The Retail Pilot

In this episode of The Retail Pilot , we sit down with Amanda Baldwin, the newly appointed CEO of Olaplex and former CEO of Supergoop, for an in-depth conversation about her remarkable career journey—from Wall Street to the heart of the beauty industry. Amanda shares how her early curiosity about brands evolved into a passion for consumer-driven storytelling, innovation, and leadership in some of...

A few weeks ago, I wrote an open letter to President Trump urging him to reverse the extreme tariffs and embargoes imposed on China. These policies have had a significant impact on the apparel, footwear, and toy industries—industries that have long operated offshore due to cost efficiencies and global supply chains. The response was overwhelming: over 800 reactions , 70,000 views , and 50+ reposts...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot , host Ken Pilot sits down with Daniella Vitale, CEO of Ferragamo and one of the most influential leaders in luxury retail. From wrapping gifts at a small shop in New Jersey to leading some of the biggest names in fashion — including Armani, Gucci, Barneys New York, Tiffany & Co., and now Ferragamo — Daniella shares her remarkable career journey, pivotal lea...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot , host Ken Pilot welcomes PJ Oleksak, the dynamic CEO of Nuts.com and the first woman and non-family member to lead the 94-year-old business. With a rich background that includes leadership roles at FreshDirect and Slice, PJ shares how she combines a deep understanding of finance with a passion for food to lead transformative change in legacy brands. She walks u...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot , host Ken Pilot dives into the future of branding and retail innovation with Emily Heyward & JB Osborne, Co-Founders of Red Antler and a pre-flight discussion with retail futurist Jan Kniffen. From the transformative role of AI in customer experience to the secret sauce behind some of today’s most iconic brands, this conversation explores how emotional reso...

In this inspiring episode of The Retail Pilot: Leaders & Legends , host Ken Pilot sits down with EGOT-winning artist and entrepreneur John Legend , alongside brand builder Ari Bloom , co-founder and CEO of A-Frame Brands. Together, they unpack the story behind their inclusive skincare line Loved01 —a brand created with intention, affordability, and care for melanin-rich and sensitive skin. Joh...

On this episode of The Retail Pilot , host Ken Pilot welcomes the visionary designer and founder, Jonathan Adler . Known for his signature blend of chic sophistication and playful wit, Jonathan shares his incredible journey from an aspiring potter to building a global design empire. From his early days spinning clay at summer camp to landing his first collection at Barney’s and expanding into furn...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot , host Ken Pilot kicks off with a PreFlight segment featuring retail expert Jan Kniffen. They dive into the ever-changing sneaker market, discussing Nike’s comeback, the rise of On Running and Hoka, and how brands like Skechers and New Balance are shaking up the industry. Following PreFlight , Ken welcomes special guest Sarah LaFleur , Founder and CEO of M.M.LaF...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot , host Ken Pilot interviews Dana Telsey, CEO and Chief Research Officer of Telsey Advisory Group. They explore key trends shaping the future of retail, including AI-driven personalization, shifting consumer behaviors, and the evolution of store formats. Dana shares insights on top-performing brands like Birkenstock, Warby Parker, and Abercrombie & Fitch, alo...

Ken Pilot interviews Emily Current and Meritt Elliott, Co-Founders of fashion brand, The Great, on this Flight of The Retail Pilot Podcast. Plus, he has a short "Pre-Flight" conversation with Jan Kniffen, former retail executive and current CNBC retail expert, to discuss what 2025 looks like for the retail industry. Pre-Flight with Jan Kniffen Jan Kniffen shares his outlook for retail in 2025: Ret...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, host Ken Pilot sits down with Alex and Mike Faherty, co-founders of Faherty Brand, to discuss their business journey, recent successes, and future plans. Key Topics Discussed: Faherty's performance during Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 The brand's growth trajectory and end-of-year projections Expansion of retail stores and focus on in-store experiences Prod...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, Ken Pilot welcomes back Stephen Yalof, President and CEO of Tanger, Inc. With over 25 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, Stephen shares insights into Tanger's growth strategies, the evolution of retail spaces, and how the company is adapting to changing consumer behaviors. From expanding into full-price lifestyle centers to enhancing cu...

Rent the Runway 2.0 - Redefining the Future of Fashion with Jennifer Hyman Jennifer Hyman, co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, joins Ken Pilot to discuss the company's journey over the past 15 years. Jennifer Hyman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, a company that is disrupting the trillion-dollar fashion industry with the world’s first and largest shared designer closet. She has led...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, host Ken Pilot sits down first in a Pre-Flight conversation with Simeon Siegel, Senior Retail Analyst for BMO Capital Markets, to discuss the state of the Retail market both post-election and leading into the holiday season. For the main Flight, Ken speaks with Rachelle Hruska MacPherson, founder of the fashion brand Lingua Franca. Rachelle shares the unexpecte...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, host Ken Pilot welcomes Jan Rogers Kniffen, CEO of J Rogers Kniffen Worldwide and retail industry expert, to discuss the current state and future of retail. Key Topics Discussed: Post-Election Retail Bounce Jan predicts a post-election retail bounce, as seen in previous presidential election years Discretionary retail is currently running at zero inflation, mak...

On this episode of The Retail Pilot podcast, Ken speaks with Nick Green, Co-Founder & CEO of Thrive Market, a membership-based online platform that makes healthy and sustainable living easy and affordable to all. Nick launched Thrive 10 years ago shortly after graduating from Harvard. The business has also been recognized as a leader in regenerative agriculture, carbon-neutral shipping, and Ze...

Ken Pilot interviews Oliver Chen for this flight of The Retail Pilot podcast. Oliver Chen is a Managing Director and senior equity research analyst covering retail and luxury goods at TD Cowen.  His deep understanding of the consumer and his ability to forecast the latest trends and technological changes that will impact the retail space have set him apart from peers. Prior to joining TD Cowen in...

Ken Pilot interviews Shai Eisenman, CEO and Founder of Bubble , on this episode of The Retail Pilot Podcast. Bubble Skincare is the first modern, affordable, science-backed skincare line formulated to clean, balance and hydrate young skin all for under $20. Today, the Bubble line consists of 20+ products that work together to create a complete routine from face cleansers to face masks. Bubble prod...

In this episode of the Retail Pilot Podcast, Ken Pilot engages with retail legend Mickey Drexler, discussing the current state of retail, pricing trends, and the importance of customer experience. Drexler shares insights from his journey at Alex Mill, emphasizing the significance of quality, team dynamics, and the evolving landscape of retail. The conversation also features Ali Dillon, the Preside...

Ken Pilot interviews Simeon Siegel, MD and Senior Analyst, Retail & eCommerce for BMO Capital Markets, for this Flight of The Retail Pilot Podcast Overview : In this episode, leading retail analyst Simeon Siegel returns to discuss the current state of the retail sector, emphasizing the importance of execution in a challenging economic environment. Key Topics : Simeon's Role : Simeon explains h...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot - Tech Talk, Ken Pilot speaks with Vic Drabicky and Josh Krepon about performance marketing in the Retail/Fashion Industry. Summary In this conversation, Vic Drabicky, CEO and founder of January Digital, and Josh Krepon, President of US D2C and Global Digital at Steve Madden, discuss the current state of performance marketing and the importance of balancing algo...

Ken Pilot interviews Mike Natenshon, Founder of Marine Layer, for this episode of The Retail Pilot Podcast. Mike Natenshon started Marine Layer the day after his girlfriend threw away his favorite shirt. In the ensuing 10 years, Marine Layer has grown into a complete California-inspired lifestyle brand delivering new favorite shirts to wherever their customers are. Although considered 'digital fir...

A THROWBACK to one of our earlier episodes of The Retail Pilot podcast with Andy Dunn, Founder of Bonobos and Author of Burn Rate. In this compelling episode, Ken sits down with Andy Dunn, a renowned entrepreneur and co-founder of the game-changing men's clothing brand, Bonobos. However, the conversation goes beyond Andy's professional accomplishments, as Andy delves into a deeply personal and sig...

Ken Pilot interviews Alexandra Wilkis Wilson for this episode of The Retail Pilot podcast. Alexandra is an ENTREPRENEUR, INVESTOR & BOARD DIRECTOR. She is best known as Co-Founder of ecommerce sensation, Gilt, which grew to $650M+ within 5 years of its launch and later sold to Hudson’s Bay Corporation. She was also Co-Founder of GLAMSQUAD, and Fitz, a closet organizing and styling company, whi...

This episode of The Retail Pilot - Tech Talk - features Ken Pilot's interview with Joe Yakuel, Co-Founder & CEO of brkfst.io, and three of his customers. Soumya Sriraman is an experienced CEO and general manager with deep expertise in building streaming businesses across a variety of media companies. She most recently led Qurate Retail Group’s streaming commerce business, which includes the QV...