Even in a retail era where every year is an unprecedented year, 2025 is set to be remembered by insiders who were challenged every step of the way. It was the year tariffs rocked supply chains and pricing structures, AI became a make-or-break challenge, luxury lost its bulletproof status, and...

They moved first or wrote a new playbook for their respective industries.

The brains behind the year’s buzzy brands and viral products.

The marketers who cut through the noise.

They led their companies to industry domination.

They leveraged science or technology to gain an edge and prove new concepts.

They made smart investments with big growth potential.

They designed the look, or vibe, of the moment.

The insiders driving big comebacks.