Retail: Retail's Final Frontier?

Fortunately for enterprising retailers, the internet is rapidly evolving as a merchandising and marketing medium to help them respond. It won’t be quick or easy. But for those committed to really getting to know their customers and willing to cede a significant level of control back to consumers, while re-engineering their models to conduct business in real internet time, the future is there for the taking.

Rick Braddock is chairman/CEO of online grocer FreshDirect (rbraddock@midoceanpartners.com). Donn Rappaport is founder and chairman of data marketing services provider ALC, and CEO of Zumbox, a paperless postal system (donn.rappaport@alc.com).