In-store holiday sales came in well below expectations.

The holiday season’s results took many by surprise. Digital retail performed as expected, with sales through personal computers, smartphones and tablets growing 17% year over year. But GAFO sales grew a disappointing 0.3%, reflecting weak performance in the general merchandise segment and in-store sales. The action implications are clear: Winning retailers must create compelling omnichannel strategies and capabilities or see sales growth erode. In this issue we recap the season’s results and highlight five strategic priorities to win in the rapidly evolving retail landscape.

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