Total Retail Talks

In episode 254 of Total Retail Talks, Digital Content Manager Kristina Stidham interviews Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan about Total Retail's recent research report, Customer Loyalty in a Fragmented Retail Market: How retailers can leverage data to create long-term relationships with their customers." The report was sponsored by Fidel API. Listen in as Keenan discusses the report, which…

In episode 253 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Christian Palmaz, co-founder of Palmaz Vineyards, a family-owned and operated winery located in Napa Valley that practices a unique form of gravity-flow wine making. Listen in as Palmaz discusses the vineyard's history and his role at the company, how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted…

In episode 252 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Pradeep Elankumaran, co-founder and CEO of Farmstead, an online grocery retailer that offers free delivery and fresh, locally sourced foods. Listen in as Elankumaran discusses his career background in technology, his inspiration for founding the company, and the growth of online grocery during the COVID-19…

In episode 251 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Katie Harnetiaux, global head of Amazon Handmade, a shop on Amazon.com featuring handcrafted goods from local artisans. Listen in as Harnetiaux discusses why the Amazon Handmade shop was created as part of the business five years ago, its international expansion, and the types of…

In episode 250 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Chris McCann, CEO of 1-800-FLOWERS.com, a leading provider of gifts, and Boaz Gaon, CEO and founder of Wisdo, an emotional wellness self-care platform. McCann and Gaon discuss a recent partnership between the two brands as well as the launch of Connection Communities, a peer-to-peer support portal that guides…

In episode 249 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ari Grazi, co-founder and president of Indiewalls, a full-service art consultancy connecting designers, brands, and consumers to a global community of independent artists. Listen in as Grazi discusses his professional background, why he founded Indiewalls, and the company's new Indiesigns extension, which sells decals and...

In episode 248 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Mariah Chase, CEO of ELOQUII, a plus-sized clothing brand for women. Listen in as Chase discusses the history of the brand, her career background, and how ELOQUII fills a gap in the market for quality plus-sized apparel. She shares how the brand is communicating…

In episode 247 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ismail Ozokur, CEO of Oz Medical Supply, a family-owned and operated medical supply and equipment distributor to all segments of the healthcare industry. Listen in as Ozokur discusses his career background, the history of the company, and Oz Medical's primary customers and products. He shares…

In episode 246 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Alexander Sienkiewicz, chief marketing officer at SwimOutlet, the largest swim retailer in the United States. Listen in as Sienkiewicz discusses the brand's history, its e-commerce offerings, and his career background in retail. He shares how SwimOutlet launched an automated SMS campaign with Attentive, offering inspiratio...

In episode 245 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paige McFarling, director of mission advancement at Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by disadvantaged artisans from more than 120 artisan groups in more than 35 countries. Listen in as McFarling shares the brand's story and mission;…

In episode 244 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ben Scrivens, founder and president of Fright-Rags, a designer and producer of original and licensed horror T-shirts. Listen in as Scrivens discusses the history of the brand, Fright-Rags' business evolution during COVID-19, and how the company has dealt with an uptick in orders in recent…

In episode 243 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews James Brohamer, director of omnichannel marketing at Purple, a comfort technology company that specializes in the direct-to-consumer sales of mattresses, pillows and other bedding accessories. Listen in as Brohamer discusses the brand's history, its online and brick-and-mortar distribution channels, and why Purple decided...

In episode 242 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Chelsea Riggs, brand president at amika, a brand of hair care and styling tools. Listen in as Riggs discusses how amika's sales in beauty salons and Sephora stores have been impacted by the crisis, the growth of the brand's direct-to-consumer business, and how the…

In episode 241 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jessica Herrin, CEO and founder of Stella & Dot, a family of brands of fashion, accessories and skincare. Listen in as Herrin discusses managing during the COVID-19 crisis, how Stella & Dot is adjusting to this new normal, and how she is motivating her…

In episode 240 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Lexy Onofrio, vice president, brand marketing strategy and creative at Lane Bryant, a leading retailer of plus-sized clothing for women. Listen in as Onofrio discusses the brand's history and audience, as well as how Lane Bryant is improving its customers' in-store shopping experiences through…

In episode 239 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Michael Markesbery, co-founder and CEO of OROS, a performance outerwear brand that features product inspired by NASA technology. In this wide-ranging interview, Markesbery discusses his inspiration for launching OROS, why product innovation is at the core of the brand's ethos, the digital-native company's decision…

In episode 238 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Gail Buffington, vice president of marketing and analytics at Soft Surroundings, a women's apparel, shoes and accessories retailer. Listen in as Buffington discusses Soft Surrounding's brand history as a cataloger, its expansion into brick-and-mortar retail, and her career at the company. She shares how Soft…

In episode 237 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Steven Borelli, founder and CEO, and Carter Shae, director of finance, both of Cuts Clothing, an online men's apparel brand that's the first to accessorize the basic tee. Listen in as Borelli and Shae share why Cuts Clothing was founded, the brand's history, and how…

In episode 236 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews David Pisker, general manager, customer experience and e-commerce at Officeworks, a big-box Australian retailer providing office supplies and business services. Listen in as Pisker discusses Officeworks use of an in-store traffic tool from Kepler Analytics, which has helped with in-store operations such as merchandising…

In episode 235 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kevin Moffitt, chief retail officer at Office Depot. Listen in as Moffitt discusses Office Depot’s transformation from a B-to-C office supplies retailer to a business services platform, why the brand is making this transition, and how the brand's history plays into that decision. Moffitt shares…

In episode 234 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ian Leslie, chief marketing officer at Industry West, a modern B-to-B and D-to-C furniture retailer. Listen in as Leslie shares the history of the brand, including its long-standing success in the B-to-B space and it's focusing on growing stronger direct-to-consumer relationships. He discusses how…

In episode 233 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jan-Willem Driessen, former vice president of global marketing and direct-to-consumer at Black Diamond Equipment, a global retailer specializing in climbing, hiking and skiing apparel and equipment. Listen in as Driessen discusses Black Diamond Equipment's growing direct-to-consumer business, its transition away from being...

In episode 232 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Laurie Simpter, senior manager of customer relations at Pier 1 Imports, an omnichannel retailer of unique, decorative home furnishings, decor and gifts. Listen in as Simpter discusses the challenges many retailers face when handling customer service phone calls, including staffing, especially during peak holiday times.…

In episode 231 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Melanie Huet, chief marketing officer at Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), the largest manufacturer and distributor of mattresses in North America. Listen in as Huet talks about her career background in both global brand and D-to-C marketing, as well as where she hopes to lead SSB's…

In episode 230 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan interviews Eli Winkler, chief marketing officer at La-Z-Boy, a leading home furniture manufacturer and retailer. Listen in as Winkler discusses the furniture retailer's history, how the business has adjusted to consumers' changing behaviors, and the technology enhancements La-Z-Boy offers shoppers in its stores and…