Barbara Thau

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, FEATURES CO—

About Barbara

Barbara is a longtime business reporter and editor specializing in the retail and consumer sectors, whose coverage includes fashion, food, beauty, technology and more. Her coverage at consumer publications like Forbes, CNBC and AOL.com and trade outlets such as Home Furnishings News ranges from market trend analysis features to CEO profiles of the nation’s biggest public companies, as well as buzzy new disruptors. Thau aims for CO—'s features to demystify the business landscape for the business community, with exclusive stories that keep readers ahead of the trends, identify emerging opportunities and offer actionable insights for growth.

Latest—

Marketers Court Black Friday Shoppers With Emotion-Fueled Gifting Experiences That Glimpse 2026 Trends

Retailers and brands are leaning into culture, nostalgia, and community-driven products and experiences to woo economy-weary holiday shoppers in-store, where most retail sales are still generated.

3 Founders on the Critical Business Decisions That Proved Pivotal to Success

The founders of luxury vintage home goods marketplace Chairish, ratings app Yuka, and food disruptor PopUp Bagels each share a game-changing business move that fueled profitable growth.

Getty Images Bets on Exclusive (AI-Powered) Visuals to Fuel Small Business Growth

Chief Product Officer Grant Farhall is banking on Getty’s vast library of licensed images, videos, and illustrations—plus AI tools—to help SMBs meet the unyielding demand for ROI-driving content.

Success Lessons From the Media Entrepreneur Behind the (Multimillion-Dollar) ’90 Day Fiancé’ Franchise

Matt Sharp shares his lifelong—and hard won—playbook for business success.

Bugaboo Chief Commercial Officer North America on Professional (and Personal) Success and Well-Being

Jeanelle Teves gets candid on the experiences and challenges that have shaped her journey in life and work — and the one business-mindset strategy ‘that’s served me really well.’

Marimekko CEO on How the Finnish Design House Is Betting on Its 73-Year-Old ‘Anti-Fashion’ Ethos to Win Over Nex-Gen U.S. Consumers

The global brand is tapping influencers, a Nordstrom deal, and its first-ever denim line to woo millennials and Gen Z — who happen to share its brand values, Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko says.

Brands Building Wellness into Marketing Plans

The post-pandemic-fueled wellness economy finds everyday brands from Ulta Beauty to dating app Bumble adding self-care to their businesses to boost customer engagement and brand loyalty.

Experts on the Success of the Stanley Tumbler: What Businesses Can Learn From the Sales Phenomenon

How a 113-year-old water bottle brand with working-class roots became millennials’ ‘quiet luxury’ must-have item, and drove up sales tenfold to $750 million — serving up actionable insights for SMBs.

How Mark Cuban and Amazon's Online Pharmacies Unlock Growth Opportunities for All

Execs from the e-commerce giant and startups Cost Plus Drugs and Hims & Hers, on driving growth via partnerships, an expanded range of healthcare offerings, and digital convenience.

Amazon Solves Top Small Business Pain Points

Amazon's expanded supply chain function and AI-driven product listing tools aim to help SMBs drive sales on its site and beyond, says Claire O’Donnell, Director, Selling Partner Empowerment.