Live from Shoptalk Europe: Physical Experiences Matter Even More in a Digital World

In the first of several episodes brought to you by Bambuser and recorded at Shoptalk Europe, we did our first full episode in front of a live audience.

Our topic may at first seem counter-intuitive given the dramatic and continuing growth of e-commerce. But in a world where the role of brick-and-mortar locations has evolved significantly and shopping journeys are often split between jobs and joys, errands and experiences, it's never been more important to be sure that brands' physical store investments deliver great customer relevance and powerful differentiation.

So we go deep on how the role of stores (and shopping centers) have changed, how some retailers adapted quickly, and others failed to seize the opportunity, and what it takes to makes sure physical retail is contributing to remarkable performance.

As usual, we start by unpacking the most important retail news of the week with a focus on the good, bad, and somewhat promising earnings reports from Abercrombie & Fitch, PDD Holdings, Dicks Sporting Goods, Kohl's, Gap, and more. We also explore the lingering impact of inflation in services and the continued expansion of Vuori, one of our favorite remarkable brands.

Buying vs. Shopping episode

Joe Kudla interview

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor, board member, and keynote speaker focused on strategic growth and transformation and the impact of digital disruption. He is the author of the bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption and the all new Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , now available for purchase in the U.S. and available for pre-order at book retailers elsewhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Don't forget to join Steve's new Linked Group for his new book.

Michael LeBlanc  is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada.   Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail,

Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.