The Curious Morality of Crocs
There is an irony here: Crocs built a global empire by convincing consumers to embrace authenticity and disregard appearances. Yet behind the scenes, the company has mastered a very different art: arranging its finances so that profits can appear to have been earned thousands of miles from where its shoes are actually sold. The $4 billion footwear phenomenon has mastered comfort, fashion—and moving profits offshore.
The Latest Retail Industry Insights and Analysis
The Social Media Reckoning
Over 6o percent of Gen Alpha say social media makes them want to buy something. Some product categories are more
Retail Stores Are Driving Customers Away
Retailers that plan for the margins secure the center. The case for inclusive design extends well beyond neurodivergent shoppers. Sensory-friendly
Walmart & Sam’s: The Robin Report Retail Hits of the Week, 10.24.26
Sure, you can argue what took them so long, but better late than never. This week Walmart+ and its warehouse
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Retail Unwrapped
Our weekly podcast with Shelley E. Kohan, & guests. Available on your favorite podcast platforms.
Experience
Retail Stores Are Driving Customers Away
Retailers that plan for the margins secure the center. The case for inclusive design extends well beyond neurodivergent shoppers. Sensory-friendly
Walmart & Sam’s: The Robin Report Retail Hits of the Week, 10.24.26
Sure, you can argue what took them so long, but better late than never. This week Walmart+ and its warehouse
Retailers Wake Up: Women Are Top Discretionary Spenders
The female dollar is too powerful for brand executives to ignore. In 2024, women controlled an estimated $31.8 trillion in
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Opinion
What Now? What to Do
Tariff-driven cost inflation is likely here to stay, and now, with an ongoing Iranian war, potentially explosive expense inflation is
Tariff Chaos and the Widening Gyre
How does a business leader who may have just breathed a sigh of post-Covid-19 relief in early 2026, only to
What Now? What to Do
Tariff-driven cost inflation is likely here to stay, and now, with an ongoing Iranian war, potentially explosive expense inflation is
Tariff Chaos and the Widening Gyre
How does a business leader who may have just breathed a sigh of post-Covid-19 relief in early 2026, only to
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Retail insights on-the-go, with Shelley E. Kohan. Available on your favorite podcast platforms.
From Our Partners
Placer’s 10 Brands to Watch + 3 Surprises
Check out Placer.ai’s latest enlightening report on the 10 Top Brands to Watch in 2025 when it comes to retail
How LoveShackFancy and WeWoreWhat Are Crushing Consumer Engagement
Watch and learn LoveShackFancy and WeWoreWhat are building engagement and social media strategies that matter to today’s younger consumer.
Technology
Who’s Right About Walmart’s Pricing?
After I listened to NPR’s Life Kit broadcast, I drove to Burbank over the weekend to see for myself, and
Spatial Intelligence: Unlocking the Store
By transforming the physical store from a black box into a source of real-time intelligence, spatial intelligence provides retailers with
AI and the Extinction of Retail
The creators of AI are sounding the alarm. No regulatory cavalry is riding over the hill to insulate your business
Management
A Profile in Empathy: Mara Sirhal, Senior Vice President, Merchandising Home, Target
Being open to learning and new experiences is supported by understanding oneself. Having humility, acknowledging being vulnerable, and accepting feedback
How Did Starbucks Become the Bad Guy?
It was once beloved and respected, but now it’s besieged and repelled by a curious transformation we don’t see very
Operations
The Great Value Reallocation
Spoiler alert: Consumers are not simply trading down. They are reallocating trust, loyalty, and wallet share to brands and retailers
A Toy Story of Resilience
Unlike many of the “walking dead” retail brands that went out of business but have hung on in a virtual
Caraway: The Robin Report Retail Miss of the Week: 10. 3. 26
At first, one might think that this DTC cookware company, being sued by two of the biggest players in the