Retail Adventures

In this edition of the Retail Adventures podcast Rich Kizer, Georganne Bender, Jeremey Sea and Ian Scott discuss Halloween sales, membership/subscription services, Amazon Local Selling and Amazon 4 Star stores, plus what's expected to happen on Black Friday, and everything else in between! October 27, 2021

We have updated our name to Retail Adventures with KIZER & BENDER & BAUM & SEA & SCOTT, appropriately adding Jeremey and Ian to the masthead. Kizer & Bender & Baum are here in the U.S., Jeremey Sea joins us from Singapore, and Ian Scott reports from the U.K. This podcast is all about that's happening with consumers, the pandemic, and of course, all things retail in each of our corners of the world. If you are looking for retail statistics and talking heads then this isn't the podcast for you. The Retail Adventures Podcast is a conversation between five retail strategists that's all about real retail, including what's happening at store level, the state of customer service, what we're seeing happening with consumers, new store openings, acquisitions, partnerships and more. We hope you'll join us on our Adventures!

"Forgiveness is Divine but never pay full price for pizza." Michelangelo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Odd quote for a retail podcast, right? Maybe not when you consider the topics covered in this podcast. With Georganne in Chicago, Jason in New Jersey, Ian in the UK and Jeremey in Singapore there's an international conversation on the pandemic, shopping online vs. in-store, technology and ladies apparel, algorithms and more. There's never a dull moment when this group gets together!

Georganne and Rich and Jason are back together and talking retail. Topics include the state of shopping, stores as warehouses, what’s going on at Victoria’s Secret, plus lots of laughs.

In this issue of the Retail Adventures Podcast the international team is back together to talk about what’s happening at retail. Rich Kizer, Georganne Bender, Jason Baum, Ian Scott and Jeremey Sea tackle a myriad of topics including vaccines and vaccine passports, leasing circa 2021, what’s happening in the UK as non-essential stores re-open, and more.

You may recognize the reference to the Jurassic Park quote, "Life finds a way". Pandemic or no, retail always finds a way. In this international version of the Retail Adventures Podcast KIZER & BENDER are back with retail strategists Ian Scott from the U.K. and Jeremey Sea from Singapore.When we get together you never know what will happen. On this podcast the topics include headlines from the virtual NRF Big Show, augmented reality, store openings and closings, the pandemic, everything retail, and lots of laughs.

Our Retail Adventures podcast becomes an international meeting of the minds when Rich, Jason and I are joined by Ian Scott (UK) and Jeremey Sea (Singapore) to talk about all things retail. Today's conversation includes a global view on COVID and the second wave of lockdowns, Holiday 2020 and what's happening at retail right now, Amazon's pharmacy launch and its continued quest for total world domination, how retailers are integrating digital and physical retail, and more. It's a lot of talk and a lot of fun! The podcast version will be up on all places where podcasts can be found soon.

Our Retail Adventures podcast becomes an international meeting of the minds when Rich, Jason and I are joined by Ian Scott (UK) and Jeremey Sea (Singapore) to talk about all things retail. Today's conversation includes a global view on COVID and the second wave of lockdowns, Holiday 2020 and what's happening at retail right now, Amazon's pharmacy launch and its continued quest for total world domination, how retailers are integrating digital and physical retail, and more. It's a lot of talk and a lot of fun! The podcast version will be up on all places where podcasts can be found soon.

Try to remember the kind of September, when life was slow and oh, so mellow... Rich and Georganne and Jason discuss on the big topics affecting the retail industry, including how to prepare for Holiday 2020, paying with your palm, COVID-19, and more.

Joining us for this month’s installment of our virtual travels around the world are Jeremey Sea 谢泳锦 and Ian Scott. Jeremey brings us the news from Singapore, Ian brings us up-to-speed from the U.K., and KIZER & BENDER & BAUM share what's happening at retail in the U.S. As usual with this group, we share plenty of important “what’s happening at retail” info, plus lots of laughs. Jeremey and Ian will continue to join us monthly on the Retail Adventures Podcast. Recorded on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

We’re talking all things retail, specifically things retailers are doing right now to engage shoppers and increase sales. Joining the Retail Adventures team is Emily Washcovick, Yelp’s Chicago based Senior Field Marketing Manager and Small Business Expert. We talk a little about how Yelp can help your business, too.

Joining KIZER & BENDER & BAUM is the whip smart and hilarious Rachael Kay Albers, founder and creative director of RKA ink, a branding, web design, and digital marketing studio based outside Chicago. The conversation centers on how to create an unforgettable brand and stand out online without selling you soul or playing the manipulation game, plus binge worthy content vs. “going viral” and why making people laugh is so important. Check out Rachael’s website at https://www.rkaink.com/ and her Awkward Marketing, a business comedy show that blends fun-sized business advice with storytelling and sketch comedy here: https://www.youtube.com/c/Rkaink/

We travel the world (virtually!) to understand what's going on as physical stores continue to reopen. Jeremey Sea 谢泳锦 reports from Singapore, Ian Scott brings us up-to-speed from the U.K. and KIZER & BENDER & BAUM share what's happening at retail in the U.S. This is lively retail-centric conversation that we plan to continue monthly on the Retail Adventures Podcast. We met talking retail in similar presentation for RetailTransformation.Live, a virtual international conference you should check out!

In this episode we welcome guest Adam Lovick, host of the wildly popular Traveler Podcast where he shares travel stories that are centered around a community of people who want to create their own story. Adam gives us the what’s what in travel, plus his secret tips to make travel easier. This guy isn’t just knowledgeable, he’s fun! And here’s where it gets crazy. You know our hosts have travel stories of their own that may or may not include Pedialyte and barf bags.

Joining the Retail Adventures team is Brian Gibbs, president of Refund Retriever, a company that provides businesses with complete logistics visibility and savings through FedEx and UPS invoice auditing and analytics. If you ship goods you won’t want to miss this episode.

Our special guest on this episode is Frank Bussemeier, a food industry veteran with over four decades of experience. Frank has held leadership positions with the country's leading grocer, food wholesaler and specialty distribution companies. He currently holds the position of Senior Vice President for a major food distribution company. Our conversation covers everything from how companies have diversified in a changing market amidst COVID-19, how retailers are adapting to change, how unemployment and underemployment are affecting retailers, "share of stomach", and more. Whether you are a grocer or a consumer this is one podcast you won't want to miss!

As stay at home mandates began to loosen, people went shopping with a vengeance; U.S. retail sales rose a record 17.7% in May. K&B&B tackle what that means, what it’s like to be victim to a COVID-19 job loss, plus a hint at the future of trade shows.

More and more stores reopen each day and customers seem eager to shop, but will this trend continue? The discussion centers on what has changed in-store, plus what it takes to engage Millennial and Gen Z consumers. Joining the Retail Adventures team is Jasmine Glasheen, principal writer at Jasmine Glasheen & Associates. Jasmine is a retail thought leader, content strategist and frequent contributor to important publications such as The Robin Report, IBM, RetailWire, Sourcing Journal, KIZER & BENDER’s Retail Adventures Blog, and more.

  Currently, less than 20 percent of shoppers are confident that retailers are providing a safe shopping environment. As more and more states allow non-essential stores to open the big question is will shoppers return? Retailers and restaurateurs think so and they are finding new and creative ways to engage customers.  

  You may have already reopened your store for business, or your doors might still be closed, either way we bet saving money is always on your mind. In this Retail Adventures podcast Kizer & Bender & Baum share easy to do ideas to help you cut unnecessary costs and increase your bottom line.  

  In the "Now Normal" it’s far from business as usual as stores planning to re-open must follow stringent health and safety guidelines. What’s happening at retail right now includes frequent sanitation, "no-touch" is the rule, fitting rooms are closed, returns are questionable, and in spite of it all, retailers are creating new product opportunities customers love.  

  Welcome to the NOW NORMAL. During this Retail Adventures podcast Kizer & Bender & Baum discuss how our world - and retail - is changing daily, plus how retailers are learning to pivot.  

Is your business ready to reopen? Some states are allowing stores to reopen, others are still waiting for the okay to move forward. Preparing to reopen your doors should be a top priority that takes meticulous planning. Joining KIZER & BENDER & BAUM is Mary Liz Curtin, speaker, author and owner of Leon & Lulu and the Three Cars Cafe. The conversation centers around what’s happening at retail right now, plus things to think about as you plan to reopen your store after COVID-19 closures.

Today is Tuesday, you know what that means? We’re gonna have a special guest! Joining KIZER & BENDER & BAUM on this episode is Matt Korn, Digital Marketing Manager for The Walt Disney Company. Matt has helped build organic and paid social media strategies from the ground up, has supported multi-million dollar product launches, and has developed marketing concepts that have disrupted the market. And he’s here to help YOU make the most out of your social media marketing efforts. We had a gazillion questions – this is a truly magical podcast!

In this episode KIZER & BENDER & BAUM have a conversation about where retail is right now and where it’s headed, followed by an interview with special guest, Christine Grecco, a creative customer-focused technology professional with 18 years of progressive experience in computer programming, software development and website design. Christine shares how to quickly create an online store with easy-to-use platforms during COVID-19. Plus, Georganne and Rich sing. Badly.

Right now it’s all about online retailing, but we think consumers will be itching to get back to stores once we receive the all clear. But here’s the thing: they will return with higher expectations. Retailers will need to fix the in-store experience, remove the pain points – before before the store reopens. What can you do to make the shopping experience easier?

KIZER & BENDER & BAUM discuss what you can do while your business is closed, including why merchandising your sales floor during the COVID-19 closure is important, and which parts of your store are considered “lake front property”. You’ll also hear about the best in customer connections, email blasts and social media posts we have seen lately, all excellent examples to get your creative juices flowing.

Retail Adventures Podcast with KIZER & BENDER & BAUM will cover all things retail, beginning with what you can do right now to keep your store fresh and in front of customers. We're talking Non-stop, Traffic-Building, Profit-Producing, Attention-Grabbing, Sales-Generating, Competition-Miffing, Customer-Winning Retail Ideas you just can't afford to miss! Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender are consumer anthropologists, keynote speakers, authors, consultants who have helped thousands of businesses in the retail, restaurant, hospitality, travel, beauty, funeral, sales, and service industries since 1990. KIZER & BENDER are contributors to MSNBC’s Your Business. They made Meetings & Conventions Magazine's list of Meeting Planners Favorite Keynote Speakers and have been named two of Retailing's Most Influential People. As global retail thought leaders, KIZER & BENDER are listed among the Top 40 Omnichannel Retail Influencers, Top 100 Retail Influencers, and the Top Retail Industry Experts to Follow on Social Media. Their award-winning Retail Adventures Blog is consistently listed among important retail and small business blogs. KIZER & BENDER serve as BrainTrust panelists for RetailWire and are partners and emcees for the popular Independent Retailer Conference. Wait. KIZER & BENDER & BAUM? The Baum is Jason Baum, a brilliant marketer and a partner we have relied on for years. Jason is a voice actor, worked in television series development, had a radio show on WGLS-FM, and is a seasoned association professional for a number of industries, including the Craft & Creative Industry where we met. Jason is the perfect complement to our conversations about marketing and all things retail and we can’t wait for you to meet him.