Retail War Games

In this session from the Retail Collective Summit, industry leaders from Nostra, Spreetail, SmartScout, Redo, and Bispoke dive into the rapidly shifting landscape of retail technology. As the cost of building tech drops and innovation accelerates, the panel explores how brands are moving away from "growth at all costs" toward a "profit-first" mentality driven by data accuracy and AI-powered insigh...

Is physical retail dead, or is it the most powerful growth tool for modern brands? In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with Rebekah Kondrat, Founder and Managing Partner of Rekon Retail, to explore the renaissance of the storefront. Rebekah, who has led physical expansion for giants like Warby Parker and Joybird, discusses why digital-native brands are increasingly moving into th...

In this session from the Retail Collective Summit (Panel 9), industry leaders from Baker Tilly, Mett Naturals, Life Cider, Nutriient, and Just Ingredients discuss the evolution of the health and wellness industry. Moving beyond simple shelf presence, these brands are developing holistic ecosystems rooted in radical transparency, rigorous testing, and founder-led storytelling. The conversation expl...

How does a brand evolve from sewing wallets in a basement to raising millions on Kickstarter? In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with Jacob Durham, co-founder of Nomatic, to deconstruct the journey of one of the most successful travel gear brands in the world. Jacob shares the strategy behind positioning Nomatic in the top 1% of crowdfunded projects by prioritizing high-function...

In this session from the Retail Collective Summit, founders and CEOs from Rags, &Collar, Beard Club, Caddis Sports, 47G and Spreetail dissect the shifting balance between D2C and marketplaces like Amazon and TikTok Shop.  The conversation reveals the raw reality of channel profitability, comparing high D2C gross margins against the lower acquisition costs and fulfillment efficiencies found on Amaz...

In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with a staple of Utah broadcasting, Nicea DeGering. With a career spanning over 30 years at ABC4, Nicea shares her journey from being a 29-year-old crime reporter to becoming a pioneer of "infotainment" as the face of Good Things Utah. She offers a rare look into the survival skills required to stay relevant in a transitory business, having suc...

In this strategic session from the Retail Collective Summit, leaders from iconic brands including LoveSac, R.C. Willey, Harmon's Grocery, Christy Sports, and Minky Couture convene to break down the operational challenges of navigating a market defined by uncertainty. The conversation dives deep into how decisiveness and aggression in decision-making allowed companies like LoveSac to anticipate tar...

"Nobody knows how to make 100 million view videos until they just start posting."  In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with Isaac Cook, former Lead Producer at MrBeast, former  producer for the massive Beast Games production and now founder of White Rock Media and Farther Media. Isaac shares the high-stakes tactical lessons learned while managing $2.5 million production budgets p...

In this strategic panel from the Retail Collective Summit in January 2026, we bring together the visionaries behind some of the most disruptive brands in retail to discuss the brutal reality of competition. These leaders share how to handle the moment your "moat" is breached by industry giants and fast followers. We move past the spreadsheets to explore the "Blue Sky" mindset, the danger of restin...

In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with Jason and Meradith Christensen, the husband-and-wife duo behind Blue Unicorn Bar. After building Northstar into one of the largest home security companies in the nation and exiting to private equity, Jason "disrupted himself" to enter the brutal world of CPG.  We dive into the "Willy Wonka" chemistry behind their proprietary manufacturing,...

"Not every dollar is a dollar. Smart money is king." In this session from the Retail Collective Summit, we bring together a powerhouse panel of financial and legal experts to deconstruct the current state of retail funding. Featuring Michael Bennett (Crew Capital), Derek Brown (Attorney General of Utah), and leaders in investment banking, we dive into the mechanics of over 500 M&A transactions and...

In this episode of Retail War Games, we sit down with Atul Vir, the Founder and CEO of Equator Advanced Appliances and author of Underdog Thinking. With a career spanning 35 years and multiple continents, Atul shares how he built a retail powerhouse by identifying the "problems that don't exist" according to industry giants. From surviving economic coups and currency devaluations in Africa to laun...

This is Panel 4 of Retail Collective Summit of Winter 2026, CEOs from Backcountry, Borboleta Beauty, Teton Sports, ARI Bikes, Cariloha, and Mission Belt strip away the AI hype to discuss the cold, hard reality of retail innovation in 2026. For the C-suite, technology is no longer just a shiny new tool—it's an "Ironman Suit" designed to give your workforce more leverage. But there is a catch: as AI...

Cristóbal Murillo left Chile with two suitcases, a bold idea, and a dream: to turn Selk'bag into a global outdoor brand. Today, his wearable sleeping bag is sold across the U.S. and Europe, with collaborations that include Marvel, Star Wars, and some of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world. In this episode, Cristóbal shares how a quirky idea born in Santiago became a worldwide success...

This is not a regular episode. It's Panel 3 of the Retail Collective Winter 2026 Summit, a live session featuring CEOs, founders, and leaders who are actively shaping the future of retail. In this conversation, executives from Demer Box, Nature's Fusions, Rhone, Stance, Mixhers, Lion Energy, Nielsen, and Spreetail unpack one of the most defining tensions for emerging brands today: Should you chase...

AI is reshaping every part of sales, marketing, and revenue operations—and few leaders understand that transformation better than Amy Cook, Co‑Founder and CMO of Fullcast. In this conversation, Amy breaks down how AI is redefining go‑to‑market strategy, why authenticity matters more than ever, and what modern revenue teams must do to stay competitive. From her journey as a single mom rebuilding he...

In this second panel from the January 2026 Retail Collective Summit, industry leaders break down the realities of today's global supply chains—from escalating tariffs and shifting labor markets to the long-term demographic pressures reshaping where and how products can be made. Through candid insights and real-world examples, the panel explores what true supply‑chain resiliency looks like in an er...

Joshua Ketter has lived a life few people can imagine—born in Alaska, raised in Seattle, and now a global operator who has visited 84 countries and helped shape the retail strategies of Amazon and Target. In this episode, he sits down with Jeremy to unpack the early days of Amazon, the realities of scaling e‑commerce, and the lessons learned from overseeing massive supply chain and technology oper...

The Supreme Court has officially struck down the Trump‑era tariffs in a landmark ruling that could reshape the entire retail and manufacturing landscape. After years of U.S. brands paying more than $160B in tariffs, the decision opens the door for significant refunds as the case moves to lower courts. Early estimates suggest companies may recover 30–50% of what they paid, with higher odds for good...

This panel brings together some of Utah's most dynamic founders and operators to unpack one of the biggest questions facing consumer brands today: How do you navigate economic headwinds while serving increasingly price‑sensitive customers — without compromising your brand? Moderated by Nicea DeGering (ABC4) and Rachelle Morris (Stalwart Ventures) , the conversation features leaders from premium fo...

BGZ Brands has evolved from a family garage operation into a leader in mobile protection, distribution strategy, and the emerging category of device wellness. In this episode, Shane Feller shares how BodyGuardZ, Lander, and Moxyo are innovating across channels while redefining what a screen protector can be. A deep dive into innovation, retail strategy, and the future of consumer electronics.  

Back9 Golf is rewriting the rules of franchising — and in just three years, they've scaled to 443 locations across the U.S. and abroad. In this episode, Dustin Hansen, CEO of Back9, breaks down the franchise model, the culture, and the strategy behind one of the fastest‑growing concepts in America. Inside this conversation: • How Back9 evaluates franchisees and maintains culture at scale • Why ind...

The outdoor industry is under pressure — tariffs, supply‑chain swings, shifting consumer behavior, and a retail landscape that's harder than ever to navigate. In this episode, Marcus Sorensen, CEO of Caddis Sports, breaks down the real challenges outdoor brands are facing and the strategies that actually work in today's market.

The drone revolution is here — and it's transforming retail, logistics, and the future of mobility. In this episode, Aaron Starks, President & CEO of 47G, breaks down how autonomous delivery, air taxis, and advanced aerospace technology are reshaping the way products move and consumers shop. You'll learn: • How autonomous drones will change last‑mile delivery and retail logistics • Why Utah is bec...

In this episode, Jake Karls—co‑founder of Mid‑Day Squares—reveals how a small snack made in a Montreal condo kitchen grew into a retail powerhouse now found in more than 10,000 stores across North America. He breaks down the storytelling‑driven strategy that helped them build community before hitting shelves, the decision to manufacture their own product when no co‑packer could match their vision,...