Retail Gets Real

Myles Powell loves a challenge. Starting a food blog and entering Food Network’s “Best Cooks in America” competition were just two he took on. 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 comp...

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 professi...

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.

Consumption-oriented retail concepts like shopping malls are transitioning to experience-based urban developments like CityCenterDC in the heart of downtown Washington. The mixed-use property is a unique draw for residents and visitors alike, including international tourists. On this week’s episode, hear from CityCenterDC General Manager Timothy Lowery and Hines Senior Manager of Corporate Communi...

Lobbyists have to counter many misconceptions, and you might be surprised to hear that “a good lobbyist is really ethical,” says David French, NRF’s senior vice president of government affairs. On this week’s episode, French joins NRF’s Bill Thorne and Susan Reda for a candid discussion about how lobbying works and how NRF helps tell the story of retail on Capitol Hill. French describes how he com...

Cary Kelly’s passion for cooking led the former executive coach to open her first food retail business. Over the years, Kelly and her company have evolved constantly to stay on top of changing trends. Rebranding her culinary marketplace as The Cookery and customizing each location to suit the neighborhood has helped the company’s stores gain a loyal following. On this week’s episode, Kelly explain...

STORES Magazine Editor Susan Reda has covered retail through its glory days and challenging times. Reda shares how companies on the 2017 list of Top 100 Retailers constantly innovate to stay relevant, using technology and customer insights to provide compelling omnichannel shopping experiences. Listen to this week’s episode to learn which companies top this year’s list, and hear Reda’s predictions...

Bluemercury has 140 stores across the United States and is opening three new locations every week. On this episode, co-founder and COO Barry Beck explains how the brand stays ahead of changing retail trends. While technology is an important part of the experience, Beck says success is more about understanding evolving consumer behavior. Listen to this week’s episode to hear more about the company’...

If you’re the type of guy who’s getting rid of your last piece of IKEA furniture, you probably want your clothes to fit properly. Philip Soriano had a career in corporate finance when he discovered that men’s dress shirts just don’t fit as advertised and decided to do something about it. Soriano’s company, Hugh & Crye, has found success by taking a different approach to sizing and listening to wha...

Shopping is changing, and that means the way retailers do business is changing, too. On this week’s episode, NRF co-hosts Bill Thorne and Jessica Hibbard talk with former Macy’s CMO Martine Reardon and NRF’s Ellen Davis about the evolution of the industry. To successfully compete and offer experiences that delight consumers, retailers are placing an emphasis on recruitment and talent development....

A retail store may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a world-renowned publishing company like National Geographic. But Jill Dvorak, director of merchandising and marketing at National Geographic Partners, loves the challenge of connecting merchandise to the brand’s ethos of exploration. In this week’s episode, Dvorak sits down with NRF’s Artemis Berry, Jessica Hibbard and...

For most people, ice cream is an edible treat. For Victoria Lai, it’s a passion and a business. On this episode of Retail Gets Real, co-hosts Bill Thorne and Tony Fontana sit down with the owner and founder of Ice Cream Jubilee, a Washington, D.C., company that has been on more than one list of top ice cream shops in America. Lai shares her experiences developing unique ice cream flavors and growi...

Just when retailers thought they understood Generation X and had figured out how to reach Millennials, here comes Gen Z.   The rise of social media and evolving technologies have ushered in rapid change, and a new generation will bring even more upheaval. On this week’s episode of Retail Gets Real, we look at the latest research on Generation Z and what retailers need to know about these young con...

Making a doughnut isn't just about following a recipe; baking a delicious pastry requires a bit of philosophy, too. Learn all about it on this episode of Retail Gets Real: 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.   With...

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 d...

Retail impacts everyone, every day, everywhere. Join the National Retail Federation for authentic, insightful conversations with the industry's most interesting people. Hear retail executives, industry experts, entrepreneurs and influencers discuss trends, their career stories and the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.