The second annual ShopTalk Fall conference took place last week here in Chicago, and for the second year running McMillanDoolittle was proud to partner with ShopTalk to host Shopwalk retail study tours. Back by popular demand, Shopwalks expanded from two tours last year to six…
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…
Americans and visitors to the U.S.A. love a road trip. This summer, 84% of Americans plan to take a road trip with “micro-trips”, shorter 4-5 day trips, growing in popularity. Buc-ee’s, featured in our 2025 Retail Innovations, targets these road-trippers. Part of the fun of…
As the retail landscape continues to shift, Chicago’s shopping malls are evolving to stay relevant in an increasingly omnichannel world. McMillanDoolittle Director Amanda Lai joined NPR’s Chicago affiliate, WBEZ, on Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons for a recent segment exploring why some Chicago shopping centers are…
As food prices continue to rise, shoppers in Chicago are feeling the squeeze. McMillanDoolittle Director Amanda Lai joined NPR’s Chicago affiliate, WBEZ, on Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons for a recent segment exploring how consumers are adapting to grocery inflation and what it means for the…
When it comes to delivering the right products to the right customers, few companies are as consistently successful as Costco and Lululemon. While they operate in different retail universes—Costco as a membership-based warehouse club and Lululemon as a premium athletic apparel brand—both have built powerful…
The CommerceNext Growth Summit is an annual NYC gathering of the digital retail community. It has always been a fantastic gathering of digital leaders and this year was no exception. As always, we are looking for two types of insights and takeaways from a trendsetting…
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…
With discretionary spending under pressure, capturing consumer attention, and their wallets, is becoming increasing challenging and essential. Retailers tapping into innovation are creating must-visit experiences and must-purchase products, especially for younger generations seeking discovery and relevance (see our recent Gen Alpha research). “Newness” has become…
As Chicago-based retail consultants, we closely monitor store openings across the city, especially when brands make their Chicago debut. Which neighborhood do they choose as their first home? Are they poised to connect with the Chicago customer? In this blog, we spotlight recent arrivals to…
