Analyst Corner
How DICK’S Sporting Goods Closes the Retail Execution Gap
The difference between successful retailers and those that struggle has never been greater. IHL recently concluded a webinar with DICK'S Sporting Goods and Zebra Technologies on how the sporting goods…
The Great Retail Data Divide
I've been tracking retail data for over 33 years, and for the last two years we have seen a major disconnect between government survey methodology and actual transaction reality. The…
AI Resilience – What Defines the Most Successful Companies in the Future
Right now we are in the early stages of AI investment. The Mag 7 are the initial beneficiaries and the hyperscalers and software companies are the biggest spenders as we…
We’re Not Ready for This
Wayne and Garth had us laughing out loud to their famous skit from Wayne’s World that made it to SNL. That brings back some great memories. But when it comes…
“Retail Apocalypse”: A Look Back
Never let a good tagline get in the way of the truth If you believed the headlines of 2016-2017, we shouldn't be here. The Oxford English Dictionary refers to the…
Walmart and Home Depot Playing Tariff Chess
There's something fascinating happening in retail right now that most TV talking heads are missing. While headlines scream about tariff apocalypse, two household names are quietly positioning themselves for what…
The Brutal Reality of Retail AI Economics
Remember when retail tech projects were fairly linear? You'd spend months or years selecting a new POS system, then years more implementing it. Those days are gone. The AI revolution…
The Hidden Enemy: Unmasking and Combating the Growing Threat of Retail Return Fraud
When we talk about the retail returns crisis, we're often focused on legitimate returns—the sizing issues, product dissatisfaction, or simple buyer's remorse. But lurking within those growing return rates is…
OnDemand – Retailers Doubling Down on Returns
In this research we discuss the current environment around returns, an epidemic like theft which has only grown in recent years. We review the latest impacts on the bottom line…
Mexico POS Terminal Market – 2025
Mexico POS Terminal Market Mexico's POS Terminal Market A Growing Retail Technology Landscape with Urban/Rural Divide Retail sales in Mexico are dominated by major chains like Walmart de México (over…