by stevenpdennis | Apr 29, 2022 | E-commerce, Embrace the Blur, Harmonized Retail
One of the most pervasive retail industry narratives is the belief that online shopping growth was massively accelerated by the pandemic. Set your WABAC Machine to the spring of 2020 and you’ll find scores of references to how we experienced “10 years of growth in...
by stevenpdennis | Jan 19, 2022 | Being Remarkable, Embrace the Blur, Hybridization
Q. What’s the difference between a retail futurist and God? A. God doesn’t think he’s a retail futurist. I have never really thought of myself as a futurist. And the idea that anyone has the gift of prophecy when it comes to the dynamic world of...
by stevenpdennis | Jul 6, 2021 | Embrace the Blur, Harmonized Retail, Hybridization
As I finished writing the second edition of my new book late last year, the predominant retail narrative was the so-called great acceleration of all things e-commerce. More recently, ebullient stories portend the resurrection of the mall and suggest that department...
by stevenpdennis | Feb 8, 2021 | Collapse of the Middle, Digitally Native Vertical Brand, Embrace the Blur
With so much uncertainty and volatility in the economy, it may be foolhardy to go out on a limb with any predictions. My crystal ball has certainly been faulty more than a few times. Nevertheless, I throw caution to the wind with my (mostly) educated guesses on what...
by stevenpdennis | Feb 1, 2021 | E-commerce, Embrace the Blur, Harmonized Retail, Uncategorized
The reports that Hudson’s Bay Co. is planning to split its online and brick-and-mortar operations into two companies, and then take Saks.com public, immediately strikes me as one of the dumbest strategic decisions I have heard in a long, long time. If we have learned...
by stevenpdennis | Aug 4, 2020 | Being Remarkable, Embrace the Blur, Harmonized Retail
Despite the relentlessly bleak news of sales declines, store closings and retail bankruptcies, Tractor Supply Company not only reported strong quarterly sales but announced plans to open 75 to 80 new brick-and-mortar locations. While clearly benefitting from some...
