2025 Fashion Year in Review: Deals, Departures & Disruptions
A comprehensive review of 2025 fashion industry deals, departures, and disruptions, spotlighting M&A activity, store closures, and market shifts that reshaped the year.
Retailers Face “Consumer Joy Deficit” This Holiday Season
“Consumer joy deficit” describes 2025 holiday shoppers’ cautious mindset amid high prices and stress, prompting retailers to adopt more empathetic marketing and value‑driven strategies.
Doug McMillon Reflects on Career as Walmart CEO Retirement Nears
After four decades at Walmart, CEO Doug McMillon plans to retire in January 2026 and has said he’s looking forward to a “blank calendar” before pursuing future business and philanthropic interests.
Why the Resale Market Boomed in 2025
Rising prices, brand investment, and cultural momentum fueled the resale market's record growth in 2025, with platforms like ThredUp and eBay seeing a surge in demand.
Kraft Heinz Taps Steve Cahillane as CEO for 2026
Kraft Heinz has appointed Steve Cahillane, former Kellanova CEO, to lead the company as it prepares to split into two independent firms starting January 1, 2026.
Align Leadership and Talent Strategy for Better Execution
Learn how companies can build stronger teams by aligning leadership, culture, and execution—drawing from Walmart leadership principles and real-world hiring strategies.
Paramount Launches $108B Hostile Warner Bros Bid
Paramount Skydance has made a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, challenging Netflix’s deal and setting up one of the year’s biggest media acquisition battles.
Holiday Pop‑Up Bars Spark Festive Experience Boom
Seasonal holiday pop‑up bars are rapidly expanding across the U.S., offering immersive experiences that drive foot traffic, social engagement, and revenue for venues during the winter season.
Holiday BNPL Surge Raises Consumer Finance Concerns
As Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) usage spikes during the 2025 holiday season, retailers and analysts debate whether it’s a savvy budgeting tool or a warning sign of financial strain among U.S. consumers.
Holiday Meal Bundles Drive Omnichannel Retail Growth
Retailers are using holiday meal bundles to drive convenience, loyalty, and cross-category growth across omnichannel touchpoints.
U.S. Returns Rise in 2025, Shoppers Retract Purchases
The inaugural Seel 2025 Returns and Refunds Report shows rising consumer return rates driven by defective items, “change of mind” returns, and economic uncertainty, reshaping retail post‑purchase strategies.
Fiber Health Trend to Outshine Protein in 2026
Dietary fiber is emerging as a major U.S. health trend for 2026, with consumers and brands shifting focus from protein to fiber for gut health, satiety, and overall wellness.
Bundle the Feast, Own the Shopper
Holiday meal bundles are reshaping retail by turning planning into a simple choice. Learn how value focused feasts boost convenience basket size and loyalty through smart assortment omnichannel execution and margin minded strategy.
Why Companies Are Hiring Storytellers Instead of Copywriters
Companies are hiring corporate storytellers to create blogs, podcasts, and branded content, shifting communications strategy for 2026 and beyond.
From Showrooming to Meta-rooming: Retail’s New Virtual Layer
Retailers are adding a metaverse front-end to the shopper journey, where avatar behavior and virtual displays shape future omnichannel strategy.
Ep. 4 - Refund Rage: The Psychology Behind Return Policies
Dr Travis Tokar explains how fairness loss aversion and frontline moments shape customer reactions to returns. Learn which policy levers build trust cut friction and protect margins and how smarter design can boost loyalty while reducing costs.