2023 Conference Highlights

​

The HBS Retail & Luxury Goods Club was honored to host its annual conference, "Timeless vs. Trend: Exploring the Future of Retail & Luxury" on November 5th 2023. The theme of the conference was inspired by today’s ever-evolving consumer landscape, where short-term trends driven by social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram dominate. The event explored the dichotomy between fleeting trends and enduring brands, offering deep insights into what it takes to build a lasting legacy in the retail and luxury sectors.

​

Consumers today are demanding more from the brands they purchase from, seeking not just products but also a sense of community and connection. Our conference delved into how brands are responding creatively to these demands, transforming themselves into hubs of community and engagement. We examined the delicate balance between staying relevant amidst fast-moving trends and maintaining a timeless appeal.

​

Keynote: Halide Alagöz, Chief Product Officer at Ralph Lauren​

Halide Alagöz, Chief Product Officer at Ralph Lauren, shared her insights on navigating the complexities of the modern retail landscape. Ms. Alagöz is responsible for the end-to-end product life cycle at Ralph Lauren, leading the Polo, RRL, and Lauren brand teams, and driving innovation and seamless execution from development through sourcing across the Ralph Lauren portfolio. Before joining Ralph Lauren in 2016, she spent 18 years with H&M Corporation, most recently as Head of Purchasing in Hong Kong.

​

A Leader's Perspective: Dressing the Consumer of the Future

This panel explored how consumer preferences and behaviors have evolved, and how fashion brands are adapting to these new demands. Industry leaders shared their visions for the future of fashion and discussed strategies for staying ahead of the curve.

• Rebecca Hessel Cohen, Founder & Creative Director, LoveShackFancy

• Nicolas Llinas-Carrizosa, Fashion, Beauty & Luxury Partner, Boston Consulting Group

• Peiman Raf, Co-Founder & CEO, Madhappy

• Mike Sard, Co-Founder, Tombolo

​

Beyond the Fad: Building a Lasting Beauty Brand

With beauty trends shifting daily, in part thanks to social media platforms like TikTok, it has become more difficult for brands to develop lasting relationships with their consumers. This panel explored how brands are thinking long-term to build a beauty brand that will stand short-term viral moments.

• Laney Crowell, Founder & CEO, Saie Beauty

• Akash and Nikita Mehta, Co-Founders, Fable & Mane

• Olamide Olowe, Founder & CEO, Topicals

​

Investing in the Consumer Landscape

The landscape of consumer investing is evolving, with a greater emphasis on profitability over growth at all costs. This panel discussed the changing climate in venture capital and how investors are adapting their strategies to navigate this new terrain.

• Carolyn Simmons, Partner, Melitas Ventures

• Sydney Sykes, Partner, Lightspeed Venture Partners

• Caitlin Strandberg, Partner, Lerer Hippeau

• Mike Banu, Principal, Stride Consumer Partners

• Sarah Mascioli Esslen, Principal, Yellow Wood Partners

​

Future of Retailing: Curation & Channel

Over the past decade, consumer shopping behaviors have shifted tremendously. This panel discussed how retailers are shaping their curation and distribution strategies to meet the evolving demands of consumers.

• Samina Virk, CEO North America, Vestiaire Collective

• Lori Legaspi Moores, VP of Merchandising, Everything Else, SSENSE

• Laure Hériard Dubreuil, Founder & CEO, The Webster

• Anna Harman, Co-Founder & CEO, Studs

​

Authentic Brand Storytelling: Wellness & Personal Care

The Wellness & Personal Care industries have evolved significantly over the past decade. This panel explored how brands within the space are creating authentic relationships with customers through their storytelling abilities, as told by their founders.

• Lo Bosworth, Founder, Love Wellness

• Nadya Okamoto, Co-Founder, August

​

Keynote: Marianna Hewitt + Lauren Ireland, Co-founders of Summer Fridays

Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Ireland, co-founders of Summer Fridays, shared their journey of building a successful beauty brand from the ground up, emphasizing the power of social media and community building. Founded in 2018, Summer Fridays began with the iconic Jet Lag Mask and has grown to offer a full line of skincare, no makeup-makeup, and body care products available at over 1,000 stores globally. The brand has sold more than 6 million products and won numerous awards, including an Allure Best of Beauty Award for their Lip Butter Balm.