Retail Gets Real
349 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 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
#97 Convenience, culture and curation: Innovations that transform retail
January 07, 2019 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBThe retail store is transforming, and innovation means opportunity and change. Oliver Chen covers retail for Cowen and Company and sees a lot of this transformation firsthand. In this episode, Chen discusses how modern retailers are updating their success metrics for a new age and what the future of retail holds for companies and their customers. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#96 The state of retail heading into 2019
December 31, 2018 11:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MB2018 has been one of the best years for the retail industry in a decade. While the economic environment will be more complicated in the year ahead, retail CEOs are feeling optimistic about 2019. Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, reflects on the state of the industry and what’s to come in 2019. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#95 Scott Galloway: The retailer with the best workforce wins (Rerelease)
December 24, 2018 11:00 - 24 minutes - 23 MBLast year, we talked to business guru Scott Galloway about what it takes to succeed in retail today, the importance of a great workforce and what Amazon’s next move should be. Ahead of his appearance at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show, we’re revisiting his industry predictions. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#94 Last-minute holiday shopping
December 19, 2018 11:00 - 5 minutes - 5.58 MBA lot of consumers spread out holiday shopping over the last two months of the year, but “people still have a lot of shopping left to do,” says NRF Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen. She joins the third installment of the podcast’s holiday mini-series to discuss who’s still shopping and what retailers can expect during the last weekend before Christmas, including Super Saturday. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#93 Retail predictions for 2019: What’s in and what’s out
December 17, 2018 11:00 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBFrom experiments in retail experiences to robotics in fast casual restaurants, NRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen and Susan Reda, editor of STORES Magazine, discuss the trends that are likely to shape the retail landscape in 2019. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#92 ‘Tis the giving season
December 12, 2018 11:00 - 5 minutes - 5.37 MBNRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen discusses what NRF’s holiday consumer survey revealed about how people are giving back to the community during the holidays. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#91 How Neiman Marcus innovates to adapt
December 10, 2018 11:00 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBNeiman Marcus has learned a thing or two over its 109-year history — and one thing is for sure: The company must anticipate future customer needs if they want to stay on the cutting edge of retail. Scott Emmons, head of the innovation lab, discusses how Neiman Marcus does it while staying true to its origins. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#90 Gifting trends for the holidays
December 05, 2018 11:00 - 6 minutes - 6.33 MBNRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen is back to tell us more about one particularly interesting bit of data from the Thanksgiving weekend shopping survey: gifting trends! Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#89 Holiday Special: Thanksgiving weekend and beyond
December 03, 2018 11:00 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBNRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen walks us through the biggest surprises from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, how consumer behaviors are changing this holiday season and the role of social media. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#88 Zenni Optical’s vision for change
November 26, 2018 11:00 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBZenni Optical isn’t replacing the demand for glasses — it’s creating new demand by changing the business model for prescription eyewear. Zenni’s Chief Product Officer, Bai Gan, talks about the company’s mission, how it’s able to sell a pair of glasses for $7 and the retail approach that fosters rapid business growth. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#87 Neighborhood Goods: The department store of the future
November 19, 2018 11:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBRetail is one of the most dynamic industries in the world and retailers are driving innovation. On this episode, Matt Alexander, co-founder of Neighborhood Goods, discusses how the Plano, Texas, startup is rethinking the traditional department store experience. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#86 Blockchain: Building a chain of trust
November 12, 2018 11:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBWe are in the early days of blockchain and not everyone yet understands the full scale and scope of its impact. Scott Likens, new services and emerging tech leader at PwC, helps us get past the buzzword and learn the current and future impact of blockchain on the retail industry. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#85 Tariffs: What retailers need to know
November 05, 2018 11:00 - 19 minutes - 18.4 MBEveryone in the United States — and everyone who trades with the U.S. — is likely to experience the impact of the administration’s newly implemented and proposed tariffs. Small business owners and manufacturers can already feel the effects, and it’s only a matter of time before the increasing costs trickle down to consumers, employees and communities. NRF's Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jon Gold explains what retailers need to know about this complicated topic, and we hea...
#84 How CVS is redefining convenience
October 29, 2018 10:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBCVS Pharmacy is a purpose-driven company dedicated to helping people on their path to better health. But that path is rapidly changing, and CVS has to change with it. President of CVS Pharmacy Kevin Hourican discusses how CVS is adapting in the face of a changing industry and, even more importantly, changing customer behaviors. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#83 How Spa Destinations built a thriving small business on Amazon
October 22, 2018 10:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBAs retail continues to evolve, online marketplaces are booming. Millions of sellers have turned to Amazon Marketplace to grow their retail business. Theo Prodromitis is the owner of Florida-based small business Spa Destinations, and she's become an expert in using Amazon's platform to her advantage. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#82 Digital meets physical in the retail experience of the future
October 15, 2018 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBHow can retailers bring the best of online thinking into the physical world? It’s a big question, but one retailers must tackle to give customers the experience, service and speed they will expect from retail in the future. Healey Cypher of ZIVELO is working to create the kind of tech that brings the advantages of digital into the store. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#81 Sur La Table: From cooking class to loyal customer
October 08, 2018 10:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBSur La Table is one of the nation’s largest kitchenware retailers and a huge component of the business is its culinary school — over 80 stores have a cooking school in the store taught by resident chefs, and more than 600,000 students annually take advantage of them. CEO Billy May talks about how this strategy helps Sur La Table acquire customers and keep them coming back for more. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#80 The Brass Owl: Rallying the local business community
October 01, 2018 10:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBNicole Panettieri is much more than a retailer – she’s an advocate for small business and her community. As the owner of The Brass Owl, a boutique in the Astoria, Queens neighborhood of New York City, Panettieri exemplifies what it means to be a community retailer that makes a real impact. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#79 The evolution of retail with the host of MSNBC’s “Your Business”
September 27, 2018 10:00 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MBRetail is evolving — gone are the days when a company needed was a good product or service. Now they need to create an experience, a brand and a community. To learn about how the most successful entrepreneurs do this, we talk to JJ Ramberg, the host of MSNBC's “Your Business” and the Been There. Built That. podcast. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#78 Creating the retail experience at PGA TOUR Superstore
September 24, 2018 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBShopping is no longer about visiting a store to pick up products. Consumers expect a visit to the store to be much more than browsing and checking out. Matt Corey, chief marketing officer for PGA TOUR Superstore joins this episode to discuss how the golf-focused sports store is using technology to design a stand-out experience both online and offline. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#77 Retail trends that will gain traction in 2019
September 20, 2018 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBThe retail industry loves to talk trends, but SapientRazorfish’s Jason “Retailgeek” Goldberg says that many are overhyped. So what will stick? Joining us at Shop.org 2018 in Las Vegas, Goldberg chats about the retail tech trends that will gain momentum in the coming year and why a solution is in sight for the “mobile gap” problem. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#76 For the Pin: Discovery and the Pinterest shopper
September 17, 2018 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBFor millions of people around the world, Pinterest is the first stop on their retail journey — it’s a place to discover, get inspired and personalize. For retailers, Pinterest is an opportunity to engage with customers earlier and more often, well before a transaction takes place. To learn more about how brands of all sizes are taking advantage of this social media platform, we sit down with Amy Vener, the head of retail strategy at Pinterest. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#75 ThirdLove: Using data to create the perfect bra
September 10, 2018 10:00 - 20 minutes - 23.1 MBShopping for bras is generally an unpleasant experience — so ThirdLove takes shoppers out of awkward dressing rooms and allows them to shop for underwear at home, using data to create a more personalized shopping experience and better products. Chief Creative Officer Ra’el Cohen shares how ThirdLove is disrupting the bra industry by “taking data and using it in a really personal way.” Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#74 How Brandless is reimagining modern consumption
September 04, 2018 10:00 - 30 minutes - 35.4 MBBrandless is “unapologetically a brand,” says co-founder and CEO Tina Sharkey, and it’s one specifically designed to appeal to millennials. On its online platform, Brandless carries everything from applesauce to knives for no more than $3, and all products are sustainably manufactured, organic and non-GMO. On this episode, learn how Brandless makes the business model work while also donating a meal to Feeding America for every purchase. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
#73 Generation Z is shaping the back-to-class shopping season
August 27, 2018 10:00 - 17 minutes - 20.1 MBBack-to-college spending is expected to reach $55 billion this year, and many of those shopping for themselves are members of Generation Z. Katherine Cullen, NRF’s director of retail and consumer insights, discusses trends from NRF’s annual survey of back-to-class shoppers and how this generation of consumers that grew up with the internet and smartphones is shaping retail. Learn more at www.retailgetsreal.com.
#72 Intel’s innovation leader on the future of retail tech
August 20, 2018 10:00 - 27 minutes - 31.1 MBIntel is at the forefront of today’s retail revolution, driving the technology that incorporates the best of the physical and digital store. Stacey Shulman, chief innovation officer for the retail solutions division at Intel, discusses Intel’s role in retail and some macro technology trends that affect everyone in retail. Learn more at www.retailgetsreal.com.
#71 Boon Supply: Where fundraising meets retail
August 13, 2018 10:00Boon Supply is a vertically integrated product company that gives 50 percent of each purchase to various causes and schools. It’s a disruptive new idea in the world of fundraising that already supports over 500 causes and gives $12.5 million to schools annually, and CEO Lily Kanter has some big ideas for how it can leverage capitalism to do better in the world. Learn more at www.retailgetsreal.com.
#71 Boon Supply: Where fundraising meets retail
August 13, 2018 10:00Boon Supply is a vertically integrated product company that gives 50 percent of each purchase to various causes and schools. It’s a disruptive new idea in the world of fundraising that already supports over 500 causes and gives $12.5 million to schools annually, and CEO Lily Kanter has some big ideas for how it can leverage capitalism to do better in the world. Learn more at www.retailgetsreal.com.
#70 Lululemon athletica: The intersection of business and technology
August 06, 2018 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBJulie Averill has been at lululemon athletica for just over a year and is still impressed by how innovative and entrepreneurial the 20-year-old company is. “It truly acts like the startup that it was,” she says. Averill talks about her role as chief technology officer — overseeing the tech that keeps the business running smoothly, from inventory and supply chain to store management and human resources — and opportunities for women to rise to top tech positions. Learn more at www.retail...
#69 From science project to global solution: FreshPaper takes on food waste
July 30, 2018 10:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBFreshPaper is a simple but powerful innovation that keeps food fresh for up to four times longer, in or out of the fridge. It started as a middle school science project inspired by an Indian home remedy, but now makes a huge impact on food waste in over 180 countries. Founder and inventor Kavita Shukla tells the story behind the product and the difference her company has made in global communities. Learn more at www.nrf.com/retailgetsreal.
#68 Akola: Empowering women through jewelry-making
July 23, 2018 10:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBBrittany Underwood’s first visit to Uganda as a college student completely changed the course of her life. “I had never witnessed extreme poverty,” she says, and she just wanted to help. Fifteen years later, her nonprofit Akola Project helps hundreds of women through the creation, distribution and sale of handmade jewelry. In this episode, Underwood describes how Akola is on its way to achieving its mission of becoming the leading global retail brand that creates economic opportunity and tra...
#67 TreeHouse’s bold plan to dominate a $200 billion industry
July 16, 2018 10:00 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBThe “do-it-for-me” segment of the home remodeling and renovation industry is worth over $200 billion annually — but it’s fragmented, with no one having the largest percentage of sales revenue between countless individual professionals and small companies. Gary Kusin, chairman and CEO of Treehouse, a sustainable home improvement company, is on a mission to transform the industry and emerge as the market leader. Learn more at www.nrf.com.
#66 Millennial parents shop differently than other parents
July 09, 2018 10:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBIn the Spring 2018 Consumer View report, NRF takes a look at how millennial parents, now ages 24-37, are shopping differently than previous generations of moms and dads. NRF’s Head of Consumer Research Katherine Cullen presents the findings to two parents — one a millennial and the other a Gen X-er — to get real-world examples that reveal shifting consumer behavior trends. Listen to learn more about how generational differences are shaping today’s retail. Learn more at www.nrf.com.
#65 The Army & Air Force Exchange Service balances profitability with community
July 02, 2018 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBServing military troops, families and veterans at home and abroad, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service operates more than 2,700 facilities around the world. But when it comes to business, it’s not much different from any other retailer. “You have to innovate to survive,” says Director and CEO Tom Shull. On this episode, he discusses how the Exchange supports the military in all aspects of life and embraces innovation. Learn more at www.nrf.com.
#64 Cybersecurity for business and life: A guide from a former White House CIO
June 25, 2018 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBIf businesses and individuals don’t take any steps to proactively protect themselves, they are increasingly at risk online. Theresa Payton, founder of Fortalice Solutions and cybersecurity authority on the CBS show “Hunted”, discusses how old school investigative techniques can be combined with new technology to protect businesses without sacrificing convenience for consumers. Payton also shares tactics that individuals can take to protect their private information. Learn more at www.n...
#63 Fitzroy rethinks discovery for toy shop owners
June 18, 2018 10:00 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBLike many entrepreneurs, Stefanie Botelho created Fitzroy as a solution to a problem she faced: She was buying a lot of gifts for children, but it was tough to find something unique and special. Botelho built a recommendation engine to address the issue and adapted it for retailers as an online marketplace. Botelho’s platform now helps niche stores find emerging, independent brands that want to grow. On this episode, she discusses how it all came about. Learn more at www.nrf.com.
#62 In with the new: When returns are a win-win
June 11, 2018 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBSara Whiffen loves to shop, but was running out of room in her closet. Applying the sales model she saw in the auto industry to fashion, Whiffen devised a way to keep her wardrobe looking fresh. Her tech startup Rohvi helps retailers like Amy Gardner, owner of fashion boutique Scarpa, give customers a way to affordably refresh their looks by returning previously worn items for store credit. Hear how the partnership is a win-win for both retailers and customers on this episode of Retail Gets ...
#61 Politics and Prose: Books, community and evolution in D.C.
June 04, 2018 10:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBWhen co-owners Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine took over Politics and Prose seven years ago, they took on a big challenge: Growing an independent bookstore to adapt with evolving customer needs while continuing to serve the community that has supported the store for 34 years. On this episode, Graham discusses why and how they are expanding the store and how Politics and Prose engages communities throughout Washington, D.C.
#60 The reinvention of Levi’s: Staying cool for over a century
May 29, 2018 10:00 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBAfter over a century, Levi’s is still making waves. Brand President James ‘JC’ Curleigh explains how the company went through a reinvention to achieve its vintage and cool status. Keeping the core customer in mind, Levi’s never stops innovating. On this episode, Curleigh demonstrates the newest collaboration with Google, a denim jacket that’s far more than it looks.
#59 The new normal: How retailers continue to evolve
May 21, 2018 10:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBForrester Retail Analyst Sucharita Kodali knows a thing or two about how the retail industry has evolved over the years. For one, more brands plan to open stores versus close them this year. On this episode, she presents findings from the 2018 NRF-Forrester research report “State of Retailing Online” to crush the myth of the “retail apocalypse.”
#58 Crazy dog people: How passion drives BARK
May 14, 2018 07:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBBARK, the makers of BarkBox, began where so many great companies do — in a heart-shaped bed on a cruise ship. Henrik Werdelin and his co-founders bonded over a mutual love for dogs and an obsession with making their furry family members happy. In this episode, Werdelin discusses how BARK’s dog-obsessed culture drives every facet of the business and attracts an army of similarly obsessed fans.
#57 UrbanStems uproots the floral industry
May 07, 2018 06:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBAjay Kori knew nothing about the floral business. But after too many bad experiences when ordering flowers online, he devised a brand-new supply chain, from the growing process through delivery within hours of an order. On this episode of Retail Gets Real, UrbanStems CEO and co-founder Kori talks about how the startup is upending the online flower industry — and how it turned a disastrous Valentine’s Day into an advantage.
#56 How Warby Parker and STORY approach innovation
April 30, 2018 06:00 - 23 minutes - 43.6 MBWhat do Warby Parker and STORY have in common? Entrepreneurs with a keen eye for innovation. Warby Parker’s Neil Blumenthal and STORY’s Rachel Shechtman come from different backgrounds, but they both built brands with a fresh take on retail. In this episode, the two friends chat about building a brand around a crazy idea, and how retailers can evolve with the changing retail landscape.
#55 Making magic with Disney: Danielle Nicole designs around an icon
April 23, 2018 04:00 - 20 minutes - 36.7 MBDream job doesn’t even begin to describe Danielle DiFerdinando’s career. The young fashion designer started the Danielle Nicole brand of handbags as a student and has grown the business through partnerships with retailers like Nordstrom and HSN. In this episode, DiFerdinando talks about the thrill of working on a line of Disney and Harry Potter handbags, being named one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 and what drives her creative spirit.
#54 How DSW stays a step ahead
April 16, 2018 04:00 - 21 minutes - 39.2 MBAfter 25 years in business, DSW is re-evaluating its strategy and adopting new retail concepts to skip ahead of the competition. CEO Roger Rawlins and CFO Jared Poff join Retail Gets Real to discuss their recent successes and where the reinvention is taking the company. Hear how DSW is fighting the “retail is dead” myth and demonstrating how the company is alive and kicking.
#53 The real world of loss prevention
April 09, 2018 06:00 - 20 minutes - 37.8 MBIn 35 years of a loss prevention career, truth has sometimes been stranger than fiction. Rosamaria Sostilio, vice president of loss prevention for Barnes & Noble Inc., describes what her job involves – from asset protection to risk management – and the unique perspective she brings. Listen to Sostilio on this episode as she reveals a hidden side of retail and what it takes for a woman to rise to the top in the industry.
#52 Bra shopping reimagined: Harper Wilde supports women in a new way
April 02, 2018 06:00 - 23 minutes - 32 MBTwo business students set out to make the bra buying experience more comfortable, affordable and accessible, establishing Harper Wilde around the concepts of simple options, fair prices and home try-ons. In this episode, co-founders Jane Fisher and Jenna Kerner discuss how they’re empowering women through revolutionizing the way bras are sold.
#51 Inside the Walgreens mobile experience
March 26, 2018 06:00 - 20 minutes - 37.5 MBHow do companies design smooth mobile experiences? Most retailers keep this question top of mind, and Walgreens is no different. The retailer has optimized its mobile experience for customers including Boomers, which comprise over 20 percent of Walgreens’ app users. In this episode, hear from Walgreens’ “mobile guy,” Senior Product Manager Benjamin Weiss, on how the company integrates its services into one app that eases friction in not just the shopping experience, but customers’ quality of...
#50 Leading with passion: The values that saved Ashley Stewart
March 19, 2018 06:00 - 21 minutes - 39.2 MBAfter serving urban communities for more than 20 years, plus-size fashion retailer Ashley Stewart was on the brink of closing in 2013 when investment professional James Rhee stepped in as CEO and brought the company back to life. In this episode, Rhee joins co-host Shannon Schuyler, chief purpose officer at PwC to discuss his values-based leadership style and how passion saved the company.
#49 How Kidbox creates a new family shopping experience
March 12, 2018 06:00 - 20 minutes - 37.5 MBKidbox, a curated clothing service for children, uses a proprietary algorithm to serve up the perfect styles. For every full box kept, the company donates new clothing to children in need. In this episode, Kidbox CEO Miki Berardelli discusses how the company thrives on a technology-first approach and dedication to charitable giving.