Retail Riot

We couldn't avoid it. We need to talk about tariffs. Andrew, Alicia, and Nick try to make sense of the whole thing and how retailers can tackle them. Tariffs, Tariffs, Tariffs! Hosts tackle tariffs in the most unserious way possible. U.S.-Canada tensions escalate over dairy, lumber, and electricity tariffs. Trump threatens new tariffs; Canada fires back with retaliatory measures. Consumers & retai...

Nick, Andrew, and Alicia are back with another week of retail news. From OnRunning's earnings to Warby Parker launching pop ups in Target, this one's got something for everyone. Nike vs. On Running – Should Nike Be Worried? On Running reports 29.4% growth, but stock is down 20% this year. Hosts debate: Is On really a threat to Nike, or just a trendy niche player? Key question: Will On Running surv...

The gang is back with another round of retail news! Andrew, Alicia and Nick try to keep it a bit positive with so much bad news in the industry. Starbucks Shake-Up: Lays off 1,100 corporate employees in an "efficiency play." Cuts 13 menu items, including fan-favorite Frappuccinos—efficiency or alienation? Hosts debate: Can Starbucks balance speed with its community-driven roots? Joann Fabrics Bank...

Andrew is out with the winter sickness going around but Nick and Alicia are here and breaking down this week's news: Party City Real Estate Auction: Five Below and Dollar Tree grab most of Party City's vacant locations. Off-price retailers like Burlington, Books-a-Million, and La-Z-Boy also jump in. Hosts debate: Will Five Below expand into larger store formats? Saks & Neiman Marcus Shake-Up: Saks...

The Super Bowl has come and gone but retail keeps moving with Andrew, Nick and Alicia breaking down your weekly retail news. Super Bowl Ad Playoffs: * This year’s ads leaned into unhinged chaos—but did anyone actually remember the brands? * Nike made a big comeback, while Mayo somehow stole the show (yes, really). * Hosts discuss why advertisers are prioritizing viral weirdness over actual brand r...

Nick is MIA but retail is in full swing early in the year, and Alicia and Andrew break it all down. Bye Bye Baby Brouhaha Continues: Bye Bye Baby acquired by Beyond (Bed Bath & Beyond’s parent company). Plans include tokenizing part of the brand’s IP (yes, blockchain babies 😳), launching standalone stores operated by Kirkland’s, and building a blockchain ledger called "Life Chain" to track life e...

Another week has passed and more retail news is coming your way with the gang! Andrew, Alicia, and Nick dive into True Religion's come back, JC Penneys new team, and much much more! JCPenney & Sparc Group Merge: JCPenney joins forces with Sparc Group to form Catalyst Brands, creating a $9B revenue giant with 8,800 stores. New leadership shuffle: Marc Rosen as CEO, with brand execs from JCPenney, B...

Its been a busy start to the year but Nick, Andrew, and Alicia are back from the trade show circuit to talk what the vibes of 2025 are so far in the retail industry. NRF 2024 Recap: Vibe Check: Mixed energy on the show floor—some booths rocked, others felt like last-minute homework. Booth MVPs: Toast’s interactive coffee shop stole the show, blending tech with real-life retail vibes. Session Highl...

Happy Holidays from Alicia, Andrew, and Nick! With the holidays coming to a close the team recaps the holiday season and goes over some of the year end retail news stories. Gap Studio with Zac Posen: - Gap teams up with Zac Posen for an elevated capsule collection. - Holiday and spring styles, priced $128-$248, featuring chic designs like denim midi dresses and moto jackets. WHP Acquires Vera Wang...

Alicia, Andrew, and Nick are back in action as we get excited for the end of the holiday season like Santa Claus at the mall after a line of hungry kids. And the retail world is examining the year's winners and losers and what 2025 may have in store. On this week's news: Store Closures in 2024: Over 7,100 U.S. store closures announced—a 69% increase from last year. Bankruptcies nearly doubled, wit...

Another Black Friday weekend has come and went. We laughed, we cried, and we sold product at a discount. With the passing weekend Andrew, Nick and Alicia break down all the happenings of Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. Black Friday Recap: The magic of Black Friday feels diluted as sales stretch over weeks. Foot traffic leaders in malls: Lululemon (#1), Abercrombie & Fitch (#2), and a tie be...

Alicia and Andrew are Nick-less this week but none the less are deep in the holiday retail news with everything happening in the industry. Walmart Watch: Walmart exceeds Q3 revenue expectations with $169.59B in earnings. Concerns loom over proposed tariffs and their impact on everyday low prices. Can Walmart balance affordability with rising costs and political challenges? QVC's Makeover: QVC rebr...

With the countdown to Black Friday ticking away, Alicia, Andrew, and Nick are back breaking down what seems to be a retail market heating up. Vuori Goes Nuclear: * Viori scores $825M in funding, valuing the premium athleisure brand at $5.5B. * Bold moves into China and ambitious plans for 100 stores by 2026. * Hosts debate: smart bet or risky stretch in an already crowded market? Mark Lorey’s Food...

Get out your best mug because fresh off the ShopTalk Fall Classic (AKA the new ShopTalk Trade Show), Alicia and the boys give you all the tea on what was spilled by retailers at the show. A breakdown of some of the news is: Shoptalk Fall Recap: First Shoptalk Fall in Chicago kicks off with industry buzz. Highlights include revamped spaces and creative themes like the "Mission Impossible" tunnel en...

The gang takes on the latest retail news head on with another episode of Retail Riot! From CVS breaking up their retail and med business to Amazon be sneaky with their ad practices (or not so sneaky), this one’s got a little for everyone. News Stories: CVS Breakup Drama: * CVS thinking about splitting retail and insurance businesses. * Is it a smart move or should CVS seek a "second opinion"? * Ho...

Andrew and Alicia dive into this week's newest retail news, what is happening out there and everything in between. Story recaps below: Nike’s New CEO: Elliott Hill, a Nike lifer, takes over as CEO. Can his deep love for the brand help restore its mojo? Andrew and Alicia debate: is he the right guy to lead Nike back to greatness? Holiday Shopping Madness: Black Friday? Prime Day? Fall sales? Everyt...

The gang goes over another week in retail news: 1. Big Lots Bankruptcy Key Points: Big Lots has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The retailer has been acquired by Nexus Capital Management for approximately $760 million. The discussion explores the reasons behind Big Lots' financial decline, including poor management, merchandising issues, and brand identity problems. The host...

Andrew, Alicia, and Nick are back in the saddle with another segment of retail news. This week they cover: 1. Walmart’s AI Push – Is It Really Working? Key Points: Walmart is leveraging generative AI to manage 850 million data points in its product catalog, which would otherwise require 100 times the headcount to complete manually. AI is also being used for better product search, packaging visuals...

In this episode, your hosts Andrew and Alicia dive deep into the latest happenings in the retail world, covering everything from financial results to major executive shakeups. While Nick is off on his yearly adventure, Andrew and Alicia hold down the fort with plenty of wit, games, and insightful discussions. News Stories Covered: 1. Warby Parker’s Financial Success Key Points: Warby Parker report...

In this episode of Retail Riot, hosts That Andrew Guy, Nick McHenry, and Alicia Esposito dive into the latest retail news with a mix of humor and insight. Event Recap: Rice Conference Alicia's experience: tight-knit feel, engaging workshops. Transparency from speakers, founder's liquidation story. Theft and Loss Prevention in Retail TJX testing body cameras for loss prevention associates: Dollar G...

Join Nick McHenry and Alicia Esposito as they dive into retail dynamics during the Fourth of July week, exploring the hustle of holidays for retail workers. Key Topics: Nike's Class Action Lawsuit: Shareholders sue over misleading statements about Nike's DTC business. Discussion on strategy shifts and market pressures. Target and Shopify Partnership: Target Plus integrates Shopify sellers, offerin...

On this episode of Retail Riot Nick McHenry and Alicia Esposito breakdown the newest in Retail news. Balenciaga and Under Armour Collaboration Impact on both brands and potential mismatches. Retail and Tech Savvy Kids Alicia shares her son's sneaky Amazon purchase; Nick on kids' tech-savvy behavior. Impact of Ozempic on Retail Predictions on how Ozempic and other weight loss drugs will influence a...

Hosts: Nick McHenry, Andrew Stores, Alicia Esposito Episode Highlights: Recap of Episode 1's memorable moments Reflections on retail's ups and downs Exploring the latest retail news with humor and insight Segment 1: Hallmark's Holiday Magic Key Points: Hallmark's new live holiday experience in Kansas City, Missouri The mix of free and paid experiences, including photo ops, workshops, and movie pre...

In this episode of Retail Riot Nick McHenry, Andrew Smith, and Alicia Esposito talk the latest and most breaking retail news. In this episode, they discuss: - Chipotle founder's new robot restaurant - Walmart business to the moon - AI, AI, AI, AI, AI - Is Bed Bath and Beyond making a come back?