The Barnes & Noble strategy of deferring to local taste over stock-wide uniformity and treating stores as community hubs rather than depots of inventory stands in stark contrast to Amazon’s homogenized and algorithmically curated marketplace.
How Barnes & Noble Made a Comeback Read More »
Repositioning malls from single-purpose points of transaction into dynamic community forums promoting human interaction is the sustainable reinvention of irrelevant malls. But, given the ginormous price tag involved, there are only a finite number of malls destined for such rejuvenation. The vast majority will perish.
Southdale Center Turns 70; Then What? Read More »
The idea of full price retailers setting aside a dedicated promotional area in their stores goes back at least to the famous “O” tables (opportunities) merchandised by up-and-coming junior buyers at A&S including Allen Questrom and Mike Gould.
Kohls: The Robin Report Retail Miss of the Week, 2.21.26 Read More »
It doesn’t get any more experiential than Netflix’s store format, which takes participatory adventures, hospitality and the ubiquitous gift shop to levels unmatched by anything this side of Florida theme parks.
Is Netflix House the Next Big Retail Thing? Read More »
Every scan of your card, every clipped coupon, every “substitute” you accept when something’s out of stock is recorded. You’re not just earning points; you’re teaching the system how to give you what exactly you want.
Think You’re in Control Shopping for Groceries? Wrong! Read More »
At best, Agentic AI is a system’s ultimate thinking tool. Enabling a retail metachannel, Agentic learns from itself, tests and evaluates alternatives, executes decisions, and automatically improves.
Intelligent Retail: Mastering Agentic AI Read More »
Join Shelley and Jason Brenner, Senior Vice President Digital Portfolio at FedEx as they delve into the fascinating world of returns logistics and how the process has evolved. Jason says consumer familiarity with ‘no box, no label’ returns jumped from 37 percent to 48 percent in just one year.
How AI Propels FedEx Customer UX Read More »
Shelley caught up with five more innovators at NRF 2026 to get their takes on the retail industry and an outlook for this year. Their conversations ranged from the connected store and talent development to geolocation analytics and the need for personalization.
NRF Trade Talks: Five More Unique Perspectives Read More »
Join Shelley and Sandy DeFelice, Senior Vice President of Revenue and Strategic Accounts at Digital Wave Technologies, as they reveal how clinging to traditional product descriptions and outdated data structures are becoming untenable.
NRF Trade Talks: Four Unique Perspectives Read More »
Join Shelley and Eric Girouard who discuss how he built his BRUNT Workwear brand with the people who actually wear the work gear. They reveal how BRUNT was launched by childhood friends brought up in a blue-collar manufacturing town.
Here’s What Happens When Your Customers Design Your Clothes Read More »
