Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Brian Dodge, President of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), a trade group representing the nation’s largest retailers, which include Target, Best Buy, Home Depot and Walmart.
He discusses some of the hottest consumer spending trends right now, as well as steps retailers have taken to help ensure there is enough inventory to meet customer demand this holiday shopping season.
We also dive into some of the most pressing issues facing the industry today and ways in which his organization is tackling them head-on. This includes the rise in organized retail theft, continuing efforts to lower payment card “swipe fees” and disruptive labor disputes as well as worker strikes.