My 22-year-old sister said to me, while simultaneously rolling her eyes. She’s constantly restyling my hair, telling me to change my wardrobe in favor of clothes that show off more of my body and making comments about my shoes that I’ve had since roughly 1997 (they’re comfortable!).
Basically, I’m just not hip enough for her. I don’t have much recourse to these comments, and my arguments to the contrary only lend themselves to further gasps and eye rolls.
But now, I have actual proof that I am hip, or at least somewhere close to the cutting edge.
Fast Company released its 10 Most Innovative Companies in Retail list, and I am proud to say that I have made purchases at all of them (except two!), some of them weekly. So there.
Check out who made the list:
#1 – Groupon - The only way I get spa treatments and try out chic new restaurants these days.
#2 – Trader Joe’s – I could not live without this store. I’m there weekly, often twice-weekly.
#3 – Marks & Spencer - In my defense, it is not located in the United States. But if it was, I would be on it!
#4 – Amazon – Pleeeeaaasseee, I’m a writer. If I’m not online at Amazon, I’m at Powell’s Books.
#5 – eBay – Who hasn’t tried this at least once or twice or …
#6 – Apple – iPod is my favorite workout companion.
#7 – Starbucks – Since it got rid of its gluten-free pastry, I rarely visit, but it has happened on occasion. (I suspect eating gluten-free gets me into the "not cool" sector with my sis as well).
#8 – Shopkick – OK, my un-hip-ness is starting to show – I’ve never even heard of this app retailer!
#9 – Ikea – my apartment is almost entirely furnished by this Swedish rockstar retailer.
#10 – Urban Outfitters – I love Anthropologie! Need I say more?
So where do you fall on the hip-ness scale? Are you a fan of the above “innovative” retailers? Do you get accused by your family members of not being “cool” enough? Leave your comments here!
-Heather Strang
P.S. Also, be sure to check out Fast Company’s The World’s Most Innovative Companies list. There are some awesome retailers showing up there, too.

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