on line and talk with the rest of us. That’s when this is really fun for me.
So, like all the others before me, congratulations to Rick, Al, Santi (and you too, George) for making the ‘Wire a part of my day.
Congratulations! You guys should be proud! It’s amazing to see the number of comments reaching into the thirties! Old timers and newcomers alike. I like the controversial pieces the best. It’s always fun to stir things up.
Great work, guys! I’ve particularly enjoyed watching the BrainTrust contributor pool expand and seeing RetailWire topics and category coverage evolve (not that there’s anything WRONG with grocery–ha!)
As someone who blogs and turns out a monthly newsletter and weekly tips…whenever writers’ block or deadline panic sets in, I think “Hey, how about three original topics every DAY?” I’ll keep my job, thanks.
One reason for the success of RetailWire is the diversity of topics covered and quick access to a range of viewpoints. Congratulations on your continued success.
Thank you for this forum. I am grateful for the thought provoking questions that take me out of my daily challenges and for the insights of my colleagues. Congratulations on 5 years of success!
From the Bentonville perspective, let me tell you how refreshing a site like RetailWire is! Retail business is not just about Wal-Mart, and my team loves getting the inside scoop on other trade channels while sitting in the backyard of the world’s largest retailer. Thank you again to all the content providers, sponsors, and readers who have kept this the premier portal for retail and related news!
Congratulations, RetailWire. May I blow the trumpet a bit? I doubt if many (any?) of us know what it takes to scan the retail news and come up with three provocative yet valuable discussions–every single day. And then there are the webinars, the BrainTrust resources management, the countless web and HTML and server issues to manage, sponsorships to woo and maintain (income!), etc. I have very little idea of how hard you all work at RetailWire, but I have a bit of an idea, and I am so grateful to you all. And I admire you for all your hard work every day and your vision and persistence. Let us not forget that RetailWire is a business. It has LOTS of expenses, and it must generate income, and it has been going for five years. This is terrific!
I hope we all (RetailWire, panelists, readers, sponsors, and all the rest) continue to push RetailWire. I would like to see RetailWire be even more widely read. I also would like to see forums for more detailed discussion aside from the Webinars, where a wide audience could see how an anonymous retailer with a specific stubborn problem finds a solution through the efforts of the contributors, and what the results of that solution are. I would also like to find a way to help the retail industry overcome the forces that hinder it from making significant, wide-ranging improvement.
What an opportunity! And what success already. My hat off to all of us: RetailWire, panelists, contributors, readership, and sponsors!
Congratulations! It is a great sign of success when you get phone calls or emails from friends in the industry asking, “Did you see the discussion on Retailwire today?” This happens regularly and so hats off to you folks for all you do!
Your innovation is unique as a food industry e-news vehicle. The issues you pose with thoughtful questions and then responses by the BrainTrust is a quasi-business case study interchange like no other for our industry.
I now invite all of my CPG clients participating in my seminar on “Creating Sales Calls Customers Would Pay For” to subscribe to RetailWire and participate in the discussions. This is a terrific way for them to practice strategic thinking skills and become more retailer focused… not just restricted to category insights and product feature and benefit spiels.
Keep up the great work!
RetailWire is the modern day equivalent of the water cooler. It is a place for those with opinions and ideas to gather and converse, share and critique and sometimes even solve some real issues.
Thanks for providing such a venue and creating the opportunity for participation at a scale previously unimaginable.
Congratulations to the founders!
It is great to be able to rise in the morning and look forward to an intelligent debate about topics of interest in business. I enjoy learning from others by considering their perspectives and views. I also enjoy having the opportunity to join that debate and put in my “two cents” worth. This forum is unique in that we can state our views without worry of censorship as long as we practice common courtesy and sense. Thanks to the founders for having the vision and courage to give us this opportunity. May you have many years of continued and expanded success.