Mark Millman

Retailers continue to expand across New England, and national brands like Aerie by AEO, Inc., Bath & Body Works, Ulta Beauty, The Wendy's Company, and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers are strengthening their footprints in key Northeast markets. Our Boston retail team is proud to support this momentum through a series of recent openings across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York, representing both tenants and landlords. From new apparel and beauty locations to banking, auto parts, and restaurant expansions, we’re helping clients secure strategic positions in high-performing trade areas. SRS Real Estate Partners Boston Retail Team: Jonathan Lapat - Brian Nadler - Christian P G Janelle - Bryan Wright - Samantha Mazza - Joseph Quinn 🌐 Learn More: https://lnkd.in/g3Q_3Wua #SRSRealEstatePartners #QSR #BostonRetail #TenantRep #RetailExpansion

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Retail just crossed a line. Target “Good & Gather” eggs are $1.99 if you’re browsing from Rochester, NY… and $2.29 if you’re sitting in Tribeca. The difference isn’t logistics or supply chain. It’s not cost of goods. It’s not regional operations. It’s an algorithm—one that Target now discloses, quietly, behind an “i” icon—using your personal data to decide what you pay. New York State’s new law forced the disclosure. And that’s the only reason we’re seeing this at all. Businesses that set prices using consumer data now must acknowledge it, but they still don’t have to explain what data they use, how it’s weighted, or why one customer sees one price and their neighbor sees another. Let’s be clear about what this means: AI is no longer just optimizing supply chains or search results. It’s calibrating the price of basic goods based on who you are, where you are, and what the algorithm thinks you’ll tolerate. The FTC has already warned about “surveillance pricing”—the practice of using granular data, including precise location, to set individualized prices. This isn’t dynamic pricing for airline seats or surge pricing for rideshares. This is grocery pricing tied to personal data and opaque profiling. Privacy concerns aside, the brand implications are enormous. Once consumers realize they’re not getting the same price as the person next to them, trust breaks instantly. No amount of loyalty marketing or brand storytelling fixes that. This is the opposite of transparency. It’s the opposite of value. And it undermines every promise retailers make about fairness and consistency. As an industry, we’re about to face a reckoning. Not about AI—AI is here to stay. But about how far we’re willing to push personalization before it becomes exploitation. If retailers want long-term loyalty, the answer is simple: Innovate on experience. Innovate on efficiency. Innovate on value. But don’t monetize consumers’ identities through invisible, algorithm-driven price discrimination. That’s not the future of retail. That’s a fast track to losing customer trust—and once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

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Back in 1996, Brands For Less was not a name many people recognized. We chose to reinvest everything into a long-term vision, building quietly, challenging assumptions, and engaging partners who couldn’t yet see what the future of retail would become. Over the past three decades, that journey has been shaped by constant change.. economic cycles, industry shifts, and digital transformation. What remains constant, however, is the discipline to stay focused when it matters most. Because success is rarely defined in the easy moments. It is tested season after season, in periods that demand resilience, clarity, and conviction. Pressure is not something to avoid. It is what refines strategy, sharpens execution, and separates those who endure from those who pause. And over time, that consistency compounds into something far more valuable than short-term wins, it builds lasting impact.

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Patrice Louvet, President & Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Lauren, gives his take on 21st century leadership at WWD's Apparel and Retail CEO Summit.

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Cost-Cutting Won’t Save Retail 💫 Relationship Equity Will Retail is under pressure. Costs are rising. Traffic is inconsistent. Margins are tight. The instinct in challenging times is to cut ✂️ cut payroll, cut training, cut hours. But cost-cutting alone rarely fixes the underlying issue. It often accelerates it. The real opportunity is not in shrinking the business. It’s about strengthening the customer relationship. Transactional selling no longer differentiates a brand. Relationship selling does. Today’s customer wants more than a product; they want confidence in what they’re buying. They want to understand craftsmanship. They want to feel aligned with the brand’s values. They want trust. That requires trained associates who can: • Tell the brand story • Speak to sourcing and construction • Explain quality and value • Build authentic, long-term relationships When teams are equipped to do this, average transaction value increases. Return visits increase. Full-price selling improves, loyalty compounds. Heritage brands like Rodd & Gunn have grown by investing in storytelling, craftsmanship, and long-term customer relationships, not by racing to the bottom on price. For retailers navigating uncertainty, the solution isn’t simply reducing expense lines. It’s elevating the in-store experience. ✔️ Invest in product knowledge. ✔️ Invest in storytelling. ✔️ Invest in leadership that drives accountability and client development. The retailers who will thrive are those that move from cost control to value creation. Relationship equity is the new competitive advantage. #retail #clientdevelopment #productknowledge #storytelling #relationships #opentowork.

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The Elusive Art of Retail Differentiation - And a Buckhead Gem That Gets It Right After two decades of studying retail experiences, I can tell you that true differentiation is rare. But when you find it? It takes your breath away. Let me back up. Differentiation isn't just a nice-to-have in retail - it's existential. Here's why: 1. It gives customers a compelling reason to choose your brand 2. It protects you from price wars and the race to the bottom 3. It makes marketing dramatically easier when you're authentic and memorable 4. It builds genuine loyalty because customers connect with your identity and values 5. It allows you to dominate a niche rather than compete in a crowded middle Over the years, I've seen some excellent examples: Yeti built a bar in their Austin flagship. Burberry hosts champagne toasts on velvet sofas while shoppers browse luxury goods. The NYC flagship Disney store creates magical princess experiences at eye level for their tiniest customers.   But recently, I walked into something truly extraordinary.   I was meeting a recruit for coffee at MEND Coffee & Goods (Founders Katherine Wolf and Jay Wolf) in Buckhead, and from the moment I stepped through the door, I knew this was different. Their origin story isn't just compelling, it is compassionate. And it's woven into every detail of the space. Brought to life through its non-profit arm, Hope Heals, the environment is magnificently executed. The gift shop area is curated so thoughtfully that I wanted to take home every single item. And the employees? Watching the interability talent work - from taking orders to crafting coffee to clearing tables - you could see their genuine commitment to serving customers. The care was palpable. The coffee was good!   This is what differentiation looks like when it's done right. It's not a gimmick or a marketing tactic - it's authenticity expressed through every touchpoint. It's a soulful story brought to life in a way that makes customers want to return again and again.   I know I will. And if you're in Atlanta, I highly encourage you to experience it yourself.   ⭐ See the photo carousel below for a sneak peak of Mend. What's the most differentiated retail experience you've encountered? I'd love to hear what stood out to you.   #RetailExcellence #BrandDifferentiation #CustomerExperience #RetailStrategy #Atlanta

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Retail Trends 2026: Looks like people are reading hard cover books again! Nationally known bookseller, #BarnesandNoble plans a significant expansion, announcing they will open 60 new stores in 2026! With over 600 retail outlets including the flagship in Union Square in NYC, (33 E 17th St) the company is building on strong sales & a successful strategy of empowering local booksellers after years of closures, with new locations confirmed in states like California, Texas, Florida, and more. This follows dozens of openings in 2025, signaling a major comeback for the book retailer. Crediting strong sales from a resurgence in reading (partly due to #BookTok), the expansion marks a reversal from a period of declining store numbers, with 2025 being their most impressive year for growth so far. What other retailers are expanding in your region? Douglas Elliman Real Estate

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Being part of a 100% employee-owned company really does change how you show up for your clients and candidates. There's a different level of ownership, accountability, and pride in the work. It's not just a tagline; it truly shapes how we show up every day. CFS #ESOP #EmployeeOwned #CertifiedEO

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As tariffs continue to weigh heavily on the footwear industry, Wolverine Worldwide’s namesake boot brand is leaning into made-in-America product. But according to Mike Maloney, chief product officer for Wolverine Worldwide’s Work Group, the program was planned before President Trump took office for his second term and ramped up tariffs again. “I started at Wolverine back in the fourth quarter and the plans for this program were already in the works,” Maloney told FN in an interview. “Making shoes in any new facility takes a long time, so we’ve been in development.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRu4xyXE

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Great article and insights on the state of Saks Global Post-Bankruptcy. Richard and Pam, thanks for sharing.

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Gap Inc. has brought on veteran brand executive Michael Francis as chief customer officer of Old Navy and head of marketing shared services for the apparel group. Francis will report to Horacio Barbeito, president and CEO of Old Navy. He will work closely with Old Navy leaders, including interim CMO Derek Yarbrough, to strengthen its brand, marketing, and customer experience strategies. “Old Navy is a beloved brand with real momentum, and Michael knows how to translate customer insight into relevance, resonance, and growth,” Barbeito said in a statement. Read more 👉 https://adweek.it/4ewbOXS

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Eleven Recruiting’s August flyer focuses on “Retention Strategies within a Competitive Market”.  The handout below provides insights on retention best practices and how Eleven Recruiting personally retains our contractors on billing.

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The 2026 Retail Forecast: Not Too Different from 2025 J. Wickham Zimmerman The pandemic’s aftermath saw yet another prediction of retail’s demise. But fast-forwarding half a decade, and retail has been a robust commercial real estate asset class. Despite the current K-shaped economy, shopping cutbacks from lower-income households and uncertain consumer sentiment, experts told Connect CRE that the sector is entering 2026 in decent […] Gillian Executive Search recruiters in construction management, real estate development, architecture

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Luxury department store Saks is reportedly slashing 90 jobs from its workforce, primarily impacting its commercial organization, including roles at Neiman Marcus. This latest round of job cuts represents less than 3% of Saks Global's corporate office and 0.5% of the company's total headcount, as it continues wider cost-cutting efforts and the integration of Neiman Marcus into the Saks business to streamline its structure and harmonize merchandising systems. Discover more about Saks' ongoing strategic restructuring: https://lnkd.in/eTX2sczk #FashionNews #Saks #JobCuts #RetailRestructuring #LuxuryRetail

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