The Doing Business in Bentonville Podcast

Discover the secrets behind Walmart's retail revolution as Scott Benedict joins with business writer Kim Souza on a revealing tour through the Elm Springs Supercenter. Together, they peel back the curtains on the future of shopping, where digital marvels meet the tactile world of brick-and-mortar. Kim, with her keen eye as both a consumer and a journalist, critiques the nuanced dance between...

Ever wondered how machine learning and AI are revolutionizing the data landscape? Join Andy for an enlightening conversation with Rick West, CEO of Field Agent, as he reveals the transformative journey from a data collection firm to a comprehensive data powerhouse. Discover how their recent acquisition of Shelfgram is set to redefine virtual shelf walk capabilities, offering more precise and timel...

Unlock the keys to conquering Walmart's online marketplace with the unparalleled expertise of Michael Lebhar from SellCord. This week, Andy journeys through the labyrinth of Walmart.com's competitive battleground, where Michael, our savvy guide, arms sellers with strategies for catalog optimization, marketing, and advertising. As an approved partner of Walmart, SellCord brings its A-game...

Ever wondered if the secret sauce of robotics and AI could be bottled up by someone with a beard that rivals the most epic of warriors? Meet Francesco Gadaleta, the bearded brain behind Intrepid AI, who joins our rollicking adventure into the future of autonomous robotics. Our Warehouse Whisker Warriors segment might tickle your whiskers with Mad Libs and chuckles, but Francesco's journey fro...

What if genuine consumer reviews could be the game-changer your retail strategy needs? Two of Doing Business in Bentonville's regular hosts debate, as Scott Benedict and Andy Wilson unlock the secrets behind harnessing the true power of user-generated content in this episode of "Digital Front Door." Join the two retail veterans as they explore the journey of UGC from simple product...

Step into the world of retail mastery as John Reeves, former Walmart executive and president of consulting firm JOHA, joins Andy to map out his 22-year journey with a corporate giant. The two reminisce about the glory days of Walmart as they share tales of sales promotions, menswear buying, and the global expansion that took John's career to Canada. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone...

Discover the secrets behind Walmart's continued success and innovation with seasoned journalist and senior analyst Kim Souza on this episode of "Doing Business in Bentonville." From the cultural significance of Walmart's shareholders and associates event to the visionary leadership of CEO Doug McMillon, Kim provides an insider's view of how strategic moves—such as the acqu...

From the disciplined cadence of military life to the dynamic pulse of the retail world, JD Hayes of the Traverse Group exemplifies transformation. His story, woven from the thread of his grandfather's dealings with a pre-Walmart Sam Walton, is a tapestry of enterprise and ambition. Join Andy Wilson as JD, in a tale that could rival any entrepreneurial legend, recounts his journey through the...

Ever wondered how a full beard might correlate with business savvy? Laugh along with Josh Saffran and Harvey Williams, as they kick off the latest Business Accelerator Podcast episode with some light-hearted banter with Spencer Ware. What starts with playful beard envy soon transitions into an exploration of Bentonville's role in fostering startup innovation, sharing how accelerator incubator...

Embark on a transformative journey through the digital landscape where gaming, branding, and culture collide, as Andy Wilson sits down with the innovative mind of Joel Ponce, CEO of Hashku. Joel and Andy chart the course of gaming's meteoric rise to the pinnacle of media, rivaling the giants of traditional sports viewership, and examine how this phenomenon is rewriting the playbook on youth e...

When the paths of dairy farming and retail magnate Sam Walton crossed, an unexpected journey began for Fritz Steiger, who joins Doing Business in Bentonville to weave tales from the trenches of Walmart's rise to retail dominance. Imagine leaving the tranquility of milking cows to navigating the high-energy corporate world under Walton's wing—Fritz's story is a testament to the unpre...

Unlock the secrets of a powerful online presence as Scott Benedict teams up with Ryan Monigan from Flywheel Digital for a riveting exploration into the world of Product Detail Pages. Together, they peel back the curtain on the digital revolution shaping retail, demonstrating how PDPs serve as virtual storefronts, influencing customers' decisions both before and after they click the "add...

Discover the trailblazing journey of Jeanelle Harris, the visionary CEO leading Outdoor Cap. The latest DBB episode offers a rare glimpse into the experiences that honed Harris's leadership skills, from her roots in health science to her impactful career at Olivet International. Andy Wilson joins Jeanelle to celebrate the mentorship of Jim Hayworth and the rigorous standards set by Walmart th...

Conquer your deepest leadership fears with Celia Swanson, the wisdom-infused author of "Gracious and Strong," as a guide. Embark on a transformative path that challenges you to rise above life's curveballs and confront the barriers holding you back. In a heart-to-heart exchange, Celia and Andy Wilson untangle the complexities of fear, reveal the essence of building strong leadership...

Supply Chain Innovation Series: Part 3 Get ready to challenge your perceptions of industrial tech as Josh and Harvey bring you a lively discussion with Devin Bhushan, founder and CEO of Squint AI. The latest episode of the Plug and Play series from DBB promises a journey through the innovative landscape of augmented reality and its transformative role in the industrial sector. Don't let the l...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to pivot from a traditional family business into a cutting-edge digital platform? David Rapps, CEO of Wholescale, joins Andy Wilson all the way from Montreal to share his extraordinary journey from the legal field to reshaping the retail industry. Captivating tales of Coligo International’s transformation from leather goods to a top Walmart supplier, and the bi...

Have you ever been blindsided by life's pivotal moments, the ones that shake the very foundation of your plans? Celia Swanson joins Andy Wilson to unravel the tapestry of leadership and life, bringing to light the strength derived from moments of unexpected change. The duo weave through Celia's research on resilience—how to bounce back from failure, balance the demands of parenting with...

The Digital Front Door Series: Part 2 Unlock the keys to revolutionary sales growth with Scott Benedict and Toby Willse, Senior Director of Retail Media at Flywheel Digital. Get ready to navigate the digital aisles of retail media, where Toby shares his expert insights on how first-party data and precise targeting are reshaping the shopping experience. Experience a strategic deep dive into the evo...

Supply Chain Innovation Series: Part 2 Josh Saffran and the Plug and Play crew return to Doing Business in Bentonville this week, talking compliance, venture capital, labor models and the Phoenix tech scene... with a little Mad Libs thrown in. As Josh, Alaina and Harvey banter and swap tales of their podcast's 'unexpected rise to fame', guest Michael Zalle of Yellowbird unfolds the...

We're digging into the vault this week to bring back one of our earliest episodes. Andy sat down with Deanah Baker, a former Walmart executive, to talk about the omnichannel challenges of the early 2020s... and one VERY unexpected phone call. Their discussion highlights the merging of e-commerce and brick-and-mortar operations at Walmart in 2020. This strategic move aimed to harmonize digital...

Andy and Celia Swanson weigh in on keys to successful leadership with their latest discussion on the Servant Leadership Today Podcast by Doing Business in Bentonville. The pair also unveil their new series logo symbolizing servant leadership—a beacon guiding teams through the stormy seas of business challenges. Listen along as Andy and Celia dissect the core principles of leading with heart, mind,...

The Digital Front Door Series: Part 1 - The Omni-Channel Awakening Prepare to have your mind opened to the vast possibilities of the retail world as Scott Benedict hosts retail strategist Jim Okamura to unpack the secrets of omnichannel retailing that are setting the stage for a revolutionary customer experience. Ever wondered how retail heavy-hitters are smashing the barriers between digital and...

Supply Chain Innovation Series: Part 1 - Unveiling Apollo: The Humanoid Robot Revolutionizing the Logistics Landscape Discover the trailblazing innovations at the heart of supply chain evolution with Josh Saffran and Harvey Williams, riffing with Jeff Cardenas of Apptronik. Jeff is the brain behind the humanoid robot Apollo, a marvel born from space research. As they unpack Apollo's promise,...

Embark on an expedition through the twists and turns of retail supply chain logistics with Bill Senn, an industry maestro whose career spans from the bustling beginnings at Sam's Club to his influential role at RJW. Our latest episode uncovers Bill's hands-on approach to perfecting the middle mile. Bill narrates a rare peek behind the curtain of logistical mastery—from the essential art...

Explore the frontiers of artificial intelligence with us as we welcome two outstanding guests: Karen Kilroy, the pioneering CEO of Kilroy Blockchain Corporation and author, alongside Orson Weems, co-founder and executive director of the Music Education Initiative. Karen brings her expertise on AI authenticity to light, sharing her experiences with the Content Authenticity Initiative at Stanford Un...