Voices of Tomorrow is a recurring feature highlighting PoC who are reshaping the retail industry.

As the VP and global leader of luxury and lifestyle brands at Hyatt, Crystal Vinisse Thomas oversees a bit of everything from brand to retail partnerships.

The hospitality veteran—who has previously led strategy at both other luxury hotels like W and brands like Beats by Dre, where she oversaw the company’s NBA partnership—today is responsible for a number of hotels under the Hyatt umbrella including Park Hyatt, Thompson, Andaz, and more recently, Dream Hotels.

In a recent conversation with Retail Brew, Vinisse Thomas discusses rebranding strategies and the changes she’d like to see in the industry as a woman of color.

Keep reading here.—JS

Who is the consumer of 2024? Are they ultra-picky? Are they leaning back toward brick-and-mortar shopping? Do they delight in the chime of tap-to-pay on credit card machines?

So. Many. Qs. Which is why Placer.ai leveraged historical and current foot-traffic data + trade area analysis to better understand the current retail landscape. They give you: Meeting 2024’s Consumer.

This white paper was made to give retailers (and curious readers) a look at the consumer trends likely to shape ’24 and beyond.

Which segments have benefitted the most from previous years’ shifts? What characterizes the modern consumer? And how are legacy brands faring?

Find out in Placer.ai’s white paper.

Along with spending time with their moms this Mother’s Day, many people plan to spend a big chunk of money on them too.

Americans will spend an estimated $33.5 billion on Mother’s Day this year, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. That’s the second-highest amount in the 21 years since NRF began the survey, behind last year’s $35.7 billion.

The most popular gifts—you’ll never guess—are flowers (74%), followed by outings like dinner or brunch (59%). The survey classifies greeting cards, which 74% of respondents plan to give to their moms, as gifts, but here’s a tip: Don’t try that at home.

Keep reading here.—AAN

Hello, and welcome back to Retail Brew’s regularly scheduled fashion dispatch, where we recap some fashion highlights each week. This week, a fast fashion retailer reported it’s in debt, and a denim brand put a lawsuit to rest.

Boohoo faces debt

UK-based fast fashion brand Boohoo is in deep debt—to the tune of £95 million—as of the end of February, the company said in its annual report, published Wednesday. Losses were up 76% year over year, reaching 160 million pounds. The online retailer has slashed more than 1,000 positions as sales slipped 13% YoY. CEO John Lyttle attributed the losses to high inflation and a dip in consumer demand.

Why this matters: While luxury retailers are feeling the burn of a spending pullback, Boohoo’s plight indicates that even fast fashion brands aren’t exempt from shoppers battling inflation. While some, like Zara parent Inditex, have somehow managed to maintain consumer interest, others are clearly struggling.

Keep reading here.—JS