The Oxymoron of Tech and Nostalgia
Consumers are deprioritizing retail authenticity and diving headfirst into escapism. A few extra fingers matter less to next gens than the emotional resonance of the video on their screens. The irony is that these videos are generated with deepfake technology that only recently became available, and it feels right on brand for 2025.
The Latest Retail Industry Insights and Analysis
The Hidden Costs of Retail Noise
Noise erodes trust. When shoppers cannot hear staff clearly, misunderstand promotions, or feel overwhelmed by background clamor, frustration builds. In
Off the Shelf: A Tricky Halloween
Hershey raised prices by double digits. A 48-count box of full-size bars that cost $40 last year is now $50.
Retail Real Estate Redefined
Retailers with significant real estate holdings are better insulated from rising rents and capital costs and can leverage property as
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Retail Unwrapped
Our weekly podcast with Shelley E. Kohan, & guests. Available on your favorite podcast platforms.
Experience
The Hidden Costs of Retail Noise
Noise erodes trust. When shoppers cannot hear staff clearly, misunderstand promotions, or feel overwhelmed by background clamor, frustration builds. In
Off the Shelf: A Tricky Halloween
Hershey raised prices by double digits. A 48-count box of full-size bars that cost $40 last year is now $50.
An Industry Manifesto: The Antidote to Retail Boredom
In their quest for scale, many legacy retail brands have transitioned from curators of wonderment to experts in expansion and
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Opinion
American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney Ad Spawns a Culture War
The American Eagle disaster proves that retailers can no longer afford to confuse stock market performance with DEI awareness. Not
Work from Home – Privilege or Imperative?
Is work from home a privilege or a necessity? Discover why leaders must balance employee desires with the needs of
American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney Ad Spawns a Culture War
The American Eagle disaster proves that retailers can no longer afford to confuse stock market performance with DEI awareness. Not
Work from Home – Privilege or Imperative?
Is work from home a privilege or a necessity? Discover why leaders must balance employee desires with the needs of
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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
Lead Like Her: Kat DePizzo, President, Justice Design Lab
Kat DePizzo, President of Justice Design Lab, reinvented the brand under dramatic circumstances. During the pandemic, with 15 people and
Announcing the 2025 Robin Report Crave Retail Radical Winners
To succeed in a retail market characterized by so much choice, these five visionaries are rewriting the rules of retail
Operations
Who Knew Our National Security Depends on Wood?
Canadian lumber tariffs, started on October 14, are effectively 45 percent. On the retail front, the two home improvement giants,
A Ukrainian Mall Rises Out of the Ashes
A Russian missile hit the mall’s roof, causing a fire on the fourth floor. It destroyed the ventilation chamber on
Sycamore Is Now the Sixth Biggest Retailer in America
Prior to the Walgreens deal, Sycamore’s biggest retail holding was Staples, which is estimated to do about $8 billion a