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...
Jul 01, 2025•41 min•Season 10Ep. 25
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 r...
Jun 24, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 24
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 ripp...
Jun 17, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 23
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 po...
Jun 10, 2025•50 min•Season 10Ep. 22
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, crea...
Jun 03, 2025•52 min•Season 10Ep. 21
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 War...
May 27, 2025•28 min•Season 10Ep. 20
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 g...
May 20, 2025•51 min•Season 10Ep. 19
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 ...
May 13, 2025•42 min•Season 10Ep. 18
In the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis continue their conversation with retail media expert A ndrew 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 bui...
May 06, 2025•39 min•Season 10Ep. 17
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, B...
Apr 29, 2025•50 min•Season 10Ep. 16
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...
Apr 22, 2025•43 min•Season 10Ep. 15
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 ...
Apr 15, 2025•52 min•Season 10Ep. 14
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—particula...
Apr 08, 2025•45 min•Season 10Ep. 13
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 ongo...
Apr 01, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 12
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 Fo...
Mar 25, 2025•43 min•Season 10Ep. 11
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 th...
Mar 18, 2025•46 min•Season 10Ep. 10
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 th...
Mar 11, 2025•52 min•Season 10Ep. 9
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 fre...
Mar 04, 2025•51 min•Season 10Ep. 8
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 whol...
Feb 25, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 7
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 po...
Feb 18, 2025•49 min•Season 10Ep. 6
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 networ...
Feb 11, 2025•48 min•Season 10Ep. 5
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 shocki...
Feb 04, 2025•51 min•Season 10Ep. 4
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 migh...
Jan 28, 2025•50 min•Season 10Ep. 3
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 w...
Jan 21, 2025•45 min•Season 10Ep. 2
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...
Jan 14, 2025•42 min•Season 10Ep. 1
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 retai...
Jan 07, 2025•2 min
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—highlig...
Dec 31, 2024•24 min
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)...
Dec 20, 2024•29 min•Season 9Ep. 16
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 he...
Dec 17, 2024•44 min•Season 9Ep. 15
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...
Dec 13, 2024•23 min
