Ellen Harrison

Ellen Deutsch Harrison is an Adjunct Professor at Hofstra University’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business and an experienced consumer-business executive with more than 20 years of leadership in marketing, brand growth, retail strategy and consumer products. Throughout her career, she has held senior executive roles across consumer packaged goods, health and wellness, retail and other highly competitive markets.

Harrison can discuss the consumer psychology and retail strategies behind the explosive popularity of products such as “squishies,” explaining why collectible, tactile products resonate so strongly with children and teens. She can explore how emotional purchasing, social media exposure, peer influence and fear of missing out—commonly known as FOMO—can rapidly transform a product into a must-have cultural phenomenon.

She can also provide insight into how retailers identify and capitalize on fast-moving consumer fads, create and manage product scarcity, and sustain interest through limited-edition releases and collectible product lines. Her commentary can help explain how influencer marketing, social media communities and immersive in-store experiences generate excitement, encourage repeat purchases and build longer-term brand loyalty after the initial trend begins to fade.