by stevenpdennis | Jul 13, 2020 | Innovation, Retail
During the COVID-19 crisis we are experiencing tremendous innovation and experimentation on the part of just about every retailer. From curbside pick-up (and other forms of “contact-less” delivery), to appointment shopping, to the overall hyper-growth of e-commerce,...
by stevenpdennis | Jun 16, 2020 | A Really Bad Time to Be Boring, Disruption, Innovation, Retail
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 4 (“The Collapse of the Middle”) of my new book. Last week, nearly a year later, I went back to the mall that is referenced below. Sadly, nothing has changed. I guess the Austin area is immune from the forces of...
by stevenpdennis | May 14, 2020 | COVID-19, Luxury, Retail
As a former senior executive at the Neiman Marcus Group (though gone for more than a decade now) it certainly filled me with sadness when I heard that the iconic luxury retailer filed for bankruptcy. Though, as I wrote about nearly a year ago, this news is hardly...
by stevenpdennis | May 7, 2020 | COVID-19, Leadership, Retail
Across the United States—and in many hard hit international markets—so called non-essential retail is beginning to reopen. While the precise timing and specific methods of operation vary by geography, the theoretical ability of consumers to traffic physical stores...
by stevenpdennis | Jan 14, 2020 | E-commerce, Retail
Late last month, Wayfair, the leading online-only furniture brand, reported dramatic sales growth and yet year-over-year profits fell significantly. Unsurprisingly the stock took a steep hit. In its most recent earnings announcement, Stitch Fix, the online styling...
by stevenpdennis | Jan 14, 2020 | Embrace the Blur, Frictionless Commerce, Retail
Of course the obvious answer is “well, that depends.” As the intersection of economic feasibility and consumers’ willingness to adopt new technology hit a tipping point, for retailers that had invested big bucks in the brick-and-mortar distribution of music, books and...
