How will generative AI impact infrastructure plans? What regulatory issues will tech leaders have to grapple with? Hear Forrester’s technology analysts discuss their predictions for the latest tech trends in 2024.

Nothing can slow the AI revolution — except perhaps a shortage of the chips AI relies on. In this episode, Glenn O'Donnell discusses how ongoing chip shortages could impact your AI plans.

The annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, wrapped up last month to mixed reviews. In this episode, Senior Analyst Abhijit Sunil discusses what he saw at the event and some of the key takeaways for business and technology leaders.

Generative AI is poised to upend every aspect of search marketing. In this episode of What It Means, Senior Analyst Nikhil Lai explains the rapid changes that search marketers need to prepare for now.

Many revenue enablement leaders are simultaneously intimidated and intrigued by AI, particularly generative AI (genAI). The sooner they embrace it, the sooner they can help make sellers and other customer-facing roles more effective. Vice President and Principal Analyst Peter Ostrow shares advice for getting started with AI this week on What It Means. 

Generative AI will make B2B sales, marketing, and product teams more prolific in 2024 — but not always in ways that are desirable. VP and Principal Analyst Laura Ramos and Principal Analyst David Parry discuss this and other 2024 predictions for B2B teams on this week’s episode of What It Means. 

Is generative AI coming for your job? Find out as VP and Principal Analyst J. P. Gownder and Principal Analyst Michael O'Grady discuss a new forecast on the impact of generative AI on jobs in the US.

Is it finally time for self-driving cars and trucks to achieve their long-held promise? Find out as Vice President and Research Director Pascal Matzke joins the podcast to discuss the current state and future outlook for autonomous vehicles.

Where will AI go next? That’s the biggest question of 2024. In this special episode, nine Forrester analysts discuss what’s behind our 2024 predictions for AI and what the implications will be. 

What’s in store for tech leaders in the year ahead? Find out as Vice Presidents and Senior Research Directors Matthew Guarini and Fred Giron discuss Forrester’s 2024 predictions for technology leaders.

As B2B buyers contend with tighter budgets, they’re looking to an unexpected source to help them make the right purchase decisions: product experts from vendor companies. Vice President and Research Director Amy Hayes discusses this and other findings from Forrester’s new State Of Business Buying report this week on What It Means.

Customer experience (CX) leaders are positioned to win big with generative AI (genAI) in 2024. But there’s a caveat: They must identify and augment the right drivers of CX performance. Learn more about CX in 2024 in this episode featuring VP and Research Director Martin Gill and Principal Analyst Judy Weader. 

Is the push to encourage AI across the enterprise introducing more risk? Principal Analyst Andrew Hewitt discusses the pros and cons of bring-your-own-AI (BYOAI) in this episode.

Despite economic pressure, B2B sales and marketing leaders are prioritizing investment in revenue operations. In this episode, Vice President and Principal Analyst Laura Cross and Principal Analyst Anthony McPartlin discuss what’s behind the rise of revenue operations in B2B organizations.

Zero Trust has evolved since its earliest iterations, but it’s never been more vital than it is today. In this episode, Principal Analyst David Holmes discusses the origins of Zero Trust and its future impact on driving business value.

Recent, major shifts in the cloud space are prompting some technology leaders to review their cloud strategies. In this episode, Principal Analyst Lee Sustar provides his perspective on the future of cloud and how it may impact your technology roadmap.

Nervous about the privacy implications of your latest generative AI pilots? In this episode, Principal Analyst Enza Iannopollo shares some insights and mistakes to avoid.

For all the FOMO that generative AI has inspired among B2B marketers, many aren’t sure where to start with it. Principal Analyst Lisa Gately shares her insights this week on What It Means.

Delighted customers or PR nightmare? The difference can boil down to responsible design. Before your company ends up in an IRL episode of “Black Mirror,” listen to this podcast about responsible design featuring Principal Analyst Gina Bhawalkar.

The long-standing divide between tech executives and security leaders has widened of late, says VP and Principal Analyst Jinan Budge. What’s behind the tension, and what can be done to fix it? Budge shares insights from her latest research this week on What It Means.

Generative AI (genAI) has driven a lot of change in a short period. Senior Analyst Rowan Curran and Vice President and Principal Analyst J. P. Gownder discuss the genAI inflection point and its impact on the future of work.

The key to successful innovation is making it widespread, not siloed. But whose job is that? In this episode, VP and Research Director Pascal Matzke and Principal Analyst Bernhard Schaffrik discuss the technology executive’s role in driving innovation.

The AI explosion is having a complex impact on the tech workforce. In this episode, we’ll look at how AI has added to — and may alleviate — tech talent challenges.

In this preview of the upcoming Technology & Innovation North America event, five analysts provide their perspectives on how to reduce or avoid technical debt.

Will AI replace humans in making business decisions? Not so fast, says VP and Principal Analyst Brandon Purcell. In this episode, he reviews a new decision-making framework that defines how tech can help guide — but not make — our most critical decisions.

Struggling to figure out which emerging techs to focus on in the year ahead? In this episode, VP of Emerging Tech Portfolio Brian Hopkins and VP and Principal Analyst Michele Goetz discuss the top 10 emerging technologies list for 2023.

The internet of things (IoT) brings a lot of potential — and a lot of risk. In this episode, Principal Analyst Michele Pelino reviews the latest IoT use cases and Senior Analyst Paddy Harrington highlights some of the security risks involved.

Excitement around generative AI was palpable at last month’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. VP and Principal Analyst Jay Pattisall discusses this and other festival highlights on this week’s episode of What It Means.

In this session from last year’s Data Strategy & Insights Forum, Principal Analyst Max Ball discusses the latest trends in conversational intelligence with Senior Analyst Christina McAllister and Principal Analyst Seth Marrs.

Nearly half of B2C chief marketing officers don’t report to the CEO but instead, a different C-suite role. What’s behind the trend, and what should these “tucked” CMOs (and, really, all CMOs) do to succeed? VP and Research Director Mike Proulx explains on this week’s episode of What It Means.

The best way to predict the future is to understand the past. In this episode, Principal Analysts Sandy Carielli and Brian Wrozek share the security lessons learned in 2022 and how they apply to 2023’s biggest threats.

As business becomes more technology-driven, the role of technology leaders is changing, as well. In this episode, VP, Senior Research Director Fred Giron and VP, Principal Analyst Ted Schadler discuss new research defining the CIO’s role in powering growth.

From streaming services to ice cream, creative commerce is revolutionizing commerce by integrating all phases of the buying cycle. Learn how on this week’s What It Means with VP, Principal Analyst Jay Pattisall and Principal Analyst Kelsey Chickering.

As recruitment challenges persist, business leaders are looking to broaden their talent pools. In this episode, Senior Analysts David Mooter and Jonathan Roberts describe the benefits of implementing autism-friendly hiring practices.

Aligning customer experience, marketing, and digital functions around customer needs fuels growth for B2C companies. VP and Group Director Melissa Parrish explains how to build and rev a B2C customer-obsessed growth engine.

Short-term strategies to win buyers’ dollars are failing B2B buyers and companies. To drive consistent, long-term growth, B2B leaders need to align on customer value. This week on What It Means, VP and Principal Analyst Lori Wizdo and Principal Analyst John Arnold explain what it takes to build and maintain a B2B customer-obsessed growth engine.

Asynchronous chat is poised to proliferate throughout the B2C ecosystem, redefining expectations around customer service. Senior Analyst Christina McAllister joins to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of this technology.

Millennials and Gen Zers now comprise nearly two-thirds of B2B buyers. These younger buyers approach the buying process differently from their older counterparts — and they have higher expectations of vendors. This week on What It Means, VP and Principal Analyst Barbara Winters explains how B2B companies can effectively navigate the shift.

B2B marketing approaches often leave money on the table, say Principal Analysts John Arnold and Lisa Gately. On this episode of What It Means, they introduce lifecycle revenue marketing, a holistic approach to capturing growth opportunities with new and existing customers.

Generative AI is everywhere lately, but what will its real impact be on the enterprise? In this episode, Analyst Rowan Curran separates the hype from reality.

When it comes to buying green, not all buyers are the same. In this episode, Vice Presidents and Principal Analysts Sucharita Kodali and Thomas Husson explain the benefits of segmenting your customer base by green buying habits.

B2B leaders are getting serious about corporate social responsibility (CSR). But until they see it as central and not peripheral to the business, its impact will be limited, says VP and Principal Analyst Ian Bruce. On this week’s Forrester podcast, he explores the role that CSR now occupies in B2B companies and how leaders can implement meaningful CSR programs. 

How can B2B marketing leaders chart a steady course for growth in a fickle economy? By taking cues from companies that have achieved strong revenue growth, says VP and Principal Analyst Barbie Mattie. On this week’s What It Means, she provides data-backed recommendations for actions to take.

As companies plan their future workplace strategies, what role should the physical office play? Vice President, Research Director James McQuivey and Vice President, Principal Analyst J. P. Gownder weigh in on this episode of What It Means.

The turmoil happening in social media may be a good thing for advertisers. Find out why as Principal Analyst Kelsey Chickering discusses the current and future state of digital advertising in this episode.

Will TuringBots revolutionize the way software is developed? Or will they open developers up to new risks? Vice Presidents and Principal Analysts Diego Lo Giudice and Mike Gualtieri debate the pros and cons of AI for software development in this episode of What It Means.

How closely is the fate of blockchain tied to cryptocurrency? Do NFTs have business value? In this episode, Vice President and Principal Analyst Martha Bennett dispels some blockchain myths and shares some use cases that may not be on your radar.

Hear Forrester’s technology analysts share their 2023 predictions for AI, cloud, automation, edge/IoT, and software development.

The war in Ukraine, exorbitant energy prices, and economic turbulence will have a profound impact on Europeans’ attitudes and choices in the months ahead. Principal Analysts Enza Iannopollo and Dan Bieler break down Forrester’s 2023 predictions for Europe and the UK this week on What It Means.

Low-Earth-orbit satellites open up a host of new opportunities for businesses. Should your firm be exploring these new solutions? Find out in this episode of What It Means.

Climate change is among the biggest challenges we face, and the solution could be one of the biggest market opportunities in history. Learn about the unique opportunities provided by the green market revolution in this episode.

Would it surprise you to learn that only 2% of US financial services brands were rated “strong” on trust by their customers? In this episode, Principal Analysts Alyson Clarke and Tom Mouhsian discuss new research digging into the drivers and impacts of low trust levels in the financial services industry.

The current economic downturn is unlike others that have preceded it. Instead of becoming more abundant, talent will continue to be constrained. What should companies do — and what should they avoid doing — to navigate these unique challenges? Vice President, Principal Analyst Katy Tynan and Principal Analyst Betsy Summers explain as they break down Forrester’s 2023 future-of-work predictions.

In 2023, the economic fears that have plagued much of the rest of the world will dampen prospects for the APAC region. How will governments and business respond, and what should firms do to come out ahead? On this week’s What It Means episode, Vice Presidents and Research Directors Ashutosh Sharma and Michael Barnes discuss Forrester’s 2023 predictions for the APAC region.

An unpredictable economy will spur some unexpected changes in the technology space in 2023. Stay one step ahead of them as VP, Senior Research Director Matt Guarini reviews our 2023 predictions for tech leaders.

The alarm bells are sounding: CX organizations are in trouble. One in five will find themselves on the chopping block in 2023 as the economy weakens, CX performance slips, and proof of ROI remains elusive. But there’s good news, too. One in 10 CX organizations will be stronger than ever at the end of 2023, explains VP, Research Director Rick Parrish. Find out how in this episode of What It Means.

As inflation woes, market turbulence, and supply chain disruptions cloud the 2023 landscape, B2B organizations will look to their existing customers to forge a more predictable path to growth. On this week’s What It Means, VP, Principal Analyst Ross Graber discusses this and other 2023 predictions for B2B marketing and sales leaders.

Which emerging technologies should be on your radar in the year ahead? VP, Emerging Tech Portfolio Brian Hopkins and VP, Principal Analyst Julie Ask walk through Forrester’s list of the top 10 emerging technologies to watch.

As the demand for AI expands, so does the need for relevant data to develop the models that power AI. In this episode, Analyst Rowan Curran describes the role that synthetic data can play in expanding your AI efforts.

Forrester forecasts that by 2040, 63 million jobs will be lost to automation across the five largest economies in APAC. Principal Analysts Michael O’Grady and Sam Higgins discuss the complex factors driving those numbers and the future of jobs in APAC overall.

As automation efforts continue to expand across the enterprise, one question looms large: Who should be overseeing the use of automation technologies in an organization? In this episode, Principal Analyst Leslie Joseph provides his perspective.

Is your security team effectively assessing your exposure to geopolitical risk? Principal Analyst Renee Murphy and Senior Analyst Allie Mellen provide some insights and next steps every security org will want to hear.

No customer experience team, no matter how mighty, can achieve its strategic vision alone. Fostering the necessary cross-functional collaboration requires a strategy that taps into your organization’s existing strengths and cultural norms, explain Senior Analysts Su Doyle and Angelina Gennis on this week’s What It Means.

The Gaia-X initiative was launched in 2019 as a way for European governments to reclaim data sovereignty from non-European cloud hyperscalers. But it hasn’t lived up to its promise. In this episode, senior analysts Dario Maisto and Jeffrey Rajamani provide an update on the current state and future outlook for Gaia-X.

Where should technology leaders focus their 2023 investments? In this episode, VP, Research Director Chris Gardner and Principal Analyst Chris Gilchrist review the recommendations in Forrester’s new planning guides for technology leaders.

Meaningful change in a company doesn’t have to come from the top. Anyone — regardless of seniority or title — can bring it about, say Vice Presidents Meta Karagianni and Peter Ostrow. On this week’s What It Means, they discuss how B2B professionals can successfully initiate change and give a preview of their keynote session at Forrester’s B2B Summit EMEA.

B2B marketing leaders will face intense budget scrutiny as they plan for 2023. But making reactive, cost-saving decisions could undermine long-term gains, cautions VP and Principal Analyst Barbie Mattie. On this week’s What It Means, she discusses Forrester’s 2023 planning guide for B2B marketing executives and its spending recommendations.

Is overreliance on key security employees putting your entire organization at risk? Learn best practices for retention and succession planning in security from Senior Analyst Jess Burn.

Consumers, employees, and shareholders increasingly expect companies to speak out on social and political issues. When should they, and how should they make the decision? On this week’s What It Means, Vice President, Research Director Mike Proulx and Vice President, Principal Analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee explain how brands can navigate these scenarios.

Fears that automation will replace human creativity with mindless robots are unwarranted. VP, Principal Analyst Paul Miller and Principal Analyst Dan Bieler explain why in this episode.

What can be done to address a growing lack of trust in technology? Principal Analyst Sara Watson digs into the causes of this issue and provides some examples of firms taking proactive steps to minimize its impact.

COVID-related absenteeism continues to cause challenges across industries and business functions. In this episode, VP, Research Director James McQuivey and VP, Principal Analyst J. P. Gownder highlight some key learnings for workforce planning.

If aligning your operational platforms with your customer-facing platforms is way down on your IT roadmap, you might want to move it up. Hear VPs Linda Ivy-Rosser and Liz Herbert explain why in this episode.

Technology and marketing leaders need each other, and companies need strong technology-marketing partnerships. On this week’s What It Means, VP, Senior Research Director Matt Guarini and VP, Principal Analyst Thomas Husson explain why the CIO-CMO relationship matters more than ever and the key benefits of effective CMO-CIO collaboration.

Only 12% of CX pros rate their voice of the customer (VoC) program’s maturity as high or very high. In this episode of What It Means, Senior Analyst Colleen Fazio explains what’s blocking success with VoC and how CX professionals can derive value and get stakeholders excited.

There’s a giant disconnect between how executives view employee wellness and how employees view it. Senior Analyst Jonathan Roberts digs into the causes and impacts of that disconnect in this week’s episode.

The traditional focus on individual, marketing-supplied leads is failing B2B companies and buyers. So why does it persist, and what’s a better alternative? VP, Principal Analyst Terry Flaherty and VP, Research Director Mike Pregler discuss on this week’s podcast.

The problem with chatbots can be summed up in one question: “How can I help you?” This question sets the expectation that a chatbot will be as helpful as a human agent, which isn’t true. But don’t scrap all your chatbots. Instead, invest in experience design, says VP, Principal Analyst David Truog on this episode of What It Means.

Thought leadership content is everywhere. But, too often, it’s neither particularly thoughtful nor leading, say analysts Ian Bruce and Lisa Gately. On this week’s What It Means, they discuss what defines good thought leadership and how B2B firms can create it.

Marketers are accidentally funding misinformation and fueling the proliferation of dangerous falsehoods. In this episode of What It Means, Principal Analyst Kelsey Chickering discusses how marketers can protect their brand from this phenomenon.

B2B companies that center their strategies and operations on customers far outperform their less customer-focused peers. Still, when it comes to customer obsession, more isn’t always better. Analysts Amy Bills and Nick Buck explain on this week’s podcast why customer obsession means finding a balance.

The fact is, no business can stop every breach. So is it time to shift to a “post-breach” resilience strategy? Analyst Allie Mellen thinks so. This week, she discusses the best — and worst — security practices from various global regions.

Is emerging tech the cause of or the solution to the climate crisis? The answer is complicated. In this episode, Analyst Abhijit Sunil and VP, Research Director Glenn O’Donnell debate the benefits and impacts of emerging tech on the environment.

As more organizations branch out to use multiple cloud platforms and providers, the question becomes: Is there a strategy behind your multicloud decisions, or do they just happen? In this episode, Principal Analyst Lee Sustar and Senior Analyst Tracy Woo discuss the important differences.

Web3 proponents have a grand vision of a fairer internet. But will it ever become reality? VP, Principal Analyst Martha Bennett examines both sides of this complex question.

Why has inclusive design become so important? On this episode of What It Means, Principal Analyst Gina Bhawalkar and UX Researcher Senem Biyikli delve into the multi-faceted benefits of inclusive design.

Is the metaverse your ticket to marketing innovation or a quagmire into which marketing dollars will sink, never to be seen again? What is the metaverse, anyway? Join VP, Research Director Mike Proulx and VP, Principal Analyst Julie Ask as they explore what the metaverse means for marketers.

With the tech talent crunch in Europe creating urgent challenges, business and technology leaders are looking beyond their local regions to fill their skills gaps. On this episode, Principal Analyst Dan Bieler and VP, Research Director James McQuivey discuss a new report that identifies and ranks Europe’s top talent regions, or “skill clusters.”

Tailoring content for regional buyers is key to good customer experience, yet many global B2B companies don’t give it the attention it deserves. On this week’s What It Means, Principal Analyst Kathleen Pierce explains what a good content localization strategy entails and previews research that she’ll unveil at Forrester’s B2B Summit North America.

Following the lead of their B2C counterparts, B2B firms are embracing brand values and a broader notion of purpose. What’s at stake, and where do companies’ intentions fall short? On this week’s episode, Vice Presidents Nancy Maluso and Jennifer Ross weigh in and give a preview of their keynote session at Forrester’s B2B Summit North America.

Customer loyalty is not a new concept, but a confluence of trends has increased the emphasis that brands are placing on it. In this episode, VP and Principal Analyst Mary Pilecki dives into these trends and provides a sneak preview of new research that will be unveiled at CX North America.

Employee experience is a vital function without a home in most organizations. In this episode, Principal Analysts Katy Tynan and David Johnson debate where the EX function should reside.

As a CIO, do you dread talking to your chief risk officer about emerging technologies? In this episode, you’ll learn how to lead that conversation effectively from Principal Analysts Renee Murphy and Sara Watson.

What's the biggest mistake CX orgs make? Listening to their gut. If you want to design experiences that strengthen customer loyalty, listen to this episode about user research featuring Senior Analyst AJ Joplin.

What’s the missing ingredient for an IT organization to deliver value in a customer-obsessed company? It may well be your operating model. Learn more as Principal Analyst Fiona Mark and VP, Principal Analyst Bobby Cameron discuss transforming your IT operating model.

The past two years have shaped healthcare in profound and irreversible ways. In this episode of What It Means, Senior Analyst Natalie Schibell discusses the major shifts and what the future holds.

How can your organization become more adaptive? Stop hiring for jobs. Principal Analyst Katy Tynan and VP, Principal Analyst J. P. Gownder break down Forrester’s new “no more jobs” talent model.

Will increased automation add to job losses in the Europe-5 countries or help diffuse a demographic time bomb? Analyst Michael O’Grady discusses our forecast for the future of jobs in Europe.

The problem with chatbots can be summed up in one sentence: “How can I help you?” This question sets the expectation that a chatbot will be as helpful as a human agent, which isn’t true. But don’t scrap all your chatbots. Instead, invest in experience design, says VP, Principal Analyst David Truog on this episode of What It Means.

Are all algorithms inherently biased? Of course not, but the risk of AI gone wrong is a real one for many organizations. Find out why as VP, Principal Analyst Brandon Purcell discusses fairness in AI.

Forrester analysts provide their 2022 predictions for AI, automation, cloud, and internet of things (IoT) in this special edition of What It Means.

The future of work became unexpectedly real during the pandemic. Find out how work will evolve in 2022, as VPs James McQuivey and J. P. Gownder dig into our 2022 predictions for the future of work.

Today’s sales technology can improve nearly every aspect of selling — if it’s chosen wisely. This week, VP and Senior Research Director Phil Harrell discusses how B2B sales leaders should evaluate tech tools to make the right choices for their organization. He also introduces Forrester’s new Ask A Sales Leader podcast, which will feature interviews with sales executives on a wide range of sales topics.

How will the digital acceleration of 2021 impact trust patterns in 2022? Principal Analyst Enza Iannopollo provides an inside look at our 2022 digital trust predictions.

B2B marketing could be on the cusp of a momentous shift — if marketing leaders step up to the opportunity. VP and Principal Analyst Lori Wizdo and VP and Research Director Caroline Robertson explain what that requires as they discuss Forrester’s 2022 B2B marketing predictions.

In the coming year, the Asia Pacific region will take decisive steps toward becoming a digital society. What does that entail, and what else is in store for businesses and consumers? VP and Research Director Michael Barnes discusses Forrester’s APAC predictions on this week’s What It Means.

Values-based consumers will drive major changes in the European economy in the coming year. Find out how as VP and Group Research Director Laura Koetzle discusses our 2022 European predictions.

In 2022, B2C CMOs will either expand their remit and shine brighter than ever … or find themselves sidelined. The difference lies in whether a CMO can upskill and handle marketing’s new responsibilities or not, according to VP and Research Director Mike Proulx.

Will technical debt get worse in 2022? How about shadow IT? Or the war for tech talent? Find out when VP and Senior Research Director Matt Guarini discusses our 2022 predictions for technology leaders — including one prediction that didn’t make the list.

“Shortage” will be the name of the game in 2022. CX leaders will have to help their organizations contend with out-of-stock products, understaffing, and unhappy customers. Senior Analyst Judy Weader and Researcher Sam Karpinski explain how CX leaders can shine during a difficult year.

The B2B buying process has changed dramatically in recent years, and particularly during the pandemic. Are the changes permanent, and what should marketers do to adapt? VP and Principal Analyst Beth Caplow and Principal Analyst Barbara Winters provide insight on What It Means.

In this preview of our upcoming Data Strategy & Insights event, data executives from TIAA and Humana discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the chief data officer today.

Once again, marketing leaders find themselves planning for a year that seems to defy planning. How does the calculus differ this time around? On this week’s What It Means, Vice Presidents Craig Moore and Ian Bruce discuss Forrester’s 2022 Planning Assumptions for B2B marketing executives and how they can position themselves and their teams for success.

Biometric data use is at a crossroads. Consumers love the convenience it provides but have privacy concerns. In this episode, VP, Research Director Merritt Maxim and VP, Principal Analyst Andras Cser dive into the benefits and risks of biometric data.

To succeed in 2022 and beyond, B2B sales leaders need to transform and embrace the new digital normal. Vice Presidents Mike Pregler and Stephanie Sissler explain what that requires in this discussion of Forrester’s 2022 Planning Assumptions for sales executives.

Did you know that the technology industry accounts for more than 1.4% of global carbon emissions? So what are industry players doing about it? In this episode, Analyst Abhijit Sunil and Senior Consultant Jan Sythoff discuss the efforts being made and the returns being sought.

The short-term impact of the chip shortage is clear to anyone who’s tried to buy something with a plug or a battery lately. But what long-term impacts should IT executives look out for? VP and Research Director Glenn O’Donnell provides insights.

What’s the most important thing a security leader can do to empower their direct reports? Delegate. Learn how to do it effectively from VP, Principal Analyst Jeff Pollard in this week’s episode.

Last year, US retail sales increased 8.3% year over year. What will 2021 bring? VP and Research Director Fiona Swerdlow explains what retailers need to know before the season starts on this episode of What It Means.