A Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study published in mid-October estimates that the financial costs of the COVID-19 pandemic will be more than $16 trillion. However, the true costs of the COVID pandemic may be more insidious. For example, it has become clear that the pandemic has disproportionately impacted working mothers — left...
We’re thrilled to introduce a new feature to Inner Circle, From Our Community. We will use this space each week to highlight various events, business launches, retail partnerships, charitable initiatives, and more, all sent to us by the readers of Inner Circle as well as the members of the Women in Retail Leadership Circle community....
Given the the current state of affairs, Thanksgiving 2020 isn’t feeling very much like Thanksgiving at all. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not a good time to take a moment to think of everything we’re thankful for in our lives. In that spirit, I’d love to take a moment to thank all of the wonderful...
Global warming is arguably one of the most pressing problems our country and world faces today. In a panel discussion during the Women in Retail Leadership Days event last month, Diana Kapp, author of “Girls Who Run the World,” sat down with four pioneering women who are at the cutting edge of bringing sustainability to...
Retail has changed significantly in recent years, adapting to — and in some cases driving — consumer preferences for convenience, product knowledge and speed of acquisition. And now the industry has experienced even more changes, this time suddenly and quite unexpectedly necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which will likely stick longer term. So,...
The November installment of our Women in Retail and Total Retail Virtual Exchange is going live in just a few hours (see the schedule below). As I’ve mentioned before, the monthly Virtual Exchanges feature in-depth, one-to-one interviews with leading retail executives on a wide variety of topics. The conversations touch on timely and relevant issues...
The most recent Jobs Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed another improvement in retail trade, with the addition of 104,000 jobs in October and notable increases in clothing, accessories and general merchandise stores. This is encouraging news for an industry hit hard by the pandemic. Still, as retailers look to rehire staff...
Next week is our November Virtual Exchange! We’re excited to be hosting some of the retail industry’s leading executives for in-depth, one-to-one interviews. The conversations will cover a variety of timely and relevant topics in this rapidly evolving retail environment. We have a great lineup of speakers for you this month. Check it out: Ellen...
The first, and most important, rule of marketing for the holiday shopping season is this: start early. And this year is no exception. With financial constraints, logistical challenges, and product shortages threatening retailers, time is of the essence. Throw in the fact that consumer sentiments are rapidly shifting this year, with many remaining anxious and...
I love that right after celebrating his 71st birthday and in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, Bruce Springsteen released a brand new album, Letter to You. That’s after a few other highly productive years back-to-back: Writing a 528-page autobiography, creating films, cutting other albums, playing worldwide tours, and doing a 236-show run on Broadway....
