The New Rules of Retail: Competing in the World's Toughest Marketplace

In The New Rules of Retail , industry gurus Robin Lewis and Michael Dart explained how unprecedented consumer power, enabled by technology and globalization, is revolutionizing retail. They warned that survival in these dynamic times called for a business model based on three distinct competencies: preemptive, perpetual distribution; a neurological customer connection; and total control of the value chain. In the years since that book published, many of their predictions have come true. Now, they revisit timeless case studies like Ralph Lauren and Sears, as well as new additions like Trader Joe's, Lululemon, and Warby Parker, to assess how retailers must continue to evolve in the era of e-commerce, data mining, and tiered distribution. They also identify the five current trends that are currently driving consumer demand, including technology integration and channel consolidation, as exemplified by Jeff Bezos at Amazon. This is a fully revised and updated guide from two proven retail prognosticators.

Robin Lewis is the CEO of THE ROBIN REPORT, a knowledge-based, multi-media strategic report for C-level executives in the retail industry. He was the founder of the Goldman Sachs retail consulting subsidiary, Vantage Marketplace, which provides clients with strategic information and consulting on all sectors of retailing worldwide. Prior to Goldman Sachs, he was Vice President and Executive Editor of Women's Wear Daily, where he originated and led Fairchild's Strategic Information Services and the WWD CEO Summit series. He has consulted for Kohl’s, Bloomingdale’s, JC Penney, Macy’s, Liz Claiborne, Estee Lauder, Ralph Lauren, Sara Lee, and financial firms such as Bear Stearns and The Carlyle Group. He serves on the Board of Governors for the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Board of Directors for the Fashion Group International.

Michael Dart is a partner with A.T. Kearney in the Private Equity Practice and co-author of Retail’s Seismic Shift and The New Rules of Retail. He is an accomplished consultant and advisor with a wealth of experience leading major strategic transformations and due diligence studies for many of the largest private-equity funds and global retailers. He also has extensive experience leading the development and implementation of business strategies and growth efforts. Michael is based in A.T. Kearney’s San Francisco office. Michael has been recognized by Consulting magazine as one of its top 25 consultants. In additional to being frequently quoted in the press, he has spoken at major conferences and delivered keynote speeches at the Women’s Wear Daily Apparel & Retail CEO Summit in New York and the Global Department Store Summit in Paris and Beijing.

Before joining A.T. Kearney, Michael was a senior partner in the strategy and private equity practice at Kurt Salmon, where he led engagements for seven of the top 10 private equity funds and multiple retailers in the United States. He was also a partner with Bain & Company. Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in history and economics from Oxford University and an MBA in finance and strategic planning from the Wharton School of Business.

Michael is the coauthor of The New Rules of Retail and Retail's Seismic Shift with Robin Lewis.