Many small businesses steer clear of anything controversial or political so as not to offend any potential customers. After all, the customer is always right, even if they are saying exactly the opposite thing from what the last customer said.

Brooklyn Industries, a 14-store outfit that's based in (where else?) Brooklyn, NY, and sells hipster-licious clothing, bags, and small household goods, is not afraid. Its store windows are provoking conversations about subjects that not everybody wants to talk about, necessarily, when all they want is to grab a t-shirt.

The retailer explained the thinking behind its thought-provoking window displays: "Inspired by Spike Lee's film Jungle Fever, we wanted to take a closer look at race in Brooklyn. We asked local residents about their lives and experiences growing up here."Continue reading...

Americans love their gift cards, as the average American adult gives five a year and they are the most requested gift. Now they can turn to Wrapp, a social gifting service that enables F2F (friend-to-friend) marketing on behalf of brands.

The Swedish startup, founded last year, launches today in the U.S. with major retail partners including Gap, Fab.com, H&M, Sephora, the Wall Street Journal, Brooklyn Industries, Warby Parker, WeSC, Gant, Bjorn Borg, with another 15 retailers in the wings.Continue reading...

Something is brewing in the borough of Brooklyn. Or rather, has been for a while, and we’re all just catching on.

In the last few years, a wealth of food and lifestyle products have been streaming across the river from Manhattan, buoyed by the essence of “cool” that the borough seems to intrinsically bestow upon them. Brooklyn-named brands abound, covering Brooklyn Ale, Brooklyn pickles, Brooklyn chocolate, Brooklyn soap, Brooklyn hipster wear, Brooklyn maternity — even cigarettes.

It’s no longer just an address; it’s a brand and a rapidly developing one at that. The only glitch seems to be that despite adoring the area, few people actually seem to visit it.Continue reading...