Total Retail Talks

In episode 315 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Joe Malmuth, vice president of franchise development and relations at Batteries Plus, a leading omnichannel retailer of batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. Malmuth discusses the 33-year evolution of the Batteries Plus business, his career journey…

In episode 314 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jonas Stillman, director of store systems at Office Depot, a leading provider of business services, products and digital workplace technology solutions. Stillman discusses his role at the company, how his responsibilities shifted over the last year-plus of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changes he's…

In episode 313 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Omer Iqbal, global head of digital strategy and enterprise architecture at Shiseido, the third-largest beauty and skincare company in the world. Iqbal discusses the breadth of Shiseido's business, the different sales channels that it uses, and how the retailer is working with Reltio to…

In episode 312 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Marcelo Podesta, president of National Business Furniture (NBF), a Milwaukee-based commercial furniture retailer. Podesta discusses the various verticals and customers NBF serves, his career journey that brought him to the company, and how the business has adapted to changes in the furniture market due to…

In episode 311 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kelly Cook, chief marketing and IT officer of David's Bridal, the largest American bridal store chain. Cook discusses the genesis of David's Bridal's Diamond Loyalty Program, how the program incentivizes brides and their wedding parties and guests to purchase from the retailer, and the member…

In this bonus episode of Total Retail Talks, Kristina Stidham and Joe Keenan discuss Total Retail's recently released report, The Changing Consumer: Adopting Digital Marketing Strategies to Acquire and Retain Today and Tomorrow’s Customer, produced in conjunction with customer feedback management leader Service Management Group (SMG). As retailers seek to both acquire new customers as well retain...

In episode 310 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jeff Swearingen, global senior vice president of demand accelerator, venturing and global business services at PepsiCo, an American-based multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation. Swearingen discusses the business and consumer changes PepsiCo has experienced in the last year-and-a-half during the COVID-19 pandem...

In episode 309 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Michele Driscoll, vice president of customer engagement, loyalty and personalization at CVS. Driscoll discusses recent updates to the CVS ExtraCare rewards program, how extensive customer research and feedback factored into changes made to the loyalty program, and how the retailer collected this data. She…

In episode 308 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Megan Brophy, senior director of brand marketing at Abercrombie & Fitch and Abercrombie Kids. Brophy discusses Abercrombie's partnership with Facebook for its Live Shopping Fridays initiative, how livestream shopping brings the in-store and digital experience together, and what customers experience when engaging with the l...

In episode 307 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Joice Wirkus, senior vice president of marketing at Big Lots, a national neighborhood discount retailer. Wirkus discusses Big Lot's new "Be A BIGionaire" marketing campaign, the consumer research that factored into this campaign, and the shifts in customer behavior the retailer experienced during the…

In episode 306 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Emilie Hoyt, founder and CEO of LATHER, top quality products for the body, face, hair and home made from unique, natural ingredients and pure essential oils. Hoyt discusses LATHER's business, what led her to start the brand, and to what she attributes the company's 20-year…

In episode 305 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jill Renslow, executive vice president of business development at Mall of America, the nation’s largest retail and entertainment complex. Renslow discusses her current role and 24-year career at the mall, the various entertainment and attractions that set Mall of America apart, and what the…

In episode 304 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Matt Powell, chief technology officer of FTD, a premier floral and gifting company. Powell discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic created a surge in gifting demand at the company, why FTD is focusing on improving its technology, and how the 110-year old company is reimagining its…

In this bonus episode of Total Retail Talks, Digital Content Director Kristina Stidham interviews Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan about Total Retail's recently published report, Automated Order Replenishment Drives High-Level BOPIS Execution .... and Customer Satisfaction, produced in conjunction with SPS Commerce. Listen in as Keenan shares a few key highlights from the report and how retailers can us...

In episode 303 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Taleeb Noormohamed, CEO of Jane, a boutique marketplace featuring the latest in women's fashion trends, accessories, home decor, children's clothing, and more. Noormohamed discusses Jane's curated online marketplace of small businesses, his professional background, and how the online retailer supports the small business co...

In episode 302 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Gary Lenett, co-founder and CEO of DUER, a Canadian apparel brand combining everyday wear and performance wear for men and women. Listen in as Lenett discusses DUER's business and products, his professional background in fashion, and the inspiration behind launching the brand. He details…

In episode 301 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Melanie Travis, founder and CEO of Andie, a global e-commerce women's swim and intimates retailer. Listen in as Travis discusses the brand's growth over the past four years, her career background in the consumer startup space, and her inspiration to launch Andie. She shares…

In episode 300 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Andris Lagsdin, founder of The Baking Steel, a pizza stone retailer with a range of products made from ultra-conductive steel. Listen in as Lagsdin discusses why he launched the brand, his professional background, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced The Baking Steel's business.…

In episode 299 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Michael Stein, head of e-commerce at Coleman Furniture, an online furniture retailer that is part of Renegade Furniture Group. Listen in as Stein discusses how Coleman Furniture is utilizing technology to differentiate itself from the competition, examples of how the company is using artificial…

In episode 298 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Dick Sullivan, CEO of PGA TOUR Superstore, a leading national golf equipment, apparel and technology retailer. Listen in as Sullivan discusses PGA TOUR Superstore's business, his career experience in retail and professional sports, and to what he attributes the rapid growth of the golf…

In episode 297 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kristine Moody, founder and managing director of Team Magnus, the leading junior sports and outdoors brand focused on pre-teens. Listen in as Moody discusses the Team Magnus brand and its products, how and why the brand sells about 97 percent of its product on Amazon.com,…

In episode 296 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Harry Temkin, vice president of seller experience at eBay, a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers around the world. Listen in as Temkin discusses his role at the company, the survey eBay recently conducted with its sellers to better understand…

In episode 295 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Stuart Landesberg, founder and CEO of Grove Collaborative, a leading sustainable CPG company and certified B Corp that creates innovative natural products and offers a curated selection of healthy home essentials. Listen in as Landesberg discusses the mission behind Grove Collaborative, his background that…

In this bonus episode of Total Retail Talks, Digital Content Director Kristina Stidham interviews Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan about Total Retail's recently published report, How-To Guide for Doing BOPIS and Curbside Pickup Right. Listen in as Keenan shares a few key highlights from the report, why consumer adoption of omnichannel fulfillment programs figures to continue post-pandemic,…

In episode 294 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Natalya Utesheva, senior brand manager at Schick, a leading heritage men's and women's shaving brand. Listen in as Utesheva discusses the launch of Schick's new fully recyclable Xtreme 3 Eco Glide razor, and why sustainability is core to the shaving brand and its parent company, Edgewell.…