David Lidsky's Blog, page 68

Why Ulta Beauty is closing hundreds of store-in-stores in 2026: Is your location on the doomed list?

The closures come as the beauty giant ends its partnership with a major nationwide retailer.

Ulta Beauty and Target Corp. announced on Thursday that they won’t be renewing their in-store partnership, which ends a year from now in August 2026.

Why are people mad at E.l.f. Beauty? The Matt Rife controversy, explained

A new ad for the cosmetics company starring the stand-up comic has some customers up in arms.

In a new ad campaign for E.l.f. Beauty, Matt Rife stars alongside drag performer Heidi N. Closet as fictional personal injury lawyers “E.l.f.ino & Schmarnes.” The brand may have been hoping the comedic duo would bring laughs, but instead, the ad has been stirring up controversy.

Colorado just became the first state to add warning labels to gas stoves. Could your state be next?

Home appliance makers argue that such labels are misleading, but consumer advocates say there is no real scientific debate on the health risks.

Whenever someone in Colorado shops for a gas stove, whether in person or online, they’ll now see a yellow label that warns them about the air quality impacts. It’s a move meant to highlight the health risks of cooking with gas, and one a handful of other states are considering too.

The invisible architects: How can ingredient brands scale?

When you can’t publicly tout your greatest inventions, here are four ways to get the visibility you deserve.

It’s the story as old as (industrial) time. In the design/innovation world, not every great result will carry its maker’s name. There are some notable exceptions. Corning is the widely known supplier of ultradurable glass (Gorilla Glass) used in iPhones, for example. And GORE-TEX is known for premium outdoor gears’ breathable waterproof membrane, a material of choice. But behind most every iconic solution there are scores of silent partners like our own, Chang Robotics, whose involvement may never be known.

5 common Amazon scams and how to avoid them

The world of e-commerce is fraught with bad guys trying to pull fast ones. Here’s how to spot them before they rip you off.

Amazon is the the most efficient, popular online retailer. So maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s a gold mine for scammers. These individuals, bless their blackened hearts, are adept at crafting new and increasingly plausible ways to trick the unsuspecting—and posing as Amazon is an easy way to attract attention.

What is the reverse-acquihire?

Tech companies are poaching top talent and IP at hot AI startups, leaving them dismantled.

It’s not uncommon for large companies to acquire startups primarily for their talent rather than their product. Acquihires, as they are called, allow big companies to gain talented employees, while bypassing traditional methods of hiring. 

How to make progress on your career goals when you’ve hit the midyear slump

A productivity coach offers tips for making progress when it feels like you’re stuck.

Each January, we set lofty resolutions for ourselves: increasing our output, landing that promotion, and negotiating a raise. Then progress stalls, motivation dips, and those big goals become distant dreams. 

How proptech is driving financial inclusion

Real estate investing is more accessible through technology.

The fastest-growing group of real estate investors? They’re not hedge funds or institutional investors. They’re nurses, teachers, NASA engineers, and first-time landlords with a smartphone.

Mentorship will grow the next generation of leaders

Mentorship doesn’t just help mentees; it also helps mentors reimagining what’s possible.

Effective mentorship will be the secret recipe to grow the next generation of leaders. I’ll be the first to admit that this isn’t a new concept, but it’s extremely hard to get mentorship right. I’ve seen organizations toss mentorship into internal and external communications content as a vague component of professional development, with no real structure.

Why brands need to court AI agents

The primary shopper your brand must persuade will no longer be a person, but an AI agent acting on that person’s behalf.

In the next 24 months, your most valuable customer may never visit your site, click your ad, or read your email.