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post thumbnail for The Non-Obvious Book of the Week: Generations by Jean M. Twenge

08 2025 July

The Non-Obvious Book of the Week: Generations by Jean M. Twenge

If there was ever a book that could demystify and explain the differences between these generational labels we assign to one another, this is it....

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post thumbnail for How To See Through a Manipulated Headline (A Retailwire Case Study)

16 2025 June

How To See Through a Manipulated Headline (A Retailwire Case Study)

One thing I often talk about in this newsletter is honing our media literacy. This week I found a perfect case study to illustrate how...

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post thumbnail for The Non-Obvious Book of the Week: The New Tourist by Paige McClanahan

10 2025 June

The Non-Obvious Book of the Week: The New Tourist by Paige McClanahan

Ask anyone if they describe themselves as a tourist or a traveler and most people will say the latter. Seeing yourself as a “tourist” has...

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post thumbnail for LEGO Dives into the Book Nook Trend with Latest Set for Adults

02 2025 June

LEGO Dives into the Book Nook Trend with Latest Set for Adults

A “book nook” is the term typically reserved for a cozy corner of a home or office where you can enjoy reading a book in...

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post thumbnail for People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies

15 2025 May

People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies

For years, people have been worried about what will happen if humans start to worship AI and technology. The opposite question is one we rarely...

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post thumbnail for Tattoorism and the Elusive Quest for the Ultimate Souvenir

23 2025 April

Tattoorism and the Elusive Quest for the Ultimate Souvenir

How do you remember a trip forever? Last year there was a feature story about “the rise of tattoo tourism” and how more Millennials and...

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post thumbnail for The Sad Retreat of April Fool’s Day and What It Reveals About Our Culture

04 2025 April

The Sad Retreat of April Fool’s Day and What It Reveals About Our Culture

The week of April Fool’s Day, I regularly look forward to reading about all the brands taking risks, exploring their fun sides and doing something...

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post thumbnail for Rimowa Sells Old, Beat-Up Suitcases and Demand Is Off the Charts

02 2025 April

Rimowa Sells Old, Beat-Up Suitcases and Demand Is Off the Charts

Buyback programs are getting popular among retailers in many categories but usually they are for products that are still in “sellable” condition that can be...

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post thumbnail for The Problem of Fake Job Postings  

20 2025 January

The Problem of Fake Job Postings  

The Wall Street Journal published a piece this week about the rise in fake job postings online. The reasons for these range from some companies using those listings to...

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post thumbnail for What the Canadian Angst Over the Upcoming Trump Inauguration Can Teach Us

17 2025 January

What the Canadian Angst Over the Upcoming Trump Inauguration Can Teach Us

In days, President Trump will take office again and there is certainly some concern among the groups you would expect. One unusual source for some...

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post thumbnail for The Slow Decline of Patriotic Branding (and Maybe National Pride Itself)

15 2025 January

The Slow Decline of Patriotic Branding (and Maybe National Pride Itself)

There was a time when patriotic branding was hot. That time seems to be over. According to an eye-opening new study from a sociologist at...

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post thumbnail for Amsterdam Launched a Campaign to Convince British Tourists NOT to Visit. Did It Work?

11 2024 December

Amsterdam Launched a Campaign to Convince British Tourists NOT to Visit. Did It Work?

Back in 2023, in response to a growing number of young male British tourists partying, getting drunk and generally behaving badly, the city of Amsterdam...

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post thumbnail for The Non-Obvious Books of the Week: The 2024 Non-Obvious Book Awards Longlist

10 2024 December

The Non-Obvious Books of the Week: The 2024 Non-Obvious Book Awards Longlist

After considering more than 1000 submissions and hours of reviewing titles, I’m thrilled to share that our latest round of winners for the Non-Obvious Book...

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