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“The branding, the name, even the photo shots and art direction of Untuckit, all feel very mass-market and mainstream and that’s what resonates with most men who shop,” Meagher said. “Untuckit has a calculated, stealthy secret empire because of its mainstream approach.”

“These kinds of big expansion plans, it used to be that you could have a U.S. team go overseas and open up a retail space, but now brands and consumers in other markets really look for that very emotional, on-the-ground consumer interaction and space,” Meagher said. “And being that this would be an L.A. export, Fred Segal has to have the right on-the-ground teams in order to get this going, making sure there’s the right blend of respect to culture and communities. It’s important, from a cultural sensitivity standpoint, each market is treated seriously and it’s not popping up and opening stores based on a cookie-cutter formula.”

“Creating experiences and an emotional connection will help customers feel like they’re getting more value from a retailer — and that they’re being valued and appreciated in return, says Syama Meagher, CEO of the Los Angeles-based consulting firm Scaling Retail. Small and independent retailers have a greater ability to create a bond with shoppers than larger competitors, she says. Meagher’s advice for store owners: “Don’t think about your customer as someone who’s going to buy something.”

“These kinds of big expansion plans, it used to be that you could have a U.S. team go overseas and open up a retail space, but now brands and consumers in other markets really look for that very emotional, on-the-ground consumer interaction and space,” Meagher said. “And being that this would be an L.A. export, Fred Segal has to have the right on-the-ground teams in order to get this going, making sure there’s the right blend of respect to culture and communities. It’s important, from a cultural sensitivity standpoint, each market is treated seriously and it’s not popping up and opening stores based on a cookie-cutter formula.”

“’I think it’s an expensive idea. At the end of the day, the inventory they have in these stores is a liability. They know that there are these co-retailing spaces and they know that it costs money to be a part of them. It doesn’t necessarily mean that another retail store has actually endorsed you and spent money to buy your product.”

“Pay attention to fabric mixes online. Denim that is 100 percent cotton is very different than 80 percent, so take a look at your favorite pair of jeans first.”

“One issue a lot of DTC brands face when launching, in general, is whether they are creating a luxury brand. It’s like, ‘My cost of goods is so high that I have to create a luxury brand to support my small business.’ That is a big challenge a lot of brands have to face,” said Meagher.”

“With J. Crew in New York, they need to diversify, so I’m not surprised to see them jumping on a collaboration with WeWork. But if I were at WeWork, I would actually think about more lateral businesses. Why not host an Apple pop-up shop? Or maybe a Google pop-up? Give members a discount on those products, and give people access to tools and products they might actively use. Is this adding value or is this just marketing?”

“I think at the end of the day, when it comes to scale, you have to have your core business priorities,” said Syama Meagher, founder and CEO of Scaling Retail, a retail consultancy. “It’s nearly impossible for any single sustainable company to do every single thing it can to be 100% sustainable to everyone’s standards.”

“New retail channels have changed what consumers want from stores, said Syama Meagher, the chief retail strategist for the consultancy Scaling Retail. With people shopping more online, the stores have scaled back their spaces. They are expected to be more experiential and be places where people immerse themselves in a brand experience. “The nature of a fashion company has changed too,” Meagher said. “Fashion is becoming more like a media company.”