Brandy17 Maalis

The Death of Department Stores and the Hidden Psychology of Shopping Modes

Department stores were once the center of retail.

Today, many feel like empty shells. Large spaces animated by the brands inside them rather than the store itself.

In this episode of Brandy, Reilly Newman and Scott Saunders explore the changing trajectory of retail through the lens of Kohl's and its recent earnings struggles.

But the most fascinating insight isn’t on the balance sheet.

It’s on the sales floor.

At many Kohl’s locations, the longest line in the store isn’t the checkout line... it’s the Amazon return counter.

Why?

Because those customers are operating in a very specific psychological state.

Return mode.

Reilly reintroduces the concept of “shopping modes”—the mental states consumers occupy when interacting with brands. Someone returning an item isn’t in browse mode or purchase mode. They’re trying to complete a task and leave.

Understanding this simple behavioral shift explains why foot traffic doesn’t always convert into sales.

In this episode, Reilly and Scott discuss:

• Why many department stores feel like “retail carcasses” animated by the brands inside them
• What Kohl’s trajectory reveals about the future of physical retail
• The psychology behind shopping modes and consumer intent
• Why Amazon return traffic doesn’t necessarily translate into purchases
• How founders and small businesses can identify the mode their audience is in and design experiences around it

Ultimately, great brands don’t just think about products.

They think about the mindset customers are in when they encounter them.

Have a brand marketing question?

Reilly & Scott will answer it on the next episode!

⁠⁠⁠>> Ask Here: https://forms.gle/S237AyoG1vj9Wfzj6

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(130)

Why Your Competitor Is Beating You

You're doing more. You're delivering more. You care more. And somehow your competitor (the one you know isn't working as hard or bringing as much to the table) is getting the business.That's not a wor...

1 Syys 16min

Strategy vs. Positioning: Why You're Doing Them Backwards

Frustrated why the market still doesn't see your business the way you want to be seen?The problem isn't the execution. It's the method.In this solo episode of Brandy, Reilly Newman breaks down the rea...

25 Elo 28min

Nazis, Caffeine, Energy Drinks, and Starbucks

Starbucks didn't enter the energy drink market. They were already in it. Reilly Newman and Scott Saunders break down the caffeine arms race (Starbucks, McDonald's, Panera, Celsius, Red Bull, Dutch Bro...

18 Elo 20min

What Y2K Is Really Telling Brands About How Consumers Buy

BMW is putting movie ads on the dashboards of $80,000 cars. Founders are buying keyboards that sound like typewriters. Target is selling Y2K fashion drops. And somehow these things are all the same st...

11 Elo 16min

Why Your Marketing Sounds Like Everyone Else

"Great food. Great drinks. Great times." Sound familiar? It should... because every restaurant, bar, and winery in your area is saying the exact same thing. And when everyone says the same thing, no o...

4 Elo 15min

Why Your Sales Feel Harder Than They Should

Most businesses put all the pressure on sales. The pitch has to be perfect. The follow-up has to be relentless. The close has to land. But what if the sale was already won (or already lost) long befor...

28 Heinä 19min

How to Turn Your Brand Into Gold: The Alchemy of Rebranding

What if the closest thing to the philosopher's stone (the mythical substance that transforms ordinary materials into gold) already exists in business?In this episode of Brandy, Reilly Newman and Scott...

21 Heinä 18min

Try Before They Buy: Why Free Samples Beat Advertising Every Time

Advertising tells people you're great. A sample proves it.Free samples are one of the oldest conversion tools in business and consistently one of the most underestimated. While brands pour budget into...

15 Heinä 21min