Wabi-sabi
Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic concept that finds beauty in imperfection and the universe’s natural cycle of growth, decay, and death.
Practicing wabi-sabi means eschewing the unnecessary, getting rid of the clutter, and valuing authenticity above all else. Wabi-sabi requires us to accept the reality that nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect. We must not only believe that this is okay, but come to see the great power in the practice. Embracing this concept is critical to fueling our sustained commitment to innovation.
A culture of experimentation means we become more radical in our approach. We take more chances, we fight the tyranny of perfection.We try a bunch of stuff, it fails, we try some more. Rinse and repeat.
It’s an especially bad time to be boring. It’s also a terrible time to be complacent, to savor the glory days, or to rest on our laurels. Even though it’s easy and seems safe, we can’t coast. If we are serious about innovation, the choices are pretty clear.
Are we wired to say no or to say yes?
Are we riding the brake or stepping on the gas?
Are we more worried about failure or regret?
My book Remarkable Retail was recently named the best retail book of all time by BookAuthority.
We’ve now released 9 episodes of Season 1 of the Remarkable Retail podcast. Please listen, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast platform.
My 2024 Retail Predictions: A Reckoning
For the last several years, I've made a list of annual predictions for the retail industry, which I share here, on Forbes, and on my podcast. And then, in what can sometimes amount to an act of self-flagellation, I take account of how I did. So without further ado,...
Shift Happens
I grew up in the outlying suburbs of New York City in the 1960s and ’70s. Like other middle-class kids from the area, I spent many a weekend being dragged around by my mother to go shopping at stores like Abraham & Strauss, Caldor, and Bamberger’s. On family road...
Luxury Hits the Wall. What’s Going On and What’s Next?
Recent earnings reports from the world’s top luxury players have largely brought bad news. Moreover, a fair amount of uncertainty and chaos has been in the air all year as money-losing online-only players like Farfetch and YNAP have run into the arms of new corporate...
"The Store Operations Council enjoyed every minute of Steve Dennis's presentation on retail's future. He always keeps it real and speaks the language of retail experts."
Cathy Hotka
Principal
Cathy Hotka & Associates
"The Store Operations Council enjoyed every minute of Steve Dennis's presentation on retail's future. He always keeps it real and speaks the language of retail experts."
Cathy Hotka
Principal
Cathy Hotka & Associates
