Retail Leader Trend Talk

Curacao’s Bargain Hunting Draws Hispanic & General Market Alike

Serving shoppers in Spanish and English, Curacao is one of the largest Hispanic retailers in southern California and growing. The retailer offers a one-stop shop for all things in the home along with apparel, jewelry, toys, fragrances and other lines. In turn, shoppers enjoy Curacao for the treasure hunt through multiple departments, and the financial services the retail offers its consumers.

What Impacted Retail in the Third Quarter and What’s Ahead for the Holidays

Retail Leader’s Chief Retail Analyst Elizabeth Lafontaine dives into the trends that emerged throughout the third quarter. Both consumers and the broader retail industry faced obstacles in the back half of the year including soaring debt levels, increased retail crime, M&A activity and consumer focus on value. The third quarter also represents a shift for the retail industry in many ways: the highly promotional back-to-school season comes to a close and retailers and consumers look ahead to ...

Matthew Kaness, GoodWill Finds’ CEO

This year, GoodwillFinds has sold nearly a half million one-of-a-kind items and grew its purpose-driven community to an impressive 650,000 weekly newsletter subscribers. The momentum seen in GoodwillFinds signals a larger theme the industry is seeing across the resale industry as a whole.

JCPenney encourages thoughtful connections and ‘unplanned collisions’

In July, JCPenney reopened its new corporate offices in Plano, Texas, in the same building where the retailer operated for 28 years prior to the pandemic. JCPenney’s return to its 320,000 sq. foot state-of-the-art facility marked a transformative moment for the retailer as it drives forward a new hybrid work strategy for associates. This month, JCPenney also announced a multi-year, $1 billion reinvestment plan to improve customer experience and operational efficiencies.

Primark shares new store plans for 2024

Claire’s engages Gen Zalpha with limited products on Roblox, soon in-store

Claire's has a long-standing history and passion for self-expression. Today, the iconic global fashion retailer finds itself with Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers sitting at the intersection of the physical and digital spaces. Retail Leader spoke with Chris Duncan, Claire’s vice president of consumer insights and digital marketing, about Claire's partnership with gaming studio Super League and growing its ShimmerVille experience on Roblox to keep a pipeline of newness engaging consumers online ...

Ferrero North America Shows the Value of Premium

While mass merchants and large grocery chains are always going to be critically important to Ferrero North America’s sales, the dollar channel offers a new avenue for the company to grow. Ferrero has taken on the challenge of showcasing value while also maintaining a premium brand.Retail Leader spoke with Noah Szporn, senior vice president of Nutella at Ferrero North America, about how premium products still can flourish during inflationary times.

Trend Talk with Noah Szporn

‘Content is queen’ for Shay Mitchell’s DTC travel brand BÉIS

In this episode of “Trend Talk,” Retail Leader chats with Adeela Hussain Johnson, the president of travel brand BÉIS. Johnson shares how Mitchell has been involved in the brand since its inception, and how her role has evolved as BÉIS has grown. She also answers key questions facing every DTC brand, including how to best leverage social media platforms and whether BÉIS is planning to open its own brick-and-mortar stores in the future. 

How Showfields Leverages Experiences to Expand

Retail Leader spoke with Tal Zvi Nathanel, the co-founder of Showfields, just after the opening of its latest location in Washington, D.C. The new store, called House of Showfields, is the fifth location for the department store that was founded in New York City in 2019. We dive into experiential retail, why most retail isn’t “democratized” and how in-store technology is key to Showfields’ strategy. 

How Retailers Can Entice Shoppers Amid Economic Uncertainty

In this episode of Retail Leader Trend Talk, we’re chatting with Carman Allison, the vice president of thought leadership for North America at NielsenIQ. We’re breaking down the economic pressures consumers are facing this holiday season and how retailers can overcome challenges to keep consumers coming back.

How Ulta Beauty Is Rethinking In-Store Experience

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we sit down with Paul Loux, the vice president of store design and experience at Ulta Beauty. We chat about the new design at Ulta Beauty, the retailer's growing omnichannel efforts, Gen Z consumers, and more.

Why Orbit Baby Launched a Digital Showroom

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we catch up with Braden Jones, CEO of Orbit Baby, to learn how the e-commerce company enhanced its omnichannel strategy with livestreaming, virtual demos and a new digital showroom.

How Starday Foods Leveraged Data to Launch New Brands

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we catch up with Caroline McCarthy, co-founder and vice president of growth of Starday Foods, a startup food conglomerate that takes a data-driven approach to launch emerging food brands. Tune in as we discuss the art and science of the food and beverage industry, plus how Starday cut a deal to be on Kroger shelves just weeks after launching.

The Metaverse and Social Commerce: Top Retail Trends

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we dive into the top retail trends that are hot in the minds of executives. Tune in as Lisa Johnston, senior editor of CGT, reveals the latest trends across the industry in this special minisode.

Pacsun Opens a Metaverse World

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we're diving deep into Pacworld, the new metaverse world from Pacsun. Tune into the interview with Co-CEO Alfred Chang to hear more about the retailer's moves in the metaverse and beyond.

How Grove Collaborative is Breathing Sustainability into the CPG Industry

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we chat with Danielle Jezienicki, director of sustainability for Grove Collaborative, about ongoing sustainability trends and challenges in the CPG industry. Speaking ahead of Grove's upcoming IPO, Jezienicki clues us in on the company's plastic-free promise and how to better understand the broad goals being made across the industry.

Why Net-Zero is the Next Big Buzz Word

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we tackle sustainability with Scot Case, vice president of sustainability at the National Retail Federation. Tune into the interview as Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter and Case discuss sustainability trends in retail, how retailers are crafting a new sustainability language and why net-zero is about to be huge.

Understanding the Unique World of Gen Z

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we catch up with Hana Ben-Shabat, author and founder of Gen Z Planet. In an interview with Editor Amy Baxter, Ben-Shabat dives in the world of Gen Z, including what retailers need to know about this generation and what makes them so unique. Ben-Shabat is a featured author of the Retail Leader Book Club. Her book, Gen Z 360: Preparing for the Inevitable Change in Culture, Work and Commerce, explores the impact of Gen Z in culture, the workplace and in co...

The Evolving Role of the Retail Associate

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we dive into the evolving role of the retail associate with Regina Aiello, vice president of sales innovations and sales partnerships at Ben Bridge Jeweler. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated big changes in the way retail associates work with customers. Plus, we explore the role of technology in this evolution with Oscar Sachs, CEO of Salesfloor.

Misfits Market Expands Nationwide

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we catch up with Kai Selterman, chief strategy officer at Misfits Market, to learn about the online grocery retailer's latest expansion to all the lower 48. Tune into the interview, where Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter and Selterman discuss pandemic grocery trends, supply chain challenges and more.

Apple Rose Beauty’s Journey Into Retail

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we chat with Kristy Alexander, founder and chief big heart of Apple Rose Beauty, about her skincare brand's journey into retail. After taking an 11-month, 11-country tour, Alexander found her calling to form a mission-driven business that aims to help victims of sex trafficking. Tune into the interview with Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter.

Gorjana’s Retail Expansion is Underway

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we catch up with CEO of Gorjana, Jason Griffin Reidel, who tells us all about the Laguna Beach-based jewelry brand's latest moves to open new retail locations.

Breaking Down the Soul of Business with Rishad Tobaccowala

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we caught up with Author, Speaker and Visionary Rishad Tobaccowala, who clued us in on the emerging trends and best practices for business leaders. Based on the ideas in his book, Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data, Tobaccowala dives into the changing retail dynamics accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic with Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter.

How to Sell Apples Online

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we're speaking with Yes! Apples, a consumer-first apple brand that recently opened up an e-commerce shop to bring New York apples directly to consumers. Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sat down with Tenley Fitzgerald, vice president of marketing at Yes! Apples, to learn more about the rebrand and the nuances of marketing apples.

A Pea in the Pod Returns to Brick and Mortar

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we catch up with a maternity brand that's returned to physical stores after going fully digital in 2019. A Pea in the Pod and Motherhood Maternity's Marla Ryan tells us about two new concept stores, 2022 goals and more.

The Impact of the Labor Shortage on Small Business

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we're talking about the labor crunch with small business owner Keewa Nurullah, who founded Kido, a toy shop in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood. After being hit with COVID-19 and supply chain issues, Nurullah and her team have been forced to navigate ongoing challenges heard around the retail industry.

How DSW is Taking on Men’s Shoes

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we're going shoe crazy with DSW to learn how the retailer is taking on the men's category in 2022. With new partnerships and added product assortment, Chief Marketing Officer Julie Roy discusses why DSW is making its move to capture male customers in an interview with Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter.

Indochino Takes on 2022

To kick off Retail Leader Trend Talk in 2022, we’re chatting with the CEO of Indochino, Drew Green, about the custom suit retailer’s big plans for the year. Editor Amy Baxter chats with Green about the brand’s entry into women’s wear, reaching 100 retail locations and how Indochino plans to capture a larger share of the booming wedding market in 2022.

Chairish‘s Booming Year in Resale

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Gregg Brockway, CEO and co-founder of resale marketplace Chairish to look back at the year in resale. Tune in to hear the two discuss the rising interest in resale, why millennials are so engaged in furniture resale and the role of the circular economy.

The Evolution of Shoppable Media

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk sponsored by Blue Chip, we discover the best brand opportunities in shoppable media. Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Erich Parker, vice president of integrated media at Blue Chip, to discuss the latest innovations, how brands can find the right platforms and what the future of shoppable media holds.

The Role of Retail in the Cannabis World

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we're sitting down with a retail industry vet who has jumped ship into the world of Cannabis. As executive vice president of retail operations at Jushi Holdings, Brendon Lynch is leading retail strategy for the multi-state cannabis operator. We caught up with Lynch to discuss how his extensive retail background with major brands (Anthropologie, TOMS, David Yurman and more) has prepared him for the cannabis industry. Plus, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter...

Curating Sustainability for Millennials

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we're giving the retail industry a reality check about sustainability with Jaclyn Tracy, CEO and founder of Sistain, a sustainable marketplace for the millennial shopper.  

The Top 2021 Holiday Digital Shopping Trends

Temperatures are dropping and consumers are shopping. The 2021 holiday season is well underway, and we’re breaking down some of the top digital shopping trends with Stacy DeBroff, CEO and founder of Influence Central. Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter dives in with DeBroff to discuss overarching trends for the season, how supply chain challenges are influencing shoppers and if retailers should be worried if consumers plan to spend less.

Taking Care During the Pandemic

Retailers were slammed with challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and front-line workers faced the brunt of industry disruptions. In this episode of Retail Leader Trend Talk, we dive into how retailers have taken care during the pandemic, from how the industry adapted to how workers were treated. Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Deb Gabor, CEO of Sol Marketing, to discuss the best - and worst - examples.

How Parachute Expanded into New Categories

In the latest episode of Retail Leader Trend Talk, Editor Amy Baxter caught up with Ariel Kaye, CEO and Founder of Parachute, about the brand's expansion into new categories and its latest foray into furniture. Tune into the episode to hear the two discuss the challenges and opportunities of venturing into new categories, how the brand has navigated supply chain issues during the pandemic and why DTC is the place to be.

Redefining Beauty Retail

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we’re talking innovation in the beauty world. As retailers add unique experiences to their physical shops, one beauty brand is taking the trend a step further with a San Francisco store concept that offers state-of-art technology without any in-store inventory. Editor Amy Baxter catches up with Amanda McAllister, creative director of retail brand experience agency ChangeUp, and Kana Panchmatia, co-founder and VP of design of precision skin care company ...

Zero Waste Retail and the Drive Toward Sustainability

Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter caught up with Ali O'Grady, CEO and founder of greeting card company Thoughtful Human, to talk about all things sustainability and zero waste retail. Tune in to hear how Thoughtful Human achieves zero waste, how the brand got into major retailers and O'Grady's thoughts on the future of sustainability in retail.

The Rise of In-App Shopping

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we’re diving into the social commerce world. The rise of influencer marketing has coincided with a deeper engagement with retail on social media platforms. Speaking with Eric Dahan, CEO and co-founder of social commerce company Open Influence, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter breaks down this latest retail trend.

Back to School and Grocery Sector Data Trends

This week on Retail Leader Trend Talk, we’re taking a look at the latest retail trends with an eye toward back-to-school shopping and changes in the grocery sector. Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Inna Kuznetsova, CEO of 1010data, to discuss retail industry insights. The two dive into how back-to-school shopping in 2021 differs from last year and the pre-pandemic years, how retailers have prepared for the continued boom in e-commerce and some of the top upcoming predictions.

The Future of Agile Store Formats for Brick and Mortar

Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Melissa Gonzalez, CEO of The Lionesque and Principal at MG2, to dig into the future of brick and mortar. As a design expert, Gonzalez works with major brands and retailers to create unique pop-ups and experiential designs.

Small Brands Breaking Into Big Retailers

Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter sits down with Montee Tayion Holland, President and CEO of The Tayion Collection, to discuss how his men's suit brand has made its way into major retailers like Macy's and Men's Warehouse. After being picked to participate in Macy's workshop in 2019, The Tayion Collection has become available at dozens of store locations. Tune into the episode to hear how Holland got his brand started with the help of Steve Harvey, why he encourages small brands to apply to re...

Vera Bradley Creates a Market for Good Retail

In the latest episode of Trend Talk, Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter caught up with Harry Cunningham, vice president of retail brand experience at Vera Bradley, to learn more about the brand's new store concept, goodMRKT.

Rethinking the Service Station With Tom Edington

Retail Leader Editor Amy Baxter speaks with Tom Edington, creative director and head of experience at YourStudio, the design firm behind an innovative service station in Leeds, U.K.

Introducing the Retail Leader Trend Talk Podcast!

Trend Talk is a new podcast from Retail Leader, bringing you a fresh mix of perspectives and in-depth discussion of the latest trends that are driving innovation across all retail sectors.