Welcome to The Vue This Sunday!
Starting this Sunday, Vue45 will have a bi-monthly digest of all that’s shaking up retail. Think of The Vue This Sunday as us catching up with the retail industry over coffee and cookies. Everything we discuss will be from the perspective of small-medium businesses and as always, we are open to feedback so please leave a comment or get in touch if you have anything to say!
Without any further ado, here’s what we’re talking about this week –

Shopify Opens Its First Brick and Mortar Store in LA
If you have an e-commerce site for your business, chances are that you’ve definitely heard of Shopify (if you’re not using it already). Shopify’s simplified payment/logistics platform has been a game-changer for small-medium businesses and the physical storefront that it has opened in LA is proof of its success. The company plans to use the store to not only demystify the
How Artificial Intelligence is Disrupting The Retail Experience
From virtual assistants to driverless cars – there is no doubt that the robots have arrived and are going to change our lives in ways we haven’t imagined. There are plenty of robots in the retail industry as well. Sephora, for example, has started using Augmented Reality in its apps to show how their customers would look with their selection of makeup products on. IKEA is another brand that uses Augmented Reality to show how their products would look in a space. Other retailers use AI to make better recommendations, create accurate visualizations, visual merchandising, and more. If you think AI is only for the
Bring On The End Of The Romance Apocalypse!
India is seeing its own bright and belligerent #MeToo movement. Prominent men across media houses, businesses and entertainment industries have been named and we say, bring it! Women, especially young women, who have no choice but to work with manufacturing units for their retail stores have plenty of similar stories to share. Unfortunately, it is all wiped under the carpet as a part of the industry and its risks. As is usual in movements like these, many men have berated that such allegations would signal the end of the ‘romance’. Aww! As Nisha Susan says, “Almost all the time, what they think is a cool move that impresses the ladies

Why Rick Carruso Is The Walt Disney of Retail
Rick
How WeWork Wants To Rejuvenate Retail
WeWork, the global mobile workspace giant is now looking to expand into retail by setting up stores, called WeMRKTS, in its buildings. The selection of products in each of the markets will vary by the needs of the members in each location. While we might not entirely agree with Julie Rice’s ‘retail is dying’ statement (listen to this podcast for more insight!), there is no doubt in our minds that retail curation and giving your brand a voice is definitely a way forward for retail success, especially if your target audience is the millennial. Having a good brand is one thing, but a brand with personality? Priceless. You can read the report on WeWork’s entry into retail, here.
The Unglamorous Reality Of Being A Stylist To The Stars
This isn’t particularly retail news, but it is relevant all the same. As the number of stylists in Hollywood increase, they are becoming more and more dispensable. This translates to ruthless working hours, near impossible demands and a plethora of extra costs. Interestingly enough, the article also talks about how social media has opened up new avenues for stylists and helping them create their own brand instead of just being someone who is behind the scenes. This brand, this ephemeral quality that sets you apart, in our opinion, is what every small and medium retailer should strive for. Find your own voice – conquer the world! Here’s the link to the article on Business of Fashion.
And that’s it for this week! What have you been reading?