Black Friday Cyber Monday - You Devil You!

So what did we learn? From downtime to discounts, you kept us guessing.

First lesson, we already goddamn knew this folks.

We knew it would be a great holiday season. Walmart told us that several months ago.

The consumer is nothing if not consistent. Upper income continue to carry the economy, and lower income brackets while not experiencing wage gains, are not despondent either.

Second lesson, people need to stop catastrophizing.

We learned this year one thing, a slow trickle of bad economic news, tariffs and trade wars, and other things have been a nothingburger for the consumer. Clearly, it has affected global supply chains - lots of major shifts. Consumer rolled eyes at it, however.

Third lesson, many retailers lost a lot of time.

I would like everyone to count up the number of reforecasts you did from March through May and ask yourself - was it worth it?

I'm betting not. Your staff thinks your time was better spent on innovation.

What didn't we learn? ... at least not yet, anyway:

First lesson: How much of this crap you bought are you are going to keep?

And what margins did you have to give up to hit these numbers?

And will you keep any of these divinely discontented promotion-driven customers?

Second lesson: How do we make proper investment decisions?

The idea that when we get stressed and nervous we stop investing in our brand and in our future... perhaps it needs to stop?