Retail Gets Real
349 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 83 ratingsRetail impacts everyone, everywhere, every day. Join the National Retail Federation for authentic, insightful conversations with the industry's most interesting people. Hear retail executives, industry experts, entrepreneurs and influencers discuss trends, their career stories and the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
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Episodes
294. Retail predictions for 2023 with NRF’s Susan Reda
January 17, 2023 11:00 - 27 minutes - 25.8 MBFrom small concept stores to the metaverse and Web3, retail is all about change and adaptation. On today’s show, Susan Reda, NRF’s VP of education strategy digs into the insights and retail trends for 2023 and explains why drones, robotics and Generation Alpha are shaping the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
293. The state of retail heading into 2023 with NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay
January 03, 2023 11:00 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBAfter weathering the effects of a global pandemic, supply chain disruptions and inflation, retailers and consumers are ready for a brighter 2023. National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay joins Retail Gets Real to discuss the industry and how it fared this holiday season, what to expect from retail and NRF in 2023, and what he’s looking forward to at the upcoming NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show in New York City. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
292. Shopping in a winter wonderland: Measuring the impact of weather on consumer demand
December 20, 2022 11:00 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBEvan Gold, executive vice president of global partnerships and alliances at Planalytics. Gold discusses his career path from Macy’s to weather data analytics, how weather and geography impacts consumers and how they shop, especially during the holiday season, and what retailers can do to be prepared for Mother Nature heading into 2023. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
291. Holiday grocery shopping trends for 2022
December 13, 2022 11:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBOn this week’s episode, Barbara Connors, vice president of strategy and acceleration at The Kroger Company’s retail data science, insights and media company 84.51⁰, discusses how shoppers are preparing for the holiday season, looking to spend time together with family and reconnect through family traditions. Listen to learn how inflation is impacting consumers, why even habitual online shoppers visit stores during the holidays, and what to expect into the new year. Learn more at retailgets...
290. How David’s Bridal is using TikTok to rewrite the rules of formal fashion
December 06, 2022 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBKelly Cook, chief marketing and IT officer for David’s Bridal, talks us through her background in retail before landing at David’s and how the forward-thinking brand is staying fresh and relevant with an expanded TikTok strategy. We also learn how Cook’s team leverages live shopping events with social media influencers and stays on-trend with the latest in bridal fashions and weddings – like colored gowns, grandparent ring bearers and gender-fluid bridal parties. Learn more at retailgetsre...
289. How Lovesac keeps momentum after the pandemic boom
November 22, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBShawn Nelson was just out of high school when he designed and produced the first LoveSac. Nearly 25 years later, it’s the fastest-growing furniture brand of the last decade and has reinvented the couch, the living room and even all of retail – forever. He takes us through the company’s journey into physical retail (and right back out) and how it weathered the pandemic with sustained momentum. We also get his take on the modern showroom, once a dirty word, and how LoveSac presents its physica...
288. Buying for baby with Babylist Chief Growth Officer Lee Anne Grant
November 08, 2022 11:00 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBBabies need a lot of stuff, which is why expectant parents spend 40 hours on average building out their baby registry. On today’s show, Lee Anne Grant, Chief Growth Officer at Babylist, discusses her career path from babysitter to Babylist, how the company uses TikTok and the metaverse to meet their consumers where they are, and the evolution of Babylist into the leading vertical marketplace and commerce destination for baby. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
287. The haunt is on at Party City with Odette Welling, Vice President of Merchandising
October 25, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 17.5 MBHalloween is one of Party City’s biggest seasons and is a huge undertaking that includes hiring and training 20,000 new seasonal employees and sourcing costumes and décor more than a year in advance. On today’s show, Odette Welling, vice president of merchandising — and the self-confessed “Halloween queen” at Party City — talks all things Halloween, including the retailer’s most popular costumes for kids, adults, teens and pets. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
286. How Ikea is helping customers visualize new spaces
October 11, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBIkea’s latest cutting-edge technology allows customers to visualize Ikea products in their own homes. On today’s show, Thomas Fenrich, VP of digital product U.S., talks about Ikea Kreativ, a new technology that combines decades of Ikea life-at-home expertise with the latest developments in spatial computing, machine learning and 3D mixed reality technologies. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
285. The state of retail heading into the holiday season
September 27, 2022 10:00 - 26 minutes - 24.8 MBJust skimming the headlines reveals the dichotomy of today’s economy – consumers are still spending, despite worries about inflation and increased costs for food and fuel. Armed with PwC’s latest consumer survey, partner and U.S. retail leader Kelly Pederson joins the show to talk about consumer resiliency, how retailers are handling inventory and pricing, and which consumers will be spending the most this holiday season. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
284. Scotch Porter Founder and CEO Calvin Quallis on connecting with the male consumer
September 20, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBCalvin Quallis is all about helping men look good and feel good. As the founder and CEO of Scotch Porter, Quallis has taken his men’s grooming and skincare brand from a kitchen experiment to the shelves of CVS, Target and Walmart. On this episode, Quallis dives into how he started and scaled his brand, the evolution of the male consumer and providing access, opportunity and employment to other people of color. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
283. Replay: Inside Walmart’s sustainability and climate strategy
September 13, 2022 10:00 - 20 minutes - 19.4 MBZach Freeze, senior director for sustainability at Walmart, discusses Walmart's approach to climate and its evolving sustainability efforts, and what it's like to lead them as part of one of the largest and most influential retailers in the world. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
282. Replay: Making golf accessible and inviting to all with Jill Thomas of PGA TOUR Superstores
August 30, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBJill Thomas is the CMO of PGA TOUR Superstore. The company, and the sport, have both seen a recent surge of growth due to COVID-19 and golf’s unique position as an outdoor activity that is social distancing-friendly and connection fostering. A large part of Jill’s goal is to continue fostering growth in the sport and attracting people from diverse backgrounds to it. One of their primary channels for that growth is through the retail store. Creating an inclusive environment that is welcomin...
281. How Domino’s delivers on innovation
August 23, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.9 MBFrom its delivery tracker to a mind-ordering app developed in partnership with Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” Domino’s has been delivering on innovation since 1960. Many of those innovations have come about by listening to the customer and adapting based on what they needed, says Christopher Thomas-Moore, senior vice president of customer and store experiences at Domino’s. On this episode, Thomas-Moore discusses his career journey, how the pizza brand leads when it comes to innovation, and the...
280. The voices of the next generation of talent: Opening minds to a career in retail
August 16, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBNRF’s summer interns are about to return to college. Before heading back, we asked them about their work experience and how their perspectives on retail changed after working at NRF. Bill Thorne sits down with three bright students, Juliana Sailing, Miguel Gomez and Ashton Wiggins, to talk about the lessons they’ve learned along the way, what they’re looking for in a potential employer, and the impact of seeing the ins and outs of retail advocacy. As the retail industry looks to attract ne...
279. Into the metaverse: Why Meta opened a retail store
August 09, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBMartin Gilliard, Head of Meta Store, joins the show to chat about why Meta opened a physical store, what the store is designed to do and what retailers need to know about emerging opportunities in the metaverse. Gilliard describes the Meta store as a physical space designed to mimic a living room, where consumers can try out the devices such as the Oculus VR headsets, Portal video call devices and RayBan-partnered smart glasses that can enable them to have experiences in the metaverse. Gil...
278. Leading transformation at 130-year-old Conn’s HomePlus with CEO Chandra Holt
July 26, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBChandra Holt, CEO of Conn's HomePlus, has learned the retail ropes from the inside, with an impressive resume that includes powerhouse retailers like Walgreens, Target, Sam’s Club and most recently, Walmart, where she led Walmart.com. In this episode, Holt shares the new and innovative things happening at Conn’s HomePlus, including expanding the “store-within-a-store” concept, leaning into their strengths with key partnerships and bringing back layaway for customer financing. Listen to ...
277. How a shared supply chain platform could revolutionize retail with American Eagle Outfitters’ Shekar Natarajan
July 19, 2022 10:00 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBShekar Natarajan, Chief Supply Chain Officer of American Eagle Outfitters, joins this episode to discuss the company's supply chain strategy, including its vision for a shared “internet of packages,” how current challenges are impacting the business and what the future of the retail supply chain looks like. Natarajan expands on opportunities in the industry to unify, optimize and improve the outcome for everyone involved by sharing supply chain resources. He explains that, with an open pla...
276. How Chipotle builds a more sustainable supply chain
July 12, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBOn this episode, Carlos Londono, Vice President & Head of Supply Chain at Chipotle Mexican Grill, shares insight into the company’s supply chain strategy, how current challenges are impacting the business and what the future of the retail supply chain looks like. The promise of fresh ingredients with no preservatives or additives means that Chipotle’s supply chain team needs to operate at the top of its game. It's through a devotion to its people, an openness to technology and an organizat...
275. How Goodlife Clothing is growing with bricks-and-mortar
July 05, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBAfter starting in wholesale and moving into ecommerce, Goodlife Clothing is now investing in physical stores. Andrew Codispoti, Co-CEO of Goodlife Clothing, joins Retail Gets Real to add a front-line perspective on how and why his, and other digitally native brands, are seeing success in physical retail spaces. Codispoti outlines the history of the brand and how the store has proven to be a cost-effective acquisition channel that not only brings in new customers but keeps them coming back. ...
274. Inflation and the state of retail with NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay
June 28, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBAs we hit the mid-point of 2022, we’re still dealing with the impacts of a global pandemic, supply chain disruptions and inflation, yet the consumer and retailers remain resilient. National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay joins Retail Gets Real to share insights about the state of retail coming off his recent conversations with industry and world leaders at the World Economic Forum and the White House. He also shares the solutions NRF is advocating for as part of its Lowe...
273. How Neiman Marcus Group creates measurable outcomes for DE&I that help drive the business forward
June 21, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 26.7 MBAs the chief people and belonging officer at Neiman Marcus Group, Eric Severson oversees all of the aspects of the organization that impact people, both internally and externally. Eric takes us from his start in the industry, at ten, working in his father’s retail shop, to Macy’s, Gap and more. His tips on team building and talent retention, leveling the playing field and operating with inclusion in all aspects of business are as actionable as they are insightful. The bottom line is, yo...
272. How sustainability is good for business: KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO/Founder of Sustainable Brands
June 14, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBKoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO/Founder, Sustainable Brands, joins the show to share what retailers are doing to become more sustainable, how consumer behaviors are evolving and what the future of retail looks like through a sustainability lens. Sustainable Brands is a global community of changemakers who are working together to shift the global economy toward a more sustainable future. She’s committed to pooling data and experiences from across industry in order to position business as the he...
271. Leadership and learning along the way: JuE Wong, CEO, OLAPLEX
June 07, 2022 12:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBOlaplex CEO JuE Wong talks about growing a fan favorite brand, harnessing the power of social media and what's next for the company and the future of the retail industry. She shares her unique career journey and the advice that helped her find success after success. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
270. Replay: Inside Saks OFF 5TH’s digital strategy
May 24, 2022 12:00 - 22 minutes - 21.2 MBAfter separating the digital business from stores in June 2021, Saks OFF 5TH has invested heavily in creating an unparalleled digital experience for the luxury bargain hunter. In this episode, Saks OFF 5TH President and CEO Paige Thomas shares insights into the digital strategy, leading through difficult times and where the future of retail is headed. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
270. Inside Saks OFF 5TH’s digital strategy
May 24, 2022 12:00 - 22 minutes - 21.2 MBAfter separating the digital business from stores in June 2021, Saks OFF 5TH has invested heavily in creating an unparalleled digital experience for the luxury bargain hunter. In this episode, Saks OFF 5TH President and CEO Paige Thomas shares insights into the digital strategy, leading through difficult times and where the future of retail is headed. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
269. Making golf accessible and inviting to all with Jill Thomas of PGA TOUR Superstores
May 17, 2022 12:00 - 21 minutes - 20.4 MBJill Thomas is the CMO of PGA TOUR Superstore. The company, and the sport, have both seen a recent surge of growth due to COVID-19 and golf’s unique position as an outdoor activity that is social distancing-friendly and connection fostering. We talk about how PGA TOUR Superstore is expanding the world of golf to a broader audience, impacting not only the future of retail but of the sport as well. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
268. From mailroom to COO: Verizon’s Krista Bourne on building a career and staying close to consumers
May 10, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBWhen Krista Bourne started in the mailroom at Verizon twenty years ago, she didn’t imagine that she would someday be in the C-suite. Today, as COO of Verizon Consumer Group, she joins the episode to talk about how she’s navigated her incredible career journey, what it takes to build effective teams and the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
267. Creating an inclusive community in the workplace with Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO of Bumbershoot
May 03, 2022 10:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBKimberly Lee Minor is the CEO of Bumbershoot, a firm that helps businesses rethink their cultures for inclusivity. In addition to being a thought leader and advocate for the advancement of women and people of color in the workplace, Kimberly is also the President and Chief Commercial Officer at women’s apparel brand, Bandier. We talk about how companies are rethinking their values and how to nurture diversity and inclusion, not just with customers and branding, but in the workforce. Learn mo...
266. The emergence of hyper convenience in retail with Cate Trotter of Insider Trends
April 26, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBIn this episode, we’re unpacking emerging retail trends with Cate Trotter of Insider Trends. We explore some of the latest developments shaking up the industry while focusing on hyper convenience and what factors are driving the shift to ultra-fast fulfillment. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
265. Staying close to the customer side of business with Nancy Green, President and CEO of Old Navy
April 19, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBNancy Green is the President and CEO of Old Navy. After working her way up from the store level, she is deeply familiar with the customer journey and what people expect from a company at all levels, from leadership to the ground floor. Nancy joins us to discuss her career journey, the leadership lessons she’s learned along the way and what it takes to succeed in retail right now – and in the future. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
264. What retailers need to know about increasing organized retail crime
April 12, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBThe retail industry has been dealing with organized crime for many years, but the topic has gained new attention in the media of late. In this episode, Tony Sheppard, the director of loss prevention solutions at ThinkLP, talks about why we’re hearing so much about these problems right now, how the pandemic has impacted the problem, and how retailers can combat the issue and plan for the future. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
263. Lessons in retail: Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette and Mike George, former CEO of Qurate Retail, Inc.
April 05, 2022 10:00 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBAs we get ready for the NRF Foundation Honors, we’re speaking with two retail leaders who are co-hosting the event: Macy’s Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette and Former CEO and President of Qurate Retail, Inc. Mike George. We asked each of the co-hosts twenty questions that revealed fascinating details about how they built their careers. Hear the highlights. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
262. Store openings outpace closings as formats evolve
March 29, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBFor all the challenges the retail industry has faced over the past two years, store openings continue to outpace closings in the U.S. As National Director Retail Services, USA for Colliers, which manages a portfolio of over 2 billion square feet of retail establishments in the United States, Anjee Solanki has a unique perspective on the evolving needs for retail spaces and how retailers are creating compelling experiences in new kinds of spaces. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
261. The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2022
March 22, 2022 10:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBThe NRF Foundation’s List of People Shaping Retail’s Future is a dynamic group of leaders creating opportunities and sparking innovation. These individuals – leaders at Chewy, Five Below, McDonalds, The RealReal, and formerly with CVS – have dedicated their careers to building better lives and stronger communities. They each discuss decisions they made throughout the pandemic and what the future of retail looks like. The members of The List will be recognized at the NRF Foundation Honors in A...
260. Rhone CEO on why physical retail is key to growth
March 15, 2022 12:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBNate Checketts, CEO and Co-Founder of men's activewear brand Rhone, shares how the company is expanding its physical presence and growing its brand while holding onto its core values. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
259. The impact of inflation on the retail industry
March 08, 2022 12:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBMark Mathews, VP of research development and industry analysis at NRF, dives into the reasons the U.S. is experiencing inflation, what’s driving up prices, how it impacts consumer behavior and how long we can expect it to last. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
258. Inside Walmart’s sustainability and climate strategy
March 01, 2022 11:00 - 20 minutes - 19.5 MBZach Freeze, senior director for sustainability at Walmart, discusses Walmart's approach to climate and its evolving sustainability efforts, and what it's like to lead them as part of one of the largest and most influential retailers in the world. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
257. 3 trends driving the future of retail
February 22, 2022 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBKate Ancketill, the founder and CEO of GDR Creative Intelligence, joins the show to discuss the retail trends that are shaping the future of retail and where retailers need to experiment now to be well positioned for the next five to 10 years. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
256. The 2022 deals outlook for consumer markets
February 15, 2022 12:00 - 22 minutes - 21 MBThe current retail landscape has seen tumultuous change over the last few years, and we can expect even more in the year ahead. Alberto Dent, the U.S. Consumer Markets Deals Leader for PwC, talks through the climate impacting deals for 2022 and why value creation is key to being successful. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
255. Inside Saks OFF 5TH’s digital strategy
February 08, 2022 11:00 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBAfter separating the digital business from stores in June 2021, Saks OFF 5TH has invested heavily in creating an unparalleled digital experience for the luxury bargain hunter. In this episode, Saks OFF 5TH President and CEO Paige Thomas shares insights into the digital strategy, leading through difficult times and where the future of retail is headed. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
254. Retail predictions for the year ahead
January 19, 2022 14:43 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBNRF’s Susan Reda shares retail predictions for 2022 as outlined in her annual NRF column. From a return to the store, to digital experiences in the store, to exploring the hype of the metaverse, see what’s in store for 2022. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
253. A preview of NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show
January 11, 2022 11:00 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBThe National Retail Federation is convening retailers and partners in New York city for its annual convention and expo NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show on Jan. 16-18. NRF’s Jill Dvorak and Eric Olson join to share what attendees can expect to see, hear and do at the event. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
252. The State of Retail heading into 2022 with Matt Shay, President and CEO of NRF
January 06, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 22.1 MBMatt Shay, the president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, looks back at retail in 2021 and lessons learned to move the industry forward in 2022. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
251. The best Retail Gets Real moments from 2021
December 21, 2021 11:00 - 10 minutes - 12.6 MBWe’ve had insights into the pandemic and visions of the future in wide-ranging conversations representing key topics for the industry over the last year. In this episode, we highlight our favorite podcast moments of 2021. With everything from large companies to scrappy startups, it’s the focus on people that makes this industry so rewarding. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
250. The impact of consumer trust and how to build it
December 15, 2021 11:00 - 18 minutes - 21.6 MBBarbra Bukovac, vice chair of consumer markets at PwC, discusses insights from PwC’s recent survey that show the impact of the pandemic on consumers’ trust and their relationships with businesses, including what helps businesses build trust and why engaging with customers regularly is so meaningful. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
249. Rhone CEO on why physical retail is key to growth
December 07, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 30.3 MBNate Checketts, CEO and co-founder of men's activewear brand Rhone, shares how the company is expanding its physical presence and growing its brand while holding onto its values. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
248. Holiday shopping insights from Google
November 30, 2021 11:00 - 21 minutes - 25 MBBill Ready, president of commerce at Google, joins the podcast to discuss trending gifts this holiday season and the future of shopping as digital and physical experiences continue to blend. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
247. NRF policy update: The issues impacting retail today
November 23, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 17.2 MBDavid French, NRF’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations, discusses the latest on advocacy campaigns for the industry and connects the dots between Capitol Hill and retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
246. Top 5 holiday questions answered
November 16, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 17 MBOn this episode of “Retail Gets Real,” NRF retail industry experts answer the holiday season’s most-asked questions: the role of Black Friday, shipping concerns, the impact of inflation, labor shortages and who will be spending the most. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.