Business Experts

The End of Commodity Piercing and the Rise of the Experience Economy

Studs co-founder and CEO Anna Harman has spent the past decade building and scaling consumer businesses at the intersection of operations, technology and omnichannel retail. In this Expert Insights Q&A, Harman examines what Claire’s bankruptcy reveals about the state of the commercial jewelry industry, and why piercing is no longer a commoditized service, but an experience-driven category shaped by trust, education and self-expression. Harman explains how Studs is redefining piercing for Gen Z and millennials, and why the brands that win next will be the ones that invest in expertise, consistency and meaningful consumer connection.

The Global Branding Trap CEOs Keep Falling Into

Geoff Cook, a partner at Base Design and the creative mind behind branding work for MoMA QNS, MILK, NeueHouse, JFK Terminal 4 and other cultural landmarks, examines why global brands continue to stumble when they rely too heavily on A.I.-driven, centralized strategy. Cook argues that even in an A.I.-accelerated world, success still depends on local insight, lived experience and teams empowered to act within their own markets.

The New Luxury: Why Story, Experience and Authenticity Matter More Than Exclusivity

Nili Lotan, the New York-based designer and founder of her eponymous brand, has spent more than two decades building a label grounded in authenticity, intuition and cultural storytelling. In this Expert Insights Q&A, Lotan explores why experience, narrative and personal resonance—not scarcity or price—define modern luxury, and how music, art and design inform both her creative process and brand strategy.