Reinvigorating a decades-old plush toy brand. In a mass-produced world where words like quality, creativity and authenticity are little more than unsubstantiated marketing-speak, Mary Meyer is the real deal. A family-owned company with a storied 85-year history of making soft and cuddly stuffed toys for gift-givers who know and appreciate quality and want to give something truly memorable that will be loved by that special someone. But the look of this storied brand needed an update to bring it forward in time, and make it more appealing to new parents and gift-giving grandparents. It was time for a refresh. That’s where J.Schmid came in. Read the Case Study at: https://www.jschmid.com/blog/portfolio/mary-meyer/

Eddie Bauer is reportedly planning to abandon brick and mortar. The store operator of the iconic, 106-year-old outdoor apparel and lifestyle brand is getting ready to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a move to shutter its approximately 200 North American stores, reported WWD. Eddie Bauer’s store operations are owned by Catalyst Brands under license from brand owner Authentic Brands Group. Catalyst Brands was formed in January 2025 when JCPenney and SPARC Group (a joint venture of brand management firm Authentic Brands Group, Simon Property Group and Shein) combined to form a new organization. In addition to Eddie Bauer, its portfolio includes JCPenney, Lucky Brand, Aéropostale, Nautica and Brooks Brothers.

Harris Poll research commissioned by Quad points to the importance of blending physical and digital in retail: Eighty-six percent of Gen Z and Millennials say touching and feeling products is essential to their purchase decisions, and 84% value brands that blend technology with physical experiences. With more than 80 percent of retail purchases happening in brick-and-mortar locations1, the in-store experience is still where buying decisions are made. Quad experts will share unique insights on these and other trends at the annual retail and e-commerce conference, whose theme is “Retail in the Age of AI .”