Bloomberg Talks: Catalyst Brands CEO Marc Rosen Talks Holiday Shopping

Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Marc Rosen, CEO of Catalyst Brands

Episode Overview

In this episode, Marc Rosen, CEO of Catalyst Brands—parent company of JCPenney, Brooks Brothers, Aeropostale, Eddie Bauer, and more—joins Bloomberg to discuss the state of holiday shopping, with a particular focus on Black Friday and Cyber Monday trends. Rosen shares consumer insights, comments on the impact of macroeconomic pressures like tariffs, and explains how Catalyst leverages its brand portfolio to deliver value amidst challenging conditions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Strong Holiday Sales and Gen Z Engagement

• Black Friday Momentum: Rosen describes Black Friday as “a super exciting day,” noting a strong turnout at JCPenney with early shoppers lining up at 5 am for deals and nostalgic giveaways.
• Gen Z’s Outsize Role: The presence of younger shoppers, especially at Aeropostale, marks a significant trend:
  • “Gen Z was fully in on Black Friday this year and it was really exciting to see Gen Z shoppers out in the malls. Our Aeropostale brand did really, really well with strong sales and, you know, a really strong presence of Gen Z coming out.” (Marc Rosen, 01:35)
• Resurgence of '90s and Y2K Fashion: Brands like Aeropostale are capitalizing on baggy, wide-leg, low-rise denim trends popular with Gen Z.
  • “The trends, Y2K is actually the trend right now. Right. It's the wide leg, the baggy, the low rise denim, and that's doing really well.” (Marc Rosen, 02:25)

2. Brand Portfolio and Value Focus

• Unified Sourcing Across Brands: The recently formed portfolio allows Catalyst to leverage scale, especially in denim and key apparel categories, to negotiate better pricing and deliver value:
  • “What the combination, which was just formed in January, has allowed us to do is put together all of that sourcing and really make sure that we're bringing the best value for the consumer by finding the best prices on denim and really giving that to the consumer.” (Marc Rosen, 03:38)
• Affordable, Familiar Fashion:
  • “Accessible fashion for the American consumer with brands that they know and love... really giving that to the consumer on days like Black Friday.” (03:25)
• Success Across Segments:
  • “Brooks Brothers also had a great Black Friday... quarter zip that was our number one selling item on Black Friday.” (02:48)
  • “At Aeropostale, we delivered the same promotion that we had last year, which was buy one get one free denim.” (04:54)

3. Managing Economic Volatility and Tariffs

• Supplier Collaboration & Cost Controls: Rosen attributes stable pricing and continued value during inflationary and tariff-heavy times to strong supplier relationships and bulk buying power.
  • “The combination this year was probably really well timed with tariffs to give us the combined volume... and then working with our suppliers to get the lowest cost for consumers.” (04:30)
• Stable Promotional Pricing: Despite cost pressures, Catalyst managed to hold Black Friday prices steady year-over-year for more than half the featured items:
  • “Well over half of the items that we offered at Black Friday deals match the pricing of last year... At Aeropostale... same promotion as last year... At Brooks Brothers... same pricing as last year.” (04:46)

4. Consumer Sentiment and Outlook for 2026

• Consumer Resilience Meets Value Seeking:
  • “The consumer has stretch wallets right now. But we also know that the consumer is going to make sure that those moments that matter... they are going to make the most for those moments.” (06:18)
  • Despite economic anxiety, shoppers are prioritizing key occasions while focusing on value.
• Recognition for Value:
  • “At JCPenney, for example, this was the fourth year that WalletHub named us as the best place to find Black Friday deals.” (06:31)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Gen Z shoppers:
  “Gen Z was fully in on Black Friday this year and it was really exciting to see Gen Z shoppers out in the malls.” (Marc Rosen, 01:35)

• On trend cycles:
  “The trends, Y2K is actually the trend right now. Right. It's the wide leg, the baggy, the low rise denim, and that's doing really well.” (Marc Rosen, 02:25)

• On brand strategy and value:
  “Accessible fashion for the American consumer with brands that they know and love.” (Marc Rosen, 03:25)

• On facing policy volatility:
  “The combination this year was probably really well timed with tariffs to give us the combined volume... working with our suppliers to get the lowest cost for consumers.” (Marc Rosen, 04:30)

• On delivering for the consumer:
  “The consumer is going to have holiday and Christmas this year. What they're searching for is really more for value, and that's where we really win.” (Marc Rosen, 06:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:33 – Opening & welcome; context for the episode
• 01:10 – Marc Rosen discusses Black Friday performance and Gen Z engagement
• 02:13 – Brand trends and the Y2K fashion wave
• 03:08 – Common themes across the Catalyst portfolio
• 04:08 – Navigating tariffs and keeping prices steady
• 05:19 – Managing margins and promotions
• 05:56 – 2026 outlook: consumer resilience and value focus
• 06:55 – Interview wrap-up

Conclusion

The conversation with Marc Rosen highlights Catalyst Brands’ ability to merge nostalgia and modern trends to reach value-conscious and trend-driven shoppers alike. Despite economic pressures and changing industry conditions, Rosen attributes the company’s ongoing success to strategic supplier relationships, scale economies, and a sharp understanding of what American consumers want during the holiday season: brands they recognize at prices they appreciate.