Rethink Retail

Welcome to “On Becoming a Brand”, a RETHINK Retail exclusive where we dive into the stories that shaped the brands we love — and the people behind them. On today’s episode, host Gabriella Bock hears from from Shawn Nelson, Founder and CEO of Lovesac, a publicly traded, high-end furniture retailer with 160+ showrooms across America. As of recent, the company has experienced 16 consecutive quarters of at least 25 percent net sales growth, and for the quarter ending on May 1, sales jumped 56 percent year over year, to about $129 million. You might also remember Shawn from the 2005 prime-time show “The Rebel Billionaire,” where he outlasted a competitive field of entrepreneurs which included Spanx Founder Sara Blakely, and won a 1-million-dollar investment from Virgin’s Richard Branson. But long before he founded the billion dollar furniture company, Shawn was just your average teenager who thought it would be funny and novel idea to construct a supersized bean bag chair at his childhood home in Utah. An

Digital transformation is impacting all of us in the retail industry, and brick-and-mortar is no exception. The in-store experience itself is now called to change in a way perhaps more radical and extensive than any time in modern history. In this episode host Gabriella Bock explores how to create memorable in-store experiences through digital innovation with guests Ryan Taylor and Bobby Marhamat. Ryan is Head of Retail Product Marketing at T-Mobile. He has over 20 years of experience in retail management at the store, district, territory, and geographic levels, implementing high-level changes to drive successful businesses within those sectors, leveraging analytics and the latest innovations to collaboratively enhance operations at hundreds of stores. Bobby is CEO of Raydiant, an in-store customer experience management provider for brick and mortar retailers. He also has over 20 years of experience in the retail industry, having worked at the executive level with tech companies like Verizon, Revel, and H

In this episode, guest host Venkatesh Shankar sits down with Forerunner Ventures Partner Nicole Johnson to discuss the state of venture capitalism, the trends she's seeing in the DTC and DNVB space, and what she looks for in an executive team when seeking out new potential investments. About the guest: Nicole is a partner at Forerunner Ventures, a leading commerce-focused venture capital firm that supports trailblazing companies like Chime, Dollar Shave Club, Faire, Glossier, Away, Warby Parker, The Yes, Curated, and dozens more. Prior to Forerunner, Nicole worked with SapientNitro, a leading brand and digital strategy consultancy where she supported Fortune 500 retailers on their global retail strategies. Nicole is a graduate of Princeton University and was named one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30 in 2016. About the host: Venkatesh (Venky) Shankar is a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer, a Professor of Marketing and Coleman Chair in Marketing and Director of Research at the Center for Retailing Stud

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast is guest hosted by RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer and "This Week In Innovation" Host Jeff Roster. Over the last few months, George Mason University's Center for Retail Transformation has conducted several panel discussions with industry thought leaders on a myriad of key trends impacting the retail landscape, such as sustainability, the metaverse, frictionless retail and more. To explore these topics further, Jeff is joined by guests Gautham Vadakkepatt and Ricardo Belmar. Ricardo is recognized retail industry thought leader and the Director Partner Marketing at Microsoft. Gautham is an Associate Professor of Marketing and the Director of the Center for Retail Transformation at George Mason University. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

On this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Gabriella Bock is joined by Jill Feldman, Vice President and General Manager at Kids Foot Locker, to discuss Gen Alpha and what's cool for this year's back to school shopping season. Jill also shares more about the company's recently launched interactive "House of Play" stores, as well how Kids Foot Locker is giving back to local communities with its Remix the Culture campaign. About the brand: Kids Foot Locker is the ultimate one-stop-shop for children’s apparel, footwear, and accessories with locations across the U.S. and globally, including its new interactive House of Play stores that recently opened in Florida and Texas. About the guest: Prior to joining Foot Locker, Jill held leadership positions at retailers such as JCPenney, Famous Footwear, and Crate & Barrel, across marketing, merchandising, e-commerce, and product development. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spo

On this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Haixia Yu sits down to talk social commerce, live streaming and the creator economy with guest Sophie Frères. Sophie is the co-founder and CEO of LiSA, a SaaS start-up which offers Live and Social Commerce enterprise solutions for the world’s leading e-retailers, marketplaces and brands such as Marks & Spencer, L’Oréal, AVON USA and many more. Sophie is also a guest lecturer at Columbia University on the topics of social and live commerce. Her company, LiSA is on a mission to help e-retail easily transform into social discovery destinations for their communities and enable seamless cross-platform experiences for the entire ecosystem. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, RETHINK Retail Co-Founder and Managing Director Paul Lewis welcomes Rob Garf, Vice President and General Manager for Retail at Salesforce, to the show to discuss what's in store for Holiday 2022. During their conversation, Rob shares insights from Salesforce's recently released 2022 Holiday Predictions and Holiday Planning Guide for retailers. Hear why retailers that have brick-and-mortar locations are going to grow at a 1.5x higher rate than those without, why retailers are caught playing discount chicken, and why Rob believes "margin will be the Grinch that Stole Christmas." About the guest: With more than 25 years of global retail experience as practitioner, industry analyst, strategy consultant, and software leader, Rob Garf is no stranger to the industry and the challenges retailers face. He currently leads retail strategy, product, and insights—and advises senior executives globally on digital transformation. Rob is also a frequent industry speaker, a member of NRF’s Digital Co

Today's episode is hosted by RETHINK Retail Content Producer and Rocky Mountain climbing enthusiast Fritz Finlay. In this episode, Fritz sits down with Barruch Ben-Zekry, Founder and CEO of Out&Back, a one-stop shop to buy or sell new and used outdoor and adventure gear. The website connects shoppers with brands like Patagonia, Marmot, The North Face, Arc'teryx and many more at an affordable price point, creating a more sustainable, attainable outdoor experience for everyone. Prior to Out&Back, Barruch was Senior Director of New Business Models at VF Corporation (the owner of The North Face, Vans, Dickies, etc.) tasked with building and launching new purpose-led, user-centric businesses. In that role he and his team launched multiple recommerce businesses with VF Brands including The North Face Renewed. Join us as Barruch shares his story of how and why he started the online marketplace in 2019 and what it means to run a company with accessibility and sustainability as core values. If you enjoyed this e

In this episode, host Gabriella Bock sits down with BÉIS President Adeela Hussain Johnson to discuss branding, creative, social media and what's next for this rising star. Adeela is the President of BÉIS, an on-the-go lifestyle brand for people in motion, delivering high quality, functional travel essentials at an accessible price point. Founded in 2018 by actress and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell, BÉIS offers consumers thoughtfully-designed accessories that never ask you to compromise between form and function. Adeela’s 20-year career in finance, business, brand marketing and merchandising ranges from large fortune 50 companies, like Target and Ameriprise Financial, to pre-revenue start-ups. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast was recorded live at Future Stores Seattle on July 14, 2022. In this episode, host Gabriella Bock sits down with Tal Zvi Nathanel, CEO of SHOWFIELDS. Launched in 2019, SHOWFIELDS is a lifestyle discovery store featuring rotating, themed curations of mission driven products, art, and events that can be found "IRL" for the first time. With stores in NYC, Miami, Los Angeles, and more on the way, SHOWFIELDS has created a unique opportunity for brands to run measurable retail campaigns in the world's most desirable retail locations. During their conversation, Tal shares the SHOWFIELDS story and reveals some of the magic behind how the company blends art, science and storytelling to create unique and discovery-driven experiences that capture the interest of shoppers. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast was recorded live at Future Stores Seattle on July 14, 2022. Host Gabriella Bock sits down with John Boline, Starbucks' Vice President of Store Design, to talk about all that's happened since he last appeared on the show in 2019. During their conversation, John talks about the pandemic and how the shift to pick up has impacted store design. John also discusses the importance of creating emotional connections with customers and his vision for the Starbucks of the future. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast is hosted by Deborah Weinswig, Founder and CEO of Coresight Research. Joining the show are Alfred Chang, Co-CEO of Pacsun, and Brieane Olson, President of Pacsun.  Equipped with a strong understanding on the importance of brand relationships, Alfred Chang leads brand creation and incubation with personalities, up-and-coming brands and new opportunities, as exemplified by Pacsun’s partnership with Jerry Lorenzo and his brand, Fear of God.  Brieane Olson is an innovative, tech-centric retail executive who consistently drives brand strength and revenue growth through game-changing merchandising and marketing initiatives. Brieane was instrumental in spearheading livestreaming shopping initiatives and digital first experiences for the brand, as well as creating space for gender neutral apparel through the introduction of a gender neutral Fashion Scholarship Fund collaboration. Brie also cultivated the launch of Pacsun Kids and Colour Range apparel collection which is the

Hello and welcome to “On Becoming a Brand”, a RETHINK Retail exclusive where we dive into the stories that shaped the brands we love—and the people behind them. On today’s episode, host Gabriella Bock hears from Jason McGowan, Founder & CEO of Crumbl Cookies, about how he and his cousin Sawyer Hemsley founded the country’s fastest-growing cookie company. Join us as Jason shares his story about how, after immigrating to the United States with only an 8th grade education, he taught himself to build websites and launched himself into a promising tech career. How does tech relate  to cookies? Jason reveals the methodical approach behind the brand's OG cookie as well as how the company became a near-overnight sensation on TikTok. Register for Future Stores Seattle at: bit.ly/3t67xBW If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, Gabriella Bock sits down with Diane Primo, CEO of Purpose Brand Agency, an award-winning, Chicago-based public relations, branding and digital marketing firm. Diane is also the author of several books including the recently published, “ADAPT: Scaling Purpose in a Divisive World,” which provides a framework for mastering corporate purpose and offers readers guidance on how to achieve a more resilient and prosperous business. During their conversation, Diane shares why retailers must cultivate a bias toward action, not just transaction before discussing how social media is shifting culture and enabling consumers to become their own microphones for the purposes they align with. More about the guest: Diane Primo is the only African-American female CEO of a purpose-driven communications agency. Diane’s focus on impact marketing stems from the belief that brands must be relevant, purpose-driven and committed to consumers to be successful today. Diane built he

In this episode, Gabriella Bock sits down with Tal Rotman and Kunal Puri to discuss the increasingly complex customer journey and why retailers today should shift their focus on creating human-centric experiences both in-store and online. About the guests: Tal Rotman is the Vice President of Partnerships and Alliances at Namogoo. Kunal Puri is the Vice President and Head of Customer Success at Infosys Equinox. Namogoo offers eCommerce brands a Digital Journey Continuity Platform that automatically compiles data on consumer behavior, website, product, device and environment so you can easily analyze each customer’s unique journey. Infosys Equinox helps leading enterprises provide memorable and human-centric omnichannel shopping experiences with their end-to-end digital commerce and marketing platform. They serve as a headless, cloud native microservices based commerce platform that allows retailers to engage with consumers whenever, wherever they want, irrespective of the channel of engagement. Register fo

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast with recorded live at Shoptalk Europe on June 8th, 2022. Host Gabriella Bock sits down with Megan Maley, general manager for the UK, Benelux and Ireland at Zalando, one of Europe's leading fashion platform offering a broad assortment from over 5800 international brands across 25 countries During their conversation, Megan shared her journey to Zalando after 16 years at Nike and revealed tips for managing operations in vastly different regions. Megan also spoke about Zalando’s Style Creator program and why is it so important to find region influencers, as well as Zalando’s commitment to second-hand fashion and how the retailer is making second-hand clothing more accessible If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast with recorded live at Shoptalk Europe on June 8th, 2022. This episode features RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer Haixia Yu as our host and Roland Palmer, general manager for the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, and Nordics at Alibaba Group. During their conversation, Haixia and Roland discuss livestreaming trends as well as how European brands can unlock the China export opportunity. Roland also shares some great advice on how others can execute strategies on a global level in today's complex and omni-channel landscape. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast was recorded live at Shoptalk Europe. On June 8, 2022, Nicky De Simone, Vice President of Enterprise Marketing, Data and Creative Studios for the Estee Lauder Companies UK & Ireland, stopped by the RETHINK Retail podcast booth to chat with host Gabriella Bock ahead of her session at the show. During the conversation, Nicky and Gabriella spoke about omnichannel and the role of stores, the power of social media and how the Estee Lauder Companies is leveraging social commerce. Nicky also shared how she lets creativity shine in her role at the company. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast was recorded live at Shoptalk Europe. On June 8, 2022, Parag M. Parekh, co-Chief Digital Officer at Ingka Group, the largest IKEA franchisee, stopped by the RETHINK Retail podcast booth to chat with host Gabriella Bock about IKEA's rapid digital transformation since the COVID-19 pandemic as well as why "being good is good business." If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, host Julia Hare sits down with The Vitamin Shoppe CEO Sharon Leite. During their conversation, Sharon shares stories from her recent appearance on Undercover Boss and reveals some pretty interesting findings from The Vitamin Shoppe's 2022 Health and Wellness Trend Report. Julia and Sharon also discuss TikTok and how businesses can best prepare for viral social media trends. If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. - - - - - - Host: Julia Hare Produced by Gabriella Bock