As retailer Five Below introduces items priced above $5, they're now arranging by category, not price point. No surprise they’ve seen sales grow. With items seen as having only adequate quality, shoppers are drawn by substantial variety displayed together.

For today’s RIMtailing blog post, “Abstract the Importance of Luxury Buy Source,” go to https://t.co/vCO6ocznAD

A challenge for Southwest Airlines as they initiate fees for seat selection is maintaining authenticity in their value-oriented identity. Bragging about keeping a “basic economy” fare helps. Bragging they want “top-of-the-industry” profit margins hurts. https://t.co/e48Bp9LLWi

Starbucks attributes recent sales jumps in part to events like Red Cup Day. Take a sip from Starbucks: With your themed events, care about the carry-aways. Have themed items shoppers can leave with to serve as reminders of enjoyment linked to your store.

Just-published “Why We Click” suggests that each of us seek out people with speech & movements like ours. Classic consumer behavior research verifies that each of us can persuade better when matching the speech & movements of our persuasion targets. https://t.co/dYUFZAAnRi

As President Trump orders U.S. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino out into the cold, menswear writer Derek Guy says Bovino’s overcoat reinforces the militarization of immigration enforcement. What you & your associates wear influences influence.

For today’s RIMtailing blog post, “Buttress Source Memory by Opining,” go to https://t.co/zTmKlmHMfv

I predict going-out-of-business sales on luxury merchandise due to the Saks bankruptcy will be environments ripe for shoplifting attempts: Fast-moving gatherings. Perceptions of authority leaving soon. The hiding & hoarding habits of female shoppers.

Add Ryanair to the list of firms that turn insults into marketing opportunities. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary prods Elon Musk into calling him “an utter idiot,” at which point Mr. O’Leary declares, with full press fanfare, a “BIG ‘IDIOT’ SALE” on airfares. https://t.co/4q7buRpvWW

For today’s RIMtailing blog post, “Project Plain Facts About Philanthropy,” go to https://t.co/6DjuilDdfF

Watched “Frankenstein” on Netflix? Victor F’s anguish about creating the monster is an example of action regret. Consumer psychology research indicates a cold shower might have brought relief. https://t.co/JWa74FSKzh

Pew Research reports that although health care workers face especially high suicide risk, they avoid help because of the stigma. To address this, use techniques successful in getting health care patients to avoid stigma concerns about receiving services. https://t.co/hnOKZkWs6w

For today’s RIMtailing blog post, “Insinuate Insults into Influencing,” go to https://t.co/4q7buRpvWW

The success of Steve Sando’s Rancho Gordo Bean Club—30,000 members awaiting a delivery every few months—has to do with more than the legume’s health benefits. There’s the adventure in discovering new flavor experiences. Serendipity sells subscriptions. https://t.co/qIGFFBcEyd

Victoria’s Secret is saying that this year they’re stocking up for Valentine's Day sales to more shapes & sizes than last year. Now remember that showing body size diversity on product pages is more influential with shoppers than showing it in ads. https://t.co/eTttCUoZhs

For today’s RIMtailing blog post, “Control Conspiratorial Thinking,” go to https://t.co/ifcFkQ1Fyc

Retail advisors Allison Collins & Jessica Ramírez anticipate robust sales of fashion accessories in a cash-strapped 2026 since accessories serve functions of high-fashion clothing, but usually at lower prices. I see one of those functions as mating cue.

Last month’s NYT feature on Otohime—restroom devices to mask toilet flushing noise—signals marketing opportunities for other ways people can mask embarrassment. For instance, people buy extra items to mask purchase of incontinent pads & romance novels.

In making New Year’s resolutions for your marketing endeavors as well as the rest of your life’s efforts, value the motivational advantage of specifying numerical ranges instead of exact numerical targets.

In “Could Should Might Don’t,” Nick Foster explores the inevitable flaws when anticipating the future. My example is that although the best predictor of future consumer behavior is past consumer behavior, the flaw is in how consumers seek variety. https://t.co/9jDsFMhi86