Tell Me Something Good About Retail

Howard Prager is a speaker, author and leadership consultant. He recently wrote a book about how you show up for others called Make Someone's Day: Becoming a Memorable Leader in Work and Life.

The be-back bus travels in one direction and it's not to your store . You have a choice every time someone comes in the door: There's a chance to just get a transaction on the register or to help someone improve their life. Although rooted in the mattress industry, this wide-ranging discussion has implications for all retailers.

What lens should retailers use when reading so many different messages about the consumer economy? With retail stores being vindicated as not just viable but critical in 2021, where should retailers look for 2022?

What does a consumer want when visiting a retailer? How can retailers hold onto employees? What can a guy who writes poetry tell us about physical retail?

Data is all the rage but what does it actually tell retailers? Our guest today has been on a quest since his early days with NCR and others. Hear what he believes the next big battle will be in retail.

There is a certain intimidation factor when customers see all you offer. This especially true with footwear. Hear how this onetime customer became an advocate for cutting edge technology used in brick and mortar stores.

Robert Christie is President of A&G Central Music, a school service company with two stores in Southeast Michigan. Robert received degrees in music and business from Valparaiso University and was a NAMM Music Business Scholarship recipient. He is an active member of NASMD and has served on the association's board of directors. Robert is deeply involved in his community serving on the board...

Ron Thurston loves retail. And he's proud of it. Ron has led the retail teams for some of America's most prominent brands, inspired thousands of store employees, and traveled relentlessly across the country to sit and listen to what they have to say. From a part-time sales associate to a Vice President of Stores, Ron has put in the hard work that a retail career requires and wrote this boo...

Continually pushing the boundaries of experiential retail, Melissa Gonzalez is an award-winning innovator, seasoned visionary, and brand storyteller. She is the CEO of The Lion’esque Group and Principal and Shareholder at MG2. Always pioneering the integration of physical environments and cutting-edge technologies she works with companies such as Nexcom, Nordstrom, and Burrow foster foundational c...

Be the company you want to work at. Bob Phibbs interviewed Tom Sullivan, founder of Lumber Liquidators about going public, about his first steps at founding the largest specialty flooring company in the nation, and what bugs him - and me - about brick and mortar stores.  About our guest: Tom Sullivan, the founder of Lumber Liquidators, owner of Gracious Home, founder of Cabinets To Go and a serial...

The shopping is firmly underway for a once-in-this-generation retail holiday season. Despite the fascination with supply chain shortages - consumers are buying. We’re talking marketing and a new Brightpearl survey reveals in their new study that 54% of us plan to shop on non-traditional shopping channels, like Alexa, TikTok and Pinterest, this holiday season. Are you prepared for more social buyin...

Ethan is the VP Marketing for Placer.ai. Prior to Placer, Ethan was the Director of Corporate Marketing at SimilarWeb and the Vice President of Headline Media. Ethan holds his BA in Government, Diplomacy and Strategy from the IDC Herzliya and his MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

This episode is devoted to how one of the biggest malls in the world is coming back from Covid better than before on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links Mall of America website Mall of America LinkedIn Jill Renslow LinkedIn   Follow us on Linkedin . Subscribe to the podcast here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tell-me-something-good-about-retail/id1377517695 ---...

This episode is devoted to the power of branding, events, and being authentic on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links Laundry Evangelist website Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore (Flatiron Books) “The Laundry Guy” on discovery+ Patric Richardson Shares Retail Tips on Bob’s blog   Follow us on Linkedin Subscribe to the podcast here https://podcasts.apple.com/c...

This episode is devoted to taking a customer from what they need to what they want on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links Patricia Fripp LinkedIn Fripp.com FrippVT.com   Create an experience where customers love to buy Education is only part of the sale; you have to romance the customer. Dealing with “who cares” syndrome When you start losing your prospect’s ear, stop...

This episode is devoted to the heart of retail transformation. Learn more on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links Red Helicopter. https://www.redhelicopter.com/ Firepine Group LLC www.firepinegroup.com   UTA James Rhee https://www.unitedtalent.com/speaker/james-rhee/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-c-rhee-68163485/ Reserve copy of Book @ www.redhelicopter.co...

This episode is devoted to using the idea of empathy to redefine how we work and live. Learn about the direct correlation between empathy and common sense on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links MartinLindstrom.com Martin Lindstrom LinkedIn How transparency in society translates into diminishment of a sense of recognition.   How social media amplified an obsession with...

This episode is devoted to finding out which CEOs are winning and what changes they have put in place on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links Peter Cohan | LinkedIn Peter S. Cohan and Associates (petercohan.com)   ----- Admit weakness and ask for help from others  Employees are your greatest asset You’re either creating the future or hiding your head in the sand.   Fol...

This episode is devoted to the Call For Kindness project which aims to not only encourage understanding about retail associates but also local communities on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links www.verizon.com/kindness SalesRX Online Retail Sales Training https://shop.wirelesszone.com/ct/new-london/351-north-frontage-road-b-11 ----- Behind the mask is a human being. P...

This episode is devoted to a conversation with an independent retailer who, for 44 years, has seen more ups and downs than most. Learn how to manage any retail business by mastering the fundamentals on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links https://www.sheldrakecoffeeroasting.com/ SalesRX Online Retail Sales Training ----- It’s important to know your numbers and monitor...

This episode is devoted to breaking down barriers to success for black-owned brands. Learn how to increase retail representation of people of color on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    Key Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannamcintosh/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/theaffinitygroup/ SalesRX Online Retail Sales Training ----- How can retailers better represent brands of...

This episode is devoted to going all in on a game store dream. Learn how creating customer happiness proved a worthwhile investment on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    ----- Key Links Paraic Mulgrew LinkedIn Knight Watch Games website SalesRX ----- How retail intersects with community building A game store offers an intimate customer experience   Immersiveness and escapism i...

This episode is devoted to an entirely new way for products to literally move off the shelf. Learn how to use technology to increase customer engagement on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    ----- Key Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/ionutzvlad/ https://www.tokinomo.com/ https://www.retaildoc.com/online-retail-sales-training   https://youtu.be/J7SnUGZkNss https://youtu.be/ydo...

This episode is devoted to how clienteling is growing. Learn how brick and mortar retailers can bridge online with their associates on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    ----- Key Links Ben Rodier LinkedIn   Salesfloor LinkedIn SalesRX ----- New technologies help retailers evolve How you can personalize the shopping journey   Help your associates be omnichannel ready Assisted...

This episode is devoted to the future of retail shopping. Learn how reinvention could show up on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.    ----- Key Links Paco Underhill LinkedIn Envirosell Field Agent: https://www.fieldagent.net/ SalesRX ----- How does your store’s traffic flow?  Find new ways to manage it better   Malls evolving to meet the future Reimagining the mall as an exercis...