Drum Roll Please, Ladies and Gentlemen. Announcing the three greatest moments of innovation in the history of home furnishings products: 3. Furniture manufacturers, trying to reduce their cost of upholstering with expensive craftsmen and detailed stitching and sewing techniques, invent […]
Innovation in Home Products…It Ain\’t Just Fitted Sheets Read More »
Robin Lewis: What in the world was Best Buy thinking when they discontinued their Studio D and Escape small store concepts several years ago? You designed these neighborhood boutiques to customize these stores for specific niche demographics and lifestyles. What’s
Q&A with Ed Schlossberg, Founder & Principal of ESI Design Read More »
One commodity retailers never seem to run out of is problems. We’ve seen no shortage of business challenges in recent years, as brick-and-mortar retailers have wrestled with overcapacity, flat same-store sales, Internet incursions, and a tepid economic recovery. But amidst
The New Age of Discovery Read More »
One fact that should continually resonate in the minds of brands and retailers every minute of every day is that women are responsible for roughly 70% of all purchasing in the retail and consumer products industries. And, since about 70%
Wake Up Consumer Electronics…You’re Ignoring Women Read More »
Over seven years ago I met with Ian McGarrigle, founder and Chairman of the World Retail Congress, when he was launching it. I said something like, “…Ian, I don’t think the world needs another conference.” Today, in my opinion, the
My Take on the 2012 World Retail Congress Read More »
ROBIN LEWIS So, right off the bat, how the heck can one person run a $10 to $12 billion company? ERIC WISEMAN You can\’t! VF has been, and I hope always will be, a team sport. When I look at
QA with Eric C. Wiseman, Chairman, President and CEO of VF Corporation Read More »
Best Practices by Kurt Salmon Most retailers readily admit that the chronic use of excessive, and often unplanned, promotions can have serious consequences in terms of margin erosion and erratic sales. Still, most willingly suffer those consequences in exchange for
Beyond Discounts and Deals: Achieving a Balanced Pricing and Promotion Strategy Read More »
Suppose a picture really isn’t worth a thousand words. What then? “Showrooming” happens, that’s what. Showrooming is the consumer practice of going to a retail store to examine goods to determine more about appearance and functionality than can be ascertained
Target vs. Amazon: Hungry Games Read More »
It’s easy to see why showrooming is keeping many brick-and-mortar retailers up at night. In fact, it looks like the beginning of a bad epidemic-outbreak movie — some retailers even feel powerless to slow its advance and are reduced to
Derailing the Showrooming Scare Read More »
Over the past year, the volatility in cotton fiber costs compelled some manufacturers and brands to, at least temporarily, experiment with using alternative fibers. Now that the price of cotton has settled in line with historic averages, there is renewed
What’s Up With Today’s Active Wear? Read More »
