Retail insights at the intersection of now and next. Unfiltered. Unbiased
Like many people, we want JCPenney to succeed; there are some good pros there and they have been working hard to turn this thing around. But we just saw yet another quarter of dismal financial results: sales off 4.6 percent and a net loss of $65 million.
Join Shelley and Shiv Gupta, Chief Analytics and Solutions Officer at Volute Group, as they explore how AI is used as a confessional when consumers trust agents more than websites, data collectors, and even other humans.
Behind-the-scenes-footage (BTS) chips away at the ‘us versus them’ aspect of the production and marketing funnel by inviting customers into the creative process. It can also justify the cost of a product, as it enables customers to see the craftsmanship and premium materials that go into making it. Whether the final product is a physical dress or a photo shoot, BTS is helping brands craft intentional narratives.
Golden Goose describes itself as a “Next Gen global luxury company,” a positioning that aligns with broader shifts in luxury consumption. Intrinsic experiential value, personal fulfillment, and sustainability are among the most important factors influencing Gen Z’s willingness to engage with luxury brands.
Kimberly Shenk has never taken the expected path. A data scientist and former Air Force captain, she has carried the military’s ethos of service before self and its belief that discipline as a habit leads to excellence into a career. She says employees, investors, and stakeholders yearn for a leader and leads with a clear vision, refusing to put a limit on what’s possible.
New systems cannot replace bad processes and a misaligned culture to compete for success. When owning a process matters more than solving a problem, and the stated mission is not the rewarded behavior, AI cannot correct these dysfunctions; it only amplifies and accelerates them. The tool is never the question; the diagnosis is.
It’s a celebration on so many levels, and Pete and Erik Nordstrom are the hosts, with heartfelt thanks to their loyal customers. Any other retail brand might sound disingenuous, but these guys really mean it.
Join Shelley and Mark Cohen, TRR contributor and former Director of Columbia University’s Retail Studies Program, as they challenge the industry’s obsession with technology and make an unapologetic case for getting back to basics.
Why do results worth admiring almost never look like wins when the bet is placed? What happened along the way that transformed a perceived loss into a victory? And why does the boldness behind that bet get mistaken, in hindsight by others, for a playbook anyone could have run?
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