What does a running store have in common with a home goods boutique? Both are struggling to compete against vendors selling direct. Nike is increasingly hurting indy athletic shops by selling direct. In the home goods world, many brands are doing the same to their retailers.
When you read the article about Nike, many of these same quotes could come from players in our home goods industry:
The common lie that vendors tell retailers is: "we don't sell that much online. Don't worry about that." When you hear that, ask to see the online sales numbers year over year. You'll see double digit growth. You'll also learn about increasing direct-to-consumer programs including coupons & discounts (free shipping, free gift, etc.), email programs, and social media campaigns intended to drive traffic back to the vendor instead of the retailer.
How do retailers collectively team up to protect their turf? That's a race the retailers need to win.