
Amazon as the New Sephora and The Pressure for Brand Transparency
AMAZON, THE NEW SEPHORA Brands like Benefit Cosmetics and Urban Decay can thank Sephora for brand exposure in their early days. In a traditional department store (and exclusive) landscape, the beauty retailer served as an open door for emerging beauty
... read more

Truth By Numbers: Is Athleisure On The Decline?
Urban Outfitters CEO Richard Hayne is convinced the reign of athleisure is over and that denim is poised to take back the crown. If “fashion” is fashionable again, does that mean activewear is on the decline? As far as URBN
... read more

The Real Impact of a Trade War and Retail's Breach Epidemic
THE REAL IMPACT OF A TRADE WAR The potential for a trade war with China is escalating, which could hit retail hard. China's retaliation resulted in a 25% tariff on up to 128 American products. While clothing and and shoes
... read more

How to Survive Retail Darwinism and Walmart Cozies Up to Humana
HOW RETAILERS CAN ADAPT To avoid the retail graveyard and bankruptcy plague, companies are becoming innovative on and off-line. Take Boxed, an e-tailer who uses virtual reality to help consumers purchase bulk items for affordable prices. And Everlane, the retailer
... read more

March Promotional Tracker
Now is the time to stock up on wardrobe and accessory essentials. The most common discounted promotions this month were centered around winter clearance blowouts and fine jewelry. Gifts with purchase were also popular among department stores, especially in beauty
... read more

The Future of Home is AR and Google as Retail's Ally
THE FUTURE OF HOME IS AR Shopping for home goods just became easier, and a whole lot more exciting. As retailers develop innovative technology, consumers can search for products from the comforts of their home. Wayfair, home goods provider, is
... read more

Aldo's Digital Redesign and Alibaba's Runway Investment
ALDO'S REDESIGN SUCCESS It's been a year since the unveiling of Aldo's revamped desktop and mobile site, and its redesign is paying off. The shoe and accessories retailer has seen mobile traffic increase 75 percent, all of which is directly
... read more

Target's Reinvention Plan and Luxury Does Customization
TARGET'S REINVENTION PLAN As shopper habits change, Target is working overtime to meet those new demands. And the efforts are starting to bear fruit, as they come off a fourth quarter of strong traffic growth in both stores and digital.
... read more