The Modern Retail Podcast
413 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 35 ratingsThe Modern Retail Podcast is a podcast about the retail space, from legacy companies to the buzzy world of DTC startups. Every Thursday, Cale Weissman, editor of Modern Retail, interviews executives about their growth and marketing strategies. And every Saturday Gabi Barkho, senior reporter, sits down with the Modern Retail staff to chat about the latest headlines in the retail world.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Rundown: Athletic Brewing raises $50M, Nike brings back veteran exec & Costco raises membership fee
July 13, 2024 04:00 - 24 minutesOn this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses the latest funding round raised by NA beer company Athletic Brewing in an effort to meet demand. Meanwhile, Nike announced it's bringing former executive Tom Peddie back to be vp of marketplace partnerships as the company refocuses on wholesale. Lastly, in September, Costco is raising its annual membership fee by $5 -- the first increase since 2017.
Lucky Energy's growth strategy focuses on virality & convenience stores
July 11, 2024 04:00 - 37 minutesLucky Energy wants to take on the Red Bulls and C4s of the world. The company's drink line, Lucky F*ck, launched last year and has been slowly building out its distribution. It's now available in around 2,000 store doors in Texas and California and is also sold on Amazon. According to CMO Hamid Saify, the strategy of growing Lucky Energy has been to get people's attention. Thus, the name of its product. The company has also launched some splashy guerrilla campaigns -- including a Coachella ac...
Modern Retail Rundown: Amazon is reportedly launching a Temu-like section, Fancy Food Show takeaways & Walgreens store closures
June 29, 2024 04:00 - 25 minutesOn this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses Amazon's next move to compete with cheap marketplaces like Temu and Shein. The Information reported this week that the e-commerce giant is planning to launch a program for sellers to ship cheap goods directly from China. This week, the Fancy Food Show also took place in New York City, and we review some of the buzziest trends from the event. Finally, Walgreens announced plans to close its underperforming stores and focusing on profit-d...
How Babylist is building a media empire for new parents
June 27, 2024 04:00 - 36 minutesBabylist is making moves to be more than just a registry for soon-to-be parents. The company has been building a media business over the last four years, becoming its fastest-growing revenue stream. "The original business model was affiliate," said Lee Anne Grant, Babylist's chief growth officer. "So it was working with a ton of different retailers and getting paid a commission. And then, fast forward 13 years later, we are now this platform with a bunch of different offerings like health, e-...
Modern Retail Rundown: Slowing U.S. retail sales, Thrasio's comeback & Care/of troubles
June 22, 2024 04:00 - 25 minutesOn this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses what May's slowdown of U.S. retail sales could mean for consumer spending -- and, in turn, the economy. Meanwhile, Amazon aggregator Thrasio lays out its comeback plan after filing for bankruptcy. Lastly, the team talks about updates at the subscription vitamin brand Care/of, which was acquired by Bayer in 2020.
How Squared Circles is hoping to build the next generation of food & wellness brands
June 20, 2024 04:00 - 41 minutesVenture studio Squared Circles has lofty plans to launch the next big health, wellness and food products. The project first began a little over three years ago when Lukas Derksen, who hailed from the creative firm Sid Lee, began angel investing in brands alongside entrepreneurs Alexander Gilkes and Osman Khan. One of its early investments was in the hair wellness brand Nutrafol. They decided to formalize the program into an incubation studio. Over the years, however, Squared Circles decided t...
Rundown: Shein raises prices, TikTok tests image search & GLP-1 drugs boost supplements sales
June 15, 2024 04:00 - 30 minutesOn this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff starts off discussing Shein's strategy to quietly raise its prices ahead of its anticipated IPO. Meanwhile, TikTok Shop is beginning to compete with Google and other platforms by testing a new image search. Finally, a new report by The Vitamin Shoppe shows a spike in sales of nutritional supplements like protein and meal replacements thanks to the rising popularity of medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.
How Repurpose built a brand around eco-friendly disposable products
June 13, 2024 04:00 - 35 minutesMost people don't think about the brand behind their disposable plates, but Repurpose is trying to change that. The company, which is now sold in major retailers like Kroger and Costco, makes eco-friendly disposable products like plates, cups napkins, trash bags and toilet paper. While its prices are competitive, they still are at a slight premium to foam and plastic players. "It just felt like, why couldn't this be its own little category and brand that represented a whole kind of better-for...
Rundown: Shopify marketing shifts, Walmart Health losses & Poppi faces lawsuit
June 08, 2024 04:00 - 31 minutesOn this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses the latest changes at Shopify, including the reported sunsetting of Shopify Plus branding. Meanwhile, after five years of trying to grow Walmart Health, the retailer shut down the health-focused business after reportedly losing nearly a quarter of a billion dollars. Lastly, better-for-you soda brand Poppi is facing a class action lawsuit in California by customers who say they were duped by its gut health claims.
How fast-fashion backlash gave ThredUp a marketing edge
June 06, 2024 04:00 - 39 minutesOnline resale may be a hot retail buzzword now, but ThredUp has been around for over a decade building out its business. This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, ThredUp CEO and co-founder James Reinhart spoke about rising demand for resale and how the platform has expanded its offerings. Not only does ThredUp have its own marketplace business, but the company has been building out its resale-as-a-service offering, allowing brands to use its infrastructure to create their own consignment progr...
Rundown: Hoka competes with Nike, Amazon adds Grubhub perk to Prime & private label is still growing
June 01, 2024 04:00 - 31 minutesOn this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses how Hoka went mainstream in the last few years and how the company's roadmap will cater to this newfound customer base. Meanwhile, Amazon Prime is facing pressure from memberships like Walmart+, prompting the company to constantly expand its included perks. Lastly, store brands and private labels continue to see growth as Americans trade down from higher-priced national brands.
Century 21's Larry Mentzer on reopening a legacy NYC off-price retailer
May 30, 2024 04:00 - 40 minutesCentury 21 was an iconic New York off-price store that is now trying to return to its former glory. After filing for bankruptcy and shutting down all 13 of its locations, Century 21 reopened its lower Manhattan locations. "We are, in fact, an iconic legacy piece of New York, and we're happy to be back," Larry Mentzer, the retailer's chief operating officer, said on the Modern Retail Podcast. Mentzer spoke about the strategy with the reopening as well as plans for the future. The retail landsc...
Rundown: Target lowers prices, Amazon beefs up Alexa & Macy's earnings
May 25, 2024 04:00 - 35 minutesOn this week's Modern Retail Rundown, the staff dives into all the hurdles retailers and platforms face. Target, for example, announced plans to lower many of its prices ahead of lackluster earnings. Amazon, meanwhile, is reportedly updating Alexa with new generative AI features -- and allegedly planning to sell it as its own subscription. Lastly, Macy's reported its earnings and said it's beginning to see new traction.
KEH CEO Noah Treshnell on building a profitable online resale business
May 23, 2024 04:00 - 43 minutesResale has proven difficult for many players in the apparel space, but KEH has made it work for the camera industry. KEH has been around for 40 years, beginning first as a used camera business. It's grown into the leading platform for pre-owned camera gear. Today, the company continues to see year-over-year growth and is profitable. CEO Noah Treshnell joined the Modern Retail Podcast and spoke about KEH's history, as well as his vision for the future. One of the real lessons Treshnell has lea...
Rundown: Under Armour attempts another turnaround, Shein's attempted NRF membership & Costco partners with Uber Eats
May 18, 2024 04:00 - 29 minutesThis week's Modern Retail Rundown kicks off with an abridged history of Under Armour’s plans to overhaul its business, which dates back as far as 2017. Meanwhile, Shein has reportedly attempted and failed to get into the National Retail Federation multiple times as it prepares to go public. Last, Costco and Uber Eats are teaming up to bring grocery delivery to people without a Costco membership.
How Cargo Crew has ridden the workwear wave with the help of Paris Hilton & Gwyneth Paltrow
May 16, 2024 04:00 - 38 minutesWorkwear has become high fashion, and Cargo Crew has spent the last two decades riding this wave. The Australia-based company, which first launched in 2002, makes items like cooking aprons and boiler suits. Over the years, the company has expanded and grown -- Cargo Crew now works with 45,000 teams in over 80 countries and projects sales will grow 186% this year. This growth is partly thanks to high-profile clients and fans like celebrity chef Curtis Stone, Goop and even Paris Hilton, who wor...
Rundown: Gopuff's cash burn, Equinox's new membership & Sweetgreen beef
May 11, 2024 04:00 - 27 minutesOn this week’s Modern Retail Rundown: The Information reported that Gopuff lost $400 million last year in its quest to grow revenue. Equinox launched a new health and wellness program that costs $40,000 a year and promises members lifelong health. Meanwhile, Sweetgreen has upset fans by getting rid of arugula the same week it introduced steak to its menu.
Movado Brand president Margot Grinberg on reintroducing a legacy watch company to younger shoppers
May 09, 2024 04:00 - 32 minutes"Everyone said that millennials were never going to buy watches," said Margot Grinberg, president of the Movado Brand and svp of e-commerce at its parent company Movado Group. The going theory was: "They don't need them to tell time, they had a phone; watches were dead after the cell phone came out." But that didn't happen. In fact, timepieces have never been more popular. According to a recent survey from the Boston Consulting Group, between 2021 and 2023, 54% of Gen Z and younger millennial...
Rundown: Starbucks stores struggle, Walmart launches a new private label line & Dave & Buster’s bets on betting
May 04, 2024 04:00 - 28 minutesOn this week's Modern Retail Rundown: The show kicks off with a recap of Starbucks' latest earnings. The coffee shop chain cited bad weather, out-of-stock products and long wait times on app purchases as factors for a slight sales decline. Meanwhile, this week Walmart rolled out a new in-house brand called Bettergoods which features products like plant-based cheese, pistachio nut butter and trendy condiments. Meanwhile, arcade games destination Dave & Buster's said it's launching an in-app e...
Former Peloton CEO John Foley on why he launched his rug startup Ernesta
May 02, 2024 04:00 - 38 minutesJohn Foley may be best known as the founder and former CEO of Peloton, but it turns out interior design is his real passion. "I've been passionate about rugs for decades," he said on the Modern Retail Podcast. "I love design, I love spaces." This was all said to explain why he launched a rug company. Ernesta is a direct-to-consumer brand selling higher-end rugs. It launched in September of last year and just opened its first showroom in Manhattan last month. "Now I'm addicted to you know thos...
Rundown: TikTok's impending U.S. ban, Saks goes into retail media & Amazon's grocery ambitions
April 27, 2024 04:00 - 31 minutesOn this week's Modern Retail Rundown: President Biden signed a bill that requires TikTok to either sell itself or face a U.S. ban. Next, the team discusses Saks' newly announced retail media network — and why it's a growing trend among retailers. Lastly, we dive into a new Amazon grocery subscription service that caters to low-income families.
Prose CEO Arnaud Plas on growing a company with profitability in mind
April 25, 2024 04:00 - 22 minutesEvery brand talks about paths to profitability, but few actually reach it. Customizable beauty brand Prose is one company that has bucked the trend and reached meaningful profitability. The company has made nearly $500 million since launching in 2018 and estimates it will bring in $160 million this year. What's more, this year the company is on track to be profitable, after hitting profitability last May as well for the entire third quarter of 2023. At the Modern Retail Commerce Summit, held ...
Digiday Media Presents: The Return Season Three
April 21, 2024 16:18 - 3 minutesDigiday Media's WorkLife is proud to present season three of The Return, a podcast about the modern workforce, with this season focused on middle management. Last season, we heard what it’s like for Gen Z to enter the workforce for the first time in a post-pandemic world. We highlighted themes like why values are so important to Gen Zers, whether or not they are loyal to their employers, how they use TikTok for career advice, what it means to be a young professional who is a boss to older wor...
Rundown: Peloton takes away free app workouts, adults help boost Lego's sales & Amazon's plans for just walk out tech
April 20, 2024 04:00 - 29 minutesThis week on the Modern Retail Rundown: After less than a year of relaunching its virtual workout app, Peloton quietly got rid of the free membership tier because it wasn't converting users into paying customers. Meanwhile, Lego's adult customer base continues to grow as adults buy up its newer intricate and more expensive sets. Finally, after doing away with its Just Walk Out technology at its own grocery stores, Amazon plans to sell it to other retailers.
Violife's chief growth officer on making plant-based cheese mainstream
April 18, 2024 04:00 - 37 minutesViolife is trying to become the Oatly of plant-based cheese. The brand, which launched in 2013, is part of the Greek plant-based food company Arivia. But it didn't hit U.S. shelves until 2015. Since then, Violife has taken off. It is now the number one plant-based cheese in the world -- and it continues to roll out new products to continue its growth streak. According to Violife's global president and chief growth officer Olga Osminkina-Jones, the current strategy is to make plant-based chees...
Rundown: Gatorade expands healthy options, retail credit cards declining & Bark gets into pet air travel
April 13, 2024 04:00 - 31 minutesOn this week’s Modern Retail Rundown: PepsiCo-owned Gatorade is adding more hydration SKUs that resemble Liquid I.V. and Prime. Meanwhile, department store retailers face yet another hurdle: A new law that limits payment late fees can hurt credit card revenue for retailers like Macy's and Kohl's. Lastly, Bark just announced Bark Air, a new airline program that offers pets and their owners a more comfortable flying experience.
CEO Susan Kim on how Kopari was at the forefront of the clean beauty trend
April 11, 2024 04:00 - 34 minutesEvery beauty startup these days describes itself as a clean beauty brand, but skin-care brand Kopari was ahead of the curve. "It's definitely table stakes now," said CEO Susan Kim. But, it wasn't always that way. "The way I think about clean is that back in 2015, it was a differentiator," Kim said. And that's what helped Kopari -- which makes products including cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreen and deodorant -- grow into the profitable brand it is today, with revenue growing 45% in 2023. Kim...
Rundown: Beauty sales slow down, retailers late on vendor bills & food startup drama
April 06, 2024 04:00 - 33 minutesOn this week's Modern Retail Rundown: Ulta's latest performance shows that beauty sales may finally be decelerating. Retailers like Express, Peloton and Saks have reportedly been late on paying their vendors -- indicating cash flow issues. Finally, there was drama in the food startup space as Momofuku gets litigious with competitors.
'It's really about quality over quantity': Pattern Brands' Suze Dowling on the new roll-up brand playbook
April 04, 2024 04:00 - 34 minutesIt's been a tough few years for roll-up companies, but Pattern Brands seems to have bucked the trend. The company -- which began as design agency Gin Lane and evolved into a portfolio of DTC brands including Open Spaces, Onsen and Gir -- raised a $25 million Series B in 2022 -- and has been slowly building out its portfolio ever since. While other roll-up players like Thrasio and Win Brands Group have faced major headwinds, Pattern has continued chugging along. Its co-founder and chief busine...
Rundown: H&M inches makes profitability progress, Wirecutter reviews & Dollar Tree price hikes
March 30, 2024 04:00 - 25 minutesThis week: H&M inches toward profitability under its new CEO, with the company planning to focus on cost-cutting and competing for price-conscious fast-fashion customers. Next, we also look at a Bloomberg story analyzing why being picked as Wirecutter's top wok ended up overwhelming the small shop that carries the product. Lastly, Dollar Tree announced plans to raise prices on select items to lure its growing high-income customer base.
How Sunday is trying to shake up the yard and garden industry
March 28, 2024 04:00 - 31 minutesSunday wants to be the DTC brand that powers everyone's backyard. The company first launched in 2019 with lawn care products, but has since expanded to pest control and garden products. While it's available in major retailers like Costco, Walmart, Lowe's and Target, Sunday's business is still 75% direct-to-consumer. "To be the outdoor home platform that we want to be, we really need to be able to be across these categories," founder and CEO Coulter Lewis said on the Modern Retail Podcast. He ...
Rundown: Nordstrom may go private, Unilever spins off ice cream biz & Shein's new revenue stream
March 23, 2024 04:00 - 29 minutesThis week’s Modern Retail Rundown includes a check-in on Nordstrom, with news of the founding family allegedly looking to take the department store private. We also delve into Unilever's ice cream division -- which includes the Ben & Jerry's and Magnum brands -- which may be spun off into a separate company. Lastly, we discuss reports of Shein pivoting into supply chain services.
Ridge CEO Sean Frank on trying to build a $1B accessory brand
March 21, 2024 04:00 - 43 minutesAccessory brand Ridge, best known for its wallets, is getting closer and closer to a $1 billion exit. CEO Sean Frank has been saying this for years but thinks the option may come sooner rather than later. "If I want to sell for $1 billion, you need $100 million in adjusted EBITA, or we need roughly $50 million in net income," he said. "I think next year, we'll probably get to $50 million in net income." Frank joined the Modern Retail Podcast and spoke about the company's growth as well as the...
Rundown: The Body Shop shuts down U.S. business, Outdoor Voices closes stores & apparel C-suite shakeups
March 16, 2024 04:00 - 27 minutesThis week on the Modern Retail Rundown: The Body Shop filed for bankruptcy and announced it's closing down all U.S. operations. In a surprise move, Outdoor Voices is also closing all its stores -- with plans to remain an online-only DTC brand. This week also saw a number of C-suite shakeups across apparel and footwear, including Allbirds and Under Armour announcing new CEOs.
Rocco co-founder Alyse Borkan on making mini-fridges a conversation piece
March 14, 2024 04:00 - 30 minutesRocco is a DTC mini-fridge company that wants to make people care about the big hunks of steel electronics they have in their homes. "Appliance brands don't actually have a brand," said Alyse Borkan, co-founder of Rocco. "I really saw an opportunity to do things differently than [what] the rest of the category was doing." Borkan joined this week's Modern Retail Podcast and spoke about her new brand and how she's hoping to compete with the big players like Frigidaire. Rocco launched last Novem...
Rundown: Harry's reported IPO, Ashley acquires DTC mattress group & Abercrombie eyes global growth
March 09, 2024 05:00 - 28 minutesThis week's Modern Retail Rundown show kicks off with a breakdown of Harry's long road to IPO, with the company reportedly filing to go public years after previous acquisition plans fell through. Meanwhile, furniture retailer Ashley announced it's acquiring Resident Home, a mattress group whose brands include DTC companies Nectar, DreamCloud, Awara and Siena. Abercrombie & Fitch, on the other hand, is projected to bring in $5 billion in annual revenue by growing its young customer base intern...
Époque Evolution co-founder Nancy Taylor on why she says 'responsibility' instead of 'sustainability'
March 07, 2024 05:00 - 31 minutesSustainability has become such a big buzzword in retail, but Époque Evolution co-founder Nancy Taylor thinks there's a better word for the work that needs to be done. "I was truly passionate about trying to do things in the responsible way," she said. "So we took the word sustainable out of it and we used the word responsible." That word has guided the Époque Evolution business since it launched in 2018 as a direct-to-consumer fashion brand. Her company was acquired by the Montreal-based Lolë...
Rundown: Thrasio's bankruptcy, Warby Parker plans more stores & Celsius reports record sales
March 02, 2024 05:00 - 29 minutesThis week’s Modern Retail Rundown includes a breakdown of Thrasio's bankruptcy protection filing and the future of the Amazon aggregator's business model. Additionally, Warby Parker wants to eventually open 900 stores as the digitally-native brand has leaned on physical retail for growth. Last, we chat about Celsius Drinks' milestone of becoming a billion billion-dollar energy drink company.
Wing CFO Shannon Nash on why 2024 is the "year of the drone"
February 29, 2024 05:00 - 34 minutesIn Shannon Nash's opinion, 2024 is the "year of the drone." Nash may be biased, as she's the CFO of Wing, the Alphabet-owned drone delivery company that's currently being trialed by companies like Walmart and DoorDash. But there is some data to back this up. For one, Wing announced an expanded partnership with Walmart in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. What's more, recent changes to FAA regulations will likely make it easier for the company to test out other areas. Nash joined this week's Modern ...
Rundown: Reddit's IPO, Beyond Meat gets healthier & Macy's proxy fight continues
February 24, 2024 05:00 - 27 minutesEvery week on the Modern Retail Rundown, we cover the latest headlines from the retail world. This week, the team discusses Reddit’s S-1 drop, meaning the social platform -- which launched in 2005 -- is finally going public after years of speculation. Also, a look at Beyond Meat’s new game plan to turn around weak sales, which includes launching lower fat, higher protein products faux meat burgers and scaling back China operations. Lastly, an update on Macy’s proxy fight by activist investor ...
Little Words Project founder Adriana Carrig on making friendship bracelets a thriving business even before Taylor Swift
February 22, 2024 05:00 - 36 minutesTrue, Taylor Swift made friendship bracelets popular thanks to her song "You're on your own, kid." But the brand Little Words Project has been making friendship bracelets long before Swifties adopted them in full force. Little Words Project launched in 2013 as a quasi-side hustle of founder Adriana Carrig. But the project soon turned into a standalone business. Fast forward to today, Little Words Project has 12 stores around the U.S., is profitable and has hit a revenue run rate of over $20 m...
Rundown: Express's financial woes, retailers ban shoppers for excessive returns & Walmart eyes Vizio acquisition
February 17, 2024 05:00 - 29 minutesEvery week on the Modern Retail Rundown, we cover the latest headlines from the retail world. On this week’s show, we take a look at Express’ financial status in light of mounting debt and potential bankruptcy reports. Next, online returns rate continue growing among retailers – as highlighted by a story in The Cut this week -- and it's leading some brands to ban shoppers with a penchant for returning products. Finally, Walmart is reportedly interested in buying Vizio -- which could mean more...
The Goods Mart founder Rachel Krupa on building a convenience store that's more than a shoppy shop
February 15, 2024 05:00 - 35 minutesThe Goods Mart is trying to update the convenience store experience while not falling into the trappings of the so-called shoppy shops.| The store -- which first launched in 2018 and currently has three different locations in Manhattan -- features a variety of better-for-you snacks like snack bars, coffee and other beverages. The locations are very small. Some are only 400 square feet. The idea is to create a new type of quick-service store that may look updated with startup brands, but servi...
Rundown: Zac Posen heads to Gap, Target reportedly weighs paid membership, and Tapestry shows promising growth
February 10, 2024 05:00 - 25 minutesEvery week on the Modern Retail Rundown, we cover the latest headlines from the retail world. This week Gap Inc. announced it’s bringing on designer Zac Posen as creative director to help revamp its brands, with a big focus on Old Navy. Next, a look at why Target is currently weighing a new Walmart+-like membership program to attract more loyalty, according to a Bloomberg report. Finally, Tapestry, the owner of Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman, posted some positive results in its most re...
'There's this longevity': Bugaboo's Jeanelle Teves on expanding a premium baby brand in North America
February 08, 2024 05:00 - 35 minutesThe baby product retail landscape has changed dramatically over the last decade, and Dutch design brand Bugaboo is making sure it's keeping up with the trends. Bugaboo, which first launched in 1999, is best known for its higher-end strollers, but the brand makes others products like car seats, high chairs and play yards. And while Bugaboo has been sold in the U.S. for decades, North American expansion is a major priority. Jeanelle Teves, Bugaboo's chief commercial officer, is leading this cha...
Rundown: H&M CEO out, TikTok expands Shop & Amazon's ads business grows
February 03, 2024 05:00 - 29 minutesEvery week on the Modern Retail Rundown, we cover the latest headlines from the retail world. First is a look at the sudden departure of H&M’s chief executive officer, who cited the demanding nature of the job. Next, TikTok is reportedly testing a video feature that shows users similar products sold in TikTok Shop -- hinting at an increased focus on growing e-commerce. Finally, why Amazon’s advertising business continued to grow during the fourth quarter -- surging 27% year-over-year, to $14....
Misfits Market COO Corey Farrell on growth plans post-Imperfect Foods acquisition
February 01, 2024 05:00 - 29 minutesMisfits Market thinks it has found a unique way to tackle the difficult business that is online grocery. The company, which acquired Imperfect Foods over a year ago, has a pretty simple premise. It partners with farms and brands, and sells products that otherwise wouldn't hit major retail shelves. The name of the game for this type of business is scale, which is something COO Corey Farrell is constantly thinking about. But the ethos behind Misfits is sustainability. "We wanted to be able to o...
Rundown: Macy's turns down buyout bid, Solo Stove's marketing woes, & Etsy's Super Bowl ambitions
January 27, 2024 05:00 - 29 minutesThis week on the Modern Retail Rundown, the editorial staff looks into big retail changes afoot. First, we analyze why Macy's ultimately rejected a $5.1 billion takeover bid from Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management. Then, a discussion about Solo Stove's flashy advertising campaign with Snoop Dogg, and why the marketing world is debating its merits. Finally, we discuss Etsy's proposed plans to allegedly advertise during the Super Bowl and what it means for sellers and shoppers a...
SharkNinja CEO Mark Barrocas on going from infomercials to TikTok
January 25, 2024 05:00 - 34 minutesSharkNinja -- the company behind the Shark and Ninja household product brands -- sees TikTok as the late-night infomercial. The company has been around since the '90s, but has spent the last two decades specifically growing out its product catalog and finding new channels for marketing. Leading this charge is CEO Mark Barrocas, who joined the company in 2008 as president. Back then, SharkNinja -- then called Euro-Pro -- had fewer products and was mostly known as the brand behind items sold vi...
Rundown: NRF highlights, Hello Bello's new direction & December sales figures
January 20, 2024 05:00 - 25 minutesOn this episode of the Modern Retail Rundown, the editorial staff breaks down the retail industry’s biggest stories. This week things kicked off with NRF's Big Show, covering themes like AI, inventory management and the American consumer's mindset. Meanwhile, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepherd's baby brand Hello Bello is set to be revived by its new owner, after the brand named a new CEO this week. Finally, a look at the much-needed holiday sales growth retailers saw in December, as indicated by n...