Resilience, Community and Growth: The Indie Retail Story Surges On
As we close out 2025, I find myself reflecting on what has been a transformative year for independent retailers.
You met the uncertainty of tariffs and inflationary pressures head-on. Rather than caving to fear, you adapted, strategized, and found ways to grow despite the challenges. The steady evolution of retail has meant we must respond to these changes, and the tempo of that change now almost mirrors Moore's Law. Just as computing power doubles every two years, the pace of retail transformation is accelerating exponentially. E-commerce disruption, then social commerce, then AI integration, now tariff volatility and supply chain restructuring, each wave hits faster than the last. For the first time in our 40-year history, Management One will be launching new products to meet the new demands retailers are now facing.
Why We're Optimistic About 2026
Here's what makes us optimistic: You. You've proven that when faced with uncertainty, independent retailers don't retreat, they adapt. We watched you rebuild and rethink your assortments. We saw you negotiate with your landlords and your vendors to protect margins. You tightened inventory management to improve cash flow. When tariff threats loomed, you adjusted the flows of your inventory and sought alternatives. You didn't wait for conditions to improve, you took control of what you could control.
We also learned something critical in 2025: customer appetite for newness and product hasn't diminished. Categories like luxury and toys proved that demand remains strong when retailers deliver what their communities want. The intense loyalty we saw when COVID shutdowns ended continues to be part of the DNA of our shoppers. Your customers seek newness and relationships, it's essential to their experience. The retailers who understood this and continued to bring in fresh products while building deeper connections thrived, even in uncertain times.
That's why 2026 is full of opportunity. The strategic thinking you've already demonstrated is exactly what separates retailers who gain ground from those who fall behind. Now we're going to give you even better tools and frameworks to accelerate that advantage.
What's Coming in 2026
As you face new challenges in 2026, we're building on everything we learned this year to support you better than ever. This year, we saw more retailers than ever engage in our processes, with new clients realizing a 21% increase in cash margin and close to a double-digit increase in revenue year over year within their first six months. That's what strategic planning delivers, and we're making it even more accessible.
We've expanded our team with exceptional retail talent, adding Nico Cabral as our Head of Marketing and Dane Cohen as Head of Business Development. We're also adding strength in private label and merchandising execution and bringing in practitioners, some of the best users of M1 planning, who will help build our next phase. We've begun weaving AI into the very fabric of our company, not as a gimmick, but as a tool to surface insights faster and make our planning methodologies more accessible when you need them most.
Here's what that foundation means for you in 2026:
Benchmarking That Matters:
We're adding benchmarking to our community platform that goes beyond just numbers. How do you measure against your peers, not only in metrics but in how you respond to the important issues of the moment? This isn't about comparison for comparison's sake. It's about understanding where you stand and learning from retailers who are navigating the same challenges you face.
Deeper Integration, Smarter Tools:
We're making planning more accessible, more intuitive, and more powerful than ever. Our AI integration will accelerate how quickly you can get answers, spot opportunities, and make decisions. Expect tools that work the way you work, not the other way around powered by intelligence that learns from the best practices across our entire retail community.
Expanded Thought Leadership:
The strategic frameworks that helped retailers navigate the challenges of 2025 are evolving. We're doubling down on education and insights: more resources, more actionable strategies that you can implement immediately as you face tariff uncertainties, margin pressures, and competitive dynamics in 2026.
Stronger Community Connections:
This year proved the power of retailers learning from each other. We're building platforms and opportunities for you to connect, share strategies, and solve problems together. The collective wisdom of indie retailers who've already navigated these challenges will be more accessible than ever.
Strategic Partnerships:
We're aligning with the best platforms and partners in the space to bring you integrated solutions that move the needle for your business, especially when external pressures demand smart, fast decisions.
Leading the Indie Retail Revolution
Let me be clear about our ambition: Management One will be the undisputed leader in planning and thought leadership for the independent retail community. Not because we say it, but because we earn it every single day.
We're building the playbooks, creating the frameworks, and providing the guidance that indie retailers need to win. We're not just consultants, we're partners in your success. We're not just sharing best practices, we're creating them alongside you.
Planning isn't optional anymore; it’s the competitive advantage. And thought leadership isn't about having the loudest voice, it's about having the clearest insights and the most actionable strategies.
We're committed to earning our place as your trusted partner in planning and strategic thinking. Our goal is to be the resource you turn to when uncertainty hits, and the community where you connect with the best minds in indie retail working through the same challenges you face.
An Invitation
As we step into 2026, I invite you to be part of this journey. Whether you're already working with us or just discovering what we do, there's never been a better time to embrace strategic planning and join a community that's raising the bar for indie retail.
The retailers who thrive in 2026 won't be the ones who work the hardest, they'll be the ones who plan the smartest. They'll be the ones who leverage community, embrace thought leadership and refuse to settle for incremental improvement.
That's the indie retail revolution we're leading. And we're just getting started.
What Matters Most
At the end of the day, we're a people business. For 40 years, Management One has been built on relationships with retailers, with our team, with the community we serve. Your success, your challenges, your stories, they matter to us deeply. This community means everything to us.
As we close out 2025, I want to thank you for being part of this journey. For trusting us with your business, for pushing us to be better, for showing up with resilience and determination even in the toughest moments.
Here's to you, your families, your friends, and your businesses. May 2026 bring you and your family health, prosperity, and the kind of growth that comes from planning smart and staying true to what makes independent retail special.
Onwards and upwards,
Marc Weiss
Cofounder and CEO
Management One