Nestle and Starbucks have announced that Starbucks coffee will be distributed worldwide by Nestlé. That’s counter-trend, consumers want to buy from the maker, not from a licensee. Will this work in the long-term?

The way brands use social media is going to undergo a radical change in years to come. Instead of social media being a cost center, it is going to convert into a revenue stream. The advertising revenue that now goes to Facebook and all social media sites will revert to the creators of media.

Story is among the most creative retail stores in the country right now, and it was just bought by Macy’s. Will Macy’s be able to bring that creativity into its stores, or will it crush the creativity once the deal is done?

Selling prescription eyeglasses online is challenging. But one company has half the market and they are poised to take advantage of coming changes in technology to expand their business dramatically. A lot of stores will close and the remaining ones will have to lower their prices.

There are words we use to help us convince other people that we think work well. A lot of those words are actually working against the selling effort. An artificial intelligence program has analyzed over 500 thousand sales calls and tells you what words are really effective.

Secondhand clothing stores used to be local, mom-and-pop businesses. Going online has allowed them to move into the territory of big off-price retailers like Ross Stores, Burlington Coat and TJ Maxx (TJX Corp.). That presents a threat to the off-pricers that could be turned into an opportunity.

The beauty industry is creating new companies and innovations at an astounding pace. A conference taking place in Los Angeles has picked out 12 companies its experts think are the most interesting companies in development right now.

Earlier today, the Nordstrom special committee of its Board of Directors ended discussion with the Nordstrom family about taking the company private. What happens now?

The inability of traditional retailers and brands to meet the needs of consumers has created a huge opportunity in the market. Young, new brands are taking advantage of that and the way they think and talk about their businesses is very different than the companies that came before them.

Advertisers and brands are always looking for places to advertise that are unique. Now a company called Swaponz has identified a space that is completely blank but which can convey advertising and branding with sight, sound and motion. Lots of advertisers will undoubtedly rush in.