Category: General Retail Conversation

If you’re looking for a unicorn, stop looking at horses.

Better way of saying stop doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Have an amazing day, fellow #Nerds

I hear this phrase so often a conferences I attend. But I think the meaning has so many different versions.

Some people believe Uber is the pinnacle of frictionless commerce.

I am starting to think more like Starbucks version is where I want the world to evolve. this morning I ordered my coffee from the car from the parking lot simply because it was easier than explaining to the person at the register what I actually wanted.

So has the convenience of ordering on an app and picking up in-store superseded a avoidance of human contact? Or is it just an evolution.

I like the order online and pick-up in store method because I actually don’t like the idea of “shopping.” But is that because of the lack of service? I can’t imagine in ” fine dining” being able to order from a tablet on the table and just having the food come. The interaction with a waiter, sommelier, barrister, should still be an experience. Tell me why I want the Peking duck ? (I do!)

If you order an Uber and it’s a driverless car, does that make the experience even better then? Or is human contact something people actually want?

Frictionless commerce, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

That Planning Guy

PS I renewed this site, so you’re stuck with another year of this.

I feel like I’m going to be explaining this again this week.

But in short, your base pricing has to be correct or else your dynamic pricing is always going to be wrong.

No matter how hard you work at dynamic it has to start at something.

If you put things on sale from the wrong price, or you yield price from a bad beginning, you are just simply throwing money away.

This PSA brought to you by,

That Planning Guy

“The Renaissance has Begun”

That’s a great message, and welcome new readers. I will try to entertain and inspire more often.

-That Planning Guy

Ready for the Superbowl tomorrow on many levels.

First, it’s Patriots, so of course hoping to win. I’ve always been a die-hard fan.

But more, another day of analytics: Line opened at -1, moved to -3, dropped to -2 1/2. That’s a lot of space to make a bet and get some “middle.”

All sports betting is just applied analytics. Actually, hate to admit it, all gambling is. Craps- how to bet. Blackjack- hit or stand. And at the core of all gaming is the inherent house advantage. Can your math overcome a rigged game?

Are you on the right side of equation? Getting the advantage is the difference between long term success and short term winning (or losing) So how do YOU rig the game?

Be smarter. Be exacting. Be present. And be relentless. Endeavor to persevere. The last man standing wins in gambling. Be the enigma.

If everyone is cheating, the best cheater wins. Tip the odds. Make the dice go YO more than 2/36.

And for now — watch a 41 year old QB dominate in a Superbowl against all odds.

#GoPats.

From a Poolside Cabana, I am

That Planning Guy

Dream it.

Plan it.

Create it.

Implement it.

Analyze it.

Adjust it.

Repeat.

Your Welcome 🙂

-That Planning Guy

“Act like a proton and be positive”

You’re welcome, #DataNerds

-That Planning Guy, not at NRF

More ironic then funny. The old adage is not really true- Sometimes one door isn’t even closed before the next one opens.

Had a great catch up with an old friend today, who better start reading this. ( Still shocked she didn’t)

And to all those who have asked, no I’m not going to New York next week. Sorry fans. Just not going to be the same without being at NRF. kind of like a tree falling, does NRF count if I’m not there? Lol.

Dress warm, #Datanerds

From this side of the country, I remain…

That Planning Guy

Someone asked me recently what is my greatest strength. That’s a crazy question because you don’t know how you’re supposed to answer it in context.

In hindsight, I think my greatest strength is that people listen to me. But perhaps my greatest weakness is because I don’t know why they listen to me. I’ve never really gotten a handle on that.

One of the other answers to this that floats in and out of my head as I have the innate ability to make something complex seems simple. And again as all things in my life come with ying and yang, I think my weakness is oversimplifying to take the magic out of some magical things. Sometimes when you just give an answer, people think it’s simple. The black box is the useful on occasion.

Regression to the mean, #datanerds.

When you flip a coin enough times, no matter how many times heads comes up in a row, in an infinite loop it will always come back to even.

Pretty deep on a Sunday morning when the Patriots are in a bye week and there’s no games to watch.

And never forget- #AnalyticsDrivesBusiness

That Planning Guy

I know a lot of people had a bad 2018, but I think that can be said of any year.

I had a good year:

Implemented a new ERP/POS at work, and I learned a ton of new skills.

Lost 40+ lbs and discovered Low Carb life. (Thanks Homie, you know who are)

Daughter got her dream CoOp this semester. So proud. Read her @The Globe every day.

Had a very lucky year gambling.

Made a lot of new friends and contacts. Some of you reading this.

But—The real questions at the end of the year is not a retrospective, but should be introspective. What did I improve? Who’s lives did I touch, and did I leave a positive impact. Did I help, did my presence matter?

As we start the new year, we #PlanningNerds need to be ready to answer THOSE questions in 8,760 hours. That’s what matters most.

Wherever the tides take me, I am always,

That Planning Guy