strategy Archives - McMillanDoolittle

a vending machine and the interior of a store

May 18, 2026 In Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Anthropic AI Merchant and Andon Labs AI Store Manager: Too Early, or Just a Bad Idea?

Two seminal news organizations recently published their perspectives on retail pilots that utilize AI for either Merchandising (WSJ: Anthropic) and/or Store Operations (Bloomberg: Andon Labs). Both write-ups appropriately recorded the mixed business outcomes from these pilots: a money losing vendor machine that gave away product…

January 29, 2026 In Grocery

Why Amazon Is Refocusing Its Grocery Strategy

Amazon’s announcement that it will close all its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores may sound, at first glance, like a retreat from grocery. More broadly, it’s perhaps better understood as a strategic refocus toward where Amazon is most differentiated, and an acknowledgment of how…

April 3, 2025 In Trends

Shoptalk Spring 2025 Takeaways

Another Shoptalk in the rearview mirror. After a busy and productive week in Las Vegas, here are my takeaways from one of the most important shows in the retail calendar. I organized my thoughts based the factors that are important to our consulting and our…

March 20, 2025 In Brick & Mortar

Is La-Z-Boy Becoming a Lifestyle Brand?

Long associated with traditional recliners and comfort, La-Z-Boy is actively repositioning itself as a lifestyle brand with a focus on modern aesthetics, evolving consumer preferences, and new retail experiences. As part of this transformation, the company has opened its first “Experiential Store” in Chicago’s Lincoln…

December 19, 2024 In Brick & Mortar

Aritzia Unveils Three New US Flagships in NY & Chicago

Within just three weeks, Vancouver-founded women’s apparel brand Aritzia has opened three new flagships: SoHo (NYC) on November 26, Michigan Avenue (Chicago) on November 30, and Fifth Avenue (NYC) on December 16. These flagship locations serve as ultimate brand destinations. Aritzia’s US Geographic Expansion Strategy…

August 29, 2024 In Uncategorized

Gen Z Brands Go Viral This Back-to-School Season

Back-to-school shopping is one of the biggest spending events of the year. According to the National Retail Federation, total college spending is expected to reach $87 billion this year—a slight dip from last year’s $94 billion but still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. As college…

June 26, 2024 In Beauty

Harry Styles’ Beauty Brand Opens an Out-of-this-World Pop-up in Chicago

Pleasing – Harry Styles’ beauty and lifestyle brand – recently arrived in Chicago with a retro, space-themed pop-up dubbed the “Pleasing AstroMilk Bar.” Located in Wicker Park, this imaginative and immersive pop-up introduces Pleasing’s latest product line – the AstroMilk nail polish collection, named for…

June 20, 2024 In Trends

Unboxing Toy Trends: How Grown-Ups are Reshaping the Toy Industry

The latest census data revealed a surprising trend: consumers are still selectively spending money on discretionary items despite inflationary pressures. Notably, purchases of toys – such as building sets, plush toys, and outdoor games – fall into this discretionary spending category, with 43% of adults…

May 24, 2024 In Brick & Mortar

Wayfair Goes from URL to IRL with First-Ever Store

Wayfair opened the doors to its first-ever brick-and-mortar store yesterday in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, IL. Located in the revitalized Edens Plaza, the massive, two-level store spans 150,000 sq. ft. of space previously occupied by the department store Carson Pirie Scott. Described by the…

strategy Tag