Underscoring how the U.S. has become more divided in its sentiments, a survey shows brands associated with both ring-wing and left-wing causes landing on the top-50 list for the first time. Do you think consumers increasingly view brands in political terms?
Many producers selling animal-based products object to conflating the real thing with plant-based products. Should makers of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products be able to use terminology such as burgers or milk in their marketing or is it confusing to consumers?
Costco has tapped into members’ desires to hunt for fashion treasure to grow its clothing sales to $7 billion annually. What retailers/channels do you think are at greatest risk for apparel and footwear market share losses to Costco?
Mattress startup Parachute and sunglasses brand Blenders have both made their mark as online companies, but they’ve done a lot of offline work to get there. Do you think a physical presence is more important for digital brands today than it was 5 years ago?
While local, gluten-free and organic products still ruled the 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York this week, plant-based protein alternatives and items with CBD added are coming on strong. Which of the new food trends is currently having the greatest impact on the retail shelf?
In what some reports defined as the e-commerce giant’s launch of BOPIS, Amazon.com last week formally introduced Counter, which allows its customers to pick up packages at third-party retail locations. Does Amazon need a personnel-assisted Counter option at stores in addition to Lockers?
Rent the Runway, the apparel rental subscription service, has installed four drop boxes at Nordstrom locations in Los Angeles. More are planned. Does the move to add Rent The Runway drop-off points inside Nordstrom represent a win-win for both companies?
Researchers have created a mobile sensing system that they claim distinguishes high performers and low performers in the workplace with 80 percent accuracy. Do you see employees and employers both benefiting from mobile sensing technology that offers insights into worker productivity?
Amazon.com has teamed up with model, influencer and second-year college student Ava Phillippe to support the second year of its Off-to-College store. What do you think of using influencers as spokespersons and curators of online style guides in categories such as fashion and home?
Not every digital brand is a guaranteed hit on Amazon.com, but mattress startup Tuft & Needle hit its stride using the platform. What calculations do you think brands should undertake before deciding to sell on Amazon or other third-party marketplaces?
