Podcasts about Nordstrom

Today's guest turned a simple idea into a sell out product sold in Nordstrom and other major retailers, and she's here to show you how she did it. Courntey Johnson, former Founder of the yoga mat company MYSOLMAT is here to share the mindset and strategies behind spotting opportunities hiding in plain sight and transforming everyday frustrations into brilliant product ideas that sell. We also dive into creative, under-the-radar ways to get your products into the right hands, WITHOUT relying only on social media. In This Episode, You'll Learn:00:00 - Who is Courtney Johnson?01:30 - Why did Courtney start MYSOLMAT?02:00 - What is the simplest way to guarantee your product will sell?04:00 - What's the Product Boss framework for creating a product?04:51 - How vanity can guide your path to profit.06:45 - Courtney's cheat code for finding new product ideas.09:15 - Why having a personal brand will take you farther, faster than a faceless business.12:52 - How to use social media when you hate creating content.14:40 - The most unhinged things Courtney Johnson did to get her product into retail shops.16:15 - When does it make sense to send out samples of your product?17:41 - The most overlooked social platform you need to be on, LinkedIn.19:00 - How to use LinkedIn to reach buyers.20:00 - What influencer marketers will give you the greatest ROI?21:10 - The best and worst ways to cold pitch brands about your product.Resources + LinksLet's increase your holiday sales in just 5 days! Join the free Rock Your Holiday Challenge HERE!Get business tips sent right to your inbox - join the newsletter!Watch on YouTubeFollowJacqueline on IG: @theproductbosstheproductboss.comCourtney on IG: @courtlynnjohnson

Welcome to the world, Lucy Grey! Alex and Jon had a baby and she's more perfect than you could ever imagine. In this week's episode, they discuss their trip to the hospital and what it's like to finally have their daughter in their arms. Yes, it's a bunch of sleepless nights and a complete change of lifestyle, but they couldn't be happier. Even in the throws of new parenthood, they still have time to answer your questions and give advice. Take it lightly, though. They're running on negative 10 hours of sleep. Submit your questions here!⁠0:00 - Intro41:09 - Lady Bits42:09 - Most Unexpected Thing About Giving Birth 42:31 - Tips For Supporting Your Partner 42:57 - Shocking Thing About Birth 44:08 - What's Easier Than Expected?45:24 - Should We Get a Midwife?47:04 - Recovery After Birth48:23 - Baby Products: Buy vs. Skip01:00:02 - My Mother-In-Law Needs To Back Off01:02:52 - Resenting My Husband Postpartum 01:06:09 - Too Many Newborn Opinions! 01:08:04 - Navigating Labor and Delivery 01:11:33 - Sharing Your Secret Winx - Head to hellowinx.com/GITMS for 50% off Winx at Walgreens.Headspace - For a limited time, get Headspace FREE for 60 days. Go to headspace.com/STRAIGHT.Square - Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/straight. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today.Nuna - Visit nunababy.com to learn more or visit your local Nordstrom to test out the gear.Visit our website ⁠www.giveittomestraightpodcast.com⁠Visit our other website ⁠www.alexjon.com⁠Find us on Instagram!⁠Podcast⁠⁠Alex⁠⁠JonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For over 50 years our company—Nordstrom Inc.—had been a publicly traded entity. Owned by shareholders, traded on Wall Street, and largely evaluated by its stock price. That all changed on May 20, 2025, when we—the family—with more than a little help from our friends, bought it back. What does that actually mean? How does that all work? What are the potential risks, and long-term implications for the future of the business? These are the questions that we're here to answer today in Part 1 of our two-part series all about how Nordstrom went private. From the outside it may seem like this sort of thing happens relatively quickly. An offer is made, the stock gets bought, the company disappears from the market, and that's it! But we can tell you now—having gone through it—the whole process is really a lot more complex than we had initially imagined. So to set the stage and discuss some of the circumstances that placed us on this path, we've invited back to the Nordy Pod Co-CEO, Erik Nordstrom, and Chief Merchandising Officer, Jamie Nordstrom. You'll also hear from the super talented investment banker that helped to guide and advise us in this endeavor, Ken Moelis. Together we'll walk you through the entire process from start to finish, we'll discuss some of the main motivations for, and future benefits of achieving our goal, as well as some of the most perilous, high-stakes risks involved in the journey of Nordstrom going private. Thanks for tuning in to episode 97. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Most parents spend years worrying about the wrong things. And meanwhile, they miss the dangers that really matter. Today's guest is Dr. Beachgem, a pediatric ER doctor and mom of four, who has seen firsthand what actually lands kids in the hospital. In this episode, she reveals the 3 things she would never let her own children do, the fears we need to release, and the surprising truths she wishes she'd known as a brand-new mom. You'll walk away with clarity on what really keeps kids safe, freedom from the fears that don't serve you, and a brand-new perspective on parenting that could change your family forever.Dr. Meghan Martin, known online as Dr. Beachgem10, is a board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician, mom of four, and a trusted voice in family health education. She began creating content on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic to help parents navigate medical information in a clear, compassionate, and accessible way.With nearly 7 million followers across platforms, Dr. Martin actively practices in pediatric emergency care, treating critically ill and injured children. Whether she's in the ER, sharing disaster preparedness tips or kids summer safety tips, juggling life with kids and her cats, Dr. Martin leads with authenticity and heart. She's a doctor, wife, and mom—committed to helping families feel informed, empowered, and seen.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.Visit www.expressable.com/BEDTIME to find the perfect speech therapist and get started on your child's communication journey.Visit nunababy.com to learn more or visit your local Nordstrom to test out the gear. Go to harbor.co/BLF and use code BLF for $50 off and experience the security every parent deserves. Try ZipRecruiter for FREE at ZIPRECRUITER.COM/FEELINGS! Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Nursing Uncharted, we explore the evolving world of travel nursing, with a spotlight on the recruitment process and the lasting effects of COVID-19 on nursing demand. Bianca Otero, a Director of Recruitment at AMN Healthcare, shares her expertise on high-need contracts, the critical role of compensation, and the dynamics of the nurse-recruiter relationship. The conversation highlights the importance of quality nursing care, the unique challenges faced by travel nurses, and the shifting priorities in the nursing profession as it adapts to a post-COVID landscape.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Travel Nursing and Recruitment01:02 The Impact of COVID-19 on Nursing Demand04:10 Understanding High-Need Contracts06:53 The Role of Recruitment in Filling Nursing Gaps10:46 Compensation and Its Influence on Travel Nursing14:52 The Importance of Patient Care in Recruitment19:03 Building Relationships Between Nurses and Recruiters23:07 Quality vs. Quantity in Travel Nursing27:03 Navigating Challenges in Travel Nursing31:00 The Future of Travel Nursing Post-COVID34:51 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAbout Bianca:Bianca is an accomplished recruiting leader with over 8 years at AMN Healthcare, where she advanced to Director of Recruiting. With nearly a decade of leadership experience at Nordstrom prior to transitioning into healthcare recruitment, she brings a proven track record in building teams, driving growth, and delivering results. Passionate about the positive impact recruitment has on patient care, Bianca is dedicated to leading a team that connects the right talent to the right opportunities every day. READY for TravCon? Here's Your Ultimate Guide to TravCon 2025Meet Ann & the AMN Healthcare Team at Booth #545About AnnAnn King, a seasoned travel nurse with a remarkable 14-year track record, has dedicated the past 13 years to specializing in Neonatal ICU. Ann has been traveling with AMN Healthcare for 4.5 years, enriching her expertise with diverse experiences. Currently residing in San Diego, Ann not only thrives in her nursing career but also serves as the host of the Nursing Uncharted podcast, where she shares invaluable insights and stories from the world of nursing. Connect with Ann on Instagram @annifer05 No Better Place than CA! Book your assignment in the Golden State Today! Level up your career today! Find your dream travel assignment! Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Ready to start your next travel assignment in the Golden State? Browse CA Jobs! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! Join Our Communities: WebsiteYouTubeInstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyLinkedInFacebook Powered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pete Nordstrom, co-C.E.O. of the Seattle-based department store group, joins Lauren to reflect on how he got into the family business, and how the company has remained family-run for four generations (without that much trouble). They also discuss the company's recent take-private, the state of multi-brand retail, Pete's hiring philosophy, and much, much more. To subscribe to Fashion People click here To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, co-hosts Josh Christensen and associate editor David Salazar, filling in for Yasmin Gagne, discuss the latest news in the world of business and innovation. Topics include Jimmy Kimmel's return, Nvidia's plans to invest $100 billion in OpenAI, and the Trump administration's unfounded claims about Tylenol.   Next, Yaz speaks to Jessica Schinazi, CEO of the direct-to-consumer luggage brand Away. They discuss making the company profitable, launching soft-shell suitcases and other accessories, and transitioning away from DTC to sell on Amazon and at Nordstrom.   Finally, Yaz interviews David Allemann, co-founder of premium sportswear brand On, about competing in a crowded athletic shoe market, receiving an investment from Roger Federer, and the company's innovative physical retail strategy. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news

Born in June 1969 and raised in Southwest Washington state, Reshell Douglas grew up surrounded by entrepreneurship, learning the ropes of retail in her family's bridal salon where she worked in sales, buying, and merchandising. By age 14, she was already attending trade shows as a buyer, and throughout the 1980s she gained hands-on experience in retail sales at Nordstrom, JC Penney's, and Hickory Farms. In 1990, she married her husband Scott, with whom she recently celebrated 35 years, and in 2003 they welcomed their beloved daughter, Ellery. In 2000, Reshell opened her brick-and-mortar store, Not Too Shabby Boutique, which continues to thrive today. With over two decades in business, she embraces her role as a creative and passionate small business owner, living her best entrepreneurial life—and dreaming of one day continuing her story on a beach.In this episode, Reshell “Shelly” Douglas shares her inspiring 25-year journey of owning and evolving Not Too Shabby Boutique in Vancouver, Washington. From her early beginnings in the bridal industry to navigating economic downturns, shifting trends, and the challenges of COVID, Shelly reveals how adaptability, creativity, and strong customer relationships have been the key to her long-term success.We are doing our first-ever open call! You can submit your store or favorite store to be on the podcast because every store has a story behind it! Go to theretailwhorepodcast.com, click on SUBMIT YOUR STORE, fill out an easy form and we'll see you on the mic!What's Inside:Shelly's evolution from working in her family's bridal salon to running her own boutique for 25 yearsHow she pivoted her business through changing times, from shabby chic to gift baskets, and thrived even during economic downturns and COVIDThe importance of building customer and employee relationships, working the sales floor, and staying inspired as a small business ownerMentioned In This Episode:InstagramFacebookNot Too Shabby Boutique WebsiteSupport the show

We're kicking off Season 3 with a surprise episode! Ally joins us as we catch up on summer adventures, share behind-the-scenes of Dan's big birthday Vestival, laugh about failed sourdough attempts, chat farmers markets, and finally answer the question you've all been asking: is Ally still at Nordstrom?! It feels so good to be back behind the mic, we can't wait for you to listen in!We'd love to hear from you. Reach out and let us know what you think or if you have any questions about this week's episode! If you'd like more info on mortgage or real estate planning, reach out to Dan at dankellermtg@gmail.com or on IG at @mymortgageguydan.Jenny can be reached at hello@jennycookies.com or on IG at @jennycookiesWe hope you enjoyed today's show, God Bless!P.S. Could you do us a favor? Take 1-min and leave us a 5-star review and message on Apple podcast or Spotify? Thank you So much!-Dan & Jenny

 Loretta Soffe is a seasoned retail executive, board director, and strategic advisor with more than 25 years of experience driving growth and innovation in the global retail space. As the former executive vice president and general merchandising manager of Women's Apparel at Nordstrom, she led the company's largest division, growing revenue by 33% to over $2 billion and doubling e-commerce sales to $275 million. Loretta was also a key player in shaping Nordstrom's early omnichannel strategy and building the foundation for the company's e-commerce success. After Nordstrom, she launched a successful consulting practice and served as a senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group, working with global fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands. As a recognized thought leader in retail strategy and women's leadership, Loretta is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences and contribute to thought-leadership forums. She is passionate about mentoring, emerging leaders, and empowering the next generation of women executives. Loretta just finished her first book called Balance is Bullshit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9/23/25: Pol Consultant Josh Silver w/ N'ton City Council Pres Alex Jarrett: true facts on N'ton's budget. Prof Kerstin Nordstrom on Wed's SciTech Cafe w/ Prof Marta Sabariego: how the brain learns from frustration. Duke Goldman: free speech & sports.

We've been to London. We've been to Paris. We've been to Milan. And for this episode, we're rounding out the “Big Four" and taking the podcast to fashion week in New York! To help tell this story we're handing the hosting duties over to a familiar voice—our de facto fashion field corespondent—Vice President Fashion Director at Nordstrom, Rickie De Sole. Rickie takes the reins and dives into the history and influence of New York on the fashion industry with special guest Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA—the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The CFDA has been in charge of organizing New York's fashion week calendar since 2014, and notably have been instrumental in promoting and guiding established and emerging American designers. We'll also stop by the headquarters of the luxury women's ready-to-wear and accessories brand Altuzarra, to speak with the extremely talented founder, CEO and Creative Director, Joseph Altuzarra. While in town, Rickie will also visit our Nordstrom New York flagship store to connect with a few more of our merchant leaders and discuss the kinds of experiences that you'll find when you walk through our doors during fashion week. And on top of all that, Rickie will also take us backstage after the Tory Burch show to meet briefly with Tory and give us a sense of how she's feeling about her collection. Thanks for tuning in to episode 96. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

San Francisco Centre, once the city's flagship shopping mall, is now nearly abandoned. With 93% of its stores vacant and anchor tenants like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's gone, its value has plunged by 25% in just a year — and over $1 billion since 2016.

It's solo pod romp time, superstars; and in this episode I'm pulling back the curtain on the youth-worship scam, the war on aging, and why elderhood is being erased from our culture. I get into vanity, propaganda, the recycling hustle (yup, you're probably paying more to “be sustainable”), and how billionaire “philanthropy” is running the media circus/downfall of Western civilization.Consider this your permission slip to ditch the scripts, embrace your sun spins, and reclaim your own definition of beauty and badassery, as you are so inspired.Watch on Odysee. Listen on Progressive Radio Network and podcast platforms everywhere.Part 2:danikatz.locals.comwww.patreon.com/danikatzAll things Dani, including books, courses, coaching + consulting:www.danikatz.comPlus, schwag:danikatz.threadless.comBrain Supreme:https://brainsupreme.co/WORDUPUse promo WORDUP for 15% off your order!Show notes:· Opening riffs: slammed finger, broken monitor, DIY recording setup.· Housekeeping: books, reviews, newsletter, Brain Supreme supplements.· Recycling rant:o Paying more to refill than to buy new.o Lack of incentives for true recycling.o Idea of creating jobs for youth, disabled, or unhoused to wash/label containers.o Frustration with Santa Fe's city policies + Soros-funded justice programs.· On youth jobs vs. illegal immigration labor debates.· Service industry memories: Nordstrom, waiting tables, and lessons of service.· De-normalizing the attack on aging:o Western erasure of elderhood vs. cultures that honor elders.o Botox, fillers, dye, and surgery as “stealing” the aging process from society.o The “you don't look your age” compliment = toxic hierarchy of youth.o The language trap of “I am X years old” vs. “I have X years.”o Gray hair, skin changes, and embracing time as art.o Personal anecdotes: friend offended at gray hairs, Justine Bateman called “haggard.”o Choosing curiosity and reverence instead of fear and rejection.· Vanity & the 12th Gene Key:o Shadow of vanity vs. gift of discrimination.o Medicine journey insights on vanity.o Occam's razor: simpler to expand our definition of beauty than fight aging.· Broader critique:o How vanity feeds death-phobia and pharma/medical profits.o Normalization of cosmetic procedures as another control mechanism.· The Matrix & propaganda:o Cancel culture, early writing on gender reassignment, Betterarchy insights.o Vanity as last shadow to release on the road to self-realization.o Practices: sitting with judgment until finding beauty (elderly women at YMCA, ecstatic dance).

Image consultant and stylist Mikara Reid is on the scene to give us the final report on the 2025 back-to-school sales for adults. In this episode, Mikara revisits the shopping concerns she's addressed in past videos, putting her own theories to the test in real time. She takes us on a tour of major retailers, visiting both department stores like Nordstrom and Macy's, and off-price stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Her mission: to answer the big question—how good are the back-to-school clothing sales for adults in 2025?With her extensive knowledge from years of styling clients, and her past experience in merchandising and vending, Mikara has a unique point of view on the retail landscape. She'll show you what to look for and where to find the best value for your wardrobe. Join Mikara as she shares her final report and her professional take on what she saw and experienced in the stores. This is a must-watch for anyone looking to refresh their wardrobe with intentional, high-quality purchases.MIIEN'S BULLETIN:

Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HEREFrom Starbucks tables to Taylor Swift's spotlight to Nordstrom shelves, Melinda Maria Spigel has built a jewelry empire on vision, grit, and fearless self-advocacy. Joining Lindsay Pinchuk in this episode, Melinda shares how she turned handmade pieces into a multimillion-dollar brand by trusting her instincts, funding growth in unconventional ways, and pushing past rejection until doors opened. Melinda reflects on the viral moment Taylor Swift wore her “Julian Loves Diamonds” necklace during the Eras Tour, why persistence mattered more than luck when Nordstrom finally took a chance on her, and how a relentless belief in her product carried her through every stage of growth. Her story leaves entrepreneurs with three powerful reminders: keep betting on yourself even when no one else does, treat rejection as a doorway instead of a wall, and understand your numbers as deeply as you understand your craft.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Believing in Yourself and Your Business05:07 Early Passion for Jewelry08:07 Selling Jewelry at Starbucks10:09 Winning Game Shows for Seed Money16:37 Self-Advocating and Building Connections27:08 Persistence Pays Off with Nordstrom39:32 Melinda's Actionable Advice for EntrepreneursConnect with Melinda Maria Spigel:Follow Melinda Maria on InstagramRegister for our FREE Sweep Workshop: The No Fluff Marketing Framework for Small Business Owners. Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business. Check out today's female founded brandsJessica's Natural Granola PvolveTaja CollectionEVEREVE Camp Jacket Parke Official Follow Dear FoundHer on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcastsWhat if the reason you feel drained, stressed, or out of balance isn't something your doctor can find on a lab test, but something deeper that Western medicine has overlooked for centuries?In this eye-opening episode of Hol+, Dr. Taz MD sits down with ninth-generation doctor of traditional oriental medicine Dr. Jenelle Kim to reveal the hidden truths about constitution, essence, and the vital forces that shape your health. Together, they uncover what modern science often ignores — how your unique constitution, your emotional state, and the balance of yin and yang influence everything from hormones to longevity.From the three pillars of medicine (medicine, movement, mindset) to the forgotten role of breath and energy, Dr. Kim shares the ancient frameworks that can transform how you see your body, your stress, and your path to healing. She explains why Western approaches treat symptoms but miss the root, and how simple, timeless practices can reset your energy and restore balance.If you've ever felt like something is missing from conventional medicine, this conversation will give you a powerful new lens on what health really means.Dr. Kim and Dr. Taz discuss:Why Western medicine ignores constitution and essenceHow yin and yang govern hormones and energy flowThe three pillars of medicine: medicine, movement, mindsetWhy emotions like anger show up in your organsThe overlooked role of breath and movement as medicineWhat adaptogens really do (and when they're dangerous)Why ginseng is powerful but not for everyoneHow to simplify beauty and longevity practicesThe Daoist wisdom that brings security in uncertain timesWhy honoring your constitution removes self-comparisonThis is more than a conversation about health — it's a call to rethink what medicine should really mean in your life.Topics Covered:Constitution and Eastern medicine explainedYin, yang, qi, and organ-emotion connectionsMedicine, movement, and mindset as pillars of healthHerbal medicine, adaptogens, and ginseng cautionWhy Western medicine misses the root causesLongevity, beauty, and balance practicesThe Dao and the future of integrative healingConnect further to Hol+ at https://holplus.co/- Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+.About Dr. Jenelle Kim:Dr. Jenelle Kim DACM, L.Ac., is a 9th generation Doctor of Traditional Oriental Medicine, practitioner of Qi Gong/Moving Meditation, board director for Meditation Organization and teacher of the 8 Keys of Living Meditation. She is a prolifically and internationally cited wellness expert who has been featured in Forbes, Allure, Meditation Magazine, Time, & Good Morning America.She is the founder & master formulator of her custom manufacturing labs - JBK Wellness Labs - where her and her team of experts have developed innovative products in the clean beauty (skin, body, hair) and nutraceutical (dietary supplements, nutritional powders, etc) categories for global and indie brands carried in high-end retailers, including Credo, Nordstrom, Sephora & Ulta, for over 20 years.Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribeSubscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcastsFollow Dr. Taz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/Join the conversation on X: https://x.com/@drtazmdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drtazmdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtazmd/Follow Dr. Kim on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drjenellemkim/Host & Production TeamHost: Dr. Taz; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Lead Producer: Lauren Feighan; Editors: Jeremiah Schultz and Patrick Edwards)Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to Ancient Medicine02:39 Dr. Jenelle's Lineage and Background09:10 The Three Pillars of Medicine12:58 Understanding Yin and Yang33:38 The Role of the Liver in Hormone Balance35:50 The Role of Kidneys and Liver in Health36:25 Importance of Digestive System38:51 Personalizing Wellness42:55 The Power of Herbal Medicine50:38 Navigating the Herbal Supplement Industry56:26 Korean Beauty Secrets59:16 Longevity and Stress Management01:07:33 Final Thoughts and Farewell

How are leading retailers and brands using AI to transform shopping? Nordstrom's Brad Tucker, Mars' Shashank Kadetotad, and HCLTech's Debraj Bhattacharya join Rethink Retail to explore: - Smarter personalization and recommendations - Greater operational efficiency - Faster product innovation - AI's role in sustainability and customer loyalty From generative to agentic AI, discover how companies are turning data into insight and creating the future of retail.

  It's an interesting fact that while North Carolina's population continues to steadily increase, enrollment in public schools is trending in the opposite direction. Part of the explanation for this is to be found in demographic shifts, but as Newsline learned in a recent conversation with veteran education policy analyst Kris Nordstrom of the North […]

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we're joined by Pradeep Manivannan, Martech Consultant at Academy Sports & Outdoors. Pradeep brings extensive experience from roles at eBay, Salesforce, and Nordstrom, offering a unique perspective on connecting data, building journey-based experiences, and aligning marketing operations across channels.Pradeep explains how to map customer journeys effectively, leverage segmentation, and implement omnichannel strategies that work in both B2C and B2B environments. He shares lessons learned from consumer-focused marketing and how B2B teams can apply them to drive better engagement and measurable results.In this episode, you'll learnHow to design seamless customer journeys from scratchThe role of data integration across channels in marketing successSegmentation strategies that improve targeting and personalizationWhat B2B teams can learn from consumer-focused marketing approachesThis episode is perfect for marketing, RevOps, and growth professionals looking to improve customer experience and operational efficiency. Tune in to hear Pradeep's actionable insights on building journey-based marketing strategies.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations Professionals Visit UTM.io and tell them the Ops Cast team sent you. Join us at MOps-Apalooza: https://mopsapalooza.com/Save 10% with code opscast10Support the show

With Neighborhood Pet Store Day around the corner and Q4 event season in full swing, this episode couldn't come at a better time! Maddie Shutts from the Pet Boss Team and Modern Companion shares her first-ever trade show presentation from SUPERZOO, packed with real-world strategies for creating events that actually drive foot traffic and sales. She shares: 

In this episode of the Creator Method Podcast, Gary sits down with Natalie Gee, the co-founder of Gee Beauty, a multi-generational, female-founded lifestyle and beauty brand that has grown from a single Toronto studio into a global name with flagship locations in Miami and retail distribution across Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and beyond. In this conversation, Natalie opens up about growing up in an entrepreneurial household, watching her parents build businesses from nothing, and how that early exposure shaped her work ethic and creativity. She shares the story of launching Gee Beauty with her mother and sisters, their bold leap into Miami's ultra-competitive luxury market, and the challenges and lessons learned while expanding from family business to international brand. But Natalie's journey is also deeply personal. She reveals how she overcame her initial fear of being on camera, why she calls social media a “guaranteed lottery ticket,” and how consistency transformed her from hesitant beginner to confident content creator. She speaks candidly about balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood, her partnership with her wife Rachel, and why authenticity and storytelling remain at the core of her brand and personal platform. Discover how Natalie leverages family, community, and content to scale a beauty empire, why she believes content creation is the new language of human communication, and how embracing imperfection can be the secret to growth. From entrepreneurship and content strategy to personal resilience and reinvention, Natalie's story is both inspiring and practical for creators at every stage. Apply for Creator Method: https://creatormethod.com/ Follow Creator Method on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creator.method/?hl=en Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Bjs61g10V8MEBjg2pfJFi?si=1a8b57227c8b41d7 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & Natalie's Early Story 02:00 Growing Up in an Entrepreneurial Family 06:00 Launching Gee Beauty with Her Mother & Sisters 10:00 The Leap from Toronto to Miami's Luxury Market 14:00 Overcoming Fear of Content Creation 18:00 Why Social Media Is a “Guaranteed Lottery Ticket” 22:00 Building a Multigenerational Brand Online & Offline 28:00 The Power of Consistency in Growth 34:00 Balancing Entrepreneurship, Content & Motherhood 40:00 Love, Partnership & Family Support in Business 46:00 Scaling Gee Beauty Beyond Studios into Retail & Wholesale 52:00 Authenticity, Storytelling & What's Next for Natalie Gee Follow Natalie Gee on Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natgeebeauty/ Gee Beauty: https://www.instagram.com/geebeauty/ Follow Gary on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garylipovetsky/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@garylipovetsky

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlancs analyze the week's most impactful retail developments: a U.S. appeals-court ruling that may require massive Trump era tariff refunds  new India duties; fast-moving shifts in de minimis thresholds; and mounting pressure on global supply chains, small businesses, and retailers alike. They analyze how these disruptions will disrupt importers like Tapestry and Lululemon, and shift the retail earnings divide—even as consumer confidence wavers and labor issues—like ICE raids—further muddy the waters.In the featured interview with two visionary luxury executives: Amit Kaswani, Chief Omnichannel Officer at Chalhoub Group, and Stacie Henderson Capece Minutolo, Chief Marketing Officer Americas at Tod's Group. Amit outlines Chalhoub's omnichannel-first game plan, including end-to-end logistics and loyalty ecosystems that reach millions—backed by AI-powered personalization, predictive analytics, and conversational commerce tools. He emphasizes how customer experience, augmented by technology, is a differentiator, not a replacement for human interaction.Stacie shares Tod's strategy in the Americas, targeting high net worth clients and next-gen shoppers through experiential storytelling, cultural relevance, and digital scale. She references campaigns like "Italian Diaries," where in-person luxury activations generate exponential online impressions. She also discusses Tod's AI governance framework—a cross-functional task force merging marketing, e-commerce, finance, and customer service to ensure innovation is purposeful and aligned.As both guest leaders gear up to speak at Shoptalk Luxe, which runs 27–29 January 2026 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi, luxe.shoptalk.com+1, they tease the frameworks, case studies, and strategies they'll be presenting on global luxury, loyalty, and AI innovation.The episode closes with Michael and Steve spotlighting standout moments: GLP-1 weight-loss drug innovations, Google's Nano Banana image-generation tool, and the looming U.S. interest rate decision, crippling shutdown threats, and Simons' opening in Toronto's Eaton Centre, replacing Nordstrom. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Community, Loyalty, and Human Touch in Customer Experience  Shep interviews Craig Crisler,  CEO and co-founder of SupportNinja. He talks about how brands are adapting (or not) to meet younger customers' expectations, and the importance of blending technology with genuine human connection in CX.   This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    What makes loyalty programs appealing to Gen Z customers?  How does Gen Z's approach to customer loyalty differ from previous generations?  Why is it important for brands to focus on building community within their loyalty programs?  How does personalized service contribute to repeat business and customer loyalty?  Why should companies continuously evolve their loyalty programs for new generations?  Top Takeaways:    Gen Z consumers, people roughly between 18 and 28 years old, are quickly becoming one of the most influential groups of spenders. Their preferences are shaping the way companies design their services and loyalty programs.  Loyalty programs must evolve over time to meet the changing needs and habits of new and younger customers. Brands that don't update their loyalty strategy risk losing relevance as younger customers will look elsewhere for more meaningful rewards.   While loyalty programs often offer perks like discounts or points, creating a sense of belonging and exclusivity resonates more with Gen Z customers. For example, loyalty clubs that invite them to events or offer early access to new products go beyond just saving money and make customers feel like they are part of something special.  It's easy to fall into the trap of generational stereotypes like "Millennials are lazy" or "Gen Z can't focus." The truth is every generation has slackers as well as go-getters. Instead of hiring employees based on which generation they belong to, focus on attitude, personality, and drive.  Gen Z shoppers are drawn to brands that build real experiences and communities around their products. Creating experiences helps customers form memories and connections that keep them coming back.   Successful loyalty programs prioritize the personal aspect of the customer experience. Small gestures, such as using a customer's name or offering information relevant to their needs, can make a huge impression. Customers like to return to brands that make them feel welcome and valued on an individual level.  When brands reach out to customers at a younger age, they can build lifelong loyalty. Companies that nurture these relationships as customers grow are more likely to keep them for decades, and the trust from the start pays off in long-term customer retention.  Businesses should use AI to make things easier but not forget that real conversations matter. AI should enable, not erase, the connections between companies and their customers. Customers of all generations still want to talk to actual people who understand their needs and can provide help.  Plus, Shep and Chris share customer loyalty strategy examples from brands like Nordstrom, Ikea, Starbucks, and Delta. Tune in!  Quote:   "Gen Z leans in on the idea of community in loyalty programs. They want a sense of belonging and love feeling treated special by the way a loyalty program works."    About:    Craig Crisler is the CEO and co-founder of SupportNinja, a people-focused company that provides full-cycle outsourced customer support solutions for emerging brands around the world.  Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Nordstrom's number-one goal? If you're a Nordstrom employee you'd better know the answer, because it's pretty much the first thing that we ask at every state-of-the-company meeting. Invariably when we single out our newer crew members we'll get a mixed bag of pretty good answers. But the truth is, there is only one answer—which is to improve customer service. And it's that word "improve" that we're really focusing in on today. Customer service is our single most important characteristic and the foundation of our whole reputation. But here's the rub: with that shining reputation comes incredibly high expectations. Expectations that rest on the shoulders of each and every person that works at our company, from our salespeople to our store managers, from regional managers all the way up to our executive team. And though we do get a lot of really great feedback about our people stepping up and making somebody's day, we also get our fair share of negative remarks. Times when we've fallen short. When the customer experience doesn't live up to our reputation and the customer's expectations. And yet, it's in those failures—the imperfect moments—that we often find the most meaningful lessons. In this episode we're joined by a series of Nordstrom leaders who know full well the critical importance of continuously reigniting these conversations around our service culture. You'll hear from Co-CEO Erik Nordstrom and Chief Merchandising Officer Jamie Nordstrom, as well as three store managers: Brandon Gross, Stephany Pierce and Ted Reed. You'll also hear from our Vice President General Manager in charge of Nordstrom New York, Chris Wanlass. Listen in to their stories of missteps and mistakes, of moments when our service wasn't exactly what it should have been, and how those moments became turning points and reminders that humility is not at all a weakness, but our greatest strength. Thanks for tuning in to episode 95. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

What do Nordstrom cosmetics and concrete pours have in common? Turns out, a lot. In this heart-filled episode, Mark sits down with Michelle VanVolkinburg—Baldwin General's head of marketing and HR—to talk about company growth, the power of people-first leadership, and how Baldwin scaled from a pickup truck in Oregon to multi-family towers in Washington. It's equal parts inspiring and tactical, with culture tips, hiring truths, and one surprise helicopter pitch. Support the show - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/shop See our upcoming live events - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com/events The host of the Curious Builder Podcast is Mark D. Williams, the founder of Mark D. Williams Custom Homes Inc. They are an award-winning Twin Cities-based home builder, creating quality custom homes and remodels — one-of-a-kind dream homes of all styles and scopes. Whether you're looking to reimagine your current space or start fresh with a new construction, we build homes that reflect how you live your everyday life. Sponsors for the Episode:  Pella Website: https://www.pella.com/ppc/professionals/why-wood/  Contractor Coalition Summit: Website: https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/ Adaptive  Website: https://referrals.adaptive.build/u8Gkiaev  Where to find the Guest:  Website: https://baldwingeneral.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baldwingeneral/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaldwinGeneralContracting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwingeneralcontracting/ Where to find the Host:  Website - https://www.mdwilliamshomes.com/  Podcast Website - https://www.curiousbuilderpodcast.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/markdwilliams_customhomes/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MarkDWilliamsCustomHomesInc/  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-williams-968a3420/  Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/markdwilliamscustomhomes/mark-d-williams-custom-homes-inc

This episode is brought to you by Commerce.In an age of instant delivery, why are so many consumers still making the trip to the store?In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein sits down with Melissa Gonzalez, Principal at the design firm MG2, to explore why the in-store experience is still such a powerful tool for connection and conversion. Melissa shares how she helps clients turn physical retail spaces into strategic assets and digs into new MG2 research that explores the motivations and behaviors of Gen Z — spoiler: they're showing up to stores with purpose.What you'll learn:Why grouping all Gen Zers together as one cohort is a myth (there's are big differences between the older and younger ends of the spectrum);Why inter-departmental communication and modularity in store design are crucial to omnichannel execution;Why co-creation is a must, especially as Gen Z cedes territory to Gen Alpha;Why, even when consumers don't follow through with higher ideals like sustainability in their purchasing, those values are an opportunity for brands; andExamples of stellar store experiences from Coach, Lego and Nordstrom.RELATED LINKS:Learn more about MG2Related reading: Williamsburg's the Spot for Third NYC-Area Nordstrom ‘Local' StoreRelated reading: LEGO's New NYC Flagship Inspires Customer Creativity, Brick by BrickExplore more insights from Retail TouchPointsCatch up on all episodes of Retail Remix -----How to Win Customers Across Every ChannelThis guide from BigCommerce brings you expert insights on data, branding, and marketing to help you grow sales across every major channel. Read the Guide.

CarneyShow 9.04.25 Lila Nordstrom, Brendan Wiese, Alex Stone, Paul Kopsky by

The Remarkable Retail Podcast kicks off Season 11 with a powerful episode featuring a first-ever guest co-host: Ethan Chernofsky, Chief Marketing Officer of Placer.ai. The episode opens with a lively discussion of tariffs and trade turbulence, a recurring theme reshaping global retail strategies. Ethan shares data-driven insights from Placer.ai on how consumer behavior is shifting under economic uncertainty, while Steve highlights how pricing power and category positioning determine which retailers can weather cost pressures. Together, they unpack what's next as outsized tariffs hit key markets like India, Brazil, and Switzerland.The conversation then pivots to retailer performance, starting with Target's leadership shake-up. Steve critiques the choice of an insider CEO while Ethan provides Placer.ai traffic data showing continuing traffic declines. The group debates Target's future—whether its famed “Tar-zhay” positioning can be revived by refocusing on differentiation. From there, they contrast Target's struggles with Walmart's momentum, exploring how digital sales, retail media, and membership growth continue to power the world's largest retailer's outsized performance..Speaking of Amazon, the trio examines the company's great expanded same-day grocery delivery, setting up a fresh battleground with Walmart. They also analyze the broader bifurcation of retail, where premium players and discounters gain share while middle-market brands face mounting challenges.Moving on the episode digs into the most talked about stories making headlines. Topics include the Cracker Barrel rebrand backlash, American Eagle's bold Sydney Sweeney campaign, and the AI battle for talent, which borders on the ridiculous..Finally, the team peers around the corner, curious about whether iconic brands in transition such as Gap, Kohl's, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's can regain any traction in the fae of growing headwinds. They also discuss shifting enclosed mall dynamics of malls. Ethan underscores that while A-class malls thrive with innovative tenants, some moribund B-class centers are finding new life by reinventing themselves. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Lauren sits down with Pete Nordstrom, co-C.E.O. of the Seattle-based department store group. They cover a ton of ground, from how he got into the family business, to how the company has remained family run for four generations (without that much trouble). They also discuss the recent take-private, the state of multi-brand retail, Sir Phillip Green (pre-cancelation), Pete's hiring philosophy, the hardworking Rickie De Sole, why he still loves being a merchant (really), and plenty, plenty more. Pete also has a great podcast that you should check out called the Nordy pod. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it really take to grow a skincare brand from a personal need to national retail shelves?In this episode, I'm talking with Sarah Wilensky, the founder and CEO of Blossom Essentials, a clean skincare brand for dry, sensitive, and reactive skin. You'll hear how Sarah built her product line from scratch, landed retail deals including Walmart and Nordstrom, and made bold decisions like a full rebrand to match her growth goals. We also break down what visual investments she made, how she found her designer, and what she looks for when hiring creatives.Whether you're a designer working with product-based brands or a founder looking to scale, this conversation is packed with insights.You will learn:What made her invest in rebranding and packagingHow she knew her visuals needed to evolve for retailThe difference a long-term designer relationship makesHow she built visibility using Meta ads and trade showsTips for standing out in the saturated skincare marketGrab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready to redefine how you work with brands that scale!And if you're tired of wasting time on invoices, tracking payments, or chasing overdue bills, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It's the all-in-one invoicing and accounting software I use to stay organized and focus more on design - not admin.Aventive Academy's Resources:From Crickets to Clients: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/crickets-to-clients/⁠⁠⁠⁠$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Client Portal for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mockup Magic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand Guidelines Template: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/profit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join My Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Creative CEO Accelerator: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Dolce Glow, founded by celebrity tanning artist Isabel Alysa, is a clean, luxury self-tanning line that blends beauty with wellness. Isabel's journey began with her own confidence boost after her first spray tan, which inspired her to dedicate her career to helping others feel radiant in their skin. Raised in foster care and leaving home at 17 with only a backpack, she turned resilience into a driving force, eventually working with stars like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Selena Gomez. In 2021, she launched Dolce Glow, which has since expanded into Nordstrom, Ulta, and QVC. Most recently, she introduced Sunnee BaeSkin in 2025—a skincare-first tanning line infused with marine-powered ingredients and designed to be more accessible to a younger audience. Beyond her brands, Isabel created the Dolce Glow & Grow Summit to mentor and empower aspiring beauty entrepreneurs. Her story is one of grit, vision, and the belief that beauty can transform both confidence and lives.In this episode, Isabel also discusses:Surviving neglect, overcoming abuse, and finding strengthThe importance of mental health in achieving successFrom instagram DM's to spray tanning Kylie JennerThe power of organic product promotionBuilding two brands and doubling her customer baseThe confidence a great spray tan can build (and no, you don't have to be orange)Spray tan education and continuing to teach across the USWe hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Isabel's journey and the growth of Dolce Glow & Sunnee BaeSkin. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more.Be sure to check out Dolce Glow & Sunnee BAEskin at www.dolceglow.com, www.sunneebaeskin.com and on Instagram at @dolceglow & @sunneebaeskinRated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPostThis episode is brought to you by WavebreakLeading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver.Most eCommerce brands don't email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year.From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI.Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

What if the key to explosive growth wasn't a killer ad strategy, but getting out of DTC entirely? In this episode, I'm joined by Jared Mehr, Sales Director at Pura Vida Bracelets, who helped scale the brand's wholesale channel to over $35 million a year. Now, he's teaching other eCommerce brands how to win big in wholesale without sacrificing their margins or their sanity. Listen in as we talk about how Pura Vida went from zero wholesale revenue to landing major accounts like Nordstrom, what most brands get wrong about wholesale, and why it's not just for “big” companies. Jared also shares his playbook for making your brand irresistible to retail buyers, how to prep for trade shows, and the exact tools he recommends to manage wholesale ops. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4oCsDmu Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Nordstrom is shutting down key locations in St. Louis (Missouri) and Santa Monica (California) in August 2025, impacting hundreds of employees. CEO Erik Nordstrom also raised concerns about the company's Portland, Oregon stores, citing theft and operational challenges.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back retail strategist, educator, and thought leader David Ian Gray, Principal of DIG360 Consulting Ltd. and retail faculty at Capilano University's School of Business. Together, they explore the latest Angus Reid survey on Canadian shopping habits and the rapidly evolving pre-owned and circular retail economy.David begins by setting the stage with his dual role: guiding Canadian retailers through strategic challenges while also developing retail-focused academic programming in Vancouver. He shares his perspective on how the local retail scene is rebuilding post-pandemic, with indie retail and dining seeing a revival even as downtown Vancouver struggles with the loss of anchor stores like Nordstrom and Hudson's Bay.The heart of the conversation is David's latest consumer research, developed in partnership with Angus Reid. The study reveals that 77% of Canadian adults purchased pre-owned items in the past year, proving that second-hand shopping has gone fully mainstream. Canadians aren't just bargain hunting—they're motivated by sustainability, affordability, and the thrill of finding something unique.The conversation highlights surprising generational behaviors, such as Gen Z's enthusiasm for vinyl records and printed books, a countertrend to the assumption that digital-first generations avoid physical media. David suggests this reflects a desire for independence from digital platforms and a deeper need for tangible, cultural experiences.Michael and David also unpack the dominance of Facebook Marketplace, where 76% of respondents reported making a purchase in the past year, underscoring the hybrid online/offline nature of second-hand shopping. They contrast this with other channels—Kijiji, eBay, luxury resale platforms like Poshmark, charity thrift stores, and even brand-led resale initiatives from Canada Goose, IKEA, and Patagonia.For Canadian retailers, the research carries critical lessons. Second-hand is no longer a niche category but a major competitor for consumer dollars. David warns that traditional retailers may underestimate how much revenue is “leaking” into resale markets. While profitability challenges remain—logistics, inventory management, and product quality—brands that strategically embrace resale can enhance consumer loyalty, sustainability credentials, and differentiation.The episode closes with a rapid-fire round covering the future of AI in retail, Hudson's Bay's uncertain real estate footprint, Vancouver's Retail West conference, and the biggest Canadian retail story to watch in 2025: tariff uncertainty. David emphasizes that until trade clarity is achieved, Canadian retailers will remain cautious in decision-making. The Voice of Retail podcast is presented by Hale, a performance marketing partner trusted by brands like ASICS, Saje, and Orangetheory to scale with focus and impact. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this heartfelt episode, Carina Gardner shares the advice she wishes she could give her younger creative self—back when she was just starting out, full of passion but unsure of the path ahead.She opens up about the lessons she's learned along the way, from embracing imperfect work and letting go of the pressure to be “ready,” to the importance of charging what you're worth and adopting a business mindset early. Carina reflects on how building a successful design career wasn't about having all the answers, but about being willing to take the next step—even when it felt messy or uncertain.This episode is packed with encouragement for designers at any stage who need a reminder that their creative journey matters.

When you walk into a Nordstrom store, a lot of things are happening at once. The layout, the colors, the lighting—all working together to create a feeling, and that feeling doesn't happen by accident. In this episode we're exploring the incredible importance of a physical environment for retailing through the lens of interior design and architecture to create spaces that are inviting, exciting and so visually engaging that you can't help but come in and stay awhile. You'll hear from the extremely talented architectural designer behind some of the most incredible retail environments for brands like Nike, SKIMS, Cartier, Piaget and Baccarat, as well as some amazing spaces for department stores like us here at Nordstrom. He's a true artist and a super successful entrepreneur who's built his entire design business up from scratch: Rafael de Cárdenas. After that, stick around and get inspired by a return guest to the Nordy Pod, our vice president of store environments in charge of visual merchandising across our entire fleet: Paige Boggs. Thanks for tuning in to episode 94. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute:McDonald's convinces franchisees to discount combo meals by 15% and brings back Extra Value Meals to combat traffic declines amid rising prices and consumer affordability concerns.Abercrombie Kids partners with Nordstrom, Dick's Sporting Goods, Macy's and Bloomingdale's, expanding its wholesale presence into over 1,000 locations as parent company continues turnaround momentum.Fabletics deploys RFID-powered inventory management solution across 74 stores, achieving up to 20% sales boosts and 97% fill rates while eliminating manual cycle counts.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Host Lexy Lebsack is joined by reporter Melissa Daniels from Glossy's sister publication Modern Retail and co-host of the Modern Retail Podcast, to walk through this week's biggest beauty news stories.  This includes a brief analysis of E.l.f. Beauty's response to consumer outcry over casting controversial comedian Matt Rife in its latest campaign, a topic Lebsack and Glossy reporter Emily Jensen discussed in last week's episode.  Next, Lebsack and Daniels discuss the likely voluntary recall of mousse sunscreens, which includes offerings from Vacation and Supergoop sold through Sephora, Target, Nordstrom and more retailers. Its part of the FDA's crackdown on the unapproved sunscreen format. Finally, the two hosts break down the announcement that Target and Ulta Beauty will dissolve their shop-in-shop partnership, which was launched in 2021 but has been far less successful than similar partnerships between Sephora and Kohl's.  Then (23:30), to discuss what makes a successful retail pop-up, Glossy is joined by three powerhouse executives in today's roundtable episode: Jacquelin Barrett, Patrick Ta Beauty svp of marketing; Matte Projects president Neda Whitney; and Michelle Lee, chief brand officer at Front Row Group, fractional CMO of Landing International and former editor-in-chief of Allure magazine. 

When Stacey Roney lost her seven-figure business overnight, she had two choices: start over from nothing or give up entirely—what happened next will change how you think about resilience, risk, and rebuilding.In this episode, I'm joined by Stacey Roney, a serial entrepreneur with over two decades of experience building multimillion-dollar ventures in beauty, PR, and digital media. She began at Nordstrom, creating innovative marketing roles before founding the nation's first beauty staffing agency, a PR firm, and an online magazine. Stacey later became a top earner in direct sales with Rodan + Fields, mentoring thousands nationwide. Known for her creativity and resilience, she has thrived through major market shifts while raising three children. Today, she leads and advocates for Make Wellness, a fast-growing health and wellness startup specializing in bioactive precision peptides, driven by her passion for helping others build flexible, scalable businesses.Throughout this episode, Stacey shares a candid look at her journey—from early success at Nordstrom to launching multiple multimillion-dollar companies. She recalls pivoting to direct sales during the 2008 crash, growing a large Rodan + Fields team, and creating the viral Facebook group “50 AF.” Personal challenges, including her daughter's severe mental health crisis, prompted her to step back, and she details her daughter's remarkable recovery through nutrition, exercise, and functional medicine. When corporate changes ended her Rodan + Fields business, Stacey sought a future-proof venture and found it in Make Wellness. She explains its unique affiliate/direct sales model, breakthrough product line, and rapid growth, reflecting her belief in resilience, adaptability, and leading by example.Tune in to episode 223 of Joy Found Here as Stacey Roney shares how losing her seven-figure business overnight led her to rebuild from scratch. Discover how resilience, single motherhood, and a leap into wellness fueled her multi-million dollar comeback.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Nordstrom years: Intrapreneurship in action (3:06)From staffing gaps to a National Beauty Agency (7:30)Nonprofit, digital magazine, and PR with a twist (11:30)The 2008 crash and a high-stakes pivot (14:14)Scaling to seven figures through mentorship (16:27)“50 AF” – A viral community for women over 50 (21:49)A mother's hardest battle (28:32)From crisis to transformation (31:24)From R+F collapse to startup rocket ship (33:40)Products with an edge (39:18)Momentum from day one (42:10)Lessons in reinvention (51:05)Connect with Stacey Roney:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramFacebookLet's Connect:WebsiteInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carina dives into a question that affects every artist and designer at some point: Why does creative potential suffer—even when we're passionate, talented, and full of ideas?Carina unpacks the hidden barriers that often hold creatives back—like perfectionism, comparison, fear of failure, and the pressure to “do it all.” Drawing from her own journey as a designer, entrepreneur, and educator, she offers practical insights into how to protect and nurture your creativity over time.Listeners will walk away with a fresh perspective on how to reclaim their momentum, prioritize meaningful work, and create from a place of confidence rather than fear.Whether you're in a creative rut or just feeling the weight of your potential, this episode will help you reset and refocus.About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampHave you been dreaming of earning a Master's degree or a Design Certificate that could lead you to launch your very own business? The University of Arts & Design has unique programs where you not only learn to design, but how NOT to be a starving artist, which is why I created it. Join us for our upcoming "Design Your Future" event! Visit www.uad.education/designyourfuture to learn more about our students, discover t

Discover how Andy Novins turns business challenges into big wins! Andy shares with host Andrew Stotz how he uses Deming strategies to outsmart competitors, watch for market shifts, and win loyal clients in one of the toughest industries around. TRANSCRIPT Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we continue our journey into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Today, I'm here with featured guest Andy Novins. Andy, are you ready to join and share your Deming journey?   Andy Novins: I sure am. Yep.   Andrew Stotz: We've done a lot of prep for this, had some good conversations, and I'm looking forward to it. Let me introduce you to the audience. Andy first got introduced to the teachings of Dr. Deming more than 30 years ago and has been hooked ever since. He attended Dr. Deming's four-day seminar in August of 1993, only four months before the passing of Dr. Deming on December 20th of 1993 at the age of 93. Andy was a co-owner of a women's athletic apparel company, which was eventually purchased by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. For the past 23 years, he's been applying Dr. Deming's philosophy to his work in real estate, which traditionally has operated in what could be described as in opposition to the teachings of Dr. Deming. Andy, why don't you tell us a little bit about what you're doing right now and maybe a little bit about how you got into what you're doing now, and then later we're going to talk a little bit about your experience with Dr. Deming and all that. But just let us know, where are you at? What are you doing?   Andy Novins: Okay. Well, I am in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., and after my partners and I sold the company that Andrew just referred to, I had to decide what I was going to do. And I had about six months to do that because part of the contract required me to help the purchaser, which originally was Russell Corporation, a big athletic, they made all the Major League Baseball uniforms and everything. We had to transfer my company's systems to their systems, and that was one of the worst six months of my career, watching everything we had done, which was really all Deming-based, being sort of dismantled and worked into another Fortune 500 company at the time. It was, somewhat, actually it was a few years later that Berkshire Hathaway bought it, and it was because Russell was not doing very well. It was a rescue-type purchase by Berkshire Hathaway, which sort of had some satisfaction in mind that their systems weren't all that good. So that's where I got into Deming, and I've taken a lot of what I learned from the apparel company into real estate, which, as Andrew just mentioned, is very volume-centric, volume-focused, and focusing on processes as opposed to systems.   Andrew Stotz: And in the real estate world, for those people that don't know, let's say real estate, what position are you in? For instance, my sister is a mortgage broker in Maine, and that's a different place within the whole sphere of it, but maybe you can explain exactly where you are in the value chain.   Andy Novins: Okay. We focus on residential real estate. What we call in real estate farm, okay? I send out 5,000 newsletters a month that show to eight different areas, really, but they're all within, believe it or not, two miles of my house. And those news, I've been doing that for over 20 years. I've never made a cold call. I will never call anybody and say, are you thinking of selling or anything like that. Yet, using this process, which is all really Deming-based, I've done about 10 times the volume of any other realtor in the 5,000 homes that I service. It's the process... I don't want to use process. The system we used is based on Michael Porter, his concept of competitive advantage. And it's a system that's focused on a value chain, things that we do that other people can't do. For example, there are close to 300 sales a year in my 5,000 home market. I see every one of them. And when you see a house that's on the market, you know a lot more than anybody else does by looking at pictures. If you've ever been to an open house and after seeing it on the internet, it's a lot different than what you saw in the pictures. No other agent can do that because most agents in my area focus on Northern Virginia, which would be about 20,000 transactions a year, not 300. So they can't even try to compete with me in my area. So that's the whole concept of it is doing things. As Michael Porter would say, you have a value proposition. That's my expertise in my local area.   Andrew Stotz: Porter talks about different strategies. One, he says, is the low-cost leader. Another is the differentiation. And the third one he talks about is focus and where you're focused on a niche in the market. And then I guess I always kind of think that really he's talking about two, because with focus, you're picking a niche, but then you're going to either be a low-cost leader or probably a differentiator in that focused area. But when you talk about Porter and what he's teaching, can you explain a little bit more for those people that don't know what he talked about?   Andy Novins: Sure. Yes. Basically, yes. I mean, I'll never forget. My partner and I were at a breakfast, realtor breakfast at one point, and there was an agent sitting across the table from us and he said, I just got this listing. And he said, but I had to go down to 1%. And he's, you know, for commission. And at that time, commissions were pretty much 3%. And he kind of looked at us and said, that's better than nothing, right? And that's the low-cost. Low-cost producers will never win. It'll always be somebody else. And Porter says, you can't be the best either. Okay. There's no such thing as the best realtor. There's always going to be somebody else. So the concept for real estate is picking a niche, that for me, it was farming. I'm a pretty good writer. So I write a newsletter, and people call me when they're ready to sell their house. And it's worked beautifully for... I started that in 2003. Okay. But there's people that focus on luxury, the luxury market or people that focus on first time buyers, or people that focus on... There's all kinds of different niches downsizing or upsizing. And so you can become an expert in anything. And that's how you differentiate yourself in real estate.   Andrew Stotz: And that concept of not competing to be best that Porter talks about is great because it also forces you to think. You're focused on the wrong thing if you're focusing on how to beat the competitor. And I always enjoyed the fact that Deming was so focused on the customer.   Andy Novins: Yes.   Andrew Stotz: And that, I think with Porter, I like that. But with Deming, I just really love the idea that he saw quality in the eyes of the customer. He saw innovation and continuous improvement in relation to the customer as primary over trying to benchmark off of some competitor.   Andy Novins: Exactly. And if I go back to my apparel business, the name of our company was Moving Comfort, and we just made women's apparel. Nobody else ever stuck to just that. We were the only company. Just, everybody broadened out to try to get more. So again, it's the same concept of a niche. Okay. But one of the policies, I guess, we've developed, it was a Deming related policy, which was fun, okay, was when we made a mistake, which we often did, whether we shipped somebody the wrong thing or we did other things, our objective was to make the, delight the customer, as he would say, make them happy we made the mistake. And that didn't matter what that cost to do that, sending them free stuff, doing whatever. And I think that's a Deming concept that we used in the apparel business aside from many, many others. Back to real estate, that's, I don't know anybody else in the Washington area that does what we do, because nobody's willing, that's the so-called trade-offs. Nobody's willing to say, I'm just going to focus on 5,000 houses.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah. It's scary.   Andy Novins: They can pick whatever they get.   Andrew Stotz: Yep. Yep. And maybe why don't we now go back to August of 1993. How did you find yourself in a four-day seminar? And I'm kind of jealous because what... My seminars I went to in '90 and '92 were two-day seminars.   Andy Novins: Really? Okay.   Andrew Stotz: And I had thought that he... I had thought by that time, maybe he was only doing two days, but then I learned that he was still doing four days. But what got you to that seminar? Where was it, and what got you there?   Andy Novins: Okay, I was going on vacation. Okay, this was in 1990. We were going to go to Cancun. And there's this, I guess they're still around, but there was a bookstore in DC on K Street called Reiter's. And it was all business and science. And I used to go there because pre-Amazon or anything like that. I think it was even pre-Borders. But I used to go there and spend an afternoon looking at books. And I found Out of the Crisis. And I brought it home and I said to my wife, by perusing through it, I didn't know anything about Deming at that point. But perusing through it, it just struck me as something I really wanted to read. And I went home and I said, I'm taking this book to Cancun, and I'm going to sit on the beach and read it. Well, I actually didn't read it till got home. But I got completely enthralled with it.   Andy Novins: And being in suburban DC, we're like eight miles from the White House. The Deming Study Group was very active in DC. Dr. Deming lived in DC. And there were just a lot of very well-known, famous speakers that would be part of our group, including Deming at one point, but I wasn't. But I think it was before I joined the group. So I read the book, joined the group, and after about three years, I had heard enough about the seminar that I wanted to go. And I went to that in Chicago. It was the first or second week of August of '93. And one of the things that I never really understood that Dr. Deming would say a lot was talking about being transformed, or the transformation that you get when you're studying his philosophies. And I always kind of said, well, that's not going to happen to me. It just was foreign to me. That third day of the seminar, I was transformed. I don't know how to describe it, but ever since then, I look at the world through his eyes and see things and think in systems and variability. And you get all that when you first get exposed to them, but you're not transformed. Somehow it all comes together. I couldn't describe it, I never thought it was, but that happened during that seminar.   Andrew Stotz: And what Dr. Deming talked about was the idea is that the person who's leading the organization has got to go through a transformation in order to truly implement this.   Andy Novins: Exactly.   Andrew Stotz: What was it like there? How many people were in the room? And what was your... You walked in knowing a bit. I walked in knowing nothing, basically. And it was just like, whoa. But I'm just curious, what were your first impressions? For those people that have never and never will have a chance to go in, give us a feeling about how it went.   Andy Novins: I don't know if I mentioned it was in Chicago.   Andrew Stotz: Yep.   Andy Novins: Okay. Which is a great city, and it was in the summer, which is often hot. But I was amazed because at that point, and I may be wrong, but I think it cost $1,000 to go. Okay. And he had 500, and I'm pretty sure that's about what it cost. And do you remember what yours was?   Andrew Stotz: Mine was about 500 people, for sure. I didn't pay for it, so Pepsi paid for it but I would think it was even more than that. But who knows? But maybe mine was a two-day, so it was less, I don't know.   Andy Novins: But it was 500 people. That's what I remember, because being a numbers person, I translate that to 500,000 for the four days. And so that kind of stuck in my mind. And he did a lot of them. And one of the things, too, that he did a lot of them, and I think, geez, he's making a lot of money doing this. He lived in a little tiny house on a street in Washington, and he worked in the basement. One of the things that happened to me after that, again, with the Deming Study Group, was his son-in-law, Bill Ratcliff, okay? Somewhere shortly after the four-day seminar, he called me and he said, I'm getting a lot of feedback, you guys at Moving Comfort are doing a lot of using Deming's theories and everything. Could I come and visit the company and you show me what you're doing? And I said, sure. I mean, any more exposure to any of the people interested in Deming at that point was fascinating to me. And so he came and he spent a good part of the day at the company. And then I'm not even sure if at the time I knew that he was Deming's son-in-law, but then we went out, his wife was Linda Deming Ratcliff, okay? And so he and Linda and my wife went out to dinner a couple of times after that. And it was fascinating to hear both of their stories about Dr. Deming. What I remember is Bill would say, we used to go over there on Sunday mornings and read the newspaper, and Dr. Deming would be down in the basement working. And he'd come up periodically and say, how are you doing, Bill? In his voice, and then go back down and work. And he constantly was focused on his work. And so those relationships just tied me into Deming forever, especially after the four-day seminar.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah. I think it was a discussion with Bill Scherkenbach when I asked him about what it was like in the basement. And Bill was telling me, I don't think we got this recorded, but Bill was telling me that somebody asked him why you have all of this stuff around you and in your office. And he said, I'm desperate. I'm absolutely desperate. And with the idea that he was on such a mission. And I just feel like when I went to the seminar, the first one was in Washington, and then the second one was in Los Angeles. I didn't know how significant he would be in my life at the time, and I didn't understand the transformation I was going through. But what I did later really come to understand is that he inspired me to have a mission. And like, why am I doing what I'm doing? It's one thing for all of us to be busy, working really hard, doing all kinds of stuff and bringing value to our clients. But for what? What's the mission? And was a huge, that's a much bigger takeaway for me now than it was then. But what I witnessed was this man who is very old, just conveying an incredible message. So, yeah.   Andy Novins: Yeah, it was, and he was... Well, DemingNEXT, if anybody is involved in that and can see a lot of the videos with Dr. Deming, especially during the years that I was interested in watching and everything else, he just had a unique way of presentation, but he did have a sense of humor. And it was a dry sense of humor, I guess, maybe going with his dry martinis.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah, tell us that story about Deming Martini.   Andy Novins: Yes. As one of the sessions at the four-day seminar ended, apparently this Deming Martini is famous or was pretty well-known at that point. So he described how he loved martinis and he acted out the process of making one. And again, he's 93 and just you could tell this is just part of his life he loved. And he, so he kept his vermouth in the freezer, okay? And it was, and so he demonstrated how he poured the gin, and then he acted out like he went into the refrigerator freezer and took out the vermouth. And then he would not open the bottle, but he would wave the bottle around the glass and then he'd put it back in the freezer, and he'd say, this is the best martini you can make. And he had a lot of stories that added a lot of spice to it.   Andrew Stotz: So when you left that seminar, what changed in the way that you were operating? And obviously you had already had awareness of the teachings, but did that inspire you to go to a different level or what did it cause?   Andy Novins: Yes, and I'm not sure at what point the so-called transformation took place in the four-day seminar. You knew that that's how you were going to think for the rest of your life. That wasn't, you were going to think in systems and variation and predicting from the system and all those things. But so I can't really remember what years we did it, but as an apparel, our company basically, we designed, manufactured through separate factories and sold women's athletic apparel to specially sporting goods stores around the country. Nordstrom's was a client, one of the bigger ones, L.L. Bean and those kinds of things. And so one of the things we implemented that was really a Deming concept was improving our shipping, the picking process, which is filling an order. And we automated that with a carousel, which brought the product right to the picker, the warehouse person, and barcodes and scanned the order, and it brought the thing right to them. It incredibly reduced our error rate in shipping. And at the time, this would have been like 19, this was '91 or somewhere early on that. And at the time, we were way ahead of other companies.   Andy Novins: Even Nike, they would get an order, they'd walk around and pick their orders. And so that was a Deming-inspired process or way of improving our system. With apparel and you're designing 100 different styles or sizes and styles and everything else, the design development group, the functional silos that, I don't know if Dr. Deming used that term, but the system that every department has to hand off is working for the next department. In apparel, it's really complicated. And that was the biggest Deming issue we would focus on. It never went away. You really had to always, because our designers would put bells and whistles into a garment. We were very high-end and it either wasn't practical price-wise or it wasn't practical in the factory or we didn't have a good source for where we were going to put it, where, what factory we were going to put it in, that type of thing. So that's where really the Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative at that point came out. That's where we had factory, up until about 1990, all our production was in the United States.   Andy Novins: After that, it got too expensive, labor, sewing labor in the United States. That's when most companies started going offshore. We did a lot in the Caribbean. And when you're manufacturing apparel, back at the beginning, you would ship, we would buy the fabric and we would ship it to the Caribbean factory that we were using and they would sew it, and put it together. And then trade agreements came out where the factories could buy the material. And essentially, instead of they being just a sewer, they would be making a finished product for us. That had huge implications on simplifying the system and transferring responsibility to the people that really needed it. But now maybe I'm getting too much into apparel, but...they haven't been doing it for 23 years.   Andrew Stotz: So let's talk about what you're doing about your application of Dr. Deming's teaching in real estate. And I know you've also brought something along to share and go through, but maybe you can just talk a little bit about how you're applying that in the real estate business.   Andy Novins: Yeah, and that's the control chart concept. And all real estate statistics are lagging indicators, whether we're talking median prices or active listings, or I guess active listings are the only one that's not a lagging indicator, but almost virtually every month's supply of inventory, all those things are lagging indicators. So they tell us as realtors what happened. And in my market here, it bottomed out after the 2008 recession in March of 2009. And until this year, it's gone straight up for 16 years. So most realtors, virtually no realtors... Well, most realtors haven't experienced a shift in the market, which is what we're going through now, where the market goes from being a buyer's or seller's market for all those years. And I'm talking about a strong seller's market. A seller's market is defined by the National Association of Realtors as any market where the months' supply is less than six months. And our supply was hovering around two to three weeks. And it's now almost two months, but the market has shifted and it's incredible how many people don't realize that.   Andy Novins: Everybody knows there's something going on, but the media takes care of that. But all the statistics we get are, again, median prices are still very high, okay? But using control charts, you can plot, for example, a couple of months of live inventory. That started going down in April, okay? I mean, that went out of the control limits in April, okay? That's telling us that something's happened. It tells us directly that the market shifted, okay? The other thing that I watch is price drops, okay? How many price drops? That went out of the control limits in, I think, June, they started out, okay? And we're looking at that weekly, and that's showing us every week, the number of price, it's so far out of the control limit right now, it's amazing. There's no... You can't... You can look at price drops, and you can look at months' supply on a graph, okay? But it doesn't tell you that the system's now out of control. But control charts do tell you that, so...   Andrew Stotz: Should we look at your control chart? Maybe that's a good time to do that.   Andy Novins: Sure, yeah. And before we do that, one of the things in real estate is seasonality, okay? And that hides a lot of problems because prices go up in the spring, down in the summer, down in the fall, up a little bit, then down. But let me bring those up and talk about them. Okay, you can see this?   Andrew Stotz: Yep, and for the listeners out there, I'll just describe. You've got a line chart up here, and a line that's going up and down, and then recently is going up a lot. And it starts in July of 2023, and it goes to June of 2025. And so why don't you take that away and help us understand what you've got here?   Andy Novins: Okay. So the control limits, the upper and lower control limit are the red lines on this. And going back to July of '23, everything was stable. And if we went back long before that, it would also have been stable.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah, and by the way, just to make it clear, it's monthly supply, or month supply, sorry, of housing.   Andy Novins: I'm sorry.   Andrew Stotz: Can you explain what it means, month supply?   Andy Novins: Yeah, month supply is the number of active listings at the end of a month divided by the average monthly sales for 12 months, the 12-month average. So it's basically saying if you've got 10 active listings and the average is two a month, that you've got a five-month supply of listings. Okay?   Andrew Stotz: And the average on this is one month supply.   Andy Novins: The average, right. And you can see where during the pandemic, we've had times where it went down to just a number of weeks, which is pretty incredible, but that's our market. So again, this chart is telling us that... Well, there's another thing, other ways that Dr. Deming would look at this. We've got several months where it's going, the month supply is just going up. So starting in December '24, you can see that the supply keeps going up. And then it went out and broke the upper control limit. So what he would say in this, looking at this chart is that up until really of March 2025, the system was in control, it was predictable, okay? And then starting in March or April 2025, it was out of control, it was not a stable market, and the market is a system.   Andrew Stotz: And it went up above the upper control limit of 1.6 roughly or 1.55. And now the highest it went up in May was about one point, almost, yeah, 1.8.   Andy Novins: 1.8, okay. And so Dr. Deming would say that number one, it's a shift in the market, number two, the market is no longer predictable. Okay? Clients don't like to hear that, but using these charts and explaining it to them, they do understand it. And in real estate, one of the most important things when markets are changing, or always actually for that matter, is managing client expectations, okay? And using Deming's theories and control charts, it makes it... And I'll get into that a little bit more in a minute, but managing their expectations becomes more of a science than scripts, which is what...   Andrew Stotz: One of the things I learned from Dr. Deming was be skeptical of data,  and I know I've spent my career as a financial analyst manipulating tons of data. And every time I see something out of control like we see here, the first question I ask is, is there an error in the data? And then the next question is, okay, so what's going on out there that the chart is one thing, but can you just talk briefly about what's going on? What do you think is behind this? What's causing it? What is that shift that you're seeing?   Andy Novins: Well, if you were asking me this in 2008, I could have told you. The irresponsible lending and all kinds of other things. Today, the market is in our market more than others is impacted by uncertainty. Okay. Uncertainty surrounding the impact of tariffs. Okay. But especially in our area, the impact on federal workers job security. Okay. In our area, which is an expensive area, almost any couple that is buying a house is buying it on two incomes. And if one of those, one of the members of the couple is, works for the federal government or is a government or works for a government contractor or is affected by any, in any company that may be impacted by government cutbacks, they're not buying a house right now. They're waiting. So they don't want to buy on one income. And so they pulled out of the market. And that's, that's the biggest reason for the increase in the supply. The other is,  people do want to move. People want to downsize and upsize. Well, most people have a 3% interest rate or better or slightly around there. So with the impact of low, you know, of rising interest rates and everything else, there's people that want to downsize. And if they move, they'd be paying more for their smaller house than they were for their house they're staying in. So they stay.   Andrew Stotz: What are, what are mortgage rates right now? Roughly.   Andy Novins: That's  675, 6.75. 30 year. But what's interesting on that, and I haven't done it, but it would be an interesting exercise is when I began my career as a CPA in New York, I moved down here in 1982 to be part of the company that I talked about before, the apparel company. I, when I said to her, when I had that opportunity, I said to my wife, what do you think about moving down to Washington? We lived in Westchester County, New York, and she said, well, sure, but, and at that point, I was treasurer of a bank in the New York metropolitan area, and she was willing to take the risk. It was a risky move, but she said not, but not, we can't sell our house. We have an eight and a half percent mortgage. We'll rent it, and if it doesn't work in Washington, we can always come back to it. So that eight and a half percent mortgage back in '82 was not something you got rid of, and people don't realize that the average mortgage rate in the past 50 years is eight percent. So at 6.75, it's not that bad, but it's relative to the three percent interest rates we had. It's making it tough for people to move.   Andrew Stotz: So just talking now, I just want to wrap up on the chart by saying, so once you use, you're demonstrating using a control chart in the industry of real estate, and you're discussing the fact that right now, you've got three points that have breaking out of the upper control limit, which now tells us, as you said, it's unpredictable at this point. What else, what do you take from that, and how does that drive your actions when you see this chart? How does that impact you, and in other words, how are you applying Deming's teachings once you've now done this?   Andy Novins: Great question. When you price a house to sell it, you use what we call comparable sales. When a market is going up or stable, comparable sales are a good indication of what you're probably going to price it at if it's going to go on the market soon. What realtors do is what we call a comparative market analysis, and that's comparing at least three homes to their home. There's all different ways of doing that, which is part of a Deming system too. But when you go to somebody and say, well, we got these three homes and they sold it at 800, but if you're going to put your house on the market next month, we're probably looking more like at 750. And most people would say, well, I'm not going to use that guy. This other realtor says 800 is the way to go. And using the control chart showing that the market has shifted and that those comps are no longer valid is one of the most valuable uses of control charts in real estate because, again, it's evidence that the comps aren't valid anymore.   Andy Novins: The other thing is comps represent, even if it closed yesterday, it went under contract a month ago. So the comps are just not necessarily good if the market is shifting, and this is pretty powerful evidence to a potential client that pricing is really important and you can't just use past comps. I'll go to the next chart, which is price drops. And this is something, again, our market really just shifted recently, so this is something I'm actually doing actively right now looking at. But you can see that this is weekly price drops. Okay, it started off monthly because I can't go back and get that data. But if I go back to a stable year, last year is the base. You can see that price drops were pretty stable process in the pricing system. They were...   Andrew Stotz: So what does that mean? Just so we understand, let's say the average is 25% projected monthly price drop. What does that actually mean?   Andy Novins: That's saying that every month that of the active listings on the market, 25% of them are reducing their price. That month.   Andrew Stotz: So in other words, 75% are either keeping it the same or raising it.   Andy Novins: Say that. Yes, right.   Andrew Stotz: The opposite of that. Okay.   Andy Novins: Right. And that's each month. That doesn't mean somebody didn't lower their price on that same house the month before. But it's registering the number of drops that homes on the market are doing.   Andrew Stotz: And that would mean it's like a pretty good seller's market again when only a quarter of listings need to drop their price in order to get the sale.   Andy Novins: Yes, exactly. Yep. Exactly. And you can see this...   Andrew Stotz: And let's just talk about the January 2024 to December of 2024. So for the year of 2024, what's your observation of the data?   Andy Novins: It was stable. It's not a change in the market.   Andrew Stotz: Yep. Okay. Normal variation.   Andy Novins: Yeah, normal variation. Okay. But when it starts to go up like it has, and it's even worse because what I'm using is an average for these weeks. The next week starting tomorrow will have the four-week average. They're actually quite a bit higher, the last two, than what they show here because they were averaged down. But when you see rampant price dropping, that's out of control, so to speak.   Andrew Stotz: Right. So it's gone from a mean of 25 up to 60-plus percent of monthly price drop. I'm just curious. It says on your y-axis, it says projected monthly price drop. Does that mean somebody's making some estimate on that, or what does that mean?   Andy Novins: That's because right now I'm doing it by the week.   Andrew Stotz: Okay. Ah, okay.   Andy Novins: Okay. And I'm averaging the week. And then when I get the month, it'll be like the earlier ones.   Andrew Stotz: So the most recent ones are the projected, and the other ones are the actual month.   Andy Novins: Yeah.   Andrew Stotz: Okay.   Andy Novins: And right, I'm using, I'm multiplying them times four the week. So it's right now I'm projecting what July will be, basically, the total, but it'll be up around 60%.   Andrew Stotz: And this chart corroborates the conclusions that you made in the prior chart, or are there any other additional...   Andy Novins: Yeah. And the month supply chart is more of a leading indicator of a market shift, because this is the reaction of sellers and realtors to a market they didn't anticipate properly. And so this is a much more now type of thing. And again, if I go back to a client and say, you know, all the comps are 800, but we're going to recommend 750, this is pretty convincing evidence that basically almost everybody in the market is reducing their prices.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah.   Andy Novins: And in a falling market, the worst thing you can do is chase the prices, chase it down.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah. And what this doesn't show, it shows that 60% are dropping their price. It doesn't show what the remaining 40% are. And that composition of that could just be, there could be no price increases. We don't know from this data whether that's holding the price the same or increasing it.   Andy Novins: Right. But it doesn't mean that there aren't homes in those active listings that didn't reduce their price, that reduced their price. They may have reduced their price last month. Okay. So it's really just showing the panic that's out there.   Andrew Stotz: Okay. Got it.   Andy Novins: But it's a great leading indicator from that standpoint.   Andrew Stotz: Okay. So two charts that show us the application of control charts and Deming's teachings there in real estate and making a note of the fact that these are now out of control. Interesting.   Andy Novins: Yes. And again, the most important thing you can do, I think, in real estate is accurately manage your client's expectations. Yeah. Because, and I'm going to back up for a second, that's another real benefit of having a niche practice. And again, like the competitive advantage Michael Porter concept. And for me, writing a newsletter, which gives them what we hope to be useful information for the 5,000 homes that get it. When they're ready to sell, again, I don't call them, they call me. And they call me because they trust me. They believe I know what I'm doing. And so part of a system that would be outside of what Dr. Deming talked about, but part of the system is your clients, the quality of your system is going to depend on the quality of your clients. And so having a niche, again, what I'm doing in terms of that so-called farming and the newsletter is I'm attracting clients that will trust me. Okay. That's so much a Deming concept in terms of the overall system and how it affects it. We see all the time when buyers that are buying one of our listings and they have all these problems and the other real estate agents, their buyer's agent says, I know they're crazy. I can't wait till this is over because their buyer clients aren't listening to them and they're asking for unreasonable things or whatever. So a critical part of the system in real estate is getting clients that will listen to you because theoretically we know what we're doing.   Andrew Stotz: And if we look at this chart, one of the things that some people may ask is what about forecasts? And I know I spent my career as a financial analyst in the stock market forecasting earnings. And then when I worked on my PhD for my dissertation, I decided to calculate the accuracy of analysts in earnings forecasts. And as I said, the title of my dissertation was analysts were only 25% wrong. And in other words, here is the highest qualified people to forecast the earnings of these companies and they get it wrong by 25% on average. And so for those people that say, well, what about your forecast and all that? I always say, I live on the cutting edge of history. Don't try to go too far out in the future. Just make sure you understand. And that's where this chart shows July 19th to July 25th that you could say that's pretty much, and if you get the data out the next day, that's the cutting edge of history.   Andy Novins: Yeah, yeah, exactly. And in the past, people say, well, should I wait?  At this time of the year, they might say, should I wait and put the house on the market next spring? Or should we do it after Labor Day? And in the past, I would have said, wait till next spring because things were going to be better. You could... Everything was stable and rising. What these charts show, and they do require some explanation, is that the market is out of control right now. You can't predict it. And then if so,  then it becomes a decision that a client makes based on what they really need. Do they want to move yet? Do they want to wait? Do they... But these control charts are showing that you can't predict. Whereas in the past, you could be pretty safe.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah. And the point of that, too, is that a control chart can't solve every problem. It tells you where things are, so you understand things a lot better. But then, how you're going to actually use that information, well, somebody may use it to say, I need to sell my house now. Somebody else may say, I'm going to wait because I think this is bad and it's going to get better later. And somebody's going to say, I'm going to sell now desperately because I think this is going to get much worse, right? That's the hard part.   Andy Novins: Yeah.   Andrew Stotz: But if you don't know what's actually happening, which the control chart gives you that information, then there's none of that.  It's just, there's no basis in fact of what you're doing.   Andy Novins: Exactly. Right. They provide a window into the market that I have never seen anybody use this or talk about it.   Andrew Stotz: And do you have any more charts? Was that it?   Andy Novins: No. Yeah, I got more.   Andy Novins: Okay. Whoops. Oh, but before we get to that, okay, so this is a concept, and if I'm going too long, cut me off.   Andrew Stotz: No, no. Go ahead.   Andy Novins: So in a falling or stable market like we're in, okay, in a rising market, you pick a price, and if you're good, you're going to do well. If you do it right, they're going to bid it up. That's the way it's been for five years since COVID. Okay. Now the market is not rising. It's falling or even in a stable market. So the PDSA cycle that Deming talked about is absolutely so on target for what we're going through right now. So I'll just briefly go through this. The plan part is you price using comps or adjusted comps based on what the control charts are showing where the market is going rather than where it was. Okay. And then you put the listing on the market in the MLS. And then what we do, okay, is we study what's happening, okay? And again, the market is not in control. It's not a stable system. So we monitor and we subscribe to special services that most agents don't get. They cost money, but they give us a lot of information. We can see the number of views all over the internet that a house is getting that's on the market. And we can subscribe to another service that shows all the showings that are comparable houses in our zip code or any way we want to do it are getting. And then we use the control charts and we look at feedback and everything else.   Andrew Stotz: So do you have more charts, Andy?   Andy : I sure do. This isn't actually a chart. It's one of the core tools that Dr. Deming used. And it's what he called the PDSA cycle. And that is the most important tool that we use with the data we get from the control charts. So I'm going through an example here of pricing. And so the PDSA is plan, do, study, act. And the planning section of this process is we price using comps, like I've described. But we also use the control charts to let us adjust the comps for what's happening in the market right up to today, basically. And the do is just in real estate is just simply putting the listing in the real estate market, MLS, and listing it so people can see it. The study, though, is what's really important. And that's where a lot more data comes in. We subscribe to services where we can monitor all the views all over the Internet of our listings. And we can monitor showings that our listings are getting, which we know, but other listings. We can monitor what they're getting in terms of competitive listings, similar prices, and that type of thing.   Andy : And we also monitor what houses, if any, are going under contract since our property went on the market. And that provides what we talk. So we have to act on that data. And that's the A of the PDSA cycle. And so we use feedback loops. So just as an example, I won't necessarily go through all these. If we have a lot of views, high views, and high showings, we know the price is right. We're going to get offers. On the other hand, if we have high views and low showings, we know buyers are interested in it, they like it, but they're not ready to come and look at it. They're waiting for that price to go down, which in this market, it probably will. So we advise our clients based on the data we're getting, and then we either reprice or we don't. There's also some other things we use to monitor, but I won't go into those at this point.   Andrew Stotz: What's interesting about that is it's like every single listing is a test.   Andy : Exactly.   Andrew Stotz: That's cool.   Andy : Yeah. And that data is so important. And when you tell a client, you're getting all kinds of... You're getting... And we compare it to the other listings. We give them charts, which shows the other houses. And we say, look, you're getting twice the views of these other houses, but nobody's coming to your house, or very few are coming. And the other listings are getting less views and more showings. People think you're overpriced. And it's very convincing to a client.   Andrew Stotz: Is there one of these that you're aiming for? And if you are close to that in your listings, you're hitting the right spot? Or what are you aiming for?   Andy : High views and high showings. That's the best. Everybody's looking at it. People are coming. Okay. There's other tests down the road because traditionally if you get 16 to 18 showings and nobody makes an offer, you're still probably overpriced, but that's very unlikely. Okay.   Andrew Stotz: And is price the only factor that you can adjust here, let's say high views, high showings could be just the type of house, the location, but you don't necessarily control those things?   Andy : No, the one down near the bottom. Low views, high showings. It's ikely a niche piece of property. Not many people are looking at it, but the people that want that niche, whatever may be different, it's a unique piece of property, they'll get a lot of showings relative to their views, because most people aren't interested. But there isn't much else we can do because we spend... We pay for staging. We don't pay for it. We do it. We have our own inventory and staging. We have contractors that we've used for years to help get a house ready. So the product itself, the house, and the presentation, there's never much more we can do to make that better.   Andrew Stotz: And quality in the eyes of the customer is the best price sold quickly, I guess.   Andy : Yes. Yeah. That's right. There's a saying which not everybody agrees with in the real estate industry, but you want to make the most amount of money in the least amount of time with the least amount of hassle.   Andrew Stotz: I think that's everywhere.   Andy : That's true.   Andrew Stotz: Yes. I want that. Great.   Andy : That's what everybody wants, but some people say, well, if it's too fast, you didn't... But that's usually not true. Fast is usually good as long as it's priced right. The next chart I have is a whole other way we use control charts, and that's to evaluate our own performance, which is what this is doing. And it's using sales-to-list price ratios. In other words, what percentage of the list price was the sales? And here we're using a long base period, and I'm just going to back up for a second. In some of the two recent, the ones I did on price drops and supply of inventory, we only had a year worth of, for the base line. And normally it's better to use more than that, but those two years I used were stable, and we didn't go back further because the Fed had been raising interest rates, and that created a... That was not a stable market when they did that, so we didn't want to use that as a history.   Andy : So this is showing our performance, and you can see starting with the pandemic, we went way above the control limits a lot of times. But what you do when you're looking at or using a chart like this for your own improvement is you want to narrow the upper and lower control limits, the two red lines. The closer they get together, the less variation you have, the smaller your standard deviation. And for us, it's 0.2. And our range between what... That's normal is between 95% and 107% of the sales price. And just to how we use it and how we get better at it is we focus on pricing. We focus on improving negotiation, which is a big deal, especially in the last few years. We are always looking to improve our client base. We're always looking to improve our preparation and presentation. We think we got that pretty well down pat. And the other thing is to stay within your area of expertise, because when you go out of that, okay, if I was to work on a house out of my market, okay, I wouldn't get this kind of performance. So that's going to lead me to the next and really the final chart. And that's another group, okay? And I'm using this group because... Just to...   Andrew Stotz: Sorry, when you say another group, what do you mean?   Andy : It's not my team, no offense industry...   Andrew Stotz: So it's a competitor or it's...   Andy : This is a well-known group. It's led by two Ivy League graduates. And it's a much bigger team than ours. Their standard... And it's the same base period, 2017 to '19. Their standard deviation is three times what ours is. Their range of what they do within the control limits is 78% to 114%. And that... Why do we do this? Why do we care? It's always nice to benchmark yourself. But most of all, with groups or agents that we compete with, if these guys put a house on the market, okay, and we thought it was overpriced, or let's say we thought it was underpriced, okay, and it was competing with one of ours, we wouldn't tell our client to reduce their price to match their price, okay, because we know they probably are underpricing. In this case, we'd say let it go. Likewise, if we're working with a buyer who's buying one of their houses and we think it's overpriced, what their listing is overpriced, then we will probably make a lower offer knowing that they also know that their pricing can be way off. So understanding your clients and where they fit on these control charts is useful information.   Andrew Stotz: And I can imagine that some people, let's say, at another firm, as an example, may say, oh, I don't care about this variability because one side of the mean is more favorable than the other, so I'm just trying to get to that other side. Whereas what you're saying is I'm trying to reduce variation around the mean.   Andy : Yes, and that'll take me to this last section I have here. If we compare the two groups, what are the major differences? Number one, if it was a million-dollar listing, okay, we would probably get $43,000 more than they would based on these control charts. Most of all, the biggest difference...   Andrew Stotz: The selling price of your customer would be $43,500 more?   Andy : Well, our average selling price is a little over 100%. Their average selling price is 96%. So on average, they're getting $43,000 less on $1 million house than we are. But the most important thing in this is the consistency and the predictability of when you lower those control chart limits, you're making your performance much more predictable, and it's an important part to all of our clients. I mean, Deming had a... One of the things he used to say is quality is in the customer's eyes, not your eyes. So I can say we do all this great stuff and all that. It all boils down to what does the customer think. And when a group's working on volume, which is pretty typical in our industry, that's what we're taught, how to get more volume, how to get more volume, that's... The customer doesn't care. The client doesn't care about what kind of volume they do. What the customer cares about is service. And you can see some of the other things, consistency over time, process control and all that. I'll get out of here now and say that that's really what control charts and Deming's philosophy and the PDSA, it all focuses on quality in the customer's eyes, consistent performance, better service, and not a lot of guesswork. We're using data that other agents don't even know exists. And that's unfortunately not an exaggeration, really. I've never talked to anybody that knew about this.   Andrew Stotz: When Deming talked about quality, he often referenced the idea that you could have a quality system in place and still go out of business if you weren't looking at quality in the eyes of the customer and being completely connected to the customer. And I have a little story on this from my coffee business. Many years ago, we had a restaurant chain in Thailand that's a global chain come to us and we won the bid. And they said, we chose you over all these other suppliers for coffee and we're going to come to your factory and when we do, we're going to do an audit, we're going to ask 600 questions and if you get below 75% or whatever, you're fired. But, hey, I knew Deming and I knew all of this stuff and we cared about quality and we never had quality problems, so we thought we're in good shape. And they came out and they said, your score was 68, you're fired. You have six weeks to fix it or you won't be our supplier. Well, we learned something very quickly there, which was to them, paperwork was quality.   Andrew Stotz: And that was a quality system to them that meant that we had quality. And so we had a passion for quality, but we didn't have the paperwork system that they wanted. So luckily, when you have passion for quality, it's pretty easy to overlay a paperwork system on it, if that's what the customer required. I would hate to be in the opposite situation where you go and do like many people when they go and get certified or ISO or whatever and they build a paperwork system without that commitment to quality. Now, that's a disaster. But the point is that we had to realize that in order for us to satisfy that customer's needs, we had to appeal to quality as they saw it. And so we've got to always keep the customer in mind as we're working on our quality.   Andy : I got another story. My wife reminded me today that sometimes in probably early '80s, maybe mid '80s at the latest, I looked up in the... I wanted to find a statistician and I looked him up in the yellow pages, which a lot of the listeners may not know what that is. And I wanted to... What I wanted to do was find a way to improve, optimize our inventory and try to approach just-in-time inventory because we had factories all over the place and we were getting stuff in. And we never did it. And I imagine with Dr. Deming, we could have done it, but we never did it because exactly the quality's in the customer's eyes. We were shipping to specialty restock stores primarily, and if we couldn't stock their shelves, okay, they went somewhere else. Didn't matter how much they liked us, they had to have those shelves full. So we decided it wasn't worth the risk of just-in-time and optimizing our inventory at the expense of having maybe too much inventory, but satisfying our customers. And it's just so true.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah. Yeah. In the story that I told, that particular chain never ran out of product and certainly never ran out of coffee. And I know myself, being a customer of that chain, never in my life did I walk in there and they ran out of a particular product. And they made that very clear. That's quality to us is that our supply chains are never broken. And for 16 years, we never broke their supply chains. It was never the case. So in the eyes of the customer, well, on behalf of everyone at the Deming Institute, I want to thank you again for this discussions and for listeners, remember to go to Deming.org to continue your journey. But I thought I would leave the closing comments to you to maybe wrap up and give the audience what you think should be their main takeaway from this discussion.   Andy : I think probably the main takeaway would be that Dr. Deming's philosophy, the Profound Knowledge, everything he taught is as relevant to real estate, okay, pricing, probably most markets as it is to a factory or production or anything like that. I think that it took me a while, after I became a realtor, it took me a while to realize, wow, all these things we can use. And we have more data to play with than anybody. So that's a good takeaway for anybody, especially realtors.   Andrew Stotz: Yeah, I think, and I'll just add on, I enjoyed the conversation because I love Michael Porter's stuff and talking about figuring out where's your niche and trying to bring a differentiated offering to the market. And that differentiated offering could be based on what I like to say from my study and teaching of corporate strategy is there's kind of two main corporate strategies. One I would say is the type that engineers build, which is an operational corporate strategy. And another one is a differentiating strategy that a sales type of person would build, which is about the interaction with sales, with the product and all of that. And so with Dr. Deming, one of the benefits we get is the process part of our business can just be improved forever. And then we can overlay that with whatever we want from what we bring to the market. And I think you've given us an example of how you can apply Deming's principles to the process of your business and do that in a niche area or an area that you've defined and dominate. And so I love that.   Andy : Yeah, and one of the things, just a last thought, is something you and I had talked about, is you don't have to have a PhD in physics or you don't have to get a doctorate in something to understand Deming. And he even says it in his book. You don't have to be an expert in any of it. You just have to understand it. And that's the beauty of it. Anybody can do what I'm doing with just nowhere near the effort you'd have to do if you were going to be a physicist or something else like that. And that's something people can take away.   Andrew Stotz: And on that hopeful note, this is your host, Andrew Stotz, and I'm going to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Deming. I always repeat it because it's such a great quote, and that is, "people are entitled to joy in work."      

Full Episodes and more at patreon.com/Slopquest !! Comedian Ryan O’Neill and Illustrator Andrew DeWitt bring you the dumbest takes on news, movies and ridiculous business ideas every week on Slop Quest! O’Neill finds out about the “Burbank Butt Sniffer” and is shocked when it turns out that it’s not Andrew. Then they pitch Nordstrom on a new ad campaign, “Nordstrom Sniff Out The Savings”! And to be honest, it really has legs. Then O’Neill can’t believe the backstory of the sniffer and it almost derails the entire show. Then they try to write a biography about the incident with one of the craziest book titles ever. The Andrew laments the fact that it’s sweltering while two unused air conditioners sit in the same room they’re recording in. This episode is really good and really stupid. Come get your slop!

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I'm joined by Lara Henderson, Founder and CEO of PURE MAMA — a naturally luxurious skincare brand redefining body care for pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Inspired by her own search for high-quality, pregnancy-safe products during her first pregnancy, Lara saw a clear gap in the market and set out to create something better. After more than two years of research and development, PURE MAMA launched in 2021 and quickly became the leading premium pregnancy skincare brand in New Zealand and Australia — selling out within months, growing over 1600% in its first year, and making history as the first of its kind to be stocked by prestige beauty giant MECCA.In our conversation, Lara shares the story behind PURE MAMA's rapid rise, including how she scaled the brand internationally with launches in Erewhon, Nordstrom, Revolve, and Goop. We talk about the lessons she's learned about product development, brand building, and retail partnerships — as well as the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood. Lara also shares her thoughts on community, authenticity, and the importance of creating products that truly support women through one of life's most transformative seasons.Whether you're a beauty lover, aspiring founder, or someone curious about building a mission-led brand from scratch — this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Now on The Kara Goldin Show. Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at karagoldin@gmail.com. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks. To learn more about Lara Henderson and PURE MAMA:https://www.instagram.com/puremama_skincare/https://us.puremama.com/ Sponsored By:Open Phone - OpenPhone is offering 20% off your first 6 months! Just go to OpenPhone.com/KaraGoldinApple Card - Visit apple.co/cardcalculator today and discover just how much Daily Cash you can earn.Constant Contact - Try Constant Contact FREE for thirty days at ConstantContact.comIncogni - Visit Incogni.com/karagoldinshow to get an exclusive 60% discount on Incogni! Check out our website to view this episode's show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/729

Nicole Tapscott, Chief Commercial Officer at Knix, dissects the anatomy of category disruption in an era where authenticity trumps algorithms. Drawing from two decades of scaling high-growth consumer brands like Casper and Mejuri, Tapscott reveals how Knix has redefined the intimate apparel industry into a movement of destigmatization through authentic celebrity partnerships. The conversation unpacks strategic insights on navigating the post-DTC landscape, premium retail expansions, data-driven personalization, and omnichannel orchestration—essential intelligence for building next-generation brands that thrive on vulnerability. PLUS: We talk Knix's latest campaign with Kristen Bell and the first U.S. store opening in New York City.Customers Are Already Telling You the AnswerKey takeaways:Next-gen brands prioritize channel agnosticism over DTC exclusivity - Success comes from meeting customers where they are, whether that's TikTok Shop, Nordstrom, or intimate retail experiences designed for vulnerable conversations.Cultural barrier-breaking requires authentic celebrity partnerships - Kristen Bell's decade-long customer relationship with Knix created campaign authenticity that audiences could immediately sense, proving that real relationships trump transactional endorsements.Product innovation emerges from customer vulnerability - Knix's best product developments, from ultra-thin technology to natural fiber collections, stem directly from customer feedback about their most personal needs and experiences.Physical retail serves emotional commerce needs - In categories requiring trust and education, stores become "vulnerability corners" where trained staff facilitate intimate conversations that e-commerce cannot replicate.Mission-driven marketing survives economic pressure - As consumer spending tightens, brands with clear purpose and authentic intention will outperform those focused solely on transactions.Key Quotes:"DTC is no longer a differentiator. It's just table stakes. These brands are no longer defined by how they sell their product, but why they sell, and how they integrate into a customer's life." - Nicole Tapscott [00:08:35]"The best campaigns are based on a true insight and great representation... someone that really represents that message in a real authentic way." - Nicole Tapscott [00:15:51]"Listen to the customer. They're usually telling you the answer... The if you build it, they will come mentality of former businesses does not work. You actually have to build it where they want it." - Nicole Tapscott [00:51:16]Associated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

In this practical and empowering episode, Carina Gardner tackles one of the biggest challenges new designers face: pricing your work when you're just starting out.Carina walks listeners through the mindset shifts, mistakes to avoid, and strategies that helped her go from undercharging to building a profitable design business. She shares honest insights about how to set your prices with confidence—even if you're not sure what your work is worth yet—and why charging too little can actually slow down your growth.Whether you're freelancing, creating products, or launching your first design shop, this episode gives you a foundation for making smart, sustainable pricing decisions right from the start.Perfect for creatives who want to turn their talent into a thriving business without second-guessing every quote or invoice.About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcamp

In the world of fashion, there are a handful of names that do more than just design clothes—they shape conversations. Our guest today is someone who's done exactly that. Founder, chairman and creative director of the immensely popular fashion brand that shares his name: Kenneth Cole. Not only is Kenneth a wildly successful fashion designer and entrepreneur—he's also a bold voice for social change, and an influential supporter and advocate for HIV research, mental health awareness and several other human rights initiatives. Since launching his brand Kenneth Cole Productions in the early '80s out of a trailer on the streets of New York to becoming globally recognized for blending great style with meaningful purpose, Kenneth has been intentionally crafting a business that feels deeply personal. Kenneth talks about the steps he took to bring attention and credibility to his fledgling startup shoe company, what it's meant to him to be able to use his platform for good and why creating impactful messaging that lingers can be the absolute best thing for your brand. Thanks for tuning in to episode 93. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Check out The Third Pyramid Band: https://www.youtube.com/@3rdPyramidBand   Don't forget to check out Sam's upcoming dates: Aug 1 2025 – Boston, MA · Nick's Comedy Stop · *Tin Foil Hat Comedy Night* · 7:30 PM SamTripoli.com Aug 2 2025 - Broad Brook, CT · BroadBrook Opera House · *Tin Foil Hat Comedy & Swarm Tank* · 8:00 PM  0:00:00 - 0:15:00 - Kicking Off with the Wheel of Doom and Social Media Banter We kick off the show with some casual banter about going live on platforms like Facebook and Kik, setting the stage for another chaotic episode. We mention our friend Tim Pool and dive into the setup for the Wheel of Doom, which is loaded with 60 videos today—potentially a record! We're aiming to beat our all-time high score of 9,300 points. Social Media and Livestream Prep: Discussing the platforms we're streaming on and the excitement of going live. Tim Pool and Comedy Connections: Mentioning a conversation with Tim Pool about Stephen Colbert and how Sam stepped in when Dave Smith wasn't available. Wheel of Doom Setup: Hyping up the wheel with 60 videos and our goal to hit a high score. 0:15:00 - 0:30:00 - The Blair Witch Project: A Psychological Experiment? The first spin lands on a video about The Blair Witch Project, revealing its production as a real-life psychological experiment. We dive into how the filmmakers pushed actors to their limits with minimal scripting, GPS coordinates, and intentional deprivation to capture genuine fear. This sparks a discussion about the ethics of such filmmaking and its impact on the found footage genre. Blair Witch's Unconventional Filming: Actors were left in the woods, sleep-deprived, and scared by directors to elicit real reactions. Ethical Debate: Was this genius or borderline torture? We ponder if we'd sign up for such a project. Cultural Impact: The film's viral marketing and low-budget success (made for $60,000, grossed $250 million) redefined horror. 0:30:00 - 0:45:00 - Flat Earth Theories and the Amazon River The wheel spins to a video claiming the Amazon River's flow challenges the globe Earth model, suggesting a flat plane of existence. We react with a mix of intrigue and skepticism, noting the video's disclaimer that it's for “entertainment purposes only.” This leads to a broader discussion about conspiracy theories and their presentation online. Amazon River and Flat Earth: The video argues the river's unidirectional flow defies a globe's curvature, implying a flat Earth. Skepticism and Cop-Outs: We criticize the “entertainment only” disclaimer as a way to dodge accountability. Conspiracy Culture: Reflecting on how platforms like TikTok shape the spread of such theories. 0:45:00 - 1:00:00 - The Matrix and Brain Symbolism Another spin brings us to a video linking The Matrix to brain science, suggesting Neo's journey represents moving from the reptilian brain to the neocortex. We explore this metaphor for consciousness and control, touching on Freemasonry and the film's deeper meanings. We also briefly discuss movie recommendations for Alistair Crowley, favoring Fantastic Four over the new Superman. Matrix Symbolism: Neo's plug-in at the neck symbolizes the reptilian brain, while his awakening reflects the neocortex and higher consciousness. Freemasonry Connection: The video ties brain regions to Masonic degrees, sparking curiosity about hidden meanings. Movie Talk: We debate Superman's slapstick tone versus Fantastic Four's stronger reception. 1:00:00 - 1:15:00 - Sam's Corner: Funny and Emotional Clips In Sam's Corner, we share handpicked videos, starting with a hilarious clip of a kid caught with a hooker, claiming he's going to marry her to dodge trouble. We then get emotional watching a tribute to Hulk Hogan, reflecting on his legacy despite past controversies, including a fake voiceover clip of him making offensive remarks. Hooker Mishap: A kid's desperate excuse that he's marrying a hooker cracks us up. Hulk Hogan Tribute: A heartfelt video from The Rock about Hogan's wrestling legacy, contrasted with a fake clip highlighting his controversial past. Nostalgia and Wrestling: We reminisce about our love for pro wrestling and Hogan's iconic moves. 1:15:00 - 1:34:52 - Conspiracy Deep Dive and Bizarre News The final segment is a whirlwind of conspiracy and oddities. We discuss a video linking Sabrina Carpenter to occult symbolism in Rosemary's Baby and Eyes Wide Shut, a creepy ad for glowing smart implants, and a disturbing story about a serial butt sniffer arrested in California. We wrap up with plugs for our projects and a nod to the Doomers. Sabrina Carpenter Conspiracy: Connections to Lucifer quotes, Rosemary's Baby fonts, and Eyes Wide Shut suggest Hollywood occult ties. Smart Implants: A futuristic ad for glowing implants raises cyborg concerns, with a humorous take on glowing body parts. Serial Butt Sniffer: A repeat offender's arrests at Walmart and Nordstrom spark a mix of humor and unease about bizarre crimes. Watch Full Episodes on Sam's channels: - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SamTripoli - Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/SamTripoli Sam Tripoli: Tin Foil Hat Podcast Website: SamTripoli.com Twitter: https://x.com/samtripoli Midnight Mike: The OBDM Podcast Website: https://ourbigdumbmouth.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/obdmpod Doom Scrollin' Telegram: https://t.me/+La3v2IUctLlhYWUx  

Ali Mejia is the visionary and cofounder of elevated sleepwear brand Eberjey. Although she'd always had a soft spot for pajamas (getting ready for bed was a self-care ritual in her home growing up), Mejia began her career on Wall Street. After graduating from Princeton, she followed many of her peers to New York City and got a job as a financial analyst. When her bank unexpectedly closed, she was laid off and left to confront the nagging feeling that she should be exploring her creativity. She used her severance package to fund a trip to Florence, Italy, and being immersed in the arts and culture inspired her to make a change in her career. Upon returning home, she took one more short-lived finance job and then landed a fashion internship at Cynthia Rowley that energized her. She moved back home to Miami and took a direct marketing job to pay the bills while quietly working with a local patternmaker and learning how to design sleepwear. Once she had designed a few prototypes, she told her coworker at the direct marketing company about her business idea. This coworker, Mariela Rovito, became Mejia's cofounder in Eberjey. In 1996, they left their day jobs, put $10,000 each into this new venture, and set off on a brand-building journey with no business plan. Today, almost three decades later, Eberjey remains a leading international sleepwear brand with five brick-and-mortar shops and products sold in over 500 retailers, from Neiman Marcus to Nordstrom.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.