KWI

Clienteling is easy to talk about in theory. Making it work across real stores, real associates and real customers is another story. Next week, we’re getting into the practical side. Jennifer Varner of A.L.C., Scott Matza of KWI and Casey Drake of Endear will talk about what associates actually need to build stronger customer relationships, where technology helps (and where it can get in the way), and what retailers should be thinking about as their clienteling strategies evolve. If clienteling, store experience or customer engagement is on your radar, join us September 9 at 1 PM ET. Can’t make it live? Register anyway and we’ll send you the recording. Register here: https://lnkd.in/dsnHHhVG #Clienteling #RetailTechnology #RetailExperience #SpecialtyRetail

Cheers to 30 years, Eberjey ! 🥂 Eberjey recently celebrated three decades of building an incredible brand with an anniversary voyage through the Mediterranean. We love seeing one of our long-time customers mark such a special milestone (and in pretty spectacular fashion!). Congratulations to the entire Eberjey team. We’re proud to be part of your journey, and can’t wait to see what is next.

Most POS evaluations start with a feature checklist, but many may not realize: that may be the wrong place to start. A POS decision affects far more than checkout: inventory, fulfillment, loyalty, clienteling, and promotions all come into play during a single customer interaction. Whether those capabilities actually work together can make the difference between closing a sale or losing it. KWI CEO Sam Kliger shares his perspective on what specialty retailers should really be asking when evaluating a POS in 2026. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dnMAfwyk

What does great clienteling actually look like in practice? On September 9th, we’re going behind the curtain with Jennifer Reed Varner, Director of Retail Operations at A.L.C., for a candid conversation about what makes a clienteling program work (and what gets in the way). Jennifer will join KWI’s Scott Matza and Endear’s Casey Drake to talk about the customer context associates need, how technology can support more personalized experiences, and what retailers should think about as they build or evolve their clienteling strategy. 📅 September 9 | 1 PM ET Register to join us live (or watch the recording at your own pace).

We’ve all heard of the office happy hour. Yesterday at KWI HQ, we tried a different kind of bar: a bouquet bar. 💐 The team took a break from the usual Thursday afternoon to build our own bouquets, with varying levels of natural floral-arranging ability and a lot of laughs. 😂 A little time to stop and smell the roses (quite literally) wasn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon. Happy Friday from KWI! 🌸

Another beautiful store from Peter Millar. 👏 Congratulations to the entire team on the opening of the new Tysons Galleria boutique and expansion into Virginia. We’re proud to partner with Peter Millar and support them as they continue to grow. 🚀

Last night's Calm Before the Storm happy hour at the Odd Sister in SoHo/NYC brought together retail leaders for an evening of great conversations, new introductions, and a chance to compare notes before busy season really begins. As the evening wrapped up, one comment kept coming up: "I'm so glad I came." People talked about meeting new brands, making valuable connections, and having conversations they weren't expecting. There was a genuine warmth in the room that made the evening feel like more than just another networking event. A big thank you to our Endear co-hosts and to everyone who joined us! We love bringing the retail community together and are already looking forward to the next one.

15,000 followers. 🎉 Thank you for following KWI, engaging with our content, and sharing our passion for specialty retail. We appreciate this community and are excited for what's next.

Retail Dive shared a statistic today that caught our attention: Two-thirds of shoppers (and 80% of Gen Z) have used AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity to help make purchase decisions in the last three months. Many are using AI to compare brands, research products, and get recommendations before they ever visit a store. For specialty retailers, that's a pretty meaningful shift. The customer walking in this holiday season may have already narrowed down their options, compared prices, and decided which brands are worth considering. By the time they get to your store, they're often looking for confirmation, not discovery. That changes the role of the store associate, too; having customer context, accurate inventory, and the right information at their fingertips now matters more than ever. So, with this in mind: how are you preparing your store teams for the AI-informed customer this holiday season? See the Retail Dive article here: https://lnkd.in/e8berXA9

One of the best things about retail is the community, not just the brands. Last week, we shared that we had the chance to spend the day with a fantastic group of retail leaders, visiting stores, sharing ideas and new conversations. The stores were incredible, but what made the day memorable was the people. Every stop sparked new discussions about customer experience, operations, and the challenges (and opportunities) retailers are navigating today. A huge thank you again to our hosts at the Southampton locations of Peter Millar, ALICE + OLIVIA, and JOHNNY WAS RETAIL INC, for welcoming us into your stores, to our friends at Avalara for partnering with us, and to everyone who spent the day with us. #RetailCommunity #RetailLeaders