As a retail store owner, you have your work cut out for you when it comes to growing your business.
There’s a lot to learn and act on, like keeping up with the latest trends in omnichannel retail, connecting with your most loyal customers over social media, or adapting to new technologies that are revolutionizing in-store and mobile payments.
Retail blogs can be a helpful resource to stay on top of it all. To save you the trouble of searching for the best retail blogs, we’ve sorted the best retail blogs by what you might need right now.
So, if you’re looking for the latest news and trends, marketing ideas, or inspiration for store design, you can jump right to the section that helps you today.
Best for all-around retail education
1. Shopify Blog
Shopify was originally founded in 2006 as an ecommerce platform after CEO Tobias Lütke and cofounder Scott Lake attempted to open an online store to sell snowboarding equipment.
They couldn’t find an ecommerce platform to satisfy their needs, so Tobias, a computer programmer, built his own. Shopify has evolved into a global omnichannel commerce leader with robust ecommerce and retail products. The Shopify blog teaches you about things like retail marketing, running a brick-and-mortar store, omnichannel retail, in-store payments, inventory management, and more.
From DIY window display tips to the types of signage you need to get started to how the biggest retailers are succeeding on Instagram, Shopify has you covered so you can succeed at selling anywhere, at any time.
2. The Retail Doctor
This blog gives you a glimpse into the brain of Bob Phibbs, a nationally recognized retail expert with more than 30 years of experience under his belt. Each post offers a great deal of insight for readers and their small businesses on everything from employee training and retention to making your store events a success, as well as lessons retailers can learn from the successes and failures of other businesses.
Further reading: 11 Best Retail Management Books Every Merchant Should Read
Best for retail news and trend analysis
3. Retail Brew
Retail Brew is the retail-focused vertical from the popular Morning Brew newsletter. It sends quick, newsy briefings on trends and operations right to your inbox. If you’re a busy retail operator on the go, Retail Brew is an excellent resource for you. You’ll stay up to date on the latest headlines twice weekly, and build up your knowledge in everything from new retail tech to logistics and major shifts in the market.
4. Modern Retail
Modern Retail is a staple in the retail industry. It covers how retailers are reinventing the industry with deep reporting, news analysis, and executive interviews.
One day you might be learning how giants like Target and Walmart are adapting to consumer preferences, the next how a hot new DTC challenger brand made waves with a creative marketing campaign. Modern Retail has become a weekly read for strategy and leadership folks who want thoughtful context on topics like retail media networks, marketplace dynamics, profitability, and fulfillment.
5. National Retail Federation blog
The National Retail Federation (NRF) is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing everyone from discount and department stores to wholesalers and major restaurant chains. It aims to advance the retail industry’s status quo through advocacy, communication and education. Its blog covers retail trends, interviews with retail executives, and retail industry data to help small businesses make smarter marketing decisions and reach their customers more effectively.
6. Retail Dive
Retail Dive is a great resource for in-depth journalism and insight into the most impactful trends and news shaping retail. Its website and newsletters cover topics like retail technology, brick-and-mortar, ecommerce marketing, store operations, omnichannel selling, payments technology, and more.
7. RetailWire
RetailWire is retail’s premier online discussion forum, serving the industry for more than 20 years with compelling content that goes beyond conventional headline reporting.
Its editors post timely topics in the morning Monday through Friday, and the RetailWire BrainTrust panel of industry experts and general readers add their commentary, creating virtual round tables of retail industry opinion and advice covering today’s retail industry trends and issues.
8. Retail TouchPoints
Retail TouchPoints provides the latest retail news, reports, and trends for retail executives in customer-facing roles. Its articles cover a range of topics, including store operations, customer experience, digital commerce, machine learning, and marketing.
Best for expert insights and future forecasting
9. The Robin Report
Founded by industry veteran Robin Lewis, The Robin Report publishes analyst-driven commentary and opinionated essays to help senior executives see what’s next. It provides unfiltered, long-form analysis that probes the “why” for retail and consumer products.
If you’re responsible for long-term retail strategy, The Robin Report will help you challenge assumptions and position your brand for the next big thing.
10. Forrester Retail blog
As one the world’s largest and most reliable sources of research, data, and consultation services, Forrester’s retail blog is a gold mine of useful information and trends. Though more high-level and targeted at bigger retail chains than some of the other retail blogs in this article, it never hurts to have a glimpse of some of the consumer and technological trends that impact and shape the way consumers behave in a smaller retailer’s store.
Best for marketing and customer experience
11. Retail Customer Experience
Ever wanted expert hands-on advice from a wide array of trusted sources? Retail Customer Experience should be your go-to source. With more than 50 retail experts sharing their insights and domain knowledge for the everyday retailer, it doesn’t get much better if you’re looking to change the way you operate your business or are looking to turn it around for increased sales and growth.
12. Duct Tape Marketing
John Jantsch needs little introduction, but as a leading marketing consultant, speaker, and author of three books, he’s been described as the “Peter Drucker of small business marketing tactics” by marketing legend Seth Godin. Which means his Duct Tape Marketing blog, books, and podcast are all mandatory reading and listening for any small-business owner looking to maximize their marketing tactics with a limited budget.
Best for store design and visual merchandising
13. Retail Design blog
The Retail Design blog is one of the premier destinations for retail designers and visual merchandisers looking for the latest trends, insights, and inspiration in their fields. It’s a place where designers upload, share, and comment on everything including furniture, lighting, materials, branding, eco-friendly store design. Join in on the fun by contributing to the community, or just browse and glean all the incredible imagery showcasing the best of boutique retail design from around the world.
14. iSi Global blog
iSi Global is a retail design agency that helps retailers design, develop, and deploy engaging retail environments and POP (point-of-purchase) displays. Its blog covers the latest retail trends, retail tips, and news from its bases in the UK and Poland.
15. VMSD (Visual Merchandising & Store Design)
With over a century of history, VMSD is a leading authority devoted entirely to physical retail. Its magazine and website feature design project spotlights, case studies, and industry competitions. You’ll find expert information on everything from signage to materials and lighting—a must-read for designers, visual merchandisers, and store operators who want to create compelling in-store experiences.
How to find the right retail blog for your business
There are countless blogs on the internet vying for your attention—some sources say up to 600 million. But since your time is limited, and improving your retail operations is a priority, you want to skip the generic stuff and read content that truly enriches your business.
Here is a quick checklist to help you find the most relevant and credible resources for your goals:
- Aligns with business goals: Does the content match my objectives, like improving marketing, streamlining operations, or redesigning my store?
- Fits my schedule: Is the format suitable for me? For example, do you have time for deep-dive reports for strategic planning, or need quick newsletters for daily updates?
- Written by a credible author: Is the writer a recognized expert (e.g, analyst, operator, designer) with clear experience in the field?
- Content is recent and relevant: Is the blog updated consistently with clearly dated insights that apply to today’s retail environment?
- Relevant to my industry and region: Does the advice apply to my specific vertical and market?
- Provides actionable advice: Do the posts offer concrete steps, examples, or templates I can actually use in my business?
- Offers a unique perspective: Does this blog add diversity to my reading list, balancing news, analysis, and practitioner insights?
- Includes valuable extras: Does the site offer more than just articles, like podcasts, community forums, or events?
Start learning from the best in retail
Remember, you don’t have to read every single article out there. You just have to find the few retail blogs that give you the right ideas at the right time. Use the above guide and checklist to be more intentional with your learning.
Pick one or two blogs from the list that match your challenges, then take their insights and apply them to your business today.
Retail blogs FAQ
What are retail blogs?
Retail blogs are online platforms where individuals or organizations publish content related to the retail industry, including trends, news, best practices, and other relevant topics.
Why are retail blogs important?
Retail blogs provide valuable insights into the latest trends, technologies, and practices in the retail industry, which can help you stay competitive and improve business operations.
What are some popular retail blogs?
Some popular retail blogs include Retail Dive, RetailWire, National Retail Federation, and Retail TouchPoints.
Who writes for retail blogs?
Retail blogs are typically written by industry experts, journalists, and professionals who have experience in the retail sector.
