60-second Retail

How does 2023 compare to 2022 when it comes to retail bankruptcy filings and store closures? Are certain segments in a better position than others? What will the impact of excess inventory be on the financial outlook for the rest of the year? Tune into this episode to hear what David Berliner, Partner & National Leader of Business Restructuring at BDO USA, thinks is in store for the industry a...

BNPL is great for consumers and has taken off in recent years, but is it viable for retailers? What economic factors and risks need to be taken into consideration when determining whether to offer it as a payment option? In this episode we examine why BNPL has become so popular with consumers, and discuss the growing risks retailers are taking on in today's economy in order to spur big ticket item...

Are retailers across the globe facing the same challenges as we are stateside? What do we stand to learn from retailers in the UK, who may be taking a different strategy to address shared issues? Are there potential hurdles on the horizon our counterparts have a head start on overcoming? Listen in to the very first episode of 60-second Retail - International Edition, where we are joined by Laura M...

What retail sector is speeding ahead in the digital innovation race and how are they doing this? What can you borrow from these digital gurus to strengthen your own digital transformation strategy? Tune in to this episode of our 60-second Retail podcast, as Robert Brown, National Digital Leader for Retail and Consumer Products at BDO USA, discusses some of the more interesting findings from the 20...

How are Retail CFOs planning to deal with the fallout from supply chain strains that have left them at times with not enough inventory, and at other times too much? What vulnerabilities can be negated simply by going back to the basics with your supply chain strategy? In this episode of our 60-second Retail podcast, Ted Vaughan, Assurance Managing Partner and Retail and Consumer Products Leader of...

Why are retailers planning to take on debt even in the face of a potential recession? Who are the most vulnerable retailers as the economic volatility continues? How can retailers build resiliency in the year ahead? In this episode of our 60-second Retail podcast, David Berliner, Partner & National Leader of Business Restructuring at BDO USA, talks about some of the 2023 Retail CFO Outlook Sur...

The U.S. college enrollment fell for the 3rd consecutive year since the pandemic, and there has been a drop in high school graduation in many states. How does this "backlash against education" impact the retail industry? Can retailers turn this into an opportunity to attract talent? Tune in to hear why Ross Forman, Managing Director in the Workplace Operations & Strategy Group at BDO USA, is k...

With the retail partnership space rapidly evolving, there's a new hybrid format that’s taking off. Big box retailers are renting out retail space in their stores to small businesses. Is this a good strategy for retailers to consider when looking for new ways to expand business? What benefits does it bring to the consumer? Tune into this episode where Ross Forman, Managing Director in the Workplace...

Why has the retail industry seen so many corporate job cuts over the last few months? How does this move reconcile with the need to create an employee experience that keeps them happy, engaged and invested in the company? Listen in to this episode to hear what Ross Forman, Managing Director in the Workplace Operations & Strategy Group at BDO USA, thinks is going on, and what retailers need to...

With shipping charges decreasing on the international front, and last-mile delivery companies announcing poor performance predictions on the domestic front, what's really going on with the retail supply chain? In this episode we are joined by R.J. Romano, Managing Director, Business Advisory Services & Supply Chain Advisory Practice Leader at BDO USA, who helps us sort through all the mixed si...

How can retailers use extra inventory to lower their total taxable income? What tax benefits might there be for a retailer who chooses to donate excess inventory? Tune into this episode where James McNamara, Partner in Core Tax Services at BDO USA, lays out some considerations for retailers when determining the best way to manage excess inventory.

Now that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has been rolled out with a new book minimum tax in place, are there any implications that retailers need to be aware of? Tune into this episode to hear why John Marquardt, Central Tax Regional Managing Partner at BDO USA thinks this is a very unusual move for the IRS to make.

Are consumers so programmed to see price increases that another uptick in shrinkflation doesn’t even matter? Can retailers double down with increased prices AND product modifications? Tune into this episode where Ted Vaughan, Partner and Southwest Regional Retail Leader at BDO USA, gives us his thoughts on how retailers can best navigate the impacts of shrinkflation.

Many retailers have been testing a variety of pre-holiday sales formats well in advance of the typical holiday shopping season - including Amazon, Target and Walmart. Were any of these retailers able to spur consumer spending ahead of time? Tune into this episode where we examine whether the pre-holiday sales were a strategic success or a bust.

With a 4th interest rate hike approved just before the holidays, what impacts can retailers expect? What is the macroeconomic effect of companies borrowing with interest rates going up? Tune into this episode to hear what David Berliner, Partner & National Leader of Business Restructuring at BDO USA thinks the ramifications are, and what retailers may need to do to spur consumer spending and m...

What's happening with governance practices and policies in the retail sector? What is ethical consumerism? And why is this so important to a retailer looking to stay top of mind with consumers? In this episode, the last of our 3-part mini-series dedicated to ESG in retail, we are again joined by Karen Baum, ESG Service Leader at BDO USA, who explains the importance of using ESG to keep consumer mi...

What can retailers do to improve their employee experience? What labor practice concerns should be top of mind for retailers? In this episode, the 2nd of our 3-part mini-series dedicated to ESG in retail, we are joined by Karen Baum, ESG Service Leader at BDO USA, to help us understand how the social aspect plays out in retail.

Why is ESG so important for retailers to pay attention to and incorporate into their business strategy? What are some top environmental concerns and how do they impact the retail industry? In this episode, the first of our 3-part mini-series dedicated to ESG in retail, we are joined by Karen Baum, ESG Service Leader at BDO USA, who helps us answers these important questions.

With the rapid evolution of the retail industry over the last few years, have the critical KPIs for retailers changed? Tune into this episode to hear what Robert Brown, National Digital Leader for Retail and Consumer Products at BDO USA, thinks are the most important metrics to track today and how these differ from what retailers have historically looked at.

How can technology and data analytics support the retail supply chain? Why are strategic investments in the retail tech stack so critical? In this episode we are joined by Robert Brown, National Digital Leader for Retail and Consumer Products at BDO USA, who explains why retailers need to address gaps in their tech stack and prioritize data analytics, and where to start.

Along with the growth of e-Commerce comes growth in returns. What are some of the important operational areas for retailers to examine to insure they are reducing returns? Can virtual try-on technology assist in this arena? Listen in to this episode where Robert Brown, National Digital Leader for Retail and Consumer Products at BDO USA, answers these questions.

What pain points AI can help relieve for retailers? How does AI analysis of data differ from traditional data analysis in improving the bottom line? And where do you even start if you're looking to implement AI? In this episode Robert Brown, National Digital Leader for Retail and Consumer Products at BDO USA, helps us understand the opportunities AI presents for retailers.

Another paradigm shift seems to be underway in the retail sector and it’s being led by some well-known brands - moving to a direct to consumer (D2C) business model. What is the value in doing this? How will consumers react? And is this trend here to stay? Listen in as Paige Lustbader, Audit Director in the Retail & Consumer Products industry group at BDO USA helps us answers these important qu...

Why do retailers need to evolve their customer loyalty programs to better retain customers? How can loyalty programs be leveraged to drive additional importance in inflationary times? In this episode, we are joined by Jennifer Valdivia, Audit Partner and West regional leader for the Retail and Consumer Products Industry group at BDO USA, to answer these important questions.