UNIQLO introduced its very first pop-up store specializing in secondhand items in Harajuku, Tokyo, last October. How can UNIQLO’s pioneering approach to secondhand clothing sales influence broader sustainability initiatives within the retail industry?

Victoria’s Secret & Co. last week said it was launching “The VS & PINK Collective,” a pilot of its first loyalty program that gives Victoria’s Secret and Pink customers an opportunity to share rewards. Will the VS & Pink Collective rewards program be successful in driving incremental sales for the two Victoria’s Secret & Co. brands?

In a win for hype over design experience, Louis Vuitton last week placed 13-time Grammy-award winner Pharrell Williams in charge of its menswear line. Is the appointment of Pharrell Williams as men’s creative director more of a positive or negative for Louis Vuitton?

American Dream, the mega entertainment and retail complex in East Rutherford, NJ, announced plans to open The Address, billed as “the world’s first modest fashion department store.” Do you see modest fashion expanding into the mainstream or remaining a niche opportunity?

Gap has formed a partnership with Ware2Go, a UPS-owned digital platform that matches merchants with on-demand available warehouse space and fulfillment services. Do you see more benefits than risks for smaller brands and retailers in outsourcing logistics and fulfillment to Gap and other retailers?

Pacsun last week announced that Brie Olson, president and a member of the retailer’s board of directors, will be appointed co-CEO, effective March 9, replacing Alfred Chang, who is stepping down. Do you see the Pacsun co-CEO leadership model as something that has uniquely worked for the company or an example for other retailers looking to improve their performance?

A new study from Bain & Co. concludes that, while luxury spending‘s growth is expected to slow in 2023 following two gangbuster recovery years, the sector has become “more resilient to recession.” Do you agree that the luxury goods sector has become less susceptible to the impact of downturns?

Rent the Runway reached an agreement to sell its “Pre-Loved” luxury merchandise on Amazon.com, marking another major partnership for Rent the Runway and a big step into the resale market for Amazon. Does Rent The Runway or Amazon score a bigger win with their resale collaboration?

Those Netflix subscribers with a New Year’s resolution to get in shape can now pursue their fitness goals using exclusive content from one of the biggest names in athletics. Nike has partnered with Netflix on an initiative called the Nike Training Club. What value will Nike derive from its content relationship with Netflix?

Amy Hauk is stepping down as CEO of Victoria’s Secret on March 31 after having just been named to lead the lingerie giant in July. Do you expect that Amy Hauk’s planned departure will have an effect on the Victoria’s Secret or PINK businesses?

In a surprise move, Under Armour last week named Stephanie Linnartz, the current president of Marriott International, as its third CEO. What do you think of the hiring of Stephanie Linnartz to guide Under Armour’s next phase of growth?

Express is one of many apparel brands struggling to find new relevance without the draw they once enjoyed during the heyday of the shopping mall. Now the brand is entering into a partnership with a company known for its work recently reviving another iconic retailer. What will it take to reinvigorate Express?

Retail’s long-struggling “mushy middle,” consisting of mid-price retailers without a strong value proposition and brand identity, has taken a bigger holiday hit than more strongly differentiated retailers, according to one retail expert. Do you see selling discounted packaway merchandise significantly damaging chains in the “mushy middle” of retailing?

Hat retailer Lids has launched a new store concept called Lids Hat Drop, which will focus on giving customers access to exclusive new products on a weekly basis. Do you see similar concepts to Lids Hat Drop being operated successfully in other areas of retail?

Forever 21 last week said that it was celebrating its one-year “meta-versary” by launching a fashion collection inspired by its experience operating in the metaverse. Do you see gaming platforms like Roblox as the logical entry points for retailers looking to test the metaverse waters?

Major off-pricers have raised their full-year outlooks, confident in their ability to reposition their mix for an increasingly promotional environment. Apparel resale marketplace thredUP, however, reduced its outlook due to the competition from traditional retailers. Do you see the heightened promotional environment being risky for off-pricers and those in the resale market?

Founded by Romney Evans, True Fit’s co-founder, a new shopping platform, Shoptrue, launched in beta last week with a goal of blending “human inspiration” and data science to build a “one stop personal shop, curated for you and by you.” What do you think of Shoptrue’s personalized recommendation platform that combines AI-driven algorithms with shopper and tastemaker input?

A university study concludes targeting serial returners is the smarter path to reducing return costs because targeting regular shoppers with stricter return policies will likely backfire. Does it make more sense to crack down on serial returners than tighten restrictions on general consumers?

Described as a “nightmare before Christmas” by The Wall Street Journal, Macy’s and Kohl’s saw an unexpected sales slowdown in October and early November, leaving questions about whether holiday gifting is being delayed or cut back in a hyper-inflationary period. How worrisome should the late holiday purchasing trend be for department stores?

H&M has opened a smaller boutique concept in the hip Williamsburg section of Brooklyn featuring a rotating mix of “most fashionable styles” and continually evolving activations with an emphasis on “paying homage to the iconic neighborhood.” What should define success for the H&M Williamsburg concept?

While surveys show that sustainability is important to consumers, a new study suggests that championing durability will likely do better in connecting consumers’ needs with the needs of the planet. Is sustainability messaging overhyped as a purchase driver?

Gap is for sale on Amazon.com. Gap made “thousands” of its items available last week at Amazon.com/Gap with the promise of “fast, free Prime delivery.” Does the Gap or Amazon gain more from their new selling partnership?

With inflation top of mind for many, surveys show consumers are more eager to buy secondhand items as holiday gifts this year to save money. Are the drivers behind gifting resale items this holiday different from past years?

Retailers are shortening their returns windows and even charging return fees to mitigate rising costs. Are free return policies becoming too costly?

Victoria’s Secret & Co. (VS&Co.) has agreed to buy Adore Me, the digital-first intimates brands, for $400 million. The acquisition is expected to provide a technology boost, a new growth vehicle and perhaps some goodwill.  Is the Adore Me acquisition a good fit for Victoria’s Secret & Co.?

Facing a heightened promotional environment amid elevated inventories in the marketplace, VF Corp. has rejiggered its near-term plans to drive higher revenue and profit in the second half of its fiscal year ending March 2023. What do you think is key to preserving profitability in an environment marked by elevated promotions and inventories?

Shein is moving closer to launching its first permanent brick and mortar store in Tokyo. The store, which measures about 2,163 square feet over two stories, will open November 13 in the city’s Harajuku fashion district. How likely is Shein to open showroom stores in the U.S. similar to the one it is opening in Tokyo?

Abercrombie & Fitch customers can now place orders online and pick their purchases up at  Walgreens. (Walgreens?) Is a suite of fulfillment options like those offered by Abercrombie & Fitch important for retailers operating either standalone or mall-based stores?

Adidas yesterday ended its partnership with Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, following a series of antisemitic remarks he has made recently in multiple forums. Will the Adidas brand be negatively affected by what some saw as a a slow response to Ye’s antisemitic comments?

Walmart has grown its Secret Treasures private label into a $1 billion business that has the largest customer base of any brand in the women’s intimates and sleepwear market. But that isn’t stopping the retailer from replacing the brand. Does the decision to end the Secret Treasures line suggest that it lacked brand equity even among the consumers who purchased it?

According to a new survey, the Lululemon reached the number two favorite apparel brand spot behind Nike, moving ahead of American Eagle Outfitters, Pacific Sunwear and Adidas. Should Lululemon adjust its marketing strategy to capitalize on its newfound popularity with teens?

After finding success over the last several years selling holiday-themed family pajama sets for Halloween, Christmas and Easter, The Children’s Place has launched PJ Place, a sleepwear lifestyle brand. Are pajamas a big enough opportunity for The Children’s Place to build a lifestyle brand around?

Fast-fashion giant Shein is the most downloaded retail app in the U.S. despite operating a business model that critics claim is helping to push the Earth towards environmental calamity. Will Shein’s new resale platform mute its critics?

Walmart has been public about supporting American manufacturing wherever it makes business sense and that commitment was reinforced last week at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new factory in Santa Ana, CA, that will cut and sew apparel exclusively for the retailer. Does “made in the USA” messaging hold more sway with American consumers today than it did 10 years ago?

Victoria’s Secret’s new campaign, “Undefinable,” builds on last year’s rebrand and marks a further step from its controversial 2014 campaign, “The Perfect Body.” What further steps might be necessary for Victoria’s Secret to overcome its heritage and embrace inclusivity and female empowerment?

Fast Retailing, mother company of Uniqlo, is bringing the fast fashion retailer’s faster, cheaper sibling brand to the U.S. with a new store in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood. Will negative sentiment surrounding fast fashion impact how the GU brand is received in the U.S.?

Hollister yesterday introduced Share2Pay, which allows customers (primarily teenagers) to shop for the items they want and then share their digital cart with their mom, dad or some other adult who will pay for the purchase. Will Hollister’s Share2Pay be well received by its teenage customers and their parents?

A new recommerce venture offers all of the benefits of buying second hand plus a means to help fund social service programs in local communities, such as job training and youth mentorship. Do you see retailers trying to raise the visibility of their secondhand offerings in light of rising prices?

At its first Investor Day in its 84-year history, Columbia Sportswear announced plans to ”double down” on wholesale growth even as numerous other active lifestyle brands emphasize direct-to-consumer initiatives. Does Columbia Sportswear’s focus on wholesale brick and mortar relationships vs. owned brick and mortar make sense?

Nike said sales climbed 10 percent on a currency-neutral basis in the first quarter ended August 30 on strong demand but warned that aggressive markdowns required to clear apparel inventories would drive down gross margins for its fiscal year. Did Nike make the right move in ramping up promotions to realign inventories instead of seeking to soften the margin hit?

Lululemon athletica on Wednesday unveiled an expansion of its Studio Mirror subscription plan that combines the company’s wall-mounted remote fitness technology with in-person experiences, early access to events and merchandise discounts. Will the lululemon Studio program become the go-to destination for a large percentage of the retailer’s customers?

As secondhand retail draws more of a mainstream audience, the number of places online where a shopper can find gently used apparel is proliferating. Now a new startup aims to let customers search all of those clothing resellers at once. Do you see shopping aggregators as a positive, negative or neutral development for sites selling secondhand apparel?

At Ralph Lauren Corporation’s Investor Day, CEO Patrice Louvet claimed that a four-year transformation has elevated the brand’s status, product and go-to-market strategy to serve as a foundation for accelerated growth.  What’s been the key to Ralph Lauren’s turnaround and how should it be looking to further capitalize on the progress?

Gap Inc. is cutting 500 corporate jobs as it continues to search for a permanent CEO and it seeks to come up with answers to buoy its top and bottom lines following a second quarter that saw it report a 10 percent decline in comp sales and a net loss of $49 million. What do you see as Gap Inc.’s current strengths and weaknesses?

Walmart says it is leveling up its virtual try-on technology in an effort to put its customers in clothing that fits their bodies right off the rack. Will Walmart’s upgraded try-on technology inspire shoppers to purchase more clothing?

Lands’ End earlier this week said it had concluded its search for a new CEO with the hiring of American Eagle Outfitters president, international, Andrew McLean, who won’t take over as CEO until the end of the company’s fiscal year, January 27, 2023. What do you see as the pros and cons of CEO succession plans that ease new leaders into their roles?

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Bonobos enabled associates to handle customer chats beginning as a pilot in 2019 on an employee’s suggestion and they now do so at all of its 62 stores. Do you see more pros than cons in having in-store associates handle some customer service chat queries?

Lululemon raised its outlook for the year after reporting second-quarter results that came in well above expectations. The stellar performance came despite concerns over promotions across the apparel space and a slowdown in the athleisure category. What’s driving the recent outperformance by Lululemon?

Urban Outfitters, Inc. can’t wait for its Nuuly business to really take off. The retail clothing chain operator will soon go live with Nuuly Thrift, a peer-to-peer resale marketplace. How do you see the combination of Nuuly Rent and Thrift fitting into Urban Outfitter’s portfolio of retail businesses?

Gap, Express and Kohl’s are among the retailers getting ready to employ packaway sales to reduce the markdown blow of last holiday’s late deliveries. Has packaway become a more standard and less risky practice for full-price retailers looking to maximize inventory clearance?