Author

Mark A. Cohen

Mark A. Cohen recently retired as Director of Retail Studies at The Columbia Business School where he taught an array of retailing and leadership courses for 18 years. Before re-joining his Alma Mater Columbia, as a faculty member, (BS EE 69, MBA 71) he was Chairman/CEO of Sears Canada Inc, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Softlines of Sears Roebuck & Co., Chairman/CEO of Bradlees Inc., and Chairman/CEO of Lazarus Department Stores. He has also held executive positions at Abraham & Strauss, The Gap, Lord & Taylor, Mervyn’s and Goldsmith’s Department Stores.

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He also serves as a independent consultant to both the retail and consumer products industry and offers commentary on the retail industry to CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, NPR Marketplace and Fox Business networks. He is also frequently quoted in retail related articles in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, etc.

What Can Retailers Do About Trump’s Tariffs?

Mark Cohen April 14, 2025

Trump’s tariffs spark retail chaos with rising prices, supply issues, and recession fears, pushing retailers to push back against the economic fallout.

Retail CEO

The Retail CEO’s Dilemma

Mark Cohen March 24, 2025

A retail CEO must balance customers, shareholders, and vendors while managing risks, ensuring long-term success, and avoiding costly missteps.

Hudson Bay Company

A Requiem for the Hudson Bay Company

Mark Cohen March 17, 2025

Richard Baker’s flawed retail strategy has driven Hudson Bay Company to bankruptcy and sparked a merger between Saks and Neiman Marcus.

The Retail Buyer’s Dilemma

Mark Cohen March 3, 2025

Retail buyers face a dilemma: raise prices due to tariffs, seek alternative suppliers, or reduce quality, all leading to potential negative outcomes.

girl work from home on couch

Work from Home – Privilege or Imperative?

Mark Cohen January 28, 2025

Is work from home a privilege or a necessity? Discover why leaders must balance employee desires with the needs of the business.

DEI: Courageous Efforts or Cowardly Responses?

Mark Cohen January 22, 2025

Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two-article point-counterpoint series on recent retail decisions about DEI. We are presenting two different views to ...

Retail Forecast for 2025

Retail Forecast for 2025

Mark Cohen January 2, 2025

Retail forecast for 2025 highlights post-Covid recovery, inflation impacts, and potential tariff effects on consumer behavior and pricing trends.

Tariffs and Price Inflation

Setting the Record Straight on Tariffs and Price Inflation

Mark Cohen September 26, 2024

Americans pay the cost of tariffs and price inflation, not foreign entities. Tariffs inevitably result in higher retail prices, impacting consumers directly.