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Management

Amazon and Barnes & Noble: A Giant Irony

By Robin Lewis   |   January 9, 2023

The ironies that keep popping up at Amazon, post-Jeff Bezos’ departure as CEO, are truly astounding. And the one that stands out most is Amazon’s closing of all 66 Amazon Books in the U.S. and two in the United Kingdom. A Vision Lost? No one would argue that Bezos is a genius. Great entrepreneurs usually are (or they simply come up with a gee-whiz commonsense idea that nobody else had thought of). The only flaw in his greatness, as I have said before, is that he should have departed earlier before Amazon failed in its attempts at rolling …

Amazon and Barnes & Noble: A Giant IronyRead More

Why Not Start Off Your Year with the Deal Junkie?

By Robin Lewis   |   January 4, 2023

Anybody who is anybody in the mainstream retail industry knows Gilbert Harrison, the founder and CEO of Financo, and now Chairman of Harrison Group. Simply put, Financo was a firm that did deals, and the maestro of course, was the founder, the ultimate “deal junkie” himself. Thus, his autobiography, recently published by Post Hill Press is appropriately titled …you got it, Deal Junkie. Book Report For those of us who have known Gilbert over the past half century, we know that his smiling face on the cover is both an engaging friend and …

Why Not Start Off Your Year with the Deal Junkie?Read More

RH Climbs a New Mountain

By Warren Shoulberg   |   January 3, 2023

Gary Friedman is doing some serious mountain climbing and he’s bought himself some new gear to help get to the top. In releasing RH’s cautious third-quarter earnings in mid-December, CEO Gary Friedman announced the acquisitions of two furniture producers and the teaming up with noted interior design and architecture editor Margaret Russell (formerly of Architectural Digest) to head up its nascent media efforts that could include a luxury magazine for the design world. Taken together, these moves represent new assets Friedman believes …

RH Climbs a New MountainRead More

CEO Craig Jelinek Leads Costco with Vision and Empathy

By Sanford Stein   |   January 2, 2023

It seems like there has been a strong exodus of retail CEOs in 2022, particularly among highly visible retailers including Bed Bath & Beyond, Gap, Sephora, Under Armour, Bath & Body Works, FootLocker, and Kohl’s. There is no obvious thread that neatly explains such turnover. Certainly, the pandemic has changed the retail landscape, which may well have contributed to some of these departures. We’ve also seen a rise in corporate raiders putting pressure on boards to increase shareholder returns. Often those short-term strategies …

CEO Craig Jelinek Leads Costco with Vision and EmpathyRead More

Barbara Rentler Leads a 40-Year-Old Radical!

By Robin Lewis   |   December 21, 2022

Ross Stores is on a roll. When many retailers are contracting, Ross is on the move opening 40 new stores this fall to meet its goals of 100 new stores in 2022 – delivering on its 2021 growth plans. It is the largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the U.S. Off-price has a key position in the retail pantheon, and Ross is crushing it delivering the experiential gift of surprise in the treasure hunt that consumers love and value as a reward. With its surging growth, CEO Barbara Rentler is leading a 40-year-old Retail Radical in a …

Barbara Rentler Leads a 40-Year-Old Radical!Read More

Lululemon Is a 2022 Robin Report Radical!

By Robin Lewis   |   December 18, 2022

Talk to any lululemon customer and he or she will be the first to tell you that lululemon is a community, a club, an affinity group – anything other than a retailer. Calvin McDonald’s ability to not just sustain but to grow its already high level of customer engagement, revenues,and profits is a testament to understanding what customers want and need … and delivering on that consistently. whether it's outfitting customers to work from home, run errands in town, attend in-store yoga classes or stream fitness workouts from its Studio partners, …

Lululemon Is a 2022 Robin Report Radical!Read More

American Eagle Outfitters: A 2022 Robin Report Retail Radical

By Robin Lewis   |   December 13, 2022

American Eagle Outfitters is an amazing success story, propelled by next gens who love it for its honesty and relevant, trending style. It’s the perfect example of a brand from the early aughts that managed to evolve into a Gen Z go-to –– it’s exactly what Abercrombie wishes it could be. CEO Jay Schottenstein has led the brand to new heights as the pioneer in supporting body positivity, inclusive environments and connection with its customers and local communities. AEO came off the pandemic as a nonessential retailer with over $5 billion in …

American Eagle Outfitters: A 2022 Robin Report Retail RadicalRead More

Lauder’s Fashion Sense: How Tom Ford Lured the Beauty Behemoth into Untested Waters

By Dana Wood   |   December 7, 2022

While I’m sure it was just the way it all shook out, there are only men - seven of them, in fact -- quoted in the mid-November official press release announcing the acquisition of Tom Ford by Estée Lauder Companies. Building the Empire In order, they are Fabrizio Freda, EL Cos. president and CEO; Ford himself; Domenico De Sole, co-founder and chairman, Tom Ford International; William Lauder, executive chairman, EL Cos.; Guillaume Jesel, president, luxury business development, EL Cos.; Ermenegildo “Gildo” Zegna, CEO, Ermenegildo Zegna …

Lauder’s Fashion Sense: How Tom Ford Lured the Beauty Behemoth into Untested WatersRead More

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Copyright © 2023 · Robin Lewis, Inc. All rights reserved. Copying or reproducing, by any means whatsoever, of The Robin Report, or any distribution hereof, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Robin Lewis, Inc. is strictly prohibited. The Robin Report is published for senior executives in the retail, fashion, beauty, consumer products and related industries. The opinions expressed herein are not, and should not be construed as investment or other advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice.