Retail Remix

In the wake of the pandemic, flexible fulfillment and contactless commerce both came to the forefront. To enable great experiences in these areas, retailers need to bridge the gap between their online and digital inventories, and ensure real-time visibility into product availability and location. This is an area of great struggle for retailers, and it's something that RAIN RFID can help address. D...

Retailers have bolstered their delivery and fulfillment offerings to cater to an increasingly demanding consumer. While speed is critical, retailers also need to think about how efficient and profitable these fulfillment offerings are. Not to mention the fact that organizations are being held more accountable for their environmental and sustainability initiatives. The fulfillment puzzle is becomin...

Most purchase decisions still begin with a basic search. What's changing, however, is where those searches take place. Most still happen on a search engine, but some occur via personal digital assistants, Amazon and other platforms. This is making brand discovery and engagement far more difficult, especially for smaller brands. Not to mention, recent announcements from Google indicate that ranking...

Barbara Kahn is the Patty and Jay H. Baker Professor of Marketing for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania . Over the course of her career, Barbara has kept a close watch on the evolution of retail and key economic and social trends that are impacting it. In recent weeks, she has assessed the impact of COVID-19 in an effort to determine its impact in comparison to the Great Recessi...

Sure, the Internet has given us undeniable power, connecting us to millions of sources of information, inspiration and commerce. But when we take a closer look at most e-Commerce experiences, Andrew Blachman , who is the President of Tophatter , believes there's plenty of room for improvement. Specifically, he believes that many brand and retailer sites lack the capabilities that add surprise and...

Last Mile has evolved from an operational concern, to a core component of the customer experience. Essential retailers have successfully pivoted to offer flexible fulfillment options, such as curbside pickup, while e-Commerce giants like Amazon are bolstering their workforce and partnerships to fulfill their delivery promises. These initiatives leave other retailers asking: How can we keep up? Dur...

Astound Commerce is a digital commerce company that has worked with top brands, including L’Oréal, Under Armour and Jimmy Choo. To understand how these and other brands must adapt and evolve in light of the pandemic, the company studied consumer sentiment and shifting habits during the crisis. During this episode of Retail Remix, host Alicia Esposito sits down with Vanessa Cartwright , Chief Clien...

As a principal at Eastbanc , a prominent retail landlord in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington DC, Philippe Lanier has been having a lot of conversations with retail partners. Through steady communication, Philippe and his tenants are determining the best way to navigate current realities, and develop a forward-looking plan for success that revolves around serving shoppers in the best way p...

During the National Retail Federation's 2020 BIG Show, host Alicia Esposito had the chance to sit down with Bob Phibbs , the Retail Doctor, and Carol Leaman , CEO of Axonify . While the conversation was insightful, zeroing in on the fact that associates were tasked to do more than ever, the current situation has completely re-framed the conversation. That is why Alicia caught up with Bob and Carol...

As retail stores begin to reopen, business leaders are thinking more critically about the future of the in-store experience. What is the best way to build consumer trust and make them feel at ease about going into a store? How can brands creatively bring the best of digital and physical experiences together without forcing them into an uncomfortable experience? During this episode of Retail Remix,...

For many years, the Internet of Things (IoT) got a lot of buzz. Smart home and store technology illustrated the value of connecting devices and data. However, most IoT use cases have revolved around improving efficiencies, reducing energy consumption and tracking inventory throughout the store. Experience use cases are not as widely known which ultimately, creates new opportunities for brands to i...

Testing, learning and pivoting haven't necessarily been retailers' strong points. Right before COVID-19 hit, many businesses were still struggling with legacy infrastructures and disjointed processes. These legacy qualities inhibited them from responding swiftly to new consumer behaviors and competitive forces. That is why Elizabeth Elliott , who is a Managing Partner at Columbus Consulting , beli...

Now more than ever, consumers want brands to stand for something. They want authenticity and meaning. But what's the best way for retailers to stand for something when they're facing ongoing uncertainty? Nicola Smith , Founder and CEO of REBEL & REASON , believes that now is the time for business leaders to take risks and find new ways to connect and resonate with their audiences. After all, i...

Some people run away from change. Others run towards it. Joe Jackman is in the latter group. As the president and CEO of Jackman Reinvents , he helps transform brands, unlock new business value and frankly, make change less scary. And with his latest book, The Reinventionist Mindset , he's providing guiding principles to help retail executives establish a path forward, even in uncertain times. Dur...

In his role at Target, Chris Walton helped bring "the store of the future" into the cultural zeitgeist. In fact, he led the retailers' Store of the Future project and also served as VP of Merchandising and Home Furnishings on Target.com. The experience sparked some career highs, as well as some critical lessons learned. Now, Chris shares his lessons and commentary on the industry as the CEO and Fo...

Retail executive. Keynote speaker. Consultant. Author. Steve Dennis has an expansive history, and undeniable passion, for retail. Over the past 30 years, he has kept a pulse on where the industry is going, and has provided invaluable guidance to help organizations can respond. New developments surrounding the novel coronavirus have forced retailers to pause, pivot or completely rethink their busin...

News and updates surrounding the novel coronavirus are emerging daily, if not hourly. Retailers are scrambling to adapt and respond, whether it be in the form of new hours, alternative fulfillment offerings, enhanced safety policies or furloughs. Other brands, especially those in apparel, cosmetics and other non-essential categories, are attempting to pivot their marketing and engagement strategie...

All brands are adapting their experience strategies to Gen Z in order to capture more wallet share. For Barnes & Noble College , it's imperative for survival. That's why Ken Wincko , VP of Marketing, is focusing on creating digital strategies that help college students feel more connected to their communities. During this episode of Retail Remix, Ken reveals why he's actually in the business o...

With a rich history in licensing, Christine Currence has reached a new milestone in her career: president and owner of Badgley Mischka . Now, she's helping the brand navigate this exciting, albeit volatile, time in fashion. The advent of social media has eliminated the exclusivity in luxury, with consumers demanding more access, more authenticity and more alignment with brands. During this episode...

News and developments surrounding COVID-19 are being released at a rapid pace. The Retail TouchPoints editorial team has been working diligently to update readers on new guidelines, store closures and realities surrounding supply chain, logistics, e-Commerce experience and more. However, these updates have been coming so quickly that the team has decided to come together to have a quick discussion...

As the president and owner of Badgley Mischka , Christine Currence is tasked with helping her business partners (including Mark Badgley and James Mischka) keep pace with new consumer trends and engagement imperatives. When she's not, she's a shopper...just like us. During this installment of Rapid Fire Retail, we learn her preferences and what tech she believes will have the biggest impact on the...

Melissa Gonzalez , Founder and CEO of the Lion’esque Group , has been one of the driving forces in the era of experiential retail. One of the first experts to delve into the pop-up paradigm (hence her book of the same name), Melissa has worked with countless brands to help them reimagine their brick-and-mortar experiences. Listen in as she shares her take on what’s next in experiential, the techno...

How does one of the key leaders in experiential retail prefer to shop? What brands is she loyal to? Most importantly, what advice does she have for retailers striving to stay relevant in consumers’ minds and hearts? During this episode of Rapid Fire Retail, we get to the heart of some key issues (and have some fun) with Melissa Gonzalez , Founder and CEO of the Lion’esque Group . 

In the new era of retail, having the right price and product will only get you so far. That’s what people use Amazon for. To win shopper loyalty, brands must prove to them that they stand for something—and that they align with consumers’ values, beliefs and lifestyles. Rob Garf , VP of Industry Strategy and Insights at Salesforce , breaks down the big trust issue in retail, and how diversity, sust...

Rob Garf has been in the retail space for 20 years. He’s whip-smart, forward-thinking and is an all-around good guy. He’s a key source for Retail TouchPoints as we strive to uncover the leading tech trends and imperatives for experience success. While we dig into a lot of that in next week’s episode, this week we want to get to know him a little bit better. During the first installment of our Rapi...