The Lead

It was a true honor to recognize Nicole Miller, fashion designer, with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Direct 60 Forum on October 10th in NYC! Since launching her brand in 1982, Nicole has grown it into a global lifestyle powerhouse, sold in over 1,500 stores worldwide. Her innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to connect with consumers have left a lasting mark on the fashion and retail industry. ? Nicole’s ability to blend artistry with practicality is an inspiration for the Direct 60 leaders who are building the go-to-market strategies for today’s powerhouse brands. We celebrated Nicole's extraordinary success and creativity, showcasing her enduring impact with a well-deserved award. Join the Direct 60 honorees at The Lead Summit 2025! Join over 3,000 attendees May 28-29 in NYC: summit.the-lead.co #NicoleMiller #Direct60 #LifetimeAchievementAward Nicole Miller

In last week's round-up of brand to consumer news from The Indicator, H&M delighted loyalty members with a surprise Charli XCX concert in Times Square, Prada Group & Miu Miu brought luxury to Snapchat with Bitmoji handbags, Ulta Beauty is enhancing personalization for its 44M members, and brands like Gap, Crocs, & Rebecca Minkoff lean into Wicked collabs ahead of the film’s release. Want more industry news weekly? Stay in The Lead by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/e-w8A-jz

The Lead is proud to support Delivering Good, Inc. - a nonprofit providing essentials to individuals and families facing hardship. This Giving Tuesday, December 3, join us in their Matching Gift Campaign. Every donation helps provide items like socks and t-shirts to those in need across the U.S. DONATE NOW:?https://lnkd.in/erwmcZ9A Together, we can amplify support and transform lives. Let’s make a difference!

In last week's round-up of brand to consumer news from The Indicator, DOLCE&GABBANA and SKIMS are linking up for a limited-edition collaboration, Vuori (the digital-native athleisure brand) is now valued at $5.5B,?Amazon has launched The Amazon Haul store to compete with Temu & Shein, and Grove Collaborative will exit partnerships with brick-and-mortar stores. Want more industry news weekly? Stay in The Lead by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/e-w8A-jz

In last week's round-up of brand to consumer news from The Indicator, MANGO is the latest brand to use AI-generated models, IKEA is buying real estate on Fifth Avenue, creator-led CPG brands are achieving significant success through Walmart, and Aritzia proves that premium real estate and stores are a great alternative to traditional marketing for acquiring customers. Want more industry news weekly? Stay in The Lead by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/e-w8A-jz

In last week's round-up of brand to consumer news from The Indicator, Prada Group is defying the luxury slowdown, buoyed by the strength of its Miu Miu brand, Shopify is successfully going after Salesforce’s enterprise clients, REVOLVE launched a shopping game, and TikTok Shop is going all in on livestreaming this holiday. Want more industry news weekly? Stay in The Lead by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/e-w8A-jz

In last week's round-up of brand to consumer news from The Indicator, a federal court judge has blocked the proposed merger between Tapestry (Coach, Kate Spade) and Capri (Michael Kors), True Religion is featuring Megan Thee Stallion in a holiday campaign, lululemon plans to design and develop NHL fan apparel, and the new FARM Rio store just opened up in Brooklyn. Want more industry news weekly? Stay in The Lead by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/e-w8A-jz

The Direct 60 Forum was as much about celebration and recognition as it was about structured networking. "Uncorked Connections" wine tasting experience, presented by Bambuser where we met new friends and reconnected with old ones.?? There was a special energy in the air at The Direct 60 Forum. It was our honor to gather so many high-achieving executives in one place, where the spirit of recognition and celebration filled the room. We look forward to more standout experiences at The Lead Summit 2025! Join us in NYC on May 28-29: summit.the-lead.co A special thanks to: Caroline Nuckolls, Head of Sales - Americas, Bambuser Corrina Sanni, Enterprise Account Executive, Bambuser Qabil Shah, CMO, Bambuser

We ended The Direct 60 Forum on the highest of high notes! (Well, we did have the cocktails and dinner to follow, but that's a different story!) In a very special moment, Direct 60 Alumni Heath Golden, CEO, Marquee Brands presented the Visionary Award to David J. Katz, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Randa Apparel & Accessories. This is the award reserved for? an executive that can see the necessary steps for business evolution at every level, things the rest of us may not even understand. The Visionary is a person that has shown time and time again that they can carry an organization through true transformation at multiple levels: organizational, business, and technology — with a consistent and proven vision and few exemplify the vision of David Katz! We look forward to seeing David and the Randa team at The Lead Summit 2025! Join us: summit.the-lead.co

Congratulations to Aaron Rose, Chief Commerce and Experience Officer at Banana Republic, for his incredible success and specifically Brand Reinvention. There are so many incredible honorees and settling on one was no easy task for The Lead! With the help of Direct 60 List alumni Lisa Sloan Walker, President of Jewelry Services, Signet Jewelers, and Danielle DiMaiolo Rendini, Head of Retail, American Girl, it was our honor to present this award. We Rachelle Snyder, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Arrive Recommerce for their sponsorship and we look forward to seeing everyone on May 28-29 at The Lead Summit in NYC: summit.the-lead.co