Show Notes
In this episode of Fortune Daily, we go inside Gap’s attempt to turn cultural relevance into a sustained retail comeback.
After cycling through five CEOs in five years, Gap Inc. is betting on CEO Richard Dickson—the former Mattel executive who helped revive Barbie—to restore one of America’s most iconic brands. His strategy: stop relying on constant discounts and start telling a story consumers want to buy into at full price.
Fortune Senior Writer Phil Wahba takes us inside Gap’s remodeled Flatiron flagship and sits down with Dickson for Behind the Business. We examine the brand’s renewed push for fashion, celebrity partnerships, and viral marketing—from Hailey Bieber’s campaign to Gap’s Katseye dance video—and explore whether cultural buzz can deliver lasting sales growth.
While the core Gap brand has posted 11 consecutive quarters of comparable-sales growth, the broader turnaround faces headwinds as Old Navy and Athleta navigate challenges. Plus, Phil breaks down the rising trend of CEOs publishing lengthy online essays: who are they for, and why are they writing them?
Watch Phil’s full feature video here: https://youtu.be/PwDqR7Sa_rk
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00:00 Gap12:50 CEO Essays
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