That Fenty umbrella...ella | Fenty Beauty
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: “Entrepreneurial Rihanna is having a moment. And strange as it might sound, it’s got zero to do with her music.”

It’s true that social media makes it easier than ever to attract an audience and build wide reach. But remember: The barriers to entry are also incredibly low, and the floor is littered with the bones of far too many short-lived celeb endeavors to count. A myopic focus on social media as the only growth explanation ignores the complex web of factors that help to explain the rise and prominence of the Fenty brand collective.

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There's definitely a vibe going on here | Poolside FM
Subscriber Comment

Ben Young: “Poolside FM’s fresh new redesign is proof: There’s tremendous power in creating a distinctive vibe — and an experience that delights.”

There’s a reason why the new Poolside FM redesign has become an instant hit. It offers a distinct vibe, an unmistakable feeling. It feels familiar, fun, approachable, and tastefully retro. It delights you, and it’s all delivered in a tight, cohesive package. In a world where no one pays attention to the details, this is the luxury opportunity.

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The very well-appointed and stylish Aesop store in Shaw, DC | Aesop
Subscriber Comment

Sara Bernát on today’s luxury fragmentation: “There’s almost no overlap between the Aesop shopper and the Lamborghini owner — and there’s a reason for that.”

A sharp, academic analysis on our current moment in the modern luxury timeline. Bernát’s argument: “Luxury in the Age of Fragmentation is a bit different. The gatekeepers no longer have much of a stronghold, so luxury definitions are unique and one group’s idea of it can vary wildly from another’s. The Maiyet customer’s socially sensitive and worldly view of the world stands in stark contrast, for instance, to the exclusive worldview of Lamborghini customer’s. These two brands will also most likely not share an overlapping consumer base.”

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Ushering in the new brand of entrepreneurship – with steely eyed resolve | Act + Acre
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: “How new botanical haircare brand Act + Acre represents a model for the future of entrepreneurship.”

Struggle porn and getting rich quick are no longer part of the responsible narrative. Instead of just being businesses, emerging companies must find a way to weave themselves into the fabric of society and culture. A new kind of entrepreneurship is looming, built around a “when you do well, we do well” sensibility.

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The Atomic team, with Hims CEO Andrew Dudum at center | Atomic
Subscriber Comment

The new reality: Hims as an incubator, Bonobos as an M&A shop, and Harry’s as a VC. What’s driving this new DNVB trend?

Subscriber Phil Soriano explores why some of today’s VC-backed ‘blue chip’ DNVBs are engaging in some unusual activity beyond the scope of brand and community development. In some way or another, the likes of Glossier, Harry’s, Bonobos, and Hims have each dabbled in acquisitions, incubation, or in-house VC expansion. Soriano explains why.

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Outlier is one of the most values-driven brands on the market today | Maekan
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: How Everlane, Outlier, and Patagonia are tapping into the ‘social activewear’ phenomenon.

Brands are proposing new ideas to society through fabric, and answering the new consumer desire to signal a shared belief system through luxury goods and clothing. Rather than being about logos and individual status signaling, social activewear is about identifying with the collective.

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Ana Andjelic holds court on stage | Netlife
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: Why visceral storytelling is the next brand-building territory.

Symbolic and visceral, smell is a powerful brand language that convincingly conveys identity and differentiation. It creates a direct, tangible connection between a brand and its consumers.

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Aesop gets it | Aesop
Subscriber Comment

Marcela Sapone: Smart brands like Aesop have figured out that clever distribution builds brands.

Aesop and others realize that modern brand building lies in meeting today’s new consumer in the places they are: the hotel, the restaurant, the boutique. Now the onus is on CPGs to unlock new channels to break out of stalled growth.

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Ana Andjelic, Jen Rubio, Jessica Graves, and Colin Nagy; Northside Festival panel | Colin Nagy
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: The dark side of the direct-to-consumer brand experience.

For every new brand that takes the long view on customer service (fixing a broken product even if it’s the customer’s fault), there are countless more where the customer relationship ends at the moment of sale.

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Alfred CEO Marcela Sapone | Mercedes-Benz
Subscriber Comment

Marcela Sapone: The modern luxury supply chain is log jammed at the front door of your apartment building.

It doesn’t matter how sophisticated direct-to-consumer brands make their products or supply chains today — if shipments get stacked at the front door of your apartment, that’s a failure. Fortunately, a more thoughtful, seamless future is on the way.

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