Articles
Articles
Consumers
Articles
The Roar of the Crowd
The last 20 years in retail have been marked by increasingly sophisticated technology. Take crowdsourcing: it evolved from asking consumers which pattern to stick on a T-shirt to becoming an…
Retail/Brands
Articles
Going Local
At retail, brands have historically been built on consistent experiences across all locations. But some retailers are playing with this technique, tweaking both the design details and the product mix…
Retail/Brands
Articles
Coded Response
The funky black and white squares posted in store windows may look like optical illusions to some, but are gateways to customized shopping for those who recognize a QR code.…
Supply Chain
Articles
August 2013 Executive Cotton Update
Macroeconomic Overview: The U.S. economy was estimated to have expanded at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.7% in the second quarter. This latest set of GDP figures included a series…
Consumers
Articles
Bait & Switch
Scrambling to keep costs low in the face of historic cotton price highs several years ago, retailers and manufacturers began swapping out cotton for synthetics. And while cotton prices have…
Consumers
Articles
Getting Intimate
Today’s intimates are so varied in color, style, sexiness and fun they bear almost no resemblance to underthings of even the recent past. But one thing has not changed: how…
Retail/Brands
Articles
Reading, Writing & Retailing
The school year may have only just ended, but retailers already have their eye on the second-biggest season of the year: Back-to-School. And while stores will wait to exhale until…
Retail/Brands
Articles
The Experiential Shopper
From malls with indoor water parks to boutiques proffering plush sofas and cocktails, stores are working harder to make shopping more inviting for today’s time-pressed, distracted shopper – all in…
Supply Chain
Articles
July 2013 Executive Cotton Update
Macroeconomic Overview: Economic indicators suggest the U.S. remains on track for moderate growth in coming months. Comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, which hinted the withdrawal of monetary stimulus…
Consumers
Articles
Actively Multi-Tasking
Exercise enthusiasts have long embraced activewear that does double duty beyond a workout. And thanks to more novel crossover pieces, such as a skirted capri or UPF 50 climbing pants,…