Coworking with Melody Brue

On Wednesdays, we wear pink spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

When Melody Brue first joined Moor Insights & Strategy as a principal analyst in 2020, she figured she’d mostly be drawing on prior experiences, like being on the founding team of ProWallet, an e-wallet startup, to help clients with their biz strategies. But when it comes to insights about anything related to Gen Z (or younger), Brue can go right to the source, often turning to her seven kids—ages 12 to 25—to understand the shopping habits of a demographic more likely to be putting together choreography for TikTok. Here, she shares more about her day-to-day.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I research, analyze, and write about trends happening in the financial tech and retail tech space. This means all the technology we use to power our banking, payments, investment, and shopping experiences and decisions.

One trend you’re most excited about: Autonomous checkout. It solves so many problems, from wait times to labor shortages, and allows retailers to better track store layout preferences and performance. More immediate supply and inventory management also leads to more sustainable on-demand restock delivery, eliminating unnecessary trips for truck drivers and suppliers.

Hands down, the best fast food restaurant chain is…In-N-Out—controversial since I live in Texas.

What was your favorite job in high school or college and why? I started at CastleRock Entertainment as an intern in college working on Seinfeld. It was the early 90s and the show pushed the boundaries on content at the time (remember the handicap parking-spot episode?). This was fun and challenging, handling publicity for a show that people loved and hated so much. The team was also so fun to be around. Larry David is actually that funny!

What’s the worst piece of retail advice you ever received? People will never use QR codes.

What’s the most embarrassing product in your order history from Amazon that you’re actually willing to admit? Yoga Toes! They look completely silly, but after being in heels all day at a conference, it’s so worth it.