🧵 The Weekly Thread | Issue No. 11
Retail Relates | Issue No. 11 | Sunday, July 6th
The Weekly Thread brings together all that Retail Relates has to offer in one place so you can catch up, explore what resonates, and join the conversation when it feels right.
👜 This Week’s Common Threads
Spotlighting New Conversations, Timeless Echoes & Fresh Momentum
We’re still in our summer podcast hiatus, but there’s no shortage of new ideas, reflections, and inspiration across the Retail Relates Hub. While we continue recording Season Two - with new voices and fresh perspectives - we’re keeping the conversation lively with a lineup that looks both forward and back.
This week’s featured Conversation goes deep on the power of micro-commerce, sparked by a trip to Honduras with RetailROI. It’s a personal look at how small, resilient businesses can drive big impact, raising the question: what if “SMALL” is the next “BIG” thing in commerce?
It is worth mentioning, this doesn’t cover the impact that RetailROI is having globally - a subject we will cover in more depth in a later issue - because it very much deserves the investment!
In Echoes of Commerce, we’re exploring the sensory, the social, and the surprising boundaries of retail’s past. From the strategy of scent, to the trusted faces of catalogs, to the forgotten era of Sunday blue laws - these are stories that still shape how we connect with brands and each other.
Milestones That Changed Commerce marks another week of legendary launches, bold debuts, and marketplace firsts, from the first Taco Bell taco to the dawn of the App Store. These aren’t just moments in time - they’re sparks that changed how we shop, connect, and create.
And as always, Momentum in Commerce brings you stories of progress and optimism: AI reshaping how Gen Z shops, collectibles making a comeback, retailers investing in people and place, and brands finding new ways to reward loyalty.
Thank you for being with us - whether you’re tuning in every week, or just dropping by to catch up. We’re building this hub with you, and your feedback, ideas, and shares mean the world.
Here’s what’s coming up (and what you might’ve missed):
WHAT’S COMING UP:
Conversations
Every week, one of our hosts or guests takes the mic for a deeper exploration of commerce’s most compelling questions and emerging opportunities. This is where we unpack ideas, challenge assumptions, and start new dialogues.
Coming up on Tuesday:
🤝 Retail Growth Through Small Actions, Big Shifts.
Rethinking Commerce Through the Lens of Micro-Commerce
This article is inspired by a recent trip to Honduras with industry peers as part of a RetailROI trip to Copan Ruinas, and a historical dive into the history of commerce on the travel day back home. Seeing the human spirit and perseverance in the face of the most challenging of circumstances raised many questions. One of them:
What would happen if we put as much curiosity and ingenuity into understanding micro-commerce as we do into chasing the next unicorn, AI agent, or headline IPO?
Maybe SMALL could be the next BIG thing.
There are many lessons learned and impacts worth sharing from this trip, which we look forward to sharing further. But for the moment, it seemed appropriate to start a conversation about micro-commerce and its current and future impact around the world.
It is also worth calling out RetailROI and the work that the organization does around the world, helping the most vulnerable through sustainable impacts. Click on the image below for more information:
Check out the conversation when it releases, and we would LOVE your thoughts, comments, and feedback (a ♥️ and a SHARE would be great as well!)
🕰️ Echoes of Commerce
Each week, we explore the experiences and environments that have built lasting emotional connections between people and commerce. These Echoes aren’t just stories from the past - they’re timeless lessons, resonating with relevance for today’s leaders, brands, and communities. Here’s what’s coming up this week:
🏷️ Scents of Intention: When Smell Became Strategy (July 7th) - From baking bread to brand-specific fragrances, retailers discovered that the nose knows - and it spends.
🏷️ When Faces Sold Trust: From Catalog Models to Influencers (July 9th) - Before we followed influencers, we followed faces in the catalog - and the trust they inspired built retail empires.
🏷️ Blue Laws: When Shopping Had Boundaries (July 11th) - Once, retail paused each Sunday - not from lack of demand, but from respect for rest. Now, in a world of 24/7 shopping, we’re rediscovering the power of boundaries.
📅 Milestones That Changed Commerce
Every week, we revisit the breakthrough launches, legendary deals, and unexpected firsts that set the pace for entire industries. These aren’t just dates - they’re the moments that turned everyday life into something new, remarkable, and enduring. This week’s highlights:
🌮 July 6, 1962: Taco Bell Serves Its First Taco
🍞 July 7, 1928: Sliced Bread Hits Store Shelves
💰 July 8, 2002: eBay Acquires PayPal
☎️ July 9, 1877: Bell Telephone Company Forms
📱 July 10, 2008: Apple’s App Store Launches
🥤 July 11, 1985: Coca-Cola Brings Back “Classic” Coke
These are published (but not emailed) on the dates listed. We have fun with these, but experience tells us that no matter how much we research, we may get something wrong. Bonus points if you help us make it better!
🚀 Momentum in Commerce
Human nature is to hone in on challenges, the bad news, the doom and gloom - you see those headlines every day. Momentum in Commerce showcases encouraging results, innovative solutions, and forward-thinking ideas.
🤖 AI Shopping Boom: Gen Z Leads the Way
Retail Dive | July 5, 2025
Almost half of all shoppers have already played around with AI tools to search for products and gifts, but Gen Z is in a league of their own - about 70% are using these digital assistants, and most are pretty happy with what they find. This isn’t just a tech trend; it’s a shift in how people discover and decide on what to buy. The bottom line? AI is officially changing the way we shop, and it’s only getting started.
🧸 Pop Mart’s Labubu Takes TikTok by Storm
The Drum | July 4, 2025
Remember when “collectibles” meant dusty Beanie Babies? Not anymore. Pop Mart’s quirky Labubu figures have exploded on TikTok Shop, driving sales up by a jaw-dropping 1,000% in the US over the past year, way outpacing TikTok’s own e-commerce growth. It’s proof that fandom, social commerce, and the right character can make retail magic happen overnight.
🏗️ Marks & Spencer Drops £300m for Store Upgrades and Openings
The Guardian | July 4, 2025
Marks and Spencer is putting its money where its shelves are, investing £300 million to upgrade nearly 40 stores across the UK. They’ll open 16 new spots and expand or refresh 21 more this year alone. The investment isn’t just about square footage - it’s about keeping stores relevant, vibrant, and ready for the next generation of shoppers.
🏥 CVS Launches New Talent Center in Chicago
Retail Dive | July 3, 2025
CVS Health opened its new Workforce Innovation and Talent Center on Chicago’s South Side, right inside the Chicago Baptist Institute. The center is all about hands-on training for people seeking jobs at CVS, opening doors for more community members to start careers in health and retail. It’s a big win for local hiring and upskilling.
🕘 Costco Rolls Out Early-Bird Perks for Executive Members
RetailWire | July 1, 2025
Costco just sweetened the deal for Executive Members: they now get warehouse access at 9am, a full hour before everyone else. It’s a simple move, but it says a lot about recognizing and rewarding loyal shoppers. For busy members, this means more flexibility, and less crowd chaos before the morning rush.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
🎤 Featured Podcast Episode:
We have an expanded slate of guests and co-hosts lined up for Season Two and will be announcing the launch date shortly. In the meantime, this is one of the episodes from Season One worth revisiting:
🎙️Episode 112: Empowering Change Through Reimagining Food Culture: A Conversation with Jamie Crummie
Can one idea transform the way we eat and help save the planet in the process?
This episode features Jamie Crummie, co-founder of Too Good To Go, the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food. Jamie’s story is one of impact and innovation, transforming the fight against food waste into a global movement that empowers both businesses and consumers to rethink food culture for the better.
🕰️ Echoes of Commerce
One of our highlighted “Echoes” that you might have missed last week:
🏷️ The Greeter: When the First Impression Was Human
Before QR codes and self-checkout, a simple hello at the door set the tone - and sometimes made the sale.
Visit the Echoes archive for additional reflections on retail’s past and its influence on today’s customer journey.
🔭 Looking Ahead
Remember that we only email our Weekly Threads recap and our weekly Conversation, so if you want to stay current with us, subscribe, download the app, and stay connected - it’s free!
We hope that you explore, and we would LOVE for you to comment, & share. Be part of the journey. If you have story ideas, guest suggestions, or internship resources to share, drop us a line.
We’re glad you’re here!
— The Retail Relates Team