The Retail Pilot

Ken interviews Chris Riccobono, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Untuckit., one of the fastest-growing men’s retail brands in the U.S. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from Providence College in 2001, Chris began his career at GE Healthcare and enrolled in Columbia Business School in 2007. While working towards his MBA, Chris thought of the idea for UNTUCKit after speaking with lots of men...

Ken interviews Sharon Price John, President and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop since 2013, where she has led the turning around and redefining of the multimillion-dollar company. Sharon graduated from the University of Tennessee, worked in the ad industry in New York City, earned an MBA from Columbia University, and managed iconic kids’ brands at companies like Mattel and Hasbro before accepting the...

Ken interviews three experts in Retail store staffing for the inaugural Tech Talk podcast episode. Sharonda Weatherspoon is the SVP, Head of Retail Transformation, Client Development, and Operations, as well as the Co-Chair of North America's Diversity and Inclusion ERG. She has spent over 24 years at Ralph Lauren, surviving my tenure, and moving up through the ranks, starting as a General Manager...

Dave Heath is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bombas. Prior to the launch in 2013, Dave dedicated two years to rigorous product testing and refinement to create the best performing and most comfortable sock available, while staying true to their mission of helping those in need.  Dave holds a BA from Babson College with majors in Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship. Previousl...

Ken Pilot interviews Dave Powers, Presidet & CEO of Deckers Brands, a global footwear and apparel company based in Santa Barbara, Calif. His current role includes prioritizing strategic initiatives and investments to expand the global distribution footprint of Deckers Brands, while also ensuring consumers have a seamless experience when engaging directly with each channel or brand. He focuses...

Ken Pilot interviews Stephen Yalof, President and CEO of Tanger, Inc. Stephen Yalof is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc., a leading operator of upscale, open-air outlet centers with 37 locations and an additional center currently under development across 20 states and Canada. Steve joined in April 2020 as President and Chief Operating Officer before s...

Ken interviews Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard, sisters-in-law and Co-Founders of women's lifestyle brand, Veronica Beard. Veronica Miele Beard is from North Caldwell, New Jersey, and hails from the world of finance. She worked in sales and trading at multiple investment banks on Wall Street—and did a stint in ad sales at Vogue—before becoming a partner and COO at technology hedge...

Ken Pilot interviews Terry Lundgren for this flight of The Retail Pilot - Leaders & Legends. Terry Lundgren served for 14 years as CEO of Macy’s, Inc., operator of Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bluemercury and one of the largest retail ecommerce businesses in America. He retired from Macy’s, Inc. in January 2018 after serving for 10 months as the company’s Executive Chairman. Prior to becoming CEO o...

Ken interviews Matt Mueller, Founder and CEO of Knot Standard, the leader in premium custom menswear in the United States. Matt has been one of the most pivotal figures behind tech innovation in menswear over the last decade, creating the unique, AI-powered Style Wall and Fit App for Knot Standard, and holding numerous other patents. He has a 25-year record in global business and technology, havin...

On Episode 30 of The Retail Pilot, Ken Pilot interviews Stephen Kuhl, Co-Founder and CEO of Burrow, a furniture design brand that’s making it radically easier for people to feel at home through innovative, award winning, furniture and unparalleled customer experience. Launched in 2017, Burrow is one of the fastest growing furniture brands in the world and has raised venture capital from leading ve...

1.     Todd Snyder's Background : Todd Snyder, a retail designer, grew up in Ames, Iowa, with a background in business. Despite his unconventional path, his passion for clothes and fashion ultimately led him to pursue a career in design. 2.     Early Fashion Influences : During his high school years, Todd admired designers such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Armani. However, as he transitioned...

Ken Pilot interviews Sheryl Clark, CEO & President of Boston Proper, a best-kept secret for women over 40, designing unique, on-trend, high-quality fashion for every occasion. Sheryl’s experience includes time at Bloomingdales, Gap and Old Navy prior to joining Boston Proper. Key highlights of the interview are: Sheryl's Background and Career Journey : Sheryl shares her background, growing up...

Ken Pilot interviews Alex and Mike Faherty, co-founders and leaders of eponymous apparel brand, Faherty for this episode of The Retail Pilot.  Alex is a co-founder and CEO at Faherty. Prior to starting at Faherty, Alex spent over a decade in Investment Banking and Private Equity. Formerly a football player at Yale, Alex takes a coaching mentality in how he runs the business, knowing that so much o...

Ken Pilot interviews Jan Singer about her incredible career as a Retail and Fashion leader and Board Member. Diverse Journey in Retail and Fashion : Jan Singer's career journey spans across various categories of business, not limited to retail. She's worked in luxury goods, beauty, and manufacturing for brands like Chanel, Calvin Klein, Prada, and Nike. Her experiences ranged from innovation to ma...

Join Ken Pilot as he speaks with Co-Founder and CEO of Rhone, Nate Checketts, about his menswear business focused on fitness, comfort and everyday wear. Prior to Rhone, Nate worked for and consulted with some of the biggesttechnology and entertainment properties in the world including Cisco, The NationalFootball League, Legends, FanVision and Sport Radar. Nate is also an avid entrepreneur who foun...

In this Flight of The Retail Pilot - Leaders & Legends, Ken speaks with Sharon Leite, CEO of Ideal Image, former CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe and Retail Leader at companies such as Gap, Bath and Body Works and Pier 1. Key Takeaways of the Episode: * Passion and Connection to Mission: Sharon emphasizes that passion for the business, brand, product, and mission is more important than monetary compe...

Throwing it back to the second episode of The Retail Pilot, join your host Ken Pilot, as he continues the conversation with Millard "Mickey" Drexler, Retail visionary and Chairman of Alex Mill. Come along for the ride as Ken and Mickey chat more about Mickey's legendary career building brands and his legacy with leading companies such as Ann Taylor, Gap, Old Navy, J.Crew, Madewell and now Alex Mil...

Throwing it back to the debut episode of The Retail Pilot, join your host Ken Pilot, as he embarks on an inspiring conversation with none other than Millard "Mickey" Drexler, the visionary Chairman of Alex Mill. Buckle up as Ken and Mickey delve into the riveting tales that have shaped Mickey's illustrious career, leaving an indelible mark on the retail landscape. From his groundbreaking endeavors...

Join your host Ken Pilot in this episode of The Retail Pilot, as he sits down with Marc Metrick, the driving force behind the transformative journey of luxury retail giant Saks Fifth Avenue. From his early days at Saks to his pivotal role in the acquisition and integration of the iconic brand, Marc takes us through a captivating tale of strategic evolution and reinvention. Learn how Marc's visiona...

Their story began in the offices of Sam & Libby Shoes, a modest footwear brand in California. John Edelman, working alongside his brother Sam, crossed paths with John McPhee, igniting a friendship that would set the stage for an indelible partnership. In their candid discussion on The Retail Pilot, the two Johns share the story of their humble beginnings, recounting how a casual dinner invitat...

Join us in this inspiring episode as Ken sits down with Joey Zwillinger, the Co-founder & CEO of Allbirds , the groundbreaking footwear brand that's taking the world by storm. From humble beginnings to a global sensation, Allbirds has redefined the way we think about shoes, combining style, comfort, and sustainability in a way that's never been seen before. In this candid conversation, Joey ta...

Join us on an exciting episode of The Retail Pilot as Ken dives into the captivating world of fine jewelry with Jennifer and Kevin Fisher. From humble beginnings to the glitzy heights of the fashion world, Jennifer and Kevin share candid anecdotes of their path to success, and the pivotal moments that shaped the Jennifer Fisher Jewelry empire. Tune in to hear what makes Jennifer and Kevin a great...

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, Ken sits down with the brilliant mind behind Solo Brands, John Merris, a prominent disruptor in the retail industry. John brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, sharing invaluable strategies for achieving profitability in both direct-to-consumer (DTC) and wholesale channels. This episode delves into the fascinating world of retail entrepreneu...

Join Ken as he delves into Sandra's remarkable journey, exploring her early experiences, challenges faced, and the transformative moments that shaped her into the formidable leader she is today. Sandra's personal and professional triumphs provide valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring Latinx entrepreneurs seeking to make their mark. During the conversation, Sandra opens up about her roots...

Join Ken on this inspiring episode as he sits down with Deirdre Quinn, a trailblazing entrepreneur and the driving force behind the renowned fashion brand, Lafayette 148 New York , a brand and company built on passion, experience and love of the business. Deirdre's journey from a small start-up to an influential figure in the fashion industry is nothing short of extraordinary. Deirdre Quinn's pass...