Outer Teak Collection outdoor furniture

The Outdoor Furniture Market Is Broken. Outer Aims to Fix It.

Outer is a small company with big ambitions. Selling only a narrow range of outdoor furniture and furnishings – teak, wicker and aluminum outdoor sofas, chairs and seating combinations, plus a selection of outdoor pillows, rugs, coffee tables and cushions – Outer aims to be the first brand consumers think of when planning their outdoor […]

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Gary Friedman’s RH Earnings Calls Are a Lesson in How To Think Differently about Retail

Quarter-after-quarter RH keeps delivering incredible results. It could almost get boring, but it never is. Gary Friedman’s earnings call should be required listening for every leader or aspiring leader in retail today, not so much to learn about RH but to sit at the feet of an inspiring, retail visionary. More than a brand, more […]

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Fashion Shopping

Fashion Prices Are Rising Fast, Threatening the Recovery of this Struggling Market

Dressing the kids to go back-to-school, not to mention yourself to get back-to-work, will cost more this year. Overall, the consumer price index for apparel rose 4.2% from August 2020 through August 2021. Fortunately for parents, children’s clothing prices advanced less, up 1.4% for boys and 2.8% for girls. But new kid’s shoes will cost […]

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Corporate Gifting Caught Fire This Past Year

In normal times, corporate gifting is a routine cost of doing business. It’s used to recognize employees and strengthen relationships with clients or partners. But it took on new urgency as a result of the pandemic. With company staff dispersed, a well-chosen gift became a way to keep employees connected and reward them for work […]

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China Talks About Fixing Income Inequality. Are Luxury Brands Listening?

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently gave a speech laying out a goal to promote “common prosperity” across the country that increasingly has “only a few people prosperous,” the state-run news outlet Xinhua reported. Speaking to the Party’s Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, President Xi defined “common prosperity” as “affluence shared by everyone, both […]

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