Remarkable Retail Podcast

Live from Shoptalk: Retail Rumble (Part 1) with Neil Saunders, R.J. Hottovy, Rachel Tipograph, Kiri Masters & Anne Mezzenga

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:05:00 +0000

This week Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc bring listeners a high-energy live episode from Shoptalk Las Vegas — Part 1 of the inaugural Retail Rumble.

The episode opens with the week's most important retail news. Levi Strauss delivers strong revenue growth driven by its expanding direct-to-consumer business, underscoring how its pivot away from wholesale dependency is unlocking margin and brand control — an increasingly critical playbook in modern retail.

The department store sector remains under pressure. Saks Global's bankruptcy exit signals stabilization, but also highlights the structural challenges facing legacy luxury retail. With store closures, ownership restructuring, and vendor confidence still rebuilding, the hosts examine whether Saks can regain lost ground as Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom move to capitalize on the disruption.

Additional analysis covers early warning signs in mall traffic, with Placer.ai data pointing to a potential slowdown, and Wayfair's continued push into physical retail despite broader category softness — raising pointed questions about the evolving role of stores in an omnichannel world.

The second half shifts to the Retail Rumble stage, where industry heavyweights debate two of retail's most pressing questions. Michael LeBlanc and Anne Mezzinga, founding CEO of Retail Field Report, referee the action.

Round one: Is eCommerce entering a new phase of accelerated growth? Neil Saunders argues that demographic shifts, infrastructure investment, and AI-driven discovery will fuel acceleration. R.J. Hottovy counters with the realities of market saturation, the enduring importance of physical retail, and the law of large numbers limiting growth upside.

Round two: Does retail media improve the shopper journey? Kiri Masters argues that retail media enhances relevance and subsidizes pricing through high-margin revenue streams. Rachel Tipograph challenges the model as increasingly pay-to-play — one that risks distorting product discovery and eroding the customer experience it claims to enhance.

Join us at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York June 23rd and 24th with this exclusive discount code for 10% off general admission tickets and FREE retail tickets: Your code is "REMARKABLE" . See you in the Big Apple!

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.

Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Stitch Fix CEO Matt Baer, Nike's Identify Crisis, Grocery's Looming Collapse of the Middle, and Pets.Com: The Sequel

michael@meleblanc.co (Matt Baer) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 07:05:00 +0000

This week on The Remarkable Retail Podcast, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc break down the forces reshaping retail before sitting down live at Shoptalk in Las Vegas with Matt Baer, CEO of Stitch Fix.

The episode opens with a wide-ranging look at the macro pressures bearing down on the industry—geopolitical conflict, rising tariffs, and supply chain strain. Earnings from Nike and RH reveal a consistent theme: even iconic brands can stumble when positioning and innovation lag behind a volatile consumer environment. In grocery, the "collapse of the unremarkable middle" continues as Walmart, Amazon, Aldi, and premium players squeeze traditional operators like Albertsons. A wave of M&A activity—including Allbirds' dramatic valuation collapse, Bed Bath & Beyond's improbable resurrection, and its acquisition of The Container Store—underscores just how much disruption is still unfolding. The hosts also push back on the hype around AI tools like Macy's shopping assistant, cautioning against confusing correlation with causation.

At the center of the episode is a compelling conversation with Matt Baer, who outlines how Stitch Fix is executing a disciplined turnaround built on three phases: establishing a strong operational foundation, reimagining the customer experience, and returning to sustainable growth. Four consecutive quarters of improving revenue trends suggest the strategy is working.

Baer's core argument is that true personalization isn't about volume or targeting—it's about relevance, timing, and understanding customers at a granular level. Stitch Fix achieves this by pairing deep data and AI-driven recommendations with human stylists who bring judgment, empathy, and relationship-building to a category that remains inherently emotional. New tools like AI styling assistants and digital visualization are enhancing that human element, not replacing it.

The episode closes with forward-looking perspective on retail crime, supply chain vulnerability, and macroeconomic uncertainty—and a clear throughline: in an increasingly chaotic landscape, agility and strategic clarity aren't optional.

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Is AI Retail's New Front Door? with Bret Taylor (OpenAI Board Chair & Sierra CEO) and Guest Co-Host Neil Saunders

michael@meleblanc.co (Neil Saunders, Bret Taylor) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:57:38 +0000

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc are joined by guest co-host Neil Saunders, Managing Director and retail analyst at GlobalData, bringing his signature analytical rigour and on-the-ground store insights to a wide-ranging discussion of the week’s biggest retail developments and the future of AI-powered commerce.

For our feature interview, Steve sits down live at ShopTalk with Bret Taylor, Chairman of OpenAI and CEO and co-founder of Sierra. Taylor outlines how AI agents are emerging as the new “digital front door” for retail, unifying customer interactions into a single intelligent interface.

Bret explains the shift from rule-based automation to agentic systems capable of reasoning and decision-making, enabling retailers to deliver faster, more personalized, and more empathetic experiences. From instant warranty claims to seamless delivery scheduling, AI agents are redefining customer service and turning friction points into loyalty drivers.

The episode opens with a reflection on David Simon's impact on Simon Property Group and mall reinvention. Neil and Steve discuss how Simon proved physical retail can remain productive and relevant when well managed. The conversation then turns to Saks Global’s decision to reverse several planned store closures, with Steve & Neil highlighting the strategic interplay between retailers and landlords.

The group connects this to broader industry dynamics, including the risks of anchor tenant closures and the importance of maintaining mall ecosystem vitality.

A key moment comes as Saunders weighs in on the NRF’s 2026 retail forecast, labelling it “toppy.” The trio challenges the assumptions behind the optimistic outlook, citing cautious retailer guidance, constrained consumer spending, and macroeconomic uncertainty. Saunders’ perspective reinforces a growing disconnect between industry forecasts and operational reality.

The discussion shifts to the intensifying race for ultra-fast delivery, as Amazon, Walmart, and others push one-hour and same-day fulfillment. Saunders provides a grounded view of consumer behavior, noting that while demand for immediacy is growing, the economics remain challenging and uneven across the retail landscape.

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Lane Crawford's CEO Jennifer Woo on Building a Different Kind of Department Store; Plus Lululemon Struggles, Macy's Stalls, and Five Below Shines

michael@meleblanc.co (Jennifer Woo) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:05:00 +0000

This week on The Remarkable Retail podcast, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc begin with a sweeping look at the key retail and macro stories of the week, then dive into a compelling interview with Jennifer Woo, Chairman and CEO of Hong Kong-based luxury retailer Lane Crawford.

Woo shares her unusual path into retail leadership, from studying psychology and working in advertising to joining her family’s business and ultimately transforming Lane Crawford into one of the most distinctive luxury department store operators in the world. She explains how Lane Crawford has rethought the traditional department store model by operating compact stores in extremely expensive real estate markets, working with unusually short leases, and maintaining an owned-buying model rather than relying on concessions. That structure gives the company more control over the customer experience and allows it to deliver seamless service across categories.

Woo describes Lane Crawford as relationship-driven rather than transaction-driven, with associates empowered to build client relationships through supportive tools and internal recognition rather than scripts. Her examples of extraordinary service during and after the pandemic illustrate this approach. Woo also details Lane Crawford’s investment in independent designers and a lifestyle-led merchandising strategy. She emphasizes that AI and digital tools should only enhance, not replace, human judgment and connection.

In the opening news segment, Steve and Michael tackle the retail implications of the Iran war, particularly its impact on oil, inflation expectations, interest rates and retailer planning. They discuss the NRF’s somewhat surprisingly upbeat retail sales forecast and break down recent earnings from Macy’s, highlighting Bloomingdale’s strength relative to the core Macy’s banner, and examine Lululemon’s uneven performance, tariff pressures and ongoing boardroom drama. They close the earnings discussion with Five Below, praising its sharp positioning and standout growth in an increasingly crowded value retail space.

The final segments extend the conversation with Steve’s remarkable story of the week on digitally native vertical brands losing momentum, and Michael’s reflections on Gen Z shopping habits, AI anxiety and the limits of assuming young consumers will automatically embrace AI-powered commerce. The episode wraps with radar-screen commentary on U.S. tax refunds, consumer spending and the potential precipitous slowdown in luxury demand in the GCC.

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"Good Bookstores Selling Good Books" Our Interview with Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt

michael@meleblanc.co (James Daunt) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:05:00 +0000

This week on the Remarkable Retail podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis unpack the retail news shaping the global economy—from the Iran war's impact on oil, freight and food prices to Kohl's disappointing earnings, Dick's Sporting Goods' continued growth, and another wave of store closings at Saks Global.

The episode opens with the week's major macro headlines. The ongoing Iran war is pushing oil prices higher and raising concerns about fuel, transportation and food inflation. The hosts explore how disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could impact shipping routes, air freight and fertilizer supply—factors that may squeeze consumer spending in the months ahead.

On earnings: Kohl's continues to struggle with declining comparable sales and a lack of clear differentiation in the mid-market department store segment. Dick's Sporting Goods delivered stronger results, with experiential concepts like House of Sport driving growth—even as its newly acquired Foot Locker business faces headwinds. Meanwhile, Saks Global's restructuring rolls on with additional closures across both Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus locations.

The centrepiece is an in-depth conversation with James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. Daunt shares the unconventional philosophy behind Barnes & Noble's turnaround: rather than relying on centralized merchandising and publisher-driven promotions, he empowered individual store teams to curate their own assortments and engage directly with local communities. The strategy—anchored by investments in store infrastructure, technology, distribution and higher bookseller wages—has the company opening roughly 60 new stores a year while continuing to modernize older locations.

The episode closes with the hosts' "Remarkable Stories of the Week": the rise of value brand Quince, Nestlé's sale of Blue Bottle Coffee, and a discussion of tariffs, supply chains and New York's proposed minimum wage increase.

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Iran War Shockwaves and Target’s Strategy Reset, with Guest Co-Host Kevin Ertell and Our Interview with EY's Malin Andrée & Jon Copestake

michael@meleblanc.co (Kevin Ertell, Malin Andrée) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:05:00 +0000

In this wide-ranging episode Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc are joined by special guest co-host Kevin Ertell, retail veteran, former Nike executive, and author of The Strategy Trap. The episode blends breaking retail news with a live interview recorded at the NRF Big Show featuring Malin Andrée, Global Retail Sector Leader at EY, and Jon Copestake, Global Lead Retail Analyst at EY Insights.

The episode begins with an analysis of one of the most significant geopolitical developments impacting the global economy: the escalating Iran war and its ripple effects on retail markets. Rising oil prices and potential disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz threaten to increase shipping costs and add new uncertainty to global supply chains. The hosts also dive into the latest retail earnings reports, highlighting challenges and future opportunities under new leadership at Target, mixed performance at Gap and continued momentum from Costco.

They also examine the rapid growth of athletic brand On, whose strong sales growth contrasts with cautious forward guidance, and discuss what it signals about competition with legacy players like Nike with Kevin's expert and experienced analysis.

The episode then shifts to a fascinating interview with Malin Andrée, EY Partner, Global Retail Industry Leader and Jon Copestake Global Lead Retail Analyst, EY Insights, who share insights from EY’s latest consumer research and industry analysis. Their discussion explores the changing dynamics of luxury retail, including growing consumer interest in resale and second-hand luxury markets, which are being driven by affordability concerns, sustainability awareness and improved authentication platforms.

Andrée and Copestake also address the accelerating role of retail AIl, from operational improvements to emerging consumer-facing applications such as AI-driven product discovery and shopping assistance. While AI investment is surging across the industry, they emphasize the importance of balancing technology with human-centered retail experiences, arguing that the human touch will remain a key differentiator even as AI capabilities become table stakes.

The episode concludes with the hosts’ Remarkable Story of the Week and What’s on the Radar segments, including discussions about Simon Property Group’s strategic maneuvering around the Saks Global bankruptcy and Walmart’s rollout of digital shelf labels across its stores.

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What We Still Get Wrong About Modern Retail, Plus Get Ready to Rumble, Warby Wows, and Is Flat the New Up?

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 10:26:18 +0000

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc preview their upcoming ShopTalk “Retail Rumble” appearance before diving into a wide-ranging and timely discussion on what leaders still get wrong about modern retail

The episode opens with a sharp analysis of tariff turmoil following a Supreme Court ruling and mounting legal battles, as over 1,800 companies seek refunds. The hosts explore the implications of economic uncertainty for retailers already facing cautious consumer behavior. Recent earnings from TJX, Home Depot, and Lowe’s suggest slowing momentum, with “flat” increasingly feeling like the new “up.” Meanwhile, Warby Parker continues its profitability progress, signaling that digitally native brands can mature successfully when they prioritize focus and operational discipline. Saks Global also makes progress on their journey through bankruptcy court.

The macro backdrop adds additional complexity. Nvidia’s staggering $120 billion in profits underscores the scale of AI’s economic impact. At the same time, declining U.S. net migration could create headwinds for retail growth, given that roughly 1% of annual retail expansion typically comes from population growth. Mortgage rates dipping below 6% could offer stimulus to home-related categories.

The discussion then pivots to a deeper strategic issue: how retailers need to adapt to an increasingly complex and demanding world. Steve highlights a striking insight from Walmart’s earnings—while overall sales and e-commerce are surging, brick-and-mortar sales appear to be declining. This raises a fundamental question: are retailers measuring success correctly in a world where digital and physical channels are deeply intertwined and taking the bold action they must.

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Dan Frommer on the New Consumer, Plus Tariff Shockwaves, Wayfair Wobbles, and Walmart's Digital Acceleration

michael@meleblanc.co (Dan Frommer) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:50:28 +0000

Recorded live in the Narvar Podcast Studio at NRF Big Show, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc sit down with Dan Frommer, the iconic tech journalist and Founder of The New Consumer, to explore the forces reshaping retail and consumer behavior.

Frommer challenges the prevailing “vibecession” narrative, arguing that despite low consumer sentiment readings, spending remains resilient. Drawing on proprietary survey data from 3,000 U.S. consumers, he outlines a nuanced picture: younger consumers are increasingly digital-first, deeply connected to creator culture, and entering their peak earning and spending years. Millennials show the highest trust in AI, while Gen Z is more skeptical about automation’s impact on work and identity.

GLP-1 medications are seen as a game changer, driving shifts in spending. Health and longevity also take center stage, with more than 40% of Gen Z and Millennials in “health optimization mode.” Frommer highlights TikTok Shop’s explosive rise as creator-led commerce flips marketing economics.

In the news segment the hosts discussion how the Supreme Court’s IEEPA tariff ruling triggers chaos for retail. With up to 70% of tariffs affected, pricing and supply chain uncertainty now dominate. Retailers face refund confusion, volatility, and political storms.

Walmart posts strong earnings but signals a slowing trend. Half of its e-commerce orders ship from stores, three-hour delivery reaches most Americans, and retail media surges ahead. Wayfair gains share in a struggling home market, but staying unprofitable raises tough questions.

In the “Remarkable Story of the Week” of the week, Aritzia acquires Fred Segal’s intellectual property, as plans to resurrect the storied West Coast fashion retailer. On the radar: sneaker wars intensify as New Balance nears $10B in revenue and Nike navigates turnaround pressures at Converse. QVC also is reportedly mulling a Chapter 11 filing.

Link to Dan's 2026 The New Consumer report here.

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Driving Good Retail Returns with JD Sports' Henry Spear and Narvar's David Morin, Plus Saks Consolidates and Target Resets

michael@meleblanc.co (David Morin, Henry Spear) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:38:57 +0000

The hosts take open a sweeping look at the week’s most consequential retail developments before heading live to the Narvar Podcast Studio at the NRF Big Show for a deep dive into AI, agentic commerce, and the evolving post-purchase customer journey.

The news segment explores Saks Global’s decision to close nine full-line stores, underscoring ongoing consolidation in the luxury industry and challenges in multi-line retail. The hosts examine luxury’s continued bifurcation, with Kering struggling while Hermès thrives, reinforcing that luxe positioning alone isn’t enough — execution matters.

In specialty retail, the “collapse of the unremarkable middle” continues as Toys “R” Us Canada, Francesca’s, and Eddie Bauer face significant retrenchment if not extinction, while Tractor Supply and Aritzia aggressively expand. Kroger appoints its first external CEO, Greg Boren, signaling operational rigor ahead, while Costco once again posts remarkable sales growth Meanwhile, Target begins meaningful leadership restructuring — a foundational step in what is likely a multi-year turnaround. On the radar: AI-powered retail crime prevention at Bunnings and the imminent opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major infrastructure development for North American trade.

The featured interview brings Henry Spear, SVP Digital North America, JD Sports, and David Morin, VP Customer Strategy for Narvar, to the mic for a timely discussion on agentic commerce and how leveraging product returns can create competitive differentiation.

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Different Not Dead: Creating Irreplaceable Stores with Jack Stratten & Kevin Ervin Kelley, Plus Amazon Earnings, Walmart's Trillion $ Moment, and Luxury Bifurcation.

michael@meleblanc.co (Kevin Ervin Kelley, Kevin Kelley, Jack Stratten) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:42:09 +0000

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc open with a sweeping look at the week’s most consequential retail developments before welcoming two global retail store visionaries for a deep dive into the future of brick-and-mortar locations.

The news segment begins with a tale of two retail giants: Walmart reaching a historic $1 trillion market cap milestone, signaling sustained operational momentum, while Target faces leadership transition amid prolonged performance challenges. The hosts analyze what these divergent trajectories mean for mass retail strategy and investor expectations.

Amazon’s earnings dominate the conversation next. With massive capital expenditures approaching $200 billion—tied to AI infrastructure and distribution expansion—the debate centers on whether this represents visionary investment or an overheated AI arms race. Retail growth remains robust across retail while the highly profitable advertising business is on fire. Recent while same-day grocery expansion is driving new growth with the potential to shake-up competitive dynamics.

The discussion also highlights luxury bifurcation, with strong results from Ralph Lauren and Tapestry’s Coach brand contrasting broader sector volatility. Simon Property Group’s strong earnings prove the best malls are dead, as they also continue to make big investments in reinventing several of their properities.

The second half of the episode shifts to an insightful, live conversation from NRF’s Big Show with Jack Stratten, Director of Insider Trends, and Kevin Ervin Kelley, Principal and Co-Founder of Shook Kelley and author of Irreplaceable. Together, they explore what makes modern stores not just functional—but truly remarkable.

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Amazon's and Saks' Retail Reset, Plus Live from the Big Show: NRF Top Voices Billy May and David J. Katz

michael@meleblanc.co (Billy May, David J. Katz) — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 08:05:00 +0000

The episode opens with a sweeping look at the biggest retail stories shaping January. Amazon dominates the headlines again, this time with the closure of all Amazon Fresh grocery and Go stores and a renewed reliance on Whole Foods and online grocery. At the same time, Amazon is laying off tens of thousands of employees, part of a broader wave of cuts across retail and adjacent industries, including UPS, Home Depot, and Nike. The hosts explore whether this is a post-pandemic correction, an AI-driven efficiency shift, or an early signal of bigger structural change.

The news turns to Saks Global's bankruptcy, in which most Saks off-price stores will be shut down. This is expected to benefit rivals like Nordstrom Rack and Bloomingdale’s Outlet. Earnings signals offer a mixed outlook: LVMH posts weaker results, reinforcing concerns that luxury’s recovery will be uneven, while Starbucks shows early signs of traction with traffic growth and the return of tiered loyalty rewards.

The second half features an energetic, insight-rich discussion with fellow NRF Top Voices Billy May, Brooklinen's CEO, and David J Katz, EVP and CMO, Randa Apparel, recorded live in the Narvar podcasting studio on the NRF Big Show show floor in New York. Together, they explore how consumer behavior is changing, why value is now deeply contextual, and how trust has become the most fragile currency in retail. They discuss pricing strategy in an era of tariffs, geopolitical risk, and algorithmic pricing, warning that transparency and clarity matter more than ever.

The group dives into AI reality—what’s working, what’s hype, and why AI should be treated as a power tool, not a decision-maker. They examine leadership in the post-COVID era, arguing that execution, speed, and disciplined focus now define winning organizations. Don’t miss these rapid-fire takes on rising retailers and the future of the department store—listen now and join the conversation to stay ahead in retail’s next chapter.

The conversation then shifts to the week’s remarkable stories. highlighting the staggering scale of AI investment, including Anthropic’s rumored $350 billion valuation and Amazon’s possible $50 billion stake in OpenAI. Michael reflects on growing wealth concentration in the U.S. and many developed countries, noting the economic and social implications. Looking around the corner, Steve unpacks TikTok’s shifting algorithms, political influence concerns, and TikTok Shop’s move to force sellers into its proprietary logistics network—changes that could reshape social commerce.

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2026 Provocative Predictions for Retail's Future

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:33:38 +0000

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc kick off their annual predictions episode with a fast-moving review of the retail news of the week. They begin with the long-delayed U.S. TikTok deal finally reaching resolution, noting how deeply TikTok now influences product discovery, cultural trends, and transactional commerce through TikTok Shops. While the platform remains critical for retailers, both hosts raise concerns around privacy, political influence, and how algorithmic control may evolve under new ownership.

The conversation then turns to tariff volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, highlighting how unpredictable trade policy continues to make planning difficult for retailers. Steve points out that Amazon is already seeing tariff-driven price increases creep into both its first-party and marketplace businesses, reinforcing how global policy decisions are now flowing directly into consumer pricing. They also discuss Gap’s creation of a Chief Entertainment Officer role, using it as a signal that retailers are increasingly seeking growth through media, licensing, and brand-driven content ecosystems rather than traditional merchandising alone.

From there, Steve delivers his provocative 2026 retail predictions. He argues that the “Great Concentration” will continue, with Amazon, Walmart, and Costco capturing a disproportionate share of both sales growth and profits. This concentration fuels a powerful investment flywheel that makes it increasingly difficult for mid-tier retailers to compete. He predicts a mixed year for major turnarounds, with some traction at Gap and Nike, limited progress at Macy’s, and deeper structural challenges for Target.

AI emerges as one of the most consequential themes, with Steve describing 2026 as a truly “agentic” year. Search, shopping, and discovery are rapidly shifting toward AI-driven experiences, creating massive innovation but also high risk of disintermediation for brands that fail to adapt. Physical stores, he argues, will matter more for experiential brands and less for undifferentiated ones, accelerating the bifurcation between meaningful store concepts and those that lack a clear role.

Steve also predicts intensifying competition in last-mile delivery, as Amazon and Walmart push same-day and narrow delivery windows even further, especially in grocery and essentials. Luxury faces an uneven future, with Saks Global likely emerging from bankruptcy smaller and fragile, and growth concentrated among a few elite brands. Resale, however, finally appears poised for breakout momentum, driven by affordability pressures and improving business models across the sector. Wellness and longevity become a new growth frontier, extending far beyond groceries into subscriptions, services, and lifestyle ecosystems.

The episode closes with their “remarkable” stories of the week and a look around the corner, led by Lululemon’s latest product misstep involving see-through apparel and a tone-deaf customer response. Michael highlights the promotion of former guest Chris Nicholas to lead Walmart International, while Steve flags growing bond-market volatility as a key macro signal to watch.

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AI Gets Pragmatic, Saks Hits the Wall, and Away CEO Jessica Schinazi Talks DTC Reinvention

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:45:26 +0000

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc kick off this episode with a sharp breakdown of the retail news that mattered this past week. AI dominates the conversation—not as hype, but as a clear shift from experimentation to real-world implementation. Steve shares observations from the show floor, noting how retailers are racing to modernize product data, digital infrastructure, and site experiences to better capture the growing wave of AI-driven and agent-led shopping traffic.

The conversation then turns to one of the most consequential stories in retail: the Saks Global bankruptcy. Steve provides deep context on the failed Saks–Neiman Marcus merger, the leadership shake-up, Amazon’s unexpected equity exposure, and the cascading impact on vendors—particularly smaller brands that may never be made whole. Early earnings and sales signals round out the news segment, with standout performances from Costco, American Eagle, and Five Below reinforcing a widening gap between retail’s winners and laggards. The hosts also discuss Walmart’s renewed push into drone delivery and the accelerating ripple effects of GLP-1 drugs, especially as pill-based options expand access and potentially reshape apparel and discretionary spending.

From there, Steve and Michael are joined by Jessica Schinazi, CEO of Away for an engaging interview recorded live in the Narvar remote podcast studio on the floor at the NRF Big Show Jessica reflects on her journey from LVMH, Amazon, and Dyson to leading one of the original digitally native vertical brands as it approaches its tenth anniversary. She shares why Away’s emotional connection with customers—paired with uncompromising product quality—has allowed the brand to endure while many early DTC peers have struggled.

Jessica explains Away’s evolution into what she describes as a “DTC-smart” model: maintaining direct customer relationships while strategically expanding through wholesale partners such as Nordstrom, Amazon, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Each channel plays a distinct role, from immersive storytelling in owned stores to trust-building through reviews and scale on marketplaces. The discussion also explores leadership in the AI era, with Jessica emphasizing resilience, curiosity, and the importance of using AI as a tool to elevate human work—not replace it.

In the closing segments, the hosts revisits new details emerging from the Saks Global bankruptcy, and share what's on their radar screen, exploring labor market signals and leadership changes at Kendra Scott, the fast-growing jewelry brand.

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“The Analysts”: Simeon Siegel and Sucharita Kodali’s 2026 Retail Playbook

michael@meleblanc.co (Simeon Siegel, Sucharita Kodali) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:05:00 +0000

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc open the first episode of 2026 with a clear-eyed look at the retail news shaping the year ahead. Holiday sales landed largely as expected. Online sales grew faster, but at a decelerating pace, reinforcing the continued centrality of stores—particularly as click-and-collect represented a meaningful share of holiday fulfillment. The hosts also dig into sector-level performance, noting continued softness in big-ticket home categories alongside strength in apparel, beauty, and sporting goods.

Attention then turns to structural stress in retail. The looming Chapter 11 filing of Saks Global underscores the limits of debt-heavy consolidation strategies and the difficulty of rationalizing oversized store portfolios. Steve outlines why store closures, vendor confidence, and new leadership will be critical to any successful reorganization. The news segment closes with a sobering look at U.S. job growth, which has slowed sharply, particularly in retail and manufacturing. While unemployment remains low, constrained labor supply and weak hiring momentum raise important questions for 2026.

From there, the episode shifts to a wide-ranging discussion with The Analysts, this time featuring Simeon Siegel, Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim Partners, and Sucharita Kodali, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester. Reflecting on 2025, both describe a year marked by cognitive dissonance: record retail spending alongside low consumer confidence and wildly uneven outcomes. Rather than a simple “K-shaped” economy, Simeon argues that execution matters most, pointing to stark performance differences between retailers selling similar products to similar customers.

The Analysts explore where market share is truly shifting, why off-price and value leaders continue to gain ground, and how e-commerce growth is normalizing as the channel matures. Sucharita explains why physical retail remains resilient in the U.S., while Simeon adds that rising friction—fees, returns, and fulfillment costs—has dulled some of e-commerce’s original advantages. The conversation also tackles tariffs, AI, and technology hype.

The episode concludes with Steve and Michael's perspectives on Amazon's surprising new physical retail stores plans and a possibly big Supreme Court ruling on tariff policy.

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We're Back with the No-BS Perspectives You Need: Get Ready for a Brand New Season of the Remarkable Retail Podcast

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 6 Jan 2026 08:05:00 +0000

I'm Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and host of the industry leading Remarkable Retail podcast, along with fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc.

Discover why C-suite executives from Amazon, Walmart, Ikea, Tractor Supply, Vuori and dozens more - choose to share their growth stories on the only retail podcast hosted by two of the NRF's top voices for 2025 and 2026.

With AI reshaping just about everything, when making sense of competing narratives has never been more challenging, and when so many brands face an existential choice between becoming remarkable or risking irrelevance, Michael and I are here to give you the no-BS perspectives you need to aim higher, move faster, and take the bold actions you must.

Our new season debuts January 13th, 2026, so be sure to follow the Remarkable Retail podcast on all the major platforms and on YouTube.

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From Department Stores to GLP-1s and Back Again: Annual Retail Predictions Reckoning (Part 2)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 08:05:00 +0000

In this special bonus episode closing out Season 11 of The Remarkable Retail Podcast and the year 2025, hosts Steve Dennis & Michael LeBlanc complete the second half of their annual predictions review—one of the most popular and anticipated episodes of the year.

The episode opens with brief but timely discussion on two high-profile retail-adjacent experiences. First us Dennis shares insights from Amazon’s first-ever grocery analyst day in Seattle, offering a clearer picture of the company’s “one grocery” vision and it's already substantial online presence, now being accelerated as they invest in same day deliver of perishable items.

The conversation then turns to Netflix House, following Dennis’s visit to the newly opened Dallas location, the second of three that are planned. Positioned in a former department store anchor, Netflix House blends immersive experiences, branded merchandise, gaming, and a restaurant. While customer traffic was encouraging, Dennis offered a frank critique of execution, citing confusing layouts, weak wayfinding, and inconsistent merchandising. The takeaway is cautiously optimistic: the concept has potential, but it is not yet operating at the level that would warrant significant expansion.

The core of the episode is Part 2 of Dennis' annual predictions reckoning. Dennis revisits his forecast that department stores would continue “running to stand still,” awarding himself an A-minus as most banners remain stuck in negative or flat comps with limited progress on profitability. His prediction of significant change at Target earns a B-plus, correctly anticipating leadership transitions and the end of the Ulta partnership, though anticipated store closures did not materialize.

Dennis also scores highly on his prediction that store closures would once again exceed store openings in the U.S., driven by bankruptcies and retrenchment across drugstores, mid-market apparel, and specialty retail. Predictions around Amazon’s physical grocery strategy are largely validated, while expectations for a surge in retail dealmaking and IPO activity fall short, earning a candid C-minus.

The episode closes with a nuanced reassessment of the so-called “Ozempic recession.” While the term itself overstated the impact, Dennis and LeBlanc agree that GLP-1 drugs are reshaping consumption patterns—particularly in food, alcohol, and apparel—with long-term implications retailers can no longer ignore.

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From TikTok to Tariffs and Back Again: Annual Retail Predictions Reckoning (Part 1)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 08:05:00 +0000

One of the most anticipated episodes of The Remarkable Retail Podcast returns as Steve Dennis reviews and grades his annual retail predictions, offering a candid assessment of how the industry actually performed as 2025 unfolded. Known for balancing optimism with accountability, Dennis evaluates where macro forces, technology shifts, and retailer execution aligned—or diverged—from expectations.

The episode opens with its regular news of the week segment, highlighting economic crosscurrents shaping retail performance. Despite multiple interest-rate cuts, housing-linked categories such as home improvement remain under pressure, with Home Depot forecasting modest growth at best. Tariffs emerge as a recurring headwind, squeezing margins for retailers like AutoZone and casting a long shadow over sourcing, pricing, and inventory strategies heading into 2026.

Then its on to Part 1 of the predictions reckoning portion.

A central theme is the continued rise of retail’s “super-scalers.” Walmart, Amazon, Costco, and a small cohort of dominant players once again captured a disproportionate share of industry growth, reinforcing the idea that scale, price leadership, and operational excellence matter more than ever in a value-constrained consumer environment. Dennis argues that this concentration is not cyclical, but structural, driven by convenience, pricing power, and omnichannel capability.

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The Stampede to Value, Macy's Turnaround Traction, and Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi on the K-Shaped Economy

michael@meleblanc.co (Mark Zandi) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 08:05:00 +0000

We welcome Moody's Mark Zandi, Moody's Chief Economist and one of the most influential and trusted macroeconomic voices shaping markets, policy, and business strategy worldwide. Zandi begins by explaining how today’s consumer landscape is defined by a widening K-shaped economy—an income and wealth split decades in the making and now intensified by rising asset values and post-pandemic dynamics. Households at the top of the income spectrum are spending freely, while middle-class consumers remain pressured and those at the bottom struggle to keep up, borrowing to sustain purchases.

Zandi also connects the affordability crisis to structural issues like housing supply, wage pressures, labor shortages, and the unpredictable impact of tariffs—which are simultaneously slowing job creation, lifting inflation, and clouding retailers’ pricing strategies. He warns that delayed tariff pass-through may soon accelerate and that upcoming legal decisions could radically alter retail margins.

Perhaps most striking is Zandi’s analysis of AI’s fingerprints on the labor market. He highlights rapidly rising unemployment among younger workers and the risk that productivity gains arrive faster than hiring can adjust—potentially tipping the economy toward recession just as retail faces profit pressure, concentration of growth among a handful of giants, and shifts in category performance.

Before joined by Zandi, Steve and Michael dig into the retail headlines: strong BFCM e-commerce results , Buy Now Pay Later surging again, and evidence that AI-driven traffic is now materially influencing online demand. They examine the evolving performance of dollar stores, with Five Below delivering standout comps, the ongoing stampede to value, and whether the end of de minimis rules may reshape the bargain landscape.

They then break down Macy’s mixed but improving traction, tariff lawsuits led by Costco, and the broader retail question of whether top-line growth is increasingly profitless prosperity—a theme reinforced by margins squeezed across beauty, off-price, and specialty retail formats.

In a quick recap of the most remarkable stories of the week Steve is stunned that Meta still invests heavily in the metaverse—even while shrinking budgets Michael questions whether defunct brands like Bed Bath & Beyond can meaningfully return in the Canadian retail market dominated by TJX, HomeSense, and IKEA.

Expect the annual game of holiday discount chicken to intensify as promotions escalate, plus intriguing experiments like Netflix House in former department-store spaces—potentially hinting at new opportunities for mall real estate.

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Jason Buechel, Whole Foods CEO/Worldwide Head, Amazon Grocery, Plus Kohl's CEO Shake-up, eCommerce's Rewiring, and Sears' Last Christmas

michael@meleblanc.co (Jason Buechel) — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 09:28:03 +0000

The latest edition of the retail industry's leading podcast features an in-depth conversation with Jason Buechel, CEO of Whole Foods Market and Vice President of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores, who shares Amazon’s rapidly expanding grocery ambitions. Already surpassing $100 billion in gross sales, Amazon is leaning into grocery as a strategic category driven by frequency, loyalty, Prime stickiness, and the potential to unite all household purchasing into a seamless digital and physical ecosystem.

Buechel explains how Amazon is transforming grocery shopping—a category in which consumers currently visit four to five retailers a month—into a single, unified experience. With more than 1,000 same-day grocery delivery locations today scaling to 2,300 cities, store-level innovations such as Whole Foods Daily Shop formats, and the integration of perishables directly into Amazon baskets alongside electronics or apparel, the company is erasing long-standing channel barriers. He also outlines the “one grocery” operational vision: unified supply chains, technology stacks, and customer journeys across banners, while preserving the brand trust and standards that Whole Foods customers demand.

The episode opens with co-hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc breaking down early holiday results. This year’s hottest retail storyline, however, may be the sudden emergence of agentic AI. Tools such as Amazon’s Rufus and ChatGPT are now influencing search and conversion decisions, helping fuel what the hosts dub “the most agentic Christmas yet.” With traffic gains from AI agents multiplying, the shift from traditional search to intelligent assistants is poised to accelerate dramatically in 2026.

The discussion then turns to Kohl’s, and the decision to name interim CEO Michael Bender to the permanent position. The hosts frame this as symptomatic of a deeper issue: a retailer with declining relevance in a shrinking total addressable market.

On the heels of new quarterly earnings reports they also spotlight the theme of “profitless prosperity”—brands reporting modest sales improvements but sliding EBITDA as tariffs, promotions, and supply chain pressures erode margin—the overarching message: top-line growth is not victory unless gross profit dollars follow.

The episode concludes with the remarkable rise of Google's AI game, and Sears inexplicably still operating a handful of stores (though likely not for much longer).

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Retail's Flight to Value, Target Stumbles, Plus Sephora NA's President & CEO Artemis Patrick (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Artemis Patrick) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:29:39 +0000

Steve and Michael open this week’s episode with a deep dive into the retail news of the week, marked by sharp contrasts in performance across the retail landscape. Walmart continues to separate itself from the pack, delivering another standout quarter, as omni-channel rival Target delivers another challenging quarter.

The news segment analyses strong results from the off-price sector as TJX and Ross Stores both post impressive sales gains. The turnaround at Gap Inc. shows encouraging signs under CEO Richard Dickson despite continued weakness at Athleta. In home improvement, both Home Depot and Lowe’s see essentially flat comps as rate-locked consumers and affordability issues continue to weigh on spending. Furniture and home categories face rising tariff exposure, with Williams-Sonoma projecting its blended tariff rate jumping from 6% to 35%—a margin headwind that underscores industry-wide challenges. All told, the week’s earnings reveal a retail landscape where the biggest players capture more share while many others struggle to keep pace.

Steve and Michael revisit their encore interview with Artemis Patrick, President & CEO of Sephora North America—one of the most inspiring and resonant conversations in the show’s archive. Artemis shares her extraordinary personal journey from immigrating from Iran and growing up in foster care to becoming one of the most influential leaders in global beauty.

She details Sephora’s global reach (34 markets, 3,000 stores), 700+ North American freestanding locations, a huge presence at Kohl's, and 40M+ Beauty Insider members, while unpacking the brand’s unique power in incubating indie brands, championing diverse founders, and uniting physical and digital experiences long before Omni became a buzzword. Artemis also previews two transformational initiatives: a next-generation e-commerce platform enabling deeper personalization and a five-year renovation of every Sephora store—the largest capital project in the brand’s history.

After the interview the hosts each share their choice for buzziest story of the week before concluding with what's on their radar screens for the weeks ahead.

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Retail Sales Defy Gravity, A Big Change at Walmart, and Daydream CEO Julie Bornstein on the Next Wave in AI Shopping

michael@meleblanc.co (Julie Bornstein) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:56:22 +0000

Season 11, Episode 12 opens with a whirlwind week in retail news. Steve and Michael begin with the long-awaited end of the historic 43-day U.S. government shutdown, exploring what it means for holiday spending, federal workers, SNAP benefits, and travel recovery. While uncertainty lingers—particularly around health-care subsidies—the hosts note that retail may still experience ripple effects, especially among lower-income consumers living paycheck to paycheck. Still, retail sales continue to surprise: year-over-year spending climbed 5%, with clothing, sporting goods, electronics, and general merchandise leading the pack. Ecommerce also surged, with October online sales up 8.2%

The hosts then unpack a series of strong earnings from standout brands. On continues its explosive growth with sales up over 30%, while Warby Parker posts a 15% sales jump and meaningful profitability improvement. The RealReal rebounds with 17% revenue growth, and Shopify reports a remarkable 32% increase, reflecting the strength of digitally enabled commerce. Another major storyline is the rapid rise of AI shopping: Adobe Analytics data now shows AI-driven traffic converting 16% higher than traditional channels, validating the momentum behind agentic commerce. In other tech news, Google announces an AI agent capable of calling stores, checking inventory, and completing purchases—a signal of seismic shifts underway in retail automation. And finally, the surprise timing behind the departure of Walmart CEO Doug McMillon prompts conversation about leadership transition, strategy continuity and the remarkable transformation he led.

The second half of the episode features an in-depth interview with Julie Bornstein, Founder & CEO of Daydream—an AI-powered, chat-based shopping engine still in beta but already partnered with over 10,000 brands and 350 retailers that has already raised $50mm in capital. Julie shares her impressive career journey through Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Stitch Fix, The Yes, and Pinterest. She then goes to explain how Daydream solves fashion’s most enduring problem: overwhelming choice. With generative AI enabling natural-language search, Daydream aims to deliver truly personalized recommendations by combining human stylist expertise with an ensemble of specialized models that understand fabric, fit, color, and aesthetic nuance.

Julie also discusses the complexity of building a platform that merges taste-based shopping with machine learning, the importance of deep brand partnerships, and why major retailers see Daydream as both a customer-acquisition engine and an AI learning lab. She previews what's ahead: emerging social features, secondhand expansion, new iOS integrations, an upcoming app launch, and broader consumer rollout.

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Wobbly Unicorns, Luxury Bifurcation, and Tecovas' CEO David Lafitte on Growing Through 'Radical Hospitality.'

michael@meleblanc.co (David Lafitte) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:21:07 +0000

Hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc welcome David Lafitte, President and CEO of Tecovas, the fast-growing Austin-based brand bringing cowboy culture to modern consumers. Lafitte’s career journey—from corporate attorney to Chief Operating Officer at Deckers Brands (home of UGG and Hoka) and now to retail leadership at Tecovas—is a masterclass in reinvention and focus.

Under Lafitte’s leadership, Tecovas has evolved from a digitally native boot maker to a fast growing premium lifestyle brand built on two pillars: crafted quality and radical hospitality. In this conversation, he explains how every store—now more than 50 across the U.S.—delivers a warm, elevated customer experience complete with in-store bars, personalization services, and knowledgable personalized service. The company’s blend of authenticity and approachability has earned it cult-brand status while driving remarkable growth.

Lafitte also shares insights into Tecovas’ expansion strategy, including its move into New York’s Soho district. He describes the flagship store as both a retail hub and a powerful brand ambassador that introduces western style to new audiences—without compromising the brand’s roots. The discussion dives into Tecovas’ measured foray into wholesale partnerships with Nordstrom and its expanding apparel lines, from denim to performance shirts, that extend the brand’s head-to-toe lifestyle appeal.

Lafitte reflects on the importance of leadership focus, empowering teams, and maintaining clarity amid growth. His advice for emerging retail leaders: prioritize what matters most, say no to distractions, and foster cultures of accountability and trust.

The hosts balance the conversation with this week’s retail headlines: the Supreme Court’s debate over Trump-era tariffs, Allbirds’ ongoing “Wobbly Unicorn Corner” status and strong results from luxury icons Ralph Lauren and Tapestry amid broader industry struggles. They close with insights on Amazon’s automation ambitions, Andy Jassy’s bold predictions for the future of eCommerce, and holiday retail forecasts signaling a slower but steady season.

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Decoding Luxury's Next Chapter with Puck's Lauren Sherman and featuring Guest Co-Host Ben Miller (Shoptalk)

michael@meleblanc.co (Ben Miller, Lauren Sherman) — Tue, 4 Nov 2025 08:52:07 +0000

Guest co-host Ben Miller, Shoptalk's VP of Original Content and Strategy joins to provide expert analysis and we interview Lauren Sherman, the acclaimed fashion correspondent at Puck and author of Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon

The episode kicks off with a rich news segment, where the trio unpacks the latest forces shaping retail and the economy. Amazon’s strong Q3 earnings headline the week, with third-party marketplace growth and ad revenues surging 24%. The conversation then pivots to the consumer landscape, where CPG brands lean on pricing over volume, private-label growth accelerates, and Estee Lauder’s rebound in China might hint at green shoots in luxury demand.

From there, the hosts explore the AI revolution’s ripple through the workforce, with Ben outlining how global companies are reorganizing around “agentic transformation” as human and machine intelligence increasingly converge. He notes that the average IQ of today’s AI agents already exceeds 130—with future leaps that will reshape every operating model. The segment closes with Steve’s macro overview: U.S.–China tariff recalibrations, Fed policy shifts, and warning signs of consumer softening among younger cohorts.

In the feature interview, Lauren Sherman offers a masterclass on the shifting foundations of global fashion and luxury. From the post-pandemic boom to today’s demand reset, she dissects how the Chinese slowdown, pricing strategy saturation, and the direct-to-consumer explosion are redrawing the map for brands like LVMH, Hermès, and Prada. Lauren argues that “untouchable” luxury houses are now confronting the limits of endless growth, and that resale and rental markets have permanently altered consumer psychology—embedding secondhand luxury as a normalized part of the buying journey.

She also explores social media’s transformation under AI, Hollywood’s over-reliance on fashion partnerships, and why the luxury world’s obsession with celebrity campaigns may have reached saturation.

The episode also previews ShopTalk Luxe, the new Abu Dhabi-based event connecting the global luxury ecosystem. The hosts wrap by spotlighting the AI data-center boom, the rise of GLP-1-driven nutrition trends, and the surprising revival of British department stores.

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Blank Canvas Strategy Revealed! Plus News from Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon, Hermes, and More

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:03:54 +0000

The News Rundown

Steve leads off with the latest tariff turmoil, as trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada stall amid the Trump administration's response to an ad created and paid for by the Ontario government running in U.S. media whose key auto sector is endangered by Trump trade policies. They also explore luxury corporate earnings, where Hermès continues to shine, while. Gucci owner Kering struggles to regain footing. Meanwhile, Mattel falls short as retailers tighten orders ahead of the holidays.

The discussion then turns to job cuts at Target, Amazon, GM, and Nestlé, revealing how automation, AI, and tariff pressures are reshaping corporate structures, before turning to Amazon's plan to replace up to 600,000 roles with robotics. They also cover ChatGPT's meteoric rise to No. 2 in product search, challenging Google and signaling a shift in how consumers discover products.

Throughout, they underscore the precariousness of retail confidence heading into the holiday season — from Tractor Supply's cautious guidance to Deckers' HOKA sales slowdown.

Blank Canvas Strategy: Finding Retail's 'New Earth'

In the second half, Steve introduces "Blank Canvas Strategy"— a methodology for retailers to reimagine their businesses from the ground up, free from legacy constraints. Unlike Blue Ocean Strategy, which focuses on discovering compltey untapped markets, this framework helps brands reinvent their core business models before disruption makes them irrelevant.

Steve urges leaders to recognize when their "planet" (current business model and market domain) becomes uninhabitable, and to begin building "Earth Two" — an alternative growth destination. Together, the hosts examine why incremental change doomed once-iconic retailers like Blockbuster, Sears, and Pier 1, and how others like Dick's Sporting Goods and RH (Restoration Hardware) succeeded by boldly innovating their business designs.

They close by discussing how executives can carve out time, treasure, and talent for R&D, overcome the fear of cannibalization, and lead with the courage to disrupt themselves before competitors do.

After the focused content discussion it's on to the most remarkable stories of the week, including Walmart's massive commitment to deploying 90 million supply-chain sensors to track pallets and fresh-food products.

The episode wraps with what needs to be on everyone's radar screens. One recommendation: keep your eyes on "GU" the first U.S. store fromUniqlo's parent company, Fast Retailing. Located in New York's Soho neighborhood, Gu is a bright, energetic space with "eye-poppingly good prices" and strong shopper buzz.

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Walmart's OpenAI Leap, Artizia's Remarkable Rise, and Michael's CEO David Boone on Bold Retail Reinvention

michael@meleblanc.co (David Boone) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 08:39:49 +0000

On the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail Podcast co-hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc deliver another fast-moving episode at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and retail reinvention.

The episode opens with Steve leading the weekly news rundown, spotlighting Walmart’s groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI's ChatGPT — a move that could redefine how shoppers discover products and transact.

They then turn to earnings where LVMH’s modest rebound hints at a possible luxury reset, contrasted sharply with Saks Global’s double-digit losses and ongoing integration pains. The co-hosts analyze Levi’s direct-to-consumer surge under CEO Michelle Gass, before diving into Aritzia’s remarkable 32% growth and aggressive US expansion.

From there Michaels Arts & Crafts CEO David Boone joins for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, transformation, and speed. Boone shares how Michaels’ “seize the moment” initiative emerged after the collapse of Party City and JoAnn’s — an opportunity to rapidly introduce new in-store and digital concepts like The Party Shop and Balloon Bar. Drawing on his leadership experience at Staples Canada, Boone contrasts private equity agility with public-company complexity and explains why, in today’s market, inaction is riskier than risk itself.

Boone also details Michaels’ journey toward a truly omnichannel creative ecosystem, where digital discovery enhances the tactile joy of physical stores. He discusses the integration of JoAnn’s beloved IP into the Michaels experience and how the company’s purpose — “fueling the joy of creativity and celebration” — guides everything from store design to marketing voice.

Steve and Michael close with their “what’s remarkable” segment, breaking down OpenAI’s new Sora social video app and the explosive pace of AI adoption and lifting up International artisanal brand MUDD and the creative retail energy they embody. Together they reflect on the balance of innovation, humanity, and retail momentum heading into the 2025 holiday season.

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Government Shutdown Retail Math, Zombie Retailers Come Back from the Dead, and the Future of Agentic Commerce (feat. Scot Wingo)

michael@meleblanc.co (Scot Wingo) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:40:33 +0000

The Weekly News Rundown

The episode opens with a fast-moving retail update. New DataWeave analytics reveal that Nike has raised prices significantly — by 17 percent for footwear and 14 percent for apparel — as tariff cost mounts, potentially disrupting their turnaround plans. Steve and Michael then examine the continuing U.S. government shutdown and its potential economic ripple effects. Despite flagging consumer confidence, September retail sales surged 5.4% year-over-year, led by sporting goods and apparel, while big-ticket categories such as furniture and home improvement stalled. They turn next to Adobe's holiday sales forecast, calling for 5.3 percent online growth — the slowest in years. AI-driven shopping, meanwhile, is expected to grow fivefold, underscoring how rapidly technology can reshape consumer behaviour.

The Interview — Scot Wingo on Agentic Commerce

Returning guest Scot Wingo brings a veteran entrepreneur's perspective on the next leap in retail innovation. Leveraging his ChannelAdvisor roots to his latest venture, ReFiBuy.ai, Wingo describes how AI agents are poised to reshape the shopping journey — from research, to finding, and buying — through "agentic commerce." He details how ChatGPT's new checkout feature effectively turns it into a merchant-friendly marketplace and why this could challenge Google and Amazon's ad-tax models. Wingo explains how Google is evolving from a search engine to an "answer engine," already costing retailers organic traffic, and outlines the steps brands must take to prepare their catalogues for AI-driven visibility. He also explores how personal-shopping agents and vertical AI start-ups in fashion and re-commerce are creating hyper-custom experiences, while warning retailers not to block "good bots" in their fear of AI scraping.

Stories That Spread and A Peek Around the Corner

In their closing segment, Steve and Michael discuss some recent remarkable stories including the revival of brands like Bed Bath & Beyond, Toys "R" Us, and Forever 21, as well as Lululemon founder Chip Wilson's latest shot at his former company. They close by discuss what's on their mutual radar screens for the weeks ahead.

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Keeping the Soul in the Sole: Birkenstock Americas President & Managing Director, David Kahan on Constantly Reinventing a 250-Year-Old Icon

michael@meleblanc.co (David Kahan) — Tue, 7 Oct 2025 08:11:07 +0000

The episode begins with a deep dive into the latest retail and economic headlines that are shaping the landscape. Steve and Michael dissect the U.S. government shutdown, its ripple effects on employment, and how cost-cutting in Washington could further weaken an already fragile job market. They then examine new tariffs on furniture, cabinets, and agricultural exports, highlighting how the policies are squeezing retailers and farmers alike—particularly soybean producers, who have been hit hard by China’s retaliation.

The hosts also analyze the latest on TikTok’s uncertain U.S. future, as political maneuvering opens the door to a controversial joint venture involving major tech and media figures. In retail performance, Costco’s continued dominance and Nike’s early turnaround efforts take center stage, as both giants adapt to shifting consumer sentiment and inflationary pressure. The segment concludes with a discussion of AI’s growing impact on the workplace, holiday hiring trends, and how discretionary spending and de minimis trade rules could redefine retail economics on both sides of the border.

Then, in a wide-ranging interview, David Kahan, President & Managing Director, Birkenstock Americas delivers a masterclass in brand stewardship and retail strategy. He traces Birkenstock’s roots from a humble German cobbler to a global fashion phenomenon—revealing how the brand’s success rests on “never deviating from its DNA.” Every product begins with the footbed, he says, making comfort, health, and purpose inseparable from style.

Kahan credits Birkenstock’s ongoing cultural resonance—from the Barbie movie to red carpet collaborations—to disciplined brand management and “engineered distribution.” He explains how each Birkenstock store is a unique community experience, blending tactile engagement with hyper-local curation. The conversation also touches on leadership philosophy, emphasizing humility, trust, and an unwavering focus on brand equity over short-term sales.

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5th Anniversary Special: Seth Godin plus Guest Cameos & Remarkable Moments

michael@meleblanc.co (Seth Godin) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:05:58 +0000

This special 5th anniversary episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast marks a milestone: five years of insights, disruption, and conversations with the world’s most innovative retail thinkers. We reflect on the pod’s origin story during the early COVID lockdowns, tracing its evolution from Steve’s book Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption into an industry-leading show featuring CEOs, founders, and thought leaders shaping global commerce. They share highlights from an impressive guest roster, including Scott Galloway (whose episode remains the most downloaded in the show’s history), Artemis Patrick of Sephora, Hal Lawton of Tractor Supply, Chris Nicholas of Sam’s Club, Joe Kudla of Vuori, and Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker. Each clip showcases the powerful themes of customer centricity, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of remarkability.

The centerpiece of the episode is a deep and engaging conversation with Seth Godin, returning for his sixth visit. Seth—bestselling author of classics including Purple Cow—first inspired the very language of “remarkability” in Steve’s book and the podcast itself. Here, Seth reflects on why being remarkable matters more than ever in an era where “average is dead.” He warns leaders that chasing efficiency or “suck less” strategies won’t suffice; brands must create conditions where customers want to talk about them. He draws a sharp distinction between simply being “better” through incremental improvements and being truly remarkable in ways that spark conversation, loyalty, and cultural resonance.

Seth also delves into the impact of AI as the biggest societal shift since electricity. Rather than reducing costs by outsourcing tasks, he urges retailers to harness AI to enable new projects and creative possibilities. He illustrates this with his latest Kickstarter project—AI-driven card decks designed to spark learning, decision-making, and storytelling. For Seth, experimentation and accessible tools are the gateway to innovation, and he emphasizes that risk-taking in the AI era costs little but delivers exponential learning.

Together, Michael, Steve, and Seth explore enduring themes: knowing who it’s for and what it’s for, the value of continuous improvement, and why shunning non-believers is essential to staying authentic.

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"The Analysts" Return: Forrester's Sucharita Kodali & GlobalData Retail's Neil Saunders Map Retail's Future.

michael@meleblanc.co (Neil Saunders, Sucharita Kodali) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:05:00 +0000

This week's episode marks the second edition of "The Analysts" once again bringing together the sharpest minds in global retail. This time we welcome Sucharita Kodali, Vice President & Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, and Neil Saunders, Managing Director at GlobalData Retail for a lively, insight rich discussion about the future of retail.

The episode kicks off with U.S. retail sales results from the NRF/CNBC Retail Monitor and the US Census Bureau, which showed surprisingly strong growth despite inflation, tariffs, and shaky consumer sentiment. Neil and Sucharita explain why inflation-adjusted numbers tell a more modest story, while digging into the growing disconnect between historically low consumer confidence and healthy sales. They highlight how wealth concentration and media filter bubbles distort the economic picture, making retail performance appear stronger or weaker depending on perspective.

"The Analysts" then turn to the state of mega-brand retail turnarounds. Neil delivers a tough assessment of Kohl’s—calling it the “turnaround that never happened”—while offering cautious optimism on Macy’s and Gap, which are showing small but real signs of progress. Sucharita points to structural weaknesses in department stores but also notes resilience in Walmart, Costco, and dollar stores. Together, they weigh how tariffs, operational missteps, and consumer shifts complicate recovery.

Next up: AI in retail. Sucharita underscores that artificial intelligence isn’t new—retailers have relied on it for years in pricing, supply chain, and labor planning. The novelty lies in generative AI and so-called “agentic AI,” which she characterizes as incremental rather than revolutionary thus far. The panel agrees that while these tools can deliver efficiency, they’re unlikely to transform the top or bottom line soon—though Amazon’s deep AI and automation investments continue to give it a strategic edge.

Looking ahead, holiday forecasts are mixed. Deloitte predicts growth under 3.5%, while eMarketer forecasts just 1.2%. Neil and Sucharita expect more resilience driven by consumers’ determination to celebrate. The panel also highlights Amazon’s bold logistics move to fulfill orders for Walmart and Shein, underscoring its unmatched infrastructure advantage.

The discussion closes with Steve, Michael, Neil and Sucharita each offering what's on their radar screen, including Saks Global’s financial turbulence, macroeconomic signals like inflation and jobs data, and AI’s potential labor impacts.

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Driving Digital Retail at Scale: Loblaw’s EVP & CDO Lauren Steinberg on Customer Experience Transformation

michael@meleblanc.co (Lauren Steinberg) — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:23:28 +0000

This week the Remarkable Retail podcast delivers a dynamic mix of breaking retail news and an in-depth interview with a top retail innovators, Lauren Steinberg, Loblaw Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Loblaw, Canada's biggest retailer.

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc kick off a wide-ranging news segment, analyzing how tariffs, inflation, and global economic uncertainty are reshaping retail. They explore the upcoming Federal Reserve decision, the rise in food and apparel costs, energy pressures tied to AI-driven data centers, and how these forces are squeezing consumers’ discretionary spending. The hosts also discuss RH's Paris flagship opening as a bold case study in reinvention, contrasting the brand formerly known as Restoration Hardware's bold ambition with the incremental strategies that have failed legacy brands. Finally, they highlight Sam’s Club’s new digital-first presentation layer—showing how even complex retailers can aim higher, move faster, and deliver remarkable customer experiences.

Guest Lauren Steinberg--who recently assumed the expanded role of Chief Digital Officer at Loblaw after a decade leading digital, loyalty, and retail media--offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Loblaw is serving nearly every Canadian through its grocery, pharmacy, financial services, and apparel businesses, anchored by iconic brands like President’s Choice, and Joe Fresh.

Laurnen explains how Loblaw’s digital strategy is centered on convenience, affordability, and relevance, with AI playing a critical role in personalization, supply chain efficiency, and the evolution toward agentic AI. Lauren also details the company’s fast-growing retail media network, designed to connect brands with customers in ways that are accountable, measurable, and integrated across both digital and physical retail.

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Luxury Retail's Future with Amit Kaswani, Chief Omnichannel Officer, Chalhoub Group & Stacie Henderson Capece Minutolo, CMO Americas, Tod's Group

michael@meleblanc.co (Amit Kaswani, Stacie Henderson Capece Minutolo) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 08:31:36 +0000

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlancs analyze the week's most impactful retail developments: a U.S. appeals-court ruling that may require massive Trump era tariff refunds new India duties; fast-moving shifts in de minimis thresholds; and mounting pressure on global supply chains, small businesses, and retailers alike. They analyze how these disruptions will disrupt importers like Tapestry and Lululemon, and shift the retail earnings divide—even as consumer confidence wavers and labor issues—like ICE raids—further muddy the waters.

In the featured interview with two visionary luxury executives: Amit Kaswani, Chief Omnichannel Officer at Chalhoub Group, and Stacie Henderson Capece Minutolo, Chief Marketing Officer Americas at Tod's Group. Amit outlines Chalhoub's omnichannel-first game plan, including end-to-end logistics and loyalty ecosystems that reach millions—backed by AI-powered personalization, predictive analytics, and conversational commerce tools. He emphasizes how customer experience, augmented by technology, is a differentiator, not a replacement for human interaction.

Stacie shares Tod's strategy in the Americas, targeting high net worth clients and next-gen shoppers through experiential storytelling, cultural relevance, and digital scale. She references campaigns like "Italian Diaries," where in-person luxury activations generate exponential online impressions. She also discusses Tod's AI governance framework—a cross-functional task force merging marketing, e-commerce, finance, and customer service to ensure innovation is purposeful and aligned.

As both guest leaders gear up to speak at Shoptalk Luxe, which runs 27–29 January 2026 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi, luxe.shoptalk.com+1, they tease the frameworks, case studies, and strategies they'll be presenting on global luxury, loyalty, and AI innovation.

The episode closes with Michael and Steve spotlighting standout moments: GLP-1 weight-loss drug innovations, Google's Nano Banana image-generation tool, and the looming U.S. interest rate decision, crippling shutdown threats, and Simons' opening in Toronto's Eaton Centre, replacing Nordstrom.

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Tariffs, Transformation, and Target's Tumult at the Top with Guest Co-Host Ethan Chernofsky

michael@meleblanc.co (Ethan Chernofsky) — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 07:05:00 +0000

The Remarkable Retail Podcast kicks off Season 11 with a powerful episode featuring a first-ever guest co-host: Ethan Chernofsky, Chief Marketing Officer of Placer.ai.

The episode opens with a lively discussion of tariffs and trade turbulence, a recurring theme reshaping global retail strategies. Ethan shares data-driven insights from Placer.ai on how consumer behavior is shifting under economic uncertainty, while Steve highlights how pricing power and category positioning determine which retailers can weather cost pressures. Together, they unpack what’s next as outsized tariffs hit key markets like India, Brazil, and Switzerland.

The conversation then pivots to retailer performance, starting with Target’s leadership shake-up. Steve critiques the choice of an insider CEO while Ethan provides Placer.ai traffic data showing continuing traffic declines. The group debates Target’s future—whether its famed “Tar-zhay” positioning can be revived by refocusing on differentiation. From there, they contrast Target’s struggles with Walmart’s momentum, exploring how digital sales, retail media, and membership growth continue to power the world's largest retailer's outsized performance..

Speaking of Amazon, the trio examines the company’s great expanded same-day grocery delivery, setting up a fresh battleground with Walmart. They also analyze the broader bifurcation of retail, where premium players and discounters gain share while middle-market brands face mounting challenges.

Moving on the episode digs into the most talked about stories making headlines. Topics include the Cracker Barrel rebrand backlash, American Eagle’s bold Sydney Sweeney campaign, and the AI battle for talent, which borders on the ridiculous..

Finally, the team peers around the corner, curious about whether iconic brands in transition such as Gap, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale’s can regain any traction in the fae of growing headwinds. They also discuss shifting enclosed mall dynamics of malls. Ethan underscores that while A-class malls thrive with innovative tenants, some moribund B-class centers are finding new life by reinventing themselves.

Steve's Forbes article: Can Target Regain It's Mojo?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevendennis/2025/08/21/can-target-regain-its-mojo/

CNBC: How retail accounting could distort profitability as tariffs take effect.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/18/retail-earnings-how-accounting-could-change-profitability-amid-tariffs.html

Spinal Tap: This Goest To 11

https://youtu.be/4xgx4k83zzc?si=mOgH7MBTeF4nj6BZ

About Us

Aim Higher, Move Faster, Act More Boldly: Get Ready for a Brand New Season of the Remarkable Retail Podcast

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:05:00 +0000

With the pace of disruption continuing to accelerate, with more and more power being concentrated in the hands of only a few mega-retailers, with consumer needs and wants being constantly reshaped, and with the global impact of tariffs still far from certain, how do you make sense of what to do and, most importantly, gain the confidence to aim higher, move faster and act more boldly.

That's where the industry leading, award-winning Remarkable Retail Podcast comes in.

I'm Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author. I invite you to join me and fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc each week as we separate the signal from the noise and give you the tools and ideas to make the bold leap to remarkable.

The Remarkable Retail podcast is the only retail show hosted by two of the NRF’s 2025 Top Retail Voices. And in this, our eleventh season, we’ll continue our award-winning formula: [pause] no BS perspectives crafted from our decades of experience on the front lines, hot takes on the week’s biggest retail news, conversations with the most remarkable retail leaders, and, new this season, occasional guest co-hosts who will help us open the aperture on an industry in flux.

So be sure to follow us wherever you enjoy your podcasts or on the newly expanded Remarkable Retail YouTube channel.

The all new season of the Remarkable Retail podcast launches Tuesday, September 2nd. We hope you’ll join us.

About Us

"Expressive" Luxury Meets Analytics: Tapestry's Pooja Chandiramani and Avinash Kaushik on Marketing Transformation

michael@meleblanc.co (Pooja Chandiramani, Avinash Kaushik) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 07:05:00 +0000

For our final episode recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth show, we welcome two visionary leaders from Tapestry, the global house of brands that includes Coach and Kate Spade: Pooja Chandiramani, VP Global Media Strategy & Planning, Marketing Analytics, Operations and Transformation, and Avinash Kaushik, Brand Strategy & Marketing Transformation.

Pooja and Avinash unpack Tapestry’s ongoing transformation, which embeds analytics as a core pillar of brand growth. For Coach in particular, analytics isn’t just incremental—it’s a complete transformation journey. By using data to generate insights that directly drive business impact, Tapestry ensures marketing investments are accountable, measurable, and tied to outcomes.

Avinash, a globally recognized thought leader and author, explains how Tapestry embraces intent-centric marketing to connect authentically with consumers. Moving beyond the outdated “accessible luxury” positioning, the company has shifted toward "expressive luxury"—a modern framework that reflects values-driven, authentic consumer engagement, particularly resonant with younger audiences.

The conversation dives into the cultural foundations necessary for analytics to thrive. Avinash emphasizes that “culture is more important than data,” crediting Tapestry’s CEO Joanne Crevoiserat and senior leadership for creating an environment where data can challenge assumptions and guide decisions. This culture enables bold experiments, including measuring the incrementality of brand marketing—one of the toughest questions in retail.

Pooja highlights how creative pre-testing has become a critical unlock. By partnering with Human Made Machine, Tapestry tests campaigns with real audiences before investing media spend. This approach ensures that creative—responsible for up to 70% of marketing impact—delivers measurable results in driving brand awareness and incremental sales. It’s a cultural shift, moving from subjective opinions about creative to decisions grounded in data.

The episode also explores the role of AI and machine learning in accelerating agility, simplifying decision-making frameworks, and enabling global scalability. Both leaders stress that outcomes-based planning—rather than activity-based planning—keeps Tapestry aligned with its ambitious growth goals.

About Us

Lauren Price, COS' SVP E-Commerce & Digital Marketing on Winning Over the Next Generation of Customers

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail Podcast, our guest is with Lauren Price, Senior Vice President, E-Commerce & Digital Marketing for COS North America discussing her impressive career trajectory and work positioning the H&M-owned brand for growth in a competitive, fast-moving fashion retail landscape.

Lauren’s career began in the early days of luxury e-commerce at Createthe Group, building first-generation online stores for high-end brands . Her path included consulting with Demandware and L2 (Scott Galloway’s firm), leading to her first in-house brand role at J.Crew before joining COS—a globally recognized fashion brand known for exceptional quality, timeless style, and meticulous craftsmanship.

At COS, Lauren oversees North American marketing and digital commerce, a key growth market. She explains how COS benefits from the resources of a global parent company while operating with the agility of a smaller regional business. This unique position allows for strategic experimentation while maintaining the brand’s commitment to premium quality.

A highlight from the conversation is COS’s viral marketing moment: a $45 T-shirt compared on TikTok to a $15 Uniqlo tee, with the influencer praising COS’s superior quality and construction. This sparked organic buzz and significant new customer acquisition, prompting Lauren’s team to launch a targeted influencer gifting campaign. The lesson: seize authentic, organic momentum quickly and amplify it with campaigns that focus on authenticity, craftsmanship, and product education—especially to win over savvy Gen Z shoppers.

Lauren also tackles the emerging challenge of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), advising brands to prepare product catalogs for AI-driven search while maintaining current SEO performance. She predicts AI search adoption will accelerate faster than previous digital shifts, urging retailers to run both short-term and long-term optimization in parallel.

As the discussion turns to holiday planning, Lauren offers several pieces of practical, results-focused advice.

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From Seed to Scale: XRC Ventures' Pano Anthos on Revolutionizing Retail & Consumer Tech

michael@meleblanc.co (Pano Anthos) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis welcome XRC Ventures' Managing Director Pano Anthos, for a deep dive into the future of retail innovation, investment strategies, and overcoming the systemic challenges that keep great technology from scaling.

Pano shares his journey from serial entrepreneur to leading a venture fund focused on pre-seed and seed-stage investments at the intersection of retail, consumer behavior, and technology. With over 150 investments since 2015, XRC Ventures targets transformative sectors including retail media networks, the consumerization of healthcare, commerce enablement, and new distribution channels. Pano highlights examples of groundbreaking innovations—from AI-driven financial automation to diagnostics that detect autism in under two hours—that are redefining operational efficiency and customer impact.

A major focus of the conversation is retail’s organizational dysfunction, where siloed leadership and competing P&Ls create “warring tribes” that hinder adoption of transformative solutions. Pano argues that true progress requires structural change—appointing an operational leader with end-to-end responsibility for traffic and sales across all channels.

The discussion also explores the promise of retail media, particularly in-store applications with untapped margin potential, and spatial intelligence, which can bring the precision of e-commerce analytics into physical stores. Pano shares candid insights on startup strategy, stressing that early-stage companies must demonstrate material ROI—significant EBITDA or revenue growth—to make it into a retailer’s short list of investment priorities.

About Us

There’s No Place Like Home with Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Janet Hayes) — Tue, 5 Aug 2025 07:11:29 +0000

In this special encore episode we revisit an insightful conversation with Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings as she shares her career journey and the brand’s $5B growth ambitions. From their visionary Flatiron NYC flagship to enhanced digital design services and significant tech investments, the iconic 60 year old home retailer furnishings retailer is modernizing for a more remarkable future.”

Janet shares leadership lessons from a remarkable career with brands like Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Nike, and Gap and, now, in her current role driving growth as the CEO of Crate & Barrel, CB2, and Hudson Grace. We delve into her perspectives on the role of technology, the changing nature of work, and more. We also get a glimpse into the drive forces behind their latest flagship store in New York's Flatiron District.

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AI Agents, Amazon Wins & Luxury Woes: A Break Down of July's Hottest Headlines

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 1 Aug 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In this special summer edition of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis return to the mic for a jam-packed Month-in-Review episode. With interviews from the CommerceNext Growth Show rolling out all summer long, the duo takes a break from the regular cadence to reflect on the key developments dominating retail headlines.

Kicking things off, Michael and Steve catch up on their summer travels, from retail safaris to personal DIY projects, before diving into on-the-ground observations from recent store visits. They note intensified promotional activity, flagging department store performance, and struggling retailers like Kohl’s—whose housekeeping and inventory issues speak volumes about the deeper structural challenges facing legacy banners.

A major theme is the ripple effect of evolving tariff policies. Steve breaks down the shifting landscape of trade "deals"—or lack thereof—impacting everything from apparel to automobiles, including the end of the de minimis clause that could reshape the business model of players like Shein and Temu. While retailers have largely absorbed tariff costs for now, Q4 pricing and profitability are big question marks, particularly for cash-strapped players.

The conversation turns to macroeconomic conditions and a surprisingly resilient U.S. consumer. However, Steve warns against viewing “the consumer” as a monolith, emphasizing growing bifurcation between income brackets. The luxury market underscores this divide—Hermès continues to thrive, while Gucci and more aspirational brands struggle, and Saks Global faces mounting losses and vendor tensions.

The episode also unpacks Amazon’s latest earnings, with standout 23% growth in ad sales, despite investor jitters around AWS and an uncertain outlook.

Other hot takes include AI’s expanding role in customer interaction, the controversy around American Eagle’s “gene/jeans” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney, and the headline-grabbing soap opera surrounding Hudson’s Bay’s failed resurrection attempt in Canada.

Looking ahead, Michael and Steve preview August retail earnings, the fall retail conference season, and the ongoing evolution of AI-enabled search.

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Reimagining Heritage Through Innovation: A Conversation with Stuart Hogue, Lands' End Senior Vice President, US Consumer

michael@meleblanc.co (Stuart Hogue) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In this insightful summer bonus episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, we welcome Stuart Hogue, Lands' End, Senior Vice President, US Consumer, for a fast-paced conversation recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York City. Stuart brings a wealth of brand experience—spanning time at Nike and a passion for brand strategy shaped by none other than fellow podcast guest Scott Galloway—and shares how Lands; End is evolving while staying grounded in its heritage.

Founded in 1963 as a sailing outfitter, Lands' End has evolved over the decades from a catalogue stalwart to a digitally savvy harmonized retailer. Stuart walks us through how the company continues to build on its legacy of quality, durability, and classic American style, while embracing modern retail strategies—from digital marketplaces and fashion drops to AI-driven customer discovery.

Stuart details Land's Ends; successful expansion into platforms like Nordstrom.com and Amazon, where clever use of data helped make their Bedford quarter-zip sweater a top seller. He emphasizes the importance of aligning product selection with platform-specific customer mindsets, demonstrating a sharp and disciplined approach to marketplace strategy.

We also delve into how Lands' End achieved surprising viral success through personalized tote bag pop-ups in Soho, which not only drove younger customer engagement but also created powerful emotional brand moments that were amplified organically through TikTok. The brand's strategic move toward monthly product drops has helped introduce newness while preserving customer loyalty around legacy franchises, such as Tugless swimsuits, no-iron chinos, and its legendary Squall jackets.

Stuart shares thoughtful insight into omnichannel retail, calling it less about technology and more about being present at key customer moments across touchpoints. He highlights the growing influence of AI agents. He emphasizes the need for brands to prepare for a new era of product discovery, where brand authority and relevance across marketplaces become increasingly crucial for staying top of mind.

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Draper James CEO Jeannie Yoo on What's Next for the Celebrity Inspired Brand

michael@meleblanc.co (Jeannie Yoo) — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In this special summer episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York, we welcome Jeannie Yoo, CEO of Draper James, for a wide-ranging conversation on the brand's growth trajectory, the power of celebrity in retail, and the rise of human-centric retail experiences.

Jeannie brings two decades of fashion retail experience to the table, from her early days at Michael Kors and Coach to leading the luxury house Adam Lippes. Now nine months into her role at Draper James, Yoo is steering the Southern-rooted lifestyle brand—founded by Reese Witherspoon—through its next stage of growth, marked by its 10th anniversary "decade tour" and a sharpened focus on customer connection.

Yoo discusses how Draper James defies the "digitally native" label, thriving through retail stores, with licensing and pop-ups that foster personal, local, and sensory experiences. While the brand's celebrity origin story is foundational, Yoo emphasizes how its growth is now powered by inclusive pricing, joyful storytelling, and a culture of Southern hospitality. Reese Witherspoon remains involved, but the brand is scaling under Yoo's operational leadership and with the backing of Consortium Brand Partners.

Central to the conversation is Yoo's take on "human-centric retailing"—a strategy rooted in community engagement, elevated in-store experiences, and product innovation informed by customer passions for gardening, books, and food. She describes how Draper James curates joy through both product and experience, emphasizing quality over quantity in an era of fashion abundance. Technology, particularly AI, plays a role, but not the leading one. The focus, she notes, is on enabling smarter, more efficient work—not replacing human intuition or creativity.

Looking ahead, Yoo sees North American expansion—especially retail and licensing—as the brand's most significant opportunity before tackling global markets. She also reflects on her leadership style, which has been forged in both large organizations and niche luxury brands, allowing her to scale thoughtfully without losing the emotional resonance that makes Draper James special.

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Leading Social Commerce into the Future with Walmart VP Sarah Henry

michael@meleblanc.co (Sarah Henry) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In this insightful episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York, Sarah Henry, Vice President, Head of Content, Influencer & Commerce at Walmart, discusses how one of the world's largest retailers is at the forefront of digital innovation. Sarah shares her journey from classical pianist to marketing executive, charting her unique path into eCommerce and social media leadership.

The discussion dives deep into how Walmart is meeting the evolving expectations of Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. Sarah explains how the boundaries between brand discovery, engagement, and purchase are transforming, particularly for younger demographics who now discover products on social platforms more than in physical aisles or via traditional search engines. She shares insights into Walmart's strategic shift, including the rollout of the "Who Knew?" campaign, which highlights surprising products and services available through Walmart, ranging from exclusive Pokémon cards to stylish fashion from brands like Free Assembly.

A central focus of the conversation is "Walmart Creator", the brand's in-house platform launched to streamline influencer engagement and power social commerce. Sarah explains how this platform connects tens of thousands of creators directly with Walmart's ecosystem, enabling shoppable content that seamlessly bridges inspiration and transaction.

The conversation also touches on the increasing role of artificial intelligence in commerce. Sarah emphasizes the balance between technology and human creativity, asserting that Walmart's approach is "tech-led and people-powered." She discusses how AI is being used to support creators, personalize experiences, and enhance the customer journey, while remaining cautious about authenticity and scale.

Sarah offers a look at attribution and measurement, acknowledging progress while recognizing room for improvement. She also shares her excitement for the future of social commerce and the continued growth of the creator economy as a legitimate career path. Throughout the episode, she underscores the importance of adaptability and real-time testing in a retail landscape that is changing by the day.

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Retail Legend Ken Pilot Breaks Down Tariff Math, Retail Tech & Brand Survival

michael@meleblanc.co (Ken Pilot) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In the first of our 8-part summer series produced in partnership with CommerceNext, our guest is Ken Pilot—retail executive, tech investor, and host of The Retail Pilot: Leaders & Legends podcast.

Ken's legendary career spans decades and includes pivotal roles such as President of Gap Global, Factory Stores at Ralph Lauren, and leadership positions at J.Crew, American Eagle, and ABC Carpet & Home. He takes us behind the scenes of launching Gap Outlet, transforming a single underperforming store into over 100 high-margin locations in just 36 months, ultimately making it the most profitable division at Gap.

The conversation then shifts to current macro challenges, particularly tariffs and global sourcing. Ken unpacks the "tariff math" few are talking about, warning that even modest increases could wipe out 10 points of margin, especially for smaller brands without pricing power or manufacturing flexibility. He anticipates a hit to Southeast Asia, outlines strategic moves by companies like Gap to diversify sourcing, and speculates on the economic implications for North American retail.

Next, Ken delves into the retail tech landscape, providing a forward-looking perspective on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), the emergence of natural language search, and how retailers must adapt both on-site and externally to remain visible and competitive. He highlights the companies he's advising and investing in, including "Curated For You" (an AI-driven occasion-based merchandising platform) and "Raspberry AI" (tools that help designers iterate visuals from sketches to campaign-ready assets). He also discusses the creative tension AI can introduce and how forward-thinking teams are adapting.

Finally, we examine the potential of Retail Media Networks (RMNs) as an underutilized profit stream, particularly in a high-cost, low-margin environment. Ken balances caution with optimism, emphasizing the need for retailers to experiment, remain agile, and stay laser-focused on the customer and core product offering.

About Us

Vuori CEO & Founder Joe Kudla Live on Stage: Scaling a Global Brand with Product, Purpose & Community

michael@meleblanc.co (Joe Kudla) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 07:36:36 +0000

In this Season 10 finale of The Remarkable Retail Podcast, Steve interviews Vuori CEO & Founder Joe Kudla live on-stage during the closing keynote of the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York. Steve and Michael also are on-stage for a session gleaning the top retail trends of the year so far and set the stage for what's most important to focus on the balance of the year.

Instead of covering the week's headlines, Michael and Steve zoom out to examine the trends that have defined the year thus far. Tariff turbulence remains the dominant storyline, with the July 9th extension deadline looming and limited trade progress made—raising uncertainty about supply chains, pricing, and margins. Retailers are already grappling with rising costs and making difficult decisions about whether to absorb the impact through vendor, consumer, or margin adjustments.

They spotlight a troubling acceleration in store closures, forecasting 2025 as a record year for retail contraction, particularly in drugstore and department store categories. Meanwhile, growth continues to concentrate, with Amazon, Walmart, and Costco accounting for over half of all incremental retail gains. Smaller out-performers, such as Vuori and Abercrombie, stand out, but the middle is collapsing through a combination of unremarkable business designs and lackluster execution.

The hosts also analyze the contrasting fortunes of Walmart's soaring apparel success versus Target's continued slump and reflect on emerging disruption from agentic AI—potentially reshaping how consumers search, shop, and connect with brands. With luxury contraction predicted for the first time in 15 years and labor dynamics in flux, retailers face a complex and volatile landscape.

Then, it's over to an on-stage interview with Vuori CEO & Founder Joe Kudla, who joins Steve live for the closing keynote at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York City for a candid and inspirational conversation about scaling a lifestyle brand with purpose. Joe shares how Vuori—rooted in the beachside town of Encinitas, California—pivoted from a near-collapse to a $5.5 billion valuation last year, thanks to an obsessive focus on product quality, fabric innovation, and deep community connection.

Kudla walks listeners through Vuori's growth strategy: starting with DTC success, expanding to wholesale, and now operating over 80 physical stores—each serving as a local brand hub. He discusses how in-person retail drives stronger omni-channel customers and why authenticity in influencer partnerships is more important than ever in a crowded media landscape.

As Vuori expands globally with new stores in London, Shanghai, and Seoul, Joe remains grounded in his role as the brand's chief product evangelist and men's fit model. His leadership lesson? Stay vulnerable, stay curious, and always lead with great products.

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Future-Proofing Retail: Mark Irvin Best Buy's EVP & Chief Supply Chain Officer on Agility, AI & Delivering for Customers

michael@meleblanc.co (Mark Irvin) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In the latest episode of Remarkable Retail, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis return with a their hot takes on the week's top retail headlines.

The duo begins with a macroeconomic update, including political gridlock in the U.S. over the "Big Beautiful Bill," the Fed's inflation outlook, and uncertainty surrounding consumer spending. They then break down TikTok's extended 90-day reprieve, speculate on Amazon's motivation behind extending Prime Day to four days, and assess the e-commerce giant's recent shift in tone regarding AI impacts on future hiring needs The hosts also spotlight Walmart's surprising 23% growth in online apparel sales, consider the luxury sector's first contraction in 15 years, and dig into a new Profitero study that reveals digital channels now influence 64% of retail transactions—emphasizing the needs to break down silos and implement a harmonized shopping experience.

Then it's over to this week's featured guest: Mark Irvin, Best Buy's Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. With more than 12 years at the retailer and a deep background in logistics, Irvin pulls back the curtain on what it takes to operate one of the world's largest and most complex retail supply chains.

From visibility and speed to adaptability, Irvin outlines the three pillars of Best Buy's evolving logistics strategy. He explains how they leverage AI-driven sourcing to reduce delivery errors, digital twins to simulate future supply networks, and a growing control tower to dynamically reroute inventory in response to global disruptions—like the Panama Canal's low water levels or shifting geopolitical challenges.

He also details Best Buy's commitment to sustainability, including partnerships for electrified freight and aggressive reverse logistics programs to refurbish or responsibly dispose of aging tech. The conversation wraps with a preview of his upcoming keynote at NRF's Big Show Europe in Paris, September 16-18., where he'll explore the future of retail supply chains and what it takes to deliver exceptional customer experiences by 2030.

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"The Analysts" Part 2: The Future of Department Stores and Agentic AI with Sucharita Kodali, Neil Saunders & Simeon Siegel

michael@meleblanc.co (Neil Saunders, Simeon Siegel, Sucharita Kodali) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, co-hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc return with Part Two of “The Analysts," which featues three of the retail industry’s most respected thought leaders—Sucharita Kodali (VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester Research), Neil Saunders (Managing Director, GlobalData Retail), and Simeon Siegel (Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets).

But first, Michael and Steve unpack a news cycle packed with volatility. They begin by exploring the ripple effects of renewed Middle East conflict and its impact on oil prices, inflation, and economic sentiment. From there, the duo tackle the Trump administration’s intensifying immigration enforcement and its chilling effect on the U.S. labor force—particularly in agriculture, hospitality, and retail. Shoppers are anxious, workers are disappearing, and companies are bracing for cost spikes.

The episode then zooms into earnings season, with fresh data from RH (Restoration Hardware), Inditex (Zara), and Victoria’s Secret. RH defies expectations with revenue gains despite a sluggish home goods sector, while Zara and Victoria’s Secret warn of tariff-related turbulence ahead. Steve and Michael also sound the alarm on a string of cyberattacks, including the Victoria’s Secret hack and a Whole Foods supplier breach, painting a stark picture of retail’s digital vulnerabilities.

Then it’s time for “The Analysts” segment. Sucharita Kodali explains the hype—and the misunderstanding—around Agentic AI, warning retailers of its disintermediating potential if shopping bots take hold. The panel weigh in on the future of department stores, urging traditional retailers to rethink their value proposition, especially as beauty shifts to standalone players like Sephora, Blue Mercury, and Ulta.

From TikTok’s uncertain future to retail media network fatigue, the lightning round keeps the insights flowing with wit and depth. The panel also lifts up up-and-coming remarkable brands like Vuori, Alo Yoga, and Eleventy as ones to watch.

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"The Analysts": Sucharita Kodali, Neil Saunders & Simeon Siegel Decode What Really Matters

michael@meleblanc.co (Neil Saunders, Simeon Siegel, Sucharita Kodali) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 08:25:40 +0000

This landmark episode launches "The Analysts," a periodic new feature segment, bringing together three of retail's most respected thought leaders in a new format . Part One features Sucharita Kodali (Forrester Research), Neil Saunders (GlobalData Retail), and Simeon Siegel (BMO Capital Markets) who cut through industry chaos to reveal what really matters.

News of the Week Highlights: The episode opens with Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc's signature news analysis, which covers the Trump-Musk political tensions and their potential retail implications, including leadership chaos and economic uncertainty. They examine surprisingly resilient U.S. job market data, showing 4.1-4.2% unemployment despite rising layoff announcements, with a particular focus on AI's emerging threat to entry-level positions as companies like McKinsey dramatically reduce their hiring.

A significant development has emerged, with Chinese retailers Temu and Shein experiencing dramatic 50% U.S. sales declines following tariff implementations, although both companies are pivoting aggressively to European markets. The hosts analyze this as validation of tariff impacts while noting potential "brace for impact" implications for international listeners.

Eangs season wrap-up reveals telling mixed signals: Lululemon's shocking 23% stock decline despite maintaining profitability, driven by weak guidance amid increased promotional pressure; Dollar General raising guidance despite tepid 2% comp growth; and standout Five Below achieving impressive 7% comps while expanding to 1,826 stores across the U.S. The continuing collapse of second-wave DTC darlings gets spotlight treatment, particularly Rent the Runway's staggering 97% stock decline.

Sarah Shaprio's article in PUCK (gifted access):

https://puck.news/everlane-the-millennial-dtc-brands-midlife-crisis/?sharer=135890&token=b9132ffadc485c7284df8c90f0940e62

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10 Tantalizing Tips for Tumultuous Times: Surviving Retail's Perfect Storm

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 3 Jun 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In this special edition episode, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis address the unprecedented challenges facing retailers with Steve's "10 Tantalizing Tips for Tumultuous Times." Steve rates current market turbulence at a 9 out of 10, comparing it to COVID-era disruption but noting the added complexity of legal uncertainties around tariff policies.

The news segment covers significant retail developments, starting with ongoing tariff turmoil. A U.S. court ruled Trump's tariff policies illegal, creating additional uncertainty for retailers already struggling with implementation. Steve explains how this legal challenge, combined with the administration's failure to secure the promised "90 deals in 90 days," has intensified market turbulence.

Earnings season revealed stark contrasts in retail performance. While Abercrombie & Fitch, Costco, and Dick's Sporting Goods posted strong results, Target's struggles were particularly alarming—down nearly 4% compared to Walmart's 4-5% growth, highlighting a major and continuing performance gap between direct competitors. Department stores including Macy's, Dillards, and Kohl's continued their downward trajectory, with most posting negative comps. The episode also covers Hudson's Bay Company's final closure in Canada, with Canadian Tire acquiring the historic brand's IP for $30 million.

The second segment focuses on ten essential tactics for survival and growth. The first foundational tips emphasize radical commitment to reality and transparency, urging retailers to honestly assess their situation and act accordingly. Steve advocates for embracing uncertainty and building agility into operations, followed by maintaining innovation through continuous testing despite budget pressures.

Customer-focused strategies include choosing your passionate core of fans (inspired by Seth Godin's work), being human-centered while digitally enabled, and prioritizing storytelling over purely functional benefits. Steve emphasizes that people buy a brand's story before they buy the product.

Strategic excellence tips include "editing to amplify"—narrowing customer and offering focus to boost signal amid market noise—and conducting comprehensive friction audits of the customer journey. The hosts stress distinguishing between table stakes (necessary but non-differentiating capabilities) and true differentiators that create competitive advantage.

The final tip, "cash is king," proves particularly relevant given tariff impacts on cash flow.

Throughout the discussion, the hosts acknowledge that guidance must be tailored to individual circumstances—strategies for Walmart differ significantly from those needed by smaller specialty retailers. The episode serves as both a reality check and practical roadmap for retailers navigating what Steve describes as an era of unprecedented uncertainty, volatility, and competitive pressure where strong players are aggressively pursuing market share opportunities.

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Warby Parker's Remarkable Vision with Neil Blumenthal, co-CEO and Co-Founder (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Neil Blumenthal) — Tue, 27 May 2025 08:13:59 +0000

Joining us for a fascinating interview is Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, one of the most successful and innovative "disruptor brands" to emerge in the past two decades. Neil shares the brand's origin story, what makes Warby Parker remarkable, why they've aggressively invested in brick-and-mortar locations, the critical interplay between digital and physical, and a whole lot more.

As usual for our encore episodes, we open with Steve giving us an update on the progress Warby Parker is making on their business.

About Neil

Prior to launching Warby Parker in 2010, Neil served as director of VisionSpring, a nonprofit social enterprise that trains low-income women to start their own businesses selling affordable eyeglasses to individuals living on less than $4 per day in developing countries.

He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. He serves on the board of RxArt and on the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council.

A native of New York City, Neil received his BA from Tufts University and his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Neil lives in Greenwich Village with his wife, Rachel, the founder and CEO of Rockets of Awesome, and their two children.

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The Evolution of Outlet Centers: Stephen Yalof, Tanger's CEO, on Value Retail's Transformation

michael@meleblanc.co (Stephen Yalof) — Tue, 20 May 2025 07:15:17 +0000

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis begin with a news segment covering recent market developments, notably the "tariff turmoil" between the US and China. They discuss how the US has partially de-escalated its stance, with tariffs dropping from a proposed 145% to 30%, creating a 90-day window for retailers to import products. However, they emphasize that smaller retailers remain disproportionately affected due to limited resources compared to giants like Home Depot.

The hosts also cover recent retail earnings reports, including Walmart's strong comp store sales growth despite withdrawing Q2 guidance, and their strategic pricing approach to tariff impacts. Other earnings news included On Running's impressive 40% sales growth, while American Eagle, JC Penney, and Burberry reported significant losses. Additional news touched on refinancing challenges at Kohl's, potential bankruptcy concerns at Saks, and Dick's Sporting Goods' surprising acquisition of Foot Locker.

The featured interview with Stephen Yalof, CEO and President of Tanger, explores his extensive career spanning retail real estate, including roles at New Plan Realty Trust, Gap, Ralph Lauren, and Simon before joining Tanger in 2020 – humorously noting he arrived when "every one of their 3,000 stores was closed" due to COVID.

Yalof provides a fascinating historical perspective on outlet centers, explaining how they evolved from manufacturers' sales of returned items and factory seconds to a strategic retail channel. He details how the Tanger family themselves were shirt manufacturers who realized they were "selling more stuff out the back door than out the front door" before creating the first outlet center in Burlington, North Carolina.

The conversation explores how vertical retailers like Gap transformed the model, creating consolidation stores for excess inventory before establishing dedicated outlet locations. This evolution progressed from pure excess inventory management to serving aspirational customers who understand brands but can't afford full price – what Yalof describes as bringing customers "into your ecosystem."

In response to competition from online and fast-fashion retailers, Yalof explains Tanger's strategy shift from purely "power shopping" to full-service experiences with improved food, entertainment, and amenities. He compares this to how stadiums have evolved despite at-home viewing advances, stating, "We're the general merchandise managers of our shopping centers... it's about picking the right uses, right experiences, the right amenities."

The interview concludes with insights into Tanger's digital engagement strategies, including how they leverage customer data to create targeted marketing campaigns and provide stackable discounts through retailer partnerships, guided by their vision of "using customer insight to inform the future of shopping."

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The Beauty of Relevance: Getting Personal with Josh Friedman, Ulta's SVP Digital & eCommerce

michael@meleblanc.co (Josh Friedman) — Tue, 13 May 2025 08:31:13 +0000

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis begin by dissecting the week's most important retail news, highlighting the Trump administration's UK trade deal. They discuss the more consequential negotiations with China befor examining how Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Shein are experiencing sales drops of 17% and 23% respectively after implementing pricing changes.

April's surprising 7% jump in US core retail sales indicates consumers are pulling forward purchases ahead of expected tariff impacts. The hosts discusss positive earnings news from Tapestry (Coach's parent company), which increased profit guidance despite economic uncertainty, and Warby Parker, which delivered its first profitable quarter in its history. They conclude the news segment with Skechers' unexpected $9 billion acquisition by private equity firm 3G Capital, noting that the footwear giant operates in 180 countries with 5,300 stores.

The interview segment features Josh Friedman, Senior Vice President of Digital and E-commerce at Ulta Beauty. Friedman brings extensive experience from previous roles at Dell, JCPenney, and Neiman Marcus. He discusses Ulta's 35-year journey and upcoming expansion into Mexico and the Middle East, emphasizing their mission to be "all things beauty, all in one place."

When asked about Ulta's success factors, Friedman points to three key elements: comprehensive brand assortment, their powerful loyalty program with 44 million members, and Ulta's collaborative company culture. Personalization is a major focus for Ulta, built on their loyalty program foundation. Friedman explains how Ulta leverages search and virtual try-on technology to help deliver relevant customer experiences.

Under new CEO Kecia Steelman Ulta is recalibrating its structure and focus. Friedman shares details about their upcoming curated marketplace launch, emphasizing it will be invitation-only and focused on carefully selected beauty and wellness brands that complement their existing offerings. The marketplace will allow Ulta to test new products and extend into additional categories while maintaining quality control.

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Navigating Retail Media's Future Part 2 with Andrew Lipsman: Predictions and Growth Strategies

michael@meleblanc.co (Andrew Lipsman) — Tue, 6 May 2025 07:27:33 +0000

In the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis continue their conversation with retail media expert Andrew Lipsman, founder and chief analyst at Media, Ads and Commerce, exploring the evolution and future of retail media networks.

The episode kicks off with an in-depth news segment covering significant economic developments. The hosts discuss the recent GDP drop in the US, which they note is primarily driven by increased imports and inventory buildup as retailers front-loaded inventory ahead of tariff implementations. They analyze the recent disconnect between poor consumer confidence numbers and actual retail spending patterns. The hosts also examine tech company earnings, with most reporting strong results except for Apple, which is facing challenges related to tariffs and China exposure. Apple's response to tariffs—shifting manufacturing to India and Vietnam rather than the US—highlights unintended consequences of the trade policies. The news segment concludes with a discussion of Amazon's earnings and the surprising termination of Kohl's CEO Ashley Buchanan over an improper vendor relationship.

In the interview segment with Andrew Lipsman, the conversation centers on the mechanics of successful retail media networks and future trends. Lipsman explains his concept of the "retail media flywheel," noting that when this flywheel takes off, it produces exponential rather than linear growth. He emphasizes that while Amazon pioneered this approach, other retailers can build their own flywheels tailored to their specific assets.

A significant portion of the discussion addresses concerns about whether retail media might compromise customer experience. Lipsman acknowledges this concern but believes it can be managed with thoughtful execution and relevant advertising. He points to Trader Joe's as an interesting counterexample—a retailer explicitly rejecting retail media to focus on merchandising excellence.

For retailers considering or developing retail media networks, Lipsman advises realistic expectations, particularly for mid-size and smaller players who may benefit more from joining aggregated networks rather than building walled gardens. He cautions that many retailers overvalue their first-party data and underestimate what's needed to monetize it effectively.

Looking to the future, Lipsman predicts that while on-site search advertising will continue to drive significant revenue, the big growth opportunities lie in streaming TV advertising and in-store media. He estimates in-store advertising represents a potential $20-40 billion opportunity, noting that physical stores account for about 5% of all media time spent but currently capture only 0.1% of ad spending. While acknowledging implementation challenges, he points to successful examples outside the US, particularly in the UK and Asia, as evidence of the model's viability.

YouTube episode Photo by Nathan Cima on Unsplash

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Taking the Loyalty LEAP: Tractor Supply's Neil Tenzer, VP Customer Loyalty, Insights, & Engagement Unpacks Customer-Centric Innovation

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In Season 10, Episode 16 of the Remarkable Retail Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis open with a deep dive into the latest turbulence in the retail world. They tackle the U.S. administration’s wobbly trade policies, slowing home sale, and rising inventory risks stemming from ongoing tariffs. They also dissect challenges facing the luxury sector, with Kering posting disappointing numbers and growing concerns around the Saks/Neiman Marcus deal amid financial instability. Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble bucks the trend, announcing 60 new stores in 2025, reinforcing that physical retail remains far from dead.

The second half of the episode features a compelling live interview from Shoptalk in Las Vegas with Neil Tenzer, Vice President, Customer Loyalty, Insights and Engagement at Tractor Supply Company (TSC). Neil provides a masterclass in building a robust loyalty program with real impact. He shares his unique journey—from a Nordstrom associate to a strategy consultant to a senior executive at TSC—and how these experiences shape his approach to customer engagement.

Neil walks through the evolution of Tractor Supply’s Neighbors Club, which now boasts over 39 million members and accounts for 80% of company revenue. He highlights how spending time on customers' properties—understanding their lives firsthand—informs everything from reward program design to personalization strategy. Neil also discusses how TSC thinks differently about loyalty economics: rather than banking on reward breakage, they aim for full reward utilization to deepen customer engagement.

Listeners get a firsthand look at TSC’s approach to micro-segmentation, omnichannel loyalty, and personalization efforts that bridge online and in-store experiences. Neil offers insights into experimental tactics, the application of agentic AI for personalization, and the cultural commitment at TSC to putting the customer first—literally in every loyalty and personalization decision. The episode closes with Neil’s advice to fellow retailers.

About Neil

Neil Tenzer is Vice President of Customer Loyalty, Insights & Engagement at Tractor Supply Co. where he is privileged to lead the Neighbor’s Club - one of the largest and fastest growing loyalty programs in retail! With 38+ M members and $12+ B in sales, the program leverages robust analytics and data science to connect each customer with the most compelling marketing and uniquely relevant offers. Neil has 20 years of experience employing data and analytics to lead multinational organizations through growth and turnaround strategy across the healthcare, consumer, and retail spaces. Neil holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Oxford.

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Retail Media Unleashed Part 1: Andrew Lipsman, Founder & Chief Analyst Media, Ads + Commerce, Breaks Down the Third Wave of Digital Advertising

michael@meleblanc.co (Andrew Lipsman) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis deliver a powerhouse episode split between urgent retail news and a highly anticipated interview with returning guest Andrew Lipsman, Founder & Chief Analyst Media, Ads + Commerce, one of the world’s foremost authorities on retail media networks.

The episode opens with a comprehensive review of the week’s most pressing economic developments. The retail industry faces mounting challenges as tariffs continue to disrupt supply chains and pricing strategies. Cross-border tourism is in sharp decline—down 37% from Canada alone—impacting major cities like New York, Miami, and San Francisco. Chair of the Federal Reserve Jay Powell warned that proposed tariffs could trigger slower growth and higher inflation, further rattling markets.

The retail response? Stockpiling. Sales of big-ticket items like furniture and autos are surging as consumers rush to beat looming price hikes. Shein and Temu are already raising prices and cutting back on U.S. advertising, signalling early effects of lost de minimis exemptions. Meanwhile, luxury brands such as Hermès are increasing prices. The news also covers Ulta’s paused Target expansion, sluggish leasing activity in retail real estate, and IKEA’s increasing bet on small-format stores.

Shifting gears, the second half of the episode features the first part of an in-depth conversation with Andrew Lipsman, who offers a masterclass on the growth and complexity of retail media networks. Andrew traces the emergence of retail media as the “third wave” of digital advertising—following search (Google) and social (Meta)—and explains how closed-loop measurement and first-party data are transforming the economics of media buying.

He explores how retail media isn’t just stealing share from traditional platforms but unlocking new advertiser segments, particularly among third-party sellers and challenger brands. Andrew also tackles common criticisms, including the effectiveness of point-of-purchase ads and the often-misunderstood ROAS metric.

With retailers like Amazon and Walmart now generating billions in high-margin revenue through media, Andrew argues that retail media is not just an ancillary channel — it’s fast becoming a core growth engine.

This episode is a must-listen for retailers, marketers, and media professionals seeking clarity on the headwinds of today’s economy and the structural shifts reshaping the future of retail.

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Five Years On: Steve Dennis Dissects the Hits, Misses, and Surprises of Remarkable Retail

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:21:24 +0000

In Season 10, Episode 14 of the Remarkable Retail podcast, co-hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc deliver a jam-packed episode that blends sharp commentary on today’s global retail turbulence with a thoughtful five-year retrospective on Steve's landmark retail strategy book, Remarkable Retail.

The first half of the episode centers on the mounting global trade tensions, specifically the deepening tariff war between the U.S. and China. Steve breaks down the financial ripple effects of Trump’s temporary tariff pause, from bond market volatility to persistent inflationary pressure. Despite a temporary reprieve, tariffs remain four times higher than pre-war levels, impacting major retail players like Nike, RH, and Lululemon. Smaller retailers are particularly vulnerable, lacking the scale and capital to weather uncertainty.

The hosts also tackle other pressing news stories: consumer confidence plummeting, the fallout from the looming de minimis policy change affecting Chinese factory-direct models like Temu and Shein, and the ripple effect this may have on Canadian exporters to the U.S. They highlight luxury retail turbulence as Prada acquires Versace and Saks Global—parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus—faces vendor shipment cutoffs and empty shelves as seen in a Las Vegas store visti. A brief silver lining emerges in Dallas, where a threatened Neiman Marcus flagship gets a temporary lifeline.

The second half of the episode is a deep dive into Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption, five years after its original release and four years since the COVID-updated second edition. Steve reflects on what inspired him to write the book—observing the collapse of retail’s middle and the rise of bifurcation—and how the Eight Essentials framework continues to shape thinking in the industry. He shares which essentials remain relevant, which are now mere table stakes, and why “radical” as a term can be misinterpreted.

Steve and Michael explore whether new tech, especially AI, can level the playing field—or merely amplify the advantages of already powerful retailers. Steve hints that if there were ever to be a third edition, it would put more emphasis on human-centered retail and leadership adaptability. The episode closes with reflections on the podcast’s role as an evolving extension of the book, helping retail leaders stay agile and ahead in a rapidly shifting marketplace.

Here is a 10% off code for the CommerceNext Growth Show exclusive to Remarkable Retail listeners: REMARKABLE.

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Retail Renaissance: A Conversation with Barrie Scardina, President, Americas Retail Services at Cushman & Wakefield

michael@meleblanc.co (Barrie Scardina) — Tue, 8 Apr 2025 07:05:00 +0000

The episode, recorded live at Shoptalk in the Berns Communications Group media room, opens with Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc surveying a broad sweep of headline-grabbing developments in the retail world. They highlight continued uncertainty around recently imposed tariffs and resulting economic ripples, as major international trade disputes stoke inflationary concerns. Stock market volatility factors heavily into the conversation, with the co-hosts noting how certain retail sectors—particularly home furnishings and high-end goods—may feel the pinch as shoppers tighten budgets. Target’s declining foot traffic draws focus as the hosts weigh whether brand controversies or stiff competition might be to blame.

Next meet Barrie Scardina, President, Americas Retail Services at Cushman & Wakefield, who brings a fresh perspective born of decades in the retail industry. Her vantage point on commercial real estate challenges the traditional narrative of a “retail apocalypse.” She explains how, despite headlines about store closings, overall U.S. vacancy rates are incredibly low—largely because new construction has slowed and new types of tenants (from wellness providers to entertainment concepts) are snapping up available space. Barrie describes a rising tide of “experiential” retail, with everything from boutique fitness and medtail services to immersive brand pop-ups fueling a renewed sense of purpose in physical locations. She underscores how mixed-use developments and adaptive reuse—especially of outdated mall anchor spots—are revitalizing communities and increasing foot traffic. By blending residential, office, dining, and retail, these centers offer a lifestyle-oriented experience that resonates with modern shoppers. Ultimately, Barrie’s insights challenge conventional wisdom, suggesting that success in retail real estate hinges on tapping into evolving consumer demands, fostering a community connection, and creating spaces that balance function with memorable experience.

About

Barrie Scardina joined global real estate solutions firm Cushman & Wakefield as Executive Managing Director and Head of Retail Services, Americas, in November of 2019, leading brokerage teams to deliver optimal solutions to retailers and brands. In 2022, Barrie was elevated to the role of Regional President, Northeast, leading brokerage and services across all service lines. In 2023, she took on the challenge of President of Americas Retail Services, Agency Leasing and Alliances, partnering across office, industrial and retail to provide nuanced client solutions. Barrie is consistently focused on delivering value to clients by serving as a trusted advisor and incorporating data, analytics, and business valuation as part of her strategies. This unique approach to client relationships ensures that the firm delivers against client goals, optimizing outcomes and mitigating risk. Barrie is results-oriented and remains focused on transforming the real estate landscape by strategically driving revenue, identifying operational efficiencies, and growing profitability.

Prior to her appointment at Cushman & Wakefield, Barrie spent three decades leading vital retail initiatives across a variety of world-class organizations, including Polo Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, The Children’s Place and Tory Burch. She brings more than 15 years of executive experience to her current role with the firm, including expertise in creating long-range strategies, business forecasting, omni-channel inventory management, and system implementation and integration. Most recently, Barrie was with Calvin Klein, where she led the company’s North American Retail Division as President, setting strategic direction for merchandising, consumer experience and operational improvements.

Throughout her career, Barrie has focused on mentoring and developing talent and creating cultures that foster collaboration and equality. She is the executive sponsor for Cushman & Wakefield’s Women’s Integrated Network and serves on two diversity committees focused on improving the employee experience.

Affiliations

Graduate of the Wharton School of Business’ Philips Van Heusen Global Leadership Program (2017)
Board Member of Safe Horizon (2017-2019)
Member of Women’s Retail Leadership Circle (WRLC)
Member of the International Council for Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Member of CHIEF Private Women’s Network
Executive Sponsor of Cushman & Wakefield’s Women’s Integrated Network National Chapter
Member of CREW NY; Participant at National level
Recognized by Globe St. as a Woman of Influence (2020)

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Agentic AI in Action: Lowe’s SVP, Chandhu Nair, on Building the Next-Gen Home Improvement Experience

michael@meleblanc.co (Chandhu Nair) — Tue, 1 Apr 2025 07:05:00 +0000

Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis return from ShopTalk brimming with insights on the rapidly shifting retail environment. They kick off by breaking down the rollercoaster of consumer confidence, spurred by persistent inflation and ongoing uncertainty. The conversation touches on potential reverberations from looming tariffs that could drive up costs and shake consumer sentiment. Headlines from major brands paint a mixed picture: Lululemon’s cautious optimism contrasts with H&M’s ongoing struggle to redefine its place in fast fashion, while Dollar Tree’s dramatic divestment of Family Dollar underscores the perils of poorly integrated acquisitions. Meanwhile, Chewy’s robust earnings provide a bright spot.

Also fueling industry chatter is the arrival of French department store Printemps in Lower Manhattan, sparking excitement among those who see it as a bold venture amid broader department store decline. The conversation pivots to Canada’s retail landscape, where Hudson’s Bay’s long-anticipated liquidation underscores the challenges legacy retailers face in a hyper-competitive era.

The second half of the show features a conversation with Lowe’s SVP Product and Technology, Data and AI, Chandhu Nair, who outlines the home improvement retailer’s sweeping digital transformation. Aware that their category historically lagged in technology adoption, Lowe’s has accelerated its efforts, focusing on delivering customer-centric solutions while modernizing decades-old infrastructure. With the newly launched MyLow application, shoppers can receive instant project advice, seamless product recommendations, and integrated how-to guidance. For professionals, speed, in-stock reliability, and tailored credit remain top priorities.

Nair emphasizes that data and AI make up only 30% of the equation, with the remaining 70% tied to organizational change and process reengineering. The discussion highlights Lowe’s approach to fostering innovation: start small, iterate quickly, and focus on core customer needs rather than novelty for novelty’s sake. In addition, immersive experiences such as the Lowe’s Style Studio for Apple Vision Pro build on years of research and strategic experimentation. By proactively partnering with leading tech companies and harnessing new capabilities like generative AI, Lowe’s aims to stand out in a competitive retail market. Ultimately, Nair’s insights underscore a cultural shift where failing responsibly is integral to success, and where the ability to adapt quickly defines a retailer’s future.

About Chandhu

As senior vice president, data, artificial intelligence and innovation, Chandhu Nair leads Lowe’s AI transformation office, data and analytics, and AI products and platforms teams. He also leads Lowe’s Innovation Labs, focusing on emerging technologies and technology investments, and is responsible for the technology enabling marketing, Lowe’s Media Network, personalization and loyalty experiences. He joined Lowe’s in 2020.

Chandhu has more than 20 years of experience in technology transformations. In a prior role at Lowe’s, he was vice president, technology, omnichannel marketing and digital customer engagement, and spearheaded best-in-class technology product launches including Lowe’s Pro loyalty program and media network. Before joining the company, he served as CEO and co-founder of Cognitive Retail Inc., a computer vision AI technology company providing U.S.-based retailers with advanced data analytics. He was also a managing partner and co-founder at Merkatus Partners, a strategy consulting firm focused on emerging technology investment services. Before that, he held global e-commerce and technology leadership roles at Staples Inc and Infosys.

Chandhu earned a master’s degree in general management and operations from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in engineering – information technology from Bharathiar University, India. He serves on the Board of Industry Leaders at the Consumer Technology Association, as well as the advisory board for United Planet, a non-profit organization connecting volunteers in the areas of education, health and environmental sustainability with opportunities in more than 30 countries.

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Why Amazon Can’t Crack Grocery and the Rise of Social Commerce with Jason Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis (Part 2)

michael@meleblanc.co (Jason Goldberg) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 07:05:00 +0000

In the latest episode of Remarkable Retail, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis kick off with a roundup of the week’s most impactful retail news. They dive into the potential liquidation of Hudson’s Bay Company, examining the challenges the iconic retailer faces amid financial turbulence. With speculation swirling around the sale of HBC’s heritage Stripes brand and the struggle to find buyers for prime real estate, the hosts analyze the ripple effects on Canadian retail.

They also discuss Forever 21’s second bankruptcy filing and probable liquidation, attributing the fast-fashion giant’s downfall to a combination of fierce competition from digital disruptors like Shein and Temu, as well as a reliance on traditional mall-based retailing.

Another key story involves Wayfair’s decision to expand its physical retail presence despite years of online focus. Opening its second large-format store in Atlanta, Wayfair seems to be testing the waters of omnichannel retail, blending digital convenience with tangible customer experiences. The episode also touches on earnings updates from Nike, Williams-Sonoma, and Five Below.

After covering the latest retail news, the hosts continue their engaging conversation with Jason “Retail Geek” Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis. Goldberg dives into Amazon’s ongoing challenges in breaking into the grocery market despite the tech giant’s e-commerce dominance. Amazon Fresh stores, while improved, still lack a clear competitive differentiator against industry leaders like Walmart. Goldberg notes that despite Amazon’s long-term strategy and willingness to experiment, their grocery ventures remain more experimental than groundbreaking.

Goldberg also explores the evolution of social commerce, with a particular focus on TikTok Shops. Unlike past social selling failures on platforms like Facebook, TikTok Shops have managed to build momentum, but only for specific product categories. Goldberg argues that social commerce’s real value lies not in direct sales but in product discovery. Brands need to adapt by creating content that fosters discovery rather than pushing for immediate transactions.

The conversation also covers the rise of retail media networks, with Goldberg emphasizing Amazon’s transformation into a high-margin ad powerhouse. By monetizing third-party seller ads, Amazon has outpaced traditional retail models in profitability. While Walmart and others are catching up, Amazon’s ability to leverage its marketplace for advertising revenue puts it in a unique position.

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Embracing Agility, Kohl's Struggles, and Jason Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer, Publicis, on Who's Winning & Why (Part 1)

michael@meleblanc.co (Jason Goldberg) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:05:00 +0000

The latest Remarkable Retail podcast delivers a compelling mix of current market news and expert analysis from returning guest Jason "Retail Geek" Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis.

Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis kick off with the week's headlines, spotlighting the chaos caused by shifting tariff policies. They note that consumer confidence has plummeted amid economic uncertainty, creating leadership challenges across the retail landscape. Steve reflects that while the COVID crisis taught resilience, today's volatility requires leaders to embrace agility as "the New Black" while avoiding recklessness.

The retail news segment highlights several struggling players, most notably Kohl's with its disastrous twelfth consecutive quarter of sales decline. The hosts detail how new CEO Ashley Buchanan is pivoting back to private labels after previous leadership had emphasized national brands, while also apparently abandoning the once-touted Amazon returns program. Steve recounts visiting Kohl's stores filled with heavily discounted merchandise, describing them as "a train wreck" requiring both strategic and executional overhauls.

The hosts continue with Ulta Beauty posting modest growth, signaling a slowdown in a category that had performed exceptionally well post-pandemic. Dick's Sporting Goods delivered strong quarterly results but projected significantly slower future growth, reflecting a broader trend of caution across retail.

In what the hosts call the "wobbly unicorn corner," they examine former high-flyers facing existential challenges. Allbirds has lost nearly all its market value since IPO, with declining revenue despite shifting from direct-to-consumer to wholesale. Meanwhile, Stitch Fix shows modest signs of recovery under CEO Matt Baer's strategy of focusing on core customers rather than casting too wide a net.

When Jason Goldberg joins the conversation, he identifies three dominant client concerns: retail media networks (which he views skeptically), artificial intelligence (both transformative and overhyped), and economic uncertainty creating both challenges and opportunities.

Goldberg then provides illuminating analysis of retail market data, revealing that a small handful of giants—primarily Walmart, Amazon, Costco, and Chinese newcomers like Temu and Shein—capture the vast majority of all growth. While e-commerce growth has slowed from pandemic highs, it still significantly outpaces brick-and-mortar retail.

Most significantly, Goldberg explains retail's "bifurcation" between digital winners and losers, and between two successful business models: massive "everything stores" and highly curated specialty retailers. The traditional wholesale model caught in between—particularly department stores—is struggling regardless of execution quality or market position.

The episode ends with a teaser for part two, promising Goldberg's insights on the future of wholesale, Amazon's grocery ambitions, social commerce, and TikTok Shops—compelling reasons for listeners to return for the continuation of this insightful conversation.

Links:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevendennis/2017/12/04/retail-reality-its-death-in-the-middle/

Jason's 2024 Retail Year End Recap

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7300023069450936322/

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Tariffs, Takeovers & Our Encore Interview with Carrie Baker, President-Canada Goose

michael@meleblanc.co (Carrie Baker) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:29:33 +0000

In this episode of Remarkable Retail, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis break down a high-stakes week of retail headlines before reprising a conversation recorded two years ago with Canada Goose President, Carrie Baker. Carrie touches on the brand's unique positioning, DTC growth strategy, sustainability initiatives, and product line extensions.

Retail News Breakdown:

Tariff Whiplash – The Trump administration’s latest on-again, off-again tariffs are leaving retailers scrambling. What’s the real impact on pricing, inflation, and supply chains?
Walgreens Goes Private – Sycamore Partners is taking over the struggling pharmacy giant in a $10 billion deal, but is this a turnaround or just a temporary fix?
Retail Earnings Mixed Bag – Target unveils a $15 billion growth plan, Best Buy braces for tariff-related costs, and Macy’s fights for relevance. Meanwhile, Nordstrom posts its last earnings as a public company.

Revisiting Canada Goose: Then & Now
After the news, we rewind to an insightful conversation with Carrie Baker, President of Canada Goose, recorded at ShopTalk two years ago. At the time, Canada Goose was expanding its direct-to-consumer strategy, battling counterfeit products, and rolling out immersive store experiences like the Cold Room. She also touches on their store expansion plans, resales intiatives, and product-line extensions.

By blending past insights with today’s updates, this episode offers a unique look at retail strategy in motion. Whether you’re tracking market volatility, retail M&A, or long-term brand positioning, this episode connects the biggest industry shifts with lessons from one of Canada’s most iconic brands.

Subscribe, listen, and stay ahead of retail’s twists and turns!

********************

Steve will be back on stage at Shoptalk coming up in Las Vegas at the end of March. Listeners can save on registration by using our discount codes below:

For Retailers & Consumer Brands go here and use code RBREMARK549
For General Admission go here and use code GAREMARK1399

Steve's 2025 Retail Predictions

About Carrie

Recognized as a dynamic and collaborative leader with an entrepreneurial spirit, Carrie is responsible for Canada Goose’s global commercial business, driving the company’s growth and customer engagement. She oversees the Regional Business units, Marketing & Experience, Public Affairs & Communications, Merchandising & Pricing, and Corporate Citizenship. In her previous role as President, North America, she established a high-performance team and led the region’s significant business acceleration. Carrie has also served as Chief of Staff and Chief Communications Officer, helping lead the company through critical initiatives including its successful IPO and development of its industry-leading Sustainable Impact Strategy. Prior to joining Canada Goose in 2012, she was a Senior Vice President at a North American communications agency specializing in coaching executives and building the brands of some of North America’s largest retail, technology and consumer goods companies. Carrie was named WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women Canada in 2019 and serves on the Board of Directors of Trillium Health Partners Foundation.

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Retail Apocalypse 2.0? Store Closures to More Than Double—What’s Next?

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 4 Mar 2025 08:35:51 +0000

The retail industry is once again in flux, with store closures predicted to more than double this year, leaving many to wonder: is this a retail apocalypse or just a market correction? In this compelling episode of Remarkable Retail, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis dive deep into the state of physical retail, exploring the reasons behind the latest surge in store closings, the impact of e-commerce growth, and what it all means for retailers, brands, and consumers in 2025.

Backed by fresh data from Coresight Research, Michael and Steve break down which retailers are expanding, which are contracting, and why. With 15,000+ store closures projected for 2025, the conversation covers everything from the collapse of the unremarkable middle to the rise of value-driven retail (think TJX and Dollar Stores) and the resilience of luxury retail. They analyze how major economic uncertainties—tariffs, inflation, consumer confidence, and shifting shopping behaviors—are influencing retail strategies.

Key discussion points include:

The “Retail Apocalypse” Myth: Is physical retail actually in decline, or is the landscape simply evolving?
Who’s Thriving Amid the Closures? Off-price retailers like TJ Maxx, warehouse clubs, and specialty brands continue to expand, proving that physical stores still have a critical role in today’s retail ecosystem.
E-Commerce vs. Brick-and-Mortar: While online shopping keeps growing, it’s not the death knell for stores—brands like Warby Parker, Sephora, and Aritzia are doubling down on physical retail.
Strategic Store Closures vs. Brand Decline: Why some retailers are pruning their store networks to optimize profitability while others are collapsing due to outdated business models.
The Role of Retail in Customer Acquisition: How brick-and-mortar locations remain essential for brand discovery, experiential shopping, and omnichannel success.

With exclusive insights from leading retailers and industry experts, this episode provides a roadmap for navigating today’s turbulent retail landscape. Whether you’re a brand leader, an industry analyst, or a retail enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into what’s really happening in the world of brick-and-mortar retail in 2025.

Tune in now and stay ahead of the retail transformation!

#RetailTrends #RetailApocalypse #StoreClosures #Ecommerce #BrickAndMortar #RetailStrategy #RetailNews #ConsumerTrends #RetailInnovation #Retail2025 #RetailGrowth

Thanks to Deb Weinswig and Coresight Research for providing data on store openings and closings.

Steve will be back on stage at Shoptalk coming up in Las Vegas at the end of March. Listeners can save on registration by using our discount codes below:

For Retailers & Consumer Brands go here and use code RBREMARK549
For General Admission go here and use code GAREMARK1399

Steve's 2025 Retail Predictions

Lockie Andrews episode

Neil Blumenthal (Warby Parker) episode

How the Internet Made In-Store Shopping Miserable (WSJ)

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How Fabletics is Disrupting Activewear: A Deep Dive with Ashley Kechter, Global President

michael@meleblanc.co (Ashley Kechter) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 08:09:31 +0000

In this compelling episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis welcome Ashley Kechter, Global President of Fabletics, to explore the rapid expansion of the athleisure powerhouse. Since its 2014 launch, Fabletics has evolved into a billion-dollar brand, leveraging an innovative membership model, proprietary fabrics, and a growing network of 100+ physical stores. Ashley shares insights into Fabletics’ omnichannel retail strategy, international expansion, and wholesale partnerships, including its upcoming collaboration with Nordstrom.

The episode also unpacks some of the biggest retail industry headlines:

Saks and Neiman Marcus merger: A seismic shift in the luxury retail landscape, with Saks Global trimming its vendor base by 25% and extending payment terms—sending shockwaves through the industry.
Walmart’s strong earnings: While Walmart posted 5%+ growth and a booming ad business, the retailer warned of slowing future sales due to consumer uncertainty and potential tariff impacts.
Wayfair’s struggles: Despite cutting losses, the home retailer’s growth remains stagnant, raising concerns about its long-term viability.
Luxury retail resilience: Hermès continues its impressive momentum, with 15% sales growth, proving that high-end consumers remain active even in economic uncertainty.
Nike x Kim Kardashian: A strategic Skims x Nike collaboration signals a fresh take on the women’s activewear market.
Dick’s Sporting Goods store strategy: While the retailer is scaling back on Outdoor Voices, it is doubling down on its experiential retail concept, House of Sport, with 15 new store openings planned for 2025.

Forbes article.Steve's Forbes article

https://www.costar.com/article/255276922/end-of-an-era-neiman-marcus-to-close-downtown-dallas-flagship-store

About Us

Creating Extraordinary Retail Places: Our Interview with Kevin Kelley

michael@meleblanc.co (Kevin Kelley) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:05:00 +0000

We're joined by fellow Retail Voices by NRF honoree Kevin Ervin Kelley to unpack some of the key lessons from his remarkable book Irreplaceable: Creating Extraordinary Places That Bring People Together and his recent NRF "Big Show" talk.

We discuss how physical retail must dramatically evolve in an ever more digital world, the "Bonfire Effect," his key principles for connecting more powerfully with customers though design, and much, much more. You won't see your stores the same way after this powerful interview.

But before our interview, we unpack the week in retail news starting with fears that we haven't quite licked inflation and that job losses might accelerate. Then it's on to try to explain January's unusually strong US retail sales numbers, the tale of two cities that characterizes luxury retail of late, and JC Penney's attempt to off-load a bunch of store leases. We conclude wondering just what the heck Amazon is doing opening a pharmacy in Milan.

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From Tariffs to Tech: The Biggest Retail Trends You Can’t Ignore featuring NRF Retail Voices Marie Driscoll, Michael Zakkour & Sharon Yourell Lawlor

michael@meleblanc.co (Marie Driscoll, Sharon Yourell Lawlor, Michael Zakkour) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 08:05:00 +0000

Joining us for an insightful and fast-paced discussion of what's new and next in retail today are Marie Driscoll, Sharon Yourell Lawlor, and Michael Zakkour, three of our fellow top Retail Voices by NRF.

We leverage their deep expertise to get their perspectives on a wide-range of the industry's most important topics, including the potential impact of tariffs, what it will take for the luxury market to get back on track, and the outlook for AI. We also get their hot-takes on retail media networks, and whether they are bullish or bearish on several emerging retail technologies.

But first we tackle the most important news of the week, brought to you by Celonis. We start the art of the temporary deal before moving on to discuss yet another blockbuster quarter from Amazon and quite respectable results from mall operator Simon Properties. We conclude by trying to make sense of Walmart's first ever purchase of a (zombie-like) regional mall.

***

We also announce that Steve will be back on stage at Shoptalk coming up in Las Vegas at the end of March. Listeners can save on registration by using our discount codes below:

For Retailers & Consumer Brands go here and use code RBREMARK549

For General Admission go here and use code GAREMARK1399

Dawn of The Dead, full movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIUJDwOAGxI

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Rethinking Work: Our Interview with Rishad Tobaccowala

michael@meleblanc.co (Rishad Tobaccowala) — Tue, 4 Feb 2025 08:05:00 +0000

Joining us to discuss his brilliant new book Rethinking Work: Seismic Changes in the Where, When & Why, is author, speaker, and trusted advisor Rishad Tobaccowala. Rishad returns to the pod to share important themes in how work is changing in profound ways and what leaders need to do to respond to emerging and powerful new forces.

As usual we start by unpacking the week in retail news, including a wee bit of macro-economic news amid a fair amount of chaos. Then it's on to DeepSeek's shocking announcement, even more encouraging reports on GLP-1 drugs, and a big funding round for fast-growing fashion brand Quince. We also start off earnings season by commenting on lackluster results from both Starbucks and LVMH. We conclude with happy news that The Container Store has emerged from bankruptcy and that Walmart is going big in Canada.

About Us

2025 Provocative Predictions for Retail's Future: Part 2

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:31:26 +0000

We wrap up the second batch of Steve's provocative annual retail predictions with a focus on (mostly) educated guesses for the department store sector, what's next for Target, whether a new retail apocalypse is on the horizon, the outlook for deal making, and the impact of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. All this plus a few bonus wildcard prognostications.

But first, we start with a look at the latest retail news including what the wild and wooly first week of the Trump administration and what it might portend for the retail industry. Then we discussion what to make of a prediction that store closings will more than double this year, what's driving the continued strong growth of private label, and whether we're about to see a meaningful uptick in retail management layoffs. Then we conclude unpacking a fascinating partnership between Walmart and Rebag and speculating what sort of merch partnerships might work for the pod.

Our Interview with Fashionphile CEO Sarah Davis.

Check out our updated YouTube channel.

About Us

People-Led, Tech Powered with Chris Nicholas, President and CEO, Sam’s Club

michael@meleblanc.co (Chris Nicholas) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 08:05:00 +0000

Joining us for our first interview of the year is Sam's Club President and CEO Chris Nicholas. Chris shares how he and his team are driving remarkable performance at one of North America's biggest and most successful retailers. In a fascinating conversation he explains how warehouse clubs are "meeting the moment." We delve into the power of the limited assortment, membership model while also learning how Sam's deftly blends leading edge technology with the power of human connection.

But first we kick things off with a fast-paced overview of last week's "NRF Big Show.." Then it's on to the big retail news of the week, including our take on how the holiday season turned out, possible emerging troubles in the white-collar labor market, and what to make of Macy's and Kohl's accelerated pace of store closings. Steve also attempts to clear up his irrationally exuberant comments about the formation of Catalyst Brands.

About Chris:

Chris Nicholas is president and chief executive officer of Sam’s Club, a membership club that is pioneering the retail experience, providing members exclusive access to value, convenience, and modern omnichannel shopping options.

Before taking this role in September 2023, Chris served as executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) for Walmart U.S. As COO, he was responsible for all aspects of Walmart’s U.S. Store Operations and Supply Chain – including strategy, innovation, automation, store operations, distribution center and fulfillment center operations, last mile delivery capability, and real estate.

Chris joined the company in 2018, serving first as deputy CFO, then CFO for Walmart International and then as CFO of the U.S. segment. He grew up working in retail and has more than 20 years of broad retail experience working in nine countries and serving in leadership roles with companies such as Tesco, The Salling Group, and the Coles Group, where he played a key role in leading the Coles business through unprecedented change within the Australian supermarket industry.

He graduated from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Management Science and is a chartered accountant (ACMA). Chris and his wife, Meagan, have two children and live in Northwest Arkansas.

About Us

2025 Provocative Predictions for Retail's Future: Part 1

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:18:50 +0000

A Dozen Provocative Predictions for Retail's Future, Plus 5 "Wild Card" Prognostications! In the first of two episodes, Steve lays out his first six predictions for retail in 2025.

But first, we start with a look at the latest retail news from the past couple of weeks, including an early result on Holiday consumer spending, the formation of Catalyst Brands consisting of SPARC's Lucky Brand, Aéropostale, Nautica, Eddie Bauer and Brooks Brothers brands, as well as JCPenney. We look back briefly on the career of Dave Kimbell as he steps down at Ulta and, Kecia Steelman gets elevated to the President & CEO role, and Costco shows courage on DEI.

Our Interview with Dave Kimbell

About Us

Navigating Retail's Uncertain Horizon: Get Ready for Season 10!

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 7 Jan 2025 08:05:00 +0000

If we had to pick a couple of words to describe the last few years, "volatile" and "uncertain" are very likely to be at the top of anyone's list.

What words and themes will define this next year? Chaos? Clarity? Prosperity? Purpose?

Will struggling retailers at long last make the bold leaps they must, or edge ever closer to the precipice? Can the promises of innovation be met, taking consumer experiences to new heights?/

2025 looks to be a year where agility and resilience reign supreme as retailers must navigate a world of accelerating technological change, constrained consumer spending, new political realities, and greater power concentrated among only a handful of large retailers.

When more and more change is certain, but the way forward is often less than clear, you need a compass, a map, keen insight and no-nonsense advice.

This is Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. I invite you to join me and fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc each week as we make sense of an increasingly volatile and uncertain retail world.

The Remarkable Retail podcast is the only podcast hosted by two of the NRF's 2025 top retail voices. In this, our tenth season, we'll continue our award-winning formula by giving our hot takes on the week's most important retail news and by featuring guests who are on the leading edge of what's new and next in commerce today.

So be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts so you won't miss an episode. Get ready for a steady stream of lively conversations, inspiring leadership stories, and no BS perspectives.

Our eleventh season of the Remarkable Retail podcast debuts on Tuesday, September 2nd. If you want to surf the waves of change and thrive in 2025, we hope you'll join us.

About Us

It’s Not the Luck of the Irish: Primark Does Retail Right with Kevin Tulip (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Kevin Tulip) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 08:05:00 +0000

In this special encore bonus episode, we update and revisit the story of Primark, the Dublin-based retail giant with 450 stores across 17 countries.

We initially spoke to Primark's US President, Kevin Tulip, in the spring of 2023, and we discussed the brand's steady push into the American market and its ambitious plans for the future.

Primark ended 2024 with 29 stores in 12 states, including its first two locations in Texas, and has set its sights on reaching 60 stores in the US by 2026—highlighted by the upcoming opening of a flagship location in Herald Square, right next to the NYC Macy's flagship store.

About Us

2024 Retail Predictions Unpacked (Part 2)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 08:05:00 +0000

We wrap up Season 9 with Part 2 of taking account of Steve's 2024 retail predictions. Our second batch include:

7. Neiman Marcus and Saks merge.

8. Nordstrom goes private.

9. Apple's "Vision Pro" is a big nothing burger...for now

10. Sustainability schizophrenia hits a new high.

11. Bailing still doesn't fix the hole among those stuck in the mediocre middle.

12. Health-related services are this year's retail media networks.

13. Commercial real estate becomes a slow motion crisis (if we're lucky)

We also discuss some upcoming NRF activities including Steve's appearance at the inaugural edition of the "NRF Book Club" and a live on-stage special recording of the Remarkable Retail podcast at Celonis' WTC headquarters on January 13th.

NRF Top Retail Voices 2025

Steve's 2024 Retail Predictions

About Us

2024 Retail Predictions Unpacked (Part 1)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:05:00 +0000

We're all about accountability on the Remarkable Retail podcast, so as we bring this season to a close once again it's time to grade Steve on 2024 predictions. In part 1 we dig into six of his baker's dozen of retail prognostications, which include:

1. The bifurcation of just about everything accelerates.

2. For many brands, flat is the new up.

3. AI: This time its personal.

4. The D continues to come out of DTC—except for top vendor brands

5. There is a culling of the once and future unicorn herd

6. Honey, I shrunk the store (again).

But we start with the retail news that caught our attention this week including lots of deals in the news: the end to the Kroger/Albertson's merger, the likely beginning of Saks and Neiman's, a possible go private transaction on the part of Walgreens, and yet another activist takes on Macy's. Then we assess Tik Tok's future in the US, before wrapping up with earnings news from Costco, Lululemon, and RH.

Steve's Prediction from Forbes (Part 1)

FootPrints AI Retail Media Event

The Great Vanilla Fudge from the Ed Sullivan Show: Keep Me Hanging On!

About Us

Transforming Global Fan Engagement with Patrick Jenkinson, Commercial Director Venue & E-Commerce, Manchester United & Thomas Peyer, SCAYLE

michael@meleblanc.co (Patrick Jenkinson, Thomas Peyer) — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 17:28:06 +0000

In this special bonus episode, we delve into the innovative intersection of sports and e-commerce with Patrick Jenkinson, Commercial Director for Venue and E-commerce at Manchester United, and Thomas Peyer, Director, Growth, SCAYLE, a leading enterprise e-commerce platform.

Patrick shares insights into Manchester United's remarkable global fan base, boasting over 270 million social followers and viewership that rivals global sporting events like the Super Bowl. Highlighting the club's transition from an outsourced to an in-house e-commerce model, Patrick emphasizes the importance of providing a seamless, unified shopping experience that caters to fans worldwide, regardless of location or language.

Thomas discusses SCAYLE's unique approach to enterprise e-commerce, rooted in modern architecture and API-driven platforms. He explains how Scale enables organizations like Manchester United to integrate diverse digital offerings, from merchandise to content subscriptions, fostering deeper fan engagement and loyalty.

The conversation also explores broader retail trends, emphasizing the significance of loyalty programs, unified commerce, and agile technology to meet evolving consumer expectations. With a record-breaking Black Friday and ambitious plans for international growth, Manchester United and SCAYLE exemplify the potential of combining heritage with cutting-edge technology to deliver unparalleled customer experiences.

Tune in for a compelling discussion that showcases how innovative partnerships are reshaping the business of sports and retail.

This episode is brought to you by SCAYLE, the world's fastest growing enterprise commerce platform.

Patrick Jenkinson

Manchester United

Commercial Director Venue & E-Commerce

Patrick Jenkinson is responsible for revenue across direct-to-fan products at Manchester United. He oversees a broad range of business units across the physical and digital realms including retail, content, and subscriptions, serving one of the biggest fan audiences in sport. Patrick joined the club from Leeds United where he served as Head of Business Development and prior to this he was a VP at DAZN, the world's largest live sport streaming service. At DAZN, he held in-market leadership roles in Japan and Spain as well as overall responsibility for international expansion. He began his career in TMT M&A followed by sports & media private equity.

Thomas Peyer, SCAYLE

Director of Growth

Thomas is Director Growth and part of the Management Team at SCAYLE. He is tasked with growing SCAYLE's business beyond its home market Germany. Before joining SCAYLE, Thomas worked at adidas as VP Advanced Analytics, where he was responsible for all AI / ML products for the brand. Thomas spent his formative years as a McKinsey consultant and in Private Equity. He holds a MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and an MBA from INSEAD.

About Us

Sephora's Remarkable Rise with Artemis Patrick, President & CEO North America

michael@meleblanc.co (Artemis Patrick) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 08:05:00 +0000

Our very special guest this week is is Artemis Patrick, President of Sephora-North America, clearly one of the most remarkable brands in retail today. Artemis shares her remarkable personal and professional journey, along with the keys to Sephora's fantastic growth across the last two decades. We explore how the brand creates a harmonized shopping experience, the role of both humans and technology in delivering a memorable customer experience, and why supporting diverse voices is so important. We also get many inspiring leadership lessons and learn about Sephora's plans to update all their stores.

Before our interview, as usual, we dig into the most important news of the week, including a quick review of Black Friday/Cyber Week trends. Then it's on to earnings reports from Foot Locker (a very stalled turnaround), Kroger (meh), the two big dollar store players (losing momentum), and Chewy's (slowing sales growth as they search for sustainable profits). We also report that the Saks and Neiman Marcus deal may finally close and reveal a potential new segment.

Celonis NRF event

Our interview with Anish Melwani, CEO, LVMH North America

About Artemis

Artemis Patrick is the President & CEO of Sephora North America. In her role, Artemis is responsible for shaping the retailer’s strategic multi-year growth for the US and Canada. She is also a member of Sephora’s Global Leadership Team (SLT) and Sephora America’s Operating Committee.

About Us

Selling Sexy: The Victoria's Secret Story with Chantal Fernandez and Lauren Sherman (Part 2)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 6 Dec 2024 08:05:00 +0000

Welcome to a special episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, featuring part two of our interview with noted retail journalists, Chantal Fernandez and Lauren Sherman, talking about their fabulous new book Selling Sexy: Victoria's Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon. Steve picks up the conversation asking about Victoria's Secret's role in elevating supermodels to new heights in the cultural zeitgeist. Then we explore the end of Victoria's Secret dominance in retail, the complicated genius of Lex Wexner, and lessons learned for retail leaders.

ICYMI, in the first part of our conversation we explore Victoria's Secret's origin and growth in the broader context of retail's evolution and from the perspective of Lex Wexner's creation of L2 Brands. We delve into how the brand became a cultural phenomenon with stores in just about every major mall and what set the stage for the emergence of the Angels, their iconic fashion shows, and the troubles that would soon befall the company.

About Us

Selling Sexy: The Victoria's Secret Story with Chantal Fernandez and Lauren Sherman (Part 1)

michael@meleblanc.co (Lauren Sherman, Chantal Fernandez) — Tue, 3 Dec 2024 08:05:00 +0000

We welcome noted retail journalists Chantal Fernandez and Lauren Sherman to the podcast to discuss their fabulous new book Selling Sexy: Victoria's Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon. And we had so much to talk about we are releasing our interview in two parts.

In the first part of our conversation we explore Victoria's Secret's origin and growth in the broader context of retail's evolution and from the perspective of Lex Wexner's creation of L2 Brands. We delve into how the brand became a cultural phenomenon with stores in just about every major mall and what set the stage for the emergence of the Angels, their iconic fashion shows, and the troubles that would soon befall the company.

We'll be back with Part 2 on Friday, digging into the rise and the fall of the brand and leadership lessons from Les Wexner's reign. We also get Chantal and Lauren's take on whether the company has a chance to mount a turnaround.

But we kick things off by digging into a very busy week of retail news, all brought to you by Scayle. Up first, we try to make sense of the Trump's planned tariffs and just what the heck is going on at Macy's. We also explore earnings new from Kohl's (terrible) and Abercrombie & Fitch (remarkable), and wonder what this all portends for JC Penney and Target. We close with Amazon's doubling down on investment in Anthropic and an interesting announcement from Perplexity.

About Us

Start with Wow

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 08:05:11 +0000

"People buy the story before they buy the product."

This week we go sans guest to unpack one of Steve's "mind leaps" from his latest book: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption. In a world of infinite choice, 24/7 access, intense competition, and an epic battle for attention, more and more it's critical to "start with wow."

By improving our aim in the customers we seek to serve and by aiming higher in the value we deliver, brands can become the compelling signal amid all the noise and deliver a remarkable experience. In addition to offering up tips on how to find your wow, we get into what it takes to own the real estate of the mind and discuss examples of what remarkable brands do to create a story that spreads.

But we kick things off with our hot-takes on the most important retail news of the week, including how to avoid falling into the hype-y holidays trap. Then we take on who's winning the Walmart v. Target battle, dissect what's behind TJX's consistent ability to rise above the rest, and wonder whether Gap's earnings reveal a case of premature celebration. We also explore the potential impact of tariffs and why retailers are often telling customers to "just keep it."

Leaders Leap

Steve on Bluesky

Michael on Bluesky

The Ticking Time Bomb of e-Commerce Returns

More Retailers Are Saying 'Just Keep It.'

About Us

Pulling Back the Covers on Casper Sleep with Joe Megibow, CEO

michael@meleblanc.co (Joe Megibow) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:05:00 +0000

Joining us for another interview recorded live in the Bambuser remote podcast studio at Shoptalk Fall event is Joe Megibow, Casper Sleep's CEO. Joe is a veteran of both more traditional companies as well as disruptor brands, and he helps us understand the evolution of digitally-native brands, the trials and tribulations of trying to reinvent the mattress category, and how he hopes to reinvent Casper and set it on a path of profitable growth.

As usual we open by dissecting the most important news of the week including making sense of last week's US monthly retail sales report, news that the Tapestry/Capri merger is off and that 7-Eleven is looking to fend of Couche-Tard by taking the company private. We also discuss Amazon's debut of Haul, its response to Temu, before a quick dip into quarterly earnings reports from Shopify, On Running, and Home Depot. The it's deals, deals, deals as before Vuori receives a big new investment and BNPL leader Klarna looks to go public. We wrap up with the unfortunate news that Advanced Auto will close some 700 stores after another rough quarter.

Richard Kestenbaum episode.

Joe Kudla interview

About Us

What's Next for Retail Real Estate with Rebecca Fitts, SVP, Alvarez & Marsal's Property Solutions

michael@meleblanc.co (Rebecca Fitts) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 08:05:00 +0000

Joining us in the Bambuser remote podcast studio at Shoptalk Fall in Chicago is Rebecca Fitts, SVP, Alvarez & Marsal's Property Solutions.

Hot on the heels of Rebecca's joining us on the inaugural list of top NRF Retail Voices, we do a deep dive into what's new and next for the ever dynamic world of retail real estate. Among the topics we cover is how digital disruption has shaped the physical store landscape, repurposing of malls, lingering impacts from the pandemic, the over-saturation of certain markets, and a whole lot more.

But before our fascinating interview we share our hot-takes on the week in retail news, starting with some initial thoughts on the impact of the US election. Then it's a fast-paced tour through recent earnings reports, starting with Amazon's blockbuster quarter, another solid quarter from mall owner Simon Properties and more meh from Wayfair. We also congratulate a strong move away from wobbly unicorn status for Warby Parker, before wrapping up with the race to the turkey, as Target and Walmart launch more holiday deals.

Link to Neil Blumental episode

About Us

The World's First Omni-channel, er, Unified Commerce Executive? (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 5 Nov 2024 08:05:00 +0000

“The success of our brand will increasingly be determined by our ability to meet our customers' needs anytime, anywhere, anyway.”

Arthur Martinez, Sears CEO, February 1999

You might be wondering who was the first person to lead omni-channel efforts at a major retailer. Was it Phil Phygital, Sean Seamless, Uri Unified, or someone else entirely? This week, in this encore episode, we reveal our answer.

But before we get into the heart of the episode, we pause briefly to share the exciting news that both of us we're recognized as top retail thought leaders on the inaugural list of "NRF Retail Voices." Learn more and see the other honorees here.

Then it's on to our discussion, starting with why it's taken so long for retailers to embrace the blur that is modern retail today and why so many still act as if the idea of "omni-channel," "unified commerce"--or, as I like to call it, "harmonized retail"--is a new phenomenon.

About Us

Taking the Pulse of Digital Retail with Zia Daniell Widger, Chief Content Officer, eMarketer

michael@meleblanc.co (Zia Daniell Widger) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us in the Bambuser podcast studio for the first of several episodes recorded live at Shoptalk's inaugural fall event in Chicago is Zia Daniell Widger, Chief Content Officer at eMarketer.

In a wide-ranging conversation on digital trends across the globe, Zia's shares both her many years of experience in her current role (along with stints at Shoptalk, Forrester, and Jupiter Research) combined with new research to shine a light on where retail is headed. Among the topics we cover is the continued importance of physical retail, the outlook for grocery retail, creator commerce, and a whole lot more.

But first we unpack the most important retail news of the week, starting with what appears to be a "wait and see" attitude on the part of consumers and businesses alike as the US election approaches. Then we dig into the growing turmoil in the luxury market before turning our attention to Bed, Bath & Beyond return to physical retain and Starbucks plans to reboot their brand.

About Zia

Zia is the Chief Content Officer at EMARKETER where she oversees our team of 100+ analysts, forecasters, researchers and editors. The team covers a wide range of topics, from emerging digital trends and technologies like genAI, retail media and the creator economy to issues like cookie deprecation, brand safety and the digitization of grocery, beauty, fashion and more. Zia's own expertise lies in worldwide retail and ecommerce. She's lived and worked in 10+ countries and regularly keynotes major events around the globe. Prior to joining EMARKETER, Zia was the Chief Global Content Officer at Shoptalk and co-founder of Groceryshop. She also spent 7 years at Forrester Research where she led the global omnichannel retail team.

About Us

All About the Bunny with Anna Martini, CEO of Psycho Bunny

michael@meleblanc.co (Anna Martini) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Anna Martini, CEO of Psycho Bunny, the fast-growing men's clothing wear brand founded in New York in 2005. She takes us into the provocative brand's origin story, what makes the brand unique, and how she is crafting a global growth strategy. We also learn how having a clear view of their core "Liam" customer and making it all about the bunny, drives remarkable success. We also get her thoughts on effective leadership styles as well as how she and her team draw inspiration from other retailers.

But we kick-things off with a few quick comments about Shoptalk's inaugural Fall event before delving into the most important retail news of the week. Our quick hits center on several new holiday forecasts, as well as store closings from Walgreen's and 7-Eleven, while on the other end of the spectrum Ulta announces plans to open another 400 locations. Then it's on to more evidence that luxury has hit a wall as LVMH reports surprisingly disappointing results.

About Us

Deal or No Deal with Richard Kestenbaum, Partner, Triangle Capital

michael@meleblanc.co (Richard Kestenbaum) — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for our final interview recorded in the Scratch Event DJs remote podcast studio at the Revtech Rev Summit is Richard Kestenbaum, leading retail influencer, Forbes contributor, and co-Founder and Partner at Triangle Capital.

Richard and his firm specialize in mergers, acquisitions and capital-raising for consumer-related businesses, and were fortunate to get his insightful perspective and uniques takes on a variety of topics, including the accelerating pace of disruption, resistance to change, and the transformative impacts of AI. We also get Richard's hot-takes on an improving deal environment, department store consolidation, and whether taking a company private makes any difference whatsoever.

But first we unpack the most important retail news of the week, starting with the impacts of climate change and the imminent US elections, brought to you by SCAYLE. Then it's on to talk about the implications of Amazon Prime Days on the holiday season. We conclude with deals, deals, deals as MyTheresa's plans to acquire YNAP from Richemont, Moose Knuckles gets a minority investment from Chinese apparel giant Bosideng, Couche-Tard ups its offer to take-over convenience store giant 7-Eleven. and Selfridge's receives a 40% investment from PIF, the Saudi wealth fund.

For more on the Berns Communication Group's Retail Influencer Network go here.

For our 2022 interview with MyTheresa's CEO Michael Kliger go here.

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Retail VC Pioneer David Matthews, Managing Director of RevTech Ventures

michael@meleblanc.co (David Matthews) — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for a special bonus episode recorded live in the Scratch Event DJs remote podcast studio during RevTech Ventures annual summit is RevTech's very own David Matthews. David shares his deep experience with early stage investing in retail technology and shares exciting news about a new fund his firm is launching.

Promotional consideration for this episode was provided by RevTech Ventures.

About Us

Retail Transformation as a Calling with Greg Merrill, Nike's Former Global Head of Digital Transformation

michael@meleblanc.co (Greg Merrill) — Tue, 8 Oct 2024 08:26:09 +0000

Joining us for the first of our interviews recorded in the Scratch Event DJs remote podcast studio at the Revtech Rev Summit in Dallas is Greg Merrill, most recently global head of digital transformation at Nike.

Greg draws on his extensive start-up experience, board advisory roles, and his just completed tenure at global powerhouse Nike, to help us understand how to accelerate the pace of innovation, ensure better cultural buy-in, and a whole lot more. it's a master class from the front lines of driving change that executives at any company will benefit from.

As usual we open by unpacking the most important retail news of the week, starting with the good news that the potential port strike in the US has been averted--at least for now. Then it's on to the stalled turnarounds at two iconic retail brands: JC Penney--whose situation seems increasingly dire--and Levi's, which is caught up in a challenging shift from wholesale to DTC. We wrap up with a bit of optimism, highlighting the continued success of JD Sports' global expansion.

You can check out our interview with Arianne Parisi, JD's EVP & Global Chief Digital Officer here.

About Us

Warby Parker's Remarkable Vision with Neil Blumenthal, co-CEO and Co-Founder

michael@meleblanc.co (Neil Blumenthal) — Tue, 1 Oct 2024 07:44:57 +0000

As usual we open by dissecting the most important news of the week including a big change of leadership at Nike and fears over the impact of the dock strike. Then it's on to Amazon and Walmart joining in on the early holiday promotional fun, solid earnings from Costco, while H&M and Five Below suffer, and word that Amazon Fresh has reached 50 locations (yawn) while K-mart (finally) says "buh-bye." We wrap up celebrating Primark's 50th anniversary.

Our interview with Primark US President Kevin Tulip.

About Neil

Neil Blumenthal is a co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, a transformative lifestyle brand that offers designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses. In 2015, Fast Company named Warby Parker the most innovative company in the world.

Prior to launching Warby Parker in 2010, Neil served as director of VisionSpring, a nonprofit social enterprise that trains low-income women to start their own businesses selling affordable eyeglasses to individuals living on less than $4 per day in developing countries.

He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. He serves on the board of RxArt and on the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council.

A native of New York City, Neil received his BA from Tufts University and his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Neil lives in Greenwich Village with his wife, Rachel, the founder and CEO of Rockets of Awesome, and their two children.

About Us

China Direct and DTC's Future with Simeon Siegel, MD and Senior Analyst, BMO Capital Markets

michael@meleblanc.co (Simeon Siegel) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 07:05:00 +0000

BMO Analyst Simeon Siegel is back on the pod for the fourth time in as many years to help us understand the increasing bifurcation in retail, how soon we can expect declining interest rates to have impact, and where things might be headed with growth of Temu and Shein. We also revisit the great DTC vs. Wholesale debate and what it portends for luxury brands, Nike, and more.

But first we unpack the week in retail news, including the potential impact of the US Fed (finally) reducing interest rates, what to make of the latest monthly retail sales figures, a tres exciting new event announcement from the NRF, and Amazon's not so subtle return-to-office decree. Then it's never to early to start prognosticating about the holiday season. All this brought to you by Scayle, the world's fastest-growing enterprise commerce platform.

About Simeon

Simeon Siegel is a Managing Director and Senior Analyst at BMO Capital Markets specializing in Retail and E-commerce. Simeon started his career at Goldman Sachs and his since worked on the #1 ranked Retail franchise at JPMorgan and Nomura | Instinet.

Simeon has been named a Rising Star of Wall Street by Institutional Investor, a Rising Star of Equity Research by Business Insider, a Top Stock Picker by StarMine and a Top Earnings Estimator by Thomson Reuters and Refinitiv. He has worked on the Institutional Investor #1 ranked All America Research Team for Specialty Retail and the Wall Street Journal's "Best on the Street" list of top analysts. He is in constant dialogue with investors and C-Level Management across the industry, analyzing and advising on the ever-evolving retail landscape. He is a regular guest on CNBC and frequently quoted across the media including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily, The Business of Fashion, Barron's and Bloomberg, among others.

Simeon received a BA in Economics and Philosophy from Columbia University and is a CFA charterholder. He serves on the Boards of Read Ahead and the Hebrew Free Loan Society and is Vice Chair of the UJA Luxury Division.

About Us

Hype Meets Retail Reality with Sucharita Kodali, VP and Principal Analyst, Forrester Research

michael@meleblanc.co (Sucharita Kodali) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:05:00 +0000

One of retail's most insightful minds makes her triumphant return to the pod.

Sucharita Kodali, Forrester's Principal Analyst, was our very first guest when we launched the podcast in September of 2020, and now she's back to separate the hope from the hype on key topics like the important difference between e-commerce and digital commerce and the critical role of digital influence on brick-and-mortar performance. She also gives us her fun and fascinating perspective on how Amazon is different under Andy Jassy, where retail media networks are headed, the challenges in online grocery, luxury's future, and a whole lot more. We also get a bold prediction about Temu and rocket through a lighting round of hot-takes.

But before our interview we unpack the week in retail news brought to you by Scayle, the fastest-growing enterprise commerce platform in the world.

We kick things off with the implications of the latest news on inflation, before discussing Forrester's remarkable prediction on the dominance of Walmart and Amazon. We then move to two pieces of interesting Amazon news, discuss Couche-Tard's rebuff by 7-Eleven, ponder Big Lots bankruptcy, before wrapping up with two noteworthy quarterly earnings announcements.

About Scratch Event DJs

For over two decades, retailers like Nordstrom, Hugo Boss, Sephora and Nike have trusted Scratch Event DJs to boost vibes, drive sales, and immerse store guests in each brand’s unique identity. The Scratch team curates talent from their proprietary global network of top-tier local DJs to deliver energizing experiences that keep people coming back for more – for any event, any time, anywhere.

Website Link:scratcheventdjs.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scratch-music-group/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scratcheventdjs/

About Us

What Did I Miss?

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 07:05:00 +0000

We're back, with our Season 9 premier episode.

Next week we'll return with our usual format of news of the week and fascinating interviews with the retail industry's most remarkable executives and thought leaders. But having devoted our summer episodes to our special 6-part series on accelerating retail transformation, we're taking the opportunity to unpack some of the most important stories from the past two months.

We kick things off admiring the incredible recent results from the two biggest retailers on the planet (that'd be Amazon and Walmart) and dissect recent trends in e-commerce growth. Then we delve into the "stampede to value" and other critical trends before sharing our thoughts on why dollar stores seem to have hit the wall. We also marvel at the phenomenal results from Abercrombie & Fitch, wonder whether Starbucks new CEO can work his Chipotle magic, and take on the notion that there is a return to physical stores. We conclude with our view on the possibility that Nordstrom will go private and ponder whether results from Gap, Target, and Best Buy are merely a case of premature celebration.

About Us

Retail's Fierce Urgency of Now: Here Comes Season 9

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 3 Sep 2024 07:16:59 +0000

If we're learned anything in the past few years, it's that the pace of change is only accelerating and the difference between the winners and losers often centers on those that understand the fierce urgency of now and choose to aim much, much higher and move, much much faster. Remarkable brands know that speed is essential. But what exactly separates those that successfully transform for a new era, that consistently move to where consumers and technology is headed, that leap ahead of the competition, and those that remain hopefully stuck?

This is Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author of Leaders Leap and Remarkable Retail inviting you to join me and fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc each week as we share the keys to rising above the rest in an increasingly uncertain and rapidly evolving world.

Listeners worldwide have made us one of the retail industry's top-rated and most listened-to independent podcasts. This season, we'll continue with our unique take on retail's most important news and feature guests who are shaping the future of modern retail. So be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcast today and get ready yourself for a steady stream of wisdom, no BS points of view, and lively conversation.

Season Nine of the award-winning Remarkable Retail podcast launches on Tuesday September 10th. We can't wait for you to join us.

About Us

SUMMER BONUS: Fail Better

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Welcome to a special Remarkable Retail podcast summer series focused on what leaders need to do to help their organizations win the future and leap to higher ground. In this six-part limited series, Steve will be unpacking key lessons from his new best-selling book “Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption,” available everywhere books are sold.

If you have been following this short special series—or if you just think about what distinguishes organizations that are winning the future from the also-rans, it is very often that they act more boldly, they take more chances, they fail regularly, they adjust, they fail some more.

They believe, as my friend Seth Godin says, “if failure is not an option, then neither is success.” Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is not to avoid failure; it is to fail better. But what does this mean, why is it so important, and how do we do it exactly? Moreover, why must we not only see failure as an inevitable part of our transformation journey, but how we adopt a far, far greater sense of urgency.

Thanks for joining us for our summer experiment!

Season 9 of the Remarkable Retail podcast returns on September 10th in its usual format. Follow us wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don’t forget to give us a 5-star review.

Special thanks to Scott Galloway, Maverick, The Dude, Ted Lasso, Elvis and Billy Joel for lending their voices to this episode of the #pod.

About Us

SUMMER BONUS: Safe Is Risky

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Clayton Christensen, the late great Harvard Business School professor, wrote one of the best business strategy books of all time. In his classic "The Innovator's Dilemma" he explains how successful companies often fail by becoming overly locked into their established business models and optimizing the heck out of them, thereby ignoring, more risky disruptive innovations.

Of course, back in 1997, when Christensen's book first started to have impact, e-commerce was in its infancy, smart devices were a decade away, and cloud computing and AI weren't even glimmers in anyone's eyes. The speed of disruption back then wasn't exactly glacial, but it was far, far slower than it is today.

Fast forward to today, and we are confronted with a New Innovator's Dilemma. Disruption is unrelenting, and the pace of change is often more exponential than linear.

Take a slow and steady approach to innovation and you may well get run over. Move with caution and you may fall further and further behind.

Right now, doing what we've always done, but just a little bit better may feel safe, but it is often the riskiest path we could possibly choose.

The evidence is overwhelming, and the verdict is in. Safe is risky.

And more and more, fortune favors the bold.

This 6-part summer series will explore why we must choose remarkable or risk irrelevance. We will go deep on unpacking the root causes that lead to an overly timid transformation. We will delve into what is required to lead in the face of relentless, unyielding disruption.

Season 9 of the Remarkable Retail podcast returns on September 10th in its usual format. Follow us wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don’t forget to give us a 5-star review.

About Us

SUMMER BONUS: I Love You. But You Are Not Serious People.

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 07:22:08 +0000

Remember a few years ago when everyone was talking about a retail apocalypse? Physical retail was dead or dying, they said. Malls were going away. If you wanted to invest in brick-and-mortar, you’d be better off incinerating a big pile of cash.

But as it turned out, well, not so much.

As a keen observer, regular commentator, and strategic advisor on where shopping is headed, Steve pays more attention to these sorts of prognostications than the average bear, particularly since some of them are advanced by his friends and colleagues.

But Steve is also a card-carrying bullshit dispelling enthusiast. And when this sort of nonsense gets advanced as insight, he suddenly and clearly hears the words of Logan Roy from Succession ringing in his ears.

"I love you, but you are not serious people."

In this episode, we’ll explore why the work of meaningful transformation IS serious work and why it requires that we become serious, courageous leaders who break through our denial, wake up to new and emerging realities, and, ultimately, do what it takes to position our organizations to aim higher, move faster, and act more boldly.

To drive our strategic growth agenda forward, we must develop a clear, well-informed view that’s rooted in reality, not false prophets; that emerges from doing the serious, often uncomfortable work required to transform at the speed of disruption.

Season 9 of the Remarkable Retail podcast returns on September 10th in its usual format. Follow us wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don’t forget to give us a 5-star review.

About Us

SUMMER BONUS: I'm The Problem. It's Me.

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 07:05:00 +0000

In his new book Leaders Leap, Steve proposes a series of 7 Mind Leaps that are essential to transforming you and your organization. There is a powerful reason that Crush Your Ego is mind leap #1. Without starting from a place of humility, our foundation will be shaky. And we cannot build a house of sustained innovation and transformation without rock-solid first principles. Indeed, we must put our masks on first.

In this episode, Steve argues that while it is understandable to believe that successful transformations and our personal success are often hindered by poor analysis, cultural barriers, and not enough innovative ideas, a lack of appropriate resources, poor board, or management support, extreme pressure to meet quarterly earnings, etc., etc, etc., it is very often the case that progress is impeded by that person, we see in the mirror each day and our unhealthy attachment to ego.

Season 9 of the Remarkable Retail podcast returns on September 10th in its usual format. Follow us wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don’t forget to give us a 5-star review.

About Us

SUMMER BONUS: Shift Happens

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Welcome to a special Remarkable Retail podcast summer series focused on what leaders need to do to help their organizations win the future and leap to higher ground. In this six-part limited series, Steve is unpacking key lessons from his new best-selling book Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption, available everywhere books are sold.

Having spent most of his career working in either senior leadership positions at a corporation or as a strategic advisor, where he was focused on driving growth & innovation, Steve has had a front- row seat to the seismic shifts that have reshaped the retail landscape. It’s hard to overestimate the disruptive power game-changing technology has had on just about every aspect of our culture and commerce.

Our world today looks very different than it did when e-commerce first emerged, when smart devices started to transform how we communicate, or when pervasive connectedness and operating in the cloud began their inexorable march toward ubiquity.

These shifts have allowed for entirely new and incredibly valuable business models to emerge. These shifts have also brought many iconic brands to their knees or set them on a path to seemingly endless struggle.

So it’s worth asking “If the world has changed so much, why have so many leaders changed so little.”

Indeed, shift happens. And it’s happening faster and faster all the time.

The challenge is not to figure out how to mount resistance but to accept the things you cannot change, get intensely focused on the things you can, and then get to work.

Shift happens. Get used to it.
Shift happens. Shake hands with the new weird.
Shift happens. Don’t let it destroy your future.
Shift happens. Summon up all the courage you require.
Shift happens. Get ready to leap.

This 6-part summer series explores why we must choose remarkable or risk irrelevance. We will go deep on unpacking the root causes that lead to an overly timid transformation. We will delve into what is required to lead in the face of relentless, unyielding disruption.

Season 9 of the Remarkable Retail podcast returns on September 10th in its usual format. Follow us wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don’t forget to give us a 5-star review.

About Us

SUMMER BONUS: Our Bold New Plan To Suck Less

michael@meleblanc.co (John Parolisi) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 07:05:00 +0000

***Special thanks to John Parolisi for joining us for a fun cameo on this episode!

In a world where anything less than delivering highly differentiated and truly remarkable customer value is often ignored, sucking less, merely closing the gap on competitive performance (what Steve calls “innovating to parity”) or offering a slightly better version of mediocre is choosing to move into a zone of irrelevance, or perhaps even putting your organization on the path to outright extinction.

Moreover, in a world where the pace of change is only accelerating, often becoming more exponential than linear, failure to transform at the speed of disruption only creates the likelihood that you will fall further and further behind. Minding this potential gap is critical. For struggling organizations, failure to close it by aiming higher, moving faster, and acting more boldly may mean they fall so far behind they can never catch up.

But even organizations that are performing well can find themselves in trouble if they don’t pay attention and let go of merely delivering incremental changes.This pattern of focusing on simply sucking less (at worst) or a relentless stream of optimization (at best) and exposing one’s organization to disruption is not new. In his classic book from the nineties, legendary HBS professor Clayton Christensen labelled this the “Innovator’s Dilemma.” The forces that keep legacy brands stuck are still very much in play today, but the challenge to truly transform in the face of disruption is much greater. And the penalty for merely closing a competitive gap, rather than leaping boldly ahead, has become much greater.

Season 9 of the Remarkable Retail podcast returns on September 10th in its usual format. Follow us wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and don’t forget to give us a 5-star review.

About Us

Summer Bonus Season Trailer: Transforming at the Speed of Disruption

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 07:05:00 +0000

This is Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. This summer we're taking our own advice and trying something new, something more radical than conventional.

For the next six episodes Steve will be unpacking themes from his new book Leaders Leap and placing them squarely and provocatively in the current retail context.

Steve will be talking about how playing it safe it often the riskiest choice of all, what shifts are most important to focus on right now, how we are often are own worst enemies, and and a whole lot more. Each highly digestible episode will also highlight the key questions you need to answer for your organization to take the bold action necessary to transform at the speed of disruption.

So be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts today, and brace yourself for a steady stream of wisdom, thought-provoking questions, and water-cooler conversation.

We'll be back in early September with Season 9 of the award-winning Remarkable Retail podcast in our usual format of dissecting the most important news of the week followed by an interview with those senior leaders who are driving the industry forward.

About Us

There’s No Place Like Home with Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings

michael@meleblanc.co (Janet Hayes) — Tue, 2 Jul 2024 08:24:48 +0000

In our final episode of Season 8 we welcome Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings, the leading home furnishings player with over 100 stores in 9 countries.

Janet shares leadership lessons from a remarkable career with brands like Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Nike, and Gap and, now, in her current role driving growth as the CEO of Crate & Barrel, CB2, and Hudson Grace. We delve into her perspectives on the role of technology, the changing nature of work in a post-COVID world, and more. We also get a glimpse into the drive forces behind their new flagship store in New York's Flatiron District.

But before our fantastic interview we unpack the week in retail news, starting with Amazon achieving another remarkable milestone, along with word of its pending launch of a Temu/Shein fighter. Then we try to make sense of just what the heck is going on at Walgreen's before dipping into less than stellar earnings news from Nike and JC Penney. We wrap up with what seem like forever troubles at Forever 21.

About Janet

Janet Hayes is a retail industry veteran, with more than 30 years of leadership experience building digitally-led and customer-centric organizations. Currently, Janet is CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings, a role she started in August 2020, amidst a global pandemic that catalyzed a pivotal shift in consumers’ lives and the retail industry as a whole.

Focused on building modern, authentic brands, Janet maximizes growth and profitability by elevating the customer experience through an omnichannel and personalized brand presence.

A modern mindset guides Janet’s leadership style and centers around making decisions rooted in personal purpose. Janet is an inspiring, inclusive leader who builds, mentors, and leads high performing teams that reflect CBH customers' unique values and experiences.

www.crateandbarrel.com
App: Download the new Crate & Barrel App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crate-barrel/id529356019

About Us

Getting Your Omni-Channel Game On with Arianne Parisi, EVP & Global CDO, JD Sports

michael@meleblanc.co (Arianne Parisi) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 07:05:00 +0000

In our final episode recorded at Shoptalk Europe in the Bambuser remote podcast studio our guest is Arianne Parisi, EVP & Global Chief Digital Officer for JD Sports. JD Sports is a fast growing sports fashion retailer, with over 3,400 stores across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Arianne shares the keys behind JD's remarkable global growth trajectory while also taking us inside how digital and physical shopping experiences are converging, and what that means for the evolution of customer journeys. We also discuss the idea that "silos belong on farms, and the broader challenges of leading a digital transformation.

But first we do our usual review of the week in retail news, starting with a slow down in US housing starts--which does not portend well for a rebound in home retail any time soon. We explore a promising application of generative AI at Target, before revisiting the growing strength of private label brands, news that the great acceleration in grocery is proving to be largely without merit, and wonder whether apparel is getting a boost from the popularity of GLP-1 drugs. We close with news that Netflix has two entertainment venues set to open next year.

****************************************

Our interview with Azita Martin, VP-Retail, NVIDIA.

UK pre-order for Leaders Leap

Review links for Leaders Leap:

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Remarkable Video Commerce & Innovation with Maryam (Mary) Ghahremani, CEO, Bambuser

michael@meleblanc.co (Maryam Ghahremani, Mary Ghahremani) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 07:23:59 +0000

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Remarkable Retail #podcast, recorded live in Barcelona at Shoptalk Europe. Our guest is the talented and dynamic Maryam (Mary) Ghahremani, CEO of Bambuser.

Together, we delve into the future of global retail and commerce, focusing on the video platforms and merchandising that is revolutionizing the shopping experience for millions worldwide and here in North America. Mary also shares her leadership insights and lessons learned about balancing day-to-day operations with innovation, the challenges of starting and growing a tech company, and the importance of building a talented team and securing funding. This episode is brought to you by Bambuser, our promotional partner for Shoptalk in Las Vegas and Barcelona.

About Maryam:

“Mary” is a serial entrepreneur and the proud CEO of Bambuser. She took over as CEO of Bambuser in 2018 post-IPO and is the brain behind the company's successful transformation to becoming the world’s first truly global Live Shopping SaaS provider. Maryam has extensive experience within the media and startup industry with a proven track record in entrepreneurship, sales and marketing. She has held various executive positions in numerous corporations and has founded or co-founded a number of successful businesses.

About Us

Remarkably Global with Javier Figar, Chief Retail Officer, Tendam

michael@meleblanc.co (Javier Figar) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:05:00 +0000

In the third of our episodes recorded at Shoptalk Europe in the Bambuser remote podcast studio our guest is Javier Figar, Chief Retail Officer for Tendam. Tendam is a Spanish fashion retailer, with presence in 79 countries and a total of 2,056 points of sale.

Javier helps us understand what makes Tendam unique and how their portfolio has grown through a mix of organic growth and acquisitions. He also shares his valuable leadership insights gleaned from his diverse background and having worked and lived in eight different countries. We also learn about Tendam's expansion plans and potential IPO later this year.

But first we kick things off with Steve's reflections on his time in Singapore attending the NRF APAC Big Show, before shifting into our usual dissection of the week in retail news. We start with a fast-paced review of the latest US monthly sales figures. Then we try to make sense of WHP's plans to acquire yet another retailer (this time it's Express) out of bankruptcy before moving on to wonder whether the multi-year growth of dollars stores has hit a wall.

About Us

Getting Closer to the Customer with Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, Chairman of IKEA and Sarah Engel, President January Digital

michael@meleblanc.co (Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, Sarah Engel) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 07:05:00 +0000

In the second of our episodes recorded at Shoptalk Europe in the Bambuser remote podcast studio we mix up our format with two shorter interviews.

First up is c, Chairman of INGKA Holding B.V., the holding company that controls the majority of IKEA stores worldwide. He shares about how leading with purpose and kindness is essential to the IKEA culture and its decades long record of remarkable success. We also learn about the company's strong commitment to sustainability and how smaller new stores formats are helping IKEA get closer to the customer.

Then Sarah Engel, President of January Digital, joins us fresh off the stage interviewing LJ on Shoptalk Europe's main stage. She reflects on their conversation before giving us her thoughts on how the digital landscape continues to evolve and what's important globally as brands look to the future.

We kick things off with some quick reflections on Shoptalk Europe as well as some remarkable experiences from Steve's time in Bangkok.

Then we do our usual unpacking of the most important retail news of the week starting with the first interest rate cuts since 2019, body cams being used to cut theft at TJX, updated Forrester e-commerce growth rates, and earnings from Lululemon (meh) and Victoria's Secret (yuck).

References in the podcast:

Central Embassy (Bangkok luxury mall)

Gaggan (Asia's #1 restaurant)

Leaders Leap FREE audiobook offer (US and UK only). Buy the hardcover and send your receipt to leadersleap@sageberryconsulting.com and we will send you a code for a free download of the Audible version of Steve's newest bestseller. Offer expires June 21, 2024.

About Us

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

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 4 Jun 2024 07:05:00 +0000

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

Remarkable Resale with James Reinhart, CEO & co-founder, ThredUp

michael@meleblanc.co (James Reinhart) — Tue, 28 May 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Our special guest this week is James Reinhart the pioneering CEO of ThredUp, the fast-growing online consignment and thrift store. We learn about James' fascinating journey from teacher to entrepreneur and how his passion drives one of the most successful purpose-driven retail brands. We go deep on the drivers of the re-commerce market, how ThredUp differentiates itself, and the implications of a shift from hyper-growth to more sustainable profitability. We also unpack ThredUp's insight packed annual "Resale Report."

As usual, we kick things off with the most important retail news, dissecting Shein's "charm offensive" and how Hims & Hers is exploiting a loophole to pursue GLP-1 market opportunities. Then it's on to the most interesting earnings reports from last week, which include another weak quarter from Target, very strong progress at Marks & Spencer, a bit of preliminary optimism on Macy's new strategy, and yet another solid quarter from TJX.

About James

James Reinhart is the CEO and cofounder of ThredUp, one of the largest online resale platforms for apparel, shoes, and accessories. ThredUp is transforming resale with technology and a mission to inspire the world to think secondhand first. By making it easy to buy and sell secondhand, ThredUp is changing the way people shop and ushering in a more sustainable future for fashion. James’ passion for circularity and the role that education plays in our communities is what drives his vision of reducing the fashion industry’s negative impact on the planet. These values are reflected in his work prior to ThredUp, in which he helped develop one of the nation’s premier public schools, Pacific Collegiate School. James is a graduate of the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School where he earned a joint degree in public policy and business. In his free time, he is an avid golfer, cyclist, and whiskey drinker (just not all at the same time). While a proud New Jersey native and diehard Bruce Springsteen fan, he lives with his wife Michele and three children in Oakland, CA.

About Us

It's the End of Retail As We Know It with Azita Martin, Vice President and GM of AI for Retail, CPG and QSR at NVIDIA

michael@meleblanc.co (Azita Martin) — Tue, 21 May 2024 07:35:18 +0000

Azita Martin, Vice President and GM of AI for Retail, CPG and QSR at NVIDIA is our very special guest. She joins us to discuss the ways AI is beginning to transform the retail landscape, and how NVIDIA is helping accelerate retailers' journeys.

We start off by discussing how NVIDIA has grown to become the third most valuable company in the world, before focusing in on how they leverage their hardware and software solutions to power retail innovation. We dig into where GenAI is gaining the greatest traction and where new use cases are emerging that save retailers money and drive great effectiveness. In particular, we explore how "digital twins" can unlock previously unimaginable value.

But first we give our hot takes on the week in retail news, including a bit of good news on the grocery inflation front and strong quarterly results from Walmart and one of our favorite emerging remarkable brands On Running. But the earnings news is far less favorable for JC Penney and Home Depot. We end with a discussion of Wayfair's first big (and overdue) foray into physical retail.

Presented by Celonis.

Information from NVIDIA:

About Azita

Azita leads the Retail team at NVIDIA. She is responsible for global go-to-market strategy in the vertical. She advises senior executives on best practices of leveraging AI to improve operational efficiencies and identify new revenue streams. Prior to NVIDIA, Azita was the Chief Marketing Officer at Maana, an AI software platform used by industrial companies to accelerate building AI applications. Azita has been working with the Chief Digital Officers and heads of analytics/AI of F500 industrial companies and is intimately familiar with the top AI use cases that are demonstrating business value.

About Us

The Customer is the Channel with Chris Riccobono, Founder & Executive Chairman UNTUCKit

michael@meleblanc.co (Chris Riccobono) — Tue, 14 May 2024 07:05:00 +0000

This week's guest is Chris Riccobono, Founder & Executive Chairman of disruptive retail brand UNTUCKit. UNTUCKit was one of the first digitally-native brands to embrace brick-and-mortar as critical to it's long-term success. Chris takes us through the trade-offs between online, wholesale, and own store strategies and how his brand successfully navigated the COVID crisis. He also shares the power of a big, simple idea well executed and outlines how he plans to take UNTUCKit to the next level through store expansion, partnerships, and international growth.

As usual we open by dissecting the most important news of the week including take-aways from the NRF/CNBS monthly sales report and solid earnings reports from Warby Parker, which suggests that "wobbly unicorns" can find their footing, and Simon Property Group, which demonstrates that certain types of malls are far from dead. We also discuss Target's plan to expand its private brands to Canada and beyond.

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Check out the podcast version and video recording of the Leaders Leap virtual book launch event.

Steve's new book is available at book sellers just about everywhere, from Audible, and on Kindle for only $9.99 USD.

About Chris Riccobono, UNTUCKit Founder & Executive Chairman

Chris Riccobono is the founder and executive chairman of UNTUCKit, one of the fastest-growing men’s retail brands in the U.S.

After earning his Bachelor’s degree from Providence College in 2001, Chris began his career at GE Healthcare and enrolled in Columbia Business School in 2007. While working towards his MBA, Chris thought of the idea for UNTUCKit after speaking with lots of men about their fit problems—especially the length of their collared shirts—and began the business from his apartment in Hoboken. It began as just a side job, but once Chris and his early customers realized that he’d solved a big problem in men’s fashion, the business quickly grew beyond his expectations—with a compound annual growth rate over 100% each year—into the brand we know today with more than 50 retail locations by the end of 2018 and an entrance into the international market.

In addition to furthering his education and growing the brand, Chris dedicated time to sharing his passion for wine through a video blog called Pardon That Vine, traveling the world interviewing winemakers, and teaching beginners about wine. Chris was a winner of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2018 Award in New York and in his spare time he works closely with the Cancer Center at Atlantic Health System in New Jersey.

Chris currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and children.

About UNTUCKit

Created in 2011 by founder Chris Riccobono and CEO Aaron Sanandres, UNTUCKit has given men a seamless way to look sharp and feel casual by creating shirts designed specifically to be worn untucked. The brand has since expanded to offer fit combinations for all shapes and sizes, as well as new product categories like polos, tees, Henleys, pants, sweaters, jackets, and sport coats. It also offers a wide selection of shirts, dresses, and blazers for women. UNTUCKit is dedicated to creating an unmatched shopping experience with more than 80 physical retail locations across the US, Canada, and the UK . For more information, visit UNTUCKit.com.

About Us

The Store As Brand Hub with (former) Target SVP Nancy King

michael@meleblanc.co (Nancy King) — Tue, 7 May 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Nancy King, until recently SVP, Product Engineering at Target whose interview from 2022 we are reprising.

This episode provides a deep-dive, insider's perspective on how Target has embraced the blur of modern retail and put their stores at the center of the guest experience. We get a fascinating behind the scenes look at how the application of agile methodology, combined with digital technology and a willingness to experiment aggressively, has driven break-through results. We also explore how Target knew to invest in these areas ahead of the COVID crisis and what their plans are to stay in sync with ever escalating customer needs and wants. Nancy has just been named Chief Technology Officer for RB Global, Inc, the trusted global marketplace for insights, services and transactional solutions for commercial assets and vehicles. Congrats Nancy, and best of luck in the new gig!

As usual we open with the week in retail news, including weaker than expected US job growth, blockbuster earnings from Amazon, and a not so buzzy report from Starbucks. Walmart announced it was pulling the plug on it's healthcare foray while at the same time launching a new grocery private label line called bettergoods. Then it's a return to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner and another rough quarter from both Peloton and Wayfair. We end with happier news as Ross Stores announces plan to open more than 2 million square feet of new retail space.

About Us

A Modern Retail Masterclass with Billy May, CEO, Brooklinen

michael@meleblanc.co (Billy May) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for our final episode recorded in the Bambuser remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk is deeply experienced retail executive and current CEO of Brooklinen, Billy May. In a wide-ranging discussion of the evolution of DTC, e-commerce and harmonized retail, Billy lays out the essentials to building and growing remarkable retail brands gleaned from his decades long career in senior roles at J. Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, Sur la Table, and more. It's a master class on the keys to modern retail.

As usual we open by dissecting the most important news of the week including the expected bankruptcy of Express and the surprising collapse of Foxtrot. We also challenge the bold (some might say "insane") prediction by UBS that 45,000 stores will close in the next five years due to the growth of e-commerce. Mixed news on luxury continues as Hermes wows and most other high-end brands disappoint. We also consider whether the FTC stepping in to challenge the Tapestry and Capri merger make sense before wrapping up with an increasingly murky economic outlook.

Check out the podcast version and video recording of the Leaders Leap virtual book launch event.

Steve's new book is available at book sellers just about everywhere, from Audible, and on Kindle for only $9.99.

Recent episodes featuring World Retail Congress speakers:

Remarkably Iconic Retail with Michael Ward, Managing Director, Harrods
Retailing in a Time of Mass Distraction with Andrea Dorigo, Adidas Head of Global Retail
Remarkably Creative Commerce with Beth Ann Kaminkow, Global CEO, VMLY&R

About Us

Leaders Leap Book Launch: Get Ready To Leap!

michael@meleblanc.co (Bridget Brennan, Hal Lawton, Seth Godin, Sally Elliott) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 07:05:00 +0000

We have an fantastic episode for you featuring the virtual launch event for Steve's brand-new book, Leaders Leap, recorded Monday April 22nd.

Steve is joined by a panel of extraordinary guests, all of whom are leaders in their respective fields. We have the privilege of hosting best-selling author and friend Seth Godin, an entrepreneur and speaker who has not only launched one of the most popular blogs in the world but has also written 21 best-selling books. We also have Bridget Brennan, acknowledged as the leading authority on the world's most powerful consumer market: women. She is the author of the books, "Why She Buys: The New Strategy for Reaching the World's Most Powerful Consumers" and "Winning Her Business: How to Transform the Customer Experience for the World's Most Powerful Consumers" and is the Founder & CEO of Female Factor consulting firm. Sally Elliott, the co-leader of Spencer Stuart's global Retail Practice based in London, and Hal Lawton, President & CEO at Tractor Supply Company, also join us.

We'll be back next week with our regularly scheduled programming, including top retail news and an exclusive interview with the one and only Billy May, CEO of Brooklinen, live from the Bambuser podcast studio at Shoptalk in Las Vegas.

Presented by Celonis.

About Us

The Remarkable Rise of Retail Media with Melanie Brown, VP of Home Depot's Orange Apron Media + Monetization

michael@meleblanc.co (Melanie Brown) — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for the second of three episodes recorded in the Bambuser remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk is Melanie Brown Vice President of Orange Apron Media and Monetization for The Home Depot. In a special two segment interview Melanie unpacks The Home Depot's retail media journey, highlighting the company's unique approach, which recently culminated in a doubling down and re-branding of its efforts. We've had analysts and consultants on to explore the rapidly growing retail media world, now we get a deeply experienced practitioner's in-depth perspectives.

As usual we open by dissecting the most important news of the week including the key take-aways from Amazon CEO Andy Jassey's annual shareholder letter, the end to Macy's proxy fight, the big nothing burger that is JC Penney's first new store in eight years, and Richard Baker's return trip to Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof. Then we tap into Steve's 2024 predictions of a "disruptor reckoning" and news that Rent the Runway sees better days ahead, while Allbird's risks delisting and Billy Reid acquires Knot Standard.

Orange Apron Media

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Don't miss the Leaders Leap virtual launch event on Monday, April 22nd, featuring special guests Seth Godin, Bridget Brennan, Sally Elliott, and Hal Lawton. Pre-register here.

There are just a few more days to take advantage of Leaders Leap pre-order freebies. Go here to see the special offers.

And if you are in Dallas don't miss our in-person live fireside chat, networking, and book signing on April 24. Pre-register here.

About Melanie

Melanie Babcock is the Vice President, Orange Apron Media and Monetization. In this role, Melanie has grown sources of ad revenue, profitability, sales and improved supplier experience.

Melanie joined The Home Depot in 2013, most recently serving as the VP of Integrated Media, which included the launch, development and growth of Retail Media+. Under Melanie’s leadership, her teams transformed The Home Depot’s marketing strategy from a product-centric to a customer-driven marketing strategy.

She scaled personalized customer marketing and worked closely with cross-functional partners to lead the development of marketing experiences more tailored to customers’ shopping and personal preferences. She launched a media measurement practice and changed the marketing team’s key metrics to deliver enterprise, department and incremental sales.

About Us

Mapping the Evolving Retail Landscape with David J. Katz, EVP & CMO, Randa

michael@meleblanc.co (David J. Katz) — Tue, 9 Apr 2024 08:41:13 +0000

Joining us for the first of several episodes recorded in the Bambuser remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk is leading retail influencer and LinkedIn "Top Voice" David J. Katz, EVP & CMO, Randa Apparel & Accessories, one of the world’s leading fashion clothing and accessories companies, spanning 11 countries, with a portfolio of 35 owned and licensed brands, including Calvin Klein, Levi’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dickies, Tommy Hilfiger.

David shares his vast experience and perspective as we explore some of the most important evolving and emerging dynamics in retail today. We delve into the great wholesale v. DTC debate, explore how to use customer data to drive growth, and go deep on the outlook for department stores, before wrapping up with a discuss on fast-fashion's global impact.

As usual we open by dissecting the most important news of the week including how the US job market is the gift that keeps giving. Then it's on to Amazon's WTF JWO moment, insight into Shein's growing profitability, and ways the "lipstick index" may be leading us awry. We wrap up with a quick view of how a few of Steve's 2024 predictions seem to be tracking so far.

Check out Steve's Harvard Business Review article on how safe might be the new risky.

Don't miss the Leaders Leap virtual launch event on Monday, April 22nd, featuring special guests Seth Godin, Bridget Brennan, Sally Elliott, and Hal Lawton.

Pre-register here.

There are just a few more days to take advantage of Leaders Leap pre-order freebies. Go here to see the special offers.

And if you are in Dallas don't miss our in-person live fireside chat, networking, and book signing. Pre-register here.

About Us

NRF Big Show Asia Pacific Spotlight with the Remarkable Ngai Yuen Low, Group Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer for Aeon Group Malaysia

michael@meleblanc.co (Ryf Quail, Ngai Yuen Low) — Tue, 2 Apr 2024 07:05:00 +0000

This week we preview the NRF Big Show APAC debuting this June in Singapore, with two very special guests: Ngai Yuen Low, Group Chief Merchandise And Marketing Officer at AEON Co Malaysia live from Kuala Lumpur, and Ryf Quail, Compexosium's Managing Director live from Sydney, Australia. We start by delving into Yuen's incredible and diverse experience in the region, getting her thoughts on what makes her company so remarkable, before we explore her leadership style. Then Ryf gives us his thoughts on the impetus for such an exciting new event and what guests can expect. Needless to say, Steve is very excited to be going!

But we kick things off by announcing the virtual launch event for Steve's new book. Go here to pre-register.

Then it's on to the news of the week, including a few clues into where inflation and interest rates might be headed. Then it's on to dissecting the implications from last week's earnings reports from RH, GameStop, Walgreen's, and H&M. We also unpack a big deal from Home Depot to solidify it's position in the professional market. Then it's on to two big moves from Amazon to increase its AI and cloud computing position, before we wrap up with concerns about the Ozempic recession as Krispy Kreme and McDonald's double down on their partnership.

About Yuen

Low Ngai Yuen, a multiple award-winning workaholic also sits as an Independent Non-Executive Director of two public listed companies, GDEX Berhad and OCK Berhad. GDEX is a logistic and freight company while OCK is in the business of telecommunications network services and energy.

Adding to her list of accolades is being named Tokoh Wanita Muda, a prestigious award presented by Her Majesty, the former Queen during the National Council of Women’s Organizations, NCWO's celebration of National Women's Day. Also named Most Successful Woman of 2014 by Jessica Magazine, Bella Creative Award 2013 by ntv7, Women Weekly’s Great Women Of Our Time 2012 award for the category of Media and Arts as well as Her World's Young Achiever of the year 2008.

An Elevate Fellow as well as the US Department of State's IVLP's almuni, over the past 20 years, Yuen has gone from producing, directing and creating some of the highest rating TV programs in the country and regional countries to joining the corporate world – as the Director of Marketing and Communications of Carrefour Malaysia and Singapore, sitting on its management and exec committee; to being appointed the Exec Director/CEO of Global Entrepreneurship Movement Assoc that bridge technology to the underserved entrepreneurs.

She championed the TUKAR program (Program Transformasi Kedai Runcit) both at the blueprint and execution phases as contribution to the ETP. In 2011, she was selected as a subject matter expert for the Prime Minister's Roundtable on engaging the youth and subsequently, Yuen leads the performing arts pillar through Kakiseni, an arts NGO to map the industry’s growth for the Dasar Industri Kreatif Negara. Kakiseni has just launched its second book in the Hikayat series to make traditional arts relevant to the young. This is the 5th best selling titles that she produced alongside MPH to date.

Yuen founded WOMEN:girls in 2011, a not for profit and cause driven organisation to drive higher women's share of voice. Driving higher women participation in leadership and decision making to apprenticeship programs for girls at risk to Ikal Mayang; a series of short films for girls to realise their voices/aspirations/dreams. An important milestone is achieved when Ikal Mayang is selected officially to premiere internationally at the 18th Busan International Film Festival 2013.

In 2021, Yuen released the acclaimed social film on humanity called Orang Itu on Netflix. Orang Itu scored a 10/10 from film critic, Tan Sri Johan Jaafar in The Star and is named the top 5 must watch Malaysian film of the year.

About Ryf

With over 20 years of experience in media and tech, Ryf is a passionate and visionary leader who thrives on finding and converting opportunities across all categories. He is the Managing Director for Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia at Comexposium, one of the world's largest event organisers, where he oversees the region's leading marketing, e-commerce and media events.

Ryf has a proven track record of building successful businesses, from launching a digital media start-up that became the largest in Australia, to delivering best-in-class digital and CRM programmes for a global professional service firm, to being recognised as Leader of the Year for Comexposium. He holds an MBA from the University of Otago Business School and has a strong network across the Asia Pacific region. Ryf's mission is to create impactful and innovative solutions for clients and partners, and to empower and inspire his team to achieve excellence.

About Us

A Remarkable Journey Through the Shopping Mall with Craig Brommers, American Eagle's CMO

michael@meleblanc.co (Craig Brommers) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for our first episode recorded at last week's Shoptalk is Craig Brommers, Chief Marketing Officer at American Eagle Outfitters. We took the stage in front of a live audience for our inaugural voyage on Shoptalk TV to hear Craig's wisdom on a wide variety of topics including: the keys to their AEO's recent performance, how to understand the Gen Z customer, the role of digital in driving physical store performance, how sustainability does or doesn't affect consumer choice, and a whole lot more. We also learn that the death of physical retail has been greatly exaggerated (though he might be preaching to the choir!).

But we kick-off things off with a quick rundown of our big take-aways from our busy, busy time in Las Vegas. Then it's on to our analysis of the most important retail news of the week, including reports that Nordstrom is considering going private, largely disappointing earnings outlook from both Lululemon and Nike, and continuing robust growth from breakout brand Five Below.

Vuori CEO Joe Kudla Episode.

About Craig

As the Chief Marketing Officer of American Eagle, Craig oversees all marketing and creative for American Eagle (AE), the #1 jeans brand for men and women 15-25 and women of all ages in the US. Leading the strategic and creative engine of AE, Craig’s mission is to simultaneously build the brand, customer base and business while positioning AE at the heart of youth culture and digital innovation. Since joining AE, Craig has led successful partnerships with TikTok, Snap, and Twitch placing the brand at the fingertips of Gen Z.

Craig’s passion for purpose is rooted in research, ensuring alignment with what his customers care about most. Craig has supported partnerships with Bring Change 2 Mind, Surfrider and America’s Food Fund. Most notably Craig spearhead Gap’s RED campaign to increase awareness and inspire action toward the fight against AIDS. Craig’s ability to cultivate success driven global teams is a result of his relationship driven approach to leadership. Craig resides in Connecticut with his wife and two daughters.

Previously, Craig served as Global Marketing executive for Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Calvin Klein. Craig’s leadership successfully positioned these brands for digital, geographic, and category expansion. Combining the art and science of modern marketing in a data obsessed world, Craig’s strategies remain laser focused on the customer.   

About Us

Remarkably Iconic Retail with Michael Ward, Managing Director, Harrods

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael Ward) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:19:35 +0000

Our guest this week is Michael Ward, CEO of Harrod's. Harrod's is truly among the most iconic and remarkable retailers in the world, and Michael gives us a glimpse inside what makes the brand and store so special. He also shares details about how they provide exceptional levels of customer service, the best of the best products, and how they stay on the leading edge of innovation. We also learn about their new members club in Shanghai, and get a glimpse into his upcoming talk at the World Retail Congress in Paris next month.

As usual, we kick things off by delving into the week in retail, starting with the growing higher rates for longer, before moving on to a discussion of surprising management changes at Under Armour and Fossil. Then there is a mix of many store openings from Aldi and On Running, while Family Dollar goes in a totally different direction, Outdoor Voices bails on brick & mortar entirely, and Body Shop mostly bails on North America. We also revisit the mounting problems at Allbirds, which includes some store closings as well. Kohl's reported a weak quarter, but announced a potentially intriguing partnership with Babies R Us.

World Retail Congress: Non-retailer passes and discount offer codes:

Non-Retailer pass: REM-SPONR

Retailer discount code: REM20

Dive into the future of retail with the World Retail Congress's End of Year Report! Explore the latest trends, innovations, and insights shaping the competitive retail landscape, presented in collaboration with the Congress’s Knowledge Partners. The Congress’s report is a must-read for retailers to become world class in today’s retail climate.

The End of Year Report reinforces the focus of next year’s World Retail Congress on High Performance Retail and our key pillars of winning the customer, winning with innovation, winning with purpose, the winning business models and building winning teams.

Furthermore, the report brings together 14 of the world’s top retailers’ reflections from stores such as Action, Ikea, Zalando, Kmart Group, Woolworths and Wumart to present insights from around the world.

About Us

Finding Your Passionate Core Customer

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 08:03:26 +0000

This week we explore some of the content from Steve's forthcoming book Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption, which is now available for pre-order at book retailers worldwide.

In particular, we go deep on a strategy of being "Special, Not Big" by significantly narrowing the aim of the customers you serve to be more intensely relevant and more highly differentiated. Finding your passionate core is about discovering those customers that sit at the heart of your customer bulls-eye and editing what you do to amplify your impact. In a world where it's harder and harder to become the compelling signal amid all the noise, trying to serve a mass audience is akin to losing a race to the bottom. Find your people, creating meaningful connections, and give them something to talk about.

But we kick things off with an overview of our upcoming busy Shoptalk schedule, including recording several episodes in our Bambuser sponsored remote podcast studio/beach cabana. Then it's on to the week in retail news, which features a return to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner to see what's new with Matches Fashion, Stitch Fix, and TheRealReal. We also share our take on strong quarters from Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters two ANVB's (Analog Native Vertical Brands), while lamenting big whiffs from Victoria's Secret and Foot Locker. We conclude by trying to make sense of Wall Street's ebullient response to Target's latest earnings.

Join the Leaders Leap LinkedIn Group here.

Become part of the Leaders Leap "Street Team" by sending an email to leeadersleap@sageberryconsulting.com with "Count Me In!" in the subject line.

About Us

Retailing in a Time of Mass Distraction with Andrea Dorigo, Adidas Head of Global Retail

michael@meleblanc.co (Andrea Dorigo) — Tue, 5 Mar 2024 08:08:52 +0000

Our guest this week is Andrea Dorigo Head of Global Retail for Adidas. Andrea shares many strategic leadership lessons gleaned from his incredibly deep and diverse experience working across a spectrum of international brands. Now he leads a network of more than 2,000 stores for one of the world's most iconic vertically integrated brands.

We get to learn his thoughts on how to best strengthen overall brand equity while driving operational efficiency and extending product reach. He also shares his view on how to think about the right balance between DTC and wholesale and gives us a sneak preview of his upcoming session at the World Retail Congress in Paris titled "Retailing in a Time of Mass Distraction."

But, as usual, we kick things off by delving into the week in retail, starting with lots of news from Macy's, including their lackluster holiday earnings, the announcement of their "Bold New Chapter" strategy, and a revised investor takeover proposal. We also unpack earnings from Best Buy, Lowes, and Warby Parker, before turning out attention to Shein's potential IPO plans.

World Retail Congress: Non-retailer passes and discount offer codes:

Non-Retailer pass: REM-SPONR

Retailer discount code: REM20

About Us

Tractor Supply's Remarkable "Life Out Here" Growth Story with CEO Hal Lawton (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Hal Lawton) — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:05:00 +0000

This week we're reprising our November 2022 interview with Hal Lawton, President & CEO of Tractor Supply Co, a truly remarkable retailer that has delivered some of the strongest results of any brand during the past five years.

We explore Hal's diverse journey from McKinsey, to Home Depot, to eBay, to Macy's and on to Tennesee-based Tractor Supply Company. the nearly 85 year old company that now does over $14.5 billion in annual sales through more than 2,200 stores. We learn about Tractor's "life out here strategy" and the critical distinction between being a lifestyle brand vs. a category focused retailer. We go deep on the strategic benefits of intense customer focus, strong day in and day out execution, and embracing the blur of digital and physical. Hal also underscores the importance of constant reinvention and how Tractor stays one step ahead of the customer by investing in their stores and rapidly evolving their business model.

But first we preview our Shoptalk plans before diving into our hot-takes on the week in retail news, including what NVDIA's massive valuation growth might mean for retail, Walmart's blockbuster quarter, and yet another private brand launch from Target. Then we marvel at Skechers--one of the OG's of DTC--blowing past the 5,000 store mark on its way to 10,000 global locations!

About Hal

Hal Lawton has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tractor Supply Company since January 2020 and is a member of the Company's Board of Directors. During his tenure at Tractor Supply, Hal has led the Company through a period of unprecedented growth while introducing its Life Out Here strategy to drive sustainable growth.

Previously, Hal served as President of Macy’s from September 2017 to December 2019. As President, he had responsibility for all aspects of the Macy’s brand, including merchandising, marketing, stores, operations, technology and consumer insights and analytics. Prior to that, Hal was Senior Vice President, eBay North America from August 2015 to September 2017. In that role, he oversaw all aspects of eBay’s Americas business unit, including marketing, merchandising, operations, business selling, consumer selling and advertising, as well as global responsibility for shipping, payments, risk and trust. Before joining eBay, Hal spent 10 years in various leadership roles at Home Depot, where he most recently was Senior Vice President for merchandising. Hal was responsible for elevating Home Depot’s Internet business. Prior to that, Hal was an associate principal at McKinsey & Co., providing strategic advice to executive teams in consumer-packaged goods and manufacturing industries.

Hal holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Pulp and Paper Science Technology from North Carolina State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia. Hal has served on the board of Sealed Air (NYSE: SEE) since 2019. He serves on the NRF Board of Directors and is a member of the Business Roundtable.

About Us

Remarkably Creative Commerce with Beth Ann Kaminkow, Global CEO, VMLY&R

michael@meleblanc.co (Beth Ann Kaminkow) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 08:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Beth Ann Kaminkow, Global CEO, VMLY&R who joins us to talk about the ever changing landscape of retail and consumer branding, customer engagement, and loyalty. In particular with dip into what defines high performance retail and the emerging world of "creative commerce." We also get a sneak preview of her upcoming session at the World Retail Congress in Paris.

Then, as usual, we unpack the week in retail news including the correct way to pronounce Temu, news on the persistency of inflation and what lessons can be gleaned from the past month in retail sales. Then its another return to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner, before wrapping up with quarterly earnings from Shopify and Under Armour.

To access VLM's rich trove of insights click here.

World Retail Congress: Non-retailer passes and discount offer codes:

Non-Retailer pass: REM-SPONR

Retailer discount code: REM20

About Beth Ann

Beth Ann is the Joint Chief Executive Officer of VML Commerce - WPP’s end-to-end Creative Commerce agency, created from the combined talent, expertise and scale of powerhouse global agencies VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson.

Beth Ann is recognized as a leader with a proven record of reimagining retail, as well as creating and designing commercial programs that drive growth at the intersection of physical, digital and social. She continues to drive innovation in this space with a belief that commerce holds the most untapped creative potential to grow brands and people.

In her two plus decades in the industry, Beth Ann has touched every aspect of marketing communications across consumer-packaged goods, retail, finance, restaurant and technology companies and brings both client and agency side perspectives to her work. She is a strong advocate of insights-inspired marketing programs and the power of creativity to drive positive societal impact.

A worldwide traveler born in Baltimore (though she considers herself more of a Bostonian at heart- especially when it comes to sports loyalties!), Beth Ann graduated with a BA from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School and an MBA from Boston University in Organizational Behavior. Beth Ann was a founding member of a successful startup purchased by Omnicom, led TracyLocke as the first female CEO in its one-hundred-year history, as well served as the first Global Chief Marketing Officer of Westfield Corp and CEO for Kantar Consulting Americas. She most recently served as Global CEO of Geometry.

Beth Ann is a voice on IE&D issues and has been recognized as an AdAge Woman to Watch, is a member of WPP’s X-Factor, and serves on the national boards of the Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications as well as the non-profit charity Back on My Feet.

While she sees work as personally fun and a bit of an endurance sport, she also is an avid runner, loves cities and making them better, and spending time with her husband, family, and close friends.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in April 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. 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 Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice, a keynote speaker around the world and consumer growth consultant. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global eCommerce Leaders podcast, and The Food Professor , Canada's top food industry podcasts and one of the top management podcasts in the nation according to Apple, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Driving Remarkable Customer Engagement with Christiane Pendarvis, co-CEO of Pattern Beauty and Andrea Moore, Chief Digital Officer of NEST New York

michael@meleblanc.co (Christiane Pendarvis, Andrea Moore) — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:14:42 +0000

Joining us for a deep dive on creating remarkable brand stories and driving powerful customer engagement are two industry veterans who will also be gracing the stage at next month's Shoptalk event in Las Vegas. Christiane Pendarvis, co-CEO of Pattern Beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross's hair care brand, and Andrea Moore, Chief Digital Officer of NEST New York, the fast growing fragrance brand deliver s a master class on the changing consumer landscape, evolving customer journeys, and what brands must do to stand out and win the future. They also preview their Shoptalk sessions.

But as usual we start with our analysis of the week's most important retail news, including offering new Macy's CEO Tony Spring some unsolicited advice before wondering whether Andy Jassey and team may (finally) be on to something with their Amazon Fresh reboot. We also explore Target's rumored late entry to the membership game and what to make of Tapestry and Capri's final earnings report before they are formally hitched. We also try discern what what be in store for malls (and JC Penney) based upon reading between the lines of the Simon Property earnings call.

Steve's new book--Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption--will be released April 23rd (note new release date). And for a limited time pre-order it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop,org, or any other retailer worldwide, and get some very special FREE bonuses.

Buy 1 Copy and receive:
- An exclusive PDF book excerpt
- An invitation to a private pre-launch virtual event.

Buy 5 Copies and receive:
- All the above, plus access to a small group virtual Q&A session.

Buy 25 copies or more and receive:
- All the above, plus a private one-on-one 20 minute Zoom consulting or executive leadership coaching session with me.

Simply email your receipt to leadersleap@sageberryconsullting.com and we will handle the rest!

Shoptalk Offer:

10% off General Attendee10% off Retailer & BrandCode - remarkableattendee Code - remarkableretailandbrandLink - https://stus24-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmVtYXJrYWJsZWF0dGVuZGVl Link - https://stus24-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmVtYXJrYWJsZXJldGFpbGFuZGJyYW5k

About Christiane

Christiane Pendarvis is a growth-oriented chief executive with over 25 years of experience leading direct-to-consumer and omni-channel consumer businesses. Her career focus has been in general management and retail merchandising, running $250M to $1B operating businesses with Fortune 500 brands such as Old Navy and Victoria’s Secret. Known for her ability to translate insights into business strategies, she has extensive strategic planning, assortment development, digital commerce and retail operations experience; and has driven large scale technology infrastructure projects.

Ms. Pendarvis approaches all her roles with compassion, humility and empathy, driving profitable growth and shareholder value by unlocking the power of people and diverse teams. She sits on the board of directors for Hims & Hers (NYSE: HIMS, Member - Audit) and Hootsuite (Chair – Nom/Gov, Member – Audit) and was previously on the board of Savage X Fenty. Ms. Pendarvis has been recognized in WWD’s 2023 Most Inspirational Women Leaders, WWD’s 2022 50 Women in Power and as a Top Woman in Retail by Women in Retail Leadership Circle in 2021.

Ms. Pendarvis is currently Co-CEO of PATTERN Beauty By Tracee Ellis Ross where she is responsible for all aspects of the business in partnership with Ms. Ellis Ross, the Founder. Prior to Pattern, she was Co-President at Savage X Fenty where under her leadership the company grew 6X from 2019 to 2022 and successfully closed two financing rounds totaling $240M in 2021. She led an expansion into new product categories including Mens, Loungewear and Womens Activewear as well as the brand’s channel expansion into physical retail in 2022. Ms. Pendarvis has held executive roles with top tier retailers and DTC companies including Victoria’s Secret, Aerie, Old Navy, Minted and FullBeauty Brands. Her scope of experience is wide, having managed women’s and men’s apparel, intimate apparel, beauty, consumer electronics and consumer packaged goods.

Energized by high growth environments, Ms. Pendarvis also has experience in start-ups and mid-tier companies. She excels in helping brands, teams and individuals grow and succeed in the face of rapidly changing industry dynamics. She currently sits on the Shop Talk Advisory Board and is Chairperson of the Women of Color Retail Alliance board. She also has a long history of non-profit board service (National Black MBA Association Cincinnati Chapter, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco and the Violet Torch Foundation).

Ms. Pendarvis earned a BA in Economics from Harvard University and an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina (Consortium for Graduate Study in Management fellowship program). She is passionate about increasing diversity and representation in the fashion industry and dedicates her time to mentoring women of color specifically. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and identical twin daughters.

About Andrea

Andrea Moore is a C-Level Omni-Channel Executive with extensive experience launching and building digital businesses quickly and profitably. Andrea’s areas of expertise include digital strategy, marketing and merchandising, technology, analytics and team leadership and talent development.

Andrea has experience in large, publicly traded companies, as well as small, entrepreneurial, private-equity backed brands; in digital businesses of up to $100M in annual revenue and teams of up to 40.Angel investor, Advisory Board member, non-profit Board Chair, FIT Adjunct Professor.

About Us

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

Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Using Scale for Good: Our Interview with Jane Ewing, SVP, Sustainability, Walmart

michael@meleblanc.co (Jane Ewing) — Tue, 6 Feb 2024 08:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Jane Ewing, SVP, Sustainability at Walmart* recorded live at last month's NRF "Big Show." In a wide-ranging interview we discuss how Walmart is putting people and planet at the heart of all of its decisions. We explore Walmart's sustainability journey and go into details on their key initiatives, the challenges they need to overcome, and how to get everyone on the same mission despite the complexity of different functions and a vast global footprint.

Then it's on to the news of the week, staring with some big news from our guest's employer, including Walmart's plans to increase store manager compensation, a 3 for 1 stock split, and major investments in new store openings and remodels. We also delve into the state of the retail layoffs and do a quick recap of earnings news from Amazon (wow!), Peloton (oof!), Apple (not bad) and LVMH (quite nice), and share some numbers on emerging deflation.

* Since our recording Jane was named the new SVP, International Operations at Walmart.

Presented by Celonis.

Past episodes mentioned.

Michelle Poole

Judith McKenna

Shoptalk Offer:

10% off General Attendee10% off Retailer & BrandCode - remarkableattendee Code - remarkableretailandbrandLink - https://stus24-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmVtYXJrYWJsZWF0dGVuZGVl Link - https://stus24-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmVtYXJrYWJsZXJldGFpbGFuZGJyYW5k

About Jane

With deep roots in business operations, development and talent management, Jane excels at embedding and operationalizing sustainability across the enterprise. She currently leads International Operations for Walmart. Before joining Walmart, Jane held various general management roles in several countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Global Travel at Diageo PLC. She joined Walmart in 2012 as a Senior Vice President for the International division and has since served in multiple leadership roles, including in Walmart U.S. Merchandising, Business Development, store reinvention and digital acceleration, as Chief People Officer for Walmart International and most recently as the SVP for Sustainability. Her personal motto: let’s go faster than we think is possible.

About Us

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

Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

A Baker's Dozen of Provocative Predictions for Retail in 2024

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:05:00 +0000

Once again it's time for Steve's annual retail predictions--and this list doesn't just go to eleven it goes to thirteen!

Steve's provocative prognostications include "the bifurcation of just about everything," the culling of the unicorn herd, thoughts on the future of Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Nordstrom, along with a possible AI themed action movie, the outlook for sustainability, retailers stepping up their health services offerings, and a whole lot more.

But as is our custom, we kick off with our hot takes on the week in retail news, including Temu's decision to 10X its advertising, layoffs at Levi's and eBay, and Macy's telling its real suitors to go pound sand. We also dip into the end of the "new department store" era, Ikea's new "plan & pick up" concept expansion, and a possible return to supply chain chaos.

Presented by Celonis.

Steve's new book--"Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption"--will be released March 12th. And for a limited time pre-order it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop,org, or any other retailer worldwide, and get some very special FREE bonuses.

Buy 1 Copy and receive:
- An exclusive PDF book excerpt
- An invitation to a private pre-launch virtual event.

Buy 5 Copies and receive:
- All the above, plus access to a small group virtual Q&A session.

Buy 25 copies or more and receive:
- All the above, plus a private one-on-one 20 minute Zoom consulting or executive leadership coaching session with me.

Simply email your receipt to leadersleap@sageberryconsullting.com and we will handle the rest!

Shoptalk Offer:

10% off General Attendee 10% off Retailer & Brand
Code - remarkableattendee Code - remarkableretailandbrand
Link - https://stus24-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmVtYXJrYWJsZWF0dGVuZGVl Link - https://stus24-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmVtYXJrYWJsZXJldGFpbGFuZGJyYW5k

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. 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.

Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Remarkable On Purpose with Patagonia's Angela Clark

michael@meleblanc.co (Angela Clark) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:05:00 +0000

Angela Clark, Patagonia's VP of Digital--and one of retail's most celebrated and experienced e-commerce leaders--joins us to discuss driving digital transformation and how purpose is integral to Patagonia's strategy. She drops a ton of wisdom gleaned from her roles at multiple brands on the leading edge of the digital commerce evolution. In particular, we look at how Patagonia is building on its remarkable success to both build its direct-to-consumer capabilities and continuing to be a leader on climate action.

But before our interview we do a bit of humble-bragging, calling attention to our both being named once again to Rethink Retail's Top Retail Expert list. We also announce that Steve will be on stage at both Shoptalk US and Shoptalk Europe, while sharing a special discount code for our listeners (see below).

Then it's on to the news of the week, including our take-aways from the NRF Big Show, where retail sales may be headed in the new year, and what to make of Macy's just announced store closings and layoffs, We also lament yet another round of layoffs at Wayfair before celebrating Birkenstock's remarkable first quarter as a public company, We close with our view on Apple's soon to go on sale Vision Pro device.

Presented by Celonis.

Shoptalk Offer:

10% off General Attendee 10% off Retailer & Brand
Code - remarkableattendee Code - remarkableretailandbrand
Link - https://stus24-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmVtYXJrYWJsZWF0dGVuZGVl Link - https://stus24-registration.personatech.com/code?cId=cmVtYXJrYWJsZXJldGFpbGFuZGJyYW5k

About Angela

Angela Clark is an accomplished Digital and Brand Strategist, with expertise in transforming organizations into a digital-first framework. With a passion for sustainability and a deep understanding of the power of digital media, Angela heads the Digital business for Patagonia, where she spearheads the development of strategies and processes to support the company's mission to save the home planet. Her ability to blend creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of digital landscapes makes her a valuable asset to the brands, having worked for some of the most iconic American brands, like Levi Strauss, True Religion and Pottery Barn. Her impressive track record, coupled with her passion for the outdoors and commitment to sustainability, makes her an inspiring figure in the business world.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. 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.

Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Rounding Out NRF Big Show Global Insights with Kate Ancketill, Founder CEO, of GDR Creative Intelligence, and Alberto Serrentino, Founder Varese Retail

michael@meleblanc.co (Kate Ancketill, Alberto Serrentino) — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:06:01 +0000

We have a special bonus episode for you today; hot on the heels of the NRF Big Show, we reached out to two Retail Experts who graced the stage in New York, all the way from the U.K. and Brazil to get a more global take on the significant trends and the year in retail ahead, from London, Kate Ancketill, Founder, CEO and chief story-teller at GDR Creative Intelligence, and from São Paulo, Alberto Serrentino, Founder, advisor, board member, speaker and author, Varese Retail.

Presented by Celonis

Don't miss the World Retail Congress to be held April 16-18 in Paris. Each year, top retail leaders from around the world join together to hear great speakers, join in amazing conversations, and much much more!

For the second year in a row the Remarkable Retail podcast is delighted to be a media partner and to offer a 20% discount on registrations for a limited time.

Simply go to https://lnkd.in/ekk3_s4 for more info and to pre-register by using our special registration codes.

Non-Retailer: REM-SPONR
Retailer: REM20

About Kate

As CEO and founder of Business Futurist consultancy GDR, Kate is a ‘wayfinder to the future’ and a retail guru with tech, consumer, retail and brand specialisation. GDR is the innovation partner to around 30 of the world's largest consumer brands, including: Target, P&G, Costa Coffee, Coca-Cola, Clorox, Danone, Carlsberg, Google, Microsoft, Jaguar Landrover, Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose and Lego.

Kate delivers compelling big picture narratives explaining how retail, brands and experiences are changing as a result of climate, economic, cultural and social shifts, the technology revolution and the cost of living crisis. She advises on the near to medium term future of customer experience, how marketing is evolving, and how best in class global players are using tech to meet emerging environmental and customer demands.

Kate takes a cross-sector, global view of innovation, which includes any interaction between brand and consumer, on or offline. Her goal is to make the audience feel inspired about their industry and their own ability to create, shape, or transform the future. She has the ability to clearly explain complex trends, societal shifts, or emerging technologies in a way that is relatable for any audience.

You can expect a charismatic performance, whether on a large stage, at a corporate event, in the boardroom, or as a panelist. Every presentation Kate gives has the WOW factor and will contain tailored research and analysis, Kate is renowned for inspirational WOW factor talks that are customised to each audience with bleeding edge innovation sourced by GDR's research and strategy teams. Much of the thinking will have been road-tested with the world's largest consumer-facing corporations, often at board level.

Kate is the 'Wayfinder to the Future’ for the world's largest retail conference, the NRF Big Show, having been invited to speak on future trends for the last 8 years. To read more from Kate follow the link below to her blog.

Company website with newsletter signup link: www.gdruk.com

My speaking biog: www.kateancketill.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateancketill/

X, Insta etc: gdruk

About Alberto

Advisor, board member, author and speaker.Founder of Varese Retail, a retail strategy, digital transformation and thought leadership boutique. He has over 30 years of experience in the retail and consumption industries. Serves on several boards of directors, innovation and digital acceleration committees of various retail companies and of the Brazilian Retail Consumption Society (SBVC). As an international speaker, he has made over 700 presentations, including 20 editions of the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention (NRF Big Show). He authored and co-authored 9 books and published over 300 articles. Served as an invited professor at the Fundação Getúlio Vargas’ business school (FGV), and the University of São Paulo (USP). Appointed as the Only Latin-American Top Retail Influencer 2023by RETHINK Retail.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alberto-serrentino-4588691/

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. 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.

Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Generative AI and the Next Wave of Retail Disruption with Carrie Tharp, VP Strategic Industries at Google Cloud

michael@meleblanc.co (Carrie Tharp) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 09:50:13 +0000

We're back with Season 8 and kick it off with one of the industry's leading thought leaders--Carrie Tharp, VP Strategic Industries at Google Cloud. With her past experience in senior leadership at Fossil Group, Neiman Marcus, and Travelocity, and current board roles at the National Retail Federation, Vera Bradley, and Rue Gilt Groupe, Carrie brings tremendous perspective on where retail is headed and the challenges and opportunities brands face.

In a wide ranging discussion we delve into the current state of cloud technology, where generative AI is headed (including the results of Google's new industry survey), and how retailers can accelerate their pace of transformation--including tips on how to deploy "test and learn" strategies. We also discuss specific use cases, including a recently launched partnership with Victoria's Secret to close the digital divide, expand conversational commerce, and a whole lot more.

Before we dive into our typical opening segment we engage in a bit of humble-bragging sharing our own news that the pod won the top "Retail Voice" award at this year's VIP Awards show.

We also announce some special pre-order bonuses for Steve's forthcomign book (see below).

Then we jump into our hot takes on the week in retail news, including whether the holiday season delivered the goods or not. Then its on to good news as Lululemon, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle take their sales guidance up. We follow it with bad news, however, as "new department store" concept Showfield's shuts down and competitor Neighborhood Goods retrenches. We can't miss the opportunity to talk about the success of the ludicrously capacious Stanley Quencher. We wrap up with the shocking news that physical retail is still not dead.

Presented by Celonis.

My new book--"Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption"--will be released March 12th. And for a limited time pre-order it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop,org, or any other retailer worldwide, and get some very special FREE bonuses.

Buy 1 Copy and receive:
- An exclusive PDF book excerpt
- An invitation to a private pre-launch virtual event.

Buy 5 Copies and receive:
- All the above, plus access to a small group virtual Q&A session.

Buy 25 copies or more and receive:
- All the above, plus a private one-on-one 20 minute Zoom consulting or executive leadership coaching session with me.

Simply email your receipt to leadersleap@sageberryconsullting.com and we will handle the rest!

About Carrie

Innovative Chief Digital Officer/Chief Marketing Officer with experience driving growth and business transformation in retail, consumer products and eCommerce based businesses. Creating data driven, customer centric strategies that drive growth through new customer experiences, digital innovation, and business model expansion. Currently focused on evolving retail capabilities for the new digital age - dedicated to building teams and experiences to serve customers in new and compelling ways.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Steve will be back on stage at Shoptalk in Las Vegas and we've got a special offer for our podcast listeners to save an additional 10% on registration.

Retailer & Brands use Code: RBREMAR225 by going here.General Attendee: use code: GAREMAR360 here.

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

Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Leap to Higher Ground: Get Ready for Season 8 of the Remarkable Retail Podcast

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 9 Jan 2024 08:32:32 +0000

Did you know that 2024 is a leap year? Are you prepared to make the leaps you must to win the epic battle between being remarkable or risking irrelevance as the pace of change accelerates, as the bar for performance gets raised higher and higher? As increasingly Fortune favors the bold, are you ready to leap ahead of the competition?

This is Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker and best-selling author inviting you to join me and fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc each week as we challenge the status quo, dissect the latest news and trends and speak with the industry's most remarkable and thought-provoking executives. We'll also be unpacking the lessons from my brand new book, Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption.

Listeners worldwide have made us the retail industry's top-rated and top listen-to independent podcasts. This season, we'll continue with our unique take on retail's most important news and feature guests who are shaping the future of modern retail. So be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, Google podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcast today and brace yourself for a steady stream of wisdom, straight talk and lively conversation.

Season Eight, presented by Celonis, launches on January 16. And we can't wait for you to join us!

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Steve will be back on stage at Shoptalk in Las Vegas and we've got a special offer for our podcast listeners to save an additional 10% on registration.

Retailer & Brands use Code: RBREMAR225 by going here.General Attendee: use code: GAREMAR360 here.

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

Be sure and check out Michael's Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Season Finale: Ira Kalish, Deloitte's Chief Global Economist Looks Ahead to 2024

michael@meleblanc.co (Ira Kalish) — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 08:05:00 +0000

We mark the close of our seventh season with a return visit from Ira Kalish, Deloitte's Chief Global economist, who helps us look back at how 2023 unfolded and gives us a glimpse into the macro-economic outlook for the year ahead. In a wide ranging conversation we delve into the possibility for a soft-landing, when we might start to see interest cuts, and the overall prospects for important global economies. We also discuss prospects for a thawing in the housing market, the potential looming crisis in commercial real estate, and a whole lot more.

But we kick things off with a fast-paced review of the most important retail news, including the continued string of positive economic reports and what it might mean for the holiday season. Then we move on to quite a lot of activity in the luxury e-commerce space as Farfetch gets saved by coupang and MatchesFashion get acquired by the UK's Frasers Group. We conclude by dissecting quarterly earnings from JC Penney and Nike.

*********************************

Join Steve on January 9th at 11am EST for a special webinar on how to get the most out of the NRF's Big Show. He'll share tips on navigating the event, highlight the can't miss sessions, and showcase promising new retail technology. And it's all free. Go here to pre-register.

About Ira

Dr. Kalish is the Chief Global Economist of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. He is a specialist in global economic issues as well as the effects of economic, demographic, and social trends on the global business environment. He advises Deloitte clients as well as Deloitte’s leadership on economic issues and their impact on business strategy. In addition, he has given numerous presentations to corporations and trade organizations on topics related to the global economy. He is widely traveled and has given presentations in 47 countries on six continents. He has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and The Financial Times. Dr. Kalish holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vassar College and a PhD in international economics from Johns Hopkins University.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Steve will be back on stage at Shoptalk in Las Vegas and we've got a special offer for our podcast listeners to save an additional 10% on registration.

Retailer & Brands use Code: RBREMAR225 by going here.General Attendee: use code: GAREMAR360 here.

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

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global eCommerce Leaders podcast, and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Does Steve Make The Grade?: 2023 Predictions Recap (Part 2)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:05:00 +0000

As we reach the penultimate episode of Season 7, it's time to grade Steve on his annual predictions . In the second installment of a two-part episode, Michael takes out his virtual chalkboard to assess the final batch of Steve's prognostications, which include a year of trading down, a tale of two cities when it comes to retailer balance sheets, and a whole lot more. We also do a reality check on his long-shot guesses about Nike, Whole Foods, and a potential tie-up between JC Penney and Kohl's.

As usual we kick things with retail news, including a big week in macroeconomic news and a (mostly) surprisingly strong monthly retail sales report. Then we go deeper on a potential Macy's leveraged buy-out, as well as an updated view of the "halo effect" of brick-and-mortar stores from our friends at ICSC. We wrap with news of Temu's remarkable success and continued strength from Costco.

**********************************

Steve will be back on stage at Shoptalk in Las Vegas and we've got a special offer for our podcast listeners to save an additional 10% on registration.

Retailer & Brands use Code: RBREMAR225 by going here.General Attendee: use code: GAREMAR360 here.

You can find the new ICSC "Halo Effect" study here.

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

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Does Steve Make The Grade: 2023 Predictions Recap (Part 1)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 08:05:00 +0000

We're all about accountability on the Remarkable Retail podcast, so as we get close to wrapping up Season 7, it's time to grade Steve on his annual predictions. In part one of a two-part episode, Michael takes out his virtual chalkboard as we assess the first batch of Steve's prognostications on a disrupter reset, whether retail media networks are more hype than hope, what to make of an accelerating pace of C-suite changes, and a whole lot more.

We start with retail news, including a surprise US jobs report, NRF's back-tracking on causes of retail shrink, and Amazon getting more nervous about Temu and Shein. We wonder whether lower gas prices may save retailers' fourth quarters and whether a marriage between Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue is inevitable. Then it's on to ponder what's next for Farfetch and whether a Bonvoy and Camp partnership will create happy campers, And as earnings season wraps up. we got a mixed picture from some of our favorite retailers: RH, Lululemon, and Ulta. We close with a return to visit Rent the Runway and Stitch Fix in the wobbly unicorn corner of the internet.

**********************************

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

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

"You Can Pay Me Now or You Can Pay Me Later" with Afterpay's Co-Founder Nick Molnar

michael@meleblanc.co (Nick Molnar) — Tue, 5 Dec 2023 08:05:00 +0000

This episode we welcome Nick Molnar, co-founder of AfterPay, the pioneering buy now pay later (BNPL) company acquired by Block (formerly Square) in 2021. At a time when BNPL is capturing headlines due to its rapid growth this holiday season, we engage in a wide-ranging conversation with one the sector's pioneering leaders.

Nick takes us through his founder's story before we delve into how BNPL delivers value for both consumers and retailers. He also helps us understand some of the common myths and misperceptions about how it all works, explains how credit risk is managed, and gives us a view into what's next for the sector--and consumers more broadly.

Check out their latest research on the market here.

But first we open up with our take on the most interesting recent retail news, including what to make (if anything) about Black Friday and Cyber Monday results. Then it's on to Shein's plans to go public as fellow Chinese e-commerce behemoth Pinduoduo zooms past Alibaba's valuation on the strength of Temu's remarkable growth. RH continues to amplify the wow as it opens a retail estate on the bucolic hills of Indianapolis, while also making a big move into Germany. We close with some musings about the differences between disinflation and deflation.

About Nick

Serial-entrepreneur, Nick’s vision for Afterpay was to create a global payment solution that would allow consumers to pay for things they want and need over time, using their own money. As a millennial himself, he recognized that his generation has an aversion to credit cards and compounding debt.

Nick launched Afterpay with his co-founder, Anthony Eisen, in Australia in October 2014 and listed the company on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2016. The company expanded into the U.S. in May 2018 and soon after, expanded into Canada, France, Italy, Spain and the UK. As of June 2021, Afterpay had more than 20 million customer accounts in the United States alone and was offered by more than 150,000 merchants globally.

In August of 2021, Afterpay was sold to Block (NYSE: SQ) for US$29 billion. Nick currently co- leads Afterpay’s business at Block.

You can learn more about Nick from his LinkedIn profile and hear him talk about the founding of the company here.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

You Can't Spell Retail Without "AI" featuring Michael Affronti, SVP/General Manager Commerce Cloud at Salesforce

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael Affronti) — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:05:00 +0000

This episode we welcome Michael Affronti, the SVP & General Manager of the Commerce Cloud business at Salesforce for a fascinating look at the rapidly evolving world of generative AI. In an expansive, yet highly practical, discussion Michael helps us separate the hope from the hype and "chalks the field" on the most important applications to automate mundane tasks or enhance the customer experience. We also go deep on where retailers are already gaining traction and where they need to begin to test and learn.

But first we open up with our take on the most interesting recent retail news, including a new retail monitor just launched by CNBC and the NRF and a quick look at what it tells us. Then we unpack lots of retail earnings, which were mostly disappointing--and in a few cases downright scary (Kohl's, Macy's, Allbirds, and most of luxury). Yet Walmart, Abercrombie & Fitch, the off-price apparel players, and, most notably On Running, managed to rise above the rest. We close with our view that BFCM may ultimately be much ado about nothing much.

About Michael

Michael is the SVP & General Manager of Commerce Cloud at Salesforce, overseeing the various Commerce Cloud products and services that enable customers to build commerce experiences and grow revenue their way. In this role, he focuses on the critical interlock between sales, marketing, and product development to generate aligned and effective GTM strategies.

Michael Affronti is a seasoned Senior Product Executive, Advisor, Investor, and Board Member with more than 19 years of success building and leading high-performing organizations across the entire product life cycle from incubation to $1B+ in revenue.

Prior to Salesforce, Michael held senior leadership roles at several enterprise tech and AI companies including Dataminr, Fuze, Contactive, and Microsoft. He holds four U.S. patents and has 11 pending for innovation in the enterprise productivity space.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Stepping Out in Style with Crocs President Michelle Poole (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michelle Poole) — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:05:00 +0000

Welcome to a special encore episode featuring Michelle Poole, President of Crocs. We dig into the remarkable growth story behind the increasingly iconic footwear company. We address head-on the polarizing (or is it fundamentally under-estimated?) nature of the brand and how Michelle has turned that to advantage. We also learn about the personalizing power of jibbitz and how product extensions and geographic expansion are fueling their growth. We also delve deep into the diverse, increasingly digitally-driven, go-to-market strategy that is putting the company on a path to hit $5 billion in sales by 2026. Lastly we get Michelle's perspective on how to balance purpose and profits.

About Michelle

Michelle Poole became President, Crocs, Inc. in September 2020 and has oversight of the Americas, Asia and EMEA regional commercial teams, as well as Product Design and Management, Merchandising, and Marketing teams. Prior to this, she served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Product and Merchandising Officer since April 2020 and as our Senior Vice President and Chief Product and Merchandising Officer since 2014.

In addition to her product and merchandising responsibilities, Ms. Poole assumed responsibility for our Marketing function in 2017. Ms. Poole has more than 28 years of experience and proven success in the development of leading global fashion and lifestyle brands including Sperry Top-Sider, Timberland, Kangol, Converse, MTV Europe and Pepe Jeans where she held a range of marketing, merchandising & product management roles. Since 2018, Ms. Poole has served on the board of Pact, a privately held apparel brand, based in Boulder, CO. She received her Bachelor’s honors degree in fashion marketing from the University of Northumbria, UK.
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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Cutting Through the Retail Technology Clutter with Brendan Witcher, VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester

michael@meleblanc.co (Brendan Witcher) — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 08:05:00 +0000

We welcome Brendan Witcher, Forrestor's VP & Principal Analyst back to the pod to get his always insightful and provocative perspectives on retailer's priorities for 2024. He helps us separate the real from the imagined with a preview of his upcoming report on where retailers are placing their bets for the future. We start with his takes on what makes the "Hype" list, as well as what should be on most retailer's radar screens. Then it's on to the top ten priorities, including hot areas in omni-channel fulfillment, personalization, AI, and guided selling.

As usual we start with our perspectives on the most important news of the week, including WeWork's bankruptcy and how worried we should be about the contagion effect from an ever shakier office market. Then it's on to positive news as Walmart stock hits an all time high on the heels of its big store investment plans. We shift to dissecting earnings from some of the OG's of disruptive DTC as Warby Parker, ThredUp, and TheRealReal report. We concluded with news of Overstock.com's rebranding to Beyond as they also show their CEO the door.

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Brendan's First Podcast Appearance (April 2021)

Remembering BlueStar’s Steve Cuntz

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We've been nominated for the Top Retail Voice Award and can use your help. It's easy to vote for us.

1. Go to https://lnkd.in/g5bGMey5

2. Register to vote

3. Vote for the Remarkable Retail podcast in The Retail Voice Award category.

Brendan's First Podcast Appearance (April 2021)

About Brendan

As VP and Principal Analyst for Forrester Research, Brendan is a leading expert on consumer behavior, market developments, and tech trends in commerce. Considered a notable authority on strategies for achieving digital excellence, he often keynotes industry events and is sought after frequently for commentary by media outlets such as Bloomberg, CNBC, Marketplace, NPR, PBS, The Economist, Time, and The Wall Street Journal.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

What's Next for Consumers with Kristina Roger's, EY's Global Consumer Lead

michael@meleblanc.co (Kristina Rogers) — Tue, 7 Nov 2023 08:05:00 +0000

Joining us this week is Kristina Rogers, EY's Global Consumer Lead. We leverage Kristina's vast experience working with retailers and consumer brands around the world to get her perspectives on which consumer behaviors are most critical to understand and respond to. We discuss which Covid behaviors are persisting, how current economic forces are driving the growth of private label, and the evolving nature of convenience, both online and in-store. In particular, we delve into some of the key recent and soon to be released findings from EY's Future Consumer Index.

But first we dissect the most important retail news starting with the National Retail Federation's annual holiday sales forecast. We then take on a robust week of macro-economic news, Amazon's decision to end its apparel brick-and-mortar experiment, Walmart's anteing up big time as it commits to $9 billion in physical store investments, and Shein's acquisition of Missguided. Then it's on to quarterly earnings from Starbucks, Shopify, elf Cosmetics, and Wayfair. We wrap up with news that Eataly, one of our favorite remarkable retailers, plans to grow to three locations in Toronto.

About Kristina

As EY Global Consumer Leader, Kristina is responsible for defining and implementing the EY strategy for consumer products companies, retailers, and in agribusiness. She ensures that EY’s global clients are well served across geographies, leading over 30,000 EY professionals worldwide. Kristina works directly with clients on the strategic issues they face as they pursue profitable and sustainable growth. Kristina is also the architect of EY’s seminal Future Consumer programs including FutureConsumer.Now, FutureConsumerIndex, and FutureConsumerExperience. These programs help clients meet the future now in order to make better decisions to win later.

Prior to her current role, Kristina served as Emerging Markets Leader for Consumer Products & Retail. Before joining EY, she was a Senior Partner at a global strategy consulting firm. Kristina has lived and worked in more than 20 countries. Over the course of her career, she has built long-term client relationships with some of the world’s largest global consumer products companies, helping them solve some of their most complex strategic marketing issues across geographies.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Exclusive Preview of Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:05:00 +0000

This week we get a glimpse into Steve's forthcoming new book, now available for pre-order just about everywhere books are sold.

With Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption Steve goes beyond retail and provides a unique take on why so many strategic transformations fail across a spectrum of industries and, most critically, what leaders must do to go from risking irrelevance to delivering remarkable and enduring results. In addition to reviewing his provocative case for change, we explore a few of his leadership "mind leaps" that are central to helping organizations aim higher, act more boldly, and move at the speed of disruption.

But first we dig into the most important retail news of the week, starting with Amazon's blockbuster earnings report, which underscores the company's continuing shift toward services and the leverage its getting from its own year of living efficiently. Then we move to the on-going reset of disrupter brands as Dollar Shave Club, Farfetch, and Hello Bello undergo some big changes and a tale of two cities in the world of luxury, as Kering disappoints and Hermes continues to wow. We wrap us with a disappointing news of a reversal of fortunes for female executives and a surprisingly strong quarterly US GDP resport.

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 forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Remarkable House of Brands That Is LVMH with Anish Melwani, Chairman & CEO, North America

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 08:38:55 +0000

Our guest this week is Anish Melwani, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, North America. LVMH is the home to 75 distinguished Houses rooted in six different sectors and includes some of the most iconic global luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Tiffany, Bulgari, Sephora, and many more.

We explore the differences between LVMH's North American business and the rest of the world, along with understanding the connective tissue and values that run through all the brands. We dig into how heritage plays a key role in concert with creativity to ultimately makes each brand and the collective portfolio remarkable before exploring how the luxury market has evolved over the past decade, with a particular focus on the role of digital. We end by delving into the growing role of owned stores in the portfolio and how that intersects with the future of wholesale distribution.

As usual we kick things off with our analysis of the week in retail news, including the US retail monthly sales report, some key drivers of disparate performance, Best Buy's complaints about "fun-flation", and what it all portends for the future. Then we move on to what to make of somewhat conflicting data on reported reductions in work-from-home and Amazon's related releasing of the Kraken against those that don't conform to the company's new policy. We wrap up with whether we believe Victoria's Secret can successfully bring sexy back.

About Anish

Anish Melwani is the Chairman & CEO, LVMH for North America. In this role, he oversees and coordinates the activities of the LVMH Group across 75+ Maisons. He sits on the board of directors for Fresh, Marc Jacobs, Colgin Cellars, Starboard Cruise Services and Tiffany & Co.

Prior to joining LVMH in 2015, he was a Senior Partner in the New York Office of McKinsey and Company where he co-led the Global Strategy & Corporate Finance practice and supported clients across industries. At McKinsey since 1999, he counseled senior executives of leading global companies on issues related to corporate strategy, M&A, alliances, portfolio management and organization. He worked in McKinsey’s Singapore and Hong Kong offices and was then relocated to the New York office, where he advised leaders of public sector institutions in New York City.

Melwani is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Board of the United Way of New York City where he serves on the Marketing Committee, and the National Retail Federation’s Board of Directors. He holds a BA in Economics from Harvard University.

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of focused on growth, innovation, and the impact of digital disruption. He is widely considered one of the foremost and influential voices in the retail industry. You can learn more about Steve on his website. His #1 bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is available at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

An Elfing Remarkable Growth Story with Laurie Lam, Chief Brand Officer, e.l.f. Beauty

michael@meleblanc.co (Laurie Lam) — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Laurie Lam, Chief Brand Officer at e.l.f. Beauty, the fast-growing cosmetics company that has made a name for itself with high quality, inexpensive beauty products. Laurie helps us understand the origin of the brand and some of the keys to its remarkable success. We dig into how staying connected to consumers fuels product innovation, the company's impressive record of diversity, equity, and inclusion, how to best navigate the often tricky world of social media, and the role of strategic risk-taking in propelling the brand forward.

Instead of kicking things off as we usually do, we take a moment to announce that Steve's new book--Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption--is now available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other fine book retailers.

Then it's our usual hot-takes on the week in retail news, including a reminder of what the concept of VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) demands of us strategically. We also unpack why mall traffic is down meaningfully the past two months and wonder whether Taylor's new movie could be the catalyst for a turnaround. IPO fever gets a major cool down as Birkenstock's debut on the public markets is a bit of a whiff. In happier news, The Container Store gets busy with DTC brands, announcing its partnering up with dozens of them in a bold move.

About Laurie

Laurie Lam is Chief Brand Officer at E.l.f. Beauty, a multi-branded portfolio which includes namesake brand E.l.f. Cosmetics, E.l.f. Skin, Well People, and Keys Soulcare. She is responsible for strengthening E.l.f.’s branding and setting its strategy for growth across all categories, as well as championing their mission to make the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, face, and paw.

With nearly 20 years of experience building global brands, Ms. Lam is an accomplished business leader and dynamic marketer in the beauty industry. Prior to joining E.l.f. Beauty, she was at L’Oréal USA where she held several leadership positions within the group’s Professional Products Division and Consumer Products Division in the United States, France, and Asia-Pacific. Her experience spans across marketing, e-commerce and digital, acquisitions and business development, and innovation.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Grocery Retail and the Accelerating Pace of Disruption with Lindsey Mazza and Stewart Samuel

michael@meleblanc.co (Stewart Samuel, Lindsey Mazza) — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Our final episode recorded live at GroceryShop in the Vantage podcast studio features two of the world's leading experts on all things retail: Lindsey Mazza, Global Retail Lead at CapGemini and Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures at IGD. In a wide ranging conversation we delve into the important trends affecting the grocery industry--and retail more broadly--including sustainability, the evolving supply chain, automation, collaboration, cyber-security, retail media networks, and the blurring of the lines between digital and physical.

As usual, we kick things off with our hot-takes on the week in retail news, starting with an upside surprise in job creation in both the United States and Canada and what that might mean for the "higher for longer" interest rate outlook. We then move on to do a quick check in on one of Steve's 2023 predictions: the "disruptor reset" and ponder what to make of Toys R Us' reboot. We then unpack a report from JLL on the massive increase in luxury brands opening their open stores and the impact on the luxury department store sector, before closing with earnings reports from Levi's and Tesco.

About Lindsey

Lindsey is a retail industry thought leader who specializes in consumer centric omnichannel commerce and innovation. With twenty years of extensive experience in retail supply chain, she leads digital transformation in analytics-enabled integrated planning and execution, serving clients across retail industry sub-segments including grocery, mass merchandise, apparel, footwear, personal care, and mobility. Lindsey has global experience working with a diverse set of tier-one retail and CPG companies. Within these top organizations, Lindsey has transformed operations, reducing cost, unlocking channel growth, and creating sustainable futures.

Lindsey is the Global Retail Lead for Capgemini Group.

About Stewart

With a deep understanding of retailer strategies, digital transformation, cutting-edge innovation, AI, automation, and strategic shifts toward a healthier and more sustainable future, I help companies stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving industry.

I've helped food retailers and their CPG partners to:

- Chart a course through the current economic turbulence, by understanding how to deliver on value beyond price
- Discover new, innovative store formats, including experience-driven, digitally-enabled, and highly efficient concepts
- Understand the challenges of ecommerce and maximizing profitability in an increasingly online world
- Learn about new financial models and alternative revenue streams
- Embrace the shift towards contactless checkout and payment technologies
- Stay ahead of the curve on health and wellness and sustainability, and understanding the associated costs of decarbonization efforts

I have a proven track record of working with C-level business leaders, executives, and senior business teams from a diverse range of countries including Canada, USA, Australia, UK, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, UAE, and New Zealand. My deep expertise in strategy development has helped these clients to reach their business goals and I am proud of the impact I have made. With a commitment to excellence, I bring my wealth of experience and know-how to every client engagement, delivering results that speak for themselves.

I'd love to connect with you, so send me an invite or message at stewart.samuel@igd.com.

More of our insights can be viewed at https://retailanalysis.igd.com/subscriber-home.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The 1:1 Future is Now: Barbara Connors, VP of Strategy & Acceleration at 84.51°/Kroger

michael@meleblanc.co (Barbara Connors) — Tue, 3 Oct 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for our second episode recorded live in the Vantage remote podcast studio at Groceryshop is Barbara Connors, Vice President of Strategy & Acceleration at 84.51° Kroger's retail data science, insights and media company.

We start out big picture with Barbara's view of how consumer preferences continue to evolve and which Covid era behaviors are likely to persist. Then we go deep on the move to healthier choices, the growth of private brands, how loyalty is changing, and the blurring of the lines between digital and physical channels. We also explore whether the one-to-one future is (finally) here and how Kroger and 84.51 are leveraging artificial intelligence for greater speed, relevance, and personalization.

As usual we kick-off with the week in retail news. We briefly delve into what appear to be growing economic headwinds before unpacking quarterly earnings from Nike and Costco--which were rather tepid-and JC Penney, which were quite disturbing. Then it's on to Amazon news which includes the new anti-trust suit filed by the FTC. as well as the company's investment in AI start-up Anthropic. We also try to sort out what's really behind Target's decision to close nine urban stores, before wrapping up with Gamestop's new CEO Ryan Cohen warning that without "extreme frugality" his company's days may be numbered.

NRF National Retail Security Survey 2023

About Barbara

VP, Strategy & Acceleration, 84.51°

As Vice President of Strategy and Acceleration for 84.51°, Barbara Connors is an innovator, problem solver and strategist for Kroger and many of the most recognizable consumer packaged goods companies in the global grocery retail industry. She is responsible for long-range innovation planning and near-term go-to-market strategy for 84.51° Insights. Barbara brings customer-centric thought leadership to the industry and supports acceleration of 84.51°’s entire alternative profit portfolio by driving strategic alignment between Kroger and 84.51°’s 1000+ CPG clients.

Barbara brings 15 years of customer data science experience to her role at 84.51°. She joined dunnhumbyUSA / 84.51° in 2008 and has held several leadership positions associated with both Kroger and CPGs. Her roles include work in merchandising analytics, data insights, loyalty, and media.

As a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business, she earned a master’s degree in marketing research. Barbara is a recipient of the 2022 Top Women in Grocery among Senior Executives and 2023 Path to Purchase 40 Under 40. 

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Live from GroceryShop: Three Top VC's Dish on the Future of Retail Tech

michael@meleblanc.co (Ashley Hartman, Matt Nichols, Kevin Parakkattu) — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Our third anniversary episode features the first of three episodes recorded live at GroceryShop in the Vantage podcast studio. We welcome three rock star venture capitalists--Ashley Hartman (Bluestein Ventures), Matt Nichols (Commerce Ventures), and Kevin Parakkattu (Plug and Play) --who share their thoughts on the future of retail tech. In a fast-paced discussion, we dig into the current funding environment, challenges scaling once promising technology, and what each of our panelists are looking for now. We also discuss the outlook for generative AI, connecting offline and online behavior, personalization, sustainability, store level analytics, retail media, and more!

As usual, we kick things off with our analysis of the week in retail news, starting with the Fed's interest rate pause and IPO fever. We then discuss Lowe's CEO saying the quiet part out loud when it comes to addressing a big driver of retail theft, before returning to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner for news of Stitch Fix's plans to right the ship. Then it's an early look at both holiday hiring plans and several firm's sales forecasts.

About Vantage

Enterprise brands and retailers in over 120 countries around the world use Vantage for data-driven ecommerce advertising. Vantage was built on the primary goal of helping ecommerce businesses of all sizes around the world grow. Driving this growth: artificial intelligence, machine-learning technology, predictive analytics, and performance at scale. We’re committed to helping businesses identify opportunities and grow revenue in an easy and data-driven way. We leverage the data from the thousands of retailers worldwide to best understand how to be successful.

About Ashley

Ashley co-leads Bluestein Ventures, driving the firm’s strategy, portfolio company support, and deal pipeline. Ashley has made over 30 investments in the space, and is an observer on three boards, including Base Culture, Grovara, and Rethink. Ashley has appeared in Forbes (here and here), has been featured on industry podcasts (here, here, and here), and regularly serves on food industry panels.

Ashley has deep experience leading growth strategy and establishing scalable infrastructure necessary to build sustainable ventures. Prior to Bluestein, Ashley was Vice President of Strategy & Operations at Hartman Windows & Doors, where she was responsible for growth strategy, leading expansion across the U.S. as well as setting the platform on which to grow. Ashley also worked for Coinstar in Business Development, focusing on launching their new ventures. After college, Ashley was an Analyst at NERA Economic Consulting.

Active in the Chicago and food community, Ashley serves on the Board of Naturally Chicago, on Selection Committee of the Good Food Accelerator, and as a mentor at Food Foundry, The Hatchery, and the LeAD Accelerator, in addition to being a judge at Booth’s new venture competitions. She is also on the National Leadership Council of United States Artists. Ashley received an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School and a BA in Political Economy, summa cum laude, from Williams College.

About Matt

Matt has been an investor in and operator of early-stage technology companies for more than 20 years. He leads the firm’s commerce infrastructure/retail technology investment team and is a member of the management committee. He serves on the boards of several portfolio companies, including Grabango and Pensa.

Prior to Commerce Ventures, Matt was the CEO of Gemvara, a disruptive jewelry eCommerce business that was sold to Berkshire Hathaway. Matt also worked as a venture capitalist at Highland Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley Venture Partners where his investments included Bullhorn (Acq’d by Vista Equity Partners), Pixable (Acq’d by SingTel), Avamar (Acq’d by EMC), Tarari (Acq’d by LSI), and Perceptive Software (Acq’d by Lexmark). Matt was a member of Morgan Stanley‘s Technology Corporate Finance team where he was part of the Google IPO team and also spent time in Google’s corporate development group.

Matt studied Economics at Pomona College and earned an MBA with high distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Fun Fact: Matt was once a nationally-ranked badminton player.

About Kevin

Highly versatile venture capital leader with a track record of demonstrated performance. Sourced and led 40+ Seed and Series A investments exceeding $10MM deployed with a combined market value of >$50MM inclusive of portfolio companies BigID, Madison Reed, ZigZag Global, ChargeAfter, MANSCAPED. Developed strategic partnerships with Nike, McDonalds, YUM Brands, Ernst & Young, PVH, and 12 other retailers and brands. Tenacious at developing investments, securing customer loyalty, and forging long term relationships with internal and external business partners. An adept people leader with a reputation of attracting and developing high performance teams.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Ways to Be Remarkable: Edit to Amplify

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 07:05:58 +0000

On this episode we debut a new segment, designed to recommend specific paths and actions to become truly remarkable. Leveraging material from Steve's best-selling book, consulting work, and keynote speaking, we go deep on a concept first popularized by Nike CEO Mark Parker. At its core, "editing to amplify" means giving customers fewer, more powerfully distinctive options. What was once largely applied to merchandising strategy can be extended more broadly. In today's world where it's increasingly harder to rise above the rest, a less is more strategy may no longer be a nice to have.

But first we start with our fast-paced unpacking of the week in retail news, including all things macro-economic and yet another anemic US monthly sales report. We move on to explore the IPO fever that's washing over Wall St. as Instacart, Klaviyo, and Birkenstock go pubic. We then return to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner and Rent the Runway's "challenging quarter" before shifting to more positive news from MyTheresa, which is the rare breed of online-only players that actually makes money. We conclude giving thumbs up to Kendra Scott's new partnership with Target.

More Cowbell

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Remarkably Local: Our Interview with Canadian Tire CEO Greg Hicks

michael@meleblanc.co (Greg Hicks) — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for a wide-ranging interview on how a more than 100 year old retailer stays relevant is Greg Hicks, CEO of Canadian Tire. We start with some history, tracing the evolution of one of North America's most successful retailers from its modest beginnings as a tire shop to today's diverse portfolio of store formats, powerful private brands, and financial services, comprising over 1,700 locations.

While Canadian Tire is rather unique in its iconic position in Canadian culture and dealer-based business model, their embrace of "connected retail" and how they stay customer-centric through an intense local focus contains incredibly valuable lessons for all retailers regardless of product focus or wherever they might be located. Greg, who was named the "Canadian Retailer of the Year" by the Retail Council of Canada earlier this year, also shares some of his key leadership principles, including how to balance pursuing short and long-term priorities.

But first, as usual, we kick-off with a fast-paced review of the week in retail news, including mostly depressing earnings reports from a diverse set of retailers including Dollars General, American Eagle, Saks, and the brand formerly known as Restoration Hardware. In stark contrast to last week's episode, Tractor Supply escalates its commitment to a winning course of action by picking up the pace of its store openings. We close wth more disruption in the disruptor space as Draper James, the Reese Witherspoon founded clothing brand, gets acquired.

Our interview with TSC's Hal Lawton.

About Greg

Greg Hicks was appointed President and CEO of Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) in March 2020. With a strategic mindset, tremendous commercial acumen, and the ability to build high-performing teams who deliver exceptional results, Greg has proven himself to be a world-class and purpose-driven leader. Building on the iconic Company’s more than one hundred years of success, Greg has aligned the enterprise to a clear Brand Purpose that We Are Here to Make Life in Canada Better and is driving sustainable, long-term growth that delivers value for all CTC’s stakeholders.

Prior to this appointment, Greg was President, Canadian Tire Retail (CTR), CTC’s largest banner, with more than 500 stores across Canada. In addition to overseeing all aspects of CTR’s business, Greg was accountable for its global operations, eCommerce initiatives and its valued relationship with Canadian Tire’s Associate Dealers. Greg is relentlessly focused on bringing customers the products they want and need to make life in Canada better. He built a world-class Owned Brands portfolio delivering over $4B in sales in 2019, and led the acquisition of Party City’s Canadian business, adding a new trip-driving category and attracting a new customer segment to CTR.

Previously, Greg served as Group Senior Vice-President, Consumer Products & Retail Experience, CTR, where he oversaw its General Merchandise and Automotive businesses and was also responsible for managing Store Experience, Store Operations, Product Sourcing and Quality, including the management of CTC’s Pacific Rim offices in Asia. Greg was instrumental in transforming Canadian Tire’s assortments for Life in Canada, including a renewed focus on Owned Brands, style and design, and new levels of product quality. He has been integral to the Company’s focus on disciplined performance management.

With more than 20 years of retail experience in senior leadership positions, strong management and merchandising experience, Greg has a proven ability to lead teams to success. Before joining Canadian Tire, Greg was the Chief Operating Officer at TSC Stores where he supervised all of TSC’s business operations. Greg has also advised and worked with large multi-national retailers on the development of Canadian strategies.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and an Honours Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey Business School. He is a member of CTC’s and the Business Council of Canada’s Boards of Directors and was previously a Trustee for CT REIT and the former Chair of the Retail Council of Canada. Greg was named Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year by the Retail Council of Canada in 2023 and is a past recipient of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 Award.

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Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Retail's Escalating Commitment to a Failing Course of Action

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 5 Sep 2023 07:05:00 +0000

The retail graveyard is already filled with brands that failed to transform for the new age of retail and many household names (JC Penney, Gap, Macy's, and more) are edging ever closer to the precipice. Despite the profound shifts in retail during the past decades, these iconic brands continue to fall prey to "The Innovator's Dilemma," choosing to double down on what is very clearly a losing hand.

In this episode we explore why so many organizations have allowed a huge gap to grow between how remarkable they need to be and how fast they need to change. We unpack how ego, ignorance, and fear often hinder necessary progress and propose a leadership mind shift that is required to transform at the speed of disruption. We even tease some content from Steve's new book.

But we start with our hot-takes on recent retail news, dipping into a slew of quarterly earnings, which were generally pretty tepid (notable exceptions included Lululemon and Ulta) and featured quite a lot of downward guidance and calling out of "shrinkage." We discuss the re-emergence of IPO fever (which includes the revelation that Instacart is really in the media business), explore why Madison Read is taking the "D" out of DTC, and discuss what to make of Shein partnering up with Forever 21. We conclude a discussion of growing pushes to get employees back to the office.

Interviews discussed in this episode:

Dave Kimbell

Joe Kudla

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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The Profitless Prosperity of Disruptor Brands (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 07:23:46 +0000

Welcome to a special encore episode of the podcast, where we open up the back catalogue and share some of our favourite and most popular episodes that are worth a second (or perhaps your first) listen.

Today, we bring you our update and perspectives on The Profitless Prosperity of Disruptor Brands with an episode first released in the fall of 2021. First, Steve updates us on the status of the many brands mentioned in our original episode, including Casper. We also unpack the implications for the long-term sustainability of these many brands when their market capitalization is depressed, unit economics are becoming more challenging, and consumer spending is weakening.

For more than a decade, digitally-native, vertically integrated brands (Warby Parker, Allbirds, et al)--as well as other innovative direct-to-consumer (companies (from Wayfair to Rent-the-Runway to Poshmark)--have sucked up a lot of attention in the industry and attracted many billions of venture capital. Yet as more face the harsh light of the public markets we're learning that some are rather small businesses and most are losing quite a lot of money.

Does the recent meltdown of Casper suggest that the sky high valuations of DTC brands are about to crash back to earth, or should we be more sanguine about the "growth over profit" strategy that most are pursuing. In particular, we discuss why the idea that significant direct-to-consumer (DTC) companies could be built without physical stores was a flawed investment premise and why it's turned out to be so difficult to profitably scale many of these brands. We also remind listeners that vertically integrated DTC retail is far from new, and wonder why legacy brands (Duluth Trading, Lands' End) carry anemic valuations relative to the insurgent brands that are far smaller and continue to hemorrhage cash.

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Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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The Beauty of Innovation with Ophelia Ceradini, former VP, Digital Technology & Innovation Group at Estée Lauder

michael@meleblanc.co (Ophelia Ceradini) — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for our final episode recorded live at last month's Lead Innovation Summit is Ophelia Ceradini, recently departed VP, Digital Technology & Innovation Group at Estée Lauder Companies Online. In a wide-ranging interview we go inside Estee Lauder's innovation process, digging into what inputs drive their strategic agenda, the role of employing a "test and learn" framework, and how to build a culture of experimentation. We also touch on the emerging world of "hyper-personalization."

As usual we kick-off with the week in retail news. In the earnings battle between two of the world's biggest retailers, Walmart is the clear victor delivering solid sales growth and raising their guidance, while Target reports its first down quarter in six years. The home improvement sector struggles continues with Home Depot lackluster results, while the flight to value is clear as TJX and Ross Stores grab market share. We then move to the blockbuster merger between Tapestry and Capri Holdings, before wrapping up with worries about the commercial real estate market (and WeWork in particular) and the big pullback in online grocery shopping.

Our interview with Judith McKenna, formerly President of Walmart International

Our interview with Nancy King, SVP Product at Target

About Ophelia

Ophelia Ceradini is the former Vice President of Digital Technology and Innovation at The Estée Lauder Companies. In this role, Ophelia oversaw Digital Innovation for the company’s portfolio of over 25 prestige beauty brands, where she lead consumer experience-driven innovation for Mobile, In-Store Digital and other Multi-Channel Platforms.

Over the last 15 years, Ophelia held various strategic digital and creative roles across The Estée Lauder Companies. In her previous role as the Executive Director of Production for the company’s Online division, Ophelia led the expansion of the company’s e-commerce footprint, contributing to the company’s position today as the number one e-commerce player in prestige beauty both globally and in the U.S. In addition, Ophelia launched The Estée Lauder Companies’ first mobile platform, which established the cornerstone of the company’s mobile-first strategy.

Ophelia loves the outdoors, embracing a healthy and active lifestyle that includes participating in triathlons, biking, swimming and running. She’s an aspiring ceramic artist and loves spending time with her family.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Honey, I Shrunk The Store: Retailers Go Smaller to Grow Bigger (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Today we bring you our update and perspectives on small format stores for big retail brands. We start with an update on this strategy since we originally released this episode in the fall of 2021.

It may seem like a paradox, but retailers like Macy's, Ikea, Nike, Target, Amazon, Nordstrom and more are all pursuing small store format strategies in hopes of getting closer to customers and reigniting market share growth. While this isn't fundamentally a new idea--and one could argue that for some it's coming at least a decade too late--this next generation of concepts is less about merely optimizing a store's size to make more locations work, but rooted in addressing the increasingly hybrid nature of retail's brave new world and the changing dimensions of convenience.

We unpack what's driving these moves, why it's important and what to avoid as we're likely to see a doubling down on this strategy in the years ahead

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Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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What It Takes to Maintain Youth Culture Relevance with Brie Olson CEO, PacSun

michael@meleblanc.co (Brie Olson) — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for the second of three episodes recorded live at last month's Lead Innovation Summit is Brie Olson, CEO of PacSun, a leading lifestyle brand that sells apparel and related items designed for teens and young adults.

In a wide-ranging interview we explore how to be remarkably relevant with GenZ customers. In particular we dig into crowd-sourcing customer insight via TikTok and other social media platforms to inform merchandising strategies, how PacSun's purpose guides their strategy, ways they're breaking down gender barriers online and in-store, and the important role collaborations play in brand differentiation.

We also learn about PacSun's unusual success in the Metaverse, how they maintain a culture of experimentation, and how they plan to stay ahead of fast growing online competition (spoiler alert: it centers on ethical and sustainable production and leveraging the power of harmonized retail). We end getting Brie's take on the criticality of empathy and vulnerability in leadership.

As usual we kick-off with a fast-paced review of the week in retail news, including what recent macro news portends for the future--and what role Barbie, Oppenheimer, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce may play. Then we move on to dissect Amazon's blockbuster quarter and reboot of its grocery dreams, before wondering why Wall Street seems so enamored with Wayfair's decidedly less than awesome earnings report. We also speculate about whether Nike's new fitness studios might rain on Peloton's revamp efforts.

About Brie

Serving as President of Pacsun, the popular youth retailer since 2021, and transitioning to her new role as CEO as of April 2023, Olson has played an instrumental role in building and strengthening Pacsun’s brand through innovative strategies with a Gen Z focus.

As an Innovative, tech-centric retail executive who consistently drives brand strength and revenue growth through game-changing merchandising and marketing initiatives, Brieane leads with creativity, innovation, and a digitalfirst mentality. During her tenure at PacSun, Olson spearheaded innovative collaborations for the LA based lifestyle brand, including working closely with Kanye West and Kendall and Kylie Jenner and launching both Men’s and Women’s shops at Selfridges in 2018 with launch parties hosted by PacSun partners Jerry Lorenzo.

Olson graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communications & Business and attended Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, where she is currently an AMP Ambassador. She is a board member at Women In Retail Leadership, Shoptalk, Pacsun and Design Thinking for UC schools. She currently resides in Newport Beach, California with her two children, Colette and Rousseau, ages 8 and 10.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Remarkable Retail Gets Active with Vuori's CEO Joe Kudla (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Joe Kudla) — Tue, 1 Aug 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Today we bring you our exclusive interview with Joe Kudla, CEO and Founder of Vuori, the fast-growing Southern California-inspired activewear brand. Joe's journey is a fascinating one that anyone in retail and branding will enjoy and can learn from.

We discuss the origin story of the company and discover how two big pivots allowed Vuori to find its unique positioning and set it on its path to its recent $4 billion valuation. We also unpack how Vuori plans to stay remarkable in a crowded activewear space and why physical retail will be key to its next stage of growth. Lastly we learn about the importance of "word of mouth"--to be literally remarkable--in propelling Vuori forward.

Since we released this episode, Vuori has opened 30+ retail stores, 10 in 2023 so far, and is targeting about 25/year. And is profitable. Truly Remarkable.

About Joe

Joe Kudla is the founder and CEO of Vuori, a rapidly growing performance apparel brand inspired by the aspirational active Southern California lifestyle. A student of life and various active pursuits, he drew upon his personal interests to bring a new perspective to the activewear market, prioritizing versatility, comfort and sustainability. Prior to Vuori, he started Vaco San Diego, a professional accounting and IT consulting firm and he started his career as a CPA at Ernst & Young. Joe earned his accounting degree from the University of San Diego where he was acknowledged as an all American Lacrosse player.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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LIVE FROM THE LEAD INNOVATION SUMMIT: What's New & Next in DTC featuring Simeon Siegel

michael@meleblanc.co (Simeon Siegel) — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 07:05:00 +0000

We kick-off Season 7 with an engaging conversation on the future of direct-to-consumer retail recorded live on stage at the Lead Innovation Summit in New York City earlier this month.

Michael leads Steve--and now three time guest on the pod--Simeon Siegel, Managing Director & Senior Analyst at BMO Capital Markets in a wide-ranging discussion that touches on aligning on a useful definition of "DTC," dissecting what's going on right now that's most important, and what we need to be paying attention to going forward. We cover a lot of ground in less than 25 minutes.

But we kick things of as usual with the latest retail news, including how macro-economic forces might be shifting as we await news on another interest rate increase and a possible UPS strike. We also touch on implications from the US Census Bureau's monthly sales report, why claims of a successful Prime Day may represent a premature celebration, and just why it is Lululemon can't find a buyer for its disappointing Mirror acquisition. We wrap up with the realization that apparently It's a Barbie world and were all just living in it.

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Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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It's Time to Get Serious About Transformation. Get Ready for Season 7 of the Remarkable Retail Podcast

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 07:05:00 +0000

This is Steve Dennis, innovation & strategy consultant, keynote speaker and best-selling author of Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption.

Succession patriarch Logan Roy reminds us that it's one thing to be loved. It's another thing to get serious about the harsh realities we often face and to do the work we must to transform at the speed of disruption. In an era of unrelenting change and increasingly volatile market conditions to be anything less than remarkable is to risk irrelevance.

So join me and my co-host Michael LeBlanc every week as we challenge the status quo, dissect the latest news and trends, and speak with the retail industry leaders who are leaping into a more remarkable future.

Listeners worldwide have made us the retail industry's top-rated and top-listened to independent podcast. This season we'll continue with our unique take on retail’s most important news and showcasing those senior retail executives and industry thought-leaders that are shaping the future of modern retail, while also previewing material from Steve's forthcoming new book.

So be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you enjoy your podcasts today and brace yourself for a steady stream of wisdom, straight talk and lively conversation.

Season 7 launches on July 25th, and we can't wait for you to join us!

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Ulta's Remarkable Growth Story featuring Dave Kimbell, CEO (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Dave Kimbell) — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Today we bring you our exclusive interview with Dave Kimbell, CEO of beauty retailer Ulta. First, Steve gives us a powerful update on Ulta's performance under the leadership of Dave since 2022. Both their financial performance and market share expansion are genuinely remarkable.

Ulta has become one of the most remarkable growth stories in all of retail, growing from a small regional player to an $8 billion powerhouse with more than 1,300 stores and an expanding presence within Target. Dave discusses the brand's evolution and some of the keys to their success, including a relentless focus on the customer (instead of channels), the importance of human-connection and storytelling and why physical stores remain critical to their growth strategy.

About Dave

Dave was named Chief Executive Officer in June 2021 after having previously served as President since December 2019, Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer since March 2015 and Chief Marketing Officer since February 2014. Prior to joining Ulta Beauty, he served as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President at U.S. Cellular, Chief Marketing Officer of Seventh Generation, Vice President of Marketing at PepsiCo, and held a number of brand management roles in the Beauty Division of The Procter and Gamble Company from 1995 to 2001. Dave currently serves on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago and Chicago lights, and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago.

October 2021 Ulta Investor Day Presentation

March 2023 Ulta Investor Presentation

About Us

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is now available at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Retail's Year of Living Efficiently

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 07:05:00 +0000

In our final episode of our sixth season we briefly share our mid-year highlights before dipping into the week in retail news, which includes the prospect of a UPS strike wreaking havoc on the world of e-commerce. Then we reflect on Overstock's fire sale scooping up of Bed, Bath & Beyond's intellectual property and how the Container Store and Dormify hope to vill the back-to-school void. We then try to make sense of the rumor that Neiman Marcus may sell of its Bergdorf Goodman division, tying the broader troubles among luxury department stores to shifting go-to-market requirements.

Then it's on to our main topic which centers on how economic headwinds seem to be turning 2023 into a year of efficiency. In that context we remind retailers that cost cutting and store closings don't address underlying issues of customer relevance ("bailing doesn't fix the hole") and that we need to careful not to confuse efficiency with effectiveness. Mostly, Steve shares some of his key "do's" and "don'ts" to be smart about addressing sales and margin pressures while remaining committed to an building an innovation pipeline and sustaining important transformation efforts.

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Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

As a reminder, we're taking next week off, followed by a couple of encore episodes, before returning with Season 7 July 25th.

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Winner Sells All: Exploring the Amazon and Walmart Rivalry with Jason Del Rey

michael@meleblanc.co (Jason Del Rey) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us in conversation about his just released new book Winner Sells All: Amazon, Walmart, and the Battle for Our Wallets is Jason Del Rey, the veteran business journalist who has spent a decade reporting on Amazon, Walmart, and how technology is transforming retail.

We explore the evolution of the rivalry and how it's shaped the world of commerce, while learning about some of the key inflection points that have propelled Walmart's race to embrace digital technology, including the Jet.com acquisition. We compare and contrast the two retail giant's innovation DNA through Jason's great behind the scenes anecdotes gleaned from his more than 150 interviews. We conclude with a review of each company's healthcare ambitions.

But first, as is our custom, we kick-off the penultimate episode of Season 6 with the week in retail news, exploring what the latest macro-economic news portends for the balance of the year. Then we do some quick hits on Overstock.com's "stalking horse" bid for Bed, Bath & Beyonds intellectual property, Westfield's decision to walk away from its downtown San Francisco mall, and what to make of Kroger's lukewarm earnings report.

About Jason

Jason Del Rey is a veteran business journalist who spent a decade at Recode, a leading online technology publication, reporting on Amazon, Walmart, and how technology is transforming retail, both online and in stores. He is the host of Land of the Giants: The Rise of Amazon, a narrative podcast series about the tech giant’s rise and the impact of its relentless ambition on hundreds of millions of people across the globe. He was also the producer of Code Commerce, an event series featuring unscripted interviews with the most influential executives and entrepreneurs working at the intersection of technology and commerce. In 2019, the National Retail Federation named him one of the “25 People Shaping Retail’s Future.” He lives in Northern New Jersey with his wife and two children.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Retail Transformation and the Need to Change (Almost) Everything with Wim Blaauw, Chief Digital Officer for the Inkga Group/IKEA

michael@meleblanc.co (Wim Blaauw) — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 07:05:00 +0000

As we continue our focus on global retail transformation we welcome Wim Blaauw, Chief Digital Officer for the Inkga Group/IKEA. In a wide-ranging discussion we explore the concept of human-centric technology innovation including the notion of responsible automation. We also discuss the Group's sustainability efforts, an accelerating commitment to digital transformation, and the evolution of its omni-channel strategy. We conclude with an overview of Ikea's hybrid format growth strategy in response to unrelenting disruption.

We kick-off the episode with the week in retail news and a brief progress report on Steve's annual predictions. We revisit the "disrupter reset," dipping into Rent the Runway and Stitch Fix's progress (or lack thereof) before turning our attention to the accelerating collapse of the unremarkable middle. We also explore emerging troubles among luxury department stores, before concluding with a word of caution on the idea that Nike is backtracking on its Consumer Direct Offence.

About Wim

Wim Blaauw is Chief Digital Officer (a role he shares with Parag Parekh) at Ingka Group. He has the responsibility for developing digital capabilities and accelerating the digital transformation of the business.

Wim has extensive experience in retail, supply chain and digital. He joined IKEA in the Netherlands, in 2002 where he, among other roles, was Store Manager for IKEA Haarlem and Country Retail Logistics Manager. In 2013, he left for IKEA UK/Ireland for a position as Deputy Country Manager, leading the multi-channel transformation. In 2016, Wim became Customer Fulfilment Manager and Fulfilment Operations Manager. In 2020 he became the Digital Performance and Development Manager responsible for building digital capabilities globally and securing that Group Digital is operating efficiently.

Wim truly embodies the IKEA vision and values as a leader. He believes in the spirit of togetherness, that we are stronger when we trust each other, pushing towards the same direction, and above all, having fun together.

Wim has a degree in Economics and Supply Chain from HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. Wim is married, has three daughters and lives in the Netherlands. Outside of work, he has a passion for sports and loves being outdoors.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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When It All Clicks: Global Retail Innovation with Lego Group's Martin Urrutia

michael@meleblanc.co (Martin Urrutia) — Tue, 6 Jun 2023 07:05:00 +0000

In our final episode recorded live at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona our guest is Martin Urrutia, Global Head Retail Experience & Innovation for the Lego Group. Martin takes us inside the innovation process at one of the world's most beloved brands. He shares how Lego's process has evolved and how they incorporate customer insight, consumer trends, technology disruption and brand vision to bring a steady stream of new concepts to market. We also discuss the important of a 'test and learn' culture and building a portfolio of innovation initiatives along a continuum from refresh to blue sky.

We kick-off the episode with the week in retail news, including our analysis of several pieces of macro-economic data, which present a bit of a mix picture ahead of the US Fed's decision on interest rates. We then shift into earnings from Lululemon (remarkable), Dollar General (surprisingly sluggish), Nordstrom (demonstrably awful), and Macy's (more running to stand still).

Steve's Forbes article: Macy's and Kohl's Keep Running to Stand Still

We will be taking the Remarkable Retail podcast on the road to the Lead Innovation Summit, where BMO Managing Director Simeon Siegel will be joining on stage to discuss what's new and what's next for DTC. If you want to join us, take advantage of our special discount code....RRxTheLeadSummit

About Marin

With a career of 25 years on Retail and Innovation that allowed me to gain global experience due to the different assignments to work with different FMCG to bring their brands alive anchoring actions on consumer, shopper and retail insights. I believe that if its not measured there is no impact, therefore in most of the programs that I have driven I add a strong focus on measuring commercial and marketing impact that creates an ecosystem that constantly strives for innovation, continuous improvement and challenges the status-quo.
I joined The LEGO Group in 2010 as responsible of the Global In-Store Agenda as part of the Global Shopper Marketing team based at the HQ in Denmark, currently with the role as Head of Retail Innovation, and responsible for our internal Global Retail Network.

My vision to offer the best shopping experience at any location and retail channel where our products can be found. This will allow us to bring our brand alive and to inspire shoppers and consumers at the point of sale and point of experience; as retail plays a fundamental role on the path to purchase, therefore my passion to develop retail experiences that are memorable, delightful and available to all consumers and shoppers around the world

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Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Is Work Working? A Remarkable Conversation with Seth Godin

michael@meleblanc.co (Seth Godin) — Tue, 30 May 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Renowned author, entrepreneur, and leadership teacher, Seth Godin returns to the podcast to discuss his incredibly timely and urgent new book:The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams.

In a wide-ranging interview Seth challenges us to re-think the nature of work, asking are we going to engage in a race to the bottom, or a race to the top where the work we do is rich with meaning and purpose? In unpacking Seth's most personal work yet, we go deep on some big, important questions including: Why do bosses care where we work, why do we get so attached to false proxies, and what should meetings actually be for? Ultimately, we explore what leaders must do to re-imagine work for an entirely new era.

But as is our custom, we start with the week in retail news, including the tsunami of earning's releases which continues to highlight increasingly challenging conditions, particularly among big ticket players (RH, Best Buy, and Lowes) and brands trapped in the unremarkable middle (Gap and Kohl's). Yet we see that remarkable retailers often defy gravity, as strong results from Anthropologie and Dick's Sporting Goods demonstrate. We also dip into Five Below's plans to open 400 new stores, before challenging Target's decision to pull Pride merchandise.

We also announce that we will be taking the Remarkable Retail podcast on the road to the Lead Innovation Summit, where BMO Managing Director Simeon Siegel will be joining on stage to discuss what's new and what's next for DTC. If you want to join us, take advantage of our special discount code....RRxTheLeadSummit

About Seth Godin

Seth Godin is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work. His books have been translated into 38 languages. Godin writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world, and two of his TED talks are among the most popular of all time. He is the founder of the altMBA, the social media pioneer Squidoo, and Yoyodyne, one of the first internet companies. Find out more at seths.blog.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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What We (Still) Get Wrong About Physical Retail--And Why It Matters

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 23 May 2023 08:03:21 +0000

This week we go guest free to tackle some of the more pernicious misperceptions, missteps, and false narratives that continue to get in the way of retailers' making the strategic progress they so urgently need. As the Covid sales bump disappears and consumer demand wanes we will--as Warren Buffet famously said--"get to see who's been swimming naked." Without aggressive action retailers stuck in the unremarkable middle will soon face a harsh reckoning.

Among the topics we take on is the false notion that physical retail is back, the danger of treating physical and digital sales as a zero-sum game, the changing role of brick-and-mortar locations, and the need for many retailers to end their "one-size-fits-all' real estate strategies to reconfigure in favor of a more hybrid approach.

But as is our custom, we start with a fast-paced analysis of the most important retail news of the week, including what the latest US monthly sales report says about the slowing pace of spending and winning and losing merchandise categories. We then take on mostly disappointing earnings from Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and TJX, before turning our attention to the emerging remarkable growth story of On, the performance running and apparel brand that is far from a wobbly unicorn.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Putting Customers First, with Special Guest Martin Newman

michael@meleblanc.co (Martin Newman) — Tue, 16 May 2023 07:05:00 +0000

In our second episode recorded live at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona, our special guest is author and customer-centricity thought leader Martin Newman.

While being customer-centric is a stated priority of most brands, many have a hard time delivering on the promise. Martin helps us understand the challenges and the essential building blocks of putting customers first, while laying out how to find your brand's North Star and assemble a truly holistic approach.

First up, however, are our hot-takes on the week in retail news, including another trip to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner as "retail disruptors" like Allbirds and Wayfair continue to set alarms off with disappointing earnings results. Better news comes from Walmart with the naming of a new top merchant, while Amazon offers Prime customers an incentive to play fetch.

About Martin

Martin is one of the world’s leading authorities on customer centricity, and a force for positive change for consumers and brands.

As well as fighting for consumer rights Martin is an advocate for diversity, social responsibility and employee engagement for all consumer facing sectors. These issues top the agenda in his media appearances across national press and television.

He appears regularly on BBC TV and Radio, on Sky, ITV, Channel 5 and a host of other media channels such as LBC, The Times and FT to discuss consumer issues relating to the retail, travel, casual dining, automotive and financial services sectors.

Martin has worked for 40 years leading the multichannel operations for some of the world’s most recognisable retail brands. These include Burberry, Intersport, Pentland Brands (Speedo, Berghaus), Harrods and Ted Baker. His bestselling book 100 Practical Ways to Improve Customer Experience, is seen as definitive within the sector and was shortlisted for the Business Book of the Year Award 2019.

Following his career in the consumer sector, Martin founded global ecommerce and digital consultancy Practicology, which was sold in 2018 after having scaled up to a global staff of 100 in offices across the UK, EU, Middle East and Asia. Martin has since set up The Customer First Group and new consumer facing website Customer Service Action.

Martin delivers keynote presentations and chairs many leading industry events around the World. He has shared stages with innovators and entrepreneurs alike, including Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, to discuss the future of the internet and its implications for retailers.

Amongst Martin’s many accolades, he has featured in various industry leader lists including Retail Week’s top 50 eTail Power List five years in a row. He has also been named consecutively in the Retail Insiders top 100 Retail Movers & Shakers list, as well as the British Vogue Online Fashion 100.

Martin judges numerous industry awards such as the World Retail Awards, the Customer Experience Awards, the Retail Insider Awards, the PayPal eTail Awards, the Online Retail Awards of Australia and the Great British Entrepreneur awards.

Martin’s counsel also encompasses roles as Non-Executive Chairman of Scout Store, and Board Advisor working with the Boards of consumer-facing businesses on their key strategic questions and challenges. He is also a board advisor to Clearpay, the Mayborn Group and is a Trustee of In Kind Direct and a member of the prestigious KPMG IPSOS Retail Think Tank.

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The Search for Transformative Leadership with Spencer Stuart's Sally Elliott

michael@meleblanc.co (Sally Elliott) — Tue, 9 May 2023 07:05:00 +0000

We kick off a series of episodes recorded live in our pop-up studio at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona with Sally Elliott, Co-leader of the Global Retail Practice at Spencer Stuart, one of the world's leading executive search firms.

Sally shares key lessons from her vast experience working with top retail Boards and teams around the globe on critical issues of succession planning and what it takes to drives successful transformation. We also get her perspectives on what the new super powers of leadership are and how they've evolved in this new era of constant disruption. Lastly, we learn why empathy, vulnerability, humility, and collaboration are so critical for today's retail leaders.

First up, however, are our hot-takes on the week in retail news, including parsing the implications from the latest interest rate hikes, earnings from Crocs (remarkable), Apple and Starbucks (solid), and Peloton (yikes). We also dissect Nordstrom's shocking decision to close its full-line and Rack store in San Francisco and explore why and how Bed, Bath & Beyond shuttered stores are being scooped up,

https://www.spencerstuart.com/research-and-insight/the-future-of-retail-leadership-why-retailers-need-to-invest-in-future-leaders-more-than-ever

About Sally

Sally Elliott is a specialist in CEO and Board succession across the global retail sector. She is passionate about helping retail boards make the best people leadership decisions for their organisations. Based in London, Sally is the co-leader of Spencer Stuart’s Global Retail Practice. She partners with privately and publicly owned retailers and retail brands to support their strategic objectives through board and leadership renewal, as well as advisory work. Most of Sally’s experience in executive search and leadership advisory, spanning over two decades, has been focused on CEO and non-executive board projects for retailers around the world. Sally is an advisory board member of the World Retail Congress, the leading global forum for the retail sector, where she serves alongside CEOs of some of the world’s most recognised and innovative retailers. Sally is a frequent writer about retail leadership topics, and she also speaks regularly at various consumer forums and events.

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BONUS EPISODE: The Latest in Retail Returns with Amena Ali, CEO, Optoro from Shoptalk 2023

michael@meleblanc.co (Amena Ali) — Fri, 5 May 2023 21:34:04 +0000

Welcome to a special Shoptalk 2023 Bonus episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, presented by MarketDial, recorded live beachside in the Wizeline podcasting studio at Mandalay Bay Beach, Las Vegas.

In this episode, we meet with Amena Ali, Chief Executive Officer at Optoro. Optoro is a leading provider of returns technology for retail brands, using data science and real-time decision-making automation to make returns better for customers, retailers, and the planet. We wanted to explore their innovations in and around product returns. Amena is new to the business and the retail industry, so with a fresh perspective, Steve and I were curious about what Amena and Optoro were up to.

About Amena

Amena Ali is a proven leader with more than 20 years experience in delivering value for customers and successfully growing software businesses.

Amena has an exceptional track record of scaling high-growth technology businesses in SaaS and enterprise software, including at her two recent CEO roles. She has led successful revenue generation at startups, middle market, and public companies.

Amena most recently served as CEO of Airside Mobile, a leader in digital identity verification technology. Previously, Ali was CEO of database monitoring company VividCortex, where she led the company to grow ARR by 80% in 17 months. She has held several senior leadership positions, including at Earth Networks, Softek Storage Solutions (acquired by IBM) and Legato Systems (acquired by EMC). She serves on the board of database DevOps company Liquibase. Amena started her career as a management consultant at Bain & Company. She holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a Bachelor’s Degree from Wesleyan University.

Outside of work, Amena enjoys traveling, her family, yoga, and “a good walk spoiled”, aka chasing a small white ball with a long stick on rolling greens.

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Next Level Digital with Ryan den Rooijen, Chief Ecommerce Officer, Chalhoub Group

michael@meleblanc.co (Ryan den Rooijen) — Tue, 2 May 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for another great episode recorded at the Wizeline remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk 2023 is Ryan den Rooijen, Chief Ecommerce Officer for Chaloub Group, the largest retail operator in the Middle East and leading partner for the world's iconic luxury brands.

In a wide ranging conversation on all things retail, Ryan shares his deep knowledge and keen insights on how omni-channel retailing and e-commerce have evolved and, most importantly, where's it is all headed. We also learn about his key Shoptalk take-aways, the importance of customer journeys (not customer journey) mapping, the state of digital maturity, and why "seamless" shopping is now table stakes. We also discuss our mutual disdain for "phygital" and a whole lot more!

But as usual we kick-off with a fast-paced review of the week in retail news, including a fast-paced unpacking of Amazon earnings and what's next for Bed, Bath & Beyond now that they've filed for Chapter 11. Then we share our love for Target and the roll-out of curbside returns and LL Bean's social media break. We conclude with LVMH's blockbuster earnings and remarkable market valuation.

About Ryan

Ryan den Rooijen is the Chief Ecommerce Officer of the Chalhoub Group, the leading luxury retailer in the Middle East. He manages teams including trade, product, growth, operations, and analytics. His organisation is focused on creating great customer experiences, whatever the platform.

Prior to his current role, Ryan held the position of Chief Data Officer of the Chalhoub Group. In this role he worked to infuse data and analytics into every element of the organisation, ensuring we always keep the customer at heart. He previously worked as Dyson’s Director of Data, and before that at Google, where he led the development of the global sales analyst curriculum.

Ryan completed an MSc in Social Science of the Internet at the University of Oxford. DataIQ repeatedly named him one of the most influential people in data-driven business. His work focuses on unlocking organisations’ potential using data and digital, beyond the buzzwords.

When he is not in the office, Ryan enjoys long-distance running and being a hands-on dad.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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BONUS EPISODE: World Retail Congress 2023 Recap

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 12:24:38 +0000

In this special episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, presented by MarketDial, Michael and Steve discuss their experience at the World Retail Congress 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

We start by talking about our store tour organized by the WRC and our visit to Primark's flagship store in Barcelona. Then we move on to discuss the Congress itself and what made it worthwhile attending, including the exciting format of the event and the central themes and learnings from the Congress.

As a Gold Media event sponsor, we hosted several thought leaders for interviews on upcoming episodes in our pop-up podcast studio. We discuss the big insights of the Congress and highlighted some of our favourite sessions and people we met and interacted with. World Retail Congress is a top-drawer event worth attending for every retail format and retail industry insiders.

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Remarkable Lifestyle Merchandising with Anu Narayanan, President, Anthropologie

michael@meleblanc.co (Anu Narayanan) — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 07:05:00 +0000

We wrap up a month of episodes featuring remarkable women retail leaders with another fascinating interview recorded at the Wizeline remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk 2023. Our special guest is Anu Narayanan President, Anthropologie Women's, Beauty & Wedding.

Anu drops a ton of leadership, strategy, and merchandising wisdom accumulated during a storied career at several top brands. In particular we go deep into what it means to be a lifestyle fashion brand and how she and her team bring that strategy to life at Anthropologie. We also delve into the innovation process at Anthropologie, what it means to "edit to amplify," and how smart calculated risk taking can accelerate growth. We close learning about how technology can be leveraged for far greater merchandising agility.

But we kick things with the latest in retail news, including another sale by Walmart as they appear to be winding down their digitally native brand experiment. We take a short detour into Elon world discussing his rapid unscheduled disassembly event and before mourning the loss of Steve's blue checkmark. Ikea's sets its sights on explosive growth (ha!), while David's Bridal and Bed, Bath & Beyond seem headed in the opposite direction.Then we touch on Lululemon's massive Mirror write-down, layoffs at Best Buy and (yet again) Amazon, and what Hermes' stellar results may portend for luxury retail more broadly.

About Anu

Anu Narayanan joined Anthropologie Group as President of Women’s, Beauty, & Weddings in the Summer of 2018. Anu is passionate about the Anthropologie brand and bringing an incredible product assortment to their deeply loyal customer.

Anu has profound experience within the women’s retail category and prior to joining the Anthropologie brand, Anu spent over 20 years focused on Trend Analytics, Merchandise Planning, Buying & Design at other industry leading brands such as Talbots, Ann Taylor, LBrands and Gap Inc.

Anu is a strong merchandising professional with a BS in Finance & Marketing from Boston College of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts at the Carroll School of Management.

On a personal note, Anu loves to spend time with her family, vacation in the Bahamas, bake, indulge in anything on Bravo and is attempting to learn the guitar.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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A Very Cool Growth Story with Carrie Baker, President, Canada Goose

michael@meleblanc.co (Carrie Baker) — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for the second of several episodes recorded at the Wizeline remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk 2023 is Carrie Baker, President of Canada Goose, the performance luxury brand that has grown to more than 50 of its own stores, along with an expansive online and global wholesale presence.

In a wide-ranging interview we learn about the brand's legendary history and its unique positioning in the luxury retail world. We get Carrie's perspective on the complementary role of direct-to-consumer and whole partnerships in driving growth while maintaining a memorable and authentic experience. We learn the origin of Canada Goose's truly remarkable "Cold Rooms," the role of innovation, and how the company works to assure authenticity. We also discuss its recently launched resale program.

As usual we kick-off with a fast-paced review of the week in retail news, including the US Census Bureau's monthly sales report which suggests more storm clouds on the horizon.Then we un-pack Amazon CEO Andy Jassey's Annual Letter, which points to expected continued economic headwinds but a commitment to figuring out a physical retail strategy for grocery. Then it's a quick jaunt to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner touching on Walmart's unloading of Bonobo's, Caspers fire sale of its Canadian business, and Rent the Runway's continued profitless prosperity. We close calling BS on UBS's blaming e-commerce for the predicted shutting of 50,000 stores.

World Retail Congress Offer: Select Guest, and use offer code WRCRR20 for 20% off your Retailer Pass.

About Carrie

Recognized as a dynamic and collaborative leader, Carrie oversees the global commercial business, as well as Marketing, Experience, and Insights. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, she is responsible for driving the company’s growth and customer engagement. In her previous role as President, North America, she established a high-performance team and led the region’s significant business acceleration. Carrie previously held the roles of Chief of Staff and Chief Communications Officer, helping lead the company through critical initiatives including its successful IPO and development of its industry-leading Sustainable Impact Strategy. Prior to joining Canada Goose in 2012, she was a Senior Vice President at a North American communications agency specializing in coaching executives and building the brands of some of North America’s largest retail, technology and consumer goods companies. Carrie was named WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women Canada in 2019 and serves on the Board of Directors of Trillium Health Partners Foundation.

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Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Going Global with Judith McKenna, President & CEO, Walmart International

michael@meleblanc.co (Judith McKenna) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 07:05:00 +0000

Joining us for the first of several episodes recorded at the Wizeline remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk is Judith McKenna, who heads up Walmart International.

We touch on Judith's journey across the pond to lead Walmart's $100 billion plus division, which operates across 19 countries, before jumping into the challenges and opportunities of executing the Walmart brand promise and purpose while staying attuned to diverse market needs ("strong local businesses powered by Walmart"). Judith shares her perspectives on the importance of strategic alignment, sustaining a culture of innovation, and the emerging role of personalization in driving growth. We close with Judith's take on how to navigate the volatile future of retail and some of her key leadership tips.

We start as usual with a review of the week in retail news, including how a revision in the jobless claims numbers suggests a cooling job market, RH's recent (mostly) disappointing earnings release, and Costco's first negative monthly comparable sales report in three years. Then we dissect encouraging news from Walmart before a quick return to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner with word of a bankruptcy filing from Boxed and Chewy's decision to close two fulfillment centers. We wrap up with Bed, Bath & Beyond's continuing financing gymnastics, which don't seem to bode well for their future.

We also give a quick shout-out to friend of the pod, Seth Godin, who releases his latest book, The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams, next month. You can learn more and find links to pre-order here.

World Retail Congress Offer: Select Guest, and use offer code WRCRR20 for 20% off your Retailer Pass.

About Judith

Judith McKenna is president and CEO of Walmart International where she is responsible for all aspects of Walmart’s footprint outside the U.S., leading a team of 550,000 associates across 23 countries. Judith is transforming the shape of the international portfolio while expanding eCommerce and omnichannel offerings, leveraging innovations from across international markets to build strong local businesses that are powered by Walmart, and working to make lives easier by creating a global culture that puts the customer at the center of everything.

Prior to leading Walmart International, Judith was executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S. During that time she led the rollout of online grocery to the U.S. by leveraging best practices from her time in the U.K. Before that, she served as executive vice president of strategy and development for Walmart International, chief operating officer for Asda Stores Ltd. in her native U.K, and as Asda’s chief financial officer for more than a decade.

In addition to leading the business, Judith has a lifelong passion for developing people at all levels and creating opportunities for learning. She’s the daughter of two teachers and is an advocate for associate training and education. She was also the architect behind the introduction of Walmart Academies to the U.S.

Judith is a board member of Walmex in Mexico, Flipkart and PhonePe in India, as well as the Walton Arts Center. She also appears on Fortune’s list of Most Powerful Women in Business and Forbes’ list of the World’s Most Powerful Women. Judith graduated with a law degree from University of Hull in England before earning her Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales accounting qualification at KPMG and was awarded an honorary doctorate in law from University of Hull.

About Us

Walgreen's Customer-Centricity Journey with Tracey Brown, Executive Vice President and President, Walgreens Retail & U.S. Chief Customer Officer

michael@meleblanc.co (Tracey Brown) — Tue, 4 Apr 2023 07:05:00 +0000

We kick off a month of showcasing remarkable female leaders from some of retail's leading brands, with special guest, Tracey Brown, Walgreens Boots Alliance's Executive Vice President and President, Walgreens Retail & U.S Chief Customer Officer. Tracey's diverse background in advertising, non-profit leadership, and previous stint at the other "Wal" (Walmart) prepared her well for her current assignment at one of the world's largest and most successful drugstore chains.

We review the tremendous evolution of the company from its founding in 1901 to becoming a leader in health and wellness. We unpack what it means to be a Chief Customer, the challenge of breaking down silos to put the customer at the center of all you do, and the critical role of agility to maintain your competitive edge. We close with some of Tracey's top leadership tips on how to mobilize people to do go above and beyond for the customer.

But we kick things off with a quick review of the week in retail news, including the NRF's annual sales forecast, Lululemon's strong earnings report, and Macys CEO Jeff Gennette's plan to hand the keys of the kingdom to Bloomingdale's CEO Tony Springs early next year, Then we discuss Alibaba's decision to split into six groups, more news out of Amazon, Bed, Bath & Beyond's hail mary financing strategy, and more new formats from Nike.

About Tracey

Tracey Brown is executive vice president, president of Walgreens retail and U.S. chief customer officer, overseeing the transformation of Walgreens to a healthcare company, to create more joyful lives through better health.

She is responsible for the Walgreens consumer experience across all consumer touchpoints and leads development of strategies to advance Walgreens across a complex and dynamic competitive landscape. Brown oversees store operations, merchandising, marketing, product, digital, omnichannel, store format, data and analytics, and supply chain organizations, as Walgreens further accelerates its digital transformation, in order to create a seamless integration across all channels – in-store, mobile and online – to provide a unified, consistent brand experience.

Brown has more than 30 years of experience driving business growth, operations, creating omnichannel customer experiences and leveraging digital capabilities to connect consumers and brands. Most recently, she served as chief executive officer for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), where she led the organizational transformation including fundraising, advocacy, science and research while fighting for people living with diabetes.

Prior to the ADA, Brown was senior vice president, operations and chief experience officer for Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart Inc. She also served as CEO and managing director of RAPP Dallas, a data-drive integrated marketing agency, chief operating officer for direct marketing agency Direct Impact and director of worldwide consumer marketing for Advanced Micro Devices. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions at American Express, Proctor & Gamble and Exxon Mobil.

Brown graduated from University of Delaware with her B.S. in chemical engineering and received her MBA from Columbia Business School in New York.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Weight Watchers and Yeti. In 2021, she was named one of Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Black Corporate Directors, and in 2022, she was listed on Forbes CEO Next List.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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BONUS EPISODE: ShopTalk 2023 Recap

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 08:56:46 +0000

We're just back from Las Vegas and Shoptalk 2023. Before we left, we jumped on the mic for a fast-paced review of some of our key takeaways.

We also recorded several new podcast episodes with top retail leaders in the Wizeline remote podcast studio/beach cabana. Stay tuned as we release them over the coming weeks.

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Remarkably Inclusive Retail: Jarvis Sam, CEO and Founder, Rainbow Disruption

michael@meleblanc.co (Jarvis Sam) — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:08:00 +0000

This week we welcome Jarvis Sam founder a leading voice in the world of diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I), CEO & founder of The Rainbow Disruption, and former head of DEI at Nike. In a thought-provoking and wide-ranging conversation we discuss the business imperative behind being more welcoming to various communities and the range and contours of diversity. We touch both on the theoretical frameworks and well as the practical realities of driving meaningful change through strategy, operations and optimization. It’s a veritable Masterclass in one of the most important leadership issues of our time.

But first we open with the latest retail news with a discussion of the continued volatility and uncertainty in the wake of gyrations in the banking industry. Then we dip into earnings reports from Nike, Williams-Sonoma, On Running, and Chewy, before turning out attention to Foot Locker’s just announced “Lace Up Strategy.” The latest news from Bed, Bath & Beyond is decidedly mix as their stock sinks below $1, but they are having success re-leasing many of the stores they’ve closed. We wrap up with news from the Great White North as Zeller’s is relaunched and tidbits are released from Nordstrom Canada’s bankruptcy filing.

About Jarvis

Jarvis Sam is the CEO and Founder of the multi-services DEI firm Rainbow Disruption and the former Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Nike Inc. He was recently named Forbes 30 Under 30 in Sports class of 2021 as well as Portland Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. In his previous role, he oversaw a team of people focused on driving diverse representation, inclusive leader and social justice education, professional development and the ecosystem of promoting and creating a culture of belonging inside and outside of Nike.

Prior to being named CDEIO at Nike, Jarvis held various roles focused on acquiring new talent capabilities for the company and driving large programs, partnerships and initiatives aimed at impacting representation and accelerating the flow of Nike’s diverse talent pipelines. Additionally, he led Nike’s candidate experience and talent attraction/ employer branding efforts – driving best in class approaches and strategies to amplify the company’s employment voice and obsess the candidate.

Jarvis frequently liaised with the sports marketing function and product teams to execute on key initiatives with signature Nike athletes like Serena Williams and League partners like the WNBA and NFL. Prior to Nike, Sam worked as the first Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Snap, Inc., (Snapchat) where he was accountable for building the company’s first ever D&I strategy, all whilst driving key technology recruiting approaches to scale the company 6x through IPO. Before that, Sam worked at Google as a Diversity Program Manager and led part of the diversity recruitment practice.

Jarvis began his career as a strategy and operations consultant with Deloitte Consulting in Houston, primarily focused on clients in the oil & gas industry. Jarvis is a graduate of Rice University where he studied History, Public Policy, and Sport Management with emphasis in race and gender rhetoric. Jarvis received his MBA from Brown University and IE School of Business.

He is an adjunct faculty member at Brown University and has lectured at numerous universities and institutions of higher learning around the world. Sam has given more than 400 public speeches, fireside chats, keynotes and panels and is considered an expert in the space.

In his spare time, Jarvis does musical theater, most recently acting as Jimmy Early in a production of Dreamgirls. He loves concerts, film, sports, karaoke, and can be frequently seen doing a rendition of Tina Turner’s greatest hits around Portland, OR, where he currently resides.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

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Learning to Surf in an Increasingly Volatile World

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 08:51:24 +0000

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."

- Jon Kabat-Zinn

In the wake of the Silicon Valley Bank crisis, we go guest free to dive into a concept that Steve shares in his book and in many of his keynotes. It's called VUCA, and it stand for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguous. We explore the implications of what it means to develop and execute strategy in a world in which changes are coming at us ever faster and more furious. In particular we unpack the need for crystal clear vision, deep understanding, greater clarity of focus, and, perhaps most important of all, tremendous agility.

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including a look at US monthly sales figures, layoff announcements from Nordstrom and Meta, Galeria Kaufhof's--one of Europe's biggest department stores--plans to close half of its locations, and Couche Tard's major European acquisition.

About Us

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It’s Not the Luck of the Irish: Primark Does Retail Right with Kevin Tulip

michael@meleblanc.co (Kevin Tulip) — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 07:05:00 +0000

This week we welcome Kevin Tulip, Primark's US President, as our guest to discuss what makes the Ireland-based purveyor of affordable fashion, home, and beauty products so remarkable and why they've chosen a slow and steady approach to global expansion.

We also learn about the brand's Dublin origins, how the concept has evolved, and their decision to grow to 60 locations in the US by 2026 and 530 stores worldwide. We also learn why they've historically and rather controversially avoided a big push into e-commerce and how they view the critical role of physical stores in growth strategy.

But first we dissect the week in retail news with a return to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner (and Steve's warnings of a retail disruptor apocalypse) by reviewing poor earnings news from Allbirds, Stitch Fix, and ThredUp. In far happier news, Dick's Sporting Goods and Ulta show us the money, adding to their string of strong results. In our quick hits section we review an unusual view into JC Penney's (poor) earnings, Gap's disappointing holiday season and leadership revolving door, and question whether Amazon Go might be going, going, gone. We wrap up wondering whether Bunning's (the Australia-based home improvement retailer) move into the pet category suggests a novel evolution of the format.

******

Past episodes mentioned:

BONUS EPISODE: Suzanne Long, Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer, Albertsons, Previews Her World Retail Congress Keynote

Dot Com Bomb: The Sequel? with Special Guest Daniel McCarthy

About Kevin

Kevin Tulip is the US President of Primark, leading US operations. He previously led Primark’s Benelux business and joined the US team in October 2021. He has been with Primark since the beginning of his career when he started working at a retail store in 2002.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Suzanne Long, Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer, Albertsons, Previews Her World Retail Congress Keynote

michael@meleblanc.co (Suzanne Long) — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a bonus episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, presented by MarketDial. Steve and I are excited to take the podcast to the World Retail Congress at the Hotel Arts in Barcelona, April 25th - 27th.

Steve will also be joining an amazing roster of speakers to present his take on why organizations need to radically accelerate their pace of transformation. In advance of the show, we connected with some of Steve's fellow speakers for a quick preview of what they will be discussing in Spain. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast to learn more about the World Retail Congress event.

On this special episode, Suzanne Long, Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer, Albertsons. Suzanne joined the "new" Albertsons Companies in 2012, leading five major acquisitions/integrations that grew the company to America's second-largest food and drug retailer. She now serves as the company's first Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer, responsible for driving both the company's ESG strategy and a variety of enterprise-wide strategic initiatives.

Since 2007, World Retail Congress has been the premier platform for in-depth research, content and events, driving retail growth and inspiring, valuable global connections.

The Congress unites leaders from across the global industry for innovative, groundbreaking strategies and insights to drive success. It's the unrivalled high-level forum for senior retailers to learn, share insights, form powerful connections and play a key part in shaping the future of global retail. Learn more today at world retail congress dot com.

About Suzanne

Suzanne began her career at Accenture consulting for Fortune 100 companies. She joined Albertsons in 2001, leading the company’s Lean Six Sigma program – this first of its kind in the food and drug industry. In 2008 she became the Retail Practice Leader for the consulting firm SSA & Company, directing engagements with clients such as Kroger, Harris Teeter, Staples and Office Depot.

Suzanne joined the “new” Albertsons Companies in 2012, leading five major acquisitions/integrations that grew the company to the nation’s second largest food and drug retailer. In 2017 she was additionally given the assignment of delivering $500M in cost savings over a three-year timeframe. Suzanne became Group Vice President, Strategic Sourcing and ESG/Sustainability in 2020. She now serves as the company’s first Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer, responsible for driving both the company’s ESG strategy and a variety of enterprise-wide strategic initiatives.

Suzanne graduated from Duke University with honors. She serves on three non-profit boards is on the Advisory Boards for the EDGE program at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and The NEST Climate Campus.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Dot Com Bomb: The Sequel? with Special Guest Daniel McCarthy

michael@meleblanc.co (Daniel McCarthy) — Tue, 7 Mar 2023 09:39:17 +0000

This week we take on the question of whether we are on the cusp of a retail disruptor apocalypse, with the help of return guest Daniel McCarthy, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Emory University's Goizueta School of Business and leading expert on customer-based corporate valuation.

Before Dan joins us we briefly review the similarities between the first wave of online brands that subsequently melted down (remember Pets.com?) and what we've seen with the latest crop of digitally native brands (Warby Parker, Allibirds, Stitch Fix, TheRealReal, et al ) that have seen their valuations collapse and continue to struggle to get on a glide path to profitability.

Then Dan joins us to help dissect the underlying (and often challenging) unit economics of these fast growing brands, with a particular focus on Wayfair and Warby Parker. In addition to helping us understand how to better understand the relationship between customer acquisition costs and lifetime value, we learn about "CACulations" and the dangers of "spending up the wazoo."

But we open with a review of the biggest news of the week, which revealed that the holiday season was not so merry and bright when it came to actually making much money. Target shared some curbside enthusiasm, while delivering pretty tepid results. Best Buy and Macy's lost ground, while warning about a difficult road ahead. Kohl's was exactly the train wreck we've been predicting. We wrap up with hot takes on Nordstrom bailing on Canada, Hanna Andersen's cleverly named resale entry, and Walmart's doubling down on same day delivery.

We're headed to Las Vegas in March for another edition of Shoptalk. Retailers and brands can get a Shoptalk ticket for a reduced rate of just $1950 rate here using our special discount code RBREMARK1950.

About Daniel

Daniel McCarthy is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Emory University's Goizueta School of Business. His research specialty is the application of leading-edge statistical methodology to contemporary empirical marketing problems. His research interests include customer-based corporate valuation, which he popularized, customer lifetime value, limited data problems, data privacy, and the marketing/finance interface. He is also actively researching the causal effect of actions and events on customer purchase behavior. His research has been accepted and published in top-tier academic journals, including Marketing Science, the Journal of Marketing Research, and the Journal of Marketing. His work has won numerous research awards, including the Lehmann, MSI Clayton, Gary Lillien Practice Prize, and MSI Young Scholar, and been a finalist for many others, including the Paul Green, Hunt/Maynard, MSI/Root awards. His work has been featured in major media outlets such as the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, FT, Fortune, Barronís, Inc Magazine, the Economist, and CNBC.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Mindy Grossman Talks Modern Retail and Previews Her World Retail Congress Keynote

michael@meleblanc.co (mindy grossman) — Fri, 3 Mar 2023 08:05:00 +0000

On this special episode, retail and business legend Mindy Grossman shares her journey from Nike, to HSN, to working with Oprah on the Weight Watchers rebrand, and now is a Partner and the Chair of Consello Growth and Business Development, a revenue acceleration platform designed to execute on growth and profitability objectives for clients across multiple industries.

About Mindy

Mindy Grossman is a Partner and the Chair of Consello Growth and Business Development, a revenue acceleration platform designed to execute on growth and profitability objectives for clients across multiple industries. She is a high-energy, disruptive leader with extensive experience in building and transforming consumer brands.

Prior to Consello, Mindy served as the President and CEO of WW, Intl., and as a member of the board of directors through March 2022. She joined the company in July 2017 where she led the organization’s rebrand from Weight Watchers to WW to reflect their new purpose – “To inspire healthy habits for real life. *For people, families, communities, the world – for everyone,” to be the brand to democratize wellness for all. She also oversaw the digital transformation of WW; launched three breakthrough food program innovations; led the formation of WWGOOD and the Healthy Living Coalition; as well as the WW Presents “Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus” national tour.

Prior to WW, Mindy served as the CEO and a member of the board of directors at HSNi where she oversaw a $4 billion direct to consumer retail portfolio. She positioned HSNi as a leader in boundaryless retail, integrating entertainment, content, commerce and community and offering customers a seamless shopping experience across multiple channels. Prior to that, Mindy served as CEO of IAC Retail, the former parent company of HSNi. She successfully took IAC Retail public in 2008 and subsequently became CEO of HSNi until 2017.

Before joining IAC, Mindy served as a Global Vice President at Nike, Inc., where she oversaw its $4 billion global apparel business and served as co-chair of Nike’s Women’s Leadership Council. Earlier in her career, Mindy served as President and CEO of Polo Jeans Company, Vice President of New Business Development at Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, President of Chaps Ralph Lauren, and Senior Vice President of Menswear for Warnaco, Inc. She also held senior positions at Tommy Hilfiger and Oxford Industries.

Throughout her career, Mindy has been widely recognized for her leadership including being named to Forbes Magazine’s “The 100 Most Powerful Women;” The Financial Times “Top 50 Women in World Business;” TIME Magazine’s “50 Most Influential People in Healthcare;” and was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Corporate Innovation. She was also a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Mindy was appointed to the Digital Economy Board of Advisors for the Chamber of Commerce during the Obama administration, where she served as an advisor from 2014 to 2017. She also served as the Chairman of the National Retail Federation and Chairman of the NRF Foundation.

Mindy currently serves on the Board and the Executive Committee of UNICEF USA and is a member of the Board of Directors of Herself Health, Fanatics, Inc., Vault Health and Hungryroot, as well as the Board of Visitors of Columbia School of Engineering.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Brave New World of Retail Real Estate with ICSC's Tom McGee

michael@meleblanc.co (Tom McGee) — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +0000

This week we do a deep dive into the rapidly changing world of retail real estate with Tom McGee, the CEO of ICSC, the industry's biggest trade association. In a wide ranging conversation we get Tom's view of how the industry continues to evolve from legacy concepts to marketplaces, what the pandemic did to reshape the landscape, and which key trends we should be paying attention to.

We also explore why so many people fell for the bogus "retail apocalypse" narrative, what the blurring of the lines between physical and digital portends, and how important the "halo effect" of physical stores can be for retailers.

But as is our custom, we kick things off by dissecting the biggest new of the week, including what to make of quarterly earnings and downward guidance from both Walmart and Home Depot. Then we briefly touch on Wayfair's very bad week before moving on to Target's good news decision to double down on the "stores as hubs" strategy by adding six additional "sortation centers." Next we try to wrap our heads around Amazon's decision to disband it's shopper experience group as well as the news that Shein may approach $60 billion on revenue by 2025, which would exceed the combined sales fo Zara and H&M.

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Past episodes mentioned this week:

Making the most of traffic: An expert panel on in-store innovation.

The global economy: An interview with Ira Kalish, Deloitte's Chief Economist.

The store as brand hub with Target SVP Nancy King

ICSC’s website https://www.icsc.com/

Tom’s LinkedIn Newsletter “From Where I Sit”

About Tom

TOM MCGEE is the President and CEO of ICSC, the preeminent international membership organization serving the Marketplaces Industry. As the voice of the industry, Tom is the leading expert on the marketplaces and spaces where people shop, dine, work, play and gather as foundational and vital ingredients of communities and economies. The majority of the nearly $6 trillion of U.S. consumer activity generated in 2022 by the retail, food-and-beverage, entertainment and consumer service industries occurs within America’s marketplaces, representing approximately 1 out of 4 American jobs.

As an organization, ICSC produces content, events and experiences that support and advance the growth of its retail and real estate member businesses, while also informing and advocating to shape public policy.

Prior to joining ICSC, Tom served as Vice Chairman of Deloitte, LLP, the largest professional services firm in the United States. During his 26 years with Deloitte, Tom held global and U.S. leadership roles, including Vice Chairman, Deputy CEO, National Managing Partner of M&A Services, and Global Chief of Staff.

Tom is a noted business speaker with frequent appearances on, among others, Fox Business, Bloomberg and Yahoo Finance. He coined the term “retail renaissance” to describe the convergence of digital and physical channels in retail and is often quoted in national media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today.

Tom is the former chairman of Covenant House International, the largest privately funded charity supporting homeless youth in the Americas. He currently serves on the Loyola Marymount University Board of Trustees and is active in numerous other business and community organizations, including serving as a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Making Moves From Online to Physical Retail with Leap's Amish Tolia

michael@meleblanc.co (Amish Tolia) — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Our final episode recorded live in the MarketDial booth at the National Retail Federation's "Big Show" features Amish Tolia, co-CEO and co-founder of Leap, the innovative platform that enables digitally native brands to open physical stores more quickly and with lower risk than they could do on their own..

In a wide-ranging discussion we learn about the inspiration for the concept, how it works and why brands like Naadam, Third Love, GoodLife, and Mack Weldon have chosen to partner with Leap.

But first we discuss the latest retail news, including what Steve calls "vexing" reports on the macro-economic front: overall sales are growing in line with inflation, which remains high, as the job market remains amazingly strong. Then it turns out it's not Yeezy come, Yeezy go for Adidas, nor is the string of bad news for Bed, Bath & Beyond ending. But in happier news store openings exceeded strong closings for the first time since 2016. We also touch on how work from home causes major shifts in retail spending, before wrapping with a discussion of the challenges finding CEO's that meet the evolving demands of retailers.

Benedict Evans presentation.

Hal Lawton episode.

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About Amish

Amish Tolia is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Leap, a Platform that develops and operates retail stores for modern brands. Amish has grown Leap into an omnichannel platform that powers retail for great brands. Leap is today powering 60 brands across nearly 100 stores in markets including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Southern Florida, Dallas, Austin, Scottsdale, San Francisco, Boston, Columbus, Greenwich, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Prior to Leap, Amish co-founded two other companies and successfully exited both of them in the last 10 years. He graduated from Indiana University and is originally from Detroit, Michigan.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Making the Most of Traffic: An Expert Panel on In-Store Innovation

michael@meleblanc.co (Daniel Black, Morgan Davis, Chris Todd) — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 08:12:31 +0000

Physical retail is far from dead, but for many retailers traffic is increasingly harder to come by. In a fascinating panel recorded live on the floor at last month's NRF "Big Show," we welcome three founding CEO's to discuss how to create a more remarkable customer experience by leveraging innovative technology.

Our guests are Daniel Black from Glass Media, Morgan Davis from MarketDial and Chris Todd from Theatro

But we kick-off the episode with a run-down of the headlines making waves in the world of retail including whether Bed, Bath & Beyond got a real life line or just a temporary reprieve, what to make of earnings reports from Capri, Under Armour, and Simon Property, and the possibility that expanding layoffs might have a cascading effect. We also discuss whether declining imports are a cause for concern, before wrapping up with Canada Goose's strategy to ramp up its growth plans.

About Morgan

Morgan is the co-founder add CEO of MarketDial. Prior to MarketDial, Morgan was an associate at Kickstart Seed Fund. He also previously worked at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and focused in its Consumer Practice Area. While at BCG his projects included several due diligences for top-tier PE funds, a data-driven brand redesign for a national

QSR chain, international marketing and sales benchmarking and training for a large consumer goods company, and a strategic overhaul and implementation of a consumer-facing education program for a specialty consumer goods manufacturer.

About Daniel

Daniel, a Silicon Valley native, is often referred to as an entrepreneurial rebel for choosing to launch his retail technology company “Glass-Media” in Dallas, Texas. Since moving to Dallas in 2013, Daniel has quickly become an integral part of the startup community/ecosystem. In February 2015, Daniel was co-featured on the cover of “D CEO Magazine" in an article entitled “The New Faces of Dallas Tech.” Later that year, he was named a finalist for the Tech Titans - Emerging Company CEO Award and was honored in the Tech Titans Gala. Daniel is a firm believer in giving back. He is a mentor at a local, leading venture accelerator and remains actively involved with the Dallas Entrepreneurial Center and various other entrepreneurial organizations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Daniel attributes much of his success to the education he received at Claremont McKenna College. He graduated with a dual major in Economics/Government and completed the Leadership Studies Sequence. During his senior year, he was awarded “Claremont McKenna College Entrepreneur of the Year”. To date, Daniel remains involved with the College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and was honored to have been selected as a Kravis Leadership Fellow.

About Chis

Chris is responsible for leading Theatro’s overall direction, strategy, and growth. Chris is a “roll up your sleeves” type leader who is passionate about the strategy of a business. Chris believes that most every idea can be a winner…it’s all about figuring out the strategy angles to drive success! As a co-founder, Chris has been instrumental in guiding Theatro from an early innovative concept into a fast-paced growth company.

Chris has 25+ years of experience in senior executive positions with small start-ups and large multinationals in a diverse array of industries, including software, networking and apps for leading hardware and software companies including Cisco Systems, AppTrigger, Metaswitch, Extreme Networks and Newbridge Networks.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: How Square Drives Innovation with Roshan Jhunja, General Manager of Retail

michael@meleblanc.co (Roshan Jhunja) — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 08:05:00 +0000

Our final bonus episode recorded live in the MarketDial booth at the NRF's "Big Show" last month features Roshan Jhunja, General Manager of Retail at Square. We delve into how Square uses Clayton Christensen's "Customer Jobs to Be Done" framework to guide their innovation process. We also explore which trends are likely to be most important to retail success this year, as well as what's new and next in connected commerce.

RESOURCES

About

Roshan is the General Manager of Retail at Square. His vision is to empower retailers of all sizes to thrive, by leveraging world class design and Square’s unique platform approach. He oversees all aspects of this business vertical including the experience of retailers who run their businesses on Square's software and hardware. Prior to 2016, Roshan held a variety of leadership roles in quantitative finance and investment banking in the NYC area. In his free time he enjoys motorcycling, playing guitar and karaoke with his two children.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Female Founder Showcase with FindMine's Michelle Bacharach and Grocery Shopii's Katie Hotze

michael@meleblanc.co (Michelle Bacharach, Katie Hotze) — Tue, 7 Feb 2023 08:05:00 +0000

We're back with another insightful episode recorded at last month's NRF "Big Show." This time our focus is on how entrepreneurs bring their ideas to market, secure venture capital funding, and fight through all the challenges to create a sustainable, remarkable business.

We're fortunate to have two great female founders join us to share their wisdom. Michelle Bacharach heads up FindMine, the AI powered company that helps consumers and brands find their best looks. Katie Hotze founded and leads Grocery Shopii, an innovative technology platform that powers digital meal planning. In a wide ranging discussion we learn about the inspiration for their companies, how they've funded and scaled them, and explore some of the unique challenges faced by founders from under-represented communities.

But first we give our perspectives on the most remarkable retail news of the week, with a fairly deep dive into Amazon's concerning quarterly earnings report. We also give our quick takes on news about Sam's Club's expansion plans, a very strong US jobs report, Tom Kingsbury being named "permanent" CEO at Kohl's, Ryan Cohen's setting his activist sights on Nordstrom, Bed, Bath & Beyond's looming bankruptcy filing, and how Rent the Runway has kicked the debt can down the road.

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About Michelle

Michelle is CEO and Co-Founder of FINDMINE, an award winning software platform that uses machine learning to scale product curation for the world's top retailers. As a product and strategy expert, Michelle is experienced in growing companies by launching software, apps and websites to millions of people, putting together joint ventures, and conceiving of new products. Michelle has shared her expertise with thousands of leaders in retail and technology as a speaker at SXSW, the National Retail Federations' Retail’s Big Show and Shop.org, Intel's Shift, Women in Machine Learning and Data Science, and many others.

About Katie

Named a Top 10 Women in Grocery Tech by RIS, Katie Hotze is an innovative leader and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in digital marketing, data analytics and business strategy.

Katie is the founder and CEO of Grocery Shopii, a Charlotte-based startup that solves a $550B problem in the CPG & Retail industry by reducing cart abandonment with machine learning. Grocery Shopii uses recipes as a recommendation engine to expedite online grocery shopping inside the shopping journey.

Prior to Grocery Shopii, Katie spent 20 years in management and technology consulting where she led global marketing teams for Mercer, the world’s largest HR consultancy, and BearingPoint.

She holds an M.B.A. and Business Analytics certification from William & Mary, and a B.S. in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University.

In 2018, Katie was a Direct Marketing News (DMN) 40-Under-40 Award Recipient. She’s also been awarded the Top Women in Grocery honor by Progressive Grocer. Today, she is a regular speaker on both digital and social media topics at conferences in the marketing and grocery retail spaces.

A resident of Charlotte, N.C., Katie is a graduate of UNC-Charlotte’s Ventureprise entrepreneurial program and is an active participant in the city’s tech community.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Shift Happen--Choose Remarkable or Irrelevance with the Container Store's Gretchen Ganc

michael@meleblanc.co (Gretchen Ganc) — Fri, 3 Feb 2023 12:57:27 +0000

Our second bonus episode recorded at the NRF's "Big Show" in New York showcases our session titled "Shift Happens: Choose Remarkable or Irrelevance." Joining us on stage is on the "Big Ideas" stage is Gretchen Ganc, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Analytics for the Container Store. We pick up the conversation after a brief presentation by Steve on the state of retail as we discuss three of the eight essentials of remarkable retail as articulated in his best selling book and as put into practice by one of North America's leading retailers.

About Gretchen

Gretchen Ganc serves as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Analytics for The Container Store, where she is responsible for unlocking actionable insights, enabling data-driven decision making, and leading strategic initiatives to drive sustainable profitable growth. Gretchen began her career in investment banking and management consulting, where she discovered her passion for consumer-focused businesses. She has spent more than 15 years in leadership roles with multiple retailers, including JCPenney, Fossil Group, and Ann Taylor.

About Us

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Retail & The Global Economy with Ira Kalish, Chief Global Economist, Deloitte

michael@meleblanc.co (Ira Kalish) — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 08:33:20 +0000

Our first interview of the year is with the ever insightful Ira Kalish, Chief Global Economist at Deloitte. More and more the ever shifting forces of the macro-economy are informing retailers' strategies, and we can't think of a better guest to help us make sense of trends in inflation, interest rates, labor markets, and more.

In a wide-ranging discussion we learn Ira's outlook on pricing across a spectrum of commodities, whether the US will sink into recession, and how China's surprise re-opening will impact global markets. We also go deep on the challenging labor market and his fascinating belief that some companies are engaged in "labor hoarding." This is truly a can't miss episode.

But first we dip into the week in retail news, including what to make of surprisingly strong US GDP numbers, the continuing strength of most labor markets, and how long COVID is keeping a large number of workers on the side lines. We also unpack Whole Foods plans to add stores and Amazon's jacking up of grocery delivery prices before opining on Wall Street's love for layoffs at Wayair. We close by trying to figure out all the activity in the once sleepy mattress market and why Levi's had a pretty decent quarter when many of its customers are flailing.

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About Ira

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: NRF "Big Show" Recap

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000

We're just back from New York and the 2023 edition of the National Retail Federation's Big Show. As we rest our weary legs, we hop back on the mic to share some of our key takeaways gleaned from the Expo floor, the conference stages, conversations in the halls, and at various events we attended.

We also recorded several new podcast episodes while we were there. Stay tuned as we release them over the coming weeks.

And for a quick overview of the session we did on the Big Ideas stage with the Container Store's EVP of Strategy & Analytics Gretchen Ganc go here. We'll also be releasing our interview live on the stage with Gretchen as an upcoming episode of the podcast.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

2023 Retail Predictions (Part 2)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 08:05:00 +0000

Last week we released the first batch of Steve's predictions. This week we conclude with six more, centering on how "hybridization" will steal the crown from omni-channel, how trading-down (in product and format) will define the year, the likelihood that big consumer credit troubles emerge, why strong balance sheets reign supreme, how the Metaverse is still not ready for its close up, while AI just might be. We wrap up with three bonus long-shot prognostications (aka "wild ass guesses") involving a Nike acquisition, bold moves at Whole Foods, and a blockbuster merger among struggling department stores.

But first we kick off with our hot takes on the week in retail news, including the US Census Bureau monthly sales report, how the National Retail Federation did with its holiday forecast, and some encouraging signs of inflation moderation. Then we turn our attention to Nordstrom's earnings warning amid continuing troubles at its Rack division.

We also dig into the potential impacts of big layoffs at Alphabet, Microsoft, Wayfair and more, before wondering whether some brands' (Gap, Peloton, Rent the Runway) decision to sell on Amazon smacks of desperation or of genius.

ShopTalk (Las Vegas)

ShopTalk (Barcelona)

World Retail Congress

Presented by MarketDial.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

2023 Retail Predictions (Part 1)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 08:05:00 +0000

We're back with Season 6 and we kick-off with a two-part episode focused on Steve's annual retail predictions.

In Part 1 we cover his first six, which center on the growing importance of physical store experiences in a digital world, a notable increase in C-suite changes, a profound reset among the digital disruptors, initial growing pains in the retail media space, looming big changes with Amazon's physical store dreams, and an acceleration of "the collapse of the unremarkable middle."

But as is our custom, we kick off with our hot takes on the week in retail news, including what to make of some of the big macro-economic reports that emerged during out brief hiatus and what updated guidance from the likes of Macy's, Lululemon, and others portends for 4th quarter earnings. We then examine the sad story of Bed, Bath & Beyond's probable bankruptcy filing before turning to more upbeat news from Five Below.

We wrap things up with what China's grand re-opening might mean for the world of retail, before making a return visit to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner to discuss the tales of woe from the likes of Stitch Fix, Everlane, Morphe, and Boxed.

Presented by MarketDial.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Hybridization of Retail (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 08:05:00 +0000

As we take a few weeks off before returning with Season 6, we dig into the back catalog to go deep on a growing trend that Steve introduced in his book, and recently unpacked in a Forbes article: namely how so many aspects of retail--stores, supply chains, brand distribution strategies and more--are moving from roles that are largely singular in purpose to becoming (or needing to become) hybrid in nature. This shift is profound, requires potentially massive changes over time and, we argue, not yet getting the attention it deserves.

Photo by Tim Meyer on Unsplash

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Tide Is Going Out. Get Ready for Season 6 of Remarkable Retail

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 6 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000

As business legend Warren Buffett might say: The Tide is Going Out - we're about to see who's swimming naked. With a worldwide recession threatening, the pace of change continuing to accelerate, and an increasingly volatile operating environment, retailers that deliver anything less than a remarkable customer experience are about to see their weaknesses exposed.

This is Steve Dennis, strategy & innovation consultant, keynote speaker and best-selling author of Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption.

Join me and my co-host Michael LeBlanc every week for Season 6 of the Remarkable Retail podcast as we challenge the status quo, dissect the latest trends, put the top retail news of the week in context, and talk with the remarkable leaders who push their organizations to aim higher, act more boldly, and transform at the speed of disruption.

Listeners worldwide have made us one of the top-rated and top-listened retail industry podcasts. This season, Steve and I will meet industry insiders from New York to Las Vegas, to Barcelona and beyond to showcase those retail brands making a real difference and discover their remarkable journeys and lessons learned.

So be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you enjoy your podcasts today and brace yourself for a steady stream of wisdom, straight talk and lively conversation.

Season 6, presented by MarketDial, launches on January 17, and we can't wait to have you join us!

About Us

Getting to the Heart of Business with former Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Hubert Joly) — Tue, 3 Jan 2023 08:05:00 +0000

As we take a few weeks off before returning with Season 6, we dig into the back catalog for one of our most inspiring episodes. Our very special guest is Hubert Joly, former Chairman and CEO of Best Buy, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and the author of the just released bestselling book The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism.

In a wide-ranging interview we explore Hubert's storied career as one of the world's leading CEO's, highlighted by Best Buy's transformation into a truly remarkable retailer. But we also delve into his personal evolution from a hard-charging McKinsey consultant who was all about performance optimization, to someone who saw leadership rooted in unleashing "human magic."

Beyond the captivating details of Best Buy's renaissance--which include strongly defying the retail apocalypse narrative--we unpack the many leadership lessons from Hubert's powerful new book. Chief among them is becoming people-centric, not profit centric and discovering your brand's--and your own--purpose. He also strongly argues for a complete (and urgent) re-framing of the role of capitalism and presents a pragmatic guide to applying his principles. Our conversation is compelling, concrete and profoundly optimistic. You might also conclude you need to find a coach.

About Hubert

Hubert Joly has been recognized as one of the one hundred “Best-Performing CEOs in the World” by Harvard Business Review, one of the top thirty CEOs in the world by Barron’s, and one of the top ten CEOs in the United States in Glassdoor’s annual Employees’ Choice Awards. Joly is now a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and serves on the boards of Johnson & Johnson and Ralph Lauren.

During Hubert’s time at Best Buy, he and his team rebuilt the company into one of the nation’s favorite employers, a sustainable leader, and an innovator, dramatically increasing customer satisfaction and growing the company’s stock price 10-fold. His greatest achievement, however, may have been to make himself dispensable: he decided to step down as CEO in 2019 and as executive chairman in 2020, and pass the baton to a new generation of leaders.

Hubert’s purpose in life is to make a positive difference on people around him and use the platform he has to make a positive difference in the world. Besides serving on the boards of Johnson & Johnson and Ralph Lauren, he now spends most of his time as a lecturer at Harvard Business School and supporting other leaders seeking to become the best versions of themselves and to lead with purpose and humanity. He is also actively invested in efforts to advance meaningful diversity and inclusion.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

This One Goes to 11 (E)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 08:05:00 +0000

“Great brands don't chase customers; customers chase great brands.”

- Gary Friedman, CEO Restoration Hardware

As we take a few weeks off before returning with Season 6, we dig into the back catalog to go deep on #7 ("Memorable") in Steve's 8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail framework. Being Memorable is critical to not simply offering a slightly better version of mediocre and competing relentlessly on discounts. Done right, it is the key to long-term growth, profits and customer loyalty.

In unpacking this essential we discuss how to own the "real estate of the mind," and what we mean when we talk about "experience" as something other than the latest bright shiny object. Drawing on key take-aways from Steve's best-selling book, we define the six characteristics of memorable and discuss case studies that illustrate the various ways leading retailers are implementing memorable strategies including mega-brands like RH, Nordstrom, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Amazon, along with "special not big" retailers such as Franklin BBQ and Blue Star Donuts.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Organized For Growth: Our Season Finale with Satish Malhotra, CEO of The Container Store

michael@meleblanc.co (Satish Mahotra) — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:46:05 +0000

We wrap up Season 5 with yet another remarkable leader from a most remarkable retailer. This week our guest is Satish Malhotra, the CEO of The Container Store (TCS), the leading specialty retailer of storage and organization products, custom spaces, and in-home services.

Satish took the helm of TCS last year after an amazing two decade run at Sephora where he helped drive their retail growth strategy as Chief Retail Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Americas.

We unpack what has TCS' success and momentum over the past 18 months, before delving into their plans to double its business over the next few years via it's 3 Pillars strategy: intensifying its product and service focus, expanding its reach (both digitally and by opening 80-100 new stores), and strengthening multiple capabilities. We also discuss how to overcome the cultural challenges that can impede any transformation effort and get Satish's views on how to navigate the coming choppy waters of a challenging economic outlook.

But first we dip into the week in retail news, including dissecting the latest sales report from the US Census Bureau which seems to suggest storm clouds on the horizon. Then we take on the surprise news of Amazon' Deal Days, before a short riff on the importance of the week after Christmas. Then it's a trip to the retail graveyard with news of Sears Hometown's apparent pending demise and a quick take on H&M's recent sales report. We wrap up with Walmart's doubling down on omni-channel fulfillment while Nordstrom Rack struggles to make it work.

Catch Steve and Michael at NRF's Big Show

Catch Steve and Michael at the World Retail Congress (more details soon)

About Satish

A seasoned retail executive with decades of diverse and valuable experience, Satish Malhotra joined The Container Store on February 1, 2021 as Chief Executive Officer and President.

For the previous 21 years, Satish held various leadership roles at prestige beauty retailer Sephora Americas, most recently as Chief Retail Officer and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Satish was responsible for leading Sephora’s retail growth by expanding its in-store services and experiences, developing digitally enabled solutions and by growing its off-mall store locations.

Prior to that role, Satish served as Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for Technology, Supply Chain, Store Development, Legal, Strategy and Partnerships, including the Sephora inside JCPenney (SiJCP) business which now operates in over 600 stores. He also spent several years overseeing Sephora’s expansion into Canada and Latin America.

Before joining Sephora, Satish was a Transaction Services Senior Associate at PwC. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Throughout his career, Satish has excelled at developing and growing new sales channels, solving complex “back of the house” problems with innovative solutions, and attracting and developing high performing talent. Among his many career highlights: transforming Sephora’s IT department to a Center of Excellence within parent company LVMH, launching all of Sephora’s digital commerce properties (including website, mobile, social and CRM), strengthening Sephora’s supply chain to enable 98% of online orders to be received by consumers within two business days, developing an off-mall store concept which dramatically improved Sephora’s accessibility to its consumers, and led the efforts in creating Sephora’s purpose of “inspiring fearlessness”.

In 2020, he was presented with the Innovation Leadership Award from the World Retail Forum.

A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Walter A. Haas School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Satish has also completed the LVMH Inspiring Entrepreneurs Senior Executive Leadership Program.

Malhotra currently resides in Flower Mound, Texas, with his wife, two children and their Coton du Tulear. An avid Peloton rider, he clocked well over 11,000 minutes in 2020.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

An Insider's View of Retail Venture Capital with XRC Labs' Al Sambar

michael@meleblanc.co (Al Sambar) — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:16:42 +0000

With the penultimate episode of Season 5 we pause briefly to celebrate reaching our 100th episode milestone, before taking an insider's view of the dynamic world of retail tech and consumer investing with Al Sambar, a deeply experienced industry executive who now serves as a General Partner at XRC Labs.

We get a fast-paced primer on how venture capital works and XRC's particular focus on early stage investing. Al helps us understand the process for discovering and sorting through those start-ups with the greatest disruptive potential before getting a behind the scenes view of how XRC's investment thesis has evolved over the years. We then take a look ahead at what trends will shape retail innovation in the future, with key take-aways for retail executives, budding entrepreneurs, and venture capital investments.

But first we dip into the week in retail news, including how the holiday season seems to be unfolding, perhaps to a game of what Michael calls "discount chicken." We make a return trip to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner and news of some serious stumbling as well as promising signs from the likes of Stitch Fix, Rent the Runway, Chewy, Blue Apron, and Getir. We close highlighting the remarkable results from Lululemon and the staggeringly high valuation of Fanatics.

Catch Steve and Michael at NRF's Big Show

About Al

As XRC Labs’s General Partner, Al Sambar leads business strategy and development for the NYC tech accelerator. A leader in innovation, Al previously held the role of Managing Director at Kurt Salmon’s North American Retail and Consumer Group. For more than 20 years, Al has been providing retailers and consumer companies with strategic planning, organizational design, consumer insights and operating performance improvement services, with deep specialization in omni-channel retailing and global brand management.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Steve's 10 "No Holds Barred" Predictions: Does He Make the Grade?

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 6 Dec 2022 08:29:31 +0000

We're all about accountability on the Remarkable Retail podcast, so as we get close to wrapping up Season 5, it's time to grade Steve on his annual predictions.

Michael takes out his virtual chalkboard as we go through all ten predictions about the future of retail, including Amazon's brick-and-mortar dreams, the Metaverse, whether JC Penney has a future, the trials and tribulations of digital disruptors, and a whole lot more.

But we start with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including fresh figures on inflation and the job market before our quick takes on the somewhat vexing picture emerging from Black Friday and Cyber Week. With earnings season wrapping, it continues to be a tale of two cities with remarkable retailers like Ulta delivering strong numbers, while others (Lands' End, Farfetch), well, not so much. We do our by now familiar head scratching as Macy's fumbles around with brand partners that seem to do nothing to change its relevance and remarkability issues, before concluding with ideas on how Amazon can improve its retail profitability.

***************************************

Steve Recent Relevant Forbes Articles

10 No-Holds-Barred Predictions for Retail in 2022

The Stores Strike Back Again. Again.

Understanding Buying v. Shopping

Amazon and the Fault in Their Stores

Digitally Native Brands Hit the Wall

Blow It Up: It's Time For "The Great Reconfiguration"

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Exploring Retail's New Horizons with Pilot Flying J's Allison Cornish

michael@meleblanc.co (Allison Cornish) — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 08:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Allison Cornish, VP of Store Modernization for Pilot Flying J, recorded live in the MarketDial podcast studio at the NACS Annual Show. Allison is deeply experience convenience store industry veteran who was also recently recognized as the Top Woman in Convenience.

In a wide-ranging conversation we unpack the evolution of the convenience store business model at the Berkshire Hathaway owned retailer and discuss which merchandise, process, and technology adaptations are most important to drive customer loyalty and store associate engagement We also delve into Pilot Flying J's innovation process, including the role of consumer research and prototyping to unlock new sources of guest and store operating value.

But first we dip into the week in retail news, including our take on the relative importance of Black Friday/Cyber Monday. We ponder the avalanche of discounts that are about to be unleashed upon us, particularly by Kohl's which appears to be in the worst inventory position. Then we dip into earnings reports where we learn that less bad is apparently the new good, as Best Buy and Nordstrom dropped a lump of coal into our stockings, but saw their share prices rise. Dick's Sporting Goods continues to shine, however, posting yet another quarter of sales growth. We close with quick takes on declines in Amazon's customer satisfaction and whether a bankruptcy filing from Bed, Bath & Beyond is inevitable.

The Remarkable Retail Podcast Tops LoyaltyGuru's Top Podcast List.

Catch Steve and Michael at NRF's Big Show

BONUS EPISODE: Stuart Taylor, VP, Business Insights and Analytics, Kum & Go

About Allison

Allison Cornish serves as Vice President of Store Modernization at Pilot Company. Cornish is a graduate of Maryville College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management. She joined Pilot Company as her first job out of college and throughout her career has held leadership positions in multiple capacities including Regional Manager, Chief of Staff and VP of Operations. Cornish is dedicated to mentoring young up-and-coming leaders and female colleagues across the business and its more than 650 company-operated travel centers.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Stuart Taylor, VP, Business Insights and Analytics, Kum & Go

michael@meleblanc.co (Stuart Taylor) — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 08:05:00 +0000

We are excited to release the second of two bonus episodes recorded live at the MarketDial podcast studio during the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) conference.

Our guest is Stuart Taylor VP, Business Insights and Analytics at Kum & Go, one of the most successful convenience stores in the industry, operating over 400 stores. We delve into how leveraging customer data and insight helps inform the company's growth strategy and transformation. It's a Master class for any retailer in any sector on how to use data science and testing to win, grow and create loyal customers.

About Stuart

Develop creative analytical solutions and applications to answer complex business questions and drive real market outcomes. Rapid and effective adoption of novel analytical approaches and technologies where relevant to the need at hand. Comfortable across data types and in driving integrated solutions from disparate data sources. Cross-functional team leadership success rooted in alignment with strategic objectives and analytical vision, and illumination of individual team member roles in achieving the vision.

If we think about today's needs to drive in-market success and differentiation through applied business analytics, there are two foundational data science pillars of math and technology. I unapologetically bring the third pillar in being able to surface the right questions, bring them in a meaningful way to the technical scientists, and deliver accessible, meaningful solutions to the end user. I succeed through leading complex cross-functional teams toward integrated, meaningful solutions.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Meeting the Moment with Neighborhood Goods' CEO Matt Alexander

michael@meleblanc.co (Matt Alexander) — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 08:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Matt Alexander, co-founder and CEO of Neighborhood Goods, recorded live at GroceryShop in Las Vegas.

In a wide-ranging and thought-provoking interview, we first learn about the inspiration and evolution of Neighborhood Goods from a big picture vision to three physical locations (Dallas, New York and Austin, with more on the way). We then explore Matt's creative and unique take on concept development, merchandising, story-telling, and more, before moving into his fascinating thoughts on leadership, innovation, and more broadly, how culture affects retail. We wrap up with what's next for Neighborhood Goods (with a bit of existentialist philosophy thrown in for good measure).

But first we take on the week in retail news, kicking off with a big picture overview of monthly sales and lots of retail earnings reports. We ponder what it all might mean for the near future, particularly as several retailers "pull their guidance." We then offer up quick hits on the decent (Walmart, Home Depot), the bad (Target), and the ugly (Kohl's), while considering whether Macy's "Polaris Strategy" is actually working. We conclude with our thoughts on the coming lay-offs and potential strategic shake-ups at Amazon.

Steve's Forbes article on Macy's Turnaround Strategy

Catch Steve and Michael at NRF's Big Show

Past Episodes Mentioned

Lori Stillman, from the National Association of Convenience Stores

Target SVP Nancy King

The Citizenry's Rachel Bentley and Carly Nance

About Matt

Matt is the co-founder and CEO of Neighborhood Goods.

In his spare time, amongst other things, Matt is co-founder of not-for-profit, Unbranded, co-host of Bonanza! on Relay FM, a member of SMU's Dedman Executive Board, and advisor to a number of startups and accelerators.

Matt has been fortunate to be named as one of Monocle's Top 25 Entrepreneurs, D CEO's Most Influential Leaders, FGI's Rising Stars, and more. Meanwhile, Neighborhood Goods has been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Chain Store Age's Breakout Retailers, and more.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Lori Stillman, VP Research, National Association of Convenience Stores

michael@meleblanc.co (Lori Buss Stillman) — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 09:48:49 +0000

We are excited to release two bonus episodes recorded live at the MarketDial podcast studio at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) conference in Las Vegas.

Our first special guest is Lori Stillman, Vice President, Research for NACS, who helps us understand some of the fun facts and figures about the industry, before we get her takes on the profound shifts that are reshaping the sector, including the impact of digital disruption, labor shortages, swipe fees, self-checkout, declining store traffic, and more. We also unpack what is really meant by "convenience" and what innovations matter most right now.

About Lori

Lori Buss Stillman is the Vice President, Research for NACS. Joining NACS in 2019, Lori leads the association’s industry-leading research portfolio, which includes the NACS State of the Industry suite of products and events, the Convenience Voices Shopper Insights solution that provides moment-of-truth insights into shopping behavior, monthly data insights from the CSX database and other research and insights programs critical to the convenience and fuel retail industry.

Stillman has a deep background in data analytics, decision support, business development and consulting. Most recently, she served as executive vice president of analytics, insights and business intelligence for Advantage Solutions. Leveraging 30+ years in the FMCG industry, she also has served as senior vice president of new client acquisition for Information Resources Inc., vice president of marketing and business development for WEBCO General Partnership, and senior vice president of strategic business development for Nielsen.

Stillman earned a B.A. in business communications from Maryville University. She is active in the advancement of our industry, holding board level positions with the NACS/Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council, Conexxus, Stewart’s Enterprises, Inc., and with the Western Michigan University Food and CPG Marketing Program Industry Advisory Board. She is also a frequent speaker on the disruption taking place across the retail landscape. Lori makes her home in Northern Virginia, with her husband and daughter.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Third Big Wave of Digital Advertising: A Deep Dive Into Retail Media Networks with Andrew Lipsman

michael@meleblanc.co (Andrew Lipsman) — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:21:33 +0000

Our guest this week is Andrew Lipsman, Principal Analyst at Insider Intelligence, recorded live at the recently completed GroceryShop event in Las Vegas.

We go deep into the burgeoning world of retail media networks, exploring what they are, how they work, and why they have become arguably the most exciting growth area for retailers in recent memory. We dig into the key accelerants and enablers, how success requires a significant shift in organizational mindset, and what challenges need to be overcome to best balance the customer experience with retailers desire to chase incremental profits. And we can't pass up the opportunity to get Andrew's perspective on the holiday shopping season.

But first we give our hot-takes on the week in retail news, kicking off with our thoughts on Michelle Gass's departure from Kohl's, before moving to the stock market frenzy unleashed by better inflation numbers. We also unpack profit warnings from Capri and others ,and what to make of earnings reports from retail disruptors like Mytheresa (the good), Allbirds (the bad) and Warby Parker (the maybe). We close with a brief discussion of Amazon's reported profitability review, before dipping into the department of useless headlines.

Links

Kohl's Retail Fight Club

Michael Kliger

Dan McCarthy

Lauren Weiner

About Andrew

Andrew Lipsman is a Principal Analyst at Insider Intelligence, focusing on retail and ecommerce. Recent coverage includes grocery ecommerce, retail media networks, D2C brands, social commerce, mobile retail apps, holiday shopping, and Amazon Prime Day.

Previously, Andrew was SVP of Marketing & Insights at comScore, covering multiple industries and overseeing the company’s global marketing insights and thought leadership initiatives.

He has specialized in several coverage areas in addition to retail, including social media, mobile, digital advertising and cross-platform marketing. Andrew has been a regular contributor to the Journal of Advertising Research and is frequently quoted by leading news organizations like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age, CNN, Fortune, Reuters and Bloomberg.

Andrew holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and his undergraduate degree from Duke University.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Driving Customer Centric Innovation, with Pepsico's Cara Keating and Chad Matthews

michael@meleblanc.co (Chad Matthews, Cara Keating) — Tue, 8 Nov 2022 09:12:14 +0000

Our guests this week are Cara Keating, Chief Customer Officer, Frito Lay-North America and Chad Matthews, Chief Commercial Officer, Pepsico Beverages-North America.

In a fast-paced conversation recorded live at the National Association of Convenience Stores' annual conference in Las Vegas. we dig into what makes Pepsico unique on both the food and beverage side before delving into how customer-centric innovation is brought to life using tools like Pepviz. We also learn how the convenience channel is evolving, how the lines are blurring, and how Pepsi thinks about its own direct-to-consumer efforts. We also discover how both Cara and Chad's groups work with their retail partners to drive collaborative value, before wrapping up with a discussion of Pepsi's social impact efforts.

But first we dissect the week's most important retail news, kicking off with Lowe's decision to "pull a Target" and bail on the Canadian market. Then we move on to some big picture news, including the National Retail Federation's holiday forecast and profit warnings from brands like Canada Goose and Under Armour. We also revisit the "wobbly unicorn corner," unpacking what to make of dismal quarterly earnings reports from Peloton and Wayfair, before sharing some uncharacteristically good news as AdoreMe gets scooped up by Victoria's Secret for a cool $400 million. We close with news from Steve's field trip to JC Penney's new inclusive beauty concept.

About Cara

Cara Keating, an 18-year PepsiCo veteran, is the Chief Customer Officer for Frito Lay North America. Since joining PepsiCo in 2004, Cara’s ability to consistently deliver results has led to progressively senior roles in general management, customer development and field leadership across Canada.

Cara began her PepsiCo career in the Western Canada market with Frito Lay Canada (FLC). She then moved to Toronto with PepsiCo Foods Canada (PFC) in 2010 for sales roles with both FLC and Quaker responsibilities including leading the national convenience & gas business, large grocery customers, and foodservice sales. In 2014, Cara was promoted to Senior Director of Sales Strategy, Planning, and Insights. After her promotion to Ontario Area Vice President in 2015, Cara led the team to back-to-back Pingel Award wins in 2015 and 2016 for the top-performing FLC region. In 2016, Cara was promoted to Vice President Customer Development, where she led PFC’s national sales team to deliver against PepsiCo’s promise of providing world-class service to our customers and innovative programs to our consumers. Most recently, Cara was President of PFC, a role she held for three years. In this role Cara navigated the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to many other transformational changes, all while delivering sustained growth for the company and its customers.

Cara is a talented people leader and passionate supporter of PepsiCo’s Diversity, Engagement & Inclusion agenda. As a former lead and recent executive sponsor for the Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN), her efforts to expand WIN across PepsiCo Canada were recognized with the prestigious PepsiCo Global Harvey Russell award for her contributions to diversity and women’s development across PepsiCo.

Cara has also helped to position PepsiCo Canada as an industry leader in advancing women through her involvement on the Board of Directors for the annual Forward Together women’s development conference. In recognition of these efforts, Cara was honoured with a 2017 Star Women in Grocery award from Canadian Grocer Magazine.

Cara is also very active in the food industry and sits on the Board of Directors for the Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP), the FHCP Industry Affairs Management Committee, the Golden Pencil Committee and was a former Advisory Council Member to the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG).

Prior to PepsiCo, Cara worked at Procter & Gamble for four years in Account Management. Cara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Saskatchewan. She is an avid traveler and enjoys experiencing new destinations, cuisines and adventures with her husband, Eddie.

About Chad

Chad Matthews is Chief Commercial Officer of PepsiCo Beverages North America. He assumed this role February 2022 and is a 24-year veteran of PepsiCo with strong leadership across the company’s North America food and beverage businesses.

In his current role leading the commercial function, Chad is responsible for enterprise customer development, commercialization, revenue growth management, our allied partner development, national go-to-market, and industry relations.

Previously, Chad served as Senior Vice President and General Manager leading overall business and performance management for PepsiCo’s beverage business in 13 states across the Central United States.

Since joining PepsiCo in 1998, Chad has held several leadership roles, including Senior Vice President of Frito Lay’s national accounts, Vice President of Frito-Lay’s commercial organization and Vice President of Frito Lay North America’s Mountain Region.

Chad has deep experience and a proven track record of delivering strong business and people results, holding numerous roles across sales, operations, commercial, customer marketing, transformation, and go-to-market.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Tractor Supply's Remarkable "Life Out Here" Growth Story with CEO Hal Lawton

michael@meleblanc.co (Hal Lawton) — Tue, 1 Nov 2022 07:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Hal Lawton, the President & CEO of Tractor Supply Co, a truly remarkable retailer that has delivered some of the strongest results of any brand during the past few years.

We explore Hal's diverse journey from McKinsey, to Home Depot, to eBay, to Macy's and on to Tennesee-based Tractor Supply Company. the nearly 85 year old company that now does over $14 billion in annual sales through over 2,150 stores. We learn about Tractor's "life out here strategy" and the critical distinction between being a lifestyle retailer vs. a category focused brand. We go deep on the strategic benefits of intense customer focus, strong day in and day out execution, not having larger stores, and embracing the blur of digital and physical. Hal also underscores the importance of constant reinvention and how Tractor stays one step ahead of the customer by investing in their stores and rapidly evolving their business model.

But first we open with our hot-takes on the past week in retail news, including a surprising US GDP report and how interest rate increases are driving an accelerating slow down in the housing market. We also dig into the very disappointing earnings--and spooky outlook--from Amazon, before turning our attention to Meta, which continues to incinerate cash in its quest to figure out what the Metaverse is. Then we briefly touch on Elon's Twitter takeover and Bed, Bath & Beyond's naming of a "permanent" CEO.

About Hal

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The World's First Omni-Channel Executive?

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 07:05:00 +0000

“The success of our brand will increasingly be determined by our ability to meet our customers' needs anytime, anywhere, anyway.”

- Arthur Martinez, Sears CEO, February 1999

You might be wondering who was the first person to lead omni-channel efforts at a major retailer. Was it Phil Phygital, Sean Seamless, Ingrid Integrated, or someone else entirely? This week we reveal our answer.

Then we dive into why it's taken so long for retailers to embrace the blur that is modern retail today and still act as if the idea of "omni-chanel"--or “harmonized retail”--is a new phenomenon. We do a brief tour of the evolution of shopping behavior since e-commerce reared its disruptive head and unpack why some retailers watched the last 20 years happen to them, before diving into the key steps that retail brands need to take to go beyond the platitudes and table stakes to deliver remarkable results in the future. Some of keys: "silo's belong on farms, become channel agnostic, create new customer-centric metrics, and accept that digital drives physical--and vice versa.

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including our take on last week's monthly retail sales data and Amazon's new (and tepid) Early Access Sale. Then it's time to take on the ever lowering valuation of Instacart, the broader troubles in home delivery, and trying to figure out what's going on at Nordstrom We also give our reaction to Shein's new resale program, which seems more about PR, than sustainability and riff more broadly on the general conflict between cheap and purpose-driven.

NRF's Big Show Agenda

The Myth of the Great E-commerce Acceleration

Understanding 'Buying' vs. 'Shopping.'

Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be with Steven Pressfield

Slaying the Dragon of 'Resistance' with Steven Pressfield

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Driving Profitable E-commerce Growth: A Deep Dive with Mytheresa CEO Michael Kliger

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael Kliger) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 07:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Michael Kliger, CEO of Mytheresa, the fast-growing global e-commerce destination for luxury fashion---and one of only a handful of retail "disruptor" brands that actually makes money.

With Steve facing technical issues, our interview segment turns out to be a duet of Michael's, who explore the current state of the international luxury market and what makes Mytheresa truly remarkable within it. We learn about Mytheresa's rapid evolution since its founding in 2006, and get a glimpse into how an intense focus on the customer--characterized by curation, personalization, and localization--has fueled their success.

We also go deep on how Michael thinks about "acquiring the right customers" and the magic formula that is essential to driving strong customer lifetime value. We close with a discussion of sustainability in the fashion world and the importance of story-telling and making memorable emotional connections with customers.

But first we open with our hot-takes on the past week in retail news, including what it means to live in a VUCA world and why our season opening admonition to "buckle-up buttercup" almost makes us retail prophets. We also try to make sense of the blockbuster Kroger and Albertson's merger, TikTok's rumored entry into e-commerce, and the latest results from Steve's old employer (and MyTheresa's former corporate parent), Neiman Marcus.

We close by highlighting strong results from fast-growing Aritzia--one of the OG's of DTC--while wondering aloud whether Vuori--part of the newer generation--can successfully expand globally.

About Michael

Mr. Kliger has served as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Management Board since September 2020. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of mytheresa.com GmbH, Theresa Warenvertrieb GmbH and MGG since March 2015. He previously served as VP International at eBay Enterprise from March 2013 to February 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Kliger served as Executive Director at Accenture from September 2010 to December 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Kliger served as Managing Director at First Capital Partners GmbH from September 2007 to September 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Kliger served as Vertriebsgeschäftsführer at real,- SB-Warenhaus GmbH from January 2005 to April 2007. Prior to that, Mr. Kliger worked at McKinsey & Company from February 1992 to December 2004 serving last as Principal. Mr. Kliger serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Valora AG since March 2017. He holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management and a Diploma degree from the Berlin University of Technology.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Holy Guacamole!: Special Guest Ivonne Kinser shares The Remarkable Branding Story of Avocados from Mexico

michael@meleblanc.co (Ivonne Kinser) — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 07:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Ivonne Kinser, VP of Marketing & Innovation for Avocados from Mexico, the innovative marketing organization that has delivered some truly remarkable results. In our fourth episode recorded live at last month's GroceryShop event in Las Vegas, we get the inside story of how AFM went from start-up to advertising on the Super Bowl. We then dig into the details of how Ivonne and her team have elevated what could be seen as a commodity product to a highly in demand, powerful consumer brand. We also get Ivonne's perspective on how consumer and technology trends are intertwining, what it means to be channel agnostic, and how "learning agility" is key to career success.

But first we share our hot-takes on the past week in retail news, including what a tight labor market portends for interest rates and inflation, why the holidays seem to come earlier and earlier every year, and what to make of Prat Vemana joining Target as their new Chief Digital & Product Officer. We also discuss Poshmark going from from Wobbly Unicorn to Prized Possession, yet more layoffs at Peloton, and how Allbirds continues to take the D out of DTC. We wrap up with REI's decision to opt out of Black Friday and a trifecta of news from a little outfit called Amazon.

About Ivonne

Ivonne is the Vice President of Marketing and Innovation for Avocados From Mexico. Her chief responsibility is to lead a high-performance team and the innovation agenda that put Avocados From Mexico on the Fast Company 2021 list of “Most Innovative Companies in the World,” and top in the branding category. In 2022 Ivonne became the first Latina to be awarded with the American Marketing Association’s highest honor bestowed upon a deserving recipe, the Lifetime Achievement Award.

She has also been included in the list of “100 Most Influential Latinas in the U.S.” for two consecutive years, in 2021 and in 2022. In 2018, she became one of the five women honored with the Changing the Game Award in the Brainwave category, an award given by the prestigious She Runs It organization which recognizes women within the marketing industry who are true catalysts of innovation by fearlessly making bold moves and reinventing the rules of marketing to transform their brands and their organizations.

The previous year, the American Advertising Federation had included her in the list of “20 Women to Watch in Dallas Advertising” and awarded her the Shining Star Award, which recognizes women in the Dallas advertising industry who are breaking glass ceilings.

Over the span of more than 20 years in marketing, Ivonne has played leadership roles in multiple corporations representing multibillion brands, as well as in top advertising agencies such as Lintas, McCann Erickson Worldwide, and The Richards Group, working with well-known brands in almost every category. In 2014, she joined Avocados From Mexico as the Head of Digital Marketing, and in seven years she built the organization’s digital practice which became one of the most successful digital groups in terms of performance and innovation.

Under her leadership, AFM’s digital work won dozens of accolades and recognitions, including the only brand to be among the top two position on Merkle’s list of “Best Digital Super Bowl Campaigns” for five consecutive years, from 2016 through 2020; an ANA REGGIE Award in 2020 for Disrupted Use of Digital Technology; and a Gold (Sol De Oro) for AFM’s 2017 Super Bowl digital campaign in the category of Real-Time Content at the FIAP competition in Buenos Aires. This festival is recognized in the Latin American region as one of the two most important festivals, together with Cannes.

She has addressed hundreds of keynotes — across the nation and internationally — about Avocados From Mexico’s digital marketing successes, and she is a regular guest speaker at the IPADE, the top business school in Mexico.

Innovation, disruptive creativity, and a nontraditional approach to marketing are the hallmarks of Ivonne’s work.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Krystina Gustafson, SVP Content ShopTalk/GroceryShop Recorded Live at GroceryShop

michael@meleblanc.co (Krystina Gustafson) — Fri, 7 Oct 2022 07:10:00 +0000

We are excited to release a series of bonus episodes recorded live in Las Vegas at the recently completed GroceryShop 2022 conference.

Our second special guest is Krystina Gustafson, SVP Content at ShopTalk and GroceryShop, whom we caught up with just as the conference was wrapping up.

Krystina provides a behind the scenes look at how the conference came to be, how events are curated, and whether the pandemic has changed her approach to content delivery and programming. We also hear her top take-aways from the event and get a glimpse at the plans for next spring's ShopTalk, which returns to Las Vegas, and ShopTalk Europe, which moves to Barcelona.

About Krystina

Krystina is the senior vice president of content at Shoptalk and Groceryshop, the leading conferences in the retail, grocery and consumer packaged goods industries. She leads the team that shapes the retail and ecommerce industry narratives, including agenda development and speaker selection. Krystina joined Shoptalk in 2017, after spending four years as a retail reporter and content editor at CNBC.com. Prior to CNBC, Krystina was a web editor at Women's Wear Daily, the trade publication for the fashion industry.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Alibaba's Fresh Approach to 'New Retail' with special guest Tony Shan

michael@meleblanc.co (Tony Shan) — Tue, 4 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The streams are crossing somewhere along the Vegas Strip, as this week's episode features our news segment recorded at the National Association of Convenience Stores event, while our interview was conducted live at GroceryShop.

Our guest this week is Tony Shan, Head of Tmall Global, Americas, for the Alibaba Group. We learn a bit about the scale, scope and evolution of the world's third largest retailer, before going deeper on the innovative Freshippo grocery concept. We touch on essential elements of providing a more harmonized shopping experience that is at the heart of "New Retail" before getting Tony's perspective on what is key to driving and prioritizing innovation. We also unpack the definition and importance of "fresh" and its interplay with convenience, price and sustainability.

But first we share our top take-aways from the week that was in retail, starting with the contrast of a strong US job market report with the third straight quarter of GDP declines. Then we take on earnings reports from Bed, Bath & Beyond (yuck), Nike (huh?) and Costco (wow!). Peloton continues to take the D out of DTC as they announce a wholesale partnership with Dick's Sporting Goods.

Instead of a trip to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner we lift up some pretty nice capital raises from DNVB darlings Caraway, Monos, and Everlane. It also turns out that physical retail is still not dead, as store openings continue to outpace closures. And fresh on the heels of our interview with Sam's Club SVP Tim Simmons we learn about the brand's planned new innovation center.

About Tony

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantony/

Tony Shan joined Alibaba Group in 2017 and now serves as the Head of the Americas region for Alibaba Group’s cross-border B2C platforms, Tmall Global & Kaola. He leads a team of category experts in North America working with brands, retailers and SMEs to sell into the growing Chinese market. Prior to his work with ecommerce in China, Tony was the Merchandising and Marketing Lead for the apparel & footwear business at an Amazon subsidiary that operated U.S. ecommerce sites such as Diapers.com and Soap.com. He also gained global retail expertise working at luxury fashion brand, Coach, in global merchandising and planning. He is currently based in Alibaba’s New York office in Manhattan.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

BONUS EPISODE: Coresight's Deborah Weinswig Recorded Live at GroceryShop

michael@meleblanc.co (Deborah Weinswig) — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 08:00:29 +0000

We are excited to release a series of bonus episodes recorded live in Las Vegas at the recently completed GroceryShop 2022 conference.

Our first special guest is Deb Weinswig, founder and CEO of Coresight Research, and we challenge you to find a podcast episode that delivers more insight per minute.

We break from our usual form to get Deb's 5 hot-takes on 5 hot topics, including the future of live-streaming, the retail technology she's most excited about, separating the hype from hope in retail innovation, her most interesting take aways from GroceryShop, and what will it take for China to bounce back.

Coresight's 10 10 event: https://1010shoppingfestival.com/register-for-1010/

About Deborah

Deborah Weinswig is the founder and CEO of Coresight Research. Between 2014 to early 2018, Deborah served as Managing Director of Fung Global Retail and Technology (FGRT), the think tank of Fung Group. Previously, she was Managing Director and Head of the Global Staples & Consumer Discretionary team at Citi Research.

Deborah was ranked the #1 analyst by Institutional Investor for 10 years in a row. She was named one of the Top 50 Retail Influencers by Vend in both 2016 and 2017, and received the Asia Retail Congress’s Retail Leadership Award in 2016. She was also recognized by LinkedIn as a top Voice in Retail in 2017 and 2018.

She serves on the board of directors for Goodwill Industries New York/New Jersey, GUESS?, Inc., Kiabi, Street Soccer USA and Xcel Brands, Inc. Deborah is on the advisory board of the World Retail Congress as well as several accelerators.

Deborah is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Accelerating Innovation in Turbulent Times with Guest Tim Simmons, Chief Product Officer at Sam's Club

michael@meleblanc.co (Tim Simmons) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 05:31:05 +0000

We're recording live this week from the just wrapped GroceryShop conference in Las Vegas.

Our guest this week is Tim Simmons, SVP & Chief Product Officer of Sam's Club, who takes us deep into the transformation process that he's been helping lead. We learn how Walmart and Sam's Club have been evolving and accelerating the pace of innovation. It's a Master Class on how to embed a culture of experimentation and the role of design thinking and agile methodology. We also learn what "The 5 Why's" and "low fidelity prototyping" are all about and how they are making a real difference at Sam's. We close on the critical role of executive leadership in driving the innovation agenda--turns out "Scooby snacks" might be the key.

But first we share our top take-aways from the conference before diving into our hot-takes on the latest retail news, including what a big jump in interest rates means for retail. But Walmart and Target say "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" when it comes to holiday hiring plans. Then it's thoughts and prayers time for JC Penney as they revel more details about their turnaround plans. We raise questions around Wegman's decision to bail on "scan-and go" before returning to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner to discuss Stitch Fix's earnings whiff and the potential acquisition of Purple.

About Tim

Tim serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Sam’s Club. In this role, he oversees product management, operations transformation, and the user experience across omnichannel commerce, digital in-club experiences, supply chain, merchandising, and more. Tim joined Sam’s Club in 2015 and has worked in various areas of the business including Membership and Marketing, Operations Transformation and In-Club Product Management and Fulfillment before taking on his current role in 2021.

Before joining Sam’s Club, he spent more than 15 years working largely in professional services, doing advertising and consulting for companies such as MRM/McCann, RAPP, Peppers & Rogers Group and Ernst & Young. During this time, he worked with clients across numerous industries including technology, retail, oil and gas, entrainment, travel, food services and health care to help generate growth, increase market share, and provide measurable impact.

Tim has an Associate of Arts degree from Snow College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University, and an MBA and Masters of International Studies from the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Retail Fight Club: Can Kohl's Be Turned Around?, with guest Ethan Chernovsky

michael@meleblanc.co (Ethan Chernovsky) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 10:21:26 +0000

"The first rule of Retail Fight Club is to tell everybody about Retail Fight Club."

- Michael LeBlanc

This week we debut a new segment: Retail Fight Club, where we debate a contentious issue that just about everyone in retail is talking about. Ethan Chernovsky, Placer.ai's VP of Marketing returns to the pod and steps into the ring with Steve for our inaugural episode to present opposing view points on the likelihood of Kohl's mounting a meaningful return to its former glory. Will their bold set of strategic initiatives be on target, or merely amount to a slightly better version of mediocre?

But first we give our hot-takes on the week's retail news, including the latest read on inflation and US monthly retail sales. We also weigh in on recessionary declarations from FedEx, the World Bank and RH's CEO Gary Friedman, before reviewing new sales projections for the holiday season. Then it's Yeezy come, Yeezy go as the artist formerly known as Kanye West and the Gap part ways. We also revisit the Wobbly Unicorn Corner to discuss the train wreck that is Rent the Runway, before briefly touching on an interesting merger of digitally native brands and an apparent change of heart when it comes to Walmart as an interesting distribution partner. We end on an inspiring note, discussing the big news that Patagonia's founder is giving away the company to support action on the climate crisis.

Photo by Attentie Attentie on Unsplash

CNBC Kanye West, who goes by Ye, interview.

Fight Club | 20th Anniversary | 20th Century FOX

About Ethan

Ethan Chernofsky is the VP of Marketing at Placer.ai. Previously, Ethan was the VP of Marketing at Orbs. Ethan holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

"Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be" with Steven Pressfield

michael@meleblanc.co (Steven Pressfield) — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 04:05:00 +0000

We're back with Part 2 of our provocative interview with Steven Pressfield, acclaimed screenplay writer (The Legend of Bagger Vance, among others) and bestselling author of fiction (A Man at Arms, Gates of Fire), as well as several ground-breaking non-fiction works on unlocking our creative potential, including the classic The War of Art, which has sold over 1 million copies worldwide

After unpacking how the mythical force of "Resistance" is the dragon we need to slay, we go deeper into what it means to "turn pro" and why it is the key to doing the work we are meant to do. Then we discuss Steve's latest best-seller Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, and learn how his frank and pragmatic advice can be put into action. We close by digging into how to use humility to drive truly remarkable outcomes.

But first we start off with a quick update on Steve's South American trip, as well as his exotic ventures to the jungle that is Dallas' Northpark Mall to check on the state of markdowns. Then we move into our hot-takes on the latest retail news, including what to make of Target's decision to change its mandatory retirement change to keep CEO Brian Cornell a bit longer. And while Brian is staying put, we wish ace retail reporter Lauren Thomas happy trails as she departs CNBC for a new adventure. Catch her episode with us here. Lastly, we discuss Amazon's retrenchment and re-working of its fulfillment strategy.

***************************************************************************

Last chance to use our GroceryShop discount offer:

Valid for Retailers and Brands only, use code RBR1950 to access our special rate / ticket price is $US1950. Offer code expires 9/22/22.

Oprah's Super Soul Conversations

Unlocking Your Creative Genius with Steven Pressfield

Check out Steven Pressfield's work, including The War of Art, Turning Pro, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, and more here.

About Us

Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield is the author of The War of Art which has sold over a millions copies globally and been translated into multiple languages. He is a master of historical fiction with Gates of Fire being on the required reading list at West Point and the the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs. His other books include A Man at Arms, Turning Pro, Do the Work, The Artist's Journey, Tides of War, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Last of the Amazons, Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign, Killing Rommel, The Profession, The Lion's Gate, The Warrior Ethos, The Authentic Swing, An American Jew, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, and The Knowledge.

His debut novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance was over 30 years in the making. He hasn't stopped writing since.

Steve lives and writes in California. You can following him on IG @steven_pressfield. Sign up for his weekly writing newsletter at stevenpressfield.com

"It is one thing to study war, and another to live the warrior's life."

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Slaying the Dragon of "Resistance" with Steven Pressfield

michael@meleblanc.co (Steven Pressfield) — Tue, 6 Sep 2022 06:38:18 +0000

"The more important a project is to the evolution of your soul, the more Resistance you'll feel to it."

Our guest this week is Steven Pressfield, acclaimed screenplay writer (The Legend of Bagger Vance, among others), bestselling fiction author (A Man at Arms, Gates of Fire) and, as you'll learn, a "servant to the Muse." But he's joining us to discuss his breakthrough efforts to help people walk through their fear to create and deliver their best work.

In Part 1 of our two part interview we dig into Steve's ground-breaking book The War of Art to unpack the concept of Resistance--the almost mythical, but very real and pernicious, force that fights our desire to innovate and bring our new ideas to the world. In his trademark engaging and to the point style, Steve lays out how to overcome our self-doubt and self-sabotage to breakthrough ways we get stuck.

But first we give our hot-takes on the latest retail news, including a quick review of what earnings from Gap, Nordstrom, Macy's, and others suggest about the balance of the year. Spoiler alert: lots of markdowns. Bed, Bath & Beyond also announced (yet another) turnaround plan, which is long on cost cutting but falls short on what really ails them. And no episode is complete without a trip to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner where we unpack news from Klarna, TheRealReal and Peloton.

GroceryShop discount offer:

Valid for Retailers and Brands only, use code RBR1950 to access our special rate / ticket price is $US1950. Offer code expires 9/22/22.

Oprah's Super Soul Conversations

Unlocking Your Creative Genius with Steven Pressfield

Past podcast episodes referenced:

The Customer is the Channel with Tractor Supply's Rob Mills

Why Does It Take a Crisis for Retailers to Innovate?

About Us

Steven Pressfield

His debut novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance was over 30 years in the making. He hasn't stopped writing since.

Steve lives and writes in California. You can following him on IG @steven_pressfield. Sign up for his weekly writing newsletter at stevenpressfield.com

"It is one thing to study war, and another to live the warrior's life."

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Choose Remarkable: Why Very Good Is No Longer Good Enough

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:05:00 +0000

“The problem is, you think you have time.”

- Carlos Castaneda, Journey to Ixtlan

This week we present our first ever encore episode.

We open the vault to extract a seminal recording from our first season, released in the fall of 2020, where we discuss some of the key concepts from Steve's best-selling book Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. In a wide-ranging conversation we explore the key factors that have created the great retail bifurcation, the collapse of the middle and why choosing to be remarkable is increasingly the only choice.

We start by unpacking why it's probably later than you think, the importance of understanding the difference between table stakes and differentiators, the challenge of slow motion crises, and more!

In the second part of the episode, we lay out the strategic choices companies are compelled to make, the importance of decisively picking a lane and why it's so critical to choose remarkable. Then it's a quick overview of Steve's "8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail" framework. We also discuss how to best apply the framework and prioritize turning ideas into action and reveal our gift of prophecy by warning about the excessive valuations of digitally native brands.

Thanks to our presenting sponsor, MarketDial!

GroceryShop discount offer:

Valid for Retailers and Brands only, use code RBR1950 to access our special rate / ticket price is $US1950. Offer code expires 9/22/22.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Are Small Stores the Answer to Department Stores Woes?

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 04:35:50 +0000

This week we ask the question: can small stores save department stores? And do they, in fact, need saving? Despite the suggestion that the department stores may be rebounding, it is looking more like a dead-cat bounce. In response to decades long declines, Macy's and Kohl's are placing big bets on rolling out smaller stores as a way to revitalize market share growth. We dig into how we got here, why most departments stores have engaged in timid transformations, where we're going and what needs to happen to make a small store strategy work. We also explore Nordstrom's "Local" format strategy and whether a hub and spoke go-to-market strategy may be the way forward.

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including our take on what to make of last week's monthly retail sales data and a slew of earnings reports. As we heard from Walmart, TJX, Kohl's and others the vexing question is how they got stuck with so much inventory and what Target smart to take a big hit this past quarter. Then we discuss the new buy online pick up on floor initiative from Yeezy at the Gap, before dipping into a Business Insider story (pay wall) on Amazon's reboot of its physical store strategy. We close with a visit to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner as "disruptor brands" largely continue to underwhelm.

Thanks to our presenting sponsor, MarketDial!

GroceryShop discount offer:

Valid for Retailers and Brands only, use code RBR1950 to access our special rate / ticket price is $US1950. Offer code expires 9/22/22.

Past podcast episodes of note:

Honey, I Shrunk the Stores

Amazon and the Fault in Their Stores

The Mall is Dead (Long Live the Mall)

Blow It Up? It's Time for The Great Reconfiguration

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Mall is Dead (Long Live the Mall) with best-selling author Alexandra Lange

michael@meleblanc.co (Alexandra Lange) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Alexandra Lange, famed architecture and design critic, and author of the brand new best-seller Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall. In a wide-ranging interview we get Alexandra's perspectives on the history and cultural significant of shopping malls. We dig into the fascinating story of Victor Gruen and how his design ideas shaped the evolution of regional malls for decades. Then we explore how malls began to lose their relevance, particularly as department stores increasingly found themselves stuck in the boring middle. Lastly wonder what's next for malls and what it might take for them to have a remarkable future.

But first we give our hot-takes on the latest retail news, including shaky earnings reports from several wobbly unicorns: Warby Parker, Allbirds and The Real Real, contrasting their performance with Yeti's wholesale first growth strategy. We also discuss Signet's fire sale priced acquisition of one of the OG's of DTC, Blue Nile, before wrapping up with Bed, Bath & Beyond's decision to bail on one of its new private brands ("Wild Sage") after its rookie season.

GroceryShop discount offer:

Valid for Retailers and Brands only, use code RBR1950 to access our special rate / ticket price is $US1950. Offer code expires 9/22/22.

Past podcast episodes of note:

Understanding Warby Parker and Customer-Based Valuation with Dan McCarthy

The Great Wholesale v. DTC Debate with Simeon Siegel

About Alexandra

Alexandra Lange is a design critic. Her essays, reviews and profiles have appeared in numerous design publications including Architect, Harvard Design Magazine, and Metropolis, as well as in The Atlantic, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, and the New York Times. She is a columnist for Bloomberg CityLab, and has been a featured writer at Design Observer, an opinion columnist at Dezeen, and the architecture critic for Curbed.

Her latest book, Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall, was published by Bloomsbury USA in June 2022.

Her previous book, The Design of Childhood: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids was published by Bloomsbury USA in 2018. Research for the book was supported by a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts. Design of Childhood was named one of Planetizen’s Top 10 Urban Planning Books of 2018 and has been an assigned text in art and architecture studios at ASU, Columbia, Harvard, MIT, UPenn, VCU and Yale.

Alexandra is also the author of Writing About Architecture: Mastering the Language of Buildings and Cities (Princeton Architectural Press, 2012), a primer on how to read and write architecture criticism, as well as the e-book The Dot-Com City: Silicon Valley Urbanism (Strelka, 2012), which considers the message of the physical spaces of Facebook, Google, and Apple.

In 2021, Alexandra became editorial advisor to the podcast New Angle: Voice, produced by the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation. The podcast showcases the work of pioneering women of American architecture, and the first five-episode season featured Julia Morgan, Natalie de Blois, Helen Fong, Norma Sklarek and Florence Knoll. Several episodes were broadcast on 99 Percent Invisible.

Alexandra co-wrote and co-produced “Masters of Modern Design: The Art of the Japanese American Experience,” a 2019 KCET Artbound documentary on Japanese American designers in the postwar era, which was based on one of her Curbed columns. “Masters of Modern Design” won a 2020 LA Area Emmy Award.

Radio and podcast appearances include NPR Weekend Edition and Marketplace, as well as Studio 360, 99 Percent Invisible, Decoder Ring, The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC and Think on KERA. Alexandra has lectured widely at universities, museums and design conferences on topics ranging from the history of women architecture critics to the opulent modernism of Alexander Girard to the best use of social media by architects. She has also taught design criticism at New York University and the School of Visual Arts.

Alexandra was a 2014 Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She won a 2018 New York Press Club Award for Feature Reporting – Internet for her Curbed story, “No Loitering, No Skateboarding, No Baggy Pants,” on teens and public space. In 2019, she was awarded a Steven Heller Prize for Cultural Commentary by AIGA. In 2020, Alexandra was the recipient of the Stephen A. Kliment Oculus Award from AIA New York, given to architectural journalists. She was also awarded the 2020 BRIO Prize by the eponymous Swedish toy company, which honors researchers and non-profits focused on creating a better world through play.

Alexandra has long been interested in the creation of modern domestic life, a theme running through Design Research: The Store that Brought Modern Living to American Homes (Chronicle, 2010), which she co-authored with Jane Thompson, as well as her contributions to Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America (Yale, 2018), Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe (Vitra, 2016), Formica Forever (Metropolis, 2013), and Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future (Yale, 2006). Her latest contributions on the topic include a chapter on design for children in Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890 – 1980 (Prestel, 2020) and the foreword to Designing Motherhood (MIT Press, 2021). Her 2005 dissertation, “Tower Typewriter and Trademark: Architects, Designers and the Corporate Utopia, 1956-1964,” discussed the design programs and design networks at postwar American corporations.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Creating the Type of Company The Future Needs Now with The House of L,R & C's Christine Day

michael@meleblanc.co (Christine Day) — Tue, 9 Aug 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Christine Day, former CEO of lululemon athletica and Starbucks senior executive, who is now leading the growth of Russell Wilson and Ciara's remarkable retail company, The House of L,R & C. We learn about the inspiration for creating sustainable fashion brands, including the decision to organize as a B Corp. We delve into the challenges and the opportunities of driving social impact in the apparel industry and what it takes to combine sustainability with true fashion. We also get Christine's perspectives on how generate profitable growth in an omni-channel world and the criticality of being purpose led.

But first we give our hot-takes on the latest retail news, including a blockbuster U.S jobs report that drove unemployment down to 3.5%. But contrasting with that good news are layoffs from Walmart, Allbirds and Glossier, and downward earnings guidance from Under Armour. We also discuss the train wreck of an earnings report from Wayfair, before diving into Target's continuing roll out of its hybrid fulfillment strategy. We close with news of Best Buy's intriguing new "digital-first" small store test.

GroceryShop discount offer:

Valid for Retailers and Brands only, use code RBR1950 to access our special rate / ticket price is $US1950. Offer code expires 9/22/22.

Despite a Booming Stock Price Wayfair is No Amazon

Best Buy Small Store Test

The Store As Brand Hub with Target's Nancy King

The Hybridization of Retail

It's Time for the Great Reconfiguration

It's Almost Too Late with Seth Godin

Christine Day is a Co-Founder and President of The House of LR&C where she brings 30 years of experience in scaling global retail brands to this new concept in fashion. Christine is known for bringing her whole self to work combining warmth and joy with vision and operational excellence. She is widely recognized as one of the greats in the evolving world of retail.

Christine brings her executive leadership experience to The House of LR&C from lululemon athletica, where she served as CEO for six years, as well as Starbucks, serving in various executive positions over a 20-year period. Concurrently, she is the CEO of Performance Kitchen, a forward-thinking food company creating the next generation of frozen food with a focus on great taste, convenience and nutrition. She earned her BA degree from Central Washington University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Christine and her husband enjoy a full life in Vancouver surrounded by her loving family of 3 children and 4 grandchildren.About Christine:

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Amazon and The Fault In Their Stores

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 2 Aug 2022 04:05:00 +0000

This week we dig into Amazon's physical store strategy as it ups the ante with the expansion of its mainstream grocery store concept (Amazon Fresh), convenience stores (Amazon Go), and an initial foray into brick-and-mortar apparel (Amazon Style). We ponder why Whole Foods has gotten worse under their leadership and whether the company's tendency to see most everything as an engineering problem keeps them from delivering the emotional content and artistic side of retail they will need to succeed in the future. We get Steve's full report on his store visits and reprise how important it is to understand "buying" vs. "shopping."

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including lots of scary macro-economic news. We also discuss the dire surprise warnings from Walmart and Best Buy, as well as a dismal earnings report from Shopify. Then we try to unpack Amazon's earnings, which we found less than stellar, despite Wall Street's ebullience.

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We look forward to seeing everyone at Grocery Shop

Two of Steve's Forbes articles on this week's topic

Amazon's Future May Soon Be Tied to Brick-and-Mortar

Here's Why Amazon Should Buy Kohl's

John Oliver "This Week Tonight" Episode on Inflation

Amazon Fresh's Latest Store

Inside The First Amazon Style Store

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Multi-Billion Dollar Retail Media Network Opportunity with Lauren Wiener, Managing Director and Partner, BCG

michael@meleblanc.co (Lauren Wiener) — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Lauren Wiener, Managing Director and Partner in the New York office of the Boston Consulting Group.

With Laura lending her considerable experience and expertise, this episode provides a deep-dive into the world of retail media networks. We dig into definitions, the size of the opportunity and what is driving this booming area of retail. We learn who some of the leaders are and what strategies they employ. We also unpack some of the major opportunities, key risks and how to best balance sometimes conflicting agendas. It's a concise Masterclass on what you need to know about this rapidly growing and highly profitable retail segment.

But first we unpack the hot retail news of the week, including Macy's questionable PR strategy, just announced plans to roll out Toys R US departments everywhere, and its small stores dreams. We have a more positive take on Nike's new Style concept which just debuted in Seoul, before wrapping up with a discussion of what a recession might mean for retailer's strategies.

About Lauren

Lauren Wiener is a Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group, based in the New York office. She leads BCG's Retail Media and Data Monetization business globally, working across retailers, CPGs and tech partners to unlock this emerging channel. She has authored research on the topic including "The $100B Media Opportunity for Retailers" and "Consumers Want Privacy. Marketers Can Deliver." Lauren has extensive experience across marketing, sales and pricing with a laser focus on these topics at the intersection of digital marketing, personalization, agile, ad tech and martech.

Prior to rejoining BCG, Lauren was the CEO of Tremor Video DSP, an ad tech company focused on using AI, big data and outcome based buying models to optimize video advertising effectiveness. Before Tremor, Lauren spent 15 years building advertising and subscription-based digital businesses from the ground up for Meredith Corporation, Primedia and MTV Networks. In addition to scaling and transforming businesses, Lauren has successfully sold three digital and media companies, including Tremor Video to Taptica International, American Baby to Meredith Corporation and Seventeen to Hearst Corporation.

Lauren holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated magna cum laude from Yale University with a BA in History.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Understanding 'Buying' vs. 'Shopping'

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 04:05:00 +0000

This week we go sans guest to unpack an increasingly important strategic and executional distinction which Steve first dug into in a 2018 Forbes article and then subsequently developed in his best-selling book. Understanding the critical difference between "buying", which is more about addressing a need quickly and efficiently, and "shopping" which is inherently more solutions based and involves more of an emotional connection, can go a long way to informing both our underlying business design and go-to-market strategy, as well as how we evolve the customer experience and targeted marketing programs.

We start with a bit of a history lesson, discussing how convenience has evolved and how the growth of e-commerce and new, disruptive store formats have reshaped the competitive landscape and led to increasing bifurcation of outcomes. Then we discuss what it all means for our future strategic choices.

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including what to make of staggeringly high inflation rates, the potential implications of the just released US monthly sales report, and whether we should really care about Amazon Prime Day(s) anymore. We also hear a bit about Michael's trip to the Netherlands and his battles dealing with the big Canadian internet outage of 2022.

Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, MarketDial!

About MarketDial

MarketDial helps brick-and-mortar retailers conduct in-store testing on their innovative initiatives – preventing poor decisions, empowering great decisions.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE with Special Guest Seth Godin

michael@meleblanc.co (Seth Godin) — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Seth Godin joins us for the kick-off episode of Season 5 to discuss his new book and project: The Carbon Almanac: It's Not Too Late. For the few who may not know, Seth is an internet pioneer, best-selling author of 20 books, host of the Akimbo podcast and one of the world's most sought-out keynotes speakers. Most importantly Steve was also best man at Seth's wedding.

As individuals, citizens and members of the retail community we all have an opportunity and, one could say, an obligation, to address the climate crisis. In a wide ranging conversation we learn what the Carbon Almanac movement is all about, how it came to be and what Seth hopes its impact will be. We go beyond the myth of the "carbon footprint" to delve into the need for true systemic change and how that can be manifested. We also discuss the critical role for the retail industry in demonstrating sustainability leadership and talk about what brands like Patagonia are doing to make a difference.

As usual, we kick things off with a fast-paced look into the big retail news of the week, including the need for the industry to "buckle up Buttercup" in the face of growing headwinds, what to make of Kohl's being left at the alter and what Mark Triton's departure from Bed, Bath & Beyond means from the brand's future. Steve also predicts that some CEO's at digitally native vertical brands might want to update their resumes.

Steve's Relevant Forbes Articles

Is Kohl's New Strategy Merely A Slightly Better Version of Mediocre?

Here's Why Amazon Should Buy Kohl's--with One Big Caveat

About Seth

Seth Godin is an Author, Entrepreneur and Most of All, A teacher

Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. The latest book is The Practice, and creatives everywhere have made it a bestseller.

Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!).

By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.

In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Buckle Up Buttercup, Get Ready for Season 5 of Remarkable Retail!

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 5 Jul 2022 04:05:00 +0000

This is Steve Dennis, innovation & strategy consultant, keynote speaker and best-selling author of Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption.

If you think the last few years of the COVID era was a wild ride, buckle up buttercup, things are only going to get tougher as retailers face escalating competition and increasing macroeconomic headwinds.

In an era where even very good is no longer good enough, to rise above the rest our only choice is to choose to be remarkable. And making this remarkable mind shift requires that we aim higher, act more boldly and move much faster.

So join me and my co-host Michael LeBlanc each and every week as we challenge the status quo, dissect the latest trends, put the top retail news of the week in context, and make sense of the next era of modern retail.

We've worked hard over the past four seasons to share our pragmatic insights, showcase those retail leaders and brands that are making a real difference and earn our place as one of the top ranked retail industry podcasts in the world.

So be sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you enjoy your podcasts today and brace yourself for a steady stream of wisdom, straight talk and lively conversation.

Season 5, presented by MarketDial, launches July 12, and we can’t wait to have you join us!

About Us

10 No Holds Barred Predictions For Retail's Future: A Mid-Year Review

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 04:05:00 +0000

In our Season 4 finale, we peer into Steve's crystal ball to review his annual predictions as we approach the half way point of the year. In addition to unpacking what they are all about, we go for radical accountability, assessing each of them hits, misses or, perhaps, a bit too soon to tell.

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including the scary inventory overload facing many of the industry's top players, and the impact of continuing high inflation, weak consumer confidence, mounting consumer debt and lower savings rates on retail's immediate future. We also discuss Kohl's bizarre potential tie-up with the Franchise Group, the growing potential of a disruptor apocalypse, highlighted by disappointing earnings from TheRealReal, StitchFix, and Rent-the-Runway. We close optimistically with Tractor Supply's remarkable financial results and aggressive store opening plans.

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Steve Recent Relevant Forbes Articles

10 No-Holds-Barred Predictions for Retail in 2022

Too Much of a Good Things. Retailers Are Drowning in Inventory

Amazon Should Buy Kohl's--With One Big Caveat

Past Podcast Episodes We Reference

Ron Thurston Episode

The Stores Strike Back Again. Again.

Blow It Up? It's Time For the Great Reconfiguration

The Original Predictions Episode

Placer.Ai Department Store Traffic Data

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Retail Pride Hits The Road with Special Guest Ron Thurston

michael@meleblanc.co (Ron Thurston) — Tue, 7 Jun 2022 05:06:34 +0000

Our special guest this week is Ron Thurston, fellow Rethink Retail top influencer, best-selling author of Retail Pride: The Guide to Celebrating Your Accidental Career, and deeply experienced retail executive, having done stings at Intermix, YSL, Bonobos, Tory Burch, Apple and more.

Ron joins us from his Airsteam just a couple of months into his "Retail In America" tour, which will literally take him from sea to shining sea. He's on a journey to discover everyday retail heroes and we find him just outside of Memphis eager to talk about all that he is learning. It's a wide-ranging discussion of what it's really like on the ground, away from the often narrow views from the fashion hubs of New York and LA. But just to keep it a wee bit glam, we also learn about Ron's recent chat with none other than Sarah Jessica Parker.

But first we we dive into the big retail news of the week, which starts of with how recent earnings highlight the continuing bifurcation of retail that is being exacerbated by inflation and rebalancing to pre-COVID spending patterns. We also discuss, JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon's revised weather forecast, get additional proof that everything Eddie Lampert touches dies. We then conclude with Missguided's "named to fail" strategy and former Neiman Marcus CEO Karen Katz's move to become the new CEO of Intermix.

About Ron

Ron Thurston is a highly accomplished retail leadership Executive, Board Advisor, and Amazon Bestselling Author with extensive experience leading retail operations for America’s most prominent brands. He is adept at turning around underperforming businesses, developing and implementing innovative growth strategies, architecting improved training programs, building high-performing and dedicated teams, launching new brands, expanding brands into new markets, and ensuring customer growth and satisfaction.

In 2021 and 2022, Ron was named one of the top 100 Retail Influencers globally, is a board member of GOODWILL NY/NJ, and currently sits on the advisory boards of several emerging retail technology brands, including Reflex Careers, Job Pixel, and IMMERSS.

In 2022 Ron is launching his audio and video platforms for a year-long tour called “Retail In America,” live from an Airstream trailer to discover the real retail heroes all across the country.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Fixing The Leaky Bucket in the Post-Purchase Customer Experience with Narvar CEO Amit Sharma

michael@meleblanc.co (Amit Sharma) — Tue, 31 May 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Our special guest this week is Amit Sharma, Founder & CEO at Narvar, the post-purchase platform for e-commerce. Amit brings tremendous experience to his current role, having held leadership positions at Williams-Sonoma, Walmart and Apple. Narvar was recently named to Fast Company's annual list of most innovative companies.

We unpack why so much of the industry's historical focus has been on demand generation and customer acquisition while largely neglecting customer retention and engagement throughout the whole customer lifecycle. In a fascinating and expansive discussion we learn about opportunities to increase customer lifetime value through technology that helps to better manage customer expectations, proactively engage customers for improved cross-sell and upsell and reduce returns. We also explore why not nearly enough is being done to achieve sustainability objectives.

But first we kick-off with the retail news that caught our attention, including a big week of earnings reports from Dick's Sporting Goods Macy's, Best Buy and many more, which all seem to point to a dampening in consumer demand owing to inflation, a growing inventory glut and tepid e-commerce growth. We also dig into Nordstrom's somewhat surprising results and what to make of

Amazon trying to unload excess distribution space. We wrap up wondering whether layoffs at Getir, Gorillas and Klarna could be the canary in the coal mine.

Lauren Thomas episode

https://remarkable-retail-a0721f60.simplecast.com/episodes/behind-the-scenes-of-retail-reporting-with-cnbcs-lauren-thomas

Scott Galloway episode

https://remarkable-retail-a0721f60.simplecast.com/episodes/season-finale-with-special-guest-scott-galloway

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

Possible links?

Lauren Thomas episode

Scott Galloway episode

About Us

Digitally Native Brands Hit The Wall

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 24 May 2022 05:31:43 +0000

Despite all the hype, after gobs of venture capital investment, several high profile IPO's and some big moves into physical retail, the OG's of the new wave of DTC are running into trouble. Most of the digitally native brands that were supposed to disrupt the retail industry (think Warby Parker, Stitch Fix, Allbirds, Caspar, and many more) may be growing the top-line--though not even Wayfair and Peloton can say that anymore--but their operating losses continue to grow.

Virtually all of them have seen their market valuations collapse in recent months. And the once promising pivot to opening stores must be called into question, particularly as the entire industry faces growing headwinds.

In this episode we dive deep into just what the heck is going on here and whether the hugely disappointing recent results from Warby Parker suggest a possible reset for the new breed of DTC brands.

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including earnings reports from Target, Walmart, Kohl's and Lowe's that were, to put it mildly, rather disturbing. We also discuss whether it's a great idea for Amazon to buy Kohl's or whether they'd just be catching a falling knife. As an added bonus we also learn that you haven't lived until you've visited a Las Vegas ER in the wee hours of the morning.

And lastly, don't forget that Steve's book has been selected as a Kindle Monthly Deal, which means that through May 31 the ebook version of Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is just $1.99 in both the United States and Canada.

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Insider Intelligence Report

D2C Brands 2022

Steve Recent Forbes Relevant Articles

Store Expansion May Not Be A Slam Dunk For Struggling Digitally Native Brands

Wayfair's Earnings Disaster Portends More Trouble For 'Disruptor' Brands

Past Podcast Episodes We Reference

Understanding Customer-Based Valuation with Dan McCarthy

The Profitless Prosperity of Disruptor Brands

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Power of Regret: An Interview With Best-Selling Author Dan Pink

michael@meleblanc.co (Dan Pink) — Tue, 17 May 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Welcome to a special cross-over episode of the podcast. We're taking a break for the week and bringing you a great conversation Michael had on The Voice of Retail podcast with best-selling author Dan Pink.

Dan believes that regret is our most misunderstood emotion.

In his quest to reclaim the power of regret as a force for good, Dan has written a breakthrough book, The Power Of Regret, which speaks to regret as a critical component of human existence. This emotion prompts us to look backwards to clarify how we want to move forwards. I loved the book, enjoyed the interview, and appreciate Dan's remarkable take on regret and I'm delighted to share it with you.

And don't forget, if you live in the US or Canada you can get the Kindle version of my book Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Digital Disruption for just $1.99 for a very limited time. Just head on over to Amazon.

We'll be back next week with our regularly scheduled show.

But for now, let's listen to Michael's interview with Dan Pink.

Michael's first interview with Dan

About Daniel Pink

Daniel H. Pink is the author of several provocative, bestselling books about business, work, creativity, and behavior.

His books include:

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing unlocks the scientific secrets to good timing to help you flourish at work, at school, and at home. When spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list. It was also a Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestseller. Several outlets (including Amazon, iBooks, and Goodreads) named it one of the best non-fiction books of 2018. It is being translated into 33 languages.
- To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, which uses social science to offer a fresh look at the art and science of sales. To Sell is Human was a #1 bestseller on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post lists and has been translated into 34 languages. More than a dozen outlets, from Amazon.com to The Washington Post, selected it as one of the best books of the year. It also won the American Marketing Association’s Berry Book Prize as the year’s best book on marketing.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, which draws on 50 years of behavioral science to overturn the conventional wisdom about human motivation. Along with being a Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Publishers Weekly bestseller, Drive spent 159 weeks on the New York Times (main and extended) bestseller lists. A national bestseller in Japan and the United Kingdom, the book has been translated into 40 languages.
A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, which charts the rise of right-brain thinking in modern economies and describes the six abilities individuals and organizations must master in an outsourced, automated age. A Whole New Mind was on the New York Times (main and extended) bestseller lists for 96 weeks over four years. It has been a Freshman Read at several U.S. colleges and universities. In 2008, Oprah Winfrey gave away 4,500 copies of the book to Stanford University’s graduating class when she was the school’s commencement speaker.
- The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need, the first American business book in the Japanese comic format known as manga and the only graphic novel ever to become a BusinessWeek bestseller. Illustrated by award-winning artist Rob Ten Pas, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko was named an American Library Association best graphic novel for teens.
- Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself, a Washington Post bestseller that Publishers Weekly says “has become a cornerstone of employee-management relations.” In 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Library of Congress selected Free Agent Nation as one of 100 Books That Shaped Work in America.
Pink was host and co-executive producer of “Crowd Control,” a television series about human behavior on the National Geographic Channel that aired in more than 100 countries. He has appeared frequently on NPR, PBS, ABC, CNN, and other TV and radio networks in the US and abroad.

He has been a contributing editor at Fast Company and Wired as well as a business columnist for The Sunday Telegraph. His articles and essays have also appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The New Republic, Slate, and other publications. He was also a Japan Society Media fellow in Tokyo, where he studied the country’s massive comic industry.

Before venturing out on his own 20 years ago, Dan worked in several positions in politics and government, including serving from 1995 to 1997 as chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore.

He received a BA from Northwestern University, where he was a Truman Scholar and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a JD from Yale Law School. He has also received honorary doctorates from Georgetown University, the Pratt Institute, the Ringling College of Art and Design, the University of Indianapolis, and Westfield State University.

Pink and his wife live in Washington, DC. They are the parents of two recent college graduates and a college freshman.

Buy the book: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-power-of-regret-how/9780735210653-item.html?ikwid=the+power+of+regret&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=6502f49431a758699c7276ecce7d1ae6

Our previous interview on The Voice of Retail : https://the-voice-of-retail.simplecast.com/episodes/tal-zvi-nathanel-ceo-of-showfields-and-dan-pink-nyt-best-selling-author-share-their-insights-on-retail-experience-working-and-adapting-in-the-covid-19-ear

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

I'm Just Not That Into You: The Trap of the Promiscuous Shopper

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 10 May 2022 04:05:00 +0000

“We've already established what you are, now we're just haggling over price."

- A less than PC old joke

It's hardly news that the retail industry is responsible for too many self-inflicted wounds. At the top of this list, perhaps, is many retailers' long-term reliance on aggressive discounting to drive top-line sales. This has taught many consumers that the regular price is "the sucker price" in turn addicting them to various former of discounts. Retailers are addicted too, unable to wean themselves off various forms of price promotions.

With Kohl's announcing plans to increase its Rewards program earn rate to 7.5% we take on the potential risks of this type of strategy and unpack the differences between loyalty and bribery. We delve into what Steve calls "promiscuous shoppers" and why working too hard to seduce them can backfire. Lastly, if customers just aren't that into you and promiscuous shoppers make up too large a portion of your customer base, what should retailers actually do?

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including the continuing slow down in online shopping and disappointing results from Shopify, Etsy and eBay, among others. We go deep on Wayfair's (or is it Waywork? Or Wefair?) disastrous earnings report and wonder whether the emperor has any clothes and/or could become an acquisition target. We also touch on whether the biggest mall to open in North America in a long time is turning into an American nightmare and what to make of the divergence between increases in shipping rates and the increase in online ordering.

Don't forget that Steve's book has been selected as a Kindle Monthly Deal, which means that for a limited time the ebook version of Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is just $1.99 in both the United States and Canada.

Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash

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Steve Recent Forbes Relevant Articles

Retailer's Pointless Pursuit of the Promiscuous Shopper

Wayfair's Earnings Disaster Portends More Trouble For 'Disruptor' Brands

Wayfair, Stich Fix and Pure-Play E-commerce's Scaling Problem

The Myth of the Great E-Commerce Acceleration

Past Podcast Episodes We Reference

Understanding Customer-Based Valuation with Dan McCarthy

The Store As Brand Hub with Target's Nancy King

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

AtHome's Remarkable Growth Story with Lee Bird, CEO

michael@meleblanc.co (Lee Bird) — Tue, 3 May 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Our special guest this week is Lee Bird, CEO of AtHome, the Home Decor Superstore that has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years growing to nearly 250 stores in 40 states. Lee brings a wealth of experience to his current role, having held leadership positions at a few brands you might have heard of, including Nike, Gap, Old Navy, and Ford.

We dig deep into AtHome's incredible transformation from Garden Ridge, a struggling regional chain, to a re-branded national powerhouse. Lee takes us through the testing and customer insight that drove the new vision and re-concepting, while detailing the foundational elements that have provided critical to their success. We also explore the lessons learned from the pandemic and how AtHome is navigating current challenges with the supply chain, inflation and labor shortages.

But first we kick-off our jam-packed episode with some personal news, celebrating Steve's book being selected as a Kindle Monthly Deal. For a limited time only you can buy the ebook version of Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption for just $1.99 in both the United States and Canada. We also congratulate Michael on his Voice of Retail podcast reaching the 300 episode mark.

Then we briefly recap Steve's whirlwind tour of new store concepts in the DC area, including Bloomie's (Bloomingdale's new small store format), Amazon Fresh and the first Whole Foods Store featuring Amazon's "Just Walk Out" technology.

We move on to dissect the hot retail news of the week, including Amazon's very disappointing earnings, "the death of irony"--also know as Meta's new physical store designed to sell the Metaverse--before pondering whether the merging of a slightly better than average retailer (Kohl's) with a struggling one (JC Penney) makes any sense whatsoever.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Myth of the Great E-Commerce Acceleration

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 04:21:38 +0000

“The future is already here, it's just not very distributed.”

- William Gibson

Ever since the pandemic began, the narrative of a great acceleration in online shopping has taken hold, with some even claiming that we experienced 10 years of e-commerce growth in a matter of months. While many markets did see a huge surge in e-commerce penetration during the height of physical store lockdowns, it turns out that facts are stubborn things. In reality we are almost exactly where we would have been had the Covid crisis not hit.

In this episode, with Michael weighing in from the SIAL conference in Montreal, we challenge yet another overly simplistic narrative that, had you bought into it, might have caused you to do precisely the opposite of what you should have done. We also learn that, contrary to popular belief, Steve is not a hype man for physical retail, but rather devoutly anti bullsh*t.

What's really going on with online shopping growth, why your mileage may vary, and why we often get so much wrong about e-commerce are at the heart of this deep dive.

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including Lululemon's 5-year plan to double their revenue, Uniqlo's plans to open 400-500 new stores in the continuing rejection of all the retail apocalypse nonsense, and what to make of the departure of Old Navy's CEO (and Gap's overall lack of remarkability). We also unpack the interesting trend of the D getting taken out of DTC as more disruptor brands choose to explore wholesale distribution. Plus, in our very popular everything old is new again segment: the return of print catalogs!

The McKinsey Article

The Quickening

The WSJ Article

The Pandemic Was Supposed To Push All Shopping Online. It Didn't.

Steve Recent Forbes Articles

The Myth of the Great E-Commerce Acceleration

What We Often Get Wrong About E-Commerce And Why It Matters

Past Podcast Episodes We Reference

The Store As Brand Hub w/ Target's Nancy King

The Great DTC v. Wholesale Debate w/ Simeon Siegel

Understanding Warby Parker and Customer-Based Valuation w/ Dan McCarthy

What We Get Wrong About E-commerce
Custom Fit Solutions w/ Indochino's Drew Green

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Store As Brand Hub with Target SVP Nancy King

michael@meleblanc.co (Nancy King) — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Nancy King, SVP, Product Engineering at Target who shares the remarkable story of her company's journey to omni-channel--or is it harmonized?--leadership.

But first we unpack the hot retail news of the week, including Amazon CEO Andy Jassey's first letter to shareholders and the company's plans to get serious (at long last) about product returns. Then we do a few quick hits--Kohl's take-over talks, K-mart's last gasps and the retail industry's resale curiosity --before lamenting over the train wreck that was Bed, Bath & Beyond's recent quarterly earnings. Steve also riffs a bit on the pointless pursuit of promiscuous shoppers.

About Nancy

Authentic, progressive engineering leader with 20+ year’s hands on experience in Fortune 100 IT organizations solving the hardest problems. Able to quickly assess challenging situations and build relationships across the enterprise to align engineering, product and operations to business strategy. Strong focus on team building and culture to create empowered, energized, high performing teams. Proven ability to set strategy, drive change and foster more innovative and technically responsive organizations. And while all that is happening, my teams and I build amazing software.

Key Skills:
Software Engineering Leadership
Enterprise Agile Transformation
Product Model Leadership
IT Strategic Planning
Enterprise and Solution Architecture
Sense of humor when it's most needed
Change Management
Global Delivery Models
Process Design & Optimization
Vendor & Contract Management

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

No Cake For You!: Celebrating Remarkable Retail's Birthday with special guest Sucharita Kodali

michael@meleblanc.co (Sucharita Kodali) — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 04:05:00 +0000

“I think it’s terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people’s expectations. If you feel safe in the area that you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.”

— David Bowie, David Bowie: The Last Five Years

On the 1st anniversary of the release of the revised and expanded 2nd edition of Steve's best-selling book Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption--which confusingly is also the 2nd anniversary of the 1st edition's release--we celebrate its success and impact with our very special guest Forrester Research VP & Principal Analyst Sucharita Kodali. Sucharita is not only one of retail's top thought leaders, but she was our very first guest on the podcast back in September of 2022 and she graciously wrote the Foreword to Remarkable Retail's 2nd edition.

We unpack some of the key lessons from the book and take stock of Steve and Sucharita's predictive prowess. We also wonder aloud about whether there is complacency setting in among too many retailers, if a "collapse of the unremarkable middle" is inevitable and whether certain oft talked about "innovations" are victims of the hype cycle.

But first examine the retail news of the week that caught our attention, including trying to be glass is half full on JC Penney's new strategy to "love the customers that love us." We then move on to marvel at Shein's stratospheric $100 billion valuation, before weighing in on whether the Neiman Marcus Group's new partnership is rather Farfetched (see what we did there?). We close with our take on what to make of Walmart's bold moves to deal with trucking shortages.

Note: The John Oliver "This Week Tonight" segment referenced in the episode can be found here.

And don't forget to check out our bonus episode recapping this year's Shoptalk conference, recorded live from high above the Vegas Strip.

About Sucharita

Sucharita serves digital business strategy professionals. She is an expert on eCommerce, omnichannel retail, consumer behavior, and trends in the online shopping space. She is also an authority on technology developments that affect the online commerce industry and vendors that facilitate online marketing and merchandising.

In her research, Sucharita covers such consumer-oriented topics as eCommerce forecasting and trends, merchandising best practices, conversion optimization, and social computing in the retail world. She has also authored "The State Of Retailing Online," a joint study conducted annually with NRF.

Prior to Forrester, Sucharita was the director of marketing at Saks Fifth Avenue, where she managed the customer acquisition, retention, and market research efforts for the $2 billion luxury retailer's online channel. Prior to Saks, she held management positions at Toys R Us, where she was a merchant in the Babies R Us division and a store manager in one of the company's largest toy stores. She also worked for the Walt Disney Company, where she developed and managed marketing plans for new business initiatives, including the Disney Stores, the Disney Cruise Line, and Club Disney.
Additionally, she was involved in the expansion of Cap Cities/ABC properties, specifically ESPN Zone, ESPN Magazine, and the Go.com network. She has written two nonfiction books and has contributed to BusinessWeek Online.

Sucharita holds a B.A. in economics from Harvard University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Stepping Out in Style with Crocs President Michelle Poole

michael@meleblanc.co (Michelle Poole) — Tue, 5 Apr 2022 04:05:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Michelle Poole, President of Crocs. As Crocs celebrates its 20th anniversary we dig into the remarkable growth story behind the increasingly iconic footwear company. We address head-on the polarizing (or is it fundamentally under-estimated?) nature of the brand and how Michelle has turned that to advantage. We also learn about the personalizing power of jibbitz and how product extensions and geographic expansion are fueling their growth. We also delve deep into the diverse, increasingly digitally-driven, go-to-market strategy that is putting the company on a path to hit $5 billion in sales by 2026. Lastly we get Michelle's perspective on how to balance purpose and profits.

But first we take on the news of the week, including earnings from three DTC brands. Lululemon was first out of the gate with continuing strong results. RH also turned in another solid quarter, but their CEO called out concerns about increasing headwinds. Lastly, Chewy continues the trend of "profitless prosperity" for disruptor brands as they reported strong sales and mounting losses. Their co-founder (Ryan Cohen) also gets this week's chutzpah award for pushing big changes at Bed, Bath & Beyond when his company has yet to break-even. We also touch on all the store openings from Five Below and other value retailers and when this music might stop.

Here is the episode with Vuori's CEO Joe Kudla that Michelle mentions.

And don't forget to check out our bonus episode recapping this year's Shoptalk conference, recorded live from high above the Vegas Strip.

About Michelle

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Live from Las Vegas: Shoptalk 2022 Recap

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 1 Apr 2022 04:42:32 +0000

We're live and in-person together for the first time since we launched the Remarkable Retail podcast for this special bonus episode.

Steve and Michael sit down together in the Vegas Podcasting Studio (i.e. Michael's hotel room!) on the third and final day of the Shoptalk 2022 show in Las Vegas and discuss the key themes heard in the aisles, restaurants, and on the stage at Shoptalk 2022.

Steve's Talk Show Session

Improving Store Operations with New Tools and Technologies

Analog and still largely human-powered, store operations sometimes bear unfavorable comparison to digital’s ability to efficiently and accurately track, measure and control nearly every aspect of the business. However, retailers are increasingly building and buying solutions that bring digital efficiency to the challenges of running physical stores. In this session, retail executives will discuss the tools and technologies helping them analyze and optimize store operations.

About Shoptalk

Our attendees tell us each year that Shoptalk is the retail industry’s best event, consistently describing their experience as amazing, educational, energizing, exciting, insightful, inspiring, productive and fun. Held annually in Las Vegas, Shoptalk is an unprecedented gathering of individuals and companies reshaping how consumers discover, shop and buy. The event provides a platform for large retailers and branded manufacturers, startups, tech companies, investors, media and analysts to learn, network, collaborate and evolve.

Shoptalk was founded in 2015 by Anil D. Aggarwal and Simran Rekhi Aggarwal and acquired in 2019 by Hyve Group, plc.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Rethink Retail's Top Influencers (Part 2): The Outlook for Retail in 2022.

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 15:12:08 +0000

This episode we welcome our fellow "Rethink Retail Top Influencers" Cate Trotter, Hitha Herzog, and Rob Garf. Julia Raymond Hare and Gabriella Bock also join us to explain what the Rethink Retail's list is all about.

But first we take on the news of the week, including what to make of Nike's earnings announcement, their plans to open "Jordan" concept stores and the progress of their Consumer Direct Offense. Then we shift to the somewhat shocking news that Amazon looks to be by far the biggest retailer of apparel in the US, while finishing up with a quick take on retailer's continuing curbside enthusiasm and BOPIS.

Then we welcome our panel of experts and delve into what they as see the key drivers of what it will take to "comp the comp" after an incredibly strong 2021. We go deep on the evolving stores, how digital and physical need to work together, and what the playbook looks like to fight through supply chain issues and growing inflation. We also try to sort out which pandemic shopping behaviors are likely to persist and which might "revert to the mean.' Lastly our panelists share their "hot takes" on retailers to watch the balance of the year.

Rethink Retail's Top Influencers List.

About Cate

Insider Trends delivers omnichannel strategy and innovation that actually makes clients money. We separate the hype from what actually matters, and provide no-nonsense guidance, data-driven insights and advice. Taking the lead and boosting profits is simpler than you might think!

I've helped some of the world's best brands with their retail strategies and have been named one of the world's top retail influencers for the past 5 years.

If you’d like to chat through your plans or use me as a sounding board, I’d be delighted! Feel free to call on +44 (0) 207 183 3785 or email contact [at] insider-trends [dot] com to book an introductory chat.

Feel free to enquire about retail keynotes and trend presentations, webinars and workshops here, too.

www.insider-trends.com

Are you a senior professional at a well-known retailer looking to:

• Navigate an accelerating and increasingly complex retail landscape

• Optimise your retail strategies, plans and spend

• Innovate and upgrade with confidence, knowing it will be an investment rather than a cost

• Separate the hype from the initiatives that will actually make you money

I can help. I've been helping brands like Nike, Levi's, Metro AG, Marks and Spencer, Chanel, Carrefour, Unilever, L'Oreal, Absolut Vodka, Galeries Lafayette, Samsung, Clarks, Credit Agricole, DeLonghi, Philips, BNP Paribas and Lego innovate and upgrade their retail strategies since 2008.

About Hitah

As the go-to authority for retail & consumer spending information, I leverage my journalism and financial services background—and combine it with a passion for all things retail—to help consumers, investors, and businesses make better decisions.

📌 RETAIL ANALYST:
As Chief Research Officer at H Squared Research, LLC., I specialize in providing retail and consumer information and reports (including ghost writing) for registered investment advisors. Span includes all market caps in the following consumer sectors (manufacturing and retail):
✔Apparel ✔Children/Teen ✔Consumer Electronics and Video Games ✔Cosmetics ✔Crafts ✔Department Stores ✔Discounters ✔Farm Supply ✔Footwear ✔Gaming and Gaming Equipment ✔Lodging ✔Home Furnishings ✔Home Improvement ✔Luxury Goods ✔Office Supply ✔Off-Price ✔Online Trip Advisors ✔Party Supply ✔Restaurants (fast-casual, quick service, casual dining) ✔Specialty Apparel ✔Sporting Goods / Athletic ✔Supermarkets

📌KEYNOTE SPEAKER | SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
Rakuten Marketing Experience | Fashion Culture Design (FCD) | M&A Advisor Summit | Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) | Internet Week | Pandora | Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) | NY InfraGard Alliance | IACC | LAPD’s LAORCCA | Mid-Atlantic Anti-Money Laundering Conference | many others

📌 ON AIR CONTRIBUTOR | HOST:
Dr. Oz (regular guest as investigative retail expert) | “Divided States of Women” podcast & video series | BloombergTV | CNBC | Fox Business Network

📌 FINANCIAL WRITER & STYLE WRITER:
US News and World Report | CNBC.com | MSNBC.com | People | Time | TodayShow.com | Elle India | Forbes | Forbes.com | Gotham | Ink'd Magazine | Mashable | Metro Newspapers | New York Magazine | Parade

📌 EDUCATOR:
Associate Professor at Parsons, teaching Social Commerce

Visit WWW.HITHAHERZOG.COM if you are interested in discussing my services.

About Rob

I've sat on all sides of the retail table -- as practitioner (Lids, Marshalls, Hit or Miss), industry analyst (AMR Research), strategy consultant (IBM), and software leader (Demandware | Salesforce).

I'm currently VP and GM of Retail at Salesforce where I lead Industry Strategy, Product, and Insights. I work with execs at leading brands and upstarts from around the world to accelerate digital transformation.

Love writing, speaking, and participating on retail boards.

About Julia Raymond Hare

I ask a lot of questions - it's one of the most exciting parts of my career! I’m a podcast host, marketing professional and data nerd all in one.

After spending 4 years in global marketing roles for the digital agency Valtech, I co-founded its media brand RETHINK Retail. By interviewing retail executives, academics and thought leaders, I deliver retail insights for leaders, from leaders.

My "formal" 3rd-person description:

Julia Raymond is passionate about marketing management, building connections with others, analytics and research, with a core focus on the retail industry. She earned her BSBA with honors from the University of Florida while she was a teenager. Her post-graduate degree is a Master of Science in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University.

Julia is knowledgeable about international markets from her experience in global roles reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer at Valtech where she led creative and marketing teams; she is the Editor in Chief and co-founder of its media brand RETHINK Retail, curating the latest content around the evolution of retail in today’s connected world through mediums such as podcasts, research and periodicals.

About Gabriella Bock

RETHINK Retail's Managing Editor + Writer/Producer of the Retail Rundown, an award-winning retail podcast featuring news, insights and interviews with the world's most influential retail thinkers. What does the future of retail look like to you? Pitch me at gabriella@rethink.industries.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Rethink Retail's Top Influencers (Part 1): What's New & Next in Remarkable Retail

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 04:31:17 +0000

This episode we welcome our fellow "Rethink Retail Top Influencers" Nikki Baird, Ricardo Belmar, and Alicia Esposito. Julia Raymond Hare and Gabriella Bock also join us to explain what the Rethink Retail's list is all about.

But first we take on the news of the week, including the continuing "profitless prosperity as exhibited by Warby Parker's expanding losses and the big drop in market capitalization among disruptive retail brands. We also unpack the National Retail Federation's annual forecast, including how to think about the impact of inflation, whether their e-commerce prediction is a bit optimistic and how impacts are likely to be bifurcated.

Then we welcome our panel of experts and delve into what they as see as remarkably important for the future, including innovation within brick-and-mortar locations, how to drive innovation through iteration and the growing embrace of convenience. We also explore what our influencers see as important technologies and get their quick take on retailers (legacy and up-and-coming) to keep an eye on this year.

Rethink Retail's Top Influencers List.

Steve's recent Forbes articles related to our news segment

After Earnings Whiff Maybe Warby Parker Can Learning Something From Old School DTC Brands

The Profitless Prosperity of Retail Disruptor Brands

Wayfair, Stitch Fix and Pure-play E-commerce's Scaling Problem.

Relevant Past Podcast Episodes

Why Does It Take a Crisis for Retailer's to Innovate?

The Profitless Prosperity of Disruptor Brands

Understanding Warby Parker and the Power of Customer-based Valuation

To record a question for us to answer on a future episode go to speakpipe.com/remarkableretail

About Nikki Baird

Nikki Baird is the vice president of strategy at Aptos, a retail enterprise solution provider. She is charged with accelerating retailers’ ability to innovate. She has been a top global retail industry influencer for several years, with a background in retail and technology. She is a regular contributor to Forbes.com and has been quoted as a retail subject matter expert in The Economist, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Huffington Post, and National Public Radio, among many others. Nikki brings perspective from all sides of the retail technology equation: she has been an industry analyst for nearly fifteen years, co-founding Retail Systems Research, the premier boutique analyst firm focused on the retail industry. Prior to co-founding RSR, Nikki was an analyst at both Forrester Research and Retail Systems Alert Group, where she covered retail industry and technology topics. Prior to that, she was director of marketing for StorePerform, a store execution management software provider, and director of product marketing for Viewlocity, a supply chain software provider focusing on adaptive supply chain execution and exception management. Nikki came to Viewlocity from PwC Consulting, now IBM Global Services, where as a senior manager she led IT strategy consulting engagements for retail and CPG clients. Nikki has an M.B.A. from the University of Texas, Austin, focusing on operations and IT. She also holds a bachelor of arts in political science and Russian, with a minor in physics, from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

About Ricardo Belmar

Recently named a top 100 retail industry influencer by RETHINK Retail, Ricardo is a marketing strategist and digital transformation specialist. He founded Retail Razor, to advise retail tech organizations of all sizes with their go-to-market, brand strategy, and integrated marketing by leveraging his many years of tech industry experience, and media and industry analyst relationships. He also advises retailers on how to build & scale transformational customer experiences. Most recently, he joined Microsoft as Senior Partner Marketing Advisor for Retail & CPG where he strives to use his experience and network to strengthen Microsoft’s retail tech partner community.

A frequent contributor to blogs, podcasts, and publications in the retail, payments, and enterprise software industries, focusing on digital transformation and customer experience, Ricardo is a Top 10 social media influencer at the annual NRF Big Show. He is a featured member of RetailWire’s BrainTrust panel, a previous ICX Association director, a RETHINK Retail Advisory Council member, and a founding Advisory Council member of George Mason University's Center for Retail Transformation. He has been named Social Media Mayor by RIS News four times at retail conferences and is a contributor to Retail Customer Experience, Mobile Payments Today, and The Robin Report. Ricardo is a supporter of the RetailROI charity organization and can be found leading industry discussions on Clubhouse in the Retail Razor Club and on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Throughout the past two decades, Ricardo has worked for technology and managed services providers targeting the retail ecosystem in roles as head of their product, product marketing, or marketing organizations. Ricardo holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia and is a Section4 Certified Strategist, Brand Strategist, Product, Platform, and Innovation Strategist.

About Alicia Esposito

Within my eight-year tenure at G3 Communications, I have evolved extensively. Starting as an Associate Editor for our B2B retail publication, Retail TouchPoints, I have worked my way up the ranks, quickly becoming an expert and thought leader in all components of retail and customer experience.

In my time as Associate Editor and Senior Editor of Retail TouchPoints, I interviewed some of the industry's top C-level executives from brands like Reebok and have covered a myriad of different "beats," including social marketing and commerce, mobile, omnichannel strategy and even supply chain management. I covered several key industry events nationwide, including NRF's BIG Show, Shop.org and eTail, and became a VIP press attendee at user events for vendors like Aptos, Demandware, JDA and Salesforce.

Beyond my editorial obligations, I helped build the proprietary research and custom content division of Retail TouchPoints, helping our clients ideate, develop and roll out some of their top-performing assets.

Now, as Content Strategist for G3 Communications, I help my internal team members create content, plan marketing campaigns and manage our family of events, including the B2B Marketing Exchange (Content2Conversion Conference) and the Retail Innovation Conference. I also help clients across all three of our brands (Retail TouchPoints, Demand Gen Report and Content4Demand) in several key areas of their content marketing journey, including:
- Persona creation
- Buyer-focused messaging
- Content audits and gap analysis
- Content ideation
- Content creation
- Repurposing and modularization
- Content and design alignment
- Long-term content strategy and nurture planning

About Julia Raymond Hare

About Gabriella Bock

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Crafting a Compelling Omnichannel Strategy with guest Richard Armour, SVP eCommerce for Michaels Stores

michael@meleblanc.co (Richard Armour) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 08:19:00 +0000

Richard Armour is a deeply experienced omni-channel retail executive having cut his teeth at Travelocity and Gamestop. Now he is helping drive the digital transformation for Michaels Stores, one of North America's largest provider of arts, crafts, framing, and more for makers and do-it-yourself home decorators.

We dig deep into the evolution of e-commerce, how the blurring of the lines between digital and physical makes everything harder and how Michael's has been able to accelerate its transformation. We also unpack Richard's provocative statement that "everything is table stakes now" and lean how Michael's plans to build on their momentum going forward by maintaining a "test and learn" culture.

But first we take on this week's news, including Steve's admonition to "Buckle Up Buttercup" in the face of escalating inflation. Then we discuss Kohl's Investor Day presentation, which seems long on ambition, but short on truly being remarkable. Then we delve into recent earnings reports, which mostly point to the strong getting stronger as e-commerce growth decelerates and the continuing struggles of disruptor brands (Stitch Fix, The Real Retail) to get on a glide path to profitability.

***************************************************

To record a question for us go to speakpipe.com/remarkableretail

Kohl's Investor Day Presentation

Steve's recent Forbes articles related to our news segment

Is Kohl’s New Strategy Merely A Slightly Better Version Of Mediocre?

The Profitless Prosperity of Disruptor Brands

The Stores Strike Back Again. Again.

Past podcast episodes referenced

Why Does It Take A Crisis For Retailers To Innovate?

War Comes to the Global Food Supply Chain

About Richard Armour

Richard Armour is SVP, Ecommerce at Michaels, responsible for all aspects of the ecommerce business, including revenue accountability, content strategy, search engine optimization, product management, analytics & more. His focus is on reducing friction across the digital ecosystem to create a seamless omnichannel experience.

Prior to Michaels, Richard was Vice President, Omnichannel for GameStop where he was responsible for the GameStop.com business and accelerating ecommerce growth and integrating the site and store experience. He led several initiatives including the ecommerce redesign and replatform as well as launching an online advertising platform and program.

Richard holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas and an MBA in Marketing and Information Systems from Indiana University. He is also a board member with James Avery.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Great DTC v. Wholesale Debate with guest Simeon Siegel

michael@meleblanc.co (Simeon Siegel) — Tue, 8 Mar 2022 05:05:00 +0000

This episode we welcome Simeon Siegel, the retail rockstar analyst from BMO for a provocative discussion on whether going direct-to-consumer is all it's cracked up to be. In a Masterclass on retail growth strategies, we first clean up some of the often confusing nomenclature, then discuss whether wholesale really is a dirty word and how everything old is often new again.

Mostly we go beyond the clickbait headlines to dig into Simeon's report which countered the narrative that going direct automatically leads to an increase in revenues and profits. And we get his hot takes on Nike's strategy and how we should think about the right mix of wholesale and direct going forward. As an added bonus, Steve reminds us that DTC is hardly new and creates yet another term: "Analog Native Vertical Brands" or "ANVB's."

But first we take on the news of the week, including what to make of Amazon's closing 68 brick-and-mortar locations and Target's blockbuster earnings and continued doubling down on physical retail. We also wonder whether we are moving from the "Great Acceleration" to the "Great Rebalancing" given the tepid growth outlook revealed in earnings reports from Nordstrom, Best Buy and Kohl's.

To get a copy of Simeon's report email him at simeon.siegel@bmo.com

To record a question for us go to speakpipe.com/remarkableretail

Steve's recent Forbes articles related to our news segment:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevendennis/2022/03/04/amazons-surprise-store-closings-are-much-ado-about-nothing-heres-why/?sh=147f7e635acf

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevendennis/2022/02/07/what-we-get-so-very-wrong-about-amazons-retail-profitability/?sh=5523cd2721aa

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevendennis/2022/02/23/the-stores-strike-back-again-again/?sh=284ab5657a92

Simeon Siegel, CFA

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Why Does It Take A Crisis for Retailer's to Innovate?

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 1 Mar 2022 06:01:50 +0000

"The future is already here--it's just not very evenly distributed."

- William Gibson

In this episode we delve into why unremarkable retailers often struggle to make the changes they must until essentially being forced to, as well as what it takes to embrace a true culture of experimentation.

Among the areas we explore are

Whether a retailer's culture is wired to say no or wired to say yes
Why many organizations fundamentally misunderstand risk
How establishing the innovation habit and an R&D budget can accelerate needed change
Which organizations are worth modeling.

But first we open up with retail stories that caught our attention, including a big week in earnings reports from Macy's (not as good as many thought), Wayfair (a big whiff) and Allbirds (not so high flying anymore).

We also announce plans for a future episode where we answer your questions. Please record your questions at Speakpipe.com/remarkableretail.

Dan Pink's New Book The Power of Regret

Michael's interview with Dan on The Voice of Retail #podcast

Steven Pressfield's The War of Art

Central Market rolls out curbside pick-up (2018)

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Stores Strike Back Again. Again.

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 05:05:00 +0000

“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

- Mark Twain

Turns out physical retail isn't dead. In fact, brick & mortar retail seems to be undergoing a renaissance of sorts.

In this episode we go sans guest, and delve into how a few savvy retailers (e.g Target) started seeing their stores as assets rather than liabilities prior the pandemic and began investing heavily in them (The Stores Strike Back). We also discuss how COVID helped accelerate an appreciation of the hybrid roles stores need to play in an increasingly blended world of digital and physical, leading to a counter-intuitive increase in store openings (The Stores Strike Back Again). Lastly, we take on how both legacy retailers and digitally native brands alike are accelerating store opening plans to be more customer relevant and to address the profit challenges from much of e-commerce.

But first we open up with retail stories that caught our attention this week, including what to make of yet another month of strong year-over-year retail growth. We also unpack Walmart's phenomenal profit turnaround and tepid e-commerce performance and then go up north to talk about Canadian Tire's blockbuster results. We also poke a bit of fun at Macy's salty news involving Wetzel's Pretzels and marvel at Door Dash's ability to incinerate cash.

Jason Goldberg's Forbes article:

Brick & Mortar Grew Faster Than E-Commerce in 2021.

Steve's original Forbes article from January 2019:

The Stores Strike Back Again.

ICSC "Halo Effect"

Photo by TOMMY VAN KESSEL on Unsplash

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Citizenry Founders Talk Passion and Purpose

michael@meleblanc.co (Rachel Bentley, Carly Nance) — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:05:00 +0000

We love lifting up emerging remarkable retailers that may not have (yet) hit our audience's radar screen. So this episode we welcome Rachel Bentley and Carly Nance, the co-founders of The Citizenry, the fast-growing, thoughtfully designed, ethically crafted, home furnishing company. We dig into the inspiration for the brand, the "white space" they seek to address. and how social impact is at the center of what they stand for.

We also delve into the challenges of ethically sourcing products from all over the word, discover how they make their unique leadership partnership work and explore the role of customer-based analytics in growing their brand. Lastly we get a peak into their strategic growth roadmap.

But first we take on the news of the week, including "inflation nation" and how input pricing challenges might manifest for different retailers. We also discuss the current mess that is Peloton and what Canada Goose's earnings whiff suggests about luxury retail's future.

About

Carly & Rachel met in 2004 at university. They led multiple organizations and founded a conference that’s still impacting lives today. After careers on different coasts, they reconnected over a frustration with the mass-produced goods and soulless brands in home décor. Together they created a vision for The Citizenry: a brand that could stand for quality craftsmanship, transparency, and social responsibility.

CARLY NANCE

Carly spent her early career in brand planning & global marketing strategy, helping leading brands connect with their consumers in a more meaningful way. During those travels, she was inspired by the design and stories of the people behind the products she purchased abroad. Carly earned her Masters from Northwestern and her Bachelors in Marketing from Texas A&M. At The Citizenry, Carly leads product design, brand strategy, marketing & ecommerce experience.

RACHEL BENTLEY

After years in strategy consulting, Rachel wanted to establish a business that would make an undeniably positive impact. While at Bain, she spent time in the private equity and retail practices before finding her calling: helping companies launch and redesign consumer products. Rachel earned her MBA from Columbia, her Masters in Finance, and Bachelors in Accounting from Texas A&M. At The Citizenry, Rachel leads our artisan partnerships, production & planning, operations, and finance.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Blow It Up? It's Time for "The Great Reconfiguration"

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 8 Feb 2022 08:35:40 +0000

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.”

- Henry Ford

Is it possible that you are not changing as dramatically and profoundly as you should? Is it possible that many of the strategies that have brought you success may actually prevent future success? Is it possible that you aren't moving nearly fast enough?

In this provocative episode we take on the question of whether retail brands need to embark on a radical rethinking of their operating model, eschewing one-size-fits-all models in favor a hybrid, platform approach to delivering customer value. Is it time for a blank-sheet approach to business strategy? How do we embrace creative destruction and an un-bundling and re-bundling of the component pieces of our strategy to create a remarkable growth strategy? Is Nike's reconceptualization of their strategy a great example of brands we might emulate? How should we respond to change that is more exponential than linear? We take on all this and more.

But first we open up with retail stories that caught our attention this week, most notably Amazon's earnings and the big reveal on their massive advertising business. We also dip into how retail looks to be rebalancing, the race for Peloton and press releases that might have been better left unsent.

Jason Goldberg's Forbes article: Amazon Reveals Its Most Profitable Business.

Photo by Matthew Lancaster on Unsplash

Steve's articles:

What We Get So Very Wrong About Amazon's Retail Profitability

The New Era of Hybridization Creates Unparalleled Opportunities.

Always Be Testing.

Steve's 2022 Retail Predictions.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Remarkable Retail Gets Active with Vuori's CEO Joe Kudla

michael@meleblanc.co (Joe Kudla) — Tue, 1 Feb 2022 05:05:00 +0000

This episode we welcome Joe Kudla, CEO and Founder of Vuori, the fast-growing Southern California-inspired activewear brand. Joe's journey is a fascinating one that anyone in retail and branding will enjoy and can learn from. We discuss the origin story of the company and discover how two big pivots allowed Vuori to find its unique positioning and set it on its path to its recent $4 billion valuation. We also unpack how Vuori plans to stay remarkable in a crowded activewear space and why physical retail will be key to its next stage of growth. Lastly we learn about the importance of "word of mouth"--to be literally remarkable--in propelling Vuori forward.

But first we take on the news of the week, including Kohl's coming under pressure from activists to pursue a sale, Amazon going deeper into physical retail with Amazon Style and a suburban iteration of Amazon Go to the suburbs, cutbacks at Glossier, and ever mounting issue of product returns.

Amazon Style video link

NRF Returns Study

Steve predicts the returns debacle back in 2017.

About

Joe Kudla is the founder and CEO of Vuori, a rapidly growing performance apparel brand inspired by the aspirational active

Southern California lifestyle. A student of life and various active pursuits, he drew upon his personal interests to bring a new

perspective to the activewear market, prioritizing versatility, comfort and sustainability. Prior to Vuori, he started Vaco San

Diego, a professional accounting and IT consulting firm and he started his career as a CPA at Ernst & Young. Joe earned

his accounting degree from the University of San Diego where he was acknowledged as an all American Lacrosse player.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

10 No-Holds-Barred Retail Predictions for 2022

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:05:00 +0000

We go sans guest this week to unpack Steve's 2022 Retail Predictions, previewed in his recent Forbes article.

We cover a lot of ground including future of certain unremarkable retailers, what's next for Amazon, the importance of understanding 'buying' vs. 'shopping' and more. We also unveil "The Great Reconfiguration."

But that's not all! Because we are all about accountability, we start out with a quick assessment of how Steve did with his 2021 prognostications.

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Ulta's Remarkable Growth Story featuring Dave Kimbell, CEO

michael@meleblanc.co (Dave Kimbell) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 05:05:05 +0000

Our new season kick-off episode features an illuminating interview with Ulta CEO Dave Kimbell. Ulta has become one of the most remarkable growth stories in all of retail, growing from a small regional player to an $8 billion powerhouse with more than 1,300 stores and an expanding presence within Target. Dave discusses the brand's evolution and some of the keys to their success, including a relentless focus on the customer (instead of channels), the importance of human-connection and story telling and why physical stores remain critical to their growth strategy.

But first we give a shout-out to each other and many of our friends and past podcast guests who were named to ReThink's Top Retail Influencer list. We then take on the big retail news from the past week starting with the monthly US Commerce Department Retail sales data, which were very strong despite many misleading headlines. We also discuss Walmart's new wholesale partnership with two buzzy digitally native brands.

About

October 2021 Ulta Investor Day Presentation

About Us

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Shift Happens: Get Ready for Season 4!

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:05:00 +0000

This is Steve Dennis, trusted strategic advisor, keynote speaker and author of Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption.

If the last two years has taught us anything it’s this: Shift Happens. But becoming and staying remarkable is not about predicting the future. It’s about accepting the reality that even very good is no longer good enough. It’s about deeply understanding the forces of disruption, separating the realities from the myths and committing to being intensely customer-centric. Mostly, it’s about taking the leaps required to deliver a truly memorable customer experience.

So join me and my co-host Michael Leblanc as we challenge the status quo, dissect the latest trends and make sense of what’s new and next in modern retail.

Each and every week we'll deliver insights honed by decades of experience on the front lines of retail, at the most senior levels of management and perspectives right from the boardroom

We've worked hard over the past three seasons blessed with the generosity of our guests to make the Remarkable Retail podcast one of the top ranked retail industry podcasts in the world.

So be sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you enjoy your podcasts today and brace yourself for a steady stream of wisdom, straight talk and lively conversation.

Season 4 launches January 18 and it promises to be our best yet. We can’t wait to have you join us!

About Us

Season Finale with Special Guest Scott Galloway

michael@meleblanc.co (Scott Galloway) — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:05:00 +0000

We wrap up Season 3 with the inimitable, irrepressible and always provocative Scott Galloway. For those who have yet to jump on the Big Dawg train, Scott is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern, author of 3 best-selling books, podcast host, and the founder of Section4, where he teaches Strategy and Brand Strategy Sprints. His new TV show will debut on CNN+ next year.

In a wide-ranging interview, we get Scott's take on Twitter (and the challenges of digital marketing more broadly), the future of work and higher education, what's next for retail (including a bright future for brick & mortar) and his hot take on the prospects for digitally native vertical brands--including why "digitally native" is a distinction without much of a difference. We also learn who Scott turns to for inspiration, as well as discover our mutual love for the brand formerly known as Restoration Hardware and the word "bifurcation."

But we kick-off with a quick recap of the week's biggest retail news, including our take-aways from the latest monthly sales reports from the US Department of Commerce, Lululemon looking into the Mirror and seeing a fair amount of ugly, and Nike's leap into the Metaverse with its acquisition of RTFKT.

Note: This is the final episode of Season 3. We will return with Season 4 in mid-January with special guest Dave Kimball, CEO of Ulta.

Links

The Prof G Pod

Pivot with Kara Swisher

Scott's Books

Section 4

No Mercy/No Malice Newsletters

Scott Galloway

Scott is the Founder of L2 and a Clinical Professor at the NYU Stern School of Business where he teaches brand strategy and digital marketing. In 2012, Professor Galloway was named “One of the World’s 50 Best Business School Professors” by Poets & Quants. He is also the founder of Red Envelope and Prophet Brand Strategy. Scott was elected to the World Economic Forum’s Global Leaders of Tomorrow and has served on the boards of directors of Eddie Bauer (Nasdaq: EBHI), The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), Gateway Computer, and UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Scott co-hosts the Pivot podcast with Kara Swisher. He received a B.A. from UCLA and an M.B.A. from UC Berkeley.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Fulfillment is More Than a Feeling: Featuring Fabric Co-founder & CEO Elram Goren

michael@meleblanc.co (Elram Gorn) — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 05:37:50 +0000

As the battle for convenience continues to escalate the supply chain is becoming far more hybrid in nature and retailers are challenged to able to create a flexible--and profitable--solution for last-mile delivery.

To unpack the evolution of the space and the exploding world of micro-fulfillment we're excited to interview Elram Goren, Co-Founder & CEO at Fabric a pioneering robotics firm and retail micro-fulfillment tech provider. It's a fascinating discussion on the process of innovation, where on-demand delivery is headed and how retailer's can address the daunting profitability challenges of online grocery and other low margin categories.

But first we discuss Steve's triumphant return to the big stage in Dubai and share a bit of new about Season 3's final guest (spoiler alert: it's Scott Galloway). Then we dig into the top retail stories that caught our attention this past week, including what the (mostly) strong earnings reports from legacy retailers and the largely profitless prosperity evidenced by disruptor brands suggests about retail's future. We also discuss reports of the potential profit squeeze being felt by Amazon marketplace sellers (something we worried about on in an earlier podcast episode).

McKinsey Online Grocery Article

Bain Online Grocery Article

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

What's New & Next For Luxury Retail, with Karen Katz, Steve Sadove and Oliver Chen

michael@meleblanc.co (Karen Katz, Steve Sadove, Oliver Chen) — Tue, 7 Dec 2021 05:05:00 +0000

This week we've got a blockbuster panel featuring three of the most experienced and insightful veterans of the luxury world: Karen Katz (former President & CEO of the Neiman Marcus Group, Steve Sadove (former Chairman and CEO of Saks) and Oliver Chen (Managing director and senior equity research analyst at Cowen and Company).

We cover a lot of territory, first trying to align on a working definition of what "luxury" really means today and how luxury was evolving pre-COVID. Then we shift into what's next, including our dream team's quick takes on luxury re-commerce, the role of the in-store experience, the importance of multi-brand retail (online and off), sustainability, exclusivity, storytelling and more. We wrap up getting everyone's view on why it's so hard for legacy brands to innovate and whether .com spin-outs make any sense at all.

But first we open up with the top retail stories that caught our attention this past week, with a big focus on what we can take away from Black Friday and Cyber Monday performance as the threat of Omicron looms, more profitless prosperity from Allbirds as they report their first quarterly earnings as a public company, and Amazon's rise to parcel delivery supremacy.

About Karen Katz

Katz, who is a graduate of the University of Texas, is the former chief executive, president and director of the Neiman Marcus Group. She stepped down from the role in January 2019. Since 2014 she has also been on the board of directors at Under Armour.

Katz has worked in a number of key executive and leadership roles at Neiman Marcus since joining the group as a merchandise manager in 1985. Most recently she has leveraged Neiman Marcus’ brick and mortar assets to launch an omni-channel strategy that includes merging planning and buying teams for all departments and integrating customers’ online and in-store experiences with in-store apps and personalised web dashboards.

Under Katz, Neiman Marcus acquired luxury e-commerce site MyTheresa.com, the Munich-based luxury e-tailer. She also expanded MyTheresa’s e-commerce offerings to bolster the Neiman Marcus omni-channel strategy and oversaw the opening of the retailer’s first New York City flagship in 2018, a seven-story retail project situated in the Hudson Yards in Manhattan’s far West Side.

About Steve Sadove

Between 2002 and 2013, Mr. Sadove held positions of increasing responsibility with Saks Incorporated, serving as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2007 to 2013.

Prior to joining Saks, Mr. Sadove built a distinguished marketing and consumer products career spanning more than 25 years and held senior positions at companies including General Foods (now Kraft) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company as President of Clairol. He led Clairol to become the number one hair care business in the United States, relaunched the Herbal Essences brand into a $700 million business and completed the sale of the beauty care business to Procter & Gamble. Mr. Sadove is also a founding partner of JW Levin Management Partners, a private equity firm.

Mr. Sadove is a former Chair of the National Retail Federation and serves as an advisor to Mastercard. He serves on numerous community and civic boards including Hamilton College as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and AmeriCares.

About Oliver Chen

Oliver Chen has joined Cowen and Company’s Equity Research department as a Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst. He covers over 30 stocks in the Retail & Luxury Sectors.

Oliver is a graduate of Georgetown University, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is a CFA Charterholder. He also serves on the PhD Retail Research Review committee at the Wharton School's Jay H. Baker Retailing Center. Mr. Chen was recognized in the Wharton School’s “40 Under 40” brightest stars alumni list in 2017.

Most recently, Mr. Chen was recognized on the 2018 and 2017 Institutional Investor All-America Research team as a top analyst in the retailing/department stores & specialty softlines sector. Mr. Chen was also selected as a preeminent retail influencer as he was named to the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation’s “2019 List of People Shaping Retail’s Future.” Considered an “industry expert,” Mr. Chen frequently appears as a speaker/panelist at key industry events.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Perch CEO Chris Bell Clearcuts His Way Through the Amazon Jungle

michael@meleblanc.co (Chris Bell) — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:33:58 +0000

We're joined by Chris Bell, CEO & Founder of Perch, one of the fastest growing and most acquisitive companies offering a platform to e-commerce brands leveraging "Fulfilled by Amazon" and other third party marketplaces. We learn how the model works, why the business model is attracting so much investor interest, and what's on the horizon for one of the hottest sectors in retail today. And if you run a brand looking to be acquired, you'll definitely want to check this episode out.

But first we open up with the top retail stories that caught our attention this past week, including what to make of the "Great Rebalancing" evident in earnings reports from Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods and Nordstrom. We also give our take on the new hybrid format from Starbucks and Amazon Go.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

The Profitless Prosperity of Disruptor Brands

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 05:05:00 +0000

But first we open up with the Top 3 retail stories that caught our attention this week, including continued strength in US retail sales despite waning consumer confidence, what to take away for the most recent batch of retailer earnings reports and unpack just what the heck happened at Casper.

Photo by Jp Valery on Unsplash

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Everything You Wanted to Know About Private Brand (But Were Afraid To Ask!)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 08:31:27 +0000

Why are private branding strategies becoming increasingly important to the retail industry? We unpack this question in detail, first clarifying some often confusing terminology, while also making the important distinction between "private labels" and "private brands." Mostly we center the important role of exclusive products in providing competitive differentiation, minimizing web-enabled price shopping and improving margins. We also call out how retailers young and old, vertically integrated and multi-line, are doubling down on private brands as a way to become more remarkable.

What's behind big shifts at Amazon, Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond? Why are DNVB's partnering up with legacy players like Nordstrom for semi-exclusive distribution? Why are Nike and others moving away from wholesale distribution to more exclusive, DTC channels? We take it all on!

But first we open up the with the Top 3 retail stories that caught our attention this past week, including some take-aways from "Singles Day" (aka the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival) and what to make of the big bounce back in sales and earnings for some legacy players--and the lack of profitability among many so-called disruptor brands. While we're not exactly sure just what the heck the "Metaverse" is (a second life for Second Life?), we do take on Facebook's (er, Meta's) plans to market it through their own physical stores.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

The Future of Grocery with Guests David Marcotte and Sylvain Charlebois

michael@meleblanc.co (Sylvain Charlebois, David Marcotte) — Tue, 9 Nov 2021 05:53:55 +0000

No part of retail has been facing more transformative forces than the grocery business. In this episode we explore how the retail food business is being disrupted with globally recognized experts David Marcotte, SVP at Kantar Retail and Sylvain Charlebois (aka "The Food Professor") Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. We dive deep into how the pandemic accelerated online shopping the profitability challenges associated with home delivery, the importance of sustainability and more!

But first we open up the episode with the Top 3 retail stories that caught our attention this past week, including lots of news with Bed, Bath & Beyond, including their curious partnership with Kroger, Allbirds blockbuster IPO and Wayfair big earnings whiff.

Sylvain Charlebois

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.

He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.

Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

What We Get Wrong About E-Commerce

michael@meleblanc.co (David Macadam) — Tue, 2 Nov 2021 07:47:00 +0000

This week we dig into some of the myths, misleading clickbait headlines, and often unfortunate misunderstandings surrounding the growth of online shopping, both across the last two decades and accelerated more recently by the COVID-19 crisis. In particular, we dig into:

The evolution of modern retail from a relatively simple world where brick & mortar and e-commerce were largely distinct activities with dedicated supply chains, to a much more complex, blended and hybrid one.
How stores have, rather ironically, become increasingly important in driving e-commerce success and often essential in the fulfillment of online orders.
Some of the endemic profitability challenges for many aspects of online shopping, including the grocery sector and for many digitally native vertical brands
Why the idea that COVID accelerated e-commerce growth by 10 years ins't close to being right.
How the assumption that growth in online sales comes at the expense of physical retail is often very wrong.
And why profitable online shopping growth is about to become much more challenging.

We also take on the nonsense around Saks (and others) splitting up and spinning out it's online business.

But first we open up the episode with the Top 3 retail stories that caught our attention this past week, including unpacking Amazon's very lackluster earnings report and online sales deceleration, yet another new CEO at JC Penney (possibly the worst job in retail), and what Rent the Runway's disappointing IPO might portend for the frothy valuations digitally native retail brands are commanding.

We also have a quick chat with David Macadam, CEO of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and Retailers about the upcoming MENA Retail Congress in Dubai which will feature an opening keynote from Steve.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Kara Goldin, Founder & CEO of Hint, is Undaunted, and Our Very Special Guest

michael@meleblanc.co (Kara Goldin) — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:25:20 +0000

This week's special guest is Kara Goldin, CEO and Founder of Hint, the No.1 non-sweetened beverage company not owned by Coke, Pepsi or Dr.Pepper in America and the bestselling author of Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts & Doubters

We learn about Kara's journey from tech executive to food entrepreneur, motivated by her desire to find healthier beverage options. It's a fascinating story of perseverance and pivots, starting with Kara and her husband boot-strapping their way into Whole Foods to triumphantly creating a whole new category and and evolving Hint into a powerful omni-channel brand with strong wholesale, direct-to-consumer distribution and, now, even a store! We also get Kara's perspective on striking the right balance between wholesale and going direct--lessons that all brands can benefit from.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught our attention, including Camp's rather ironic move into a former Toys R Us space. We also learn that Amazon processed more in the value of product returns than Target sold the old fashioned way last year and that the soon to be world's biggest retailer has (as yet) undisclosed plans for a small space in a Texas mall. We wrap up by unpacking Adobe's holiday e-commerce forecast and try to make sense of Crocs continued remarkable success.

Kara Goldin is the Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She has been named one of InStyle’s Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, Fortune's Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink and EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. The Huffington Post listed her as one of six disruptors in business, alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Kara has successfully navigated the world of large companies and startups in many industries including media, tech and consumer products. In addition, she understands retail and direct to consumer well. She is an active speaker & writer and hosts the podcast The Kara Goldin Show where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs and other disruptors across various industries. Kara’s first book, Undaunted, published by Harper Leadership, was released in October 2020. She lives in the Bay Area. Follow Kara on all social handles @KaraGoldin

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

The Fault in Our Stores

michael@meleblanc.co (Anne Mezzinga, Neil Saunders) — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This week special guests Anne Mezzinga and Neil Saunders help us deliver a MasterClass in driving retail sales through better store execution. Retailers need a remarkable business design, but while they mount their transformation they also need to convert more traffic, drive average basket size and create more loyalty. In this episode we learn what retailers are getting wrong--and right--in addressing the fault in our stores.

Special thanks to Neil for the wonderful picture used for our episode - be sure and follow him on Twitter for more retail wonderful-ness!! https://twitter.com/NeilRetail

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught our attention, including the latest US sales reports (and what the media always seems to get wrong), the #GreatResignation, Netflix's new product partnership with Walmart (https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/10/11/walmart-and-netflix-team-up-for-exclusive-new-retail-hub-that-will-bring-popular-stories-to-life) , Vuori's big capital raise and why Amazon's 4-star stores are both terrible and interesting.

Anne Mezzenga is the Co-CEO of Omni Talk, one of the fastest-growing podcasts in retail. She and her Co-CEO, Chris Walton, provide expert commentary on the future of the retail industry and current trends. As extensions of Omni Talk, Anne founded Urban Rooster Shop, a localized e-commerce marketplace where customers can shop dozens of local Twin Cities businesses on one site, and Third Haus, a retail lab in Minneapolis. Prior to starting Omni Talk, Anne and Chris led Target Corp.'s Store of the Future project, where Anne served as Director of Marketing and Partnerships for the endeavor. In addition, Anne and her husband own and operate two boutique fitness facilities in the Twin Cities.

Neil Saunders

Neil is Managing Director of GlobalData’s retail and consumer division.

In this role he oversees the development of the company’s proposition and its research output. He also works with major clients to help them understand the retail, shopper and market landscape – advising them on how best to develop, evolve and implement business strategies.

Prior to GlobalData, Neil worked at retail research firm Verdict. Before Verdict, Neil worked for the John Lewis Partnership where he was involved, among other things, in the planning and relocation of new stores, the development of the ecommerce business, and the creation of technical and information systems.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

The Membership Economy with the World's Leading Expert on Subscription Pricing Robbie Kellman Baxter

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 07:27:26 +0000

This week we welcome special guest Robbie Kellman Baxter, the world's leading expert on subscription pricing and membership models--and bestselling author--for a robust discussion of "The Membership Economy." We delve into what's been behind the phenomenal success of brands like Netflix and other disruptors that employ deep insight and the latest technology to build enduring long-term customer relationships. We also unpack how companies can re-imagine their business models to create a "forever promise" by leveraging commerce, content and community. Lastly, we discuss the cultural benefits of adopting a membership mindset.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught our attention, including Best Buy's new membership program, a potential spin-out of Macys.com, Home Depot teaming up with Walmart for home deliveries, the somewhat shocking paucity of store closings and retail bankruptcies of late and the profitless prosperity revealed by Rent-the-Runway's IPO filing.

Robbie Kellman Baxter is the founder of Peninsula Strategies LLC, a management consulting firm, as well as the author of the bestselling The Membership Economy: Find Your Superusers, Master the Forever Transaction & Build Recurring Revenue. Her new book The Forever Transaction: How to Build a Subscription Model So Compelling, Your Customers Will Never Want to Leave was released in April of this year.

Robbie hosts a podcast as well, Subscription Stories: True Tales from the Trenches, which has featured subscription practitioners from Weight Watchers, HP, Bain & Co, and Impossible Foods, as well as numerous researchers and authors.

She coined the popular business term “Membership Economy", which is now being used by organizations and journalists around the country and beyond.

Her clients have included large organizations like Netflix, the Wall Street Journal, and Microsoft, as well as dozens of smaller venture-backed companies.

Over the course of her career, Robbie has worked in or consulted to clients in more than twenty industries. Before starting Peninsula Strategies in 2001, Robbie served as a New York City Urban Fellow, a consultant at Booz Allen & Hamilton, and a Silicon Valley product marketer.

Robbie has been quoted or interviewed by dozens of media outlets, including CNN, NBC, and NPR. As a public speaker, Robbie has presented to thousands of people in corporations, associations, and universities.

She has an AB from Harvard College and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

You can find more about Robbie on her website https://robbiekellmanbaxter.com/

Additional goodies for your audience are available here: https://robbiekellmanbaxter.com/audience

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Honey, I Shrunk The Store: Retailers Go Smaller to Grow Bigger

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 5 Oct 2021 04:05:00 +0000

We unpack what's driving these moves, why it's important and what to avoid as we're likely to see a doubling down on this strategy in the years ahead.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught our attention, including Whole Foods' killing free 2-hour delivery and replacing it with a $9.95 flat fee, earnings from Nike, Costco and Bed, Bath & Beyond (spoiler alert: yikes!), retail's IPO boomlet and Santa visits Target early this year. We wrap up with our popular "Press Releases That Must Have Gotten Lost in the Mail" segment, wherein HomeGoods discovers this e-commerce thing could be huge.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Will the Holidays Be Merry & Bright? Deloitte's Vice Chairman Unpacks Their Retail Forecast

michael@meleblanc.co (Rod Sides) — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 07:40:30 +0000

Rod Sides, Deloitte's Vice Chairman and US Retail & Distribution practice leader, joins us to discuss his firms forecast for robust holiday sales. We delve into the underlying drivers, specific category dynamics, as well as which trends are likely to persist into next year. We also get Rod's perspectives on the impact of government stimulus, an increasingly challenging supply chain, on-going labor shortages and how work from home impacts the apparel market. Lastly we talk about the changing definition of e-commerce and the new (and costly) prominence of convenience in the face of shifting consumer preferences.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught out attention. First up we opine on Stitch Fix's earning report and strategy pivot. Then we jump into further details on Amazon's rumored "department store" plans, followed by the shocking news that physical retail isn't dead after all.

Rod Sides

Vice Chair & US Leader | Retail & Distribution, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Rod is vice chair, Deloitte LLP, and leads the US Retail & Distribution practice. He is responsible for driving key sector initiatives that include original research, talent development, and strategies that guide retailers as they navigate uncertainty, compete globally, and improve performance and profitability. A principal in Deloitte Consulting LLP, Rod has more than 25 years of experience in store operations, supply chain, procurement, back-office operations, and IT.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Please drop us a rating and review wherever you subscribe to your podcasts and be sure to check out our newish YouTube channel.

About Us

Understanding Warby Parker and the Power of Customer-Based Valuation with special guest Daniel McCarthy

michael@meleblanc.co (Dan McCarthy, Daniel McCarthy) — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 08:09:00 +0000

As pioneering digitally-native brands Warby Parker and Allbirds prepare to go public--and the fortunes of other highflying disruptor retailers like Peloton and Chewy ebb and flow--we get the chance to dissect how to make sense of key customer metrics with Daniel McCarthy, professor of marketing at Emory's Goizueta Business School, co-founder of Theta Equity Partners and pioneering thought leader on customer-based corporate valuation. It's a fast-paced MasterClass on how the cost of acquisition, retention rates and other customer cohort data provide valuable insight on the long-term prospects of any brand. We also learn whether Dan is bullish on Warby Parker, why we may not work so hard to chase "shifty" customers (or as Steve likes to call them "promiscuous" shoppers) and drop more than a few puns.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught out attention, starting first with even more Amazon news than usual, including their new line of private brand televisions, plans to hire 125,000 distribution center staff, raise hourly wages and pay college tuition for their workers. We also dig into spending per trip information from NPD, monthly US Commerce data that shows consumers continue to shop like crazy, troubles at Casper, Walmart+ hitting 32 million members and the sad story of Sears closing its last Illinois store.

NOTE: We're now back to regular weekly episodes.

Also check out our newish YouTube channel.

Daniel McCarthy is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Emory University's Goizueta School of Business. His research specialty is the application of leading-edge statistical methodology to contemporary empirical marketing problems. His research interests include customer lifetime value, limited data problems, and the marketing/finance interface.

He popularized “customer-based corporate valuation” (CBCV), a methodology that drives any traditional valuation model off of the underlying behaviors of the target company's customers. His work has been featured in major media outlets such as the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, FT, Fortune, Barron’s, Inc Magazine, the Economist, and CNBC. His research has been accepted and published in top-tier academic journals and has won numerous research awards.

In addition to his roles and responsibilities at Emory, Dan co-founded and was Chief Statistician for Zodiac, a predictive customer analytics SaaS firm. Nike acquired Zodiac in March 2018. Dan has since co-founded Theta Equity Partners to revolutionize how firms (e.g., private equity, venture capital, and operating companies directly) value companies through CBCV

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Please drop us a rating and review wherever you subscribe to your podcasts and be sure to check out our newish YouTube channel.

About Us

Do Department Stores Have a Future (Part 2)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 04:05:00 +0000

After a robust kick-off discussion on the future of department stores last week, we return to go even deeper on how department stores went from being the original "must visit" everything stores to also-rans during the past two decades. We unpack how many iconic players have experienced "death by a thousand cuts", dispel the notion that the sector's woes are largely Amazon's fault and consider why stores closings are likely only making the situation worse. We also discuss which players have a chance for a turnaround, what it will take, and whether smaller, "off the mall" concepts (like Nordstrom Local) are the keys to making that happen.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught out attention, including stellar earnings reports from RH and Lululemon, the expansion of Amazon's walk-out technology to Whole Foods and whether supply chain challenges and labor shortages will be the Grinch that stole Christmas.

NOTE: We're now back to regular weekly episodes.

Also check out our newish YouTube channel.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Do Department Stores Have a Future? (Part 1) w/ Simeon Siegel and Ethan Chernovsky

michael@meleblanc.co (Simeon Siegel, Ethan Chernofsky) — Tue, 7 Sep 2021 10:34:12 +0000

This week we go deep on the future of department stores with Simeon Siegel, senior retail & ecommerce analyst at BMO Capital Markets and Ethan Chernovsky, VP of marketing at Placer.ai.

Our fast-paced discussion covers a lot of territory, from how department stores have evolved, to what we mean when we talk about "department stores" today, to whether recent positive news suggests a renaissance or more of a dead count bounce. We also separate the optimists from the pessimists by dissecting the prospects for malls and particular well known retailers.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught out attention, including Allbirds IPO filing, more proof that the retail apocalypse narrative is just silly, Amazon's and Walmart's robust hiring plans and whether Chewy's earnings have more bark than bite.

NOTE: We're now back to regular weekly episodes.

Be sure to join us for Part 2, where Michael and Steve weigh in with their personal takes on whether department stores can escape "death in the middle."

Also check out our newish YouTube channel.

Simeon Siegel, CFA

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

A look behind the Magic Door with Ben Kaufman, CEO CAMP

michael@meleblanc.co (Ben Kaufman) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This episode we welcome Ben Kaufman, CEO and founder of Camp, the fast growing "family experience" company, which now features multiple locations in the New York area and Dallas, with more on the way (including the Los Angeles and Boston areas). We explore Camp's unique approach to the toy category--and retail more broadly--which includes a mix of play, product and programming. In addition to learning what's behind "the Magic Door", we chat about what "experiential" retail should mean and how to measure success in the blended digital and physical world.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught out attention, including Amazon's rumored new "department store" format and what to conclude (if anything) from recent retail earnings releases. We also unpack Warby Parker's S-1 filing and--as a prelude to our interview--dig into recent toy industry news, including Toys R Us at Macy's and Disney's expansion with Target.

Here is the prescient Forbes article Steve references in the episode.

NOTE: We'll be back to weekly episodes after Labor Day.

Also be sure to check out our new YouTube channel.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

The Future of Physical Retail: Definitely Different, Far From Dead

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 04:05:00 +0000

With brick & mortar continuing to grow--and retailers continuing to open thousands of stores--by now hopefully most have accepted that the "retail apocalypse" narrative is nonsense. But it's clear that what separates the remarkable from the also-rans is evolving quickly and that the role of physical stores are becoming much more hybrid in nature and intrinsically linked to digital efforts. In this episode we go deep on what's driving the change, the on-going collapse of the middle, the longer-term effects of the pandemic and what this all means for everyone in the retail eco-system.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught out attention, including Amazon's upping the ante on last mile delivery, earnings from Wayfair and Canada Goose, and another set of, um, interesting moves from HBC as they create silos for their store and web businesses and launch a co-working partnership between their Saks department store division and WeWork.

NOTE: We'll be releasing episodes every two weeks through September 7, when we'll move back to a weekly format. Next up, Camp CEO Ben Kaufman.

Also be sure to check out our new YouTube channel.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Custom Fit Retail Solutions: Drew Green, CEO & President, INDOCHINO

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 3 Aug 2021 04:17:01 +0000

This episode we welcome Drew Green, celebrated Canadien entrepreneur and CEO of the custom menswear retailer Indochino. In our fast-paced conversation we delve into how the rapidly growing apparel brand delivers a remarkable customer experience by creating one-of-a-kind garments through the marriage of digital technology, an innovative supply chain and a network of brick & mortar showrooms. We also learn how Indochino defied the retail apocalypse narrative to quickly grow to 79 showrooms and unpack Drew's "3 Win" philosophy that drove the company's exciting new partnership with Nordstrom.

We open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught out attention. First up we discuss some signs of a "great moderation" including the significant (albeit anticipated) decline in online grocery and a pull-back in UPS's parcel shipments. We also take on Disney's exit from physical stores and Tesla's planned move away from mall-based locations.

NOTE: We'll be releasing episodes every two weeks through September 7, when we'll move back to a weekly format.

Also be sure to check out our new YouTube channel.

Drew Green

DREW GREEN

Chief Executive Officer, President, Director

Drew Green is an award winning Chief Executive Officer, entrepreneur and expert in managing fast-paced, high-growth companies. A visionary leader, Green has created one of the world's fastest growing apparel brands. Since 2015, he has established significant strategic capital, hired a world class management team and created global alliances (Dayang Group, Nordstrom and Postmedia) that has led to over +500% growth, significantly increasing profitability KPI's. Over the past six years, INDOCHINO created, launched and has expanded to 80 showrooms, employing over 800 people, with another 2200 people working daily in INDCOHINO’s factories in China, to produce the one of a kind garments each INDOCHINO customer creates.

Previously recognized as top 40 under 40, as well as CEO of the year, Green has been recognized for his accomplishments throughout his career. Green has been awarded the Innovation in Retail award by the University of Alberta, Breakout Retailer of the Year by Chain Store Age, and selected as The Entrepreneur of the Year, by Ernst and Young. In 2019 Canadian Business announced that between 2015-2019, INDOCHINO was #1 fastest growing Canadian retailer, with sales globally, and 3rd fastest growing retailer in Canada, amongst retailers with revenues over $100M. A sought after expert, Green has presented to hundreds of thousands, and been quoted in more than 3,000 news articles, globally including in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, National Post, Washington Post, Toronto Star, Fortune, Forbes, Bloomberg, Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, BNN, CNN and CBC.

Prior to INDOCHINO, Green founded and was Chief Executive Officer of SHOP.CA, Canada's first multi-merchant marketplace, which is now owned by EMERGE COMMERCE, (TSXV: ECOM) which he leads as Founder, Chairman and a major shareholder. Throughout his career, Drew has played key leadership roles at companies that have created billions in shareholder value through leadership roles at DoubleClick (acquired by Google), SHOP.COM (acquired by Market America) and Flontwork (acquired by DoubleClick).

In 2011, upon his return to Canada, Drew founded DREWGREEN.CA INC. as a family office/fund set up to start, invest and work alongside entrepreneurs across Canada, with a mandate to create long term shareholder value. DREWGREEN.CA has founded, chair’d, and/or invested in over 30 companies that drive innovation and growth within and across multiple industries, including Direct to Consumer, ecommerce, omnichannel retail, esports, real estate / rentals , artificial intelligence -- and insurance, educational and property technologies.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

The Hybridization of Retail

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 04:05:00 +0000

Welcome to the Remarkable Retail podcast Season Three, Episode Two! I’m Michael LeBlanc, and I’m Steve Dennis.

This week we go deep on a growing trend that Steve introduced in his book, and recently unpacked in a Forbes article: namely how so many aspects of retail--stores, supply chains, brand distribution strategies and more--are moving from roles that are largely singular in purpose to becoming (or needing to become) hybrid in nature. This shift is profound, requires potentially massive changes over time and, we argue, not yet getting the attention it deserves.

But first we open up the episode with our quick takes on recent retail news that caught out attention, including Nordstrom's partnership with ASOS, more investment into Flipkart, eMarketer's updated US e-commerce forecast.

NOTE: We'll be releasing episodes every two weeks through September 7, when we'll move back to a weekly format. Next up, Indocino's CEO Drew Green.

Also be sure to check out our newish YouTube channel.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and the all new Conversations with CommerceNext. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Amazon Unbound with author Brad Stone

michael@meleblanc.co (Brad Stone) — Tue, 6 Jul 2021 04:05:00 +0000

We're back with Season 3 and we kick it off with our special guest Brad Stone, senior executive editor for global technology at Bloomberg News and bestselling author of several books, including his latest Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire.

We open up the episode with our quick takes on recent earnings announcements from Nike and Bed, Bath & Beyond, pending IPO action from digitally native brand pioneers Warby Parker and Allbirds and what we should make of deal activity in the lingerie category. Indeed, we over it all!

Then, in a fast-paced interview--nicely timed for the week that Andy Jassy takes over as CEO of Amazon--we have the opportunity to dig into the company's journey since Brad's last book ( The Everything Store) and take an insider's view of Jeff Bezos' unique leadership style. In addition to unpacking some of the keys to the company's remarkable growth--and apparent invincibility--Brad shares some illuminating and amusing anecdotes. We also tee up what's most important to keep an eye on in the future.

NOTE: We'll be releasing episodes every two weeks, through September 7, when we'll move back to a weekly format.

Brad Stone is the author of four books, including Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire, published by Simon & Schuster in May 2021. It traces the transformation of Amazon into one of the largest and most feared companies of the world and the accompanying emergence of its founder, Jeff Bezos, as the richest man alive.

Brad is also the author of The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon, which chronicled the foundational early years of the company. The book, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, was translated into more than 35 languages and won the 2013 Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award. In 2017, he also published The Upstarts: Uber, Airbnb, and the Battle for the New Silicon Valley.

Brad is Senior Executive Editor for Global Technology at Bloomberg News where he oversees a team of 65 reporters and editors that covers high-tech companies, startups, cyber security and internet trends around the world. Over the last ten years, as a writer for Bloomberg Businessweek, he’s authored over two dozen cover stories on companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Softbank, Twitter, Facebook and the Chinese internet juggernauts Didi, Tencent and Baidu. He’s a regular contributor to Bloomberg’s technology newsletter Fully Charged, and to the daily Bloomberg TV news program, Bloomberg Technology.

He was previously a San Francisco-based correspondent for The New York Times and Newsweek. A graduate of Columbia University, he is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three daughters.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Nope, physical retail, still not dead. Not even close. Get ready for Season Three!

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:05:00 +0000

Nope, physical retail, still not dead. Not even close. Yet the lines between physical and digital continue to blur and it continues to get harder and harder to be the amplified signal to stand out for all the noise.

So get ready for season three of the Remarkable Retail podcast as we move into post-COVID world of modern retail.

We’ll bring you more insights, dissect the key consumer trends and showcase the most powerful strategies for winning, keeping and growing customers.

We’ll also be back for Season Three with interviews with amazing guests who will help us, help you, discover the winning formula for becoming- or staying - remarkable.From retailers to authors to analysts and pundits, we’ll introduce you to the people and brand that matter today.

So join us each and every episode by following us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you enjoy your podcasts today as we explore the latest events within the retail industry and go beyond for a lively and interactive journey to Remarkable Retail.

About Us

Season 2 Finale with Matt Shay, President & CEO, National Retail Federation

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 04:05:00 +0000

We wrap up our second season with special guest, Matt Shay, President & CEO of the National Retail Federation (NRF). Many of us may know about the NRF because of its annual "Big Show", but as you'll learn in our interview it is much, much more.

In our fast-paced discussion we dive into the many facets of the world's largest retail trade association. Matt helps us unpack the retail industry's role as America's largest private employer and as a key barometer of economic fortunes. We get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the NRF's advocacy work, how it convenes key retail executives and why diversity, equity and inclusion is now front and center on its agenda. He also previews the upcoming NRF Converge event and what we might expect as we all reconvene once again in New York next January for the world's biggest retail conference.

Then we wrap up the episode with our segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include the NRF's updated and up beat 2021 forecast, Microsoft tip-toeing back into physical retail and earnings news from RH (the former Restoration Hardware), Stitch Fix and Chewy.

Matt Shay

Matthew Shay is president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association. He serves as chief advocate and spokesman for the nation’s largest private-sector industry employer, responsible for supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 52 million working Americans – and generating $3.9 trillion in annual GDP.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Retail's Great Acceleration with guest Carl Boutet

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 8 Jun 2021 06:03:48 +0000

This week the "3 Amigos of Retail" re-unite, as we welcome our special guest Carl Boutet for a discussion of "The Great Acceleration." When Carl first coined the term during Steve's virtual book launch event in April of 2020, little did we know how much it would catch on--and how prophetic it would turn out to be.

Now we get a chance to discuss Carl's original thinking, how it's evolved and then dive into the highlights from his provocative new book. We dissect the "race to resilience," the key forces of the acceleration, retail's increasingly digitally-enabled future and what it might mean to live in a 50/50 physical/digital world (just don't call it "phygital"!). There's plenty of great insight and lots of lively banter.

Then we wrap up the episode with our weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include Lululemon's earnings (blockbuster), Nordstrom's earnings (lackluster), Warby Parker and Apple's defiance of the retail apocalypse, growing interest in the resale market and Amazon's big Prime Day announcement.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Retail On Purpose. The Phluid Project's Rob Smith

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Wed, 2 Jun 2021 05:59:20 +0000

This week our guest is Rob Smith, CEO & Founder of The Phluid Project and Get Phluid. After many years as a senior executive working with Macy's, Victoria's Secret, Levi's and Nike, Rob followed his passion for social justice and launched The Phluid Project, a rapidly growing non-binary, gender express fashion brand that is grounded in community and build on activism.

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, we explore the challenges of being your authentic self in the corporate world and how to best merge passion and purpose in the work we do. And be ready to take plenty of notes as we learn how Rob and team boot-strapped their start up from an original store in Manhattan just 4 years ago to product partnerships with Sephora, Target and Nordstrom.

Then we wrap up the episode with our weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include reflections on how Wall St. retail analysts keep getting it so very wrong, what to take away from Nordstrom and Best Buy's earnings, Saks' marketplace dreams, big private brand pushes from Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond and Google's search (heh, heh) for a physical retail strategy.

“If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.”

―David Bowie

Rob Smith, the CEO and Founder of The Phluid Project, has created a brand, combining his profession, which is retail, along with his passion, a commitment to social justice.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Rob began a long retail career, spanning over 30 years, orchestrating multi-billion dollar businesses through merchandising, e-commerce, marketing, product development and supply chain management. He worked his way through Macys for over two decades, working within four divisions and finishing with his final position as GMM/EVP Macys Corporate in product merchandising. Gaining new experiences, Rob became GMM/EVP at Victoria’s Secret direct. He was the Children’s Global Chief Product Officer for Nike, Levi’s Jordan, Hurley, and Converse with Haddad Brands.
Rob mentors numerous fashion brands and designers, leads the CSR committee as a Board of Director for Steve Madden Ltd., and raises critical funds for LGBTQIA+ organizations.

He’s the former Board Chair for The Hetrick-Martin Institute, which empowers, educates and advocates on behalf of LGBTQIA+ youth around the world and has also served on the board of directors for Athlete Ally, eliminating homophobia and transphobia in sports. Today, Rob leads and mange’s The Project Project, a leader in gender-free fashion. Phluid, joining a global movement of freedom, authenticity and self-expression, leads with values, a powerful community and a fearlessness to challenge the status quo. Phluid thoughtfully expands into new spaces where they can offer insight, education and impact.
Rob lives in NYC with his husband, Rod Grozier, and his dog, Jackson

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Retail's Turning Point?

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 25 May 2021 04:47:02 +0000

This week we go sans guest and go deep on the latest retail earnings and overall big picture trends--and what they portend for a retail recovery and future winners and losers.

We all knew this quarter was going to be hard to dissect given the crazy comparisons to this time last year where we saw consumers panic buying toilet paper and other items, while many "essential" retailers closed their doors for weeks on end. But what behaviors will persist as we move closer and closer to a largely post-COVID world.

Most notable in last week's new was how many "experts" got it wrong and how certain categories (home goods, pet supplies) extended their momentum and apparel seemed to spring back to life--or did it?

Beyond taking on the high level perspective, and what it suggests about the second half of 2021, we also dissect earnings from many big retailers, such as Macy's, Kohl's, Target and Walmart, and what we need to focus on in the months ahead.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

What's Next for Fashion Resale with Fashionphile Founder Sarah Davis

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 18 May 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This week our guest is fashion resale pioneer Sarah Davis, the Founder, President & CCO of Fashionphile, the leading purveyor of preowned ultra-luxury accessories.

We learn all about Fashionphile's 20+ year journey from scrappy boot-strapped start-up to its break-through partnership with Neiman Marcus. Along the way we learn the ins-and-outs of retail recommerce, what's driving its growth, how COVID affected its evolution and what it will take for all the various resale models to succeed in the future. In addition, we discover Fashionphile's remarkable track record of year-over-year growth and--brace yourself--profitability, as well as plans to add 10 more Neiman Marcus locations by early next year.

Then we wrap up the episode with our fast-paced weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include earnings from other resale brands ThredUp, Poshmark and the RealReal, as well as Canada Goose. Victoria Secret spin-out and prospects for a revival, JC Penney's updated prospects.

Sarah Davis

As the very first ultra-luxury re-commerce brand of its kind, FASHIONPHILE is the brainchild of Founder and President, Sarah Davis. Like most of the brands we love best, FASHIONPHILE began in 1999, with little more than a good idea. In 2006, Sarah introduced business partner & CEO Ben Hemminger, who evolved the brand by expanding the collection and presenting it to a larger market. Over 20 years later, FASHIONPHILE is now one of the world’s top resellers of pre-owned luxury and the exclusive re-commerce partner of Neiman Marcus.

In the words of Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, “FASHIONPHILE’s hyper-focus on curating high-quality supply and providing best-in-class shopping experiences makes it the ideal partner.”

When Neiman Marcus calls you ideal, you blush and just, well, let it in.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

SPECIAL, NOT BIG: Featuring Voodoo Doughnut CEO Chris Schultz

michael@meleblanc.co (Chris Schultz) — Tue, 11 May 2021 05:52:51 +0000

This week our very special guest is Chris Schultz, a veteran executive with previous stints at Starbucks and MOD Pizza, who now serves as CEO of Voodoo Doughnut the remarkable Portland, Oregon based company that invented the gourmet donut category and has developed a cult-like following, despite expanding to a dozen locations.

Chris shares many lessons from his decades of restaurant experience, unpacking what it takes to consistently deliver "crave-able" product, whatever your target audience. Mostly, we delve into the importance of putting brand first, the importance of constant innovation, and how to keep the magic and preserve authenticity while pursuing an expansion strategy.

As is our custom, we wrap up the episode with our fast-paced weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include Gap's sale of Intermix to private equity, Macy's commission kerfuffle, Wayfair and Peloton's earnings and Dick's Sporting Goods new outlet concept.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Getting to the Heart of Business with Best Buy turnaround CEO Hubert Joly

michael@meleblanc.co (Hubert Joly) — Tue, 4 May 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This week our very special guest is Hubert Joly, former Chairman and CEO of Best Buy, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and the author of the just released bestselling book The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism.

We wrap with our fast-paced weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include Amazon's blockbuster earnings, department stores' misleading footwear dominance, forthcoming IPO's from several well-known digitally-native brands and Walmart+ subscription stats.

Steve's related Forbes articles:

The Stores Strike Back.

To Defy the Retail Apocalypse, Target and Best Buy Embrace the Blur.

Other related readings:

Marshall Goldsmith, What Got You Here, Won't Get You There

Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

HUBERT JOLY is the former Chairman and CEO of Best Buy.

He has been recognized as one of the one hundred “Best-Performing CEOs in the World” by Harvard Business Review, one of the top thirty CEOs in the world by Barron’s, and one of the top ten CEOs in the United States in Glassdoor’s annual Employees’ Choice Awards. Joly is now a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and serves on the boards of Johnson & Johnson and Ralph Lauren.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

AWS's Tom Litchford and the Amazon Technology Revolution

michael@meleblanc.co (Tom Litchford) — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This week our special guest is Tom Litchford, Head of Worldwide Business Development for Amazon Web Services (AWS). We cover a lot of ground, touching on the key benefits of cloud-computing (turns out there are quite a few), how AWS fits into the Amazon eco-system (spoiler alert: quite nicely), why it takes a crisis for retailers to innovate (don't get us started) and why a culture of experimentation is so important. We also tackle the proverbial elephant in the room.

Then we move on to our fast-paced weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include Jeff Bezos' final letter to Amazon shareholders (and some of the fun facts contained therein), Amazon's first hair salon (say, what now?), Walmart's move to quell our robot overlords, Lord & Taylor's return from the great beyond and Nike and Lululemon's resale ambitions.

Tom Litchford, Head of Worldwide Retail at Amazon Web Services (AWS)

As head of worldwide business development for the retail industry, Tom Litchford leads and manages AWS' industry strategy including marketing and sales enablement, channel development, and solution offerings required to address customers' business requirements and challenges.

Litchford has more than 35 years of experience in systems engineering, sales, product management and marketing of technology business solutions for the retail and hospitality industries. Prior to joining AWS in 2017, most recently he led the National Retail Federation's (NRF) technology communities and its cybersecurity program. Prior to NRF, he served in various roles with notable technology firms including Microsoft and NCR.

Litchford was instrumental in driving the development of the OPOS application program interface (API) set – now a defacto industry standard for point-of-sale application-to-peripheral connectivity. Working with organizations such as ARTS and NAFEM, he has also been influential in establishing XML messaging standards in the retail and foodservices sectors.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Remarkable Retail 2nd Edition Book Launch Celebration

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This week we celebrate the publication of the expanded and completely revised edition of Steve's bestseller Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. On this special episode we share the (slightly edited) recording of our virtual book launch event, hosted by Michael, and featuring guests Seth Godin, Sucharita Kodali (who wrote the Foreword), Oliver Banks, Carl Boutet and Michelle Grant.

Learn more about the book and hear our guests drop some wisdom about what's next for retail.

To order Remarkable Retail click below.

Note: The audiobook version will be available soon.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Behind the scenes of retail reporting with CNBC’s Lauren Thomas

michael@meleblanc.co (Lauren Thomas) — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 05:59:24 +0000

This week we welcome CNBC's ace retail reporter Lauren Thomas, who talks about the journey into her current position, what her beat is all about, and the trade craft of choosing and developing stories. We also dip into what's surprised her about the retail industry and the evolving nature of consumer preferences. Lastly we discuss the challenges of understanding retailer performance as we transition into the post-COVID economy, as well as what's on her radar screen for the future.

Then we move on to our fast-paced weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include the prediction that 80,000 stores will close within 5 years, while several big brands announce aggressive store opening plans, an uptick in mall vacancy rates at the same time Amazon converts some into distribution centers, Best Buy pilots a new membership program and Target devotes $2 billion to black-owned businesses.

Join us Tuesday, April 13th at 5pm EST for our Virtual Book Launch on Zoom as we celebrate the release of Steve's new book with special guests Seth Godin, Sucharita Kodali and many more. Space is limited, so please register here ASAP.

To order Remarkable Retail click below.

U.S. Residents

Canadian Residents

U.K. Residents

Lauren Thomas is a reporter for CNBC in New York covering retail and retail real estate. She joined in January 2017 after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Business Journalism and Spanish. Thomas previously held internships at CNBC in San Francisco, Bloomberg and TheStreet. She was born in South Carolina and is the oldest of five kids.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Disruption, Destruction and What Matters Most for Retail Right Now" w/ Brendan Witcher (Forrester)

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 6 Apr 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This week we welcome Forrester's Brendan Witcher for a wide-ranging, thought provoking and no holds barred discussion of what's most important right now in retail. Among the topics we explore are what strategies are working best, why it takes a crisis for retailers to innovate, the often critical role of physical stores, and the distinction between "disruption" and "destruction" (and why many retailers should be embracing the latter).

Then we move on to our fast-paced weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include Chewy's earnings, Bed, Bath & Beyond's digital and private label dreams, Kroger's fading tailwind, Nike bids adieu to more wholesale partners, and JC Penney's alleged "green shoots."

Brendan Witcher..

As Vice President & Principal Analyst with Forrester Research, Brendan Witcher serves business strategy professionals and is globally recognized as a leading authority on consumer behavior, market developments, technology trends, & solution providers in the digital engagement space.

With 25 years of experience in leading B2C businesses, and having written more than 150 industry-leading research reports for Forrester, Brendan is a trusted strategic adviser to well over half of U.S. Fortune 100 companies — including 8 of the top 10 — that sit at the forefront of driving innovation and digital transformation.

In addition to regularly speaking at industry events, Brendan is sought after frequently for commentary and insights by top media outlets including Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, NPR, The Economist, Time Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.

Recent Reports

Building The Business Case For Omnichannel Commerce

It's Time For Retail Stores To Open Their Doors To The Digital Org

Align Strategy And Technology To Deliver Next-Gen Personalization

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Join us to celebrate the release of Steve's new book.

Monday, April 12 at 5pm EST. We'll be joining Trevor Sumner and other retail luminaries for a Remarkable Retail takeover of "This Week in Retail" on Clubhouse.

Tuesday, April 13th at 5pm EST. Join us on Zoom for our Virtual Book Launch Celebration with special guests Seth Godin, Sucharita Kodali and many more. Space is limited, so please register here ASAP.

To order Remarkable Retail click below.

U.S. Residents

Canadian Residents

U.K. Residents

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Instacart and the Last Mile Delivery Journey with Special Guest Kiri Masters.

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This week we talk about the broader eco-system of last mile delivery and the role of 3 rd party services. Specifically, we go deep on Instacart, with our special guest Kiri Masters, founder & CEO of Bobsled Marketing and co-author of Instacart for CMOs (a follow-up to her 2019 book Amazon for CMOs). We unpack the key elements of Instacart's business model, what's driving growth, the challenges that lay ahead and where they are likely headed.

Then we move on to our fast-paced weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's big stories include stellar earnings from LL Bean and RH, Walmart's Project Glass revelations, the battle between landlords and retailers on what counts as a sale and Krispy Kreme's vaccination donut offer.

Kiri Masters is the founder of Bobsled Marketing, a digital agency that helps consumer product brands to grow their sales on Amazon. Specializing in operations, marketing and advertising on online marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart, Instacart), I'm watching the profound shift that's occurring for brands and retailers who are trying to figure out their business model in the age of marketplaces.

Kiri wrote the books "The Amazon Expansion Plan," (updated in 2018), "Amazon For CMOs" (September 2019 - co-authored with Mark Power), and "Instacart for CMOs" (2021 - co-authored with Stefan Jordev), which offer a close-up view of generating predictable results for Amazon sellers, advertisers, and CMOs.

Kiri is a regular contributor to Forbes Retail, sharing the collective wisdom gathered through managing hundreds of brands' accounts on Amazon.

Learn more about what we do at: www.bobsledmarketing.com
Read Kiri's posts on Forbes at: www.forbes.com/sites/kirimasters
Listen to Kiri's podcast at: www.ecommercebraintrust.com
Speaking opportunities: at www.kirimasters.com
Find Kiri's books at: www.amazon.com/Kiri-Masters/e/B01MD17BBK

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Join us to celebrate the release of Steve's new book.

Monday, April 12 at 5pm EST. We'll be joining Trevor Sumner and other retail luminaries for a Remarkable Retail takeover of "This Week in Retail" on Clubhouse.

U.S. Residents

Canadian Residents

U.K. Residents

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

What's new and next for store traffic

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 04:05:00 +0000

This week we welcome Ethan Chernofsky, VP of Marketing for Placer.ai, a leading analytics firm that harnesses mobile data from tens of millions of devices, to deliver visibility and insight into offline behavior. We discuss what changes in foot traffic across retail product categories and geographies suggest about the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and what it may all mean for the timing and magnitude of a retail recovery.

After our discussion we jump into our new weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's highlights include what we can glean from February's monthly sales report, Amazon becoming the US's top apparel retailer, as well as their new push into traditional grocery, Adidas' DTC dreams, and a report that more stores may open in 2021 then will close.

Special Offer! If you would like to see the new edition of Remarkable Retail before April 13, place a pre-order for the hardcover edition from any place books are sold worldwide. Then simply email us the receipt, and we will send you the ebook version right away. Send the email order confirmation to books@sageberryconsulting.com with "Podcast Offer" in the subject line and we will send you the ebook file. Note, this offers expires March 31, 2021.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Remarkable Retail in the Land Down Under

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 05:17:52 +0000

This week we welcome Michael Schneider the Managing Director of a truly remarkable retailer: Bunnings Group, the leading retailer of home improvement and outdoor living products in Australia and New Zealand. In our discussion we discover how Bunnings became Australia's most trusted brand, the different ways they pivoted to deal with the pandemic and what lessons all retailers can glean to drive growth and innovation in the post-COVID world.

After our discussion we jump into our new weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's highlights include growing cargo issues, the impact of the US stimulus package, how Burlington Stores, Dollar Tree and others failed to get the retail apocalypse memo, big changes at Ulta, Coupang's blockbuster IPO and Poshmark's tepid outlook.

Michael Schneider: With a genuine care for, and commitment to our team, I'm very much a retailer at heart, having spent the vast majority of my career in this ever changing, dynamic industry. After more than 10 years in the business I was appointed Managing Director, Bunnings Australia & New Zealand in March 2016 and have enjoyed the transition and challenge that it's brought. Prior to this, I led the store operations teams across Bunnings Australia and New Zealand, after joining Bunnings in 2005. Before joining Bunnings, I held a range of senior operational, commercial and human resource roles across regional and national markets, both in retail and financial services with The Warehouse Group and Westpac.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of NSW and I've completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD, and the Advanced Strategic Management Program at IMD which helps round out my intuitive sense for our customers and team, balanced with a strong commercial focus. As we continue to live our value of innovation and continue to evolve our ever changing business I am excited by the opportunities technology and data create to build on a remarkable legacy, but also create opportunities for growth both for the business, the customers we serve and the teams we work with.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

The 6 New Forces Of The COVID Economy

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 9 Mar 2021 05:05:00 +0000

This week we delve into some of the new material in Steve's expanded and completely revised 2nd Edition of Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption, which will be released on April 13th (see below for a special listener book offer).

We dig into the effects of the pandemic and what retailers need to be doing right now to position themselves for the rebound. Steve outlines 6 major forces:

Bifurcation 2.0
An Accelerating Acceleration
Reallocation and the Redefinition of Essential
Power Consolidation and the Last Men Standing
The Great Rewiring
Hybridization.

After our discussion we jump into our new weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's highlights include Target's blockbuster earnings, Disney's store closings, ThredUp IPO filing, Nordstrom's partnership with Tonal and Saks decision to spin-out its online operations.

Special Offer! If you would like to see the new addition of Remarkable Retail before April 13, place a pre-order for the hardcover edition from any place books are sold worldwide. Then, email us the receipt, and we will send you the ebook version a few weeks in advance to get a jumpstart on reading the book. Send the email order confirmation to books@sageberryconsulting.com with "Podcast Offer" in the subject line. Once we get that email, we will email them back an Ebook file for Kindle Nook, Kobo, all the different formats.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Obsessed: Building A Brand People Love from Day One

michael@meleblanc.co (Emily Heyward) — Tue, 2 Mar 2021 07:21:09 +0000

This week we welcome Emily Heyward, the cofounder and chief brand officer of Red Antler as our guest to help understand what branding is all about, why it is so important and what it takes to build and sustain a remarkable brand. We discuss lessons learned from her career working with top companies such Casper, Boxed and Allbirds, and delve into the key concepts she unpacks in her recent book, including the "5 Why's", the power of focus and simplicity and the role of physical retail in creating an immersive and distinctive customer experience.

After our interview we jump into our new weekly segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's highlights include what to make of Macy's Investor Day pronouncements, what we can glean from recent retailer earning reports, Kohl's facing new challenge from an activist investor group, Best Buy's new hybrid store model and more.

Emily Heyward is the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer at Red Antler. Author of Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One available on Amazon and / or in Canada at Indigo Books.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

The Ticking Time Bomb of eCommerce Returns

michael@meleblanc.co (Scot Wingo, David Sobie) — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 05:05:00 +0000

Product returns have always been part of the retail equation--and an often high cost of doing business. But over the years, free and easy returns have become a new basis of competition. As e-commerce typically brings with it return and product exchange rates 3-5 times as high as those in brick & mortar stores, the growing penetration of online shopping can create more speed bumps in the customer experience, increasing costs for retailers and real ecological challenges.

In this episode we dissect what's driving returns, why it matters and what can be done about it. We speak first with Scot Wingo, founder of Channel Advisor and CEO of Get Spiffy, who along with his podcast co-host Jason "Retail Geek" Goldberg, made "Shippageddon" part of the retail zeitgeist. Soon after "Returnageddon" took center stage. Then we bring on David Sobie, co-founder of Happy Returns, a fast growing company that seeks to make the end-to-end returns process beautiful for shoppers, retailers and the planet.

After our interviews we jump into our fun new segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on a selection of retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week we talk about Five Below, which apparently didn't get the retail apocalypse memo, and is opening over 170 stores this year, Poshmark's plans to get into the pet resale category, Thrasio and Branded's big capital raise to roll-up Amazon marketplace sellers, Walmart quarterly earnings, Sephora's inclusive incubator program and the strong US retail results for January.

Scot Wingo is an entrepreneur who successfully started four startups and exited three (so far):

Stingray Software - 1995-1998
-sold to Rogue Wave Software

AuctionRover.com - 1999-2000
- sold to Goto.Com/Overture - now part of Yahoo!

ChannelAdvisor - 2001-present - IPO'd in May of 2013 - NYSE: ECOM
- Leading software/service business for Fortune 2k selling on eBay as a new channel.

Get Spiffy - 2014-present
- On-demand car wash and detailing business currently in Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Dallas

Specialties: Internet and related technologies/business model experience. eBay, Yahoo!, Amazon, Overture, Google and of course, washing cars!

David Sobie is CEO & Co-Founder of Happy Returns. Forward-thinking brands like Everlane, Rothy's, and REVOLVE choose Happy Returns. Together, we retain revenue, reduce costs, give shoppers choice, and make their supply chains sustainable—ultimately making returns beautiful for brands, shoppers, and the planet.

Before Happy Returns, David served as the Chief Marketing Officer at REVOLVE, leading all online and offline marketing, branding, acquisition and business development. Previously, he led Marketing and Business Development for HauteLook, a flash sale pioneer acquired by Nordstrom, and held senior roles at eBay Motors and others.

For more information about Happy Returns' returns software and reverse logistics, visit www.happyreturns.com.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Stores Rise Again: Retail Engagement in the Post-COVID World

michael@meleblanc.co (Melissa Gonzalez, Trevor Sumner., Matthew Cyr) — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 07:03:37 +0000

"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." - Mark Twain

Not only isn't physical retail dead, but brands big and small are innovating in many ways to improve conversion, drive up average transaction value and create memorable moments that keep customers coming back for more. More and more, it's not about physical or digital, it's how they work together to create a harmonized and memorable experience.

In this episode we talk with three industry thought-leaders that are helping their clients create new ways to maximize shopper engagement and deliver wow-worthy moments. Indeed, while the role of the store is changing rapidly, retailers' brick & mortar assets, working in concert with all things digital, may become even more important to brands journey to remarkable.

After our panel we jump into our fun new segment “Remarkable or Forgettable?” where we give our hot takes on a selection of retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's we talk about Under Armour's earnings surprise, BooHoo's acquisition spree, Nordstrom's "Closer to the customer" initiative, Target's blockbuster new activewear brand and Amazon's big push into grocery.

ICSC Halo Effect

Omni-channel is Dead: The Future is Harmonized Retail

The stores strike back.

Melissa Gonzalez the award-winning CEO of The Lion’esque Group, an MG2 company, pioneers the boundaries of experiential retail to help brands such as Purple, Nordstrom, and Burrow foster consumer engagement and evolve their offering. An innovator at heart, Melissa is consistently recognized as one of the leading ‘Women In Design’ and ‘Top 10 Retail Design Influencers of the Year’. In her downtime, she can be spotted seeking inspiration in unexpected places (like skydiving 10,000 feet above ground).

Matthew Cyr is a tech entrepreneur and ex-retail ops leader with over 15+ years of experience. After opening over 150+ retail locations in the APAC region, building a multi-national retail training team for Skechers, and operating over a dozen retail stores across North America, Matthew has launched an omnichannel retail platform that empowers retailers to better connect with their customers. Be sure to check out their Connected Fitting Room and Assisted Selling solution now deployed in North America, South Africa, and China. www.craveretail.com

Note: Steve serves on Crave Retail's Advisory Board and has a small passive investment in the company through a seed-capital venture fund where he previously served as an advisor.

Trevor Sumner is a NYC-based entrepreneur, product and marketing executive and recognized startup advisor and angel. Trevor is the CEO of Perch, a recognized leader in in-store Product Engagement Marketing, interactive retail displays and augmented reality. Perch was named a Top Tech Company to Watch by Forbes, a Top 10 Retail Technology company by CIO Review and has won numerous Clio, Fast Company, Edison, Bloomberg and Digi awards.

Trevor was the President, CMO and co-founder of LocalVox, a local social and mobile marketing platform for local businesses that was named one of the top startups in NYC by Business Insider, Forbes and Huffington Post, and was acquired by The Blackstone Group. He has spent ~15 years in startups as a product and marketing executive for cutting edge technologies and services. He serves on the board or as an advisor to several startups.

Forbes Names Perch a Top 15 Technology Company to Watch

Perch Named a Top 40 Transformative Marketing Technology by R3

CIO Review Names Perch a Top 20 Retail Solutions Provider

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon , Indigo in Canada or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

This episode is sponsored by The Poirier Group.

Do you want to move faster, streamline your processes and have larger margins? If you’re a retailer in 2021, chances are you do. The Poirier Group’s award-winning team of industrial engineers and performance improvement experts specialize in driving results for retailers and grocers across North America. From reducing call-center wait times, to improving stocking and replenishment processes in warehouses, to seamlessly integrating IT systems and more-- they are the trusted partner you need.

TPG doesn't just design solutions - they leverage years of actual industry experience to implement them and set you up for long-term sustainable success. Just ask their clients: over 15 years in business, 100% have been a positive reference.

Visit www.thepoiriergroup.com/remarkable to learn more - and tell them you heard all about them on the Remarkable Retail podcast!

About Us

Putting the Pride & Joy Back into Retail

michael@meleblanc.co (Ron Thurston) — Tue, 9 Feb 2021 05:05:00 +0000

Steve knows a thing or two about how hard it is to write a best-selling business book on retail. And our guest, Ron Thurston has done just that. ... on this episode we delve into a few of the key themes in Ron's great new book Retail Pride: The Guide to Celebrating Your Accidental Career. We discuss why those who work in retail deserve to be celebrated, what it takes to deliver a remarkable, joyful customer experience and how COVID has--or hasn't--changed the key aspects of great retail. We also explore Ron's "Three Pillars of Retail Expertise": empathy, curiosity and focus. All in all, it's an uplifting and optimistic look at the past, present and future of shopping.

After our interview we jump into our fun new segment "Remarkable or Forgettable?" where we give our hot takes on a selection of retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's we review some big Amazon news, Victoria Secret's spin-off from L Brands, the possible resurgence of department stores, escalating product returns, and two interesting tid-bits from the world of digitally native brands.

Ron Thurston loves retail. And he's proud of it. Ron has led the retail teams for some of America's most prominent brands, inspired thousands of store employees, and traveled relentlessly across the country to sit and listen to what they have to say. From a part-time sales associate to a Vice President of Stores, Ron has put in the hard work that a retail career requires and wrote this book to share what he learned along the way. Ron currently leads the retail organization for INTERMIX, a division of GAP INC, and sits on the board of directors for GOODWILL NY/NJ. You can learn more about Ron and keep in touch on his website here.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

This episode is sponsored by The Poirier Group.

Visit www.thepoiriergroup.com/remarkable to learn more - and tell them you heard all about them on the Remarkable Retail podcast!

About Us

Predictions For A Volatile Retail World

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 2 Feb 2021 05:05:00 +0000

We kick-off Season 2 with a predictions focused episode, wherein we try to make educated guesses about what's likely to unfold in 2021 and our uncertain and volatile retail economy. Among the predictions we discuss are:

The longer-term impact of work-from-home
How cheaper real estate may spur a new round of innovation from legacy retailers, digitally native vertical brands and maybe even mall operators
Physical retail: Still not dead
The ongoing collapse of the mediocre middle
The great acceleration moderates
The new "hybridization" of shopping
And more.

You can read Steve's latest 2021 prediction article in Forbes here.

We also debut a new segment titled "Remarkable or Forgettable?" where we give our hot takes on a selection of retail headlines, and deem them wow-worthy, best ignored or somewhere in between. This week's candidates include Nordstrom's expansion of its "Local" concept, the news that HBC might spin-out Saks.com, LVMH's Tiffany make-over and Godiva's decision to shutter all their physical stores.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption will be released April 13th and is now available for preorder at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Get Ready for Season Two of Remarkable Retail!

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 05:05:00 +0000

Get Ready for Season Two of Remarkable Retail debuting February 2, 2021!

If you think the COVID era has brought the narrative of the retail apocalypse to life, you’re only half right - retail isn't dead - boring retail is.

As a C-level executive at two Fortune 500 companies, as a strategic advisor to dozens of retail, consumer and technology brands and as a speaker who has delivered keynotes on six continents and on screens around the world, I help organizations reignite and accelerate their growth. I’m also a Forbes senior contributor and author of the bestseller “Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption." Book Authority called it the best retail book ever, and a second all new updated and expanded edition is will be out April.

In our first season of the Remarkable Retail podcast, we explored why even very good is no longer good enough through great conversations with thought leaders like Sucharita Kodali and Seth Godin and retailers like Tractor Supply and Untuckit.

Join me and my co-host Michael LeBlanc, Producer & Host of The Voice of Retail podcast, as we pivot into our second season of the Remarkable Retail podcast - this season focusing on the key strategies that will ensure retailers survive and thrive in the COVID economy and beyond.

Each and every week Steve and I, along with special guests including top retailers, industry thought leaders and authors, will explore the latest retail news and themes ripped from the headlines and work to read the tea leaves and help listeners make sense out of the noise and craft winning strategies for the future.

So please join us each and every week for a lively and interactive journey exploring the strategies, the people and the companies that create Remarkable Retail. Season Two launches February 2, 2021. Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon or any of the major platforms wherever you enjoy your podcasts today.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption was recently named the best retail book of all time by BookAuthority. It's available in hardcover, audiobook or as a ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

A Brave New World

michael@meleblanc.co (Anne Mezzinga, Anne Mezzenga, Chris Walton) — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:05:00 +0000

“You can't stop the waves. But you can learn to surf.”

- Jon Kabat-Zinn

In the final episode of our first season, before delving into the key themes from Chapter 20 ("A Brave New World") of Steve's book, we share two pieces of big news.

The first is that an expanded and completely revised 2nd edition of Remarkable Retail will be released on April 13th, featuring a Foreword by Sucharita Kodali. It's now available for pre-order on Amazon or on Indigo in Canada and just about everywhere books are sold. The second is that we will be doing a new season of our podcast, launching February 2. More details on episode themes and special guests coming soon.

This episode we explore what it means to operate in a "VUCA" world and how uncertainty, humility and adopting a "Beginner's Mind" can be the source of great wisdom. And we remind ourselves of SNL producer Lorne Michael's great quotation that "the show doesn't go on because it's ready. It goes on because it's 11:30."

With guests Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga from OmniTalk, we talk about their experience driving innovation during their time at Target, how technology continues to accelerate and some of the things malls must do to adapt to retail's brave new world.

Anne Mezzenga & Chris Walton

Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga met leading Target’s Store of the Future Project. Currently they are the Co-CEOs of Omni Talk, which they founded in 2017 and quickly turned into one of the fastest growing and most frequently read blogs in retail. Together they also own and operate Third Haus a retail technology lab in Minneapolis, as well as Urban Rooster Shop, a new online marketplace for local brands that just opened this past fall and that has already received national attention. Their unique blend of candor and humor, from the perspective of real retailers, who have lived and breathed next generation retail in both theory and in practice, is what sets them apart. When they are not keynoting trade shows, moderating webinars, or writing for Forbes, you will find them holding court each week on their weekly Omni Talk Fast Five podcast, which is the quickest, fastest, and quite possibly funniest rundown of all the week’s top headlines in the world of retail.

Related Reading

Clayton Christensen, The Innovator's Dilemma

Steve Dennis, "We're Never Ready"

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Becoming a Retail Radical

michael@meleblanc.co (Pier Fawkes, Scott Lachut) — Tue, 5 Jan 2021 05:05:00 +0000

“If failure is not an option then neither is success.”

- Seth Godin

We discuss the final component in Steve's 8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail framework: "Radical" with guests Pier Fawkes and Scott Lachut from PSFK, a leading retail experience design and innovation firm. Being "Memorable" is what's what's needed to become the signal amid the noise in creating a remarkable growth strategy, whereas becoming "Radical" is a big part of how to do it by building a culture of experimentation and developing innovation as core capability and organizational habit. In unpacking this essential we discuss how Walmart, Amazon and others fight what Steven Pressfield calls "The Resistance," why quitting is underrated and how we can find beauty in imperfection.

Piers Fawkes

PSFK Founder | Trends Researcher | Futurist

Since his early career, Piers Fawkes has driven the adoption of progressive ideas to impact the global community. It began with the first Dotcom boom, where he led the London office of one of Europe’s top agencies. He also pioneered the use of digital video at a scrappy start-up a few years before YouTube came about. He is best known for establishing the progressive think-tank PSFK.

Today, he continues to give talks, support the companies he owns and advises, and provide a mix of inspirational services to help businesses realize their potential.

Scott Lachut, Partner/President of Research & Strategy at PSFK

In my current role, I'm tasked with studying the shifting context of the consumer, culture and marketplace to understand what that means now and in the future. I look at both the big picture and emerging signals of change to identify opportunities and develop strategies to take advantage of them. I've had the pleasure of working with a great roster of companies across industries, including Facebook, American Express, Nike, BMW, Marriott and Apple, helping them to innovate their retail, marketing, product and customer experience.

Learn more and register for PSFK's Retail Innovation Week here.

Related Reading

Steve Dennis, "Misteaks Were Made," "Quitting is Underrated," and "Wabi-Sabi."
Seth Godin, The Practice

Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

This One Goes to 11

michael@meleblanc.co (Steve Dennis, Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 05:05:00 +0000

"Great brands don't chase customers; customers chase great brands."

- Gary Friedman, CEO Restoration Hardware

We are on to #7 ("Memorable") in Steve's 8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail framework. Being Memorable is critical to not simply offering a slightly better version of mediocre and competing relentlessly on discounts. Done right, it is the key to long-term growth, profits and customer loyalty.

In unpacking this essential we discuss how to own the "real estate of the mind," and what we mean when we talk about "experience" as something other than the latest bright shiny object. Drawing on key take-aways from Steve's book we define the six characteristics of memorable and discuss case studies that illustrate the various ways leading retailers are implementing memorable strategies including mega-brands like RH, Nordstrom, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Amazon, along with "special not big" retailers such as Franklin BBQ and Blue Star Donuts.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Retail Without Boundaries with guest Mitch Joel, bestselling author, keynote speaker and founder of Six Pixels Group

michael@meleblanc.co (Mitch Joel) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 05:05:00 +0000

We move on to the 6th Essential ("Connected") in Steve's 8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail framework, discussing how an abundance of connection and the erosion of boundaries between consumers and brands has fundamentally redefined marketing communications and created entirely new business models. We also investigate why attention doesn't guarantee engagement, the role of social proof and the concept of a "Fourth Place."

With our special guest Mitch Joel, we explore the 3 C's of Connection, striking the balance between direct response marketing and story-telling and what we misunderstand about about the role of digital and physical retail. We also discuss the growing power of social media and it's undeniable and profound effect on an individual's ability to create and share an idea instantly and for free to their network (or the world). Lastly, we unpack how services are becoming the new experience.

Mitch Joel is Founder of Six Pixels Group - an advisory, investing and content producing company that is focused on commerce and innovation. Prior to Six Pixels Group, Mitch spent close to two decades building, running and (eventually) selling Twist Image/Mirum – a global marketing agency that still operates in 25 countries with close to 3000 employees.

Mitch's first book, Six Pixels of Separation, named after his successful blog and podcast is a business bestseller. His second book, CTRL ALT Delete, was named one of the best business books of 2013 by Amazon. He speaks frequently to diverse groups like Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Microsoft, Procter and Gamble, Twitter, Unilever and every organization and association in between.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Treat Different Customers Differently with guest Bridget Brennan, bestselling author and CEO of Female Factor

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 8 Dec 2020 05:05:00 +0000

"Without data, you are just another person with an opinion.”

- W. Edwards Deming

We move on to the 5th Essential ("Personal") in Steve's Essentials of Remarkable Retail framework, delving into the criticality of defining our core customer (including who are offering is NOT for), why the "1 to 1 future" envisioned by Don Peppers and Martha Rogers in the mid-nineties took so long to manifest, importance realizing that no customer want to be average and what it means to be data-led.

With our special guest Bridget Brennan, we explore ways deeper customer insight can help brands win, grow & keep the world's most powerful (and valuable) customers, the reason "pink is not a strategy" and why gender-balanced leadership teams and Boards are not only the right thing to do, but smart business.

Bridget Brennan is CEO of the strategic consultancy, Female Factor, and author of the groundbreaking books, Why She Buys: The New Strategy for Reaching the World’s Most Powerful Consumers (Crown Business) and Winning Her Business: How to Transform the Customer Experience for the World’s Most Powerful Consumers (HarperCollins Leadership, 2019). She is the world’s most sought-after speaker on engaging women as customers and decision makers.

Brennan is a contributing writer on marketing to women for Forbes.com and was named a “Woman to Watch in Retail Disruption” by the Remodista think tank. She serves on the Vikings Women Advisory Board of the Minnesota Vikings NFL team, and is a member of the National Speakers Association, the Network of Executive Women and the Economic Club of Chicago. Learn more about Bridget here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Retail's New Front Door with guest Stephan Schambach, author and CEO & Founder, Newstore

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 1 Dec 2020 05:05:00 +0000

“We no longer go online, we live online”

- Google

In our discussion of the 4th Essential ("Mobile") in Steve's Essentials of Remarkable Retail framework we probe how smart devices have created a world where we can always be shopping and the new best location for our brand is wherever the customer happens to be with their smart device. Mobile is the ultimate silo-buster, allowing for an increasingly blended shopping world where the lines between physical stores and e-commerce are blurred.

Adding to our conversation of how mobile is becoming the new front door to the store is online shopping pioneer and serial entrepreneur Stephan Schambach, who has been front and center in the evolution of e-commerce as the founder of multiple groundbreaking companies. He's also the author of Makeover: How Mobile Flipped the Shopping Cart.

A few of Steve's related articles:

The Customer is the Channel

Omnichannel is Dead: The Future is Harmonized Retail.

Stephan Schambach has been changing the commerce world since 1992. From founding Intershop and building the first standard software for online shopping, to putting retail in the cloud with the founding of Demandware (which was acquired by Salesforce for $2.8 billion dollars), Schambach has seen it all in retail. The visionary who brought the retail industry online shopping and cloud service solutions is laying the foundation for the future of digitally-influenced retail once again as the founder of NewStore, an Omnichannel-as-a-Service platform that allows brands to run their retail stores on iPhone. He's also the author of Makeover: How Mobile Flipped the Shopping Cart. Learn more about Stephan and NewStore here. You can also follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

The Customer is the Channel with guest Rob Mills, EVP, Chief Technology, Digital Commerce and Strategy Officer at Tractor Supply Company

michael@meleblanc.co (Rob Mills) — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 06:03:35 +0000

“Silos belong on farms.”

- Bob Thacker, former, Sears VP Marketing

We're moving on to the 3rd of the "8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail": Harmonized, which revolves around the idea that we must drop our channel-centric thinking, processes and metrics, embrace the blur that is shopping today and see the customer as the channel.

"Harmonized" retail moves us beyond omni-channel. It's not about being everywhere--or simply providing a seamless experience--we have to show up in remarkable ways in those moments that matter the customer journey. When we not only resolve discordant notes, but focus on "amplifying the wow" in our customer's experience, we can orchestrate an intensely relevant and memorable set of outcomes.

With our special guest, Rob Mills, part of the senior leadership team at Tractor Supply Co. we talk about the success Tractor has had defying the retail apocalypse narrative by continuing to open stores (they now have over 1,900) and delivering both legendary customer service and superior financial performance. We also dig deep into their ONETractor strategy, which is all about meeting their customer anytime, anywhere, anyway.

A few of Steve's related Forbes articles:

Tractor Supply Proves Physical Retail is Very Different But Far From Dead.

Omnichannel is Dead: The Future is Harmonized Retail.

Curbside Enthusiasm

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Rob Mills is the EVP, Chief Technology, Digital Commerce and Strategy Officer at Tractor Supply Company. He is an Executive Committee member and charged with guiding the technology, digital/eCommerce and corporate strategic/ business development functions for a publicly traded, fastest growing retailer with 1900+ stores and 30K+ employees in 49 states.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Human-Centered Retail with guest Rishad Tobaccowala, author of Restoring the Soul of Business

michael@meleblanc.co (Rishad Tobaccowala) — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:05:00 +0000

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

- Maya Angelou

We're moving on to the 2nd of the "8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail": Human-Centered, where we open the aperture on concepts of customer-centricity and explore why they might be limited. We consider the criticality of empathy and right-brained thinking when it comes to unlocking the why behind the buy and how we can create brands stories that spread.

We are also joined by famed business strategist Rishad Tobaccowala, who shares insights from his bestselling book Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data and a 30 year career advising clients on change, innovation and growth. We explore how companies like Costco and Starbucks balance math and meaning to deliver remarkable results, as well as what it takes to consistently create fresh, insightful connections as part of an innovation agenda.

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Rishad Tobaccowala is an advisor, author, educator and speaker with four decades of experience focused on change, innovation and re-invention. He is the former Chief Growth Officer at the Publicis Groupe. His new book is Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data. Learn more about Rishad on his website, LinkedIn and Twitter. "The Great Reinvention" is one of several articles of his that are definitely worth your time.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

About Us

Digitally Enabled

michael@meleblanc.co (Oliver Banks, Lockie Andrews, Carl Boutet) — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:05:00 +0000

This episode we begin the journey to remarkable by digging into Essential #1 in Steve's "8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail" framework. And we've gone global with a great panel of joining us from New York City, Montreal and London.

Our panel of experts, includes UNTUCKit CIO/CDO Lockie Andrews, digital strategist extraordinaire Carl Boutet and retail transformation consultant Oliver Banks.

We unpack the profound shift towards digitally-driven customer journeys during the past decade and the great acceleration brought about by the COVID crisis. We also discuss how to strike the right balance between the analog, more human world and being digital-first--reminding everyone that no consumer buys technology.

Lockie Andrews is the Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Officer at UNTUCKit and the CEO of Catalyst Consulting, a digital transformation consulting firm. You can learn more about Lockie here and check out Lockie’s latest thought piece on why the combination of digital and physical commerce is optimal for retailers and brands. Follow Lockie on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Oliver Banks, in addition to being a podcaster himself with The Retail Transformation show is experienced at leading, managing and coordinating large, complex change programmes and projects. These initiatives may be targeting improvement to operational processes, people and HR, technology and tools – or a combination of them all.

As the founder of StudioRx, Carl Boutet advises retailers, business leaders, b2c solution providers, companies and researchers on how to tailor their solutions according to consumers’ evolving needs and build effective commercial strategies at the intersections of technology, design and data. He is also acting managing director for the Quebec centre for commercial innovation and presently working on a book titled The Great Acceleration

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You can learn more about Steve on his website here . His new best-selling book is available in hardcover, audiobook at ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

You can learn more about Michael here ( www.meleblanc.co) or here on LinkedIn

About Us

Choose Remarkable

michael@meleblanc.co (Michael LeBlanc) — Tue, 3 Nov 2020 05:05:00 +0000

"The problem is, you think you have time."

- Carlos Castaneda, Journey to Ixtlan

As we transition to the second part of our inaugural season, we take a brief look back at the core principles behind why even very good is not good enough any more and why we must choose remarkable. As the pace of digital disruption accelerates, consumers are faced with a plethora of choices, creating ever more pressure for retailers to be the compelling, intensely customer relevant signal amid all the noise.

We also delve into four key questions companies need to answer as they embark on transforming themselves for the COVID economy and ponder why it takes a crisis for so many retailers to take action.

In the second part of the episode, we lay out the strategic choices companies are compelled to make, the importance of decisively picking a lane and why it's so critical to choose remarkable. Then it's a quick overview of Steve's "8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail" framework, before we dig deep into each in subsequent episodes. We also discuss how to best apply the framework and prioritize turning ideas into action.

You can learn more about Steve on his website here . His new best-selling book is available in hardcover, audiobook at ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold.

Steve shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

You can learn more about Michael here ( www.meleblanc.co) or here on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeleleblanc/ )

About Us

Challengers of the Status Quo with Coresight Research's CEO & Founder Deborah Weinswig

michael@meleblanc.co (Deborah Weinswig) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 04:05:00 +0000

"How did you go bankrupt?" Bill asked.

"Two ways," Mike said. "Gradually, then suddenly."

- Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Arises

Why do so many companies defend the status quo even when it becomes increasingly obvious that their business model is losing customer relevance and remarkability? Why do others think they can cost cut and store close their way to prosperity? In this episode we look at the roots causes of how and why retailers sink into irrelevance and risk a mass extinction event. Then we flip these questions on their head to explore ways to defy conventional wisdom and create a culture of experimentation. Along the way we touch on why "the opposite is risky" and why quitting is often underrated (hint: it has to do with understanding opportunity cost). Nordstrom's Local strategy gets a shout-out, as does Apple's new Express concept. We also dub JC Penney the "world's second longest liquidation sale."

Our special guest is Deborah Weinswig, one of retail's leading analysts and thought leaders, and the founder & CEO of Coresight Research. Deb enlightens us on on how "New Retail" has challenged the status quo in China, what separates the winners from the losers when it comes to innovation, and how shopping festivals (or "Festivization") is bringing fun, joy and excitement back to retail at just the right time.

Learn more about Deborah here. Her firm-- Coresight Research--is a tremendous resource for all things retail and innovation, including industry deep dives and the legendary store tracker.

Steve's written a Forbes article that touches on "optimizing to extinction" and a blog post pointing out that quitting is underrated.

You can learn more about Steve on his website here . His new best-selling book is available in hardcover, audiobook at ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold.

Steve shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

You can learn more about Michael here ( www.meleblanc.co) or here on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeleleblanc/ )

About Us

The Future Will Not Be Evenly Distributed with Publicis' Chief Commerce Strategy Officer Jason "Retail Geek" Goldberg

michael@meleblanc.co (Jason Goldberg) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 04:05:00 +0000

William Gibson, the great American-Canadian speculative fiction author, once said: "The future is already here, it's just not very evenly distributed."

This episode features a deep dive into several key concepts to navigate the COVID economy and execute the journey to remarkable. First and foremost is the idea that much of the disruption that will determine future winners and losers is already in play, though we may yet see it or fully appreciate its importance. Second, we must be careful not to fall into the trap of managing by averages or becoming overly obsessed with more traditional channel-centric metrics. The customer is the channel, the lines between online and physical shopping are blurring and we must bust the silos that get in the way of a remarkable customer experience.

Our special guest is the one and only Jason Goldberg, chief commerce strategy officer for Publicis and co-host of the "Jason & Scot Show", one of the most followed and influential retail podcasts--at least until very, very recently. Jason helps unpack some of the most important trends in retail, explains how Amazon is actually extremely profitable in its retail division and sheds light on what is really going on with online penetration numbers and the critical role of digital influence on all of shopping. He also clues us in on how to pronounce "Publicis."

Learn more about Jason here.

Check out Jason's outlook for the holiday season in this piece for Forbes.

You can subscribe to the Jason & Scot Show here.

Steve's been talking about the blurring of the lines and the end of e-commerce for years. Here's one take from a few years back.

You can learn more about Steve on his website here . His new best-selling book is available in hardcover, audiobook at ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold.

Steve shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

You can learn more about Michael here ( www.meleblanc.co) or here on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeleleblanc/ )

About Us

The Collapse of the Middle with Deloitte Consulting's Kasey Lobaugh

michael@meleblanc.co (Kasey Lobaugh) — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 04:05:00 +0000

In this episode we delve into a topic that sits at the core of the need to be remarkable: the on-going bifurcation of the retail market.

For more than a decade success has largely been found at either end of the spectrum. At one end, brands that offered incredible value and convenience have been gobbling up market share and opening hundreds of stores, even in the face of the so-called "retail apocalypse." At the other end of the continuum, many higher-end stores and well-honed specialty concepts have similarly enjoyed expanding sales, profits and, in many cases, store counts. Yet those stuck in the mediocre middle, have been hit incredibly hard, a situation made all the more dire by the COVID economy. In this episode we discuss the underlying forces that are causing the collapse of the middle and how to get on the journey to remarkable.

To better understand "the collapse of the middle" we interview Kasey Lobaugh, Deloitte Consulting's chief retail innovation officer. Kasey helps us unpack the key findings from Deloitte's "Great Retail Bifurcation" report. We also discuss how the pandemic is amplifying many of these forces and why we may well be looking at a "K-shaped recovery."

For further reading on the concept of retail bifurcation by Kasey:

A tale of 2 holiday seasons: As a K-shaped recovery emerges, consumer spending is heavily bifurcated.

Holiday sales expected to jump 4.5 - 5%

For further reading on the Collapse of the Middle by Steve in Forbes:

The Coronavirus will accelerate retail's "collapse of the middle"

Retail's great bifurcation 2.0

You can learn more about Steve on his website here . His new best-selling book is available in hardcover, audiobook at ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold.

Steve shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

You can learn more about Michael here ( www.meleblanc.co) or here on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeleleblanc/ )

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If you liked what you heard you can subscribe on Apple, Spotify or your favourite podcast platform, please rate and review, and be sure and recommend to a friend or colleague in the retail, brand or CPG industry.

Have a safe week everyone!

About Us

The End of Scarcity with best-selling author Seth Godin

michael@meleblanc.co (Seth Godin) — Tue, 6 Oct 2020 04:05:00 +0000

In this episode we talk about the end of scarcity that previously characterized much of retail's evolution. As we entered the 21st century, some 98% of all retail was done in brick & mortar locations where access, product choice and the information about what product and services would best meet our needs--and the price we should pay-- was highly constrained. Now e-commerce and the ubiquity of smart devices has created an anytime, anywhere, anyway landscape and a world of abundant choice, where even very good is no longer good enough.

Then we interview with the one and only Seth Godin, best selling author of 19 books, 7,000 blog posts, fellow podcaster…marketing legend. Seth implores retailers to ask themselves one key question in the age of COVID: “Would they miss you if you were gone.” We also get a preview of Seth's forthcoming book The Practice.

You can learn more about Steve on his website here . His new best-selling book is available in hardcover, audiobook at ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold.

Steve shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

You can learn more about Michael here ( www.meleblanc.co) or here on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeleleblanc/ )

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Have a safe week everyone!

About Us

A World Turned Upside Down with Forrester Research's Sucharita Kodali

michael@meleblanc.co (Sucharita Kodali) — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 04:05:11 +0000

In our inaugural episode we explain what Season 1 is about and the structure of the podcast. We talk about why Steve wrote his book, the underlying concepts of ""Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Digital Disruption" and his "8 Essentials" framework. We unpack the idea that "shift happens", dissect the Black Swan event that is the global pandemic and delve into whether Steve would have changed anything in this book given it was completed just a few months before the COVID-19 crisis. Next Sucharita Kodali Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research joins us for a peek into what's now and what's next for retail. Finally, we talk about Steve's recent Forbes article about the Five Emerging Forces of Retail's New Normal.

You can learn more about Steve on his website here . His new best-selling book is available in hardcover, audiobook at ebook at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold.

Steve shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

You can learn more about Michael here ( www.meleblanc.co) or here on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeleleblanc/ )

Have a safe week everyone!

About Us

Retail isn't dead - boring retail is.

michael@meleblanc.co (Steve Dennis, Michael LeBlanc) — Fri, 4 Sep 2020 19:17:52 +0000

Season 1 Trailer

I'm here to tell you: Retail isn't dead. Boring retail is.

As a C-level executive at two Fortune 500 companies, keynote speaker and strategic advisor to dozens of retail, consumer and technology brands I help organizations accelerate their growth. I’m also the author of the new best-selling book, “Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Digital Disruption” (in Canada you can purchase here)

Join me and my co-host Michael LeBlanc, Producer & Host of The Voice of Retail podcast as we use my “8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail’ framework to explore modern retail, before, during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

Each and every week along with special guests including top retailers and industry thought leaders, will explore the latest events and work to understand the lessons of the past and present to craft strategies for the future.

So please join us each and every week for a lively and interactive journey to Remarkable Retail. You can find Season one now on Apple, Spotify or any of the major platforms wherever you enjoy your podcasts today.

About Us

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