When I first started investing in DTC startups over five years ago, most were following the classic DTC playbook – once they developed their product, they would add social content, get SEO right through blog content and site design, collect emails and… Continue Reading
What is retail today? After all the dire warnings of the “retail apocalypse,” store closings, zombie malls and retail bankruptcies, “retail” is a loaded term. But in reality, retail is changing – and the definition of the very word “retail”… Continue Reading
I’ve been an angel investor now for about a year and a half. And since I primarily focus on fashion tech and retail, I tend to see a lot of startups that are attacking the next big thing in commerce,… Continue Reading
There’s a new look for spring and it’s a hybrid of fashion and activewear (sporty fashion? fashionable activewear?) and it is officially everywhere. It started with sporty looks all over the runways for Spring Fashion Week, continued with active/fashion hybrid… Continue Reading
Remember the good old days when store windows were a primary marketing vehicle and traffic driver? Store windows included mannequins, props, signage, visual imagery – all to create a lifestyle brand feel, and transport the shopper into the world of… Continue Reading
A few years ago, experiential retailing was touted as the answer for bricks and mortar stores to compete with online retailers. Some high profile examples like Terrain (the garden/café/store concept owned by Urban Outfitters), Metropark (a clothing chain with DJs… Continue Reading
Every year around this time, retailers announce store closures – many of which are mall-based. This year is no different, with mall-based retail chains including Abercrombie & Fitch, Sears, Macy’s and JC Penney announcing store closings – on top of… Continue Reading
Do you remember the days that teens used to come to the mall not only on weekends, but after school? It’s hard to believe but true – up until about 2008, American teens regularly came to the mall, armed with… Continue Reading
You’ve seen the stats – the 2013 holiday season showed 12% growth in e-commerce and a slowdown of 15% in mall foot traffic. Put them together and the answer is obvious. E-commerce wins and stores and malls everywhere die a… Continue Reading