Forbes Contributing Writer

Today we’re looking at a global shift I call the “mother of all trends:” there are more women in the paid labor force than at any other time in history. If you’re in retail, this is the trend that drives just about everything else, and something you should be monitoring…

Whenever I speak on the subject of marketing and selling to women — which is all the time — people are often surprised, and sometimes even shocked, when they learn how much women’s economic power has surged over the years. Women’s impact on the consumer economy ranks right alongside technology…

As the CEO of the consulting and training firm, Female Factor, and author of Why She Buys, I’ve spent more than a decade studying women’s impact on the consumer marketplace. At this time of year, people ask me what they should be incorporating into their new-year planning to grow their…

Trends come and go, but etiquette never goes out of style, especially in sales. For any salesperson in the midst of the holiday shopping season, interpersonal skills can be the deciding factor in whether someone chooses to buy from you or someone else. In our research at Female Factor, we’ve…

For many women, shopping alone is a luxury. Because of the role women play in their households (typically “chief purchasing officer” and for many, primary caregiver, too), they are often shopping with kids or companions. As any woman with a plus one (or more) will tell you, a bored or…

People will tell you they don’t like to be “sold,” but the truth is, we love to buy from people who inspire us with passion and knowledge about what they’re selling. We enjoy the feeling of learning something new, especially when we believe it will improve our life in some…

There I was, standing in a sea of black suitcases at a local department store. My current wheelie bag was in dire need of replacement. As a long-time road warrior, I knew this bag would be my constant companion, so I approached the task with the same care and thought…

Care to go truffle hunting in Alba? Interested in spinning around Lake Como in a Ferrari? (My answers: yes and yes please!) Perhaps an hour-long session on perfecting your posture, taught by a former Italian model, is more your thing. Then again, maybe you’d enjoy relaxing in a VIP Lounge,…

My friend Gina loves to joke that she’ll receive her AARP card while her kids are still in elementary school. (AARP cards are infamous for showing up in U.S. mailboxes on or around someone’s 50th birthday.) In case you’re doing the math, Gina gave birth in her late 30s and…