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Operations

EU Dispatch: European Luxury Feels the Heat

Fashion brands are facing the prospect of higher inventory costs thanks to an EU ban on destroying unsold apparel, accessories and footwear. As of July 19, large companies are now prohibited from incinerating or sending unsold products to landfill. Why major brands ever thought this was morally justifiable is another question. The new rules also cover customer returns and force fashion retailers to prioritize selling products through discounts or alternative markets, donating them or preparing them for reuse.

Mark Faithfull August 5, 2026

Experience

Cannabis Dispensaries Taking Dinner Reservations

I’ve spent four decades walking supermarket aisles and restaurant floors trying to spot the next place where food and commerce would collide. I’ll admit this one surprised me. Cannabis retailers in San Francisco are about to become the new competition for restaurants and supermarkets

Phil Lempert August 4, 2026

Operations

Home Retailers: Search for Life Beyond Furniture

With the entire home furnishings category, especially furniture, in the doldrums, retailers in the sector are looking at new categories, including services, as the way to save themselves. But will it work?

Warren Shoulberg August 3, 2026

Operations

Shein: The Robin Report Retail Miss of the Week, 8.1.26

Shein, the Chinese-origin online seller of trinkets and baubles, first came on the U.S. scene in 2017, and then really exploded in the early 2020s. It sent shockwaves through a whole genre of American apparel and gift retailers who couldn’t compete with its fast—and impressively cheap—business model.

Joanna Hollern August 1, 2026

Retail Unwrapped Podcast

Autonomous Delivery in the Driveway

Join Shelley and Ben Seidl, CEO and Co-Founder of Autolane, as they discuss the potential crisis brewing at malls and stores for managing these fleets of cars. Major retail landlords, including Simon Property Group, Federal Realty, and Jamestown, are already installing driverless parking infrastructure across properties in Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Jose, and beyond.

Retail Unwrapped July 31, 2026

Experience

H&M’s Subculture Collabs

H&M’s pivot toward ongoing partnerships with niche designers and independent collectives marks a fundamental shift in its retail strategy: it’s sustained cultural relevance over short-term noise. While legacy luxury houses often struggle with agility and genuine relatability, independent creators hold the cultural trust that big brands crave.

Jasmine Glasheen July 30, 2026

Experience

Why Brand Clarity Matters

Brand clarity improves the customer experience because it removes any friction the customer consciously notices. Clarity defines space and place, creating an environment to help keep customers from feeling lost or unsure. Clarity makes shoppers more willing to stay. Identity doesn’t require spectacle; it requires alignment before a single fixture goes up.

Chris Niesen July 29, 2026

Experience

Ralph Lauren: The Ultimate Belonger Brand

Ralph Lauren is one of the few luxury brands that has made belonging (aspirational and authentic) an art. Its long-standing relationship with Wimbledon reflects how RL has created a circle of belonging using cultural traditions as a portal.

Pam Danziger July 28, 2026

Management

A Point of View: The Heart of a Retailer’s Brand

The garden of retailing is littered with examples of retailers that once had a singular successful point of view but have lost their way. Oversight, if not consistent supervision, is mission critical. There is a fine line between encouraging talented and committed team members to fully express themselves in the decisions they must make while at the same time keeping everyone in the organization on the same page of the hymnal. This balancing act must encourage innovative thinking and action, while protecting the business’s underlying point of view.

Mark Cohen July 27, 2026

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Latest

EU Dispatch: European Luxury Feels the Heat

Cannabis Dispensaries Taking Dinner Reservations

Home Retailers: Search for Life Beyond Furniture

Shein: The Robin Report Retail Miss of the Week, 8.1.26

Autonomous Delivery in the Driveway

H&M’s Subculture Collabs

Why Brand Clarity Matters

Ralph Lauren: The Ultimate Belonger Brand

A Point of View: The Heart of a Retailer’s Brand

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