Something weird happened on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday in July in Birmingham. A switch flicked. A baton was passed. A change happened. On July 26, 2016, a brick and mortar retail icon closed its doors, while at the same time e-commerce powerhouse had one of its biggest days ever. To me it was a significant moment in the shift in power from offline to online. 

Let me explain. July 26 was the final day for Old Navy at the Summit Mall in Birmingham. This was the store where many people danced on the floor. It was the place where generations of Birminghamians and tourists alike overloaded on the latest trends. 

So this is epoch-making. It's not the end of traditional retail (I'm a big support of bricks and mortar, and even Amazon is tinkering with physical stores.) It is a loud and clear warning however that the old guard needs to not only continue retail reinvention, but also pick up the pace.