Retail Gets Real - podcast cover

Retail Gets Real

National Retail Federationretailgetsreal.com
Retail impacts everyone, everywhere, every day. Join the National Retail Federation for authentic, insightful conversations with the industry's most interesting people. Hear retail executives, industry experts, entrepreneurs and influencers discuss trends, their career stories and the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

#113 R.Riveter: Empowering military spouses

During World War II, Rosie the Riveter famously left her home to go into factories and shipyards and help her country. Today, R.Riveter is bringing jobs into the homes of modern-day military families. Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse, co-founders of R.Riveter, share how the handbag maker empowers military families through mobile, flexible income. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Apr 08, 201923 minEp. 113

#112 How tech is evolving the customer experience at HSN, QVC and Zulily

Karen Etzkorn is the chief information officer for Qurate Retail Group, the parent organization for brands such as HSN, QVC and Zulily. In this episode, Etzkorn identifies the two technologies all retailers should integrate today and shares how to encourage more women to embrace technology careers. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Apr 01, 201923 minEp. 112

#111 Poshmark challenges the norms of traditional retail

Social network's ability to connect and influence people's behavior is powerful. In the case of Poshmark, it's not only connecting buyers and sellers, it's also creating a new kind of entrepreneur. Join us as we sit down with founder and CEO Manish Chandra for a look inside the largest social commerce marketplace in the United States. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Mar 25, 201923 minEp. 111

#110 MM.Lafleur empowers women in the workplace

MM.LaFleur empowers customers to focus on the things that really matter — like preparing for that client meeting or business trip — through styling, thoughtfully designed products and community. Vice President of Brand Marketing Jennifer Braunschweiger joins this episode to share how her team supports women and brings the brand to life. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Mar 18, 201923 minEp. 110

#109 Logistically speaking: Wayfair’s innovative supply chain

As customer expectations and behaviors change, retailers need to change too. That means creating new processes, implementing new technologies, and building teams with new skills. To learn more about the logistics of improving both the customer and employee experiences, we sit down with Wayfair’s Director of Supply Chain Engineering Dustin Bennett. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Mar 11, 201921 minEp. 109

#108 Nordstrom sets the standard for customer experience. Again and again.

Nordstrom is known for offering a great customer experience, and they manage to continue offering exceptional experiences even as customer needs change in our constantly transforming world. To learn how Nordstrom stays ahead of disruption and their customers’ changing needs, we sit down with Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Shea Jensen, who was recently honored at the NRF Foundation Gala as a Disruptor on the List of People Shaping Retail's Future . Learn more at retailgetsreal.com ....

Mar 04, 201920 minEp. 108

#107 The art and science of personalization at Zulily

Zulily launches over 9,000 new products and 100 sales every single day — and curates a unique storefront for each of its millions of customers. Through personalization and stories told through images, videos and social media, Zulily turns the shopping experience into an entertainment experience. Vice President of Technology Bindu Thota talks about the technology and the people that make it all happen. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Feb 25, 201921 minEp. 107

#106 Reinventing the Getaway

Getaway takes a fresh approach to hospitality, offering cabins in the woods designed for city dwellers overworked and burned out by the digital age. Getaway replaces amenities that people have come to expect, like Wi-Fi, with a simpler experience that will bring more balance to their lives. Founder Jon Staff discusses reimagining an established industry and creating an experience for an unmet consumer need. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com ....

Feb 18, 201924 minEp. 106

#105 Investing in creativity: Perfumer Jo Malone’s fighting second chance

Jo Malone is an English “scent maverick” responsible for creating some of the world’s most loved fragrances. A Dreamer on the NRF Foundation's The List of People Shaping Retail's Future , she discusses her Jo Loves brand and how she is changing the way the world wears fragrance — for a second time. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Feb 11, 201921 minEp. 105

#104 Birchbox CEO on the evolution of the disruptive beauty brand

Beauty was a $500 billion industry that hadn’t been disrupted since the market shifted from department stores to specialty stores — until Birchbox came on the scene in 2010. Now the subscription box pioneer is partnering with Walgreens to bring its highly personalized experience into physical stores, meeting customers at the intersection of efficacy and delight. To learn more about the partnership and the evolution of this disruptive beauty brand, we chat with Birchbox co-founder and CEO Katia B...

Feb 04, 201924 minEp. 104

#103 The very near future of AI and automation in retail

Automation isn’t just a trend, it’s a new way of working. Chris Wong, vice president of strategy and alliances at IBM Global Consumer Industry, shares learnings from a new global study conducted by IBM's Institute for Business Value and NRF that reveals how retailers are using AI-powered automation. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Jan 30, 201923 minEp. 103

#102 Walmart's CTO on digital transformation

How does one of the world’s largest and most successful retailers achieve digital transformation at scale? From NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show, Walmart Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Jeremy King describes the investments the company is making in supply chain technology and more, and what emerging technologies like machine learning and blockchain mean for the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Jan 28, 201922 minEp. 102

#101 Better together: IKEA and TaskRabbit

Partnerships that create customer value are good, but for partnerships to be great, they should be built on shared values. Joining us at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show, Stacy Brown-Philpot, CEO of TaskRabbit, takes us inside the partnership between TaskRabbit and IKEA and talks about her incredible career journey. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Jan 23, 201920 minEp. 101

#100 Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO on leadership and service

In the last year, Ed Stack, Chairman and CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods, has made headlines and left a lasting impression on the retail industry. The company has also navigated a time of great change in retail, all while committing to support youth sports programs across the country. Stack sits down at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show to share more about the vision that drives Dick’s. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Jan 21, 201920 minEp. 100

#99 Levi Strauss & Co.’s Chip Bergh: Reviving a brand that stands for something

Levi’s experienced almost a decade of sales stagnation and nearly lost a generation of young consumers, but new leadership and a clear strategy helped the brand reclaim lost ground and reemerge as a cultural touchstone. On this episode, we talk with Levi Strauss & Co. President and CEO Chip Bergh, who was recently recognized as “The Visionary” by NRF. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Jan 16, 201921 minEp. 99

#98 Reporting on retail: What’s changing in 2019 and beyond

People might think reporting on retail is simple because “it’s just about shopping,” says Phil Wahba, senior writer covering retail at Fortune magazine, but there's a lot more happening. Wahba joins Retail Gets Real to talk about what goes into reporting on this complex industry and the stories to watch in 2019. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Jan 14, 201920 minEp. 98

#97 Convenience, culture and curation: Innovations that transform retail

The retail store is transforming, and innovation means opportunity and change. Oliver Chen covers retail for Cowen and Company and sees a lot of this transformation firsthand. In this episode, Chen discusses how modern retailers are updating their success metrics for a new age and what the future of retail holds for companies and their customers. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Jan 07, 201925 minEp. 97

#96 The state of retail heading into 2019

2018 has been one of the best years for the retail industry in a decade. While the economic environment will be more complicated in the year ahead, retail CEOs are feeling optimistic about 2019. Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, reflects on the state of the industry and what’s to come in 2019. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Dec 31, 201823 minEp. 96

#95 Scott Galloway: The retailer with the best workforce wins (Rerelease)

Last year, we talked to business guru Scott Galloway about what it takes to succeed in retail today, the importance of a great workforce and what Amazon’s next move should be. Ahead of his appearance at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show, we’re revisiting his industry predictions. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Dec 24, 201825 minEp. 95

#94 Last-minute holiday shopping

A lot of consumers spread out holiday shopping over the last two months of the year, but “people still have a lot of shopping left to do,” says NRF Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen. She joins the third installment of the podcast’s holiday mini-series to discuss who’s still shopping and what retailers can expect during the last weekend before Christmas, including Super Saturday. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com ....

Dec 19, 20186 minEp. 94

#93 Retail predictions for 2019: What’s in and what’s out

From experiments in retail experiences to robotics in fast casual restaurants, NRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen and Susan Reda, editor of STORES Magazine, discuss the trends that are likely to shape the retail landscape in 2019. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Dec 17, 201823 minEp. 93

#92 ‘Tis the giving season

NRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen discusses what NRF’s holiday consumer survey revealed about how people are giving back to the community during the holidays. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Dec 12, 20186 minEp. 92

#91 How Neiman Marcus innovates to adapt

Neiman Marcus has learned a thing or two over its 109-year history — and one thing is for sure: The company must anticipate future customer needs if they want to stay on the cutting edge of retail. Scott Emmons, head of the innovation lab, discusses how Neiman Marcus does it while staying true to its origins. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Dec 10, 201821 minEp. 91

#90 Gifting trends for the holidays

NRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen is back to tell us more about one particularly interesting bit of data from the Thanksgiving weekend shopping survey: gifting trends! Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Dec 05, 20187 minEp. 90

#89 Holiday Special: Thanksgiving weekend and beyond

NRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen walks us through the biggest surprises from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, how consumer behaviors are changing this holiday season and the role of social media. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Dec 03, 201821 minEp. 89

#88 Zenni Optical’s vision for change

Zenni Optical isn’t replacing the demand for glasses — it’s creating new demand by changing the business model for prescription eyewear. Zenni’s Chief Product Officer, Bai Gan, talks about the company’s mission, how it’s able to sell a pair of glasses for $7 and the retail approach that fosters rapid business growth. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Nov 26, 201823 minEp. 88

#87 Neighborhood Goods: The department store of the future

Retail is one of the most dynamic industries in the world and retailers are driving innovation. On this episode, Matt Alexander, co-founder of Neighborhood Goods, discusses how the Plano, Texas, startup is rethinking the traditional department store experience. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Nov 19, 201822 minEp. 87

#86 Blockchain: Building a chain of trust

We are in the early days of blockchain and not everyone yet understands the full scale and scope of its impact. Scott Likens, new services and emerging tech leader at PwC, helps us get past the buzzword and learn the current and future impact of blockchain on the retail industry. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Nov 12, 201828 minEp. 86

#85 Tariffs: What retailers need to know

Everyone in the United States — and everyone who trades with the U.S. — is likely to experience the impact of the administration’s newly implemented and proposed tariffs. Small business owners and manufacturers can already feel the effects, and it’s only a matter of time before the increasing costs trickle down to consumers, employees and communities. NRF's Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jon Gold explains what retailers need to know about this complicated topic, and we hear fr...

Nov 05, 201820 minEp. 85

#84 How CVS is redefining convenience

CVS Pharmacy is a purpose-driven company dedicated to helping people on their path to better health. But that path is rapidly changing, and CVS has to change with it. President of CVS Pharmacy Kevin Hourican discusses how CVS is adapting in the face of a changing industry and, even more importantly, changing customer behaviors. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com .

Oct 29, 201828 minEp. 84
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android