The Retail Focus Podcast

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, 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 Real Estate Advisors. 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.