🛍️ Welcome to The Retail
Our Story
Hi! My name is Taylor! I’ve always been fascinated by what we buy—and what it says about us. Not just the big-ticket purchases, but the small decisions too: the impulse lip balm at checkout, the “add to cart” moment that feels oddly satisfying, the niche brand that unexpectedly becomes a go-to. That’s what The Retail is about.
This blog started as a side project—just me tracking the things I loved, questioned, and wanted to rethink in my everyday shopping habits. But the more I wrote, the more I realized: we’re all navigating a retail world that’s constantly shifting. From curated storefronts to algorithm-fed recommendations, it’s not just about what we buy anymore—it’s about why.
The Retail became my space to explore all of that with honesty, curiosity, and a little bit of flair. And now, it's yours too.
Decode your shopping DNA
We blend insight with inspiration so you can shop in ways that feel good—for your wallet, your values, and your vibe.
Editorial Standards
We don’t publish for the sake of it. Here’s what guides every post:
- Experience-Based POV: Everything we write is either firsthand, thoughtfully tested, or rooted in real-world habit shifts—not filler advice or surface-level roundups.
- Independent Reviews: We don’t believe in fluff. If we review something, we’ve used it—and we’ll tell you the good, the bad, and the “meh, probably not again.”
- Cultural Relevance: Shopping doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We reflect on trends, cultural shifts, and industry moments that actually shape how we buy.
- Clear Disclosure: Transparency is non-negotiable. If something’s sponsored or affiliate-linked, we’ll say so—plain and simple.
What We Offer
Our content is built around three distinct but connected categories:
🧠 Mindful Habits
The small, daily decisions that shape how we spend—from emotional buys to thoughtful swaps. It’s part lifestyle, part behavior science, always grounded in real life.
🛒 Product Reviews
The items we’ve tried, loved, regretted, or questioned—shared with honesty and nuance. Think of it like chatting with your most discerning friend after a month of using something.
🛍️ Shopping Culture
What’s trending, what’s shifting, and what it all means. From nostalgia-laced Y2K comebacks to the psychology of sales, this is where we talk about the deeper layer of consumer life.
Meet the Team
While this blog started with just me, I’m lucky to work with a few incredibly smart contributors who each bring their own flavor and expertise to The Retail.
Taylor Rottschild
Editor-in-Chief
I’m the one who started it all, fueled by a love of storytelling and a fascination with the psychology of shopping. With a background in cultural studies and a knack for asking too many questions, I’m here to dig deep and keep things honest.
I’m the one who started it all, fueled by a love of storytelling and a fascination with the psychology of shopping. With a background in cultural studies and a knack for asking too many questions, I’m here to dig deep and keep things honest.
Adaline Park
Cultural Critic & Cart Strategist
Adaline blends her background in sociology and fashion journalism to unpack trends with sharp insight. She’s obsessed with Gen Z shopping behaviors and can spot a microtrend three months before it hits mainstream.
Adaline blends her background in sociology and fashion journalism to unpack trends with sharp insight. She’s obsessed with Gen Z shopping behaviors and can spot a microtrend three months before it hits mainstream.
Sasha Green
Product Sleuth & Design Devotee
Sasha has an eye for practical beauty. From cookware to clean beauty, she reviews with a thoughtful, “lived-in” lens—no influencer hype, just useful intel.
Sasha has an eye for practical beauty. From cookware to clean beauty, she reviews with a thoughtful, “lived-in” lens—no influencer hype, just useful intel.
Oliver Barnes
Habits, Money & the Psychology of Spending
Oliver is our go-to for research-backed takes on shopping behaviors. With a background in behavioral economics, he explores how we build (and break) our spending patterns.
Oliver is our go-to for research-backed takes on shopping behaviors. With a background in behavioral economics, he explores how we build (and break) our spending patterns.
Rose Adamson
Conscious Consumer & Deal Strategist
Rose brings clarity to the cluttered world of savings. She’s the friend you want when it’s sale season, and her tips actually save you money—not just talk about it.
Rose brings clarity to the cluttered world of savings. She’s the friend you want when it’s sale season, and her tips actually save you money—not just talk about it.
Let’s Chat—Or Spill the Cart
Have a product you want us to test? A habit you’re rethinking? Or just want to compare notes on how many browser tabs you're hiding during a sale? We’d love to hear from you.
Send a Message