Retail Gets Real

Levi’s is a “150-year-old startup” that continues to transform its iconic brand. James ‘JC’ Curleigh, President of Global Brands at Levi Strauss & Co, shares what he’s learned about leveraging new solutions to deliver simple experiences with sophistication while preserving the authenticity that made many people fans in the first place.

Have you heard that retail is dying? We have too — but the numbers don’t support that story. Forrester Retail Analyst Sucharita Kodali joins the show to present findings from the State of Retailing Online 2018 report and crush the myth of the “retail apocalypse.”

Henrik Werdelin, co-founder of BarkBox maker BARK, discusses how the company’s dog-obsessed culture drives every facet of the business and attracts an army of similarly obsessed fans.

An interview with CEO and Co-founder of UrbanStems, Ajay Kori, on how building a new supply chain allowed the company to separate itself from the competition and how they successfully made it up to customers after a Valentine’s Day error.

What do Warby Parker and STORY have in common? Entrepreneurs with a keen eye for innovation. Warby Parker’s Neil Blumenthal and STORY’s Rachel Shechtman come from different backgrounds, but they both built brands with a fresh take on retail. In this episode, the two friends chat about building a brand around a crazy idea, and how retailers can evolve with the changing retail landscape.

Dream job doesn’t even begin to describe Danielle DiFerdinando’s career. The young fashion designer started the Danielle Nicole brand of handbags as a student and has grown the business through partnerships with retailers like Nordstrom and HSN. In this episode, DiFerdinando talks about the thrill of working on a line of Disney and Harry Potter handbags, being named one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 and what drives her creative spirit.

After 25 years in business, DSW is re-evaluating its strategy and adopting new retail concepts to skip ahead of the competition. CEO Roger Rawlins and CFO Jared Poff join Retail Gets Real to discuss their recent successes and where the reinvention is taking the company. Hear how DSW is fighting the “retail is dead” myth and demonstrating how the company is alive and kicking.

In 35 years of a loss prevention career, truth has sometimes been stranger than fiction. Rosamaria Sostilio, vice president of loss prevention for Barnes & Noble Inc., describes what her job involves – from asset protection to risk management – and the unique perspective she brings. Listen to Sostilio on this episode as she reveals a hidden side of retail and what it takes for a woman to rise to the top in the industry.

Two business students set out to make the bra buying experience more comfortable, affordable and accessible, establishing Harper Wilde around the concepts of simple options, fair prices and home try-ons. In this episode, co-founders Jane Fisher and Jenna Kerner discuss how they’re empowering women through revolutionizing the way bras are sold.

How do companies design smooth mobile experiences? Most retailers keep this question top of mind, and Walgreens is no different. The retailer has optimized its mobile experience for customers including Boomers, which comprise over 20 percent of Walgreens’ app users. In this episode, hear from Walgreens’ “mobile guy,” Senior Product Manager Benjamin Weiss, on how the company integrates its services into one app that eases friction in not just the shopping experience, but customers’ quality of life.

After serving urban communities for more than 20 years, plus-size fashion retailer Ashley Stewart was on the brink of closing in 2013 when investment professional James Rhee stepped in as CEO and brought the company back to life. In this episode, Rhee joins co-host Shannon Schuyler, chief purpose officer at PwC to discuss his values-based leadership style and how passion saved the company.

Kidbox, a curated clothing service for children, uses a proprietary algorithm to serve up the perfect styles. For every full box kept, the company donates new clothing to children in need. In this episode, Kidbox CEO Miki Berardelli discusses how the company thrives on a technology-first approach and dedication to charitable giving.

From humble beginnings to 4.5 million global subscribers, TechStyle brands JustFab and ShoeDazzle are now the largest subscription ecommerce brands worldwide. In this episode, JustFab and ShoeDazzle Brand President Traci Inglis discusses how operating with a startup mentality helps the brands fuel innovation through data and customer personalization.

Retail is going through rapid transformation driven by changing consumer behavior — consumers simply don’t shop the way they used to anymore. NRF’s Director of Research and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen explains generational differences in shopping habits and the consumer preferences shaping today’s retail, including trends in fulfillment and experiential retail.

Tractor Supply Company (which does not sell tractors), celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, and SVP and CIO Rob Mills says that 70 percent of its customers today shop on a mobile device for gardening equipment, supplies for animals, hardware and apparel. In this episode, Mills discusses how the company extends the product expertise it’s known for to the digital world, creating an award-winning online customer experience.