OFFBounds Retail

In this exclusive episode of the OFFBounds podcast, host Paula Macaggi interviews Joe Megibow, the new CEO of Casper, to discuss the major turnaround strategy for the iconic direct-to-consumer (DTC) mattress brand. Casper, once a shining star highly backed by VC investors looking into profit in the DTC space, faced challenges after going public and went back to being private. Now, with Joe at the...

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi chats with Kristen D’Arcy, the first-ever CMO of True Religion , about the brand's remarkable turnaround. After two bankruptcies, True Religion is making a big comeback, and Kristen shares how she’s helping lead the charge. From tapping into the brand's rich history in music and culture to launching the Team True influencer program, Kristen talks about w...

In this episode of OFFBounds, host Paula Macaggi sits down with Alicia Waters, the President of Crate & Barrel and Crate & Kids, to explore how the brand has perfected the art of "Design with Purpose." Alicia shares insights into Crate & Barrel's seamless omnichannel experience, innovative store transformations, and the brand's commitment to sustainability and thoughtful design. They a...

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi interviews James Reinhart , co-founder and CEO of ThredUp , to discuss how the company is revolutionizing the secondhand fashion industry through the power of AI. Learn how ThredUp uses technology to streamline the resale process, from item inspection to online merchandising, making sustainable shopping more accessible and efficient. James also shares in...

In this episode of OFFBounds, host Paula Macaggi sits down with Dara Meath , Chief Technology Officer at Build-A-Bear Workshop, to explore how the iconic brand is embracing digital transformation while staying true to its heartwarming, in-store experience. Dara shares insights on Build-A-Bear’s seamless integration of technology across channels, their innovative venture into the virtual world of R...

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with Luciano Rodembusch , President of Pandora North America , to explore how Pandora is redefining the jewelry industry. Discover how Pandora is making diamonds accessible to all with their innovative lab-grown diamonds while staying committed to sustainability. Luciano shares insights into Pandora's Phoenix Strategy, their journey from being...

In this episode of our new Retail Innovation Series with OFFBounds and Shoptalk Fall , I sit down with Alison Hiatt , the Chief Merchandising and Growth Officer at Vera Bradley , who stepped into her role in 2023 with the mission of leading a rebranding and turnaround for the beloved American brand. Known for its vibrant, patterned bags, Vera Bradley had touched the hearts of many since the 80s bu...

In episode 35 of OFFBounds , host Paula Macaggi dives deep into the future of Starbucks under the leadership of its new CEO, Brian Niccol. Joined by top retail experts DeAnn Campbell and Brandon Rael , the episode explores whether Niccol, known for his successful turnaround of Chipotle, is the right person to steer Starbucks back to its growth trajectory. The discussion touches on the challenges N...

In this special episode of OFFBounds , inspired by the recent 2024 Olympic Games, we explore the remarkable connection between athletic grit and business success. Host Paula Macaggi is joined by two former athletes who have transitioned into successful business leaders—Jenna Posner and Brian Librach. Together, they dive into how the qualities that drive Olympians to excel—resilience, discipline, a...

In this episode of OFFBounds , host Paula Macaggi brings you a curated list of 8 essential books that every commerce leader should read this summer. Whether you're leading a team, running a business, or simply looking to enhance your leadership skills, these books will inspire and equip you with the insights needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. What You'll Learn: 📖 Why reading is a...

OFFBounds Summer Series - Episode 01/04  Today we dive into one of retail's hottest trends: Recommerce.  As the urgency for sustainable business practices grows, recommerce—repairing, recycling, and reselling—is becoming a vital strategy for many retailers and brands.  Driven by consumer preferences and regulations, the market is projected to grow five times faster than overall retail by 2025, rea...

Today, you'll meet the CIO and CDO of the H2O Retailing Group, a Japanese group that owns department stores, shopping malls, and supermarkets in West Japan.  Toru Koyama joined the group about three years ago to lead the midterm and long-term digital strategies to become a communication retailer and develop direct communication with customers and deepen relationships. For that, it's necessary to c...

 In this episode, Paula Macaggi sits down with Ngai Yuen Low , the Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer at AEON Group Malaysia and an advisory board member of NRF APAC.  AEON Group, originally founded as Jusco in Japan in 1969, has grown significantly and played a pivotal role in modernizing Malaysia's retail industry. Yuen shares her insights on the unique challenges and opportunities in the...

Welcome to Episode 28 of OFFBounds! Join Paula Macaggi as she sits down with Nicole Sheffield, Managing Director of Wesfarmers OneDigital and President of the Australian Retailers Association in Singapore while we were visiting the NRF APAC event last month.  In this insightful episode, we delve into Australia's retail landscape, Wesfarmers' diverse operations, including OneDigital which was found...

In this episode, Paula Macaggi takes you on an exhilarating journey to Singapore, where she attended the much-anticipated NRF APAC event. Tune in as Paula shares her firsthand experiences and key insights from the event, held from June 11-13, 2024. Discover why Singapore, known as the City of Lights, was the perfect host for this international retail event. Explore the stunning Changi Airport, mar...

Paula Macaggi sits down with Danielle Diliberti , CEO of Sommsation , a wine marketplace born during the pandemic that connects independent wineries and world-class sommeliers with consumers. Danielle shares how her background in technology helped build Sommsation with a legacy-free architecture to support decades of growth. We explore Som sation's innovative approaches, such as the Rebel Wine Clu...

In the latest episode of OFFBounds, host Paula Macaggi sits down with retail veteran and best-selling author Steve Dennis to discuss his new book, Leaders Leap . With an extensive background that includes strategic roles at Sears and Neiman Marcus, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation about why many transformations fail and how leaders can effectively navigate change. The discuss...

In this episode of OFFBounds, host Paula Macaggi sits down with Celso Borges Shimabukuro , VP of E-commerce at PepsiCo Europe, during Shop Talk Europe in Barcelona. Celso delves into PepsiCo's mission to drive outrageous growth and develop differentiating capabilities in the e-commerce space. He explains how the company navigates the complexities of partnering with both traditional retail giants a...

Welcome to Episode 23 of OFFBounds! In this episode, Paula Macaggi sits down with Matthieu Houle , the CIO of Aldo, one of the world's most popular shoe brands. Matthieu shares his fascinating journey from running a surf magazine in Costa Rica to leading digital transformation at Aldo. Learn about his unique insights on the importance of embracing change, leveraging AI, and maintaining agility in...

Welcome to Episode 22 of OFFBounds! Today, we take you to Montreal, Canada. The city is famous for its bagels, poutines, Anthony Bourdain, and incredible education. I had two distinguished guests from the Bensadoun School of Retail Management at McGill University. Join me as I sit down with Charles de Brabant, the Executive Director, and Carl Boutet, a Senior Advisor and Lecturer, to delve into th...

In this episode, Paula welcomes to OFFBounds a reference in the digital commerce: Rick Watson . He's a consultant and host of both Watson Weekly and Watson Weekend . Probably one of the best experts to follow if you want to be up to date with the industry.  We asked Rick to join us to help us understand a few things about the market: - What happened to DTC? - What happened to Allbirds? - Are compa...

In this episode of OFFBounds Market , we travel to the largest country in the South Hemisphere: Brazil. Paula Macaggi shares insights from her recent visits to VTEX Day and WebSummit and explores the complexities and opportunities within the Brazilian retail market. She discusses Brazil's advanced financial system, highlighting its innovative payment methods and high banking penetration. Macaggi d...

In this compelling episode of OFFBounds, host Paula Macaggi is joined in London by Oliver Banks , retail expert and author of "Driving Retail Transformation." Together, they delve into the intricacies of retail change, discussing the balance between strategic decisions and ongoing adjustments needed to stay competitive. Oliver shares insights from his career, including his time at Tesco and as a c...

With over 30 years in the industry, Paul Sims - the company's Chief Architect - shares his journey from learning Mandarin in Shanghai to leading Primark's tech strategy as they aim to expand to over 500 stores by 2026. This episode explores the challenges of global retail expansion, balancing legacy technologies with innovative solutions, and the role of AI in enhancing customer experiences withou...

Paula Macaggi engages in a captivating discussion with Renee Hartman, co-author of "Next Generation Retail," exploring the revolutionary trends in China's retail sector. Broadcasting from Lisbon, this episode delves into Renee's decade-long experience in China, her insights into social commerce, and the significant impact of technological advancements on Chinese and global retail landscapes. Join...