Michael LeBlanc

The Voice of Retail

Business EN ↓ 549 episodes

The Voice of Retail is a weekly podcast hosted by retail pioneer, advisor and keynote speaker Michael LeBlanc and is produced in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. Each and every week I interview the most interesting people in and around the retail industry, examining the key issues and strategies on the minds of thought leaders in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. © 2018-2026 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Author

Michael LeBlanc

Episodes

Nadia Vattovaz, EVP Fire & Flower talks about taking on COVID-19 with her retail 2.0 company, Forrester VP Sucharita Kodali on how retailers can survive and thrive, and elite soccer player turned DTC retailer Rachael Rapinoe on launching her CBD brand, Me 08.05.2020 58:48

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. First up on this episode retail veteran Nadia Vattovaz, CFO & EVP Operations at Fire & Flower talks about operating across Canada during COVID-19 powered by their purpose built, retail 2.0 company, allowing them to roll out curb side and home delivery...

Roger Martin, top global strategist, Professor Emeritus and author on how retailers can survive COVID-19 and his new book "When More Is Not Better" 01.05.2020 54:29

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by omNovos – Canada’s Retail Customer Engagement Solutions provider, combining data, software, and services to help retailers create and deliver real-time personalized content in your customers’ moments of truth. In this special feature e...

George Soleas, President & CEO of the LCBO shares their journey to modernization and navigating the COVID-19 crisis, and Canadian Master Sommelier Jennifer Huether on top wine trends 24.04.2020 55:39

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. In this special episode an exclusive interview with the President and CEO of one of the largest wine and alcohol retailers in the world right in my back yard, George Soleas of Ontario’s LCBO. In a two part interview, the first part one recored in mid...

Live from New York Lockie Andrews, CIO and CDO for retailer UNTUCKit on moving fast and operating during the COVID-19 crisis, and Steve Buors, CEO of Reshift Media on COVID consumer social media trends and opportunities 17.04.2020 49:11

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. Live from New York at the epicentre of technology and the COVID crisis, Lockie Andrews, CIO and Chief Digital Officer for retailer UNTUCKit is my special guest. We talk about the history of this fast growing apparel retailer, starting online then wi...

Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Office for RBI (Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes) talks about managing the pace of change, and Carl Boutet, retail strategist reflects on his visit to China and Covid-19 action scenarios 10.04.2020 52:56

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. In this episode I kick off with an interview with Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Officer for Restaurant Brands International, better known as Tim Hortons, Burger King and Popeyes. Recorded live in a busy media room at the Restaurant Canada trade show...

Understanding the impact and implications of COVID-19 with Diane Brisebois, President & CEO of Retail Council of Canada, Frank Lavin, Chairman and Founder of Export Now from Singapore, and Marc Fortin, President of RCC-CCCD Quebec 03.04.2020 53:57

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. In this episode I’m starting to address the COVID-19 crisis and it’s impact on the retail industry with a mix of episodes interviewing retail advocates, thought leaders, strategists and retailers themselves as we all work together to get our arms aroun...

The focus is on retail cannabis in Canada with Steven Fry President & Co-Founder of Sessions Cannabis in Toronto and Corey Gillon CEO of Vancouver based national retailer Choom Cannabis Company 27.03.2020 55:57

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. This episode is intended for listeners 21 plus. In this episode, recorded early March we touch base with two great Canadian cannabis retailers and explore their retail concept, merchandising strategies and business experience First up Steven Fry, Pres...

Food professor Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Food Futurologist Dr. Morgaine Gaye and a peak into the future of retail cannabis beverages with Terry Donnelly from the Hill St. Beverage Company 20.03.2020 47:26

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. In this episode, recorded live in early March backstage the Restaurants Canada trade show in Toronto, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University returns to the podcast as my special guest. We talk pre-COVID...

Showcase Ireland special episode from Dublin featuring Siobhán Kehoe from Rathbornes Candles, Bob Ianson from Heirloom Linens, Eleanor Hanna of Hanna Hats plus Justin Manning and Julia Maddin of Drake General Store 17.03.2020 43:47

Welcome to a very special Showcase Ireland 2020 episode of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. In this episode, recored live at the January Showcase Ireland buying show in Dublin. I sit with both makers of amazing Irish products and two of the Canadian merchants that joined me for the trip across the...

Exclusive interviews with Mimi Lam, Co-Founder & CEO of cannabis retailer Superette and Bruce Linton, Founder & Former CEO of cannabis giant Canopy Growth Corporation 13.03.2020 48:15

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. In this episode I visit with Mimi Lam, CEO and co-founder of cannabis retailer Superette in her soon-to-be opened Toronto store. We explore their award winning brand and retail concept, lessons learned from a fast-paced first year with their store in...

Lisa Hutcheson, Managing Partner of J.C. Williams on four retail mega trends for 2020, and RCC SVP Public Affairs Karl Littler on the new NAFTA timeline and De Minimis win for retailers 06.03.2020 53:40

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. In this episode Lisa Hutcheson, Managing Partner of J.C. Williams Group joins us to talk about her rich, decades long background in retail and the retail mega trends brought together in the annual Ebeltoft Groups’s Global Retail Trends and Innovations...

Gillian Stein CEO of Henry's, Canada's largest independent photographic/digital retailer and certified professional coach Natalie Dumond talks courageous cultures and brave leadership 28.02.2020 49:14

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. In this episode I welcome Gillian Stein, CEO of Henry’s, a family-owned and -operated business, that first opened its doors in 1909 and is now Canada's largest independent photographic and digital retailer. Gillian takes us through the evolution of t...

Understanding the impacts of COVID-19 on retail with Frank Lavin live from Singapore, Supply Chain podcaster Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, and Logistics Specialist Audrey Ross 21.02.2020 50:24

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. This is a special edition podcast focussed on the coronavirus, COVID-19 and the outbreak of the novel coronavirus as a business risk. Beyond the human cost to people around the world, the disruptive potential to retailers in Canada is real. At this...

Joe Jackman backstage at the AGO in Toronto on his new book "The Reinventionist Mindset" and veteran eCommerce executive Rob Schmults interviewed on the streets of New York City during #NRF2020 14.02.2020 52:27

Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. First up in this episode recorded live backstage in Toronto at the Art Gallery of Ontario before the launch of his brand new book THE REINVENTIONIST MINDSET: LEARNING TO LOVE CHANGE, AND THE HUMAN HOW OF DOING IT BRILLIANTLY ( https://www.anrdoezrs.ne...

Laura Joukovski, TechStyle Fashion Group President talks working with celebrities like Kate Hudson and Rihanna, Canadian supermodel/influencer Coco Rocha, and Manolo Almagro from Q Division talks retail tech, all live from NRF in New York 07.02.2020 51:01

Welcome to the third in a series of special NRF Big Show episodes of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. First up in this episode recorded live backstage in New York City at the NRF Big Show TechStyle Fashion Group President, Global Fashion Brands Laura Joukovski is my guest. Reflecting on her work ov...

"The most interesting store in world", Showfield's CEO Tal Zvi Nathanel plus Forrester VP Sucharita Kodali on the future of retail Live from the NRF podcasting studio at the Big Show in New York 31.01.2020 51:01

Welcome to another in a series of special NRF Big Show episodes of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. First up in this episode recorded live from New York City at the NRF Big Show in the NRF podcasting studio I’m joined by Tal Zvi Nathanel, the CEO of “the most interesting store in the world” Showfie...

Live from the NRF Big Show in New York, Giant Tiger President & COO Paul Wood plus retail strategist and author Steve Dennis talks remarkable retail 24.01.2020 45:24

Welcome to the first of a series of special NRF Big Show episodes of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. First up in this episode recorded live from New York City at the NRF Big Show in the NRF podcasting studio Giant Tiger President and COO Paul Wood joins me and we learn all about this fast growing C...

Recorded in front of a live audience Retail Insider's Craig Patterson talks Canadian Shopping Centre Report and Engagement Agents Sean Snyder talks effective mall marketing 17.01.2020 54:18

Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Engagement Agents, Engagement Agents makes it easy for retailers to engage their shopping centers’ marketing channels, in order to promptly drive a Return on Engagement! First up in this episode recorded in front of a live audience from the...

Canadian eCommerce leader Tanbir Grover interview part 2, and Andy Palalas, CRO for HighTide talks about the importance to merchants of Retail Cannabis 2.0 10.01.2020 44:57

Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada First up in this episode part two of my interview with Canadian eCommerce leader Tanbir Grover. We continue our conversation talking about digital marketing, the reality of ROAS & transcending metrics, team building and the strategy of understanding the es...

Canadian eCommerce leader Tanbir Grover talks culture and insights plus veteran retail store operations and people leader April Sabral on how retailers can win in 2020 03.01.2020 47:01

Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada First up in this episode Tanbir Grover joins me for the first of a two part interview, reflecting on his twelve years at the forefront of digital retail and eCommerce in Canada, working for retail brands including Sears Canada, Hudson’s Bay and Lowe’s Canad...

Live backstage at the Canadian Cannabis Awards with Darren Bondar and Mona Pinette from Spirit Leaf, Mimi Lam and Drummond Munro from Superette, and Kelly Green from Kelly's Green Lounge 27.12.2019 22:32

Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Environics Analytics. Environics Analytics helps companies in Retail, CPG and the Cannabis industry turn data and analytics into insight, strategy and results. EA produces CannabisInsights – the market leading source of neighborhood level i...

Retail strategist David Ian Gray talks Black Friday performance, Canadian farmer-advocate Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, and Michel Sirios President of BlueStar Canada unpacks the retail technology ecosystem 20.12.2019 1:01:27

Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. First up in this episode I catch up with David Ian Gray, founder and strategist behind retail consultancy DIG 360; we touch base on his ongoing and recent research into consumer behaviour in partnership with Leger into Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxin...

Catie Riordan from Enterprise Ireland and a Irish Retail Tech Summit with Chris Parsons from Home Hardware, Scott Adel from Mckesson, Michelle Read-Kulig from Pizza Pizza and digital pioneer Shelly Nandkeolyar 18.12.2019 1:06:35

Welcome to a special Irish Retail Tech episode of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. Recorded live in Dublin and then Waterford Ireland, first up is an interview with Catie Riordan, Vice President of Consumer Retail & Retail Technology for Enterprise Ireland. We talk about her work in the U.S. , the c...

Lisa Bigioni owner of Choom Cannabis Niagara, Claire Santamaria VP of retail phenomena Yorkdale and Angela Kapp from CBD marketplace TruPotency 13.12.2019 44:41

Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. First up recorded live in the Environics Analytics podcasting studio at RCC’s Retail Cannabis forum in Toronto I meet Lisa Bigioni, an Ontario retail cannabis lottery winner and co-owner of Choom Cannabis in Niagara. We talk about the experience around...

Matt & Nat CEO Manny Kohli, retail sales leader Kevin Graff helps us bring home the sales, and omNovos CEO Alan Zander puts on a retail data masterclass 06.12.2019 51:26

Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. First up recorded live at the Retail Council of Canada DTLQC conference in Montreal where he was on the main stage, we meet Manny Kohli, President and CEO of innovative retailer Matt & Nat. Recognized as the leader in cruelty free vegan fashion and lifesty...