The timing couldn't be better for Gap's legacy brands to capitalize on this shift. Drexler proved quality wins when distribution democratizes, and now AI is creating that exact enviornment again. Gap's challenge will be whether their current product teams can match the obsessive merchant instincts that built the brand. If they can recapture that focus on definitive pieces, they're perfectly positioned as search moves from paid placement to merit based recommendations.
Loved catching up with you. And grateful you see a trend of quality finally getting more credit than ad spend.
Same!
100% agree, and thank goodness. I knew I could outlast the era of pushing junk! 😉
The timing couldn't be better for Gap's legacy brands to capitalize on this shift. Drexler proved quality wins when distribution democratizes, and now AI is creating that exact enviornment again. Gap's challenge will be whether their current product teams can match the obsessive merchant instincts that built the brand. If they can recapture that focus on definitive pieces, they're perfectly positioned as search moves from paid placement to merit based recommendations.
Great article!! Will be interesting to see how this shakes things up...