If you think brick-and-mortar stores are in turmoil because of the internet, you would be wrong. The recent closing of Lord & Taylor’s iconic Fifth Avenue store was not preordained by the impact of e-commerce.… Read More
Here we are at the end of 2017 still talking about diversity, gender parity, equitable compensation and developing an integrated workforce that reflects our customers. In an increasingly divisive national (and international) conversation, the issues… Read More
In a world of “fake news,” “alt facts,” “crooked media” and terrible Tweets, consumers are asking the biggest question since “who shot JR?”— namely, who do you trust? It’s certainly not the political and ideological… Read More
How do boards of traditional retailers cope with the need for governance and guidance in this moment of disruptive change? Capitalism may be at its best as industry disruption allows for new business models to… Read More
Recently, word reached me that an old friend, colleague and an important mentor early in my career, had died. Aside from an unwelcome reminder of my own mortality it made me wonder whether the art… Read More
The history of the world is a study of crisis—natural and manmade. How well we deal with it, if at all, is what sets us apart as a species—not to mention bankruptcy. Fire, flood, product… Read More
Good Ship Goodwill to the Rescue I thought I had finally ended my coverage of Captain Lampert driving the Sears Titanic to the bottom of the briney deep. Well, think again. On its way to… Read More
Why do Retail Company Boards of Directors Appoint Dysfunctional CEOS — Then Fail to Recognize Their Error Before It’s Too Late? All publicly held companies have a board of directors whose principal role is to… Read More
Strike One Spotty performance going into the recession and poor performance coming out. Target Stores and its web business have been poorly positioned from a merchandise trend and strategic standpoint, and stores have been inexplicably… Read More
How often have we read or heard the phrase “…so and so is stepping down,” when announcing or referring to a colleague who is retiring? Michael Gould, CEO of Bloomingdale’s, is officially doing this on… Read More
