During the National Retail Federation's 2020 BIG Show, host Alicia Esposito had the chance to sit down with Bob Phibbs , the Retail Doctor, and Carol Leaman , CEO of Axonify . While the conversation was insightful, zeroing in on the fact that associates were tasked to do more than ever, the current situation has completely re-framed the conversation. That is why Alicia caught up with Bob and Carol to expand upon their first conversation, and dig into some of the new realities of workforce engage...
Jun 08, 2020•48 min•Ep. 14
As retail stores begin to reopen, business leaders are thinking more critically about the future of the in-store experience. What is the best way to build consumer trust and make them feel at ease about going into a store? How can brands creatively bring the best of digital and physical experiences together without forcing them into an uncomfortable experience? During this episode of Retail Remix, Sam Zietz , CEO of GRUBBRR , shares his thoughts on: Overarching trends and concerns that span reta...
Jun 01, 2020•40 min•Ep. 13
For many years, the Internet of Things (IoT) got a lot of buzz. Smart home and store technology illustrated the value of connecting devices and data. However, most IoT use cases have revolved around improving efficiencies, reducing energy consumption and tracking inventory throughout the store. Experience use cases are not as widely known which ultimately, creates new opportunities for brands to innovate and differentiate. During this episode, host Alicia Esposito sits down with Cameron Worth , ...
May 25, 2020•38 min•Ep. 12
Testing, learning and pivoting haven't necessarily been retailers' strong points. Right before COVID-19 hit, many businesses were still struggling with legacy infrastructures and disjointed processes. These legacy qualities inhibited them from responding swiftly to new consumer behaviors and competitive forces. That is why Elizabeth Elliott , who is a Managing Partner at Columbus Consulting , believes that retailers shouldn't rush to return to the status-quo. Instead, they should strive for cont...
May 18, 2020•25 min•Ep. 11
Now more than ever, consumers want brands to stand for something. They want authenticity and meaning. But what's the best way for retailers to stand for something when they're facing ongoing uncertainty? Nicola Smith , Founder and CEO of REBEL & REASON , believes that now is the time for business leaders to take risks and find new ways to connect and resonate with their audiences. After all, it may impact their loyalty in the long run. During this episode, Nicola and host Alicia Esposito cha...
May 11, 2020•30 min•Ep. 10
Some people run away from change. Others run towards it. Joe Jackman is in the latter group. As the president and CEO of Jackman Reinvents , he helps transform brands, unlock new business value and frankly, make change less scary. And with his latest book, The Reinventionist Mindset , he's providing guiding principles to help retail executives establish a path forward, even in uncertain times. During this episode of Retail Remix, Joe shares his thoughts on: Why change is still so hard for retail...
May 04, 2020•42 min•Ep. 9
In his role at Target, Chris Walton helped bring "the store of the future" into the cultural zeitgeist. In fact, he led the retailers' Store of the Future project and also served as VP of Merchandising and Home Furnishings on Target.com. The experience sparked some career highs, as well as some critical lessons learned. Now, Chris shares his lessons and commentary on the industry as the CEO and Founder of Omni Talk , one of the fastest-growing retail blogs...and as podcast host. Using his tenure...
Apr 27, 2020•47 min•Ep. 8
Retail executive. Keynote speaker. Consultant. Author. Steve Dennis has an expansive history, and undeniable passion, for retail. Over the past 30 years, he has kept a pulse on where the industry is going, and has provided invaluable guidance to help organizations can respond. New developments surrounding the novel coronavirus have forced retailers to pause, pivot or completely rethink their businesses. Steve believes these new realities will accelerate some of the key trends he has discussed in...
Apr 20, 2020•39 min•Ep. 7
News and updates surrounding the novel coronavirus are emerging daily, if not hourly. Retailers are scrambling to adapt and respond, whether it be in the form of new hours, alternative fulfillment offerings, enhanced safety policies or furloughs. Other brands, especially those in apparel, cosmetics and other non-essential categories, are attempting to pivot their marketing and engagement strategies to digital, as more consumers spend their days browsing online. During this follow-up conversation...
Apr 15, 2020•28 min
All brands are adapting their experience strategies to Gen Z in order to capture more wallet share. For Barnes & Noble College , it's imperative for survival. That's why Ken Wincko , VP of Marketing, is focusing on creating digital strategies that help college students feel more connected to their communities. During this episode of Retail Remix, Ken reveals why he's actually in the business of experience orchestration, and how Barnes & Noble College has seen success with: Mobile and soc...
Apr 06, 2020•26 min•Ep. 6
With a rich history in licensing, Christine Currence has reached a new milestone in her career: president and owner of Badgley Mischka . Now, she's helping the brand navigate this exciting, albeit volatile, time in fashion. The advent of social media has eliminated the exclusivity in luxury, with consumers demanding more access, more authenticity and more alignment with brands. During this episode of Retail Remix, we sit down with Christine and dig into: Her rich career in fashion, and how she e...
Mar 23, 2020•17 min•Ep. 5
News and developments surrounding COVID-19 are being released at a rapid pace. The Retail TouchPoints editorial team has been working diligently to update readers on new guidelines, store closures and realities surrounding supply chain, logistics, e-Commerce experience and more. However, these updates have been coming so quickly that the team has decided to come together to have a quick discussion around what's happening right now and what the implications may be down the line. During this episo...
Mar 19, 2020•29 min•Ep. 4
As the president and owner of Badgley Mischka , Christine Currence is tasked with helping her business partners (including Mark Badgley and James Mischka) keep pace with new consumer trends and engagement imperatives. When she's not, she's a shopper...just like us. During this installment of Rapid Fire Retail, we learn her preferences and what tech she believes will have the biggest impact on the industry in 2020....
Mar 16, 2020•2 min
Melissa Gonzalez , Founder and CEO of the Lion’esque Group , has been one of the driving forces in the era of experiential retail. One of the first experts to delve into the pop-up paradigm (hence her book of the same name), Melissa has worked with countless brands to help them reimagine their brick-and-mortar experiences. Listen in as she shares her take on what’s next in experiential, the technology she’s especially excited about, and how her company’s merger with MG2 will lead to big things f...
Mar 09, 2020•18 min•Ep. 3
How does one of the key leaders in experiential retail prefer to shop? What brands is she loyal to? Most importantly, what advice does she have for retailers striving to stay relevant in consumers’ minds and hearts? During this episode of Rapid Fire Retail, we get to the heart of some key issues (and have some fun) with Melissa Gonzalez , Founder and CEO of the Lion’esque Group .
Mar 02, 2020•3 min
In the new era of retail, having the right price and product will only get you so far. That’s what people use Amazon for. To win shopper loyalty, brands must prove to them that they stand for something—and that they align with consumers’ values, beliefs and lifestyles. Rob Garf , VP of Industry Strategy and Insights at Salesforce , breaks down the big trust issue in retail, and how diversity, sustainability, and other issues are rising to the top of retailers’ priorities....
Feb 24, 2020•23 min•Ep. 2
Rob Garf has been in the retail space for 20 years. He’s whip-smart, forward-thinking and is an all-around good guy. He’s a key source for Retail TouchPoints as we strive to uncover the leading tech trends and imperatives for experience success. While we dig into a lot of that in next week’s episode, this week we want to get to know him a little bit better. During the first installment of our Rapid Fire Retail segment, Rob shares his favorite brands, his shopping preferences, and his take on whi...
Feb 17, 2020•5 min
If the 2019 holiday season taught us anything, it’s that digital commerce, and specifically mobile commerce, has reached a whole new level of adoption. As a result, retailers must always be thinking of how their brand experiences render to smartphone screens. Jason Woosley , Vice President, Commerce Product & Platform at Adobe , uses the company’s holiday research to make bold predictions for 2020, and shares the tech investments retailers need to make in order to maximize engagement and rev...
Feb 07, 2020•16 min•Ep. 1
