This study's purpose was to explore: (a) the resources currently utilized by management in the strategic decision-making process within fashion retail companies; and (b) opportunities and barriers for greater use of academic research in the U.S. fashion retail industry. A phenomenological interpretive approach guided the research design to explore retail professionals' strategic decision-making and the role of academic research in the process. Fifteen retail industry executives in the sectors of women's and men's apparel, sportswear, footwear, accessories, and intimates from various companies across the United States were interviewed. Emergent themes formed three topical areas: (a) resource usage for strategic decision-making by retail executives; (b) barriers for academic research use; and (c) processes of strategic decision-making within the fashion retail industry. Findings in this study illustrated the opportunity for academic research use in the fashion retail industry.