I lived in Tokyo in my 20s, and relish every moment on a return trip – personally and professionally to study retail as part of our bi-annual EbeltoftGroup partners’ meetings. Observations over 3 days of touring this great retail city brings a familiar Japanese-tension between…
Across categories and geographies, leading brands are transforming physical spaces into dynamic environments that spark emotion, build community, and reignite the unique power of brick-and-mortar. Retail Innovations 2026 illustrates 16 brands and retailers prioritizing experience and competing on reasons to visit. For this week’s #ThemeThursday…
For our second Retail Innovations trend of 2026, we are exploring Easy Journeys, effortless shopping experiences. “Easy” used to mean convenient. Today, it means intuitive, confidence-building, and frictionless at every touchpoint. Download your free copy of Retail Innovations Modern shoppers compare every experience to the…
As we review new retail concepts across markets, categories and cultures, one of the themes that emerges shaping global retail innovation today is A Better World. Retailers are advancing purposeful progress by weaving circularity, responsibility, and community impact into the heart of their businesses. Sustainability…
Three Forces Reshaping Retail: A Better World, Engaging Destinations and Easy Journeys Retail has always been an exciting—and demanding—business. Successful retailers must stay relentlessly focused on consumers who now have more choices than ever over where, when, and how they shop. With agentic AI accelerating…
Another NRF Big Show behind us. The annual “biggest retail gathering in the world” continues to evolve and grow – as many as 5 full days depending on when you start your Big Show experience. McMillanDoolittle and Ebeltoft Group were well represented among the 30,000+…
This year marks the 5th publication of our annual guide tracking trending product categories and hot brands to keep an eye on. Our team has identified 60 brands with items for a variety of ages and budgets that you should know. So whether you’re looking…
As summer comes to a close, back-to-school and back-to-college season are a make-or-break moment for retailers and brands, not only to capture sales but to cultivate loyalty and build momentum heading into the holidays. Back-to-school is a pivotal season for retailers, when families establish shopping…
Collectible products capture the hearts and minds of consumers. There is always that “hot item” or brand that is a must have – remember Cabbage Patch Dolls, Beanie Babies, Hello Kitty, Pokémon Cards and more recently Stanley Tumblers? In this world of modern retail and…
Global Executives’ Perspective on the 2025 Retail Landscape Announcing the release of the third edition of our Global Executive Research Whitepaper Our latest global publication, co-published by our international Ebeltoft alliance and the World Retail Congress, captures the year’s unique retail challenges and opportunities from…
