The following stories are from VMSD, INVISION’s sister publication for retail store design and visual merchandising professionals. Visit VMSD.com or subscribe here.
Bloomingdale’s Opens “Wuthering Heights” Pop-Up, Gap Hires Chief Entertainment Officer
Two major retailers are doubling down on entertainment. Bloomingdale’s partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery for a gothic, romantic “Wuthering Heights” pop-up (Jan. 15-Feb. 22) at its New York flagship to promote the Feb. 13 film release. Meanwhile, Gap hired former Paramount exec Pam Kaufman as its first-ever Chief Entertainment Officer to build entertainment, content and licensing platforms across music, TV, film, sports and gaming. Gap calls it “Fashiontainment.” Kaufman will work from a new Gap office on LA’s Sunset Boulevard. Read more.
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Levi’s Launches “Wear Longer Project” to Teach Gen Z Repair Skills
Levi Strauss launched a free program teaching high schoolers (grades 9-12) how to repair, refresh and customize clothing — from sewing buttons to patching holes. Developed with Discovery Education, the Wear Longer Project starts in San Francisco before expanding globally, with workshops at Levi’s R&D facility and Super Bowl weekend activations. CEO Michelle Gass says it’s about “building up repair skills within the next generation and emphasizing the idea of durability.” Because Gen Z loves thrift stores but can’t sew. Read more.
Digital-First Revolve Opens Second Store at LA’s The Grove
Revolve Group, founded in 2003 as a digital-first brand, opened its second physical store at The Grove in LA. The 8,450-square-foot, two-story concept features a sculptural spiral staircase centerpiece and showcases Revolve and FWRD product lines plus previously owned merchandise. Co-founder and co-CEO Michael Mente says “expanding our physical footprint is both a strategic and natural progression.” Wow, another online retailer discovers stores actually work. Read more.
Swarovski Names New North America President From Amazon, Calvin Klein
Crystal and jewelry maker Swarovski hired Sindhu Culas as President and GM of North America. Culas brings 25+ years across omni-channel retail, starting as a buyer at Macy’s, Talbots and Lord & Taylor, then Senior Vendor Manager at Amazon, SVP of E-commerce at Calvin Klein, and most recently CEO of G-Star North America. She’ll maximize Swarovski’s physical and digital presence across 260 North American boutiques. Read more.
Retailers Seek Federal Rules for Penny Shortage (Yes, Really)
The U.S. Treasury stopped making pennies last fall, and now retailers and restaurants face a point-of-sale dilemma: round up or round down? The National Retail Federation, National Restaurant Association and Retail Industry Leaders Association are all asking Congress for clear federal rounding rules. Some retailers are rounding in customers’ favor (losing up to 4 cents per transaction), while others round down and risk angry customers. The kicker: in some states, rounding is actually illegal because it violates equal-treatment laws between cash and card customers. Most jewelers don’t deal in pennies, but if you do accept cash, here’s your heads-up. Read more.
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Takeaways for Eyecare Professionals
Here are a few actionable takeaways for independent optical retailers and eyecare practices from this week’s headlines:
Turn visits into experiences. Bloomingdale’s built a movie-themed pop-up — proof that entertainment drives traffic. Translate that to optical with film-night frame events, themed window displays, or influencer collabs that make shopping memorable.
Teach, don’t just sell. Levi’s is teaching Gen Z to sew. You can teach your patients how to clean, care for, and adjust their eyewear. Education deepens trust and creates repeat visits.
Digital brands are opening stores — again. Even Revolve, born online, now wants face-to-face contact. Your brick-and-mortar advantage is personal expertise — highlight it through styling consults and one-on-one service tech can’t match.
Think like an entertainer. Gap hired a Chief Entertainment Officer. You don’t need one, but you can weave storytelling into your brand — short videos on frame craftsmanship, patient success stories, or behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team.
Small touches matter, even pennies. As the penny shortage shows, checkout details shape perception. Keep payment processes smooth and transparent — no one likes rounding surprises when picking up new lenses.
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