The Big Picture The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point last week in an effort to inject energy into the housing market and the broader economy. The

For many apparel retailers, sales numbers are only half the story. The other half is the cost of returns. While returns are part of doing business in fashion, especially with

The Big Picture Shoppers kept the momentum going in July. Retail sales rose 0.5%, building on a strong June (revised upward to 0.8%). Travel, summer events, and early tariff-driven buying

The recent ups and downs of the trade and financial markets are enough to make any merchant’s head spin. But when we look closely, the real performance drivers we’re seeing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool for tech giants or global brands. Today’s AI-powered platforms are increasingly accessible—and affordable—for small, independent retailers. AI can help improve the

The Big Picture In the broader market, shoppers took a cautious step back last month as economic pressures continued to build. Retail sales dropped 0.9% in May, following a modest

In today’s hyper-competitive retail environment, profits don’t just come from driving more sales—they come from making smarter decisions at every level of the business. Yet even well-run retailers miss profit

The Big Picture: Warning Signs Sure, the stock market may have shaken off the tariff noise for now—but don’t let that fool you into thinking everything’s smooth sailing. Behind the

Women’s Wear sales were about even through the first quarter of the year, but we’ve recently seen a sales uptick in some of our client stores, driven by special events

The Big Picture The U.S. economy continues to show signs of strength—March’s jobs report surprised to the upside, with 228,000 new jobs added. That’s a clear signal: despite the headlines,