PROFILE
Patricia Vekich Waldron
Founder and CEO, Vision First
For over two decades, Patricia has lived at the crossroads of consumers, technology, and data. Her track record is filled with the stories of companies who have, with her help, differentiated themselves through innovative strategies, solutions, and marketing initiatives.
Patricia is CEO and Founder of Vision First an advisory firm that helps companies stand out in a crowded market where many are vying for visibility. She is known for identifying new market opportunities to drive growth, launching, repositioning offerings, and showing up differently in the marketplace.
Patricia speaks at global industry events, including World Retail Congress, Consumer Goods Forum, Retail Leaders Forum, and the National Retail Federation (NRF) and is well known by clients, partners, press, and analysts around the world.
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- Posted on: 12/13/2018
Are holiday shoppers getting more ‘appy’?
Convenience-conscious shoppers of all types will use mobile apps if they are readily available and easy to use. - Posted on: 12/12/2018
Kraft Heinz ‘embraced failure’ in digital transformation
Large, complex organizations struggle to innovate because they have built decades of legacy processes and inflexible infrastructure. Formal rewards and process changes must be put into place to spur innovation. - Posted on: 12/11/2018
RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: Chewy.com vs. Petco
I liked them both, but the Petco story gets my vote, because the story and delivery were so sweet. I expect both will connect to core customers, but Petco will reach far beyond their client base. - Posted on: 12/10/2018
Will Dollar General’s DGX concept be a hit with urban Millennials?
I was wondering the same thing, Cathy — why just Millennials? Urban dwellers of all shapes and sizes would welcome a curated selection of food and household goods! - Posted on: 12/06/2018
Will Instagrammers all scream for Baskin-Robbins’ new ice cream concept?
Ice cream and ice cream shops are "fun" destinations. Making shops and the experience more vibrant, including stages for social media, seems like a smart strategy to me! - Posted on: 11/27/2018
Enjoy Life connects with consumers ‘one-to-one’
Any brand that wants to form a lasting relationships with consumers needs to constantly have its finger on consumers' pulse. There are many ways to engage: social, pop-ups, sampling, share groups, etc. - Posted on: 11/26/2018
Millennial brand loyalty comes into question
Consumers universally demand value (price/quality), and generational brand preferences shift as individuals go through life stages. Retailers and brands should make sure they have the basics right and then target the myriad sub-segments. - Posted on: 11/26/2018
Will a radical transformation lift or sink IKEA?
As an urban-dweller, I'm all in favor of IKEA's strategy to serve this market with appropriate-sized stores and services. - Posted on: 11/20/2018
Will 2018 be the last holiday season for long checkout lines?
Waiting to check out is the worst part of shopping. While some shoppers still like the "sport" aspect, smart retailers will optimize staffing and offer consumers alternative ways to pay for and collect goods. - Posted on: 11/16/2018
RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge: Amazon vs. Best Buy
Amazon tells a story about all their offerings (Alexa, lockers, Prime, etc.), while Best Buy solves consumers' problems with an inclusive cast. - Posted on: 11/15/2018
I don’t like Amazon as much as I did last week
I'm in agreement with Paula and Bob -- Amazon is a master at being Amazon. They really excel at high-profile public relations and collecting data to enrich their organization. - Posted on: 11/13/2018
Do grocery stores have a customer engagement problem?
Right on Ralph! Stores need to be designed to meet the needs of today's shoppers! - Posted on: 11/13/2018
Do grocery stores have a customer engagement problem?
Interesting discussion! It's good to hear that there are some operators who have developed a compelling vision and are bringing it to life in stores. The BrainTrust faves are regional chains including perennial winners like Publix, Wegmans as well as Hy-Vee, Earth Fare, AJs, Mariano's. Wondering if Whole Foods will be able to sustain their position for strategy and executive given their focus on Amazon fulfillment .... As for me, I love my local Ralphs in downtown San Diego and walk over there nearly every day when I'm in town - love that I know the produce and meat team and many of the cashiers. I also shop Spouts and Trader Joes - Posted on: 11/13/2018
Do grocery stores have a customer engagement problem?
Great points, Jeff! Grocers don't seem to realize their potential good fortune as food is not an optional purchase. The lack of vision and differentiation is surprising. - Posted on: 11/13/2018
Do grocery stores have a customer engagement problem?
It's interesting how the best operators can be large or small(er) chains. Size doesn't necessarily matter.
