Retail Gets Real
Episodes
310. ThirdLove CEO Heidi Zak on moving into bricks-and-mortar
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
ThirdLove is known for marketing body positivity and offering size-inclusive bras, including half-cup sizes. On today’s episode, we’re talking to ...
309. Sam's Club Chief Merchant on what it means to be 'member-obsessed'
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, we’re talking to Sam’s Club Executive Vice President and Chief Merchant Megan Crozier. We’ll discuss how Crozier’s team ...
308. M.M.LaFleur CEO on evolving how the company helps women dress for work
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
M.M.LaFleur is not a women’s workwear business — founder and CEO Sarah LaFleur says it’s a company that supports working women. LaFleur talks ab...
307. Managing retail risks with NRF’s David Johnston
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Retail security has moved from physical security to loss prevention to asset protection. Now it’s at the enterprise risk management phase, according...
306. Addison Bay CEO on the entrepreneurial spirit, risk, reward and managing growth
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s show, Addison Bay founder and CEO Marguerite Adzick talks about starting the women’s activewear business, the company’s growth and cu...
305. Leading change at Overstock.com with CEO Jonathan Johnson
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is all about change and evolution: Overstock.com CEO Jonathan Johnson talks about his personal career shift from corporate lawyer to...
304. The state of the supply chain with Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Port of Los Angeles (combined with Long Beach) handles about one-third of all container traffic in the United States and operated at 120% capacity...
303. Steve Dennis on what makes a remarkable retail business
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Retail veteran and consultant Steve Dennis talks about his career journey, why we should move on from omnichannel thinking, and what it takes to win a...
302. How Kendra Scott shines bright online
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Hardisty started his career in semiconductors before becoming an ecommerce and digital retail leader for brands including Timberland, Clarks and...
301. Staying close to the customer with Pete Nordstrom
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As president and chief brand officer of Nordstrom Inc., Pete Nordstrom oversees all the aspects of the luxury retailer’s merchandising and supply ch...
300. Modern leadership and business culture with John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S.
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Retail Gets Real celebrates a milestone 300th episode, we are joined by John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. and chairman of the NRF Boar...
299. Redefining Claire’s for a new generation
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does a 62-year-old jewelry and accessories company keep up with changing tastes and trends? On this episode of Retail Gets Real, we sit down with ...
298. CEO Ron Coughlin on how Petco’s transformation begins with purpose
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pet adoptions surged during the pandemic and when new pet parents needed supplies and care for those pets, they turned to retailers like Petco. On thi...
297. Celebrating every body with Christiane Pendarvis of Savage X Fenty
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this special episode of Retail Gets Real recorded at NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show, we talk to Christiane Pendarvis, co-president/chief merch...
296. Exploring the resilient consumer and retail with NRF’s Katherine Cullen
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this special episode of the Retail Gets Real podcast recorded live at the NRF Foundation Student Program, Katherine Cullen, senior director of indu...
295. Future-proofing retail with trend forecaster Andrea Bell
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded from NRF 2023: Retail's Big Show in New York City: Andrea Bell, vice president of Consumer Insights at WGSN, dives into the latest consumer r...
294. Retail predictions for 2023 with NRF’s Susan Reda
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From small concept stores to the metaverse and Web3, retail is all about change and adaptation. On today’s show, Susan Reda, NRF’s VP of education...
293. The state of retail heading into 2023 with NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After weathering the effects of a global pandemic, supply chain disruptions and inflation, retailers and consumers are ready for a brighter 2023. Nati...
292. Shopping in a winter wonderland: Measuring the impact of weather on consumer demand
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Evan Gold, executive vice president of global partnerships and alliances at Planalytics. Gold discusses his career path from Macy’s to weather data ...
291. Holiday grocery shopping trends for 2022
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s episode, Barbara Connors, vice president of strategy and acceleration at The Kroger Company’s retail data science, insights and med...
290. How David’s Bridal is using TikTok to rewrite the rules of formal fashion
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly Cook, chief marketing and IT officer for David’s Bridal, talks us through her background in retail before landing at David’s and how the for...
289. How Lovesac keeps momentum after the pandemic boom
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shawn Nelson was just out of high school when he designed and produced the first LoveSac. Nearly 25 years later, it’s the fastest-growing furniture ...
288. Buying for baby with Babylist Chief Growth Officer Lee Anne Grant
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Babies need a lot of stuff, which is why expectant parents spend 40 hours on average building out their baby registry. On today’s show, Lee Anne Gra...
287. The haunt is on at Party City with Odette Welling, Vice President of Merchandising
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Halloween is one of Party City’s biggest seasons and is a huge undertaking that includes hiring and training 20,000 new seasonal employees and sourc...
286. How Ikea is helping customers visualize new spaces
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ikea’s latest cutting-edge technology allows customers to visualize Ikea products in their own homes. On today’s show, Thomas Fenrich, VP of digit...
285. The state of retail heading into the holiday season
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Just skimming the headlines reveals the dichotomy of today’s economy – consumers are still spending, despite worries about inflation and increased...
284. Scotch Porter Founder and CEO Calvin Quallis on connecting with the male consumer
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Calvin Quallis is all about helping men look good and feel good. As the founder and CEO of Scotch Porter, Quallis has taken his men’s grooming and s...
283. Replay: Inside Walmart’s sustainability and climate strategy
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach Freeze, senior director for sustainability at Walmart, discusses Walmart's approach to climate and its evolving sustainability efforts, and what ...
282. Replay: Making golf accessible and inviting to all with Jill Thomas of PGA TOUR Superstores
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
281. How Domino’s delivers on innovation
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From its delivery tracker to a mind-ordering app developed in partnership with Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” Domino’s has been delivering on in...
280. The voices of the next generation of talent: Opening minds to a career in retail
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
NRF’s summer interns are about to return to college. Before heading back, we asked them about their work experience and how their perspectives on re...
279. Into the metaverse: Why Meta opened a retail store
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Martin Gilliard, Head of Meta Store, joins the show to chat about why Meta opened a physical store, what the store is designed to do and what retailer...
278. Leading transformation at 130-year-old Conn’s HomePlus with CEO Chandra Holt
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chandra Holt, CEO of Conn's HomePlus, has learned the retail ropes from the inside, with an impressive resume that includes powerhouse retailers like ...
277. How a shared supply chain platform could revolutionize retail with American Eagle Outfitters’ Shekar Natarajan
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shekar Natarajan, Chief Supply Chain Officer of American Eagle Outfitters, joins this episode to discuss the company's supply chain strategy, includin...
276. How Chipotle builds a more sustainable supply chain
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Carlos Londono, Vice President & Head of Supply Chain at Chipotle Mexican Grill, shares insight into the company’s supply chain str...
275. How Goodlife Clothing is growing with bricks-and-mortar
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After starting in wholesale and moving into ecommerce, Goodlife Clothing is now investing in physical stores. Andrew Codispoti, Co-CEO of Goodlife Clo...
274. Inflation and the state of retail with NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As we hit the mid-point of 2022, we’re still dealing with the impacts of a global pandemic, supply chain disruptions and inflation, yet the consumer...
272. How sustainability is good for business: KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO/Founder of Sustainable Brands
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO/Founder, Sustainable Brands, joins the show to share what retailers are doing to become more sustainable, how consumer b...
271. Leadership and learning along the way: JuE Wong, CEO, OLAPLEX
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Olaplex CEO JuE Wong talks about growing a fan favorite brand, harnessing the power of social media and what's next for the company and the future of ...
270. Replay: Inside Saks OFF 5TH’s digital strategy
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After separating the digital business from stores in June 2021, Saks OFF 5TH has invested heavily in creating an unparalleled digital experience for t...
269. Making golf accessible and inviting to all with Jill Thomas of PGA TOUR Superstores
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
268. From mailroom to COO: Verizon’s Krista Bourne on building a career and staying close to consumers
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
267. Creating an inclusive community in the workplace with Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO of Bumbershoot
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kimberly Lee Minor is the CEO of Bumbershoot, a firm that helps businesses rethink their cultures for inclusivity. In addition to being a thought lead...
266. The emergence of hyper convenience in retail with Cate Trotter of Insider Trends
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re unpacking emerging retail trends with Cate Trotter of Insider Trends. We explore some of the latest developments shaking up t...
265. Staying close to the customer side of business with Nancy Green, President and CEO of Old Navy
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
264. What retailers need to know about increasing organized retail crime
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
263. Lessons in retail: Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette and Mike George, former CEO of Qurate Retail, Inc.
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 G...
262. Store openings outpace closings as formats evolve
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 Dire...
261. The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2022
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The NRF Foundation’s List of People Shaping Retail’s Future is a dynamic group of leaders creating opportunities and sparking innovation. These in...
260. Rhone CEO on why physical retail is key to growth
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 wh...
259. The impact of inflation on the retail industry
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
258. Inside Walmart’s sustainability and climate strategy
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach Freeze, senior director for sustainability at Walmart, discusses Walmart's approach to climate and its evolving sustainability efforts, and what ...
257. 3 trends driving the future of retail
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 an...
256. The 2022 deals outlook for consumer markets
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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....
255. Inside Saks OFF 5TH’s digital strategy
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After separating the digital business from stores in June 2021, Saks OFF 5TH has invested heavily in creating an unparalleled digital experience for t...
254. Retail predictions for the year ahead
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
253. A preview of NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
252. The State of Retail heading into 2022 with Matt Shay, President and CEO of NRF
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 2...
251. The best Retail Gets Real moments from 2021
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
250. The impact of consumer trust and how to build it
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Barbra Bukovac, vice chair of consumer markets at PwC, discusses insights from PwC’s recent survey that show the impact of the pandemic on consumers...
249. Rhone CEO on why physical retail is key to growth
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 wh...
248. Holiday shopping insights from Google
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Ready, president of commerce at Google, joins the podcast to discuss trending gifts this holiday season and the future of shopping as digital and...
247. NRF policy update: The issues impacting retail today
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David French, NRF’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations, discusses the latest on advocacy campaigns for the industry and connects the dots...
246. Top 5 holiday questions answered
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of “Retail Gets Real,” NRF retail industry experts answer the holiday season’s most-asked questions: the role of Black Friday, s...
245. The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2022
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The NRF Foundation’s List of People Shaping Retail’s Future is a dynamic group of leaders creating opportunities and sparking innovation. These in...
244. What retailers need to know about increasing organized retail crime
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
243. How retailers can adapt to evolving consumer behavior
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic taught us that new behaviors are always popping up, but we’re still figuring out which ones are here to stay. Jason “Retailgeek” Go...
242. The adapting landscape of luxury retail
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Oliver Chen, managing director of retail and luxury at Cowen, discusses the challenges and opportunities coming out of the pandemic and how luxury ret...
241. 3 lessons for planning for the future of retail
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The team takes a look back at some of highlights shared by leaders at NRF’s virtual events in 2021, including insights on leading through a crisis f...
240. Consumer spending trends for Halloween 2021
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This year, 65% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween. After a dip in participation last year, that's almost back up to pre-pandemic levels and spen...
239. Tractor Supply Company’s chief supply chain officer on navigating supply chain disruptions
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tractor Supply Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer Colin Yankee shares how the company is planning for the holidays an...
238. NRF’s impact during the pandemic and beyond
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we're 18 months into this pandemic, we're taking a moment to reflect on the past year and a half and what it's meant for retail. NRF has a unique p...
237. Growing a digital-first home goods store with Parachute
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ariel Kaye, founder and CEO of the home brand Parachute, talks about how her company has grown throughout the pandemic, why they are investing in stor...
236. Inside Levi’s digital strategy
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally released May 11, 2021: A great pair of jeans never goes out of style. That fact is one of the many reasons why Levi Strauss & Co. has led t...
235. A look at 2021’s Top 100 and Hot 25 Retailers lists
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For over a decade, NRF has been working with Kantar to compile our top retailer lists. This year's lists are out: The 2021 Top 100 Retailers and our l...
234. A look at Back to School 2021 consumer research
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s back to school season, which means something different to everyone – especially in the world of retail. Katherine Cullen, NRF’s Head of Con...
233. Diversity is in Nordstrom’s DNA: How the retailer creates a more inclusive environment
17 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While the retail industry is very competitive, improving diversity across the industry is one area where retail companies are working together, sharin...
232. Article COO on redesigning the online furniture business
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Article is an online furniture company that is reimagining the furniture-buying process from design and manufacturing all the way through to delivery....
231. Grove Collaborative CEO on making sustainable products mainstream
03 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With its debut on Target store shelves in the spring, a whole new group of consumers has been introduced to Grove Collaborative this year. We're talki...
230. How David’s Bridal Survived the Wedding Drought of 2020
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As more of the country gets vaccinated against COVID-19, weddings are starting to fill the calendar once again. Some are even predicting that we're en...
229. How retail industry executives take breaks to recharge
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the time of year for out-of-office notifications. Since it's vacation season, we're going to talk about how to turn off work and recharge. We a...
228. Why the resale market is great for retail
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As shopping for secondhand goods becomes increasingly popular, the resale market continues to grow quickly, and more and more retailers are leaning in...
227. Navigating the return to offices
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While many retail workers were on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, other corporate employees have been working from home for more than a year. ...
226. Crafting the future of physical retail experiences with The Lion’esque Group
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We hear so much about the death of physical retail, but are the reports of retail’s death greatly exaggerated? We’re talking about the future of p...
225. How brands are leveraging TikTok for community engagement
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With more than 689 million users across the world, TikTok has emerged as a social media app that brands and consumers can’t ignore. Our guest today ...
224. Adapting to the “Out Here” lifestyle with Rob Mills of Tractor Supply Company
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Mills, Exec VP/Chief Technology & Strategy Officer at Tractor Supply Company on retail acceleration, family and what’s next for Tractor Supply C...
223. The post-pandemic world: Consumer behavior and how retailers are responding
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jason “Retailgeek” Goldberg is the Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis Group and has been a go-to retail expert for industry leaders for y...
222. How Best Buy emphasizes inclusive leadership
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we head towards NRF’s newest event, NRF Retail Converge, we’re highlighting a few speakers you’ll hear from at the event. Mark Irvin, Best Bu...
221. What to expect from NRF’s newest virtual event: NRF Retail Converge
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This summer, NRF is putting on a whole new virtual event, one that brings together the entire retail community to hear from leaders and experts about ...
220. Supporting fair trade & artisanal creators with Ten Thousand Villages
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Ten Thousand Villages opened its doors in 1946, it was a fair trade pioneer, offering ethically-sourced, handmade products, crafted by artisans f...
219. How the classic Levi’s brand stays modern
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A great pair of jeans never goes out of style. That fact is one of the many reasons why Levi Strauss & Co. has led the way for over a century. Today's...
218. How veteran-owned small business Teak & Twine makes gifting easy & accessible
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Torrance Hart is the founder of Teak & Twine, a small business making it easy to send thoughtfully curated gifts to just about anyone. A veteran-owned...
217. Creating a gender-fluid retail experience with The Phluid Project
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest, Rob Smith, is on a mission to challenge boundaries with humanity. That’s the overarching goal of The Phluid Project, a gender-free fa...
216. Sustainability: How retailers can make a lasting impact and get the consumer on-board
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As many around the country celebrate Earth Day this week, it's a good time to think about sustainability and how businesses can make a difference. NRF...
215. How Ministry of Supply is reinventing business attire for the modern world
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us who work in corporate environments haven't touched our business attire in a year. As we work from home, stretchy pants have become the new ...
214. Beyond buy now, pay later with Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The past several months have been a whirlwind of growth and change for the retail industry, including in how people pay for things. Today we’re talk...
213. 2021 Easter Insights
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
NRF's annual consumer survey for Easter showed Americans would drop $21.6 billion during Easter this year. As we examine the data and take a closer lo...
#212 Workplace Trends in a Remote Work World
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Susan Reda and Jill Dvorak from NRF's Content and Retail Strategies team discuss the retail trends popping up around remote work, including how retail...
#211 How the Mall of America is reimagining the mall experience
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we've seen over the past several years, the retailers that adapt and evolve with consumer behavior have thrived, even in challenging times. But wha...
#210 Forecasting Retail Sales for 2021
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The National Retail Federation recently published its annual retail sales forecast for 2021, projecting that retail sales will grow between 6.5 and 8...