The Backroom with Retail Dive

The state of the consumer

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Katie Thomas, lead of the Kearney Consumer Institute, joins The Backroom to discuss consumer sentiment, economic pressures and more.

Walmart and Target are not the same

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The team discusses how different the companies are, despite ushering in new executive leadership at the same time.

Saks Global and the bankruptcy that everyone saw coming

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The team chats about their recent visits to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Manhattan flagship and brings in Debtwire analysts to discuss the retailer’s Chapt...

Contemplating retail in 2026 with Doug Stephens

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The retail strategy adviser talks about trust in the age of emerging AI and the industry’s potential in shaping our society.

Tariffs tee up unique holiday season for retail

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Retail Dive’s reporters touch base with Supply Chain Dive to examine how shifts in U.S. tariff rates have affected the industry ahead of its most im...

Halloween casts a spell over retail

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The creepy, crawly event has grown into a months-long celebration and a $13 billion business. But is it a harbinger for the holidays?

How the holidays are different this year

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Heading into the season, shoppers and retailers alike are getting squeezed by tariffs and mounting economic uncertainty.

Bankruptcy court is in session

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Debtwire’s global head of legal, Sarah Foss, joins Retail Dive Senior Reporter Daphne Howland for a discussion of retailer bankruptcies – in 2025...

What’s next for Target?

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join Retail Dive reporters Daphne Howland and Dani James for a discussion about the mass retailer’s unique history, the ups and downs of its differe...

Saks Global, Amazon and the state of luxury

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fashion Dive Senior Editor Lara Ewen joins to talk about the latest tie-up between the department store conglomerate and the e-commerce giant.

Breaking down Dick's Sporting Goods deal to acquire Foot Locker

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Senior Editor Cara Salpini joins The Backroom to discuss what this deal could mean for the athletics retailers and the sector more broadly.

Talking tariffs with Supply Chain Dive

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trade policy is ever-evolving, and hitting the retail industry especially hard. Philip Neuffer, senior editor at our sister publication, talks about c...

Talking wholesale with Liza Amlani

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The longtime merchant discusses the myths and rewards of a channel that is getting renewed appreciation in the industry.

Foes of a Minimum Wage Guard

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Playwright Ken Harris talks about how his experiences in retail loss prevention informed his award-wining solo play, and gives his unique perspective ...

A new retail apocalypse?

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The team talks about a recent report that U.S. retailers are set to shutter many more stores than they plan to open in 2025, and what that really mean...

Doug Stephens looks to 2025 and beyond

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The retail and brand expert discusses the hype around AI, how marketers can preserve human creativity and his optimism about the future.

Amazon Haul and the state of retail: Checking in with Rick Watson

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Retail Dive Senior Report Daphne Howland and Rick Watson, founder and CEO of RMW Commerce, as they unpack recent retail stories including Amazon’...

Retailers creepin' it real

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Halloween will drive $11.6 billion in spending this year. Plus, it’s fun!

The state of the art of couponing

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The team discusses a recent deep dive into a very online movement, led by deal-hunting influencers, and what it means for consumers and retailers alik...

Under Armour’s past — and future — under Kevin Plank

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The executive earlier this year returned to the athletics brand he founded nearly 30 years ago. What does that mean for the company?

All of a sudden, a lot is happening at department stores

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The team discusses a barrage of news from several players in a retail space that has been written off many times.

What’s going on with Amazon Fashion?

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The podcast welcomes Fashion Dive to discuss what the e-commerce giant’s approach to apparel means for brands and consumers, and what could be diffe...

Lee Peterson and the hard truth about retail stores

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

E-commerce keeps growing because it’s easier to shop online. To survive, brick and mortar needs a good reason, too.

What’s happening at Macy’s

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Under a new CEO, the iconic department store is fielding a $6.6 billion takeover offer, closing another 150 stores and fighting to stay relevant.

Why it’s so hard for retailers to do the right thing

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Businesses face new ethical questions and must act with more transparency in what corporate integrity expert Alison Taylor calls an increasingly turb...

The story behind our stories on shrink and theft

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When the National Retail Federation retracted a theft claim following our coverage of its special report on crime, the news went viral. Here's what it...

What’s in store for DTC in 2024?

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

2023 was rough for many companies. Ahead, the sector could see more bankruptcies and C-suite shakeups as brands continue to grapple with profitability...

Doug Stephens’ retail predictions for 2024

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The retail and branding expert discusses the state of the consumer, the habits companies should leave behind in 2023 and what lies ahead in the new ye...

What’s the deal with EBITDA?

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The earnings metric is widely used despite critics. But how does its usage vary across brands, and how much leeway do companies have with it?

How the 2023 holiday season is shaping up

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the first sales events of the season already come and gone, the team looks at the clues of how it will go this year.

Marisa Meltzer and the creation of Glossier

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A journalist’s new book "Glossy" makes waves as it pulls back the curtain on Glossier founder Emily Weiss and the beauty brand that changed the indu...

A look back on the first half of 2023 for DTC brands

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The team talks about the latest second-quarter results from brands as the holidays quickly approach.

Jason Del Rey and ‘Winner Sells All’

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most prolific journalists covering the retail industry leverages his deep sourcing and lively writing style for an in-depth book about Amaz...

Target’s silent Pride Month

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The team talks about the realities of the backlash, including who is fomenting it and how other retailers’ Pride campaigns stack up.

How the consumer is doing so far this year

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Discretionary goods are a low priority amid an uncertain economy and a desire to spend on experiences, but retailers are holding their own. What about...

Why is Walmart selling off so many DTC brands?

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The retailer bought, and sold off, several digital natives including Bonobos and Eloquii. The team discusses what this signals about the company's g...

The Backroom: Unearthing financial details about J.C. Penney

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The team talks about the treasure trove of information on the department store’s financial health, found thanks to a tip from one of its new owners.

What the ‘MetaBirkin’ NFT verdict means for art and commerce

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The team chats about how Hermès' legal win impacts retail at large, and why Mason Rothschild plans to appeal.

What's Going On With DTC This Year?

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The team introduces new co-host Dani James and talks about emerging changes in the DTC space and the ongoing importance of brick and mortar.

Ushering in the new year with Doug Stephens

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What retailers should know about the realities of the metaverse and more futuristic observations from the retail prophet.

What holiday looks like from here

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The team sits down to discuss what recent events suggest about this year's unpredictable shopping season.

Retail bankruptcies are poised for a comeback

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What can we learn about the industry as a whole by looking at its weakest players?

The Idiosyncrasies Of This Year’s Holiday Consumer

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Retailers are taking on a new challenge likely to define the 2022 season: inflation.

The remains of Sears

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Backroom co-host Ben Unglesbee discusses his recent trip to one of the few remaining Sears stores in the country.

Planet Retail

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Retailers know they have an important role in addressing climate change. But navigating sustainability is riddled with challenges.

Bankrupt Enjoy Technology Set Out To Disrupt Retail. But It Got Disrupted Instead.

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Led by former J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, the “commerce-at-home” company has suffered from constrained supply and high costs. Note: This convers...

What Walmart And Target Told Us About Retail In 2022

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rising food and gas prices are causing consumers to pull back on discretionary spending. That hurt retailers in the first quarter.

What's Going On With Amazon?

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The e-commerce giant is grappling with many challenges, including union efforts and its Prime delivery promises.

The World According To AlixPartners' Joel Bines

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The consultant has spent decades working in and for the retail industry. We sat down with him this past February to get his take on where the industry...

Kohl's versus Wall Street

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Activist investors have pressured the retailer to divest assets and potentially even sell itself. Retail Dive reporters discuss the implications of su...

The Surprising Importance Of The Retail Middleman, With BMO Capital Markets’ Simeon Siegel

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The last two decades of retail disruption was supposed to mean the death of wholesale. But recent research shows that brands should think twice about ...

Our traditional interview with the retail prophet, Doug Stephens

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While the pandemic isn't over, 2021 seemed to show that physical locations remain important to retail. But each store must have something to offer, Do...

Another Disruptive Holiday Season

25 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Vaccines have changed the shopping landscape this year, as have supply chain bottlenecks. Retail Dive reporters look at how the season is playing out.

Why is the idea of splitting off e-commerce so popular all of a sudden?

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Senior Reporters Daphne Howland and Ben Unglesbee discuss why Wall Street likes it, why others don't and how Sears' decline serves as a cautionary tal...

What do changes at Stitch Fix say about e-commerce?

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Senior Reporters Ben Unglesbee and Daphne Howland talk about turmoil at the apparel e-retailer, DTC companies and online sales in general.

Delta's looming impact on retail

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, Retail Dive's Daphne Howland and Ben Unglesbee discuss the implications of the new variant on the industry.

When Reebok was on top of the world

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Retail Dive’s senior editor discusses the past and alternate histories of the brand that once topped even Nike.

Reebok was meant to be a 'Nike killer.' How the brand lost its No. 1 spot

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the '80s, Reebok was the top sports brand for a time. Now it's dwarfed by Nike and Adidas. We take a look at the history of the brand, through the ...

In e-commerce, it's growth versus profits

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020, digital operations probably saved a lot of retailers when consumers were unable or unwilling to visit stores. But how sustainable is online r...

A former Blockbuster insider chronicles its many blunders

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you think Blockbuster is merely a story about technology, take a second look. Former franchisee Alan Payne discusses its long-deteriorating operati...

Just how competitive are retail markets?

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A talk with author and antitrust expert Sally Hubbard about what shifts in competition policy and enforcement could mean for the retail industry writ ...

How a $15 minimum wage could impact retail

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At the federal level, the minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009 at $7.25 an hour. The team discusses what an increase could mean for the indu...

Amazon enters a new phase

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Retail Dive team talks about how retailers have paved their own way, as Jeff Bezos prepares to hand over the CEO reins at the e-commerce giant.

Family Video, GameStop and the precarious lives of media stores

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A look at what went wrong for the last video chain as well as the fates of other retailers of cultural products.

BONUS: What the pandemic means for the future of retail

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A follow-up discussion with retail prophet Doug Stephens, who has been mulling the disease outbreak's implications for a forthcoming book.

What Black Friday tells us about retail in 2021

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The shopping holiday was defined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its defining trends and repercussions will likely follow the industry into the next year.

J.C. Penney's slow ride through bankruptcy

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The department store's deal to sell itself to landlords Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management is in its final stages. But its struggles...

How retailers are navigating holiday 2020

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the season kickstarts earlier than ever, the industry braces for a fourth quarter plagued by uncertainty.

Walmart+ vs. Amazon Prime

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why did Walmart launch a membership service, and how can it compete with Amazon Prime? Senior Reporters Daphne Howland and Ben Unglesbee break it down...

Malls buy their tenants

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mall owners are snapping up distressed retailers as years of operational pressures and a pandemic combine to take down anchors and their neighbors.

When retailers issue mask requirements

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Without federal face mask guidelines, retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy have had to introduce their own measures.

Tracking retail sales numbers in a pandemic

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, the team talks about how Retail Dive reports monthly sales numbers from the Commerce Department and what those figures signal about t...

How the coronavirus sped up retail bankruptcies

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of the podcast, senior reporters Daphne Howland and Ben Unglesbee discuss how the pandemic pushed distressed retailers to file.

Retail responds to the coronavirus

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of the podcast, the team spoke with special guest Jeff Wells of Grocery Dive, to discuss how the global pandemic is changing all secto...

Pier 1's road to bankruptcy

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Senior Reporter Ben Unglesbee and Associate Editor Caroline Jansen discuss what led to the retailer filing last week, and what its future may look lik...

Trends to watch in 2020

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of the podcast, the team breaks down everything that happened at the NRF's Big Show in New York, and what to keep an eye on in the yea...

2019 in review

19 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Backroom with Retail Dive, the team discussed their favorite stories from the year.

The last Blockbuster

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Backroom with Retail Dive, Reporter Ben Unglesbee and Editor Cara Salpini discuss what the video rental store's demise means fo...

The looming threat of retail bankruptcies

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Backroom with Retail Dive, reporters Ben Unglesbee and Daphne Howland discuss how 28 retailers could go bankrupt in the next ye...

Riding the tariff rollercoaster

26 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Backroom with Retail Dive, our team talks with Supply Chain Dive Senior Editor Shefali Kapadia about "tariff whiplash."

What happened with Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale?

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Last month, the retailer's annual event encountered some hiccups. On this episode of The Backroom with Retail Dive, our team talks about how it unfold...

Bonobos CEO shares the secret to building a connected workforce

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If there's one thing Micky Onvural says she can teach any Bonobos employee, it's about the importance of people. "Wherever you go after Bonobos in you...

Inside the rise of clicks to bricks at Indochino

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

From the store level to the C-suite perspective, hear how the digitally native brand has polished a tech-infused approach to showrooms.

How one digitally native brand baked sustainability into its DNA

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

An environmental focus doesn't have to come at the cost of profitability, says Grove Collaborative CEO Stu Landesberg.

Here's what retailers are talking shop about in 2019

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Here's our take on everything you need to know about Shoptalk and how those conversations will shape the rest of the year.

Why everyone is talking about women in retail

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Executives from the Female Founders Fund and MM.LaFleur weigh in on how they're closing the gender gap and what others can do too.

5 trends to watch in 2019

18 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Retail Dive team sat down on the podcast to talk through everything you need about NRF's Big Show and what it signals for the year ahead.

BONUS: 8 predictions that will shape 2019

10 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this special episode, Retail Prophet Founder and CEO Doug Stephens explains why manufactured scarcity, sustainability and the beginning of the end ...

10 bold predictions from 2018 revisited

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Retail futurist Doug Stephens appears on the show to walk through how his 10 big predictions for the year really played out.

How one apparel startup aims to spark a size revolution

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Universal Standard is fed up with the fashion industry's big sizing problem. And partnerships with J.Crew and Nordstrom are allowing it to reshape how...

Why stores are key to Walmart's online grocery plan

22 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With a store within 10 miles of 90% of the population, services like in-store pickup and home delivery sit at the center of Walmart's plan to challeng...

Inside the mindset of the next wave of digitally native brands

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

AYR CEO Maggie Winter learned retail basics from Mickey Drexler and started a brand with the backing of Bonobos founder Andy Dunn. Here's how she chan...

Nike, women and retail's big corporate culture problem

20 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The athletics brand is facing a gender discrimination lawsuit at a time when culture is becoming closely intertwined with branding.

Amazon Prime Day cues up the holidays

19 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of 36 hours, brands and competitors learned a lot about what Amazon may be plotting for the rest of the year — and how they can win ...

How good retail jobs boost business

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Bad jobs are bringing down retailers like Toys R Us, but it doesn't have to be that way says Zeynep Ton, president of the Good Jobs Institute.

As Amazon expands, how should brands react?

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's impossible to out-Amazon Amazon, but you can out-brand the e-commerce giant. Cooper Smith of Gartner L2 breaks down how.

At Lowe's, digital development isn't all about that tech

20 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This time on the show, Gihad Jawhar, who heads up digital development at Lowe's, shares why he believes customers should come first, and technology se...

How a fashion tech startup is tackling some of retail's big problems

16 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Rian Buckley founded Fitcode four years ago with the aim to use technology to reduce online returns.

When is the store experience finally going to improve?

16 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Lackluster stores will continue to shutter and those that survive will adopt more immersive experiences and extreme curation, says Lauren Bitar of Ret...

5 trends to watch in 2018

22 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After three long days of panels and executive interviews at the NRF's Big Show, the Retail Dive team sat down to offer up our big take on how the role...