December 2012

But to develop the next generation of leaders and encourage innovation, executives must learn to delegate, giving others a chance to make mistakes and create better ways to handle routine tasks.

Succession planning can help eliminate the bumps in the road that often accompany executive transitions.

But it only takes a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina or the recent Hurricane Sandy to shine a spotlight on the critical importance of an intelligent supply chain in our industry.

By doing the right thing today, we will preserve our planet's natural resources and ensure that our children and future generations can build an even better quality of life tomorrow.

As we look ahead to 2013, we encourage retailers to examine the critical issues likely to impact their businesses and take action. We predict the following will be among the most important industry trends: