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The Indicator | April 17th, 2026

By Sonal Gandhi, Chief Content Officer
The Lead

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THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

  • AI agents are increasing ad spend while Sol De Janiero chases “non-followers”.
  • See how Harry’s scaled subscriptions by modernizing its tech stack.
  • Mike Jacobs of Consortium Brands is redefining what it means to lead in the age of AI.

Image via: WWD
Bombas x Susan Alexandra: Spring 2026

KEY INDICATORS​

  • Following the maximalist charm trend seen on bags and shoes, comfort brand Bombas has collaborated with NYC accessories label Susan Alexandra. Their new collection features embellished socks, including one fully customizable style, that can be further personalized with clip-on trinkets, bringing whimsy to spring fashion.(WWD)
  • David’s Bridal is using Shopify‘s agentic storefronts to expand into conversational commerce, selling dresses via AI platforms like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. This “Aisle to Algorithm” initiative aims to meet brides where they search, connecting digital discovery to in-store fittings and tracking customer engagement across these new AI channels. (Retail Brew)
  • Pacsun is bringing its PS Vintage secondhand apparel program from online to 16 physical stores. This expansion, featuring thousands of curated items, targets its Gen Z customers, leveraging the growing resale market and Pacsun’s focus on intentional, in-person retail. (Retail Dive) 
  • Rent the Runway is diversifying revenue by launching a marketplace, outside dry-cleaning services, and scaling its ad business. The apparel rental site is also expanding its everyday and workwear assortments and launching over 30 new brands. After turning a profit last year, the company is now leveraging AI to enhance both customer experience and inventory management. (Retail Dive)
  • Sol de Janeiro‘s perspective on the fragmented social media landscape is that follower count is less important than reaching “non-followers” through algorithms like TikTok’s For You Page. The brand advises creators to niche down, repeat successful content, and seek clear brand goals/KPIs (e.g., share/save rates), focusing on “edu-tain” content. (Glossy)
  • AI shopping agents are inflating ad metrics and increasing brand spend by triggering ads. To adapt, brands are shifting to “cost-per-human” tracking over “cost-per-click” and creating “bilingual” content for both humans and AI. Businesses must quickly update marketing and measurement to differentiate human from machine traffic. (Business of Fashion)
  • Authentic Brands Group is reportedly considering reviving the Barneys New York flagship store on Madison Avenue. The original 220,000-square-foot site remains vacant but has been used for temporary events since Barneys closed, and many New Yorkers still wish for the return of the iconic luxury retailer. (WWD)

MOVERS & SHAKERS

  • Tracy Knauer (Direct 60 ’25) is now SVP, North America at New Balance.

  • Stephanie Campbell (D60 NEXT ‘25) was recently promoted to Senior Director of Social Media at Anthropologie.

DIVING DEEP

HOW HARRY'S STREAMLINED ITS SUBSCRIPTION STACK

Harry’s migrated its subscription business from a legacy, homegrown system to Recharge and Shopify to unlock speed, flexibility, and scale. The seamless transition moved millions of subscriptions with zero customer disruption, while giving teams the ability to launch and test new offers in days instead of weeks. The result: lower costs, faster innovation, and a repeatable framework to scale across its growing portfolio of brands.

Read the Case Study here

THE LEAD SUMMIT 2026

MORE LEAD SUMMIT SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED!

The Lead Summit lineup keeps getting better! We’ve added exciting new speakers to the agenda this week. See speakers.

The Meetings Program closes next week, and spots are going quickly! We’re almost at capacity, and we will sell out as we did in 2025. Secure your spot while you can. Don’t miss it!

Register now: summit.the-lead.co/register

LEADING SPOTLIGHT

This week’s Speaker Spotlight: Mike Jacobs of Consortium Brands is redefining what it means to lead, shifting the focus from individual output to building systems that drive real outcomes.

At The Lead Summit (May 20–21, NYC), Mike will share how he’s bringing this perspective to his current role, and dive into how he’s rethinking the marketing funnel in the age of AI.

Read the full Speaker Spotlight here

HAPPENINGS

PRESENTED BY —

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