Total Retail Talks

In episode 323 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Andre Persaud, chief retail officer of Rite Aid, the trusted, everyday care connector operating over 2,500 retail pharmacy locations across 17 U.S. states. Persaud discusses Rite Aid's RxEvolution strategy, how the business is redesigning the in-store experience for its customers, and the internal cross-functional…

In episode 322 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paul Kang, senior director of product management and consumer loyalty at VF Corporation, one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies operating a family of outdoor, active and workwear brands including Vans®, The North Face®, Timberland®, and Dickies®. Kang discusses how product management…

In episode 321 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paul Hedrick, CEO of Tecovas, a seller of handmade, high-quality western boots. Hedrick discusses the Tecovas business and his professional background, his inspiration for launching the western brand, and the factors he believes have spurred growth during the COVID-19 pandemic through physical retail expansion…

In episode 320 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Christine Grasser, manager of corporate communications, giving and volunteerism, and Sam Di Scipio, vice president of corporate communications, giving and volunteerism at Macy's. Grasser and Di Scipio discuss Macy's recent partnership with the National Retail Federation Foundation's RISE Up training and credentialing progr...

In episode 319 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jill Feldman, vice president and general manager of Kids Foot Locker, the children's brand under Foot Locker, Inc. Feldman discusses Kids Foot Locker's success during this year's back-to-school season, the target demographic for the retailer, and the dynamic of both parents and children influencing…

In episode 318 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Eric Bjorling, director of brand marketing and public relations at Trek Bikes, a heritage bicycle retailer and manufacturer based in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Bjorling discusses why Trek conducted its first-ever emissions audit in 2020, the learnings from Trek's first Sustainability report, and the steps the company…

In episode 317 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Tim Schroder, senior vice president of marketing at Save A Lot, a limited assortment discount grocer. Schroder discusses the company's offerings and his role, as well as Save a Lot's newly rolled out marketing and branding campaign "Like, A Lot A Lot." He shares why…

In episode 316 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Giovanni Monti, senior vice president of healthcare services at Walgreens Boots Alliance, a global leader in retail pharmacy. Listen in as Monti discusses his role and team at the company, how the COVID-19 pandemic increasingly blended healthcare and retail together, and what that dynamic…

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…