What to Expect Next From This Week in Retail
18 Months In: What the TWIR Community Has Taught Me
It’s hard to believe I’ve been writing This Week in Retail for over 18 months now. This project started as a hobby…as a place where I can share the thing’s that I believe are meaningful to an industry I love so much, but has grown into something more: a place to unpack what’s really happening in the retail world—and why it matters.
What I’ve Learned in 18 Months of This Week in Retail
In the past 18 months of writing This Week in Retail, I’ve learned that the biggest stories often aren’t the flashiest. Sometimes, it’s a small policy change buried in an earnings call transcript, or a pilot program quietly launched in a single zip code, that signals a much bigger shift ahead.
I’ve also learned that understanding retail means watching more than just retail. You have to track labor unions, tech companies, commercial real estate, regulation, and—more than ever—consumer psychology. Retail is the front line of how people live, spend, and adapt.
Most of all, I’ve learned that you want clarity. You don’t need another summary, you want insight. That’s what I aim to deliver every week.
I say that, to say this…..As the newsletter evolves, I wanted to share what’s new and what you can expect going forward:
More Context. Real Takeaways
I’m focusing even more on analysis—not just what happened, but why it matters. Whether it’s a labor strike at the ports, Amazon’s latest delivery experiment, or a CEO suddenly stepping down, I’ll help break down what it means for the industry and what might come next.
Retail Strategy, Spotlighted
A dedicated focus on strategies shaping the future of retail. Think: loyalty program pivots, omnichannel upgrades, supply chain shifts, or what’s really moving the needle in experiential retail.
Data You Can See
I’m adding more original visuals, think charts, stats, and snapshots, so trends are easier to digest at a glance. You’ll see things like:
Top-growing retail categories
Real-time consumer sentiment shifts
Foot traffic or e-commerce spending data
Watchlist Alerts
I’ll also flag the early signals—the lawsuits, strikes, bankruptcies, tech rollouts, and experimental launches—so you know what to keep an eye on before it hits the mainstream news cycle.
Straightforward Commentary
My tone isn’t changing: no fluff, no hype. Just real context, explained in plain language. If it’s important, I’ll tell you why. If it’s overblown, I’ll tell you that too.
Thanks for reading and sticking with me…..there’s more to come.