Shelley E. Kohan

Sharon Price John has had a radical strategy in maintaining Build-A-Bear Workshop's 28-year-old culture and legacy while forging new directions, responding to customer shifts and marketplace dynamics.

The Hershey Company has been around for 131 years, but continues to reimagine holiday traditions for modern consumers. "Everyone you talk to in the country has a Hershey story, and that is so powerful to tap into," explains Taffet. The strategy reflects a broader transformation at Hershey, which has delivered five of the top ten innovations in the candy-mint-gum (CMG) category this year.

American Giant has relaunched its famous hoodie and continues to support American-made pride with 100% manufacturing in the U.S.

Ace Hardware has quietly deployed one of brick-and-mortar retail's most ambitious frontline AI tools.

With over 5,200 locations and a brand promise built on helpfulness, Ace Hardware is betting Hey ARMA can deliver the on-demand expertise today's shoppers expect.

Ace Hardware is scaling its Hey ARMA technology across 2,300 stores to give associates instant project expertise and improve the customer experience.

Self-driving vehicles are increasingly appearing at private properties like malls and restaurants for pickups, causing chaos due to a lack of coordinated infrastructure. This burgeoning "autonomous commerce" channel, with the last-mile delivery market projected to exceed $50 billion by 2028, demands new management solutions. Autolane is addressing this by providing a platform that acts as "air traffic control" for autonomous vehicles on private land, offering communication, coordination, and control. Having launched in Austin and expanding across major U.S. cities with retail partners, Autolane aims to alleviate friction. While the U.S. market focuses on private sector solutions, Singapore leads in public sector autonomous delivery, highlighting global efforts to integrate these technologies despite a fragmented market landscape.

Nordstrom is celebrating its 125th anniversary with an expanded, iconic Anniversary Sale, a unique event offering new fall merchandise at a discount before the season. Jamie Nordstrom, Chief Merchandising Officer, emphasizes its multi-generational tradition and distinction from clearance sales. This year boasts over 100 brands, including 50 new additions like Reformation and Puma, all curated for customer discovery. Celebrating its milestone, Nordstrom hosts free block parties in major cities and enhances in-store experiences with gamified events, blending online and physical shopping for a comprehensive customer journey.

Cape Verdean goalkeeper Josimar Dias's social media posts resonated with millions of World Cup viewers, sparking an unprecedented rise no one saw coming.(Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)Getty Images

Kraft Heinz's new lactose-free Philadelphia cream cheese targets the 30 to 50 million Americans who are lactose intolerant and one of the company's big strategic moves. Courtesy Kraft Heinz