CO— Exclusives: Insider Strategies
How the buzziest brands and hottest startups are solving today's biggest business challenges. CO— brings you advice from startup founders and top executives for thriving in a new world.
Featured:
Trend Forecasters on the 6 Consumer Trends Set to Impact Business in 2025
Trend analysts weigh in on the macro movements, innovations, and consumer motivations businesses need to prepare for and act on to sustain success, from 'kidulting' to AI companionship.
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.’
How Sweet It Is: IT'SUGAR CEO on the Company’s 'Sugartainment'-Geared Growth Trajectory
The candy chain has built a sweets empire of 120 stores by using experiential retail to feed America's taste for treats.
10X Sales Increase: What Every Business Can Learn From the Stanley Tumbler 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.
Beauty's Go-To Chemist Shares How He Built His Own Blockbuster Brand in BeautyStat
Without a mammoth marketing budget, Ron Robinson’s startup has become a top performer at Ulta Beauty.
Smart Growth Strategies
Talkspace CEO on How He’s Accelerating the Company’s Path to Profitability
How the online therapy platform grows its business and stays committed to supporting children and young adults’ mental health.
How Online Pharmacies From Mark Cuban to Amazon Are Unlocking Growth Opportunities for Startups and Legacy Businesses Alike
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.
How Retailer J. Jill Is Listening to and Leveraging the Lucrative 40-Plus Women’s Market
The clothing brand has expanded its sizes, created a premium collection, and added more work outfit options in response to customer feedback.
Amway CEO on Unlocking Customer Growth in The Crowded Health and Wellness Market
The direct selling company of health to home products is leaning into the ever-burgeoning wellness and gig economies to accelerate growth.
Competitive Landscape and Business Trends
How ‘Retail Concierges’ (Both Digital and Human) Are Poised to Disrupt the Shopping Experience
AI-powered virtual sales assistants and improved tools for store employees will anticipate shoppers’ needs and provide VIP-level service at scale.
Meta, Google, and Shopify Execs on How New AI Tools Will Drive Sales in 2024
AI-enhanced commerce exploded this holiday season, giving merchants new ways to sell and changing how consumers shop.
How To Turn Deinfluencing Into a Marketing Opportunity
There are opportunities to attract customers even when products are on the wrong end of a social media post.
Businesses Large and Small Tap Multibillion-Dollar Retail Media Network Trend for Growth
In-store platforms from DICK’s Sporting Goods to Instacart expand to provide advertisers more access to consumers in the final stages of their purchasing decisions.
Startup Success Strategies
How Online Grocer Thrive Market Did $500 Million in Sales With a Sustainable Operating Model
Co-founder Sasha Siddhartha on building sustainability into its core mission, and tapping technology to deliver affordable organic foods to more communities.
How Laundry Disruptor Rinse Supports Small Brick-and-Mortar Businesses as It Grows at a Fast Clip
Rinse founders and college friends Ajay Prakash and James Joun are tapping into technology to help make getting laundry done less of a hassle.
Big Businesses Accelerate Small Business Growth
Mastercard, Affirm, and Klarna Lean Into SMB and Millennial Market Demands to Unlock Growth
Execs from the financial services firms on easing access to capital for small businesses, expanding buy now, pay later options, and driving cost savings via AI to fuel growth.
Lessons on Leadership
Top Executives from LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Overstock.com on Navigating the Long Shadow of Imposter Syndrome
Despite professional success, VP of Global DEI Rosanna Durruthy, VP of Creative Xanthe Wells, and CMO Angela Hsu reflect on grappling with self-doubt, and the path to recognizing, ‘you’re OK.’
Tapping Tech to Drive Business
Courting Customers: Leading Travel Companies Embrace Tech to Hyper-Personalize Experiences
Companies From Hilton Hotels to Vail Resorts and United Airlines are allowing customers to personalize their own experiences.
How AI is Leveling the Marketing Playing Field Between SMBs and Big Business
Small to medium-sized businesses can make their operations more efficient by using AI tools to attend to tasks they might not have the time or the resources for.
Amazon Exec on How New Services Solve SMB Sellers’ 3 Biggest Pain Points
Amazon's expanded supply chain function and product listing tools aim to help SMBs drive sales, says Claire O’Donnell, Director, Selling Partner Empowerment.
Inside Google’s Bold Push to Help Small Businesses Sell More Online Via the Magic of Generative AI
How the search engine giant is weaving (free) content creation tools into its shopping ecosystem to level the playing field between big brands and SMBs.
Leaders on The Mentors That Shaped Their Success
PepsiCo’s SVP on How His Mentor’s Guidance Made Him a Better Leader
Chris Kuechenmeister explains how his mentor not only heightened his awareness of diversity and inclusion, but also schooled him on bringing ‘humanity, empathy, and vulnerability’ to business.
Salesforce’s Retail VP & GM on His 3 Mentors Who Changed Everything — But Didn’t Know They Were Mentors
Rob Garf explains how his key mentors — his dad, a research analyst, and a CEO — have strongly impacted his actions as a corporate leader and how he works with others.
