Staff Writer

Staff Writer
Partner Voices: Product Photos Are Dead, Long Live 3D

The writing has been on the wall for a long time. Product photos are eating up an inordinate amount of marketing budget, and that’s when the shoot goes right. When a shoot goes wrong, the costs go up. A change? Up. Variations? Up. Prototypes? Up. Factor in shipping costs for big-ticket items like motorcycles and furniture,…

Kevin Johnson, CEO, Starbucks

"One of the reasons people come to work at Starbucks is because we stand for something. It’s about human connection and having a sense of humanity. We think that’s part of what makes Starbucks a special place that both partners and customers want to be associated with."

Mary Dillon, CEO, Ulta

"At the end of the day, especially in retail, you’ve got humans serving humans. And really, the more engaged and happier associates are, the happier our guests are. It’s not complicated."

Mark Parker, Chairman, President and CEO, Nike

"Consumer demand remains quite strong, but expectations remain high in terms of product, innovation and style. They want it fast, easy and [they want] personal service."

Mindy Grossman, CEO and Director of HSNi

"You're [retailers] competing with the last great experience that someone had. It could be Uber, it could be Airbnb; it's not just another retailer."

Steve Shiffman, CEO, Calvin Klein, Inc.

"It's important for us as a global leader to continue to fight for gender equality across the world, and lead true social change in everything we do."

Art Peck, CEO, Gap

"If you read the headlines you see references to retail as dead, dying and sick. We are none of those things."

Jim Boscov, CEO and Vice Chairman, Boscov's

"Albert Boscov was truly one of the giants in the retail industry. He was a man of vision and passion, and he had a profound influence on the retail business community and the community at large."

Anita Roddick, Founder, The Body Shop

“What I've learned is that people become motivated when you guide them to the source of their own power and when you make heroes out of employees who personify what you want to see in the organization.”

Jewelry Brand Ritani Appoints New CEO

Ritani, a designer and manufacturer of engagement rings and fine jewelry with a vertically integrated, omnichannel sales model, last week announced the hiring of Deborah Fine as its chief executive officer. Fine comes to Ritani with two decades of experience leading lifestyle businesses to record growth and profit through all stages of the enterprise life…