TGC

Steve Goldberg was proud to participate in the B. Riley 2020 Consumer Expectations panel moderated by B. Riley Managing Director, Senior Equity Research Analyst Susan Anderson TGC shared insights about the state of Consumer Brands and Retailers, along with very important weather based planning commentary from Fred Fox of Planalytics and Retail Real Estate forecasts from Neill Kelly of CBRE. pictured above from left to right:  Steve Goldberg (TGC), Fred Fox (Planalytics), Neil Kelly (CBRE) and Susan Anderson (B. Riley)

Click here to read Lenore Fedow's interview with Kevin Mullaney for National Jeweler    

Target creates an extraordinary Design “Class Union” ~~ By:  Steve Goldberg On Saturday, Sept 14th, Target unveiled their “20 Years of Design” Shop that highlighted product capsules from the most extraordinary fashion and home designers of our time; each had collections at Target in the past. We rushed to Target to hopefully see the presentation at its best, given that past Design Capsules have sold out so quickly. Target Did Not Disappoint! Each presentation represented the truest DNA of each designer, sometimes updated for today’s silhouettes and functionality. The products were well made and represented exceptional price / value. And, while the collection was quickly picked over, especially on-line, Target has made a great effort to replenish wherever possible. Some of the most popular items that sold out on Monday were back on line today! Equally important, Target told the backstory of each designer on its website, creating a wonderful and educational Customer [...]

Working with our strategic partner, The Erlick Group, we are pleased to announce the Octavian Forum, which will be held on October 23rd at Sotheby’s. The Octavian Forum is a highly curated community of global leaders and thought leaders that some refer to as a “Davos” based in New York City. In the past, the Forum featured political leaders including heads of state and ambassadors, investors, economists, Pulitzer Prize winners, artists, influencers and senior executives from across multiple sectors. For sponsorship information, including participation in the Forum, and/or the Octavian report, please contact Jim Erlick at jim@erlick-group.com Click here to watch video for more information

"Let's Talk about the Weather" - Allison Zisko's interview with Steve Goldberg of TGC and Evan Gold of Planalytics Click here for HFN's article

Planalytics, the leading provider of weather-informed demand analytics has partnered with The Grayson Company, the leading retail , brand and investor focused consulting firm. This partnership will enable businesses to understand and effectively manage the impacts of never-ending weather volatility on sales and profitability. Understanding and managing weather's impact across the business remains a huge, untapped area for planning optimization and profit enhancement. Retailers and Brands have long acknowledged that changes in the weather can significantly affect their sales, often pointing to Mother Nature when discussing disappointing or better than-expected results. Weather volatility is a reality that makes it challenging for retailers to plan effectively and keep inventories, operations, and resources aligned with shifting consumer demand trends. In fact, no other external variable has the ability to shift consumer buying behavior as frequently, directly, or meaningfully as the weather.

Vineyard Vines at Target.. got there early on Saturday, May 18th to see the collection in person. Lines started way before store opening at 8. The good news.. the shop in shop presentation was excellent. The merchandise, what little of it was left, looked good. Customers were clearly excited. The bad news.. customers were allowed to buy without limitation (just look on E-Bay), and were very, very disappointed. Those we spoke with just left the store. Sales associates were frustrated.. no information about replenishment. So, who benefits? Vineyard Vines gets a fabulous "capsule collection" presentation, and sells a lot of product. Their brand name gets exposed to a new audience. Target gets a coveted brand to present to its customer. But, this capsule collection, like the Lilly Pulitzer brand, is likely to have little long lasting positive impact, and only serves to frustrate the loyal Target customer and drive customers to E-Bay. [...]

Retail Innovation at its Very Best: Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Hudson Yards By Steve Goldberg   It’s so exciting to see Retail Innovation continue to evolve and respect consumer’s natural desires to be entertained and immersed in true merchandising experience at the same time. Over the past several weeks, we visited some of the most dynamic Retail Innovations launched in one of the most demanding retail markets on the planet: New York City. Bloomingdale’s: has always been the “IT” store for fashion leadership combined with immersive, theatrical presentation. Bloomingdale’s has doubled down on that commitment. This month, for example, Bloomingdale’s launched a provocative array of Fashion Windows facing Lexington Avenue with a dramatic nod to Earth Day and Sustainability. Bloomingdales partnered with Windex, which has now committed to plastic bottles that are made of recycled ocean waste products. These presentations not only continue Bloomingdale’s tradition of breakthrough statements, but brilliantly align with multiple [...]

Learnings from the 2019 Cowen and Company 5th Annual Future of The Consumer Conference Kevin Mullaney, CEO, and Steve Goldberg, President of The Grayson Company, attended the April 2019 Cowen and Company 5th Annual Future of The Consumer Conference in New York City This Conference included an exceptional group of brands, retailers, wellness and hospitality innovators, both emerging and legacy, as well as critical thinkers and experts in supply chain, and transportation technologies. Since this Conference is about the future of the Consumer, a thematic thread through almost every presentation was the race to engage today’s consumers with not only compelling product, but extraordinary and relevant frictionless experiences in the future. The stakes to acquire and retain customers and earn their loyalty has never been higher and the tools to reach and transact with consumers never more sophisticated. The economic backdrop to this conference was still very positive. Employment is at high [...]

"At The Grayson Company (TGC) we have the privilege of working with some of the most exciting retailers, brands and investors in the world. Some are well established world class companies whose names you would instantly recognize. Others are digital natives or early stage companies all growing at a blistering pace." Read more from Steve Goldberg on JGA's blog: CLICK HERE  http://jga.com/commentary/knowing-how-to-pivot/