Executive Briefing
The things that inspired me in 2022
A year-end gift guide for the mind.
By Dan Frommer on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 8:00 am
“Instead of a holiday gift guide,” I wrote near the end of 2019, “here are some of the things that made me smarter this year.” After 2020 and 2021 editions, let’s keep that tradition going again this year.
The shops (and clerks) that actually cared to deliver a delightful experience
Retail started to feel like it was coming back alive this year after a long period of pandemic-forced closures, restrictions, high-strung attitudes, and general awkwardness.
It’s been a real treat to spend time in stores again, seeing products up close, admiring textures and fixtures, and learning about specific features and manufacturing techniques. Aspects of shopping that were previously annoying, like trying on a pair of pants, delivered a novel sense of excitement. Take my shoes off? With pleasure! That won’t last, but it’s been nice.
It’s also now even more clear which brands have been able to staff their shops with people who care about the customer experience, and train their teams about what they sell and how they should sell it.
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Hi, I’m Dan Frommer and this is The New Consumer, a publication about how and why people spend their time and money.
I’m a longtime tech and business journalist, and I’m excited to focus my attention on how technology continues to profoundly change how things are created, experienced, bought, and sold. The New Consumer is supported entirely by your membership — join now to receive my reporting, analysis, and commentary directly in your inbox, via my member-exclusive newsletter. Thanks in advance.