Retailers are stuck in the endless “death by discount” cycle destroying margins. It’s time to put the brakes on ad-hoc promotions and close the gaps. Learn the 5 must-haves to turn underperforming promotions into profit-generating offers.
3. About RSR
Founded in 2007 to quickly become the leading source of insights for
trends in retail technology, and retail in general
Mission: To elevate the conversation about retail technology to a
strategic level within the retail enterprise. Our differentiators:
• Objective Insights into the business challenges and opportunities that
retailers are addressing in today’s marketplace, and how Winners win
• Pragmatic Advice to both retailers and solution providers
• Extensive Retail Industry Experience
• A Deep Bed Of Research into retailers' technology investment plans and
the business opportunities and challenges that drive those investments.
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4. 4
Optimization In Context
Why Is This Such an Important Topic?
• Consumers have the power of information in their pockets
and purses – the whole World is their assortment
• The Retail environment is dominated by aggressive competition
Retailers have responded by accelerating promotions to win
business; as a result, “low price” is more of a key component of
“value” than ever
• Organizationally, Retailers have focused on process
changes, rather than technology investments
• But the pace of online change and the rise of dynamic pricing
forces the issue
5. The Fundamental Issue
The Retail Industry Is At A “Reset Moment” Triggered Consumer
Adoption Of Technology In A Way That Changes Society
5
6. Where We’ve Been Vs.
Where We Are
Source: The Discipline of Market Leaders, Michael Treacy &
Fred Wiersema (Basic Books, 1997)
MASS MARKETS:
Commoditization, Convenience,
Price
Product Leadership
“best product”
Operational Excellence
“best total cost”
Customer Intimacy
“best total solution”
Share Of Customer
Share Of Market
Product differentiation
MARKETS OF ONE: “Relevance”
8. Retailers Want More Profits – In A
“Value” Driven World
8
23%
40%
37%
46%
38% 39%
46%
49%
To improve
merchandise sell-
through
To drive demand To convey our value
proposition
To maximize gross
margin
Primary Pricing Strategy Objectives
2014 2015
Source: RSR Research, June 2015
9. Differences Depend On The
Value Offered
9
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
To create a strong
price perception in
the market
To improve
merchandise sell-
through
To drive demand To convey value
proposition
To maximize gross
margin
FMCG GMA
“A good deal”
is a key
measure of
value
“In style” is a
key measure
of value
Source: RSR Research, June 2015
10. The Number Of Price Changes Has
Skyrocketed Again
10
Source: RSR Research, June 2015
36%
39%
21%
5%
21%
34%
42%
3%
41%
35%
21%
3%
Increased significantly Somewhat increased Stayed about the same Decreased
How HasThe Number Of Price Changes Changed InThe
PastThreeYears?
2015 2014 2013
GMA-driven
47% $5B+
11. Retailers Have Been Working
Towards Improved Margins
11
46%
29% 26%
54%
71% 74%
2015 2014 2013
Changes In Gross MarginYear OverYear
Margin improved Margin stayed the same or declined
Source: RSR Research, June 2015
12. Seasonal & Short
Lifecycle Are Better
At It
12
50%
46%
27%
24%
18%
41%
54%
68%
71%
76%
9%
0%
5%
6%
6%
Fashion/ short lifecycle
Seasonal
Basic/replenishment
Perishables
Durable & Hard Goods
Effectiveness of Pricing Strategies in Driving Bottom Line
Results
Very effective Somewhat effective Not effective at all
Source: RSR Research, June 2015
13. But Those Categories Also Lag
When It Comes To Promo
Optimization Techs
13
43%
42%
37%
21%
25%
57%
58%
63%
79%
75%
Fashion / Short Lifecycle
Seasonal
Basics / Replenishment
Durable / Hard Goods
Perishables
Value Of Promotion OptimizationTechnologies
VeryValuable SomeValue
These Retailers tend
to rely on experience
& intuition…
Source: RSR Research, June 2015
14. But Those Categories Also Lag When It
Comes To Promo Optimization Techs
14
46%
50%
41%
36%
17%
25%
17%
22%
43%
33%
29%
33%
37%
21%
50%
Fashion / Short Lifecycle
Seasonal
Basics / Replenishment
Durable / Hard Goods
Perishables
Status Of Promo OptimizationTechs
Using/Satisfied Using/Planning a Change Not Currently Using
… less
reliance on
technology
Source: RSR Research, June 2015
15. What If…?
15
• You could improve promotion effectiveness, by…?
• eliminating wasted promotional spend on the wrong targets?
• reducing money left on table with the wrong offers?
• Reduce your risk by developing alternative what-if plans?
• Generate better results through more localized rules?
• Improve compliance through more consistent application of pricing rules?
• Improve execution via exception monitoring?
• Have better, more granular data available for the next planning cycle?