Reinventing Normal: Do Department Stores Have a Future?

Writer, speaker, retail futurist, and founder of consulting agency 22nd&5th  Howard Saunders joins Reinventing Normal host Mark Landini to discuss the future of retail stores. Appreciating the long, hallowed history of shopping in the West and how it’s impacted the daily life of a vast cross-section of demographics, they dive into current industry problems and how to glean some way forward.

“The department store is dead… and we’re seeing the fallout of that,“ Saunders explained. “But you have to look at it deeper than that… It brings you to question what it is – when you talk about department stores – what it is you mean.”

Saunders and Landini explore the ways department stores have raised the bar to offer everyday consumers services previously available only to the financial elite.

They delve into the influence of trade pioneers Selfridges & Co., how businesses who hold their model excel, and why the monotony of shopping is toxic to the retail industry.

They also get real about the issues crushing in-life purchasing experiences due to companies cramping into a mold that is no longer profitable, groundbreaking, or stimulating to shoppers.

“They committed suicide by being so mediocre,” Saunders lamented with a laugh.

With a little nostalgia for the Golden Era of merchandising, they show how the digital age has revolutionized shopping for the masses – and how retail can overcome these issues while offering a better purchasing experience.

Emphasizing the past, they pave the way to the future.

Join the conversation on this episode of Reinventing Normal with Mark Landini.

More Stories Like This

IBM Study Shows a Growing Portion of Consumers Embrace Hybrid Shopping

How American Eagle Outfitters Went by Acquisitions to Fill Logistics Gaps

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More
ham radios
Hamvention 2025: ICOM Ham Radios Inspire Beginners and Veteran Operators Alike
July 9, 2025

Dayton Hamvention 2025 drew amateur radio hobbyists of all experience levels who shared stories and personal milestones. ICOM ham radios took center stage in many of these testimonials, featuring longtime fans to new licensees discovering the hobby through family and school. Attendees praised the reliability, sound quality, and ease of use of models like…

Read More
global radio enthusiasts
Dayton Hamvention 2025: Global Radio Enthusiasts Rely on Icom Radios for Versatility and Reliable Performance
July 9, 2025

Radio operators from around the world gathered at Dayton Hamvention 2025 to share firsthand stories of connection, experimentation, and gear that stands the test of time. As digital modes, satellite operation, and mobile setups continue to grow in popularity, global radio enthusiasts reaffirmed Icom as a trusted choice across all experience levels.. A diverse…

Read More