The department store was pronounced dying, if not dead, with the recent release of dismal first-quarter earnings, despite rising consumer optimism that saw increased consumer spending in six out of ten retail categories (US Dept. of Commerce). While the challenges are real, department stores also have significant potential to stage Read more…
Much has been said about this year’s play of musical chairs among creative directors at fashion houses. It is clear that designers have lost significant influence within key areas of the fashion industry. The acceleration of the retail calendar, the primacy of the brand and the complicated product structure that goes Read more…
Retailers are now getting ready for the transition to spring and the clearance racks are full of last season’s goods. A surfeit of goods marked for clearance even after repeated price reductions during the season is a sign of mismatch between supply and consumer want. In the apparel industry, one Read more…
The lacklustre holiday season did not stop Macy’s, America’s largest department store chain, as it continues to grow. Macy’s scale and geographical presence allows it to build a successful e-commerce business while reducing inventory and payroll costs. On the other hand, the specialty retailer Neiman Marcus corners the luxury multi-brand Read more…
I recently attended the Luxury Education Foundation’s Luxury Round Table – a series of conversations where luxury professionals speak to students from Columbia Business School and Parsons the School of Design. The panelists were owners and chief executives of luxury start-ups in New York City and the discussion’s topic was Read more…