[Opinion] Radical optimism is not a vague idea, it is a tough mission

Tom Palmaerts (Trendwolves) took to the stage at RetailDetail Night on Thursday with a message that is perfectly suited to the current times: we need radical optimism. This is not just a catchphrase, but a conscious attitude: even when the future looks uncertain, still push forward.

Nostalgia as a drug

Palmaerts rightly put that the global context is no longer a stable background noise. Crises follow one another: climate, energy, war, polarization. Retailers often use this uncertainty as an excuse to stand still. They fall back on the past, because it feels warm, soft, and familiar.