Retail insights at the intersection of now and next. Unfiltered. Unbiased
They say necessity is the mother of invention, but that goes for calamity too. Bloomberg recently reported that Robert Keely, who runs a guitar pedal company called Keely Electronics, was hit with an $11,000 tariff bill for a load of imported merchandise. With no other options, he cashed in 1.83 million American Express rewards points to pay for it.
Malaysian consumers are remarkably optimistic in these gloomy times—even by Asian standards. Can it last long enough for global brands to make use of it?
AI may replace some marketing functions as a more precise, cost-efficient way to reach and retain customers. Join Shelley and Greg Licciardi, Vice President of Sponsorships and Partner Programs at the Association of National Advertisers, as they explore how successful brands are balancing hyper-personalization with authentic human connection.
Retailers have to take tangible metrics like productivity seriously as a red flag on employee wellbeing. Think about it: Can a disengaged retail worker in a luxury store truly deliver exceptional customer service? Can a disconnected employee at a trendy boutique contribute to a positive customer experience?
Fashion’s old engines—luxury department stores, fashion magazines, global catwalks—are sputtering. Like the sewing machine that migrated from New York to Kolkata in search of cheaper labor, the entire supply chain must now adapt. Rapid prototyping, short runs, and AI-driven demand forecasting are critical.
Hotel Chocolat’s Thirlwell described the acquisition of the 250-acre Rabot Estate in Saint Lucia and transforming it into a boutique hotel as “destiny.” After a customer sent Thirwell a 1920s book about chocolate making while he was visiting his father in the Caribbean, he was inspired to fulfill his dream to create a place where luxury, wellbeing and style could come together with, naturally, cocoa and chocolate.
Retail influencers drive online and in-store sales through live events, creator products, and authentic, staff-generated social media content.
Wholesale is evolving—brands thrive by embracing strategic partnerships over DTC myths, adapting to retail shifts and smarter merchandising.
Gen Z sees personal data as currency—sharing it for fun with friends, but demanding transparency and compensation from brands and retailers.
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