First there was Sleep No More, an immersive production of Macbeth that redefines theater, staged in the multi-storied McKittrick Hotel on West 27th Street in Manhattan. It opened in 2011 and ever since, Venetian Carnival masked guests wander around the stage set on four cavernous floors, mostly lost and frequently confused, becoming the accidental audience of various scenes of Shakespeare's noir tragedy. It is fascinating and somewhat unsettling. The cast of actors transport you directly into the heart of the play, as you watch invisibly on the …
The New Rules of Retail
Close in and Personal: The Giants go to the “Hoods”
Three clicks on your mobile device or laptop will deliver (most often for free) whatever you want the same day, or in a day or two, wherever you want it sent or to be picked up in a place near you. And the order can be placed wherever you are - in your bedroom, bath or living room, on the beach or on a boat. There is no store or place that you must travel to. All stores and marketplaces, worldwide, are packed into the devices just in front of you. Blah, blah, blah … nothing new here. But here's some interesting context: What if you want to …
Close in and Personal: The Giants go to the “Hoods”Read More
Walmart Town Centers: One More Wow!!!
Wow! Another huge disruption coming out of McMillon's Walmart. They seem to have one speed only: meteoric. One could say I spend too much time covering their warp speed, almost-daily initiatives. But, how can I not? As the largest retailer in the world, that could have been stuck in the old world under the sheer weight of its size and arguably antiquated culture, it found a rocket ship commander in CEO Doug McMillon who is blasting through old paradigms and not waiting for anybody. Message to employees: put your jet packs on and hope you can …
Visit Devon Yard to See the Future of Anthropologie
People are born curious. It's in our DNA. Actually, there is a curiosity gene. Researchers postulate that humans are driven to explore new things and pursue new experiences because it floods our brains with dopamine, the pleasure hormone. Curiosity is a lot like sex; curiosity activated and satisfied is its own pleasurable reward that reinforces the desire to get that pleasure kick again. So, it was curiosity that sent me to Anthropologie's Devon Yard "lifestyle center" when I read about its opening. Located on Philadelphia's Main Line, not …
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Macy’s Brand Ambassadors: Radical and Brilliant
I have often said and written that the traditional retail sector has a huge untapped advantage over e-commerce. They can they create a compelling “Starbuckean third place,” full of experiences that cannot be created online. Additionally, they have the potential of creating an authentic human connection through their employees. In my opinion, these frontliners can be the most important link in the physical world value chain -- the link that touches the consumer, and potentially creates a loyal bond. In fact, I have often suggested that there …
JCP’s Marvin Ellison: Fleeing Death or Flying into the Future?
Did Marvin Ellison leave JCP to become CEO of Lowe’s, fleeing the emergency room sensing Penney’s impending death, or did he take flight to a new and more fitting opportunity? His prior 12 years at Home Depot ended as EVP of Stores after he lost the race to the top to its current CEO Craig Menear. His move to Lowe’s might have been sparked by a competitive nerve, if not one of revenge. Regardless, his opportunity is much broader at Lowe’s with a greater growth potential in a fairly healthy industry. Lowe’s is nearly six times the size of …
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Matthew Shay, President and CEO of NRF, Needs a Wake-Up Call
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay recently published an article on LinkedIn entitled, The 3 Worst Articles on the Retail Apocalypse – And Why They’re Wrong. While I run the risk of biblical-sized smiting from the gods of the retail establishment, I cannot hold my tongue on this one. Shay’s post could not be more tone-deaf. His article strikes the exact wrong tone at the exact time we need him most. Consider this your wake-up call, Matthew Shay and NRF. That sound you hear? It’s your iPhone ringing at the side of your bed telling you it is time …
Matthew Shay, President and CEO of NRF, Needs a Wake-Up CallRead More
And It’s Walmart by a Nose Ahead of Amazon for Flipkart
Wait a second! Just last week I wrote on the race for global dominance between Amazon and Alibaba. And shame on me for not even mentioning Walmart, especially since I’ve been on a rant about how Walmart is rapidly becoming Amazon’s biggest headache. And now they are about to give Amazon a migraine in the only big ecommerce market still up for grabs: India. Alibaba owns China and Amazon owns the U.S. (albeit looking over their shoulder as the behemoth bears down on them). But India is where these two giants are squaring off. In review: …
And It’s Walmart by a Nose Ahead of Amazon for FlipkartRead More