Urban Legend
For more than four decades, Urban Outfitters Inc.’s namesake brand has been a favorite among hip young adults in search of edgy products and a cool place to hang out. Though its brand ethos is the envy of many in […]
For more than four decades, Urban Outfitters Inc.’s namesake brand has been a favorite among hip young adults in search of edgy products and a cool place to hang out. Though its brand ethos is the envy of many in […]
We in the industry have been bandying about the term “luxury” pretty freely of late, but there is growing realization that if a product or brand is easily accessible and relatively inexpensive, it’s not really a “luxury” product. And the
Where Has All the Luxury Gone? Read More »
My 16-year-old son John’s idea of a gourmet meal is a burger and fries, so I was surprised one evening a couple of weeks ago when, after a busy day that left me no time to cook, I asked him
This week the Department of Commerce published September retail sales figures, and despite all the jabber about a solid back-to-school season, sales growth slowed considerably during the month. Total retail sales rose by 4.3% to $444 billion, their most sluggish rate
Santa Will Be Leaving Coal in Retailers\’ Stockings This Year Read More »
Last Friday the Department of Commerce released its August retail sales figures. Total sales rose 5% compared to August of 2013. The business and economic media heralded the news and what it might mean for retail sales performance over the
Bursting the Bubble on August Retail Sales Read More »
Consumer spending increased by 3.7% in June, the highest 12-month smoothed monthly increase in almost two years, according to data released last week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This year, Americans will spend $12 trillion on stuff, slightly more
The Hidden Message in How Americans Spend Read More »
Last week the US Department of Commerce released its most recent monthly sales and inventory figures for the retail industry. Total sales rose to almost $448 billion in June, up from $422 billion in June of last year, a seasonally
June Retail Sales: A Good News, Bad News Story for Merchants Read More »
I resent the fact that I can’t walk down a street in New York City without breathing in a potentially lethal amount of second-hand smoke. So imagine my satisfaction when, on February 5, CVS announced it was going to cease
CVS: Blowing Smoke? Or Truly Concerned for our Health? Read More »
On a recent afternoon I was stopped in the mall by a foreign tourist looking for American gifts to take back home. All the clothing and accessories in the stores were made elsewhere, she said, so they weren’t really American.
Made in USA: Myth or Reality? Read More »
A Nation of Smartphone Junkies It’s a truism that an overwhelming number of people today are addicted to their electronic devices. According to Pew Research, the cell phone has been the most quickly adopted consumer technology in the history of
FOMO & the Retail Experience Read More »