Retail Is Your Business - retailtech and retail innovation

Aside from the physical health risks stoked by COVID-19, there's another byproduct of the pandemic that's potentially terrifying: the social impact of isolation and quarantines. Given the number of people directed and electing to work from home, social distancing becomes both a personal challenge as well as an important business concern. From London, Julia Hobsbawm (social entrepreneur and author of The Simplicity Principle) shares important insights, strategy, and perspective, along with useful plays, for business leaders facing the realities of social distancing amongst their workforce and customers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you protect on-demand or gig workers, their fleets, and their customers, during the COVID-19 crisis? How can companies like Postmates, which rely on going workers for their business model, succeed and survive, what particular concerns and considerations are in play, and what happens as restaurants and other suppliers close and face hard times? Vikrum Aiyer, Vice President of Public Policy & Strategic Communications at Postmates and Former Obama White House Senior Advisor, joins from San Francisco with perspective, insights, solutions, and a go-to enter to the playbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At CES, VR and AR are on full display. But what about full implications of XR (extended reality - all real-and-virtual combined environments and human-machine interactions generated by computer technology and wearables)? Raffaella Camera, Global Head of Innovation & Strategy, XR (Extended Reality) at Accenture Interactive (who leads global strategy, development of new solutions in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, direct and indirect sales, creation of ecosystem partnerships and opportunities for the Accenture Extended Reality group, globally), joins Marc Raco to explore the possibilities for fashion and other industries in the years ahead. Recorded on location at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If trying to keep the doors to a business open isn’t challenging enough, especially when you don’t know how long you have to do it for, diligent consideration of the productivity, safety, care, morale, and profitability of your employees may be even more daunting. Dr. John Sullivan (internationally known Human Resources thought-leader from the Silicon Valley and Professor at San Francisco State) and Celeste Thompson (Chief People Officer/Founder at TRIBE Human Resources Consulting) join from California and New Jersey to walk through some crucial Human Resources concerns and considerations in the new business realities of COVID-19.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SPECIAL REPORT: Wendy Liebmann, Founder, CEO, and Chief Shopper of WSL Strategic Retail, shares critical considerations for brands and retailers to manage the new realities of a retail landscape during and after the COVID-19 crisis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Modobag is the world’s first motorized, smart and connected carry-on that gets you to your destination up to three times faster than walking. CMO Tim Ryan offers insight into one of the most innovative and exciting advancements to hit the travel industry since rolling suitcases were introduced in the 1970's, on location at CES 2020.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At NRF Big Show, Michele Dupre' (VP for Retail at Verizon) offered insights on customer experience in retail and other retail trends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the true centers to find innovation for content and retail product is CES in Las Vegas. And one of the biggest exhibitors at CES is Sharp, the global electronics brand. Marc Raco (MouthMedia Network) talked with Peter Weedfald, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing (who oversees all sales and marketing of SHARP's home and commercial appliance categories along with the CE and TV products thru a variety of retail, reseller, buying groups and distribution channels), in a conversation simply chock full of insights, wisdom, and education on everything from how 5G and 8K technology can impact everything from better medicine to safer self driving cars, how Sharp’s focus shift from what they make to why they make it is so important for makers of content, why smart appliances and homes demand attention, and why breakfast and lunch may be optional. It’s one of our favorite interviews ever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At CES 2020, Sleep Number (offering adjustable beds, memory foam mattresses, kids beds, bedding, pillows & more) unveiled an award-winning new bed that uses advanced technology to create a personalized microclimate, gathers data, and advances sleep health, making it achievable for those who suffer from sleep deprivation. To offer insight into the thought process behind products, commerce strategy, delivering customer experience, and response to the changing retail industry, Angela Gearhart (Vice President of Brand Experience with Sleep Number), joins host Marc Raco and guest host Joe Yakuel (CEO of Agency Within) on location at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At CES 2020, HP unleashed next generation computing innovations to enable more freedom to work, live, and play -- including the newest PCs, displays, and accessories. Host Marc Raco and special guest host Joe Yakuel, CEO of Agency Within, sat down with Morgan Chemij, Director of Marketing/CRM at Hewlett Packard, to talk about how HP is working to create technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere — every person, every organization, and every community around the globe. They also discussed how HP is aiming that vision at a changing commerce landscape. Recorded on-location at CES in Las Vegas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CES is the epicenter of tech innovation. It seems nothing short of perfect to sit down with the Keith Kranepool, Vice President of Sales for the Global Retail Channel of Sennheiser -- a family owned, 75-year company with a history of innovation, and one of the world’s leading producers of headphones, microphones and wireless transmission technology. Sennheiser operates its own plants in Germany, Ireland and the US and is active in more than 50 countries worldwide. Yet part of the message here is about introducing a well known brand and a staple of content making to an uncertain market, and the mission to translate the success of Sennheiser’s signature approach to ecommerce into physical spaces in the US. Joe Yakuel, Founder/CEO of Agency Within, joins Marc Raco on the floor of CES 2020 in Las Vegas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Briglin, Director, Enterprise Mobile Product Marketing at Samsung, and Tracy Hansen, President, North America and Global CMO of ProGlove, Inc, join Marc Raco on location at NRF Big Show to announce and discuss the need and applications for their partnership and the launch of their combined solution consisting of ProGlove’s MARK product family of wearable barcode scanners and Samsung’s latest ruggedized smartphone for business – the Galaxy XCover Pro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems in retail that commerce channels are coming back to together, and making sure reaching customers where they want when they want is key. Julie Lyle, CEO of Zytara, Inc., a startup company in stealth mode, focused on blockchain aimed at retail consumer package goods, and brand building and loyalty marketing, joins Rob Sanchez and Agency Within CEO Joe Yakuel, on location at Commerce Next in New York.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently MouthMedia was on location at NRF Big Show in New York. Marc Raco and Rob Sanchez caught up with Paul Greenberg about his new role as Vice Chair of the Federation of International Retail Associations, and Dominique Lamb, the CEO of Australia's National Retail Association, for a remarkable discussion about the Australian bush fires and how Australian retailers have responded and the implications of such significant disaster, on that nation’s retail, the Australian delegation to the NRF Big Show, and the state of retail in Australia overall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MouthMedia partnered with Macerich, a real estate investment trust that invests in shopping centers, to hold a roundtable discussion about DTC-first brands and physical retail spaces with the Retail Innovation Lounge. During this discussion, Matt Kaden (Managing Partner for MMG Advisors), Anne Marie Stephen (Sales Director, US Retail + Commerce for Fabric) and Rob Sanchez (CEO for MouthMedia Network) had a dynamic conversation about disruption, transformation, and the future of retail. .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Egan, SVP Marketing for US Auto Parts (who is responsible for day to day Marketing Operations for US Auto Parts, a $300M online retailer of aftermarket auto parts in North America) shares insights into digital commerce stagey and what other industries can learn from the auto parts industry. Recorded on location at CommerceNext. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can a focus on physical retail create a competitive edge, swimming upstream in a retail business that is moving primarily toward online? Garret Leight’s designer eyewear brand has placed this bet, and it’s working well. He’s deconstructed today’s usual model, by starting with brick and mortar retail first with an e-commerce play that follows. Gerrett joins Rebecca Fitts to share why hiring for longevity is a key to creating great in-store experience, the value of great product design (and a place to showcase it), evaluating ideal locations for a brand’s physical presence, and strategizing what’s next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you talked with someone in charge of a major aspect of retail at Foot Locker, you’d think the conversation would have something to do with sneakers. And although the topic of "sneakerheads" was unavoidably mentioned, the real focus is: the critical impact Store Design has on customer experience. And how even basics such as lighting and sound can have a major effect on retail success. Kambiz Hemati, VP of Global Retail Design for Foot Locker (a leading global athletic footwear and apparel retailer, which caters to the sneaker enthusiast), shares the importance of learning from retail concepts outside of your sector — the ones who have best in class experiences with customers — and how they can inspire next-level design. He also shares why Starbucks may have played a meaningful role on the Foot Locker store design, and why success with technology might rely more on what’s coming into a store than what’s already in it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail as a service is a huge idea these days, and there are a few leading players. One of them, which has been called the most interesting store in the world, is Showfields. It’s a retail concept that invites you to discover and engage with the online-only brands of tomorrow in wellness, home, & design. Katie Hunt (Co-founder and CRO of Showfields) and Andrew Smith (Co-founder of Think Uncommon), offer an inside look at what’s working — and what’s not — in this concept; what brands can do to make the most of an opportunity like this; what Showfields has in mind to take the idea to the next level; and whether this experience really is “everything”. Plus, what Hootie and the Blowfish have to do with a play for “cool”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three important words for the success of any physical retail business? Location, location, and location. But, not only is retail constantly evolving, so are the locations retailers depend on for traffic, infrastructure, and economic stability. What better example to explore this topic than one of the most famous retail corridors anywhere, Madison Avenue in New York City. Two experts, Matthew Bauer (President of Madison Avenue Business Improvement District) and Corey Shuster (a senior member of the Faith Consolo team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate), join a roundtable about the past, present and future of retail — on Madison Avenue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slightly Alabama is a line of leather wallets, bags, iPad and iPhone cases, computer cases, belts, bracelets, watch straps, and accessories, designed and manufactured in our West Village, NY studio where we focus on developing expertise in design through traditional techniques and processes. But it is the community-based, brand-building, event-embracing ,brand-first-growth-later retail strategy led by founder Dana Glaeser that might just be the real story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Designed for women, by women, Of Mercer is an apparel brand building a community of women professionals whose combined voice is a very effective ambassador in the entrepreneurial world. Aligning with successful executives, business leaders, influencers, and innovators, Of Mercer has taken an effective and bold approach to the growth of the brand. Co-founder Dorie Smith offer insights into the brand's retail strategy so far and looking forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever needed an office for a new company, you might have gone to a company like WeWork. If you were looking for a retail space, an intriguing option is Fourpost, a company taking something that is commoditized and turning into something that is elevated and transforming it by integrating content, customer experience, and what looks like a white glove, plug and play retail opportunity. CEO and Founder Mark Ghermezian, who’s deconstructing the retail space into a kind of incubator for brick and mortar, shares how Fourpost looks at creating experiences, seeks out innovation, and why this model could play an important role in the next generation of physical retail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two words that hold increasing real estate in the vocabulary of retail are commerce and personalization (a.k.a customization). One of the challenges of buying high-end apparel and accessories online (whether it be eyeglasses, footwear, or even tailored suits) is the confidence in both the accuracy of fit and the quality of the workmanship. Tim Aquino, the Head of Sales North America for Institchu (offering tailored made suits both online and in their showroom here in New York) came into the studio looking about as dapper as one would expect, and if that’s any indication, this company might just be onto how to make personalized commerce work. He shares with Chris Hansen and Rebecca Fitts about why fears about the quality of work in China may be misguided, and how this retail company brings their in-person store experience to the online customer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are iconic brands whose customers not only expect, but demand, that the brand not change. When you think of New York institutions, legendary frankfurter and tropical juice restaurant chain Papaya King (and their neon sign) very well comes to mind. For 86 years this retail business has kept a following, been featured in movies, TV and print, and has remained a part of the cultural fabric that makes New York "New York". So, how do you stay true to the brand you’ve always been, while being mindful and smart about what tomorrows consumers need -- with an eye on health and saving the planet? Steven Garcia , COO of Papaya King, joins Chris Hansen and Rebecca Fitts to share how the business is getting ready for the next 86 years by implementing an overhaul of its offerings, enlarging its footprint, and heading down the path of franchising -- all while keeping the loyalty of their patrons intact. Plus, how Steven's own need to rethink what he eats has inspired the path forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the global digital workplace to the digital commerce experience, companies need to build powerful search and data discovery solutions for employees and customers. Diane Burley, VP of Content for Lucidworks a a Leader in Cognitive Search, with an AI enabled internal and external search solution, talks with Rob Sanchez on location at eTail East in Boston. She covers how companies in and out of the mason industry can bridge the a gap between people and their data.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been said there is such a thing as a "buying state of mind." What could be possible if you could start a meaningful conversation with customers right at the moment they're making a purchase? At eTail East in Boston, MouthMedia Network CEO Rob Sanchez sat down with Chris Victory, SVP of Strategic Partnerships for Rokt (a global leader in e-commerce marketing technology, at the intersection of digital media and commerce) to talk about how companies can grab the maximum return on investment every time a customer engages a marketing offer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will you need a website in the future to sell your products online? If you ask Heather Marie Udo, online retail expert and Founder and CEO of Shoppable (a distributed commerce technology company with a patented, universal checkout API), she’ll tell you the answer is likely “no”. After all, the retail consumer is changing, and the focus is shifting from pulling the consumer to the brands to bringing the brands to where the consumer already is. And retailers are following and creating commerce experiences there instead of through their own channels. Heather joins Chris Hansen and Rebecca Fitts to discuss how commerce is everywhere; about trends in social shopping.why there is so much disruption in the buying process that’s actually changing the shopping paradigm; why collaborations between solutions like Shoppable, and social platforms like Pinterest, are a big deal; and the Cheesehead brings cheese.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you could get everything you need for your home, online, from one company that has everything, from bedding, linens, lighting, furniture, and more…but each category is actually its own brand, managed by the umbrella company. It’s all seamless and coordinated, with the consumer getting the benefit of buying from multiple brands—-when those brands are all talking to one another. Ran Reske, Co-Founder of Resident, joins Rebecca Fitts and Chris Hansen, and he shares how this isn’t just a great consumer experience that can change your life -- it’s a fascinating retail concept in motion with Resident that makes the most out of the hardest part of retail: customer acquisition. If you can outpace, and out-experience, the competition by keeping all the needed brands under one umbrella, you’ve got a great chance of more sales with that customer once they’ve been acquired. What’s more, like a hive mind, internal partners act as agencies, and talk to one another in a. coordinated way. With this model, and the fact that the direct to consumer online furniture and home goods market is still wide open and ready to be conquered, the opportunity is massive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you continue to grow, to be relevant, and innovate to stay a leader — without going off mission? A lot of companies are compared to the innovators of their space—"the WeWork of such and such", "the Casper of this", and "the Birchbox of that". But when you are one of those companies -- in this case, Birchbox -- eventually the space will have those other players. Katia Beauchamp, CEO and founder of the very successful subscription beauty service Birchbox, joins Rebecca Fitts and Chris Hansen to offer some great insights on how she has evolved with her company, how she thinks about retail , and why the journey toward a customer should never actually end; how the recently revamped subscription model that focuses on customer loyalty, despite criticism from some, is actually on-mission , and has been more successful than anticipated; what she learned about the physical store and the importance of passion from those who work there; learning’s about agility from retail partners; creating the reality you want to live; and, how one of the quickest ways to Katia’s heart might just be if you know about food wrapped in food. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Customer, team, and data. No matter the order of priority, getting these things right is essential to the success of any retail operation. An expert in all of these is Emily Culp. Before leading beauty brand Cover FX Skincare as CEO, Emily’s work managing call centers and in executive positions with brands such as Keds, Rebecca Minkoff, Clinique, and Unilever, has demonstrated she is the perfect blend all three areas of expertise. Emily joins Rebecca Fitts and Chris Hansen to share career-focused advise on being a CEO in the retail sector, why data is queen, and why customers have driven her decisions, why KPI's are such a focus, and building the right team is everything, and -- the power of bench pressing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the greatest companies have come from solving a need the founders had themselves—“there must be a better way”. Fast-growing, direct to consumer furniture brand Burrow is one of them. When a co-founder couldn’t get what he wanted, when he wanted, he and his partners created a company that did things differently — including tapping into existing delivery services like FedEx and UPS in an industry where that just wasn’t being done. Kabeer Chopra, Co-founder and CPO of Burrow, shares the company's journey with Rebecca Fitts and Chris Hansen, including how growing this company wasn’t about following a path of interest, but instead about solving a problem; the way Burrow developed new advantageous and game-changing paths to supply chain; and why really listening to the customer has resulted in some of the best product ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is this the birth of a totally new kind of retail concept — and a sign that retail, 20 years from now, might look (and feel) completely different? It’s The Phluid Project —the "Ph" references "balance". Founder/CEO Rob Smith shares his vision with host Chris Hansen (IgnitionOne) and Rebecca Fitts, along with a look inside this unique apparel concept that reflects realities of identity within today’s changing society -- retail with no gender attached to it -- no gender or size, everyone shops in the same section. It is nothing like the retail norms we know -- a kind of "choose your own retail adventure", and it is a direct result of what the customer brings to it. In this episode: How Phluid challenges boundaries and societal norms to let people be their authentic selves, and the challenges a retail company faces when its core ethos is about shaking up societal norms Rob breaks down how he built up the Phluid brand to be welcoming to all potential customers by not creating products for a specific gender, and to avoid sizing systems that could be body-shaming and discouraging to customers How an experience at Burning Man opened Rob’s eyes, led him to quit his job and go on a spiritual trip where he found his calling to start a non-binary clothing store inspired by the concept of the third gender two-spirit shamans The interest piqued by putting up a sign in the window of the first SoHo location that stated “The World’s First Gender-Free Store” Why Rob focused on building a community and a group of people who embodied the brand’s vision, and to build trust to ensure that it was clear that Rob, a white cis-gender gay man, was not trying to capitalize on a movement How Rob built the store with the intent of creating not just a storefront, but also a non transactional space where people can meet and feel safe and part of a larger community where events and activism groups can meet The Gen-Z mentality of finding brands that stand for issues with conviction, and how Phluid found this market organically when many brands are trying to find ways to build that perception around their already established brand Phluid’s plans for the future, creating its own branded content, and building the online presence to make the online community feel connected to the community built around the brick and mortar store How Rob keeps engaged with the Phluid community, and how that community that is employed by the company and the brand’s identity have found a common voice, and why the generational gap isn’t the big deal people make it out to be Why Rob doesn’t see turnover as a bad thing, and how the community around Phluid has grown and continues to grow because it is a built around people working together to create something new What it means for a brand to be “Phluid-ready” and how Rob and his team decide whether or not a brand is inclusive and giving voice to minorities and should be brought on as a partner How phones and other tools we have at our disposal make content creation easier and a more continuous and organic process than ever before Why the younger generations give Rob hope for the future in terms of inclusivity, open mindedness, and positive change Why Rob doesn’t recommend ayahuasca to everyone, but why that journey has made him who he is today See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's true -- she’s real. There really is a Melissa at Baked by Melissa, the popular and unique New York born bakery known for its seemingly endless varieties of tiny cupcakes— with 14 retail locations and a burgeoning ecommerce business that now outpaces the brick and mortar. She’s a mom, a company president, and a self-described mad scientist——and rarely do you see the leader of a successful brand, much less one that has weathered the bursting of a trend bubble, who remains so in love with their business and continually creates new and exciting recipes, product concepts, and inventive marketing and partnership strategies. Melissa Ben-Ishay shares her journey and insights with hosts Chris Hansen (IgnitionOne) and Rebecca Fitts. In this episode: How Baked by Melissa has grown and adapted from a small retail store at the tail end of the recession of 2008 to a company that has grown its reputation in retail as well as growing its e-commerce presence Baked by Melissa’s origin as an e-commerce company operating out of Melissa’s apartment after she was fired from her marketing job, where you could PayPal Melissa and she would bake and deliver cupcakes around New York City How Melissa solved a problem she faced picking up cupcakes on her way home from work every day and turned it into an instantly recognizable brand identity, with 70% of customers having discovered Baked by Melissa through word of mouth What the future looks like for Baked by Melissa, and why they are putting a focus on e-commerce and pop-ups in the coming year The challenges of selling a product that has a relatively short shelf life span, and what the company is doing to reduce the amount of time the product spends exposed to air so customers receive their cupcakes as fresh as possible Melissa shares some upcoming cupcakes for summer 2019 How Melissa has found a balance between taking suggestions from customers and fans about what they want to see as future flavors and staying true to her own values and taste Why the tie-dye cupcake is the most popular BbM offering The importance of aesthetically pleasing cupcakes, and the thought process behind the designs and the recipes to make them as enticing as possible How Baked by Melissa is able to scale at the rate it has and still offer hand-baked cupcakes made with the best ingredients The team behind Melissa that has helped build the brand, from CEO Seth Horowitz to Ashley Shears, who has become the brand’s photographer since working with Melissa on her cookbook The three principles that customers love about Baked by Melissa, and how the future marketing and branding directions plan to emphasize that the cupcakes are handmade, in a variety of flavors, and that Melissa is a real person How Baked by Melissa is using new technologies to link the customer experience in store and online and to educate the customer in all the ways they can engage with the brand The B2B aspect of Baked by Melissa, and the high conversion rates for salespeople who send cupcakes as gifts How a gluten sensitivity during her pregnancy drove Melissa to finally work on developing a gluten-free cupcake, and the plans to develop vegan options Melissa’s passion for sustainability and protecting the environment, and how the company has refined its products and packaging to utilize less waste and to use recycled paper and plastic products to lessen their impact on the planet Why Melissa believes the message of her brand is to see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, and not to fall into the trap of self-loathing and feeling defeated, and how this viewpoint is embraced and encouraged within the company Melissa shares the backstory behind their campaign to give away 100,000 cupcakes in the name of love in response to the 2016 election How Melissa leads by example as a mother to her two children, and how she tries to instill the values that have made her successful in life on to the next generation The unique opportunities and inspirations New York City offers, and why it’s the only place Baked by Melissa could have started How Melissa met her husband, then a bartender and now her co-product developer, on the first day Baked by Melissa opened as a pickup window at Cafe Bari Plus, Melissa brings in some of her favorite Baked by Melissa offerings as well as some of her favorite snacks, and offers an insight into how she comes up with new recipes! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.