That Makes Cents: A consumer podcast

In the tradition of reflecting on the past year to prepare for the new one, this episode takes a look at how consumers, retailers, shipping providers, and manufacturers faced the challenges of this past holiday season. Plus, the trends to watch for in 2022. Featuring guest speakers Chloe Harootunian and Alyssa Casale of Deloitte Consulting LLP.

Thanks for tuning in to Season 2 of That Makes Cents! We'll be back in early 2022 with new episodes and new guests for Season 3. In the meantime, make sure to catch up on past episodes and share with your network—and don't forget to subscribe. Connect with our host, Bobby Stephens, on Twitter @BobbyStephens or @DeloitteCB.

Holiday travel is set to make a return this year for many Americans who are excited to celebrate with friends and family. Still, health and budget concerns are keeping others at home. Anthony J. Jackson, leader of Deloitte's US airline sector, joins this episode to help us make sense of this season's travel trends.

As we go into our second holiday season during a pandemic, what trends can we expect around holiday retail? Will consumers' shopping preferences and behavior reflect that of seasons past or most closely resemble last year? Tune in as we break down the findings of Deloitte's annual holiday retail survey.

Regardless of the industry, to stay competitive today, you've got to develop and launch digital products. For that, a great product manager makes all the difference in the process and for the end product. Rick Lockton, SVP of eCommerce at Ashley Furniture; and Anthony Jardim, a principal in Deloitte's Customer & Marketing practice, join this episode to break down high-impact product management, in...

Many students are preparing to go back to physical classrooms and campuses this fall. What's making it onto their shopping lists? What are consumers' preferences when it comes to product categories, platforms, and formats? Tune in to explore the findings of Deloitte's back-to-school and -college consumer surveys.

Armed with smart watches, fitness trackers, and even health monitoring rings, consumers are taking charge of their own health management. They are driving not only the trend in the consumer products industry, but also major change in the health care space. Where will this revolution take us? Tune in to hear from Dr. Jeff Wells, CEO and cofounder of Marathon Health, and Leslie Read, principal with...

While at home, many consumers discovered a love for cooking, and in a recent Deloitte survey, said they plan to eat more of their meals at home even after the health crisis is over. What does this trend mean for restaurants, grocery retailers, and the rest of the food industry? How might they have to change the way they've done business for years to meet evolving consumer tastes and needs? Featuri...

What enables the tech giants to keep their spots at the top of the industry, and how can other organizations compete? What is the key to getting workforce automation right? How can retailers harness the power of alternative data, AI, and automation to achieve more with less? Alex Kantrowitz, acclaimed tech writer, host of The Big Technology podcast, and author of Always Day One joins this episode,...

As SVP and head of Consumer Products at the NFL, Joe Ruggiero works at the intersection of sports and business, tackling unique challenges like how to grow digital fandom. But he's also dealing with many of the same issues as traditional retailers. Tune into this episode to hear from him and Pete Giorgio, Deloitte's US Sports leader, on lessons learned from the past year, insights on the growing r...

The 2020 holiday season was undeniably unique. But just how unique? We analyzed the sales and trends to find out whether there were record shifts in when, where, and how much people shopped—and spent. What kinds of trends and consumer behaviors can we expect to see carried through this year and beyond? Featuring Simon Chafetz and Meghan Cole from Deloitte Digital, Deloitte Consulting LLP.

Thanks for tuning in to season one of That Makes Cents! We'll be back early next year with new, exciting episodes for season two. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any updates. In the meantime, catch up on previous episodes, share with a friend or colleague, and connect with our host on Twitter @BobbyStephens or @DeloitteCB .

How has COVID-19 changed the way we buy and sell cars? What trends are being accelerated due to new needs for social distancing and other safety measures? What impact does this have on how auto dealerships are structured? And how does this all plug into a future where virtual or contactless sales experiences are likely to become the norm? Tune in to this episode to hear from special guests Brian B...

This year marks 35 years of Deloitte's annual holiday survey! To celebrate, we're taking a trip down memory lane with the leaders who were at the forefront of the retail industry over the past few decades. Former Macy's executive Peter Sachse, who led the department store in various roles from 1980–2007, shares his learnings and insights alongside a lineup of Deloitte leaders who tracked the trend...

Since March, many Americans have had to adjust to new working conditions and protocols, whether at an office, at home, or on the front lines of a factory or retail store. On top of that, many have navigated caring for family members and evolving school dynamics as the lines further blurred between work and home. The way we live changed in an instant, and the way we work is evolving very quickly. W...

Over the past few years, we've seen the element of convenience become more and more important to the customer experience. As consumers demanded quicker and easier options, we've watched nearly every retailer adapt, or even reinvent their business models to accommodate. Where will the demand for convenience take us from here? Listen in as Bobby speaks with Art Sebastian, vice president of digital e...

In this quick take episode, we break down Deloitte's latest findings around consumer sentiment, behavior, and spending in the era of COVID-19—particularly as stores begin to reopen and consumers regain some confidence. Steve Rogers, leader of our Consumer Industry Center, shares key takeaways from the ongoing Global State of the Consumer survey, and Jeff Simpson, who heads up the Center for Consum...

Is the role of the store in a consumer's buying journey, forever changed? As more states begin to lift their "safer-at-home" orders and stores begin to reopen, what should retailers be keeping top of mind, from a customer, associate, store, and operational perspective? Hear from Jean-Emmanuel Biondi, Deloitte principal and one of the authors of Deloitte's "Post-COVID strategies for retailers: Reop...

In this special edition episode, Deloitte's managing director for Economics, Dr. Patricia Buckley, walks us through the best and worst possible case scenarios for the coming months. Though the current situation is vastly different from previous financial recessions, what lessons from the past can we apply to help navigate the waters ahead? What changes might we see in consumer spending?  

From the dot-com crash to the recession of 2008, history has shown us that times of disruption often accelerate the gap between successful digitally focused companies and those who lack clear direction. Learn more on this episode featuring Steve Salzinger, digital adviser to two prominent private equity firms, and Kevin Rose, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, focused on the consumer products ind...

This episode of our That Makes Cents podcast was recorded before the COVID-19 outbreak, but the conversation around improving supply chain efficiency, understanding consumer expectations around online grocery, and reducing fresh food waste seem even more relevant today. Tune in to hear from this episode's guests: Mike Balint, Director of fresh flow supply chain at Walmart and Josh Mellinger, co-le...

What should we be considering, as consumers and as businesses, when it comes to personal data and privacy? From GDPR to smart speakers, listen in as Jon Stine, Director of the Open Voice Network, and Rob Goldberg , Cyber risk leader at Deloitte, chat through concerns and more.

On this special edition of That Makes Cents, we do a quick take on what actually went down during the 2019 holiday shopping season—from consumer experience to retailer tactics and trends to infrastructure and more. We also look back at the last decade of extreme disruption in holiday retail to see how far it's come, and finally, where might we expect it to go from here? Featuring Simon Chafetz, ma...

Retail is changing at a breakneck pace thanks to new tech, new-comers, and new consumer expectations. Shouldn't the metrics we use to measure success in the industry get an update, too? Hear from industry leaders Meredith Darnall, SVP of Business Intelligence and Strategy at Brookfield Properties, and Rod Sides , Deloitte's Retail, Wholesale & Distribution practice leader.

The show that gets real about all things consumer. Tune into That Makes Cents as host Bobby Stephens breaks down the latest consumer industry trends with the help of special guests.