I have had so much fun this month interviewing some of our clients on how they got into retail, what they loved about the industry in the beginning, and what keeps their passion churning for retail after all these years. Thank you to Chris Freeman from Michaels, Jillian Wiese from Cavender’s and Paul DeSousa, recently…

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Valentine’s Day in retail is fast, emotional, and often last-minute-for customers and teams alike. It’s also a great sales boost to beat the winter blues in the month of February. According to the NR’s annual survey, consumer spending on this year’s expression of affection is expected to increase 5.7% to a record $29.1 billion, with…

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It’s that time of year when retailers nationwide are hunched over clipboards, scanning every SKU, closing the books on 2025, and optimizing inventory for what’s ahead. We do this every year because inventory — whether it’s fashion, electronics, or essentials — directly impacts profitability and customer experience. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to…

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By Matt Brown and Mary Beth Garcia As artificial intelligence transforms every corner of the retail landscape from inventory forecasting to customer analytics, one factor remains beyond its reach: the unique human ability to connect, empathize, and inspire. Technology can crunch numbers, predict demand, and automate tasks, but it can’t read subtle cues, build trust,…

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The Power of Leadership, Accountability, and Reinforcement Here’s a pattern that plays out all too often in retail: Teams come out of a training workshop energized, motivated, and ready to apply what they’ve learned. Senior leaders feel good about the investment and expect there will be tangible impact in the business to show for it,…

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What had been considered outdated is suddenly innovative again. The pendulum is swinging back, and with it, a renewed appreciation for the power of in-person experience, customer connection, and developing top talent from within. It has been so interesting to see these trends play out, because they remind me of the norms and best practices…

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Retail has always been a people business. Every interpersonal interaction, connection, and relationship—whether externally with customers or internally among team members and with leaders—is a vital link in the chain that creates results. In today’s environment, though, where every department is being asked to do more with less and the pace of change feels relentless,…

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As I began planning this month’s newsletter, one word kept flashing across headlines, economic reports, and retail roundtables: tariffs. Whether looming at 145% or fluctuating and retracting, the mere possibility of increased tariffs is already impacting the way retail teams are planning, pivoting, and preparing. From sourcing to sales, tariffs are top of mind. While…

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As International Women’s Month draws to a close, we are reflecting on and celebrating the remarkable contributions of women around the world—and in our own industry. I am an unusual retailer in the sense that I knew by the age of 13 that this was the career I wanted to be in. It was not…

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February is Black History Month in the United States, a time to reflect on the invaluable contributions of Black leaders, innovators, and frontline workers who have shaped the retail industry and beyond. As we honor this history, we must also acknowledge the evolving landscape of today’s retail environment—one that presents both opportunities and challenges for…

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