Our take on the latest in mobile, tech, and business.
So you’ve launched a new website or mobile app. Now what? Your organization has made a significant investment to launch the product, so continuing to make room in your budget for it may at first seem unnecessary. Now might feel like a time to rest on its success — but the truth is, a digital product is never truly finished. When launching any digital product, you’ll also need a plan for how you’ll manage its lifecycle.
Launching a mobile app is a major undertaking for any brand, and for companies with multiple brands under one umbrella it can be especially challenging — not to mention expensive. Each brand has its own distinct personality and demographic, and accordingly, you want each brand’s app to have its own unique identity and its own roadmap to allow for digital evolution. Think of a parent company like Gap Inc.: Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Old Navy all serve distinct customer segments, with mobile apps that feel distinct but still unified.
Meeting demand for the hottest new sneakers isn’t easy: Popular silhouettes like the Air Jordan 1s often sell out before they even hit shelves. Sustaining hype at the same time is even harder, and retailers in the increasingly integrated worlds of high fashion, streetwear, and sneakers are rising to the challenge of delivering hyped products to as many people as possible through programs like raffles and first-come-first-serve drops.
As we head into the busy holiday season, concerns about a recession are growing ever louder. According to Bloomberg’s latest monthly survey of economists, there’s now a 60% chance of a recession occurring in the next year, up from 50% in September and compared to a 30% chance six months ago.
According to Forbes, there have been 13 recessions since World War II. Three were in the 21st century and many experts warn another is on its way, predicting at least a 50% chance of a recession in the next two years. Some experts argue it’s already here, while still others insist we’re only experiencing a downturn. Whatever you want to call them, these economic slumps happen more frequently than most people realize, and they are generally much less ominous than some would make them sound. And markets tend to bounce back after a downturn – often returning even stronger. So as we experience this current downturn, the question all business owners should be asking themselves is: will we make it to the bounce back? If you are sure the answer is yes, then make no mistake: now is not the time to pause your growth and hold steady. Now is the time to level up.
for bits, pixels, and tote bags.
The COVID-19 pandemic took retailers through a range of emotions and actions. First, there was fear as grocery stores (for some reason) ran out of toilet paper. Then there was adaptation as businesses did the best they could given the circumstances. Now, retailers are focusing on innovation as we all do our best to operate in the new normal.
