Opinion: Page 2

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders


If you are interested in having your voice heard on Retail Dive's Opinion page, please read our editorial guidelines and fill out the submission form here.

  • A Supreme logo
    Image attribution tooltip
    "Supreme Shibuya" by Michael Casim is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    How the youth brand Supreme became a modern-day meme

    The streetwear brand has shifted from conventional notions of what a brand should be, and others should take note, write Temple University's Jay Sinha and Kunal Duggal.

    Jay Sinha and Kunal Duggal • March 18, 2020
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Brain Corp
    Image attribution tooltip

    5 predictions for the future of retail

    Emerging technologies continue to drive digital disruption and customer experience is fast becoming the new currency, writes Gartner's Robert Hetu.

    Robert Hetu • Jan. 9, 2020
  • 'Tis the season to return things. But it doesn't have to be

    E-commerce product returns have a harmful impact on the environment and business margins. ThreeKit President Joachim Klein asks why retailers aren't trying harder to prevent them.

    Joachim Klein • Jan. 3, 2020
  • A 2020 guide to smart discounting

    Polly Wong, managing partner at Belardi Wong, offers tips for crafting customer offers while avoiding discount fatigue and harm to the bottom line.

    Polly Wong • Dec. 23, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash
    Image attribution tooltip

    Compliance tips for exporting to Mexico

    Retailers in the NAFTA region have benefited from the agreement for decades, but rules of origin and audits complicate compliance, writes Foley & Lardner's Marcos Carrasco-Menchaca. 

    Marcos Carrasco-Menchaca • Nov. 8, 2019
  • 5 reasons catalogs are making a comeback with DTC brands

    DTC brands are turning to catalogs to play a vital role in their growth beyond Facebook and Instagram, writes Measured's Trevor Testwuide.

    Trevor Testwuide • Nov. 6, 2019
  • How the $160B gift card market can catch up to the modern age of retail

    Retailers risk losing revenue and customers unless they upgrade the gift card experience, writes Loop Commerce CEO and co-founder Roy Erez.

    Roy Erez • Oct. 25, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    rawpixel via Pexels
    Image attribution tooltip

    The 5 biggest DTC trends of 2019

    The shift to direct to consumer isn't expected to slow anytime soon, writes Innovation Department founder Alex Song.

    Alex Song • Oct. 10, 2019
  • Black Friday: Influencer marketing tips to add to your shopping list

    Work early, partner with influencers you trust and focus on the right kind of content, Magda Houalla, head of brand strategy at AspireIQ, writes.

    Magda Houalla • Oct. 2, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Farmstead
    Image attribution tooltip

    There's a farm in my grocery store: The new rules of retail engagement

    All retailers are in a very tight spot right now — grocery stores offer many obvious proof points, writes The Hershey Experience's Suzanne Jones.

    Suzanne Jones • Sept. 19, 2019
  • Balancing 'safe' and 'welcoming' in the era of mass shootings

    Being prepared today can save lives — as well as significant business costs — tomorrow, writes Vice President of Pinkerton, Jason Porter. 

    Jason Porter • Sept. 12, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    From traditionalists to Gen Z: Managing a multigenerational retail workforce

    It can be difficult for retail managers to navigate the societal and generational differences in today's labor force, writes Fisher Phillips' Lauren C. Tompkins.

    Lauren C. Tompkins • Sept. 5, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Alamo Architects
    Image attribution tooltip

    How shopping centers can use design to build a better experience

    Successful retail centers offer entertainment, shopping and dining, and a sense of authentic placemaking, writes Alamo Architects' Billy Lawrence.

    Billy Lawrence • Aug. 15, 2019
  • Why retailers need to revisit their real estate strategies

    The longstanding formula for ramping up real estate needs an update, write A&G Realty Partners' Peter Lynch and Jon Graub.

    Jon Graub and Peter Lynch • Aug. 8, 2019
  • Independent toy stores are using experiences to attract customers

    Local retailers are stepping up to shape the toy industry, writes Kimberly Mosley, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association. 

    Kimberly Mosley • Aug. 1, 2019
  • Big tech's hidden DNA hates competition

    While the internet gives us much to celebrate, disturbing trends that erode free-market competition are emerging, writes RILA's Brian Dodge.

    Brian Dodge • July 30, 2019
  • The apparel industry has to get faster, leaner and meaner

    Results in the sector have been pretty dismal, and retailers need to shake things up, writes RSR Research's Paula Rosenblum.

    Paula Rosenblum • July 25, 2019
  • Why M&A deal values dropped so dramatically in 2018

    Legacy players are under attack, and incumbents are starting to reexamine portfolios, write A.T. Kearney's Bahige El-Rayes and Alexandre Terseleer.

    Bahige El-Rayes and Alexandre Terseleer • July 18, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Bob Phibbs
    Image attribution tooltip

    Shopping with Bob: RH Gallery in the New York City Meatpacking District

    The five-story showroom blurs the lines between restaurant and retail, writes Bob Phibbs.

    Bob Phibbs • July 11, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Zackary Drucker for The Gender Spectrum Collection
    Image attribution tooltip

    An inclusive customer experience for non-binary people is necessary

    The total spending power of the global LGBTQ+ community is akin to the GDP of the fourth-largest country in the world, writes A.T. Kearney's Bachul Koul.

    Bachul Koul • July 10, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Getty
    Image attribution tooltip

    Is experiential retail the antidote for outdoor retailers?

    Outdoor specialty companies looking to stave off sector declines have taken notice of the experiential retail trend, writes Perkins Coie's Andrew Grant.

    Andrew Grant • June 20, 2019
  • Bringing stores into the 21st century

    The old prototype store model is obsolete and fails to accommodate the new reality of retail, ruled by personalized experiences, local flavor and nuance, writes WD Partners' Elaine Kleinschmidt.

    Elaine Kleinschmidt • June 13, 2019
  • Why the ads retailers don't send are just as important as the ads they do

    Suppressing selected customers from media activation is not a lofty ask. It's a strategy that retailers should employ more often, writes Signal's Jason Ankeny.

    Jason Ankeny • June 6, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How small businesses can keep up with high retail demand

    Keeping up in today's world of instant consumer gratification can be tougher than ever before, writes Dun & Bradstreet's Amber Colley.

    Amber Colley • May 7, 2019
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Brooke Lark via Unsplash
    Image attribution tooltip

    It’s about trust: Why Google, Instagram and Facebook want you to smile for the camera

    Retailers and brands should be using pictures to capture sales and increase conversion, writes Performics' Burcu Agma.

    Burcu Agma • May 2, 2019