I was interviewed the other day by a reporter for the Commercial Observer, asking me about the “fast food” salad chain, Sweetgreen. Described by Wikipedia: “Sweetgreen is an American fast casual restaurant chain that serves… Read More
Where can real retail find real growth? Can it? Or are we doomed to the daily lamentations, ringing of hands and rending of garments as news slouches towards us of yet another chain which has… Read More
I.M. Pei’s recent death and consequent obituary in The New York Times puts us all in mind of his far-reaching impact. One of the typically unexplored consequences of his work is the process by which… Read More
Thing One I learned: The Vessel is an empty, once-is-more-than-enough gesture. Thing Two I Learned: There is no future of retail, as in shopping in well-merchandised stores, without algorithmic assistance. Thing Three I Learned: A… Read More
One of the debilitating downsides of having been a card-carrying futurist with Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve is learning the dirty little secret of big companies’ off-stated quests for innovation and their vociferous lip service championing of… Read More
Recent headlines: Gucci and Prada Aim for Outrageousness, Instead They Get Outrage (CBS Moneywatch) Gucci Apologizes and Removes Sweater Following ‘Blackface’ Backlash (NPR) Spike Lee, T.I. Boycott Gucci, Prada over “Blackface” Fashion (NBC) One credible… Read More
The profitable world of previously-owned is not just for Mercedes anymore. Consider the emerging retail reality: Empty storefronts on Main Street, shuttered malls, bankrupt chains. Could it be that consumers have lost interest in the… Read More
Faith Popcorn is a world-renowned futurist. She runs a company called Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve which helps the Fortune 100 figure out how to fit their businesses into a world that doesn’t quite exist yet, but… Read More
Consider that in 2017, 5,000 stores closed, 21 chains filed for bankruptcy and 106 million square feet of retail were vacated. Pretty bad, right? Well then, consider 2018 thus far. Look at the numbers for… Read More
As someone who enjoys writing, I’ve always taken to heart the idea that writing is like prostitution: First you do it for the love of it, then you do it for a few friends and… Read More
