Retailers often return from market energized. They are full of ideas, inspiration, and a clear vision for the season ahead. Fall assortments, in particular, tend to spark excitement. Rich textures,

The Big Picture The latest economic headlines paint a mixed picture. The job market appears to be tightening, GDP growth is cooling, and inflation continues to inch upward. And yet…

Headlines change, tariff percentages change, and political winds change, but your planning discipline shouldn’t. Retailers get into trouble when they try to predict what will happen instead of preparing for

The Big Picture Inflation cooled last month, and the job market picked up steam. But there’s a catch: 2025 job growth was revised sharply downward — from 584,000 new jobs

Inventory planning breaks down when retailers plan for products instead of planning for people. Customer profiles can help fix that. When retailers understand who buys from them, how those customers

The Big Picture Retail closed out the holiday season on a strong note. Overall sales jumped 1.2% month-over-month and finished 3.5% higher than last year. According to the National Retail

For independent apparel retailers, the difference between a strong year and a stressful one often comes down to planning. Too many promotions are created at the last minute, driven by

The Big Picture The latest government data tells a cautiously optimistic story. Third-quarter GDP came in at a strong 4.3%, well above expectations. Consumer spending was a major driver. Holiday

A major shift is happening in how people shop online. Consumers are increasingly turning to ChatGPT as a shopping assistant by asking for recommendations, comparing products, and even completing purchases

The Big Picture With the government shutdown finally behind us, economists are sorting through the fog of delayed data and the picture is mixed. Unemployment ticked up from 4.3% to