Retail Gets Real

Myles Powell loves a challenge. With a knack for seemingly uncommon flavor combinations, Powell created 8 Myles on a whim and took his passion for food all the way to quitting a job in civil engineering and becoming a full-time small biz owner. 8 Myles, a gourmet sauce and seasonings company, started locally and is fast gaining national popularity through deals with Whole Foods and Williams-Sonoma. This week, Powell shares juicy stories of solo entrepreneurship.

Jack Kleinhenz is a self-proclaimed “watchdog” as he collects, models and provides perspective for economic data collected on a daily basis. As the chief economist for the world’s largest retail trade organization, NRF’s Kleinhenz has over 35 years of experience and knows that numbers are not always perfect — without perspective, the data is useless. “I’m a storyteller,” he says about his profession. On this week’s episode, Kleinhenz describes the art and science of economic forecasting.

Sarween Salih had a successful consulting career, but her undeniable passion was for fitness and fashion. She started an athleisure company as a pop-up in the back of a gym where she was teaching fitness classes, which ultimately led to a permanent storefront in Washington, D.C. Listen to this week’s episode to hear how this small retailer is building a scalable business.

#12 Emerging trends in urban shopping experiences

#11 Everything you think you know about lobbyists is probably wrong

#10 Small business success requires constant evolution

#9 How the STORES Top 100 Retailers stay on top

#8 The future of the retail store

#7 In search of a better fit

#6 Retail’s evolution requires a focus on talent development

#5 How Nat Geo connects content, community and commerce

#4 Growing a small business, one scoop at a time

#3 Get ready for Gen Z

Making a doughnut isn't just about following a recipe; baking a delicious pastry requires a bit of philosophy, too. NRF's Bill Thorne and Jessica Hibbard discuss entrepreneurship and geek out about food with Greg Menna, co-founder and CEO of District Doughnut in Washington, D.C. Greg shares what he's learned from launching his company.   From starting the business to refining the menu and opening new locations, Greg talks about the power of passion, craftsmanship and community.

Large retailers like Walmart have an international presence, including hundreds of stores in China. No two countries shop alike, but a strong connection with the community is important no matter where you’re opening a business.   Maggie Sans, former senior vice president and chief corporate affairs officer for Walmart in China, joins NRF's Bill Thorne and Sarah Rand for a candid discussion about doing business outside the United States.