Baker Retailing Center

“Unlike a traditional focus group, where participants react to ideas that are put in front of them, the Ideathon asks students to take ownership of a problem and develop a full response,” says Mina Fader, the managing director of Wharton’s Baker Retailing Center.

The output: → New product development → AI search strategies → Marketing plans ready to implement Cost: $100K–$250K — same as a focus group. Less than a consultant. Simon G. is actually now hiring these students. “I was just reading an email from one of them,” Zaven says.

Why are companies ditching focus groups? @Inc inc.com/jennifer-conra…

Back in Vegas next week! Shoptalk Spring 2026 is just around the corner and I'm counting down the days... spring.shoptalk.com/home

Best Buy wants to be at the forefront of agentic AI discovery: “As agentic commerce matures, we want to serve our customers in new ways, both on and off of platforms,” CEO Corie Barry said.” customerexperiencedive.com/news/best-buy-…

I think this is worth noting.

Barbara Kahn on @Gap's new loyalty program, Encore: “For the consumers, it’s a win, because meaningful moments are valuable both socially and materially, but for the brand, it creates loyalty that goes beyond just the next purchase at the store." retaildive.com/news/gap-loyal…

Closed with Revlon: Michelle Peluso (CEO, @Revlon) in a fireside moderated by Patti Williams (Wharton). Peluso’s "6 principles" were: Follow your north star • Lead for others • Edit to amplify • Be a learn-it-all • Embrace the “and” • Play with joy.

One of the best founder moments: Emily Hikade’s story — CIA background, a plane emergency that reset her priorities, then building Petite Plume.

A few highlights from this year's @Wharton Graduate Retail Conference in NYC: “Beyond the Basket: Re-Imagining Retail & Consumer Life.” Here are some of the moments that stood out.

Gen Z! Want to work on a real global brand challenge—and maybe end up in Paris? Try @LOrealGroupe’s Brandstorm💡 brandstorm.loreal.com/en

Kartik Kumra (@Penn ‘22) a semi-finalist for the 2026 LVMH Prize! vogue.com/article/meet-t…

US retail sales unexpectedly stalled in December coming in unchanged. Eight out of 13 retail categories saw decreases during the holiday season. Invesco's Kristina Campmany says consumers are on edge and being more selective bloom.bg/4tqbfnc

Wharton marketing professor Peter Fader and @BoF’s Yasmine Dahlberg unpack how fashion and beauty brands can build stronger consumer relationships in 2026 and beyond. businessoffashion.com/events/retail/…

In Riyadh for @RLCGlobalForum's 2026 Annual Meeting. Looking forward to the conversations ahead this week. rlcglobalforum.com/global-events/…

Grab a copy of Alex's book, "Click Here" 📖 a.co/d/e7wXKfw

Great turnout for our recent @Wharton SF book talk with @Meta CMO Alex Schultz & Professor Peter Fader.