The Top 10 New Stores to Watch in 2026
Is physical retail contracting or expanding in 2026? And the answer is: From limited-run openings including Primark and Wayfair to a mega 450 new locations for dollar stores, physical retail reflects optimism and courage in the new year.
The Latest Retail Industry Insights and Analysis
A Masterclass in Agentic AI
Join Shelley and Sandy DeFelice, Senior Vice President of Revenue and Strategic Accounts at Digital Wave Technologies, as they reveal
Why Chief Storytellers Are a Bad Idea
Effective retailing demands that we enable people to find, believe, and share their own stories. And to do so enthusiastically,
Saks Global: Another Trainwreck
Baker, as a real estate manipulator, gets high marks. As a retail leader and retail strategist, however, he has been
Listen Up
Retail Unwrapped
Our weekly podcast with Shelley E. Kohan, & guests. Available on your favorite podcast platforms.
Experience
A Look at Retail Through a New Lens
The main floor of Bloomingdale’s New York locations offers a dazzling experience for shoppers intoxicated by jewelry, cosmetics, and checkerboard
Shein Gets Bookish with New Alibris Collab
The Shein-Alibris partnership points to a greater retail trend: product assortments as a branding move. As consumers navigate economic uncertainty,
Creeping Out Customers Is the New Normal
Generation Z seeks out unpolished emotional experiences from brands, but the same subversive societal critiques that pique next gen’s interest
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Opinion
When the Checkout Aisle Becomes a Ballot Box
Political leaders pull retailers into their orbit because brands are visible and relatable in a way that institutions and policies
Off the Shelf with Phil Lempert: Oreo & Reese’s – Really, Another Oreo?
What I’m seeing in the snack aisle right now is absolutely fascinating and really weird. Two of America’s biggest snack
When the Checkout Aisle Becomes a Ballot Box
Political leaders pull retailers into their orbit because brands are visible and relatable in a way that institutions and policies
Off the Shelf with Phil Lempert: Oreo & Reese’s – Really, Another Oreo?
What I’m seeing in the snack aisle right now is absolutely fascinating and really weird. Two of America’s biggest snack
New Episodes Weekly
The Retail Unwrapped Podcast
Retail insights on-the-go, with Shelley E. Kohan. Available on your favorite podcast platforms.
From Our Partners
Placer’s 10 Brands to Watch + 3 Surprises
Check out Placer.ai’s latest enlightening report on the 10 Top Brands to Watch in 2025 when it comes to retail
How LoveShackFancy and WeWoreWhat Are Crushing Consumer Engagement
Watch and learn LoveShackFancy and WeWoreWhat are building engagement and social media strategies that matter to today’s younger consumer.
Technology
You’ll Need a Video Game Strategy for Next Gens
The key to tapping into gaming communities is authenticity — the most successful brand activations don’t just show a potential
Electronics Retailers Can Shift the Future of PFAS: Here’s How
For retailers, the message is stark: what begins in chemical plants and semiconductor fabs doesn’t stay there. It flows directly
The AI Agent Survival Guide for Retailers
Once AI has unfettered access to product data, it becomes much harder to control the terms of engagement. The brands
Management
Saks Global: Another Trainwreck
Baker, as a real estate manipulator, gets high marks. As a retail leader and retail strategist, however, he has been
What on Earth Happened to Retail in 2025?
The biggest surprise is that the economy is still chugging along as strong as it is. You’d think that the
Operations
India’s Retail Frontier
India’s consumer ecosystem is entering a defining decade, fuelled by a young, digitally fluent population, an expanding middle class and
A Wake-Up Call for Big Food
Here’s the uncomfortable truth the food industry doesn’t want to talk about: This lawsuit isn’t a joke. It’s backed by
Dillard’s Gets Department Store Retail Right
Dillard’s isn’t flashy—in certain circles, it’s been called “Dullard’s.” Yet it has remained a safe harbor in an increasingly turbulent