The Retail Focus Podcast: Recent Episodes
Retail Focus Podcast
Each week, we release a podcast covering the retail world--business developments, trends, and historical perspectives. Podcasts feature news summaries, interviews, and previews of industry goings-on.
Our interview guest is Lupine Skelly, Deloitte’s Retail, Wholesale, and Distribution Research Leader. She joins the show to discuss Deloitte’s 2023 retail industry outlook, which features input from major retail executives—themes include handling a more price-sensitive consumer, durable goods sales, and continued concerns surrounding supply chain. In news, Sam’s Club shifts back into brick-and-mortar growth mode by revealing news for new stores, Sherwin-Williams overcomes shortages, and food economists’ outlook on the price of eggs.
The full Deloitte 2023 outlook may be accessed here: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/retail-distribution-industry-outlook.html
Our interview guest is Richard Jones, Chief Revenue Officer at Wunderkind. He joins the show to discuss the advertising and marketing landscape for retailers in 2023—and how digital spending and marketing content may change or adjust based on consumer habits. In news, Albertsons posts better-than-expected sales numbers and sees a massive jump in loyalty members. Additionally, we look ahead to two retailers potentially on the verge of declaring bankruptcy in the near future.
Our interview guest is Katie Gilsenan, senior trends manager at GWI, who joins the show to discuss retail trends for 2023, consumer motivations in the new year, and which categories might see a lift in tight economic times. In news, CBRE issues guidance regarding retail real estate trends and how they may impact both retailers and their physical spaces, and we look at “dark” Amazon Fresh locations.
Our interview guest is Kristina Rogers, EY Global Consumer Leader. She joins the show to discuss EY’s 11th Future Consumer Index, and broadly, what the 2023 retail consumer will look like as far as decision-making, demand, and outlook on personal finances. In news, we get a look at early numbers from the 2022 holiday shopping season, and preview what could be a busy 2023 in shoe retail through the lens of DSW and Nike.
Our interview guest is Randy Mercer, VP of Global Products at 1WorldSync. He joins the show to discuss the process behind getting effective product content to retailers, and the role that good product descriptions play in reducing returns from digital channel sales. In news, we briefly touch on lululemon’s outstanding quarter before looking at Chewy’s autoship success and fulfillment center strides that have improved margins and shipping distances despite lower hard good sales.
Our interview guest is Jazmen Johnson, the VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at ICSC; she joins us to discuss the themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion in retail real estate and addresses the need to see value in diverse retail centers. In news, Dollar General releases their growth plans for 2023 and attracts a wider band of customers, and grocers look towards fresh bakery to stimulate impulse buys.
Our interview guest is Ann Ruckstuhl, senior vice president and chief marketing officer with Manhattan Associates. She joins the show to discuss Manhattan’s recent research surrounding inventory visibility, point of sale options, and the surprising number of retailers who are uncomfortable with their current inventory tracking. In news, we look at early Black Friday shopping numbers as well as Dollar Tree’s recent update which featured the first traffic increase for Family Dollar in over two years.
Our interview guest is Mike Webster, senior vice president and general manager of Oracle Retail. He discusses Oracle’s recent Retail Shopper Outlook, including holiday expectations, development of consumer trust, and what we can expect regarding post-holiday returns. In news, Ross details its efforts to provide consumer value while still increasing ticket size in a promotional environment, and we look ahead to the Kohl’s leadership transition (and an important Q4).
Our interview guest is Chris Lentjes, CEO of U.S. operations for Eurora Solutions; he joins us to discuss the current state of imports and exports for retailers, where automation and processes may be able to ease retailers’ burden in the future, and what retailers should be mindful of regarding international supply chain components in 2023. In news, Sprouts Farmers Market remains firm on their plans to grow location count despite tepid comp sales growth at existing stores, and SpartanNash indicates that supply chain costs may be declining—at least for their wholesale network.
Our interview guest is Rick Kelly, Chief Product Officer at Fuel Cycle. He joins us to discuss a recent private label study conducted that reveals consumer attitudes towards private labels in 2022, where they are most likely to devote share of wallet to private labels, and how permanent brand-related shifts in behavior can be. In news, Floor & Décor charts a path forward with significant growth in store counts as they continue to enjoy robust sales, and we look ahead to redevelopment projects by REITs in 2023.
Our interview guest is Rick Watson, founder and CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting. He joins the show to discuss 2022 holiday expectations, particularly through the lens of e-commerce, and talk about which retailers might be in great position and which might be fighting an uphill battle for market share. In news, we discuss CBRE’s Q3 retail report and why available retail space continues to fall in the U.S. Additionally, we look at potential issues for Shipt as it pertains to lawsuits by the District of Columbia and Minnesota.
Our interview guest is Rod Sides, Deloitte Insights Leader and Retail Partner at Deloitte LLP; he discusses specific consumer data from their 37th annual holiday survey and how retailers can capitalize on what is expected to be a big year for gift cards and resale products. In news, Tractor Supply Co. sets a new sales record and closes on a deal with Orscheln that may also benefit a fellow farm and home chain. Additionally, we look ahead to another investment by Simon.
Our interview guest is Ward Kampf, President of Northwood Retail. He joins the show to discuss how shopping centers (and consumer demand surrounding the centers) have changed over the last ten years, the dynamics of open-air shopping centers, and the importance of attracting local, small, and unique retailers and restaurants to properties. In news, Kroger enters into a deal to purchase Albertsons…we look at why, the deal details, and reasons regulators may potentially balk at the agreement.
Our podcast is presented by NordPass. Visit nordpass.com/retailfocus and use the promo code RETAILFOCUS for a three-month free trial.
Our interview guest is Rod Sides, Deloitte Insights Leader and Retail Partner at Deloitte. He joins the show to discuss Deloitte’s holiday sales projections and what we can expect as far as overall (and digital) sales during this upcoming shopping season. In news, Placer.ai data gives us an early peek at back-to-school traffic numbers and may give us a preview of what traffic cadence may look like in winter, and Amazon endures another lawsuit, this time by the California attorney general.
Our interview guest is Rosemary Coates, the President of Blue Silk Consulting and the Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute. She joins the show to discuss counterfeits in the marketplace, anti-counterfeiting measures put in place by retailers, and what the counterfeit landscape could look like in the near future. In news, Kroger beats on earnings but the big story is their plans for consolidation of private label brands for customer convenience; we also discuss Tuesday Morning’s latest rescue plan—one that involves Pier 1 Imports.
Our interview guest is Matt Pavich, the senior director of retail innovation at Revionics, an Aptos company. He joins us to discuss retail pricing strategies, how retailers are using analytics (especially in the dollar segment) to continue to provide value to customers, and why traditional pricing models may no longer be as effective to drive bottom-line results. Speaking of bottom lines, in news, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet takes a hit on theirs but hopes to see margins increase in the second half of 2022. We also look ahead to yet another new store format for Michigan-based Meijer.
Our interview guest is Steven Wagner, Chief Commercial Officer with Smarte Carte. He discusses various solutions designed to keep customers in shopping centers longer—from strollers to mobility solutions—and the process behind keeping them clean and functional. In news, Grocery Outlet reveals strong Q2 earnings but also gives a peek inside building their management pipeline to support future expansion plans, and retailers face a loss of baskets via theft, potentially resulting from plastic bag restrictions.
Our interview guest is Jim Paine, mayor of Superior, Wisconsin, who joins our show to discuss retail from the perspective of a city leader—particularly as it pertains to small- and mid-sized markets. He touches on his changing views towards big box retail, making an area attractive to national retailers, and how Superior has endeavored to diversify their retail landscape. In news, National Retail Properties continues to see positive numbers in retail occupancy, and Wayfair takes it on the chin during a difficult Q2.
Our interview guest is Rod Sides, Deloitte Insights Leader and Retail Partner at Deloitte LLP; he re-joins the show to discuss Deloitte’s 2022 Back-to-School survey, interesting findings, and how consumer behavior may be shifting going into the future holiday season. In news, Placer.ai data suggests traffic increases at dollar stores during Q2 but a rough end to the quarter for grocers and superstores, and Walmart revises their profit outlook downward.
Our interview guests are Annie Malo and Julie Connelly of Seyfarth Shaw LLP; they join us as part of our ongoing ICSC interview series to discuss the legal aspect of retail leases and negotiations between landlord and retailer—and why real estate attorneys are vital to the lease process. In news, retail sales tick up in June according to NRF numbers, The Fresh Market won’t be going public after all, and Todd Vasos steps aside at Dollar General.
Our interview guest is Matt Montgomery, managing director with Kalibrate, who joins the show as part of our ICSC interview series to discuss the current state of location-based analytics and other data retailers are using to make informed decisions regarding opening stores, closing or remodeling locations, and more. In news, Costco’s comp sales were as robust as ever in June, mall traffic heads upward in late June, and we look ahead to Amazon’s Prime Day.
Our podcast is presented by BAMS. Visit bams.com/paywell for a limited time and get a $50 Visa gift card after completing your rate analysis to see how much you can save in your payment processing.
Our interview guest is Whitney Livingston, President & Chief Operating Officer with Centennial. She details the process behind identifying mixed-use redevelopment potential and working with communities to property execute on the redevelopments. In news, we peer at early July 4th sales returns, Walgreens’ latest financials, and Mark Tritton leaving his post at Bed Bath & Beyond after a rough quarter.
Our podcast is presented by BAMS. Visit bams.com/paywell for a limited time and get a $50 Visa gift card after completing your rate analysis to see how much you can save in your payment processing.
Our interview guest is Brandon Isner, Americas Head of Retail Research at CBRE. He joins the show as part of our ICSC interview series to discuss CBRE’s latest research regarding technology investments in retail; we also discuss general retail trends at the midway point of 2022. In news, we look at Supermarket News’ annual fresh foods grocer survey results and dive into how retailers are allocating space and where they see the most future growth potential.
Our podcast is presented by BAMS. Visit bams.com/paywell for a limited time and get a $50 Visa gift card after completing your rate analysis to see how much you can save in your payment processing.
Our interview guest is Edward Coury, managing director at RCS. He discusses the various dynamics behind lease negotiations in the current climate, including considerations for insurance and maintenance payment, demands for percentage rent, and the process behind a retailer moving into or out of a market. In news, Kroger’s comp sales increase as a result of a boost in fresh and private label product sales, and Grocery Outlet moves into their eighth state as a result of eastern expansion.
Our podcast is presented by BAMS. Visit bams.com/paywell for a limited time and get a $50 Visa gift card after completing your rate analysis to see how much you can save in your payment processing.
Our interview guest is Rick Baker, senior vice president of Charging Solutions sales at Volta. He joins the show to discuss the increasing presence of EV charging stations in retail shopping centers, why retailers and centers are finding it valuable to include the stations in their lots, ways in which they can drive additional revenue, and considerations that must be undertaken when installing. In news, Conn’s reveals a better-than-expected first quarter and announces a partnership with fellow southern U.S. staple Belk, and Circle K aspires to include more smart checkouts in their North American stores.
Our interview guest is Elliott Cook, Director of Real Estate for Downtown Strategies. We spoke with him at ICSC about what makes for a vibrant downtown area in small- to mid-sized markets, how these markets can attract retailers to the area, and which types of retailers might be a fit for such business districts. In news, Big Lots reacts to a rough quarter by scaling back growth plans, Ulta Beauty continues to excel, and Bon-Ton may be getting (another) new lease on life.
Our interview guest—the first in our ICSC interview series—is Lacy Beasley, President of Retail Strategies; she joins the show to discuss current trends in small- and mid-sized market retail. Topics include the importance of retail to rural markets, what retailers are doing to adjust based on market size when entering a rural market for the first time, and which retailers and restaurants are seeing the most demand from the markets themselves. In news, Advance Auto Parts sees a dip in DIY sales during their first quarter, but that doesn’t dampen their expansion plans; also, Albertsons trials an AI-based scan-and-go shopping cart.
Our interview guest is Tom McGee, President and CEO of ICSC, who joins us to discuss the upcoming ICSC event in Las Vegas and themes surrounding retail real estate in 2022. In news, BJ’s Wholesale opens a new store with a smaller footprint, Family Dollar faces down a legal matter, and Hy-Vee issues a perplexing advertorial as they seek to move associates from their corporate office into individual stores.
Our interview guest is Topher Cramm, national account manager at STANLEY Security, who joins us to discuss developments in retail loss prevention over the past year. Main topics of discussion include how new technology is shaping retailers’ approach to loss prevention, how in-store security varies by region, and the question of organized crime. In news, Tractor Supply attracts a younger shopper due to various macro factors and internal initiatives, and we look forward to potential card processing fee increases on the horizon.
Our interview guest is Deviprasad Rambhatla, senior vice president and sector head of retail, services, and transportation at Wipro, who joins us to discuss the findings in their recent report, “The Big Shift.” We dive into retail leaders’ thoughts surrounding cloud-based technologies and best practices of leading companies. In news, Albertsons’ fourth quarter is buoyed by fresh, and they make plans for further development in that category in 2022. And we look ahead to what could be a tumultuous year for Bed Bath & Beyond, who continues to run in place (or even backwards) despite turnaround efforts.
Our interview guest is Joe Fisch, CEO of Wine Access, who discusses their development of a subscription-based retail program to complement their existing retail sales. He talks about their thought process behind the platform, things they’ve learned along the way, and the importance of customer education in their retail segment. In news, Academy and lululemon both unveil amazing holiday sales numbers, with one planning major revenue growth in 2022. Also, we look ahead to Five Below’s new “Triple-Double” growth roadmap.
You can listen to our partner podcast, Inside the Mind, at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-mind/id1504554183
In news, we discuss Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and their plans for 2022, which include the first remodeling program in their company’s history. We look ahead to a lawsuit involving Sam’s Club (Walmart) and BJ’s, as well as Macy’s endeavor to grow their Backstage store-within-a-store concept by over 10% in the next two months. Additionally, we look back to profound retail books released within the last two years and our conversations with their respective authors.
Our partner for this week’s show is #paid; visit go.hashtagpaid.com/retail to receive $500 off your first creator marketing campaign.
You can listen to our partner podcast, Inside the Mind, at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-mind/id1504554183
Our interview guest this week is Tal Rotman, VP of Alliances and Partnerships at Namogoo, who joins us to discuss the increasingly pervasive issue of customer hijacking, costs to retailers, and how retailers can work with certain apps or add-ons to ensure better margins and conversion rates. In news, Dollar General releases their 2022 plans, which call for more cooler doors and renovating nearly 10% of their store base. Additionally, we look at the recently released Fresh Trends 2022 guide from The Packer.
Our partner for this week’s show is #paid; visit go.hashtagpaid.com/retail to receive $500 off your first creator marketing campaign.
You can listen to our partner podcast, Inside the Mind, at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-mind/id1504554183
Our interview guest this week is Nikki Baird, VP of Strategy at Aptos, who discusses (among other things) the role of the brick-and-mortar store in 2022, how retailers are leveraging their footprint to remove friction for the customer, and trends we may see in brick-and-mortar retail over the next two years. In news, Ulta Beauty not only releases stellar Q4 numbers, but they chart a path toward another year of growth in 2022, and REI expands their member program to include a number of new benefits (including a resale platform).
Our partner for this week’s show is #paid; visit go.hashtagpaid.com/retail to receive $500 off your first creator marketing campaign.
Our interview guest this week is Joel Bines, global co-leader of the retail practice at AlixPartners. He joins the show to discuss his new book, The Metail Economy, and how retailers can leverage the “Six Cs” in differing amounts to ensure they are meeting the needs of today’s consumer. In news, Kroger provides an earnings update, but more importantly, they provide insight on shifts in customer behavior as grocery inflation continues in 2022, and we look ahead to staffing (and stocking) issues at Dollar Tree/Family Dollar, despite positive comps from their most recent quarter.
On this week’s show, Layton rejoins the podcast to discuss updates from TJX, which come with company hopes that their supply chain is smoothed out in time for the spring season and their store opening plans for 2022. In addition, Foot Locker is forced towards brand diversification after a major supplier pulls back the reins somewhat on merchandise flow, and we look ahead to Wayfair’s unending and elusive search for profitability and the handful of Kmart stores remaining in the U.S.
Our partner for this week’s show is #paid; visit go.hashtagpaid.com/retail to receive $500 off your first creator marketing campaign.
Our interview guest is Brad Pope, VP of customer success at Kinsa Insights, who discusses ways in which retailers are using predictive health analytics to get a leg up in terms of staffing, inventory, and supply chain management. In news, we look at the fourth quarter that was for Walmart, but more importantly, dive into their forecast for 2022 and how inventory levels and inflation might impact customer flow according to leadership. Additionally, we look ahead to 2022 private label brand sales after the Private Label Manufacturers Association released their yearly report.
Our interview guest is Jeremy King, CEO and founder of Attest, who joins the show to discuss Attest’s annual U.S. Consumer Trends Report (available here: https://bit.ly/3JvXBHk). In news, we discuss Simon’s latest update, in which retailers in their properties report a substantial sales increase for the 2021 holiday season. We also look ahead to pricing pressure on two major produce items in grocery stores and briefly touch on a digital grocery preference survey.
Our partner for this week’s show is #paid; visit go.hashtagpaid.com/retail to receive $500 off your first creator marketing campaign.
Our interview guest is Thad Price, CEO of Talroo; he joins us to discuss the current retail hiring landscape, ways retailers are making themselves more attractive to potential future employees, and how hiring events have changed during the pandemic. In news, Natural Grocers showcases an increase in sales and reveals their plans for expansion during calendar 2022 and we look ahead to beauty retail in 2022 after Sally Beauty posted positive sales for their holiday season.
Our interview guest is Kristina Rogers, EY’s Global Consumer Industries Leader, who joins the show to discuss their Future Consumer Index; topics include what is driving consumer purchasing decisions in 2022, where customers are finding friction in the retail process, and 2022 trends to watch. In news, we look at CBRE’s recent year-in-review report for retail real estate and what the numbers might mean for retailers and shopping centers both. Additionally, we look ahead to Home Depot’s plans to hire more spring seasonal help than in the recent past.
Our partner for this week’s show is #paid; visit go.hashtagpaid.com/retail to receive $500 off your first creator marketing campaign.
Our interview guest is Rod Sides, vice chairman and leader of U.S. retail, wholesale, and distribution for Deloitte LLP. He re-joins the show to discuss Deloitte’s recent 2022 Retail Industry Outlook, which covers areas of concern for retailers, anticipated internal investments, and a high-level consumer overview for the year ahead based on a survey of senior retail executives. In news, we look at how a company headed up by former Fresh Thyme executives may be looking to put their spin on Save A Lot in Florida, 2021 online grocery sales movements, and glace at the week to come with Boot Barn and Tractor Supply Company earnings.
Deloitte’s 2022 Retail Industry Outlook may be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3KzYbW1
Our interview guest is Simon Dermer, executive chairman and co-founder of eSSENTIAL Accessibility, who joins us to discuss the importance of e-commerce accessibility, commonly overlooked areas for retailers, and why accessibility is of vital importance in digital retail. In news, we look at Big Lots’ plans for brick-and-mortar expansion over the next several years, Office Depot’s split being put on hold for now, and look ahead to a large beverage industry takeover.
Our interview guest is Dan Surtees, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at XCCommerce. He joins us to discuss the importance of flexibility in retailers’ promotions platforms, the ins and outs of developing the platforms for retailers with multiple brands, and where retailers may not currently be optimizing their promotions. In news, we discuss holiday sales numbers by way of Bath & Body Works and Bed Bath & Beyond as well as Target’s reported brick-and-mortar traffic increases during the 2021 holiday season.
Our interview guest is Paul Brenner, President of Audio Out-Of-Home and Chief Strategy Officer at Vibenomics; he re-joins the show to discuss various developments in in-store audio over the past two years, how c-store audio programs differ from traditional retail, and ways in which retailers can improve their approach to the medium. In news, Hy-Vee seeks “national” expansion, in the words of their CEO, and we look ahead to potential tightening in the retail real estate market as new capital floods in.
Our interview guest is Deviprasad Rambhatla, senior vice president and vertical head of retail distribution at Wipro Limited. He joins the show to discuss the landscape of retail technology in 2022, including which technologies may see more widespread implementation in the coming year. In news, Rite Aid shows evidence of greater inventory turns amidst their efforts to reduce SKU count and streamline inventory, and a KPMG survey indicates that grocery spend may once again be on the rise in 2022.
Our interview guest is Caitlin MacNamara, who co-leads the retail practice at executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates. She joins us to discuss the process behind finding the right executives for retail c-suite openings, ways in which to evaluate appropriate fits for culture and responsibilities, and the hidden costs behind not matching the right person with a c-suite position. In news, Lowe’s issues their 2022 outlook which featured some anticipated slowing of tailwinds for home improvement, Hobby Lobby raises wages, and Neiman Marcus is rumored to potentially desire a split into three companies.
Our interview guest is Shannon Colquhoun, the VP of global industry strategy for retail and CPG with Talkdesk. She joins us to discuss the likely retail returns landscape in Q1 of 2022 and best practices for retailers seeking to streamline or provide self-path options for returns on behalf of customers. In news, GameStop and Costco both provide quarterly updates—one good and one not so good—and we look ahead to potential holiday shortages for spirits retail.
Our partner for this week’s show is Feedback Loop; visit https://go.feedbackloop.com/retail to receive three full tests for free as a part of a special offer to our listeners.
Our interview guest is Gene Dunford, senior managing director at Umpqua Bank. He discusses how the relationship between retailers and banks has evolved in the recent past, and how it must continue evolving to support new mechanisms of carrying inventory and doing business. In news, Dollar General releases their 2022 growth plans and long-term outlook for their budding pOpshelf concept. Also, sporting goods retail with Dick’s and Hibbett enjoys another solid quarter, and MINISO grows their U.S. store count by 50% with plans for more in the works.
Our partner for this week’s show is Feedback Loop; visit https://go.feedbackloop.com/retail to receive three full tests for free as a part of a special offer to our listeners.
Our interview guest is Brandon Isner, the head of retail research at CBRE and author of their recent Holiday Retail Trends Report. He joins us to not only discuss the report, but how shopping centers are adjusting to increased traffic in 2021 and retail trends he’s excited to research in 2022. In news, Dollar Tree makes a much-discussed move to a higher base price point, Burlington notes market share gains as off-price continues to thrive, and Target’s announcement of Thanksgiving closures in perpetuity may force a shift in holiday shopping weekend cadence or method in the near future.
Our interview guest is Tom McGee, president and CEO of ICSC, who joins us to discuss their Thanksgiving weekend sales projections. Additionally, he breaks down the expected cadence of holiday sales and who, from a demographic perspective, is expected to shop when. In news, Ross Stores’ leadership discusses deal flow going forward and tempers expectations for the fourth quarter due to supply chain concerns. And we look ahead to CVS’ announcement of planned store closures over the next three years.
Our interview guest is Tobias Buxhoidt, CEO and co-founder of parcelLab, who joins us to discuss customer expectations surrounding post-purchase communication from retailers and what retailers can do to turn negative events surrounding supply chain, fulfillment, or last mile into positives. In news, Party City looks to pivot their focus to year-round celebrations (but not at the expense of seasonal sales) and they provide an update on Halloween sales. Also, we look at a merger between two northeastern U.S. grocers and a report on traffic trends at U.S. malls.
Our partner for this week’s show is Quantum Metric (visit https://quantummetric.com/podoffer and use the code RETAILFOCUS to see if you qualify to receive their “12 Days of Insights” offer).
Our interview guest is Mike Webster, senior vice president and general manager of Oracle Retail. He joins the show to discuss Oracle Retail’s 2021 Retail Consumer Research report, expectations for November and December, and what we can expect regarding customer behavior as we turn the calendar to 2022. In news, both Simon and Kimco provide updates on occupancy (with both companies trending in the correct direction) and we look deeper into David Simon’s outlook on JCPenney and the mall landscape as a whole. And, Kroger releases details of their membership platform pilot to be rolled out to four U.S. metros.
Partners for this week’s show include Feedback Loop (visit https://go.feedbackloop.com/retail for three free full tests of your ideas, messages, concepts, and more) and Quantum Metric (visit https://quantummetric.com/podoffer and use the code RETAILFOCUS to see if you qualify to receive their “12 Days of Insights” offer).
Layton re-joins the show this week as we dive into specialty retail. First, it’s a quarterly look into the automotive retail segment as O’Reilly’s produces strong sales numbers but warns that inflation may soon have a limiting effect on sales growth. Conversely, Sherwin-Williams is experiencing demand but a lack of raw materials to meet said demand and we speak to how they are seeking to retain customers through such conditions. To close, we look ahead at Tanger and Simon earnings and an expanded partnership between Instacart and Dollar Tree (and some limitations thereof).
Our partner for this week’s show is Feedback Loop. Visit https://go.feedbackloop.com/retail for three free full tests of your ideas, messages, concepts, and more.
Our interview guest is Rod Sides, vice chairman of Deloitte LLP, who joins us to discuss the deeper look at Deloitte’s holiday sales projections released this week—subjects include the demographic groups expected to drive spend and the three types of consumers borne out by the data generated by their annual survey. In news, Albertsons displays Q2 sales numbers that are better than expected and provides an update on inflation; additionally, a major grocery retailer launches a new advertising platform.
Our interview guest is Emily Grey, founder of the Flourish Market and a retail and brand consultant, who joins us to discuss (among other things) what small retailers can expect during Q4, adjustments such retailers have made during the pandemic, and how upstart brands can get their products on store shelves this holiday season. In news, we discuss new Supermarket News data regarding center-store sales in grocery (including what retailers say they are doing to differentiate offerings) and preview Wawa’s rollout of self-checkouts to select locations.
Our interview guest is Jim Inglis, retail industry veteran, former Home Depot executive, and author of the book Breakthrough Retailing: How a Bleeding Orange Culture Can Change Everything. He joins us to discuss the book’s many topics, including what gave Home Depot a leg up on competition in the 1980s and 1990s and lessons we can learn from the company’s meteoric (and successful) rise. In news, we briefly discuss Walmart’s last-mile platform, GoLocal, signing its first partnership deal and Target bringing aboard two buy-now-pay-later partners.
Our interview guest is Michael Osborne, President at Wunderkind, who joins the show to discuss the present state of retailers’ digital marketing to consumers, what we can expect during the holiday season based on their Black Friday & Cyber Monday Performance Marketing Report, and where retailers can improve in their marketing efforts. In news, Bed Bath & Beyond sees sales take a step back amidst a poor August (though buybuy BABY displays promise), and a Deloitte report indicates that younger consumers may be heading to the frozen foods aisle with increased frequency.
Our interview guest is Shash Anand, VP of Product Strategy at SOTI, who joins the show to discuss their 2021 State of Transportation & Logistics Report as it pertains to retail as well as some data from the logistics sector specific to the holiday season. In news, Costco reveals earnings, but more importantly they reveal how inflation and supply chain issues have affected their approach to business. Additionally, we look ahead to a proposed IPO for an up-and-coming c-store chain in Yesway.
Our interview guest is Rod Sides, vice chairman at Deloitte LLP and their U.S. retail, wholesale, and distribution leader, who joins us to discuss Deloitte’s preliminary U.S. holiday forecasts which suggest a big sales jump could be in order. In news, Kroger announces a new convenience-centric partnership with Instacart and provides insight on macro-level grocery trends, we get updated third-party Walmart+ subscription numbers, and Meijer eyes yet another small-format store.
Our interview guest is Eric Miao, Chief Customer Officer with Attentive, who discusses how retailers are currently using SMS as a marketing tool and how they can leverage the platform in a way that remains authentic to their brand. He also discusses examples from popular retailers’ launch of SMS campaigns, including Michaels’ launch during a recent Q4. In news, Academy Sports + Outdoors sets sales records amidst high demand for athletic wear and outdoors gear, and we look ahead to Halloween seasonal sales in 2021.
The Retail Focus Podcast is proud to partner with Quantum Metric to present this week’s show. Visit them at quantummetric.com/podoffer, promo code RETAILFOCUS, to see if your business qualifies to receive their “12 Days of Insights” offer. Restrictions apply.
Our interview guest is Erica Blair, Program Manager with the Rural Grocery Initiative. She joins us to discuss how rural grocers are vital to the markets they serve, current challenges they face, and interesting solutions and best practices these grocers are using to remain successful. In news, Journeys’ owner Genesco and American Eagle both release solid second quarter numbers, and Duluth Trading reveals a plan forward under new leadership.
The Retail Focus Podcast is proud to partner with Quantum Metric to present this week’s show. Visit them at quantummetric.com/podoffer, promo code RETAILFOCUS, to see if your business qualifies to receive their “12 Days of Insights” offer. Restrictions apply.
Our interview guest is Mary Rodgers, Cuisinart’s director of marketing communications. She joins us to discuss, among other things, Cuisinart’s strategy surrounding their unique holiday sales cadence, back-to-school, and their approach to new product lines. In news we look at “dollar store” earnings, but moreover, how Family Dollar is finally seeing success through the long-awaited synergies with Dollar Tree (and how Dollar General may take a dip into health & wellness). Finally, we look ahead to Mattress Firm, as their CEO notes the path out of bankruptcy for the retailer.
The Retail Focus Podcast is proud to partner with Quantum Metric to present this week’s show. Visit them at quantummetric.com/podoffer, promo code RETAILFOCUS, to see if your business qualifies to receive their “12 Days of Insights” offer. Restrictions apply.
Our interview guest is Stefan Read, SVP of Engagements and Strategy Practice Lead at Jackman, who joins us to discuss their ongoing Human Insights Study and why it is important for retailers to have a complete view of their customers—including their motivations and reasons for action (or inaction). In news, we discuss how Walmart’s steady sales growth differs from other retailers (and how people are returning to their brick-and-mortar offerings) and how customers “trading up” may influence home improvement retailers going forward after Lowe’s and Home Depot both noted high-dollar sales ticking upward recently.
The Retail Focus Podcast is proud to partner with Quantum Metric to present this week’s show. Visit them at quantummetric.com/podoffer, promo code RETAILFOCUS, to see if your business qualifies to receive their “12 Days of Insights” offer. Restrictions apply.
In news, we look at Grocery Outlet’s big announcement regarding future exploration of e-commerce partnerships to potentially open a digital sales channel for the first time. Additionally, Giant Eagle introduces a payment format that is a first for grocers, and the USPS announces more seasonal rate hikes for the holidays. In our interview segment, we look back at a 2017 interview with the producers of a documentary following the last ten days of a retail store’s life and the emotional toll it takes on those who work there.
The Retail Focus Podcast is proud to partner with Quantum Metric to present this week’s show. Visit them at quantummetric.com/podoffer, promo code RETAILFOCUS, to see if your business qualifies to receive their “12 Days of Insights” offer. Restrictions apply.
Our interview guest is Eric Talley of STANLEY Security, who joins us to discuss the current state of retail security and loss prevention, how 2020 was a “perfect storm” resulting in record retail theft, and things retailers are doing to ensure associate safety. In news, we discuss CVS’ latest front-store sales numbers, Sprouts seeking to grow their footprint again, Whole Foods piloting a delivery charge, and Ingles impressing on the sales front. And, we look ahead to rising costs of shipping containers and how it may affect holiday sales.
The Retail Focus Podcast is proud to partner with Quantum Metric to present this week’s show. Visit them at quantummetric.com/podoffer, promo code RETAILFOCUS, to see if your business qualifies to receive their “12 Days of Insights” offer. Restrictions apply.
Our interview guest is Ned Hayes, CEO of SnowShoe. He joins the show to discuss SnowShoe’s Go Downtown app, currently being piloted in Olympia, WA, and how the app might be the key to enticing shoppers to head back to local retailers in downtown districts. In news, we discuss Albertsons’ earnings call this week as they build on 2020 and seek further brick-and-mortar expansion; additionally, we look at retail hiring numbers as states attempt to navigate ending additional unemployment benefits.
Our interview guest is Rod Sides, vice chairman of Deloitte LLP and their U.S. retail, wholesale, and distribution leader. He rejoins the podcast to discuss their yearly back-to-school and back-to-college surveys and how consumers are choosing where to spend and what to spend on. In news, in a follow-up from last week’s show, we touch on Tractor Supply Co.’s latest earnings, a proposed deal involving the Piggly Wiggly banner, and we look ahead to Ulta’s partnership with Target slated to launch in the coming days.
The Deloitte Back-to-School Survey may be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3eRYRba
The Deloitte Back-to-College Survey may be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3hZTIzJ
Our interview guest is Erika Strum Silberstein, the President of Wine Enthusiast Commerce. She joins the show to discuss the line between content creation and commerce at Wine Enthusiast, as well as the dynamic behind selling premium goods in an ecommerce setting and their exploration into potential brick-and-mortar avenues. In news, we look at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory numbers, as their sales increase on a two-year stack, and look ahead to Tractor Supply’s earnings call.
Our interview guest is Mitchell Stiles, Badcock Home Furniture’s VP of retail operations; he joins us to discuss the retailer’s history, their unique dealer model, how they navigated the pandemic, and what the future holds for Badcock. In news, we look at Kroger’s most recent earnings call, and leadership comments that when it comes to private label brands, their customer base is trading up. Additionally, we look ahead to 2021 fireworks retail sales and how they may differ from 2020.
Our interview guest is Justin Smith, a senior vice president with Lee & Associates and the author of the recently released book “Industrial Intelligence: The Executive’s Guide for Making Informed Commercial Real Estate Decisions.” He discusses the current landscape of industrial real estate as it pertains to retail and the process retailers follow as they develop and onboard distribution and fulfillment centers to their pipeline. In news, we look at RH’s continued search for expanded margins in luxury and Home Depot making a move to further vertically integrate their supply chain.
We begin the show by discussing Five Below, a company who saw record first quarter sales, as they navigate triple-digit unit growth in 2021. From there, we turn our attention to SpartanNash’s first quarter earnings, and sales numbers that indicate strength from the independent grocers they supply. Finally, Layton looks ahead to continued developments surrounding a potential deal between Staples and Office Depot.
Our interview guest is Roi Kliper, CEO and co-founder of CityHive. Roi discusses how spirits retailers are increasingly turning to e-commerce where possible to gain a competitive edge, and how third-party services like Drizly may have hidden costs for retailers. In news, Hibbett Sports takes center stage as their brick-and-mortar stores saw triple-digit (!) comp increases, and we look ahead to how rising fright costs may impact the industry.
Our interview guest is Mike Welsh, the Chief Creative Officer at Mobiquity. He rejoins the show to discuss developments in app-based loyalty programs over the last year, as well as how these loyalty programs are forcing convenience stores to rethink their brick and mortar layout. In news, Layton joins the show to discuss Simon’s update on progress at JC Penney and a new program at CBRE designed to review the best use for U.S. malls.
Our interview guest is Josh Baylin, the Senior Director of Strategy at Brain Corp. He joins the show to discuss the technology behind autonomous mobile robots used in retail stores—including those used for floor cleaning and shelf scanning. Additionally, he notes advancements in the technology over the last two years and looks at the process behind ensuring that robots fit into the retail environment. In news, we discuss Office Depot’s proposed split reported this week and underlying reasons for the change and the USDA’s release of food spending numbers.
Our interview guest is Tim Baynes, CEO and co-founder of Compatio. He joins us to discuss how retailers who specialize in multi-component products (like bike shops and outdoors retailers) can effectively leverage e-commerce to boost their reach while retaining the associate expertise element key to the in-store experience. In news, we look at Sherwin-Williams, whose first-quarter growth was fueled largely by a continued uptick of sales to DIY customers in their retail stores. And, we look ahead to a growing store-in-store program between Tractor Supply Co. and a popular workwear brand.
Our interview guest is Daniel Gold, founder of Future Energy Solutions, a leading provider of lighting-as-a-service for businesses nationwide. He joins us to discuss the current state of retail lighting, where it makes sense for retailers to seek energy efficiency, and why new models (such as lighting-as-a-service) may prove more cost-effective for retailers as it pertains to energy-efficient fixtures. In news, we cover data surrounding the increased use of digital coupons and a significant year-over-year increase in organic produce sales; we look ahead to Amazon’s announced palm-based payment technology for Whole Foods as well.
Our interview guest is Jim Johnson, head of Worldpay Merchant Solutions at FIS, who joins us to discuss data in their Global Payments Report and the Generation Pay Report about how retail customers are paying for goods in 2021 and the associated impacts on retailers. In news, we discuss an announced deal between Kimco and Weingarten Realty Investors that could impact the grocery-anchored center space, and Bed Bath & Beyond earnings as they look to a robust Q1.
If you wish to download the FIS reports, please visit here: https://www.fisglobal.com/generationpay ; https://worldpay.globalpaymentsreport.com/en/
Our interview guest is Anthony Waelter, vice chairman at Deloitte LLP and Deloitte’s U.S. consumer industry leader, who joins us to discuss their most recent Global State of the Consumer Tracker data. Specifically, we talk with him about consumer anxiety levels (and risk tolerance) as well as why consumers might buy more—or less—online post-pandemic. In news, we get a rare update from Meijer regarding sales trends in the past year, and we note sad news by way of BJ’s Wholesale Club.
Our interview guest is Dick Sullivan, President and CEO of PGA TOUR Superstore. He joins to discuss the last year for the company, what the accelerating popularity of golf may mean for the future, his experience as CMO at Home Depot during a time of unprecedented company growth, and how his experience in retail helped him in his leadership role with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. In news, we discuss another solid quarter of sales for JOANN (despite plummeting inventories) and why Walgreens may not see quite the financial benefit from COVID-19 vaccination traffic as speculated.
We discuss two stories of regional importance, first with Casey’s, as they reach a deal to purchase 49 Circle K locations from Couche-Tard. From there, we discuss news of H-E-B announcing their first Dallas-area flagship stores and look ahead to Walgreens’ earnings next week. In our interview segment, we revisit a chat with Colby McKenzie, principal at Enlighten Wellness, who speaks to the process behind educating both retailers and consumers about alternative wellness and CBD products in retail stores.
Our interview guest is Bruce Milton, Associate at Lee & Associates--LA North/Ventura, who joins us to discuss the current state of retail real estate, how companies are prospecting for new locations in 2021, and why cities should be proactive in zoning adjustments for retail landlords struggling with vacancies. In news, we talk Petco’s first earnings call since their January IPO and their ease with which they’re acquiring new customers (as well as some things to have on radar for 2021 as it pertains to product mix). And, we look ahead to REI’s annual member meeting in May.
Our interview guest is Alan Payne, author of the newly released book Built to Fail, which chronicles Blockbuster’s ascent and descent within the span of just two decades. He was a part of the leadership group at Border Entertainment—a Blockbuster franchisee who just shuttered their last store in 2018. In news, we discuss Dick’s Sporting Goods releasing their 2021 outlook and themes that may prove important to them over the next 10 months. Additionally, we look ahead to retailers navigating the gradual removal of mask mandates in the U.S.
Our interview guest is Howard Meitiner, Managing Director at Carl Marks Advisors and former President and CEO of Sephora USA; he joins us to discuss the immediate future for shopping malls and mall-based retailers and the differences in leading growth-centric retailers versus those recovering from previous struggles. In our news segment, we discuss Big Lots’ plans for 2021 (including development of new stores) and we look ahead to what could be a robust year for sporting goods retail.
Our interview guest is Brittni Furrow, VP of Sustainable Retailing & Healthy Living at Ahold Delhaize USA, who joins us to discuss ADUSA’s sustainability goals and why implementation of practices to support sustainability is important for grocery retailers. In news, we look at the NRF’s recent projections for 2021, TJX sales data, and a new partnership between Verizon and Deloitte designed to assist retailers with in-store processes.
Our interview guest is Jennifer Moretti, Senior VP and Chief Activation Officer at Washington Prime Group, who joins us to discuss innovation and upscaling for the REIT’s various initiatives (including Tangible). In news, we look at Walmart’s earnings call, as grocery comps see a sequential uptick for Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club has their best quarter in terms of driving membership in six years. Finally, we look ahead to JoAnn’s proposed IPO.
Our interview guest is Alexa Driansky, the head of market and consumer insights for the retail practice at AlixPartners, who discusses how the pandemic has affected apparel retail from inventory to design. In news, we look at Kimco’s yearly report for 2020, which was released this week—the report suggests that rent may continue to increase at grocery-anchored centers in 2021 and provides other interesting insights. And, we look ahead to Aldi purportedly expanding their curbside services.
Our interview guest is Quincy Valencia, VP of Product Innovation for Hourly by AMS, who joins to discuss the state of retail hourly hiring. Topics include automation in the hiring process, increasing efficiency by routing candidates to ideal positions, and ensuring strong two-way communication throughout the journey. In news, we discuss two big announcements for Dollar Tree—one for each of their banners—and Uber’s acquisition agreement with Drizly.
Our interview guest is Diana Fryc, Partner and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer with Retail Voodoo and host of the Gooder podcast; she joins us to discuss brand and product development over the last several years in naturals and organics, how brands can diversify their customer base, and trends to look for in the near future. In news, Tractor Supply Company releases much-anticipated earnings that suggest people may be increasingly interested in products to make them for self-sufficient. We also discuss Hobby Lobby ending their 40% off coupon program.
We’re joined by two interview guests this week—first is Rod Sides, the vice chairman and leader of U.S. retail for Deloitte, who speaks to details surrounding their 2021 Retail Industry Outlook and insights from leading retail executives on the year ahead. Then, Shash Anand, VP of Product Strategy at SOTI, joins us to address what a positive technology experience looks like for the 2021 consumer and areas retailers need to be cognizant of as they scale up in-store tech. In our news segment, we discuss a yearly convenience store report and how ownership is shifting in that retail space.
Our interview guest is Mike Provance, the CEO of 3X3; Mike joins the show to discuss the state of beer, wine, and spirits retail in 2021, trends in the space, and how independent store operators managed to keep pace in 2020 with chain competition. In our news segment, we look at Target’s stellar holiday season sales and Nordstrom’s sales moving increasingly to digital. Finally, we discuss Petco’s IPO.
Our interview guest is Tobias Buxhoidt, co-founder and CEO of parcelLab; he discusses the importance of post-sale communication in e-commerce and why retailers should take ownership of the process rather than relying on third-party logistics firms. In news, we look at L Brands’ holiday sales updates and news that Lowe’s is expanding their outlet store concept. Additionally, we glance at news of Ahold Delhaize’s acquisition of FreshDirect.
Our interview guest is Sajag Agarwal, the Founder of Movley. He discusses the current state of inspections in China of goods bound for U.S. retailers, present shortcomings of the process on the macro level, and areas in which the process could or should be improved to reduce retailers’ risk. In our news segment, we discuss early holiday spend numbers from Mastercard SpendingPulse data and we close by looking ahead to small and mid-sized market retail sales in early 2021.
Our interview guest is Dr. Santiago Gallino, Assistant Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He discusses some of his research and work with retailers regarding onboarding and training associates, and how retailers can look at data differently to determine appropriate staffing levels. Our news segment is led by a Retail Feedback Group study that suggests U.S. customers are overwhelmingly happy with their retail grocery experience, and we look ahead towards Rite Aid and Kroger’s list of potential breakthrough foods in 2021.
Our interview guest is Melissa Wong, CEO of Retail Zipline. Melissa joins the show to talk about ways in which communication within retail organizations has changed, challenges in communication posed in 2020, and why it is important for the corporate branch of a retail company to have a consistent two-way dialogue with individual stores. Our news segment looks at U.S. retail sales data for November, and we look ahead to JD Sports’ acquisition of Shoe Palace.
Our interview guest is Keith Cohn, founder and CEO of Candy Club, who offers specialty confections direct to consumers and wholesale to retailers in the U.S. He speaks about the state of confectionary retail, trends to watch for, and employing impulse buys outside of the front end. In our news segment, we discuss Academy Sports + Outdoors, who revealed stellar sales numbers as the sporting goods retail sector continues to surge. And, we look ahead to warehouse club membership sales and Chewy’s continued autoship growth.
We’re joined by two interview guests in this episode. First is Karl Haller, Consumer Center of Competency Leader at IBM, who joins us to discuss how retail shoppers are continuing to increasingly make purchase decisions based on their values. Then, Vidya Peters, Chief Marketing Officer at Marqeta, addresses their latest data regarding mobile wallet adoption by consumers. In our news segment, we look at CBRE’s latest reverse logistics report to gain insight on what the returns landscape may look like after the 2020 holiday season.
Our interview guest is Cheryl Sullivan, President of DemandTec; Cheryl looks ahead to 2021 regarding retail pricing and private label market share. Speaking of private label, Kroger set a company record in Q3 in the number of private label products released and were also incrementally profitable on the digital side of their business—we discuss them and Goldman Sachs numbers regarding consumer saving during the pandemic.
Our interview guest is Adam Halim, the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Flipp. Adam discusses the current state of flyer readership in North America as it pertains to retail, and where the advertising medium is headed over the next several years. In the news segment, we glance at Deloitte’s annual pre-Thanksgiving pulse survey as a means to determine how traffic may be falling this Thanksgiving weekend. Finally, we look ahead to a leadership change and slight merchandise shift at Dick’s Sporting Goods.