Blunt Talk About Retail News Headlines
Want to find out about the underside of retail today? Join Shelley and TRR contributor Mark Cohen, who is an industry veteran and former director of retail studies at Columbia Business School, as they reveal the back stories on what’s making retail news headlines.
The Latest Retail Industry Insights and Analysis
Shipping Logistics at a Crossroads
Retailers with rail-heavy networks may need to reevaluate their long-term exposure. That doesn’t mean abandoning rail altogether, but it does
Indie Sleaze Still Having a Moment
If the staple of grunge core is tartan plaid, indie sleaze’s core staple is a pair of frayed black skinny
Lead Like Her: Kimberly Minor’s Gift of Intuition and Grit
Here’s an impressive retail transformation story. Kimberly Minor, CEO of WOCRA and Interim Executive Director at The Ohio State University
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Retail Unwrapped
Our weekly podcast with Shelley E. Kohan, & guests. Available on your favorite podcast platforms.
Experience
The Latest Play: Kids Toys for Grown-ups
The boomer generation never met a nostalgic reminder of their youth that they didn’t respond to. And with more time
Aspirationals Compromise Luxury Brands
For brands and conglomerates, such as LVMH and Kering, that have exposure to both aspirational and legacy luxury consumer segments,
For Next Gens, Fandom=Trust
Trust is built in the quiet moments, researching a company’s comments on TikTok and the user-submitted product photos on their
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Opinion
Work from Home – Privilege or Imperative?
Is work from home a privilege or a necessity? Discover why leaders must balance employee desires with the needs of
DEI: Courageous Efforts or Cowardly Responses?
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two-article point-counterpoint series on recent retail decisions about DEI. We are
Work from Home – Privilege or Imperative?
Is work from home a privilege or a necessity? Discover why leaders must balance employee desires with the needs of
DEI: Courageous Efforts or Cowardly Responses?
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two-article point-counterpoint series on recent retail decisions about DEI. We are
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The Retail Unwrapped Podcast
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
Janice and Jason Wang Are Creating the AI RetailTech Future
“The supply chain for mass-produced garments is a very lengthy one—we can predict weather better than we can predict what
Retail’s Next Tech Breach Won’t Be a Hack
In a Harvard study, researchers manipulated the product description of a fictitious “ColdBrew Master” coffee machine by adding crafted prompt
Companion AI Is Your Direct Line to Gen Alpha
AI Girlfriend Scout, a paid subscription service, claims, “Whether you’re looking for emotional support, entertaining conversation, or a judgment-free space
Management
Tina Bhojwani, CEO of AERA Is a Sustainability Powerhouse
Tina Bhojwani, CEO and co-founder of AERA, redefines leadership by blending luxury and fearless innovation to build a vegan footwear
Hailey Bieber Scores as e.l.f. Purchases Rhode
Three short years – and post-pandemic ones, no less — that’s all the time it took Hailey Bieber and her
Operations
How Once-Hot Prime Hydration Flatlined
Prime sprinted into more than 90,000 retail locations worldwide—without first validating real, sustained consumer demand. That’s a risky formula. Shelf
Toxic Crossroads for Retailers: PFAS, the Canary in the Chemical Coalmine
Retail doesn’t get to choose the larger policy environment, but it can shape its own brand integrity. In today’s fractured
All in the Family (Dollar)
Maybe Family Dollar needs to buy a zombie brand like Bed Bath & Beyond or Sears for linchpin products that