Commentary

By Peter Cummings When Whole Foods announced their decision to build a store in Midtown Detroit almost six years ago, the announcement was greeted with considerable skepticism. Many commented that the store would never get built. Others said that if it were built it would close within the first year. June 5 of this year,…

By Franci Sagar and Sophie Claire Sagar – Lakeside Collaborative At Lakeside Collaborative, our retail strategy firm, we work with an open-source network of visionaries to design immersive retail experiences that echo and underline our client’s mission. The retail identities and stores we create become brand assets for their parent company – a testament to…

By Kelsey Groome, Managing Director, TRAUB Retail, as they say, is therapy.  The cathartic experience today is increasingly coming from in-store wellness concepts versus shopping for shopping’s sake.  As traditional retailers around the world are reimagining the brick and mortar store, fitness for the mind, body and soul is getting more attention and more space. …

By Tom Chappell, Founder – Tom’s of Maine and Ramblers Way My entrepreneurial life has consistently created an intelligent choice from what is the normative offering. The creation of a natural toothpaste, for instance, invited the question, “What is a natural toothpaste?” The context for the idea in 1972 belonged to an emerging niche in…

By Harvey Dulku, Retail Director – Fantasy World Toys As a Kuwaiti-based specialty toy store, Fantasy World has always strived to push the boundaries in both design and lifestyle. However, brick and mortar retailers in general have been suffering with lower footfall and lower conversion rates. Consumers are a lot more sophisticated in how they shop in…

By Joanne Healy The word “empowerment” is not often used to describe retail experiences.  But recently the Luxury Daily reported Barney’s New York taking a powerful stance on female equality and empowerment through The Barney’s New York Foundation’s “We Will Be” project. Strong role models such as Madeline Albright, Jane Fonda, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Lena…

PRIVATE EQUITY IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND SPECIALTY RETAILING By Paul Grangaard At Allen Edmonds, we’ve had a lot of experience with Private Equity players and the impact they can have on a business. Our company was founded by Elbert Allen in 1922 in Wisconsin, and we’ve survived as an American manufacturer of superior quality men’s…

The National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention & EXPO earned the nickname “Retail’s BIG Show” years ago and because the name was so appropriate, it stuck. Today, Retail’s BIG Show is NRF’s flagship event held annually in New York City. The three day event offers unparalleled education, collegial networking with 33,000 of your newest friends, and…

JOANNE HEALY JOINS JGA AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Branded Environments specialist, JGA, recently named Joanne Healy as Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer. Her involvement will span across strategy, creative and business development, bringing her unique perspective to the rapidly evolving world of retail, service and brand experience. In announcing the appointment…

PLACE-BASED DIGITAL MEDIA By Mason Page Digital technology is rapidly permeating all areas of life, from home to work, and increasingly in the places we shop, learn, and play. The places we visit now have digital experiences embedded into their environments. This merging of the physical and digital worlds is referred to as place-based digital.…