Retail Gets Real

Disruption seems to be the buzzword these days, and Allbirds co-founder Joey Zwillinger found shoemaking to be ripe for the picking. With longer working hours the norm and a modern way of dressing in the workplace, Zwillinger’s innovative idea was to make a shoe that takes the customer from day to evening with “extraordinary” comfort. On this episode, Zwillinger describes how the digital startup got its foot in the door of a long-established industry with direct-to-consumer marketing.

NYU Clinical Professor of Marketing Scott Galloway’s new book explores the big four companies in retail and tech today, and what their domination means for the evolution of the retail industry. In this episode, Galloway shares his research and discusses how retailers can adapt to Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google’s power positions in the industry, along with his predictions on what’s next for Amazon.

Roy Choi was at the lowest point of his life when an idea to put tacos and his Korean heritage together beckoned him to the food truck scene. A decade later, he is on the TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World list. As the owner of multiple food trucks and restaurants with cult followings, including Kogi BBQ, Choi joins us from NRF’s Shop.org conference in Los Angeles to share how he got started and developed his business into an award-winner.

Lane Bryant is the most recognized name in plus-size clothing. As chief marketing officer, it is Brian Beitler’s job to tell the story of the brand and what it stands for. On this episode, Beitler shares how not being part of the customer base helps him listen and try harder to understand the customer. His philosophy: “Discuss in the office, decide in the store.” Learn more about how the company reinvented its brand image to appeal to modern customers and how it strives to reshape the current conversation on body equality.

Brack Sullivan and Trey Stewart, talent acquisition executives at The Home Depot, discuss how retail jobs have evolved with the changing industry and how the home improvement giant attracts top talent. 

“When you think of Home Depot, you don’t really think of the seamless transactional experience that our customers are looking for and what it takes to keep that engine moving” Sullivan says. Listen to the episode to learn about the types of roles the company hires for and how it entices potential employees to choose The Home Depot to build a career.

Retail may be seen as an unconventional career path for college students in fields like computer science, data analytics and accounting, but the industry offers many opportunities for building a career. Group Vice President at Macy’s Inc. and NRF Foundation Board Member Anne Voller argues that education is the key when it comes to promoting the retail industry as an exciting option for students thinking about life after university. In this episode, Voller shares Macy’s approach to talent acquisition and how employees are trained to move through the ranks, and explains why education is so important to the future of retail employment.

Running a restaurant and delighting customers enough for them to return is no piece of cake, but Anthony Lupo and Brian Schram of Scarlet Oak and Southern Hospitality restaurants exceed expectations when it comes to creating loyal communities and happy employees. “We wanted to really focus on the hospitality side,” Lupo says about their simple concept of pairing great food with great service. On this episode, Lupo and Schram share how much hard work goes into running multiple restaurants, how social media affects the business and what they do to keep employees motivated and customers coming back for more.

Running a restaurant and delighting customers enough for them to return is no piece of cake, but Anthony Lupo and Brian Schram of Scarlet Oak and Southern Hospitality restaurants exceed expectations when it comes to creating loyal communities and happy employees. “We wanted to really focus on the hospitality side,” Lupo says about their simple concept of pairing great food with great service. On this episode, Lupo and Schram share how much hard work goes into running multiple restaurants, how social media affects the business and what they do to keep employees motivated and customers coming back for more.

Rob Colenso, senior product manager and UI/UX team lead for Total Wine & More, brings a natural curiosity and a knack for user research from his previous career as a journalist into UX design. He increased ecommerce revenue by 55 percent from last year by identifying and improving multiple touchpoints in the online consumer journey. On this episode, Colenso shares insights on how UX and product designers approach user research and shape their findings to create a seamless and emotionally enriched shopping experience.

Rob Colenso, senior product manager and UI/UX team lead for Total Wine & More, brings a natural curiosity and a knack for user research from his previous career as a journalist into UX design. He increased ecommerce revenue by 55 percent from last year by identifying and improving multiple touchpoints in the online consumer journey. On this episode, Colenso shares insights on how UX and product designers approach user research and shape their findings to create a seamless and emotionally enriched shopping experience.