Retail Gets Real

After separating the digital business from stores in June 2021, Saks OFF 5TH has invested heavily in creating an unparalleled digital experience for the luxury bargain hunter. In this episode, Saks OFF 5TH President and CEO Paige Thomas shares insights into the digital strategy, leading through difficult times and where the future of retail is headed.  Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.  

Jill Thomas is the CMO of PGA TOUR Superstore. The company, and the sport, have both seen a recent surge of growth due to COVID-19 and golf’s unique position as an outdoor activity that is social distancing-friendly and connection fostering. We talk about how PGA TOUR Superstore is expanding the world of golf to a broader audience, impacting not only the future of retail but of the sport as well.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

When Krista Bourne started in the mailroom at Verizon twenty years ago, she didn’t imagine that she would someday be in the C-suite. Today, as COO of Verizon Consumer Group, she joins the episode to talk about how she’s navigated her incredible career journey, what it takes to build effective teams and the future of retail.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Kimberly Lee Minor is the CEO of Bumbershoot, a firm that helps businesses rethink their cultures for inclusivity. In addition to being a thought leader and advocate for the advancement of women and people of color in the workplace, Kimberly is also the President and Chief Commercial Officer at women’s apparel brand, Bandier. We talk about how companies are rethinking their values and how to nurture diversity and inclusion, not just with customers and branding, but in the workforce. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

In this episode, we’re unpacking emerging retail trends with Cate Trotter of Insider Trends. We explore some of the latest developments shaking up the industry while focusing on hyper convenience and what factors are driving the shift to ultra-fast fulfillment. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Nancy Green is the President and CEO of Old Navy. After working her way up from the store level, she is deeply familiar with the customer journey and what people expect from a company at all levels, from leadership to the ground floor. Nancy joins us to discuss her career journey, the leadership lessons she’s learned along the way and what it takes to succeed in retail right now – and in the future.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The retail industry has been dealing with organized crime for many years, but the topic has gained new attention in the media of late. In this episode, Tony Sheppard, the director of loss prevention solutions at ThinkLP, talks about why we’re hearing so much about these problems right now, how the pandemic has impacted the problem, and how retailers can combat the issue and plan for the future. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As we get ready for the NRF Foundation Honors, we’re speaking with two retail leaders who are co-hosting the event: Macy’s Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette and Former CEO and President of Qurate Retail, Inc. Mike George. We asked each of the co-hosts twenty questions that revealed fascinating details about how they built their careers. Hear the highlights. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

For all the challenges the retail industry has faced over the past two years, store openings continue to outpace closings in the U.S. As National Director Retail Services, USA for Colliers, which manages a portfolio of over 2 billion square feet of retail establishments in the United States, Anjee Solanki has a unique perspective on the evolving needs for retail spaces and how retailers are creating compelling experiences in new kinds of spaces. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The NRF Foundation’s List of People Shaping Retail’s Future is a dynamic group of leaders creating opportunities and sparking innovation. These individuals – leaders at Chewy, Five Below, McDonalds, The RealReal, and formerly with CVS – have dedicated their careers to building better lives and stronger communities. They each discuss decisions they made throughout the pandemic and what the future of retail looks like. The members of The List will be recognized at the NRF Foundation Honors in April. (Originally released November 2021.) Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Nate Checketts, CEO and Co-Founder of men's activewear brand Rhone, shares how the company is expanding its physical presence and growing its brand while holding onto its core values. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Mark Mathews, VP of research development and industry analysis at NRF, dives into the reasons the U.S. is experiencing inflation, what’s driving up prices, how it impacts consumer behavior and how long we can expect it to last. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Zach Freeze, senior director for sustainability at Walmart, discusses Walmart's approach to climate and its evolving sustainability efforts, and what it's like to lead them as part of one of the largest and most influential retailers in the world. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Kate Ancketill, the founder and CEO of GDR Creative Intelligence, joins the show to discuss the retail trends that are shaping the future of retail and where retailers need to experiment now to be well positioned for the next five to 10 years. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The current retail landscape has seen tumultuous change over the last few years, and we can expect even more in the year ahead. Alberto Dent, the U.S. Consumer Markets Deals Leader for PwC, talks through the climate impacting deals for 2022 and why value creation is key to being successful. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

After separating the digital business from stores in June 2021, Saks OFF 5TH has invested heavily in creating an unparalleled digital experience for the luxury bargain hunter. In this episode, Saks OFF 5TH President and CEO Paige Thomas shares insights into the digital strategy, leading through difficult times and where the future of retail is headed.  Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

NRF’s Susan Reda shares retail predictions for 2022 as outlined in her annual NRF column. From a return to the store, to digital experiences in the store, to exploring the hype of the metaverse, see what’s in store for 2022. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The National Retail Federation is convening retailers and partners in New York city for its annual convention and expo NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show on Jan. 16-18. NRF’s Jill Dvorak and Eric Olson join to share what attendees can expect to see, hear and do at the event. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Matt Shay, the president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, looks back at retail in 2021 and lessons learned to move the industry forward in 2022. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

We’ve had insights into the pandemic and visions of the future in wide-ranging conversations representing key topics for the industry over the last year. In this episode, we highlight our favorite podcast moments of 2021. With everything from large companies to scrappy startups, it’s the focus on people that makes this industry so rewarding.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.