Podcasts about Retail

A strong brand is more than just a logo—it's a feeling, a story, and sometimes… one powerful word.In this episode, we follow Lucy's incredible journey from retail to design school and into the future of interior design. She shares her insights on how branding becomes unstoppable when people catch on fast, why setting “unreasonable” rules might just be the best thing for your brand, and how to ride the waves of trends without losing your identity. Whether you're in retail, branding, or interior design, this conversation is packed with insights that will level up how you think about your business.[3:08] Lucy's start in retail and the lessons that shaped her[6:23] How a scholarship shifted her design career path[11:18] A sneak peek into design school and personal branding[14:22] Why the strongest brands catch on fast[15:52] What's the one word that defines your brand?[26:25] Why great brands set “unreasonable” rules[34:49] How Lucy navigates trends in a noisy space[38:06] The evolving future of interior designJoin the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation Get your ticket to EVOLVE 2025 - $200 off when you use the code rooted Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch!

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Jay Patey, founder of Pigeon Whole Bakers, who shares his journey from launching a small Hobart café in 2008 to building an $8M bakery with over 50 staff. Jay dives into the power of word-of-mouth marketing, the decision to expand into wholesale, and creating a beloved Tasmanian brand that now supplies major outlets like MONA and Hill Street stores. He opens up about the challenges of fast growth, how shifting to daylight production transformed team wellbeing, and why a people-first culture is key to long-term success. Jay also reflects on lessons learned from nearly two decades in business and offers valuable advice for other small business owners. It's a raw, honest, and inspiring story of resilience, purpose, and sustainable growth. Other Resources: The Ultimate Recruitment Toolkit Online Short Course Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Jay Patey, the hardest thing in growing a small business is dealing with the unknown and the lack of control over unexpected challenges. Despite careful planning, unforeseen issues can arise that test resilience and patience. He highlights that growth is a long-term journey requiring adaptability and the ability to navigate uncertainty.  What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Jay Patey mentioned that the business book which helped him the most was "2 Second Lean" by Paul Akers. He appreciated its focus on improving workflow efficiency, organization, and lean manufacturing principles—particularly relevant as he set up their new bakery production space to be streamlined and future-proofed. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Jay Patey specifically recommended the Grow A Small Business Podcast as a valuable resource. He mentioned that he listens to it religiously and finds it insightful for learning from other business owners' growth journeys and challenges. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Jay Patey recommends using subscription-based software tools to grow a small business, particularly those that streamline operations. He highlights tools like Xero for accounting, a robust time and attendance system integrated with payroll, and Square for point of sale (POS), which also connects with their website. These tools have helped improve efficiency and reduce administrative overhead What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Jay Patey would advise himself on day one to “strap in for the ride” and recognize that he had no real idea of what lay ahead. He reflects that he was quite naïve at the start and never imagined the business would grow as much as it has, emphasizing the importance of being mentally prepared for a long, challenging, and evolving journey. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: If you're playing in the A-League, you need A-League players every day – Jay Patey Patience and resilience are the real fuel behind sustainable growth – Jay Patey Growing a business isn't a sprint; it's a marathon with hills, storms, and surprises – Jay Patey  

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Alison O'Keefe, Partnership Director at WHSmith North America Media Network, Powered by SMG. WHS Media is the first-ever in-store travel Retail Media Network, connecting brands to consumers across travel hubs in North America.Find Alison on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-o-keefe-42b1a830/Find WHSmith Media on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whsmith-north-america-media-network/Find WHSmith Media online at: https://smg.team/en-us/retailers/whs-media/Alison answers these questions:What are some of the biggest challenges brands face when trying to engage consumers in travel hubs?How do you see the role of physical retail media evolving in an increasingly digital advertising landscape?Why did WHSmith choose to partner with SMG in launching a media platform?How does WHSmith differentiate its media network from other retail media networks in the travel space?What are the core solutions that you offer brands to engage consumers in your physical retail locations?What types of brands or advertisers see the most success when partnering with WHSmith's media network? Is it all about endemic advertising?Can you share any recent success stories of brands leveraging WHSmith's retail media network effectively?What advice would you give to companies looking to create meaningful partnerships within the WHSmith ecosystem?How does WHSmith's media network measure and report on ad effectiveness for partners?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comCPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.comSubscribe to Chain Drug Review here: https://chaindrugreview.com/#/portal/signupSubscribe to Mass Market Retailers here: https://massmarketretailers.com/#/portal/signupDISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Send us a text在最新这一期“柠檬变成柠檬水”播客节目里，主持人俞骅和Poy Zhong以优衣库为案例，探讨一个拥有“日本基因”的全球品牌，如何在北美市场寻找自己的定位。这一期不仅讲述了一个品牌的国际化历程，也揭示了当“东方式思维”遇上“西方市场”时，品牌该如何在产品、管理与文化之间找到平衡。如果你关注零售、品牌出海或文化融合，这是一集不容错过的商业深谈，欢迎大家收听。请您在Apple Podcasts, 小宇宙APP, Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube, Amazon Music等，搜寻”柠檬变成柠檬水“。Support the showThank you for listening to our podcasts. We also welcome you to join the "Turn Lemons Into Lemonade" LinkedIn page!

Phillip and Brian bring hot takes on eBay's Met Gala presence, the latest tariff turmoil, and the future of autonomous driving. PLUS: Dissecting Warren Buffet's retirement and new research on Gen Z vs. Millennial communication trends. The Y2K Bug Zapped Us Into PostmodernismKey takeaways:Trends that feel like youth trends are actually just internet trends.  Their effects are now felt across generations, not siloed age groups.There has been a shift from modernism to postmodernism, and in turn, sincerity to ironic insincerity.Boy Meets World: 25 years after its series finale airs, we reflect on its sitcom era as a marker of TV's transition from modernism and sincerity to postmodernism and ironic insincerity. Kendra Scott taps into Gen Alpha.eBay returns to Brian's radar and then sponsors the 2025 Met Gala. Coincidence?“Understanding the society in which you live, and the cultural moment taking place, is taken for granted a lot.” – Phillip“The Y2K bug was actually just the end of sincerity.” – Brian“We've leaned so far into cheap goods for so long, there might be a memetic cycle happening now where we lean back into goods that are durable.” – Brian“Autonomous driving is extraordinarily disruptive—just like AI is for information, AVs are for how we live, plan cities, and think about ownership.” – PhillipIn-Show Mentions:The Guardian: Gen Z Is Turning to Voice NotesDirt.fyi: The State of A24Titan Caskets: Grave ConversationsWaymo Partners with ToyotaAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeJoin 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!

Morrisons Robotic Revolution: UK's First Human-Sized Grocery Aisle Robots This eye-opening segment explores how Morrisons supermarket is transforming UK grocery operations by deploying the first human-sized aisle robots in the country. Retail experts analyze what this means for the industry's automation future. Key Moments: 0:02 - Breaking news: Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket to deploy human-sized aisle robots 0:08 - Introduction to Simbe's Tally robots now operating in three northern England stores 0:27 - Ben Mille reveals he hasn't personally seen the robots but shares insider information from a colleague 0:54 - Technical details: Robots autonomously loop stores twice daily, checking 30,000 products hourly 1:07 - Comparison to similar technology already deployed by BJs and Schnucks in US markets 1:18 - Primary use cases: Inventory checking and pricing/promotion accuracy verification 1:23 - Critical ROI metric: Robots save approximately 50 labor hours weekly per store 1:32 - Expert analysis on why inventory management is "everything in grocery" and impacts P&L 1:42 - The challenge of balancing availability against waste, especially for short shelf-life products 2:01 - Anne Mezzenga highlights important insight: Even smaller-format UK stores see ROI from robot deployment 2:36 - Chris Walton confirms this validates "2025 being the year of the robot" prediction 3:03 - Additional benefit beyond inventory: Accurate pricing ensures capturing vendor promotional income Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/BrQ0kfPY4LA The discussion, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, reveals how robotic technology is proving valuable across different store formats and markets, making it a consideration for any retail executive serious about operational efficiency. #morrisons #retailnews #retailstrategy #retailtrends #robots #grocery #retailtech

The rideshare market has reached a crossroads. Autonomous vehicles are on the rise, driver unrest is mounting, and customers are questioning everything from pricing to trust and safety. In the midst of it all, Lyft is mounting a comeback. CEO David Risher, who took over the wheel at Lyft two years ago, is pushing to reposition the company squarely against Uber — with faster execution, bold new programs, and Lyft's biggest international acquisition to date. A former Amazon executive, Risher isn't shy about calling out the “enshittification” of tech platforms, or borrowing a few lessons from Jeff Bezos. He joins Rapid Response to unpack his high-speed strategy and explain why Lyft's comeback story is just getting started.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gregg Katz is the Director of Business Industry Solutions for Real Estate at ESRI. He's also a lover of nostalgic retail brands. Gregg talks about his series of articles on defunct retailers and restaurants, such as Blockbuster Video, Service Merchandise, and Planet Hollywood. He reveals overarching lessons from these companies' highs and lows, including the dangers of rapid growth, staying true to the brand, and adapting to technological advances. This episode is filled with personal anecdotes, pivotal moments in retail history, and strategic business insights. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Gregg's newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7262906814252437504/?displayConfirmation=true  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.  

In this whirlwind episode of *Off the Screen*, Jordon kicks things off with a dramatic recounting of his misstep—literally—when he stepped in dog droppings, setting the tone for a session filled with retail horror stories. The hosts delve into the challenges of double shifts, navigating through cough-and-sneeze aisles, and the chaos that ensues when “Tuesday night recording” coincides with the Celtics' tip-off.As they explore new ideas, they brainstorm an “unplugged” mini-podcast segment to discuss life's oddities beyond basketball. The mood becomes heartfelt as they celebrate Gilbert Arenas's son's miraculous recovery from a near-fatal accident and pay tribute to Gregg Popovich's transition from the NBA's longest-tenured head coach to Spurs president following his stroke—sharing touching anecdotes from players and applauding Pop's lasting impact.Back on the court, the trio declares this playoff season to be one of the most electrifying since the bubble era. They reminisce about unforgettable moments: Kawhi Leonard's game-saving block, Anthony Davis's 30-foot buzzer-beater, Damian Lillard's iconic series-clincher, and the Suns' perfect bubble run. They even honor Paul Pierce's post-game journey—slippers in tow—following his ill-fated guarantee of a Celtics win.The climax of the episode focuses on dissecting the Celtics' shocking back-to-back Game 1 and 2 collapses versus New York, characterized by record-setting mistakes, fourth-quarter scoring droughts, and Jason Tatum's chilling cold streak. As frustrations boil over, Jordan and the team navigate the emotional rollercoaster, pointing fingers at defensive breakdowns, clutch roles, and pondering whether Tatum's postseason journey is a matter of destiny or a personal demon.

Send us a textIn this solo episode, I'm diving into something I'm wildly passionate about—contrast. Whether it's your website, your Insta tiles, your packaging, or your trade show banners… if your brand blends in, it's losing money. Full stop.I see this all the time inside my programs and with 1:1 clients—gorgeous products or stunning stores that just don't pop. And honestly? That can be fixed.Today I'm breaking down exactly where and how to use contrast to capture attention, guide your customer's eyes, and actually convert browsers into buyers. From CTAs and fonts to shadows, motion, and messaging—this episode is packed with examples and simple tweaks that make a huge difference.In this episode, I cover:Why contrast is way more than just colour—it's persuasionThe sneaky website design choices that are costing you conversionsHow to fix your packaging so it actually stands out on a shelfReal talk about why being “on brand” is not the same as being buyableWhat Go-To Skincare had to change (and why it matters to you)A super handy link to check if your fonts and colours pass the readability testIf you're a product-based business and want more sales without rebranding your entire biz—this one's a must-listen.

Trusted by Fortune 500 CEOs and elite performers, this is where you go to think better, live better, and get ahead. Each week, Shane Parrish goes deep with the world's sharpest minds—founders, economists, bestselling authors—to uncover the mental models, habits, and strategies behind extraordinary results. The Knowledge Project isn't just a podcast—it's a masterclass in Clear Thinking. Speaking of, check out Shane's book, Clear Thinking: fs.blog/clear Be sure to watch the full episodes of all guests featured in this trailer for phenomenal insights: Mickey Drexler: Episode #213: The Art of Selling with Retail's Merchant Prince John Bragg: Episode #204: The Blueberry Billionaire Brad Jacobs: Episode #190: How To Build a Billion Dollar Company Logan Ury: Episode #219: The Dating Myths You Need to Stop Believing Maya Shankar: Episode #198: The Science of Identity Andrew Huberman: Episode #133: The Science of Small Changes David Sinclair: Episode #136: Reversing the Aging Process Morgan Housel: Episode #195: Get Rich, Stay Rich April Dunford: Episode #201: The Marketing Expert Bryan Johnson: Episode #188: Five Habits for Longer Living Seth Godin: Episode #105: Failing On Our Way To Mastery Dr. Rhonda Patrick: Episode #191: Diet Essentials For Healthy Living Bruce Flatt: Episode #221: Value, Discipline, and Durability Jack Kornfield: Episode #156: Finding Inner Calm Check out Shane's appearance on The Rich Roll podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHHJfwmR-RQ&t=6294s Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it's completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠ Join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠ to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of episodes and more. Watch on YouTube: ⁠@tkppodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate. In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk welcome Dean Orrico, President and CEO of Middlefield Group, for a deep dive into REITs and real estate investing. Dean unpacks the effects of tariffs, the NAV discount debate,... The post REITs, Retail, and Real Returns: Navigating Real Estate Investment with Dean Orrico, President and CEO of Middlefield appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

The Cybercrime Magazine Podcast brings you daily cybercrime news on WCYB Digital Radio, the first and only 7x24x365 internet radio station devoted to cybersecurity. Stay updated on the latest cyberattacks, hacks, data breaches, and more with our host. Don't miss an episode, airing every half-hour on WCYB Digital Radio and daily on our podcast. Listen to today's news at https://soundcloud.com/cybercrimemagazine/sets/cybercrime-daily-news. Brought to you by our Partner, Evolution Equity Partners, an international venture capital investor partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs to develop market leading cyber-security and enterprise software companies. Learn more at https://evolutionequity.com

Today, I'm joined by luxury knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney, who's been part of both our Retail By Design mastermind and the Stock Doctors programme. In this conversation, she shares how those programmes helped her move a long-held idea into action, which was bringing part of her production in-house after nearly a decade in business. It's a shift that's given her more control over stock, space to test new products, and the ability to respond to demand more quickly. We also talk about planning around seasonal sales, building customer loyalty, and managing creative work alongside the day-to-day demands of running a business.    [02:55] What kept Genevieve rooted in British manufacturing [05:56] Why in-house production changed how Genevieve plans and sells [07:39] The hardest parts of running her business over the last decade [09:13] What happens when your customer base grows with you [15:07] Why Genevieve joined the mastermind after Goldman Sachs [17:16] What she learned from Retail By Design and Stock Doctors   Resources: Genevieve Sweeney Knitwear  Retail by Design Stock Doctor  

In this episode, Maliha Safri, Marianna Pavlovskaya, Stephen Healy, and Craig Borowiak talk about their new co-authored book Solidarity Cities: Confronting Racial Capitalism, Mapping Transformation (University of Minnesota Press, 2024). This volume is part of the Diverse Economies and Livable Worlds series. Solidarity economies, characterized by diverse practices of cooperation and mutual support, have long played pivotal but largely invisible roles in fostering shared survival and envisioning alternatives to racial capitalism globally and in the United States. This book maps the thriving existence of these cooperative networks in three differently sized American cities, highlighting their commitment to cooperation, democracy, and inclusion and demonstrating the desire—and the pressing need—to establish alternative foundations for social and economic justice.  Collectively authored by four social scientists, Solidarity Cities analyzes the deeply entrenched racial and economic divides from which cooperative networks emerge as they work to provide unmet basic needs, including food security, affordable housing, access to fair credit, and employment opportunities. Examining entities such as community gardens, credit unions, cooperatives, and other forms of economic solidarity, the authors highlight how relatively small yet vital interventions into public life can expand into broader movements that help bolster the overall well-being of their surrounding communities.  Bringing together insights from geography, political economy, and political science with mapping and spatial analysis methodologies, surveys, and in-depth interviews, Solidarity Cities illuminates the extensive footprints of solidarity economies and the roles they play in communities. The authors show how these initiatives act as bulwarks against gentrification, exploitation, and economic exclusion, helping readers see them as part of the past, present, and future of more livable and just cities. Retail e-book files for this title are screen-reader friendly with images accompanied by short alt text and/or extended descriptions. This episode is hosted by Elena Sobrino. Elena is a lecturer in Anthropology at Tufts University. Her research explores volunteer work, union histories, and environmentalism in the Flint water crisis. She is currently writing about the politics of fatigue and crisis, and teaching classes on science and technology studies, ethnographies of crisis, and global racisms. You can read more about her work at elenasobrino.site. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Retail media is expanding beyond e-commerce ecosystems and into channels like social media and connected TV. Kiri Masters, an independent commentator on the retail media industry, discusses the opportunities and potential pitfalls with WARC Media's Alex Brownsell.

Op-shop rubbish fees are piling up as people dump masses of 'unusable' items outside. The SPCA says it's spent $250,000 this year. Retail general manager Cathy Crichton says the charity's grateful to receive donations of quality items - but people also leave damaged or unhygienic items it must throw away. She says binning large items like mattresses can cost a lot. "That, in itself, is eroding the good work that our volunteers and team members are doing and building fundraising - and that's the commercial challenge." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relebogile Mabotja speaks to Buli Ndlovu an Executive for Retail & Business Banking Marketing about the #BuyMens campaign which was born out of Nedbank’s commitment to financial equity and gender-inclusive economic participation. The campaign addresses gender pricing bias, a rarely acknowledged prevalent form of gender bias. 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja is broadcast live on Johannesburg based talk radio station 702 every weekday afternoon. Relebogile brings a lighter touch to some of the issues of the day as well as a mix of lifestyle topics and a peak into the worlds of entertainment and leisure. Thank you for listening to a 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja podcast. Listen live weekdays from 13:00 to 15:00 (SA Time) https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj All the interviews are available on Primedia+ Catch-up https://www.primediaplus.com/702/702-afternoons-with-relebogile-mabotja/ Subscribe to the 702 and CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://buff.ly/qb3TsVe 702 on TikTok: https://buff.ly/7grIrVs 702 on Instagram: https://buff.ly/7grIrVs 702 on X: https://buff.ly/5XRmScd 702 on YouTube: https://buff.ly/UL2kzls See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preview: Colleague Liz Peek comments on how retail anticipated tariffs and hedges usefully. More later.  1969

It’s a Red-Letter Week here at Slow Flowers, as my longtime collaborator, Robin Avni, and I celebrate the May 6th publication of The Flower Farmers, our beautiful and informative new book featuring 29 growers across North America. You've heard a bit from some of the experts profiled in The Flower Farmers, and you'll continue to […] The post Episode 715: From Farmers' Market to Elevated Retail, with Abby Matson of Diddle and Zen and Julie Rémy of Fleuris Orchard and Blooms appeared first on Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing.

Retail is moving faster than ever. How do brands—and the conferences that serve them—keep up? In this episode of Global Retail Leaders, Julia Hare talks with Sonal Gandhi from The Lead about how the conference is evolving beyond D2C into omnichannel, cultural relevance, and actionable AI strategies. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Welcome to RETHINK Retail [01:00] The evolution of The Lead since 2018 [04:20] Beyond DTC: Omnichannel and new business models [08:00] The shifting funding landscape for emerging brands [11:30] How AI is shaping real-world retail strategies [15:00] Leveraging social media & cultural moments [18:00] Exciting keynote speakers and the Challenger Brand track [22:00] Why The Lead remains approachable as it grows Join the GRL community or be the next guest: https://www.globalretailleaders.com/

On today's podcast episode, we discuss how tariffs will impact private labels, if private label still a synonym for “affordable”, and some unofficial awards for the 5 most interesting private label players. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analyst Sky Canaves and Analyst Arielle Feger.   Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com  For a transcript of this episode click here: podcast-price-wars-attack-of-private-labels-reimagining-retailhttps://www.emarketer.com/content/

In this 30‑minute episode, Jon and Lewis unpick the coordinated ransomware wave that struck Britain's high‑street giants. They trace the attack chain that emptied Co‑op shelves, froze M&S online orders and attempted, but failed, to extort Harrods.Lewis takes a look at Amazon's latest generative‑AI arsenal: Amazon Q's new developer‑first agents, the multimodal Nova Premier family running on Bedrock, and AWS's landmark decision to let any SaaS vendor list in Marketplace regardless of where the software runs, a direct play to become the app store for the whole cloud economy. Finally, they ask whether enterprises can really keep their data out of Google's AI engines.Hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanshanks/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewismarshall/

This episode explores the trends, secrets, and future of luxury and high-street retail in Los Angeles and beyond with Jay Luchs, Vice Chairman of Newmark.The Crexi Podcast explores various aspects of the commercial real estate industry in conversation with top CRE professionals. In each episode, we feature different guests to tap into their wealth of CRE expertise and explore the latest trends and updates from the world of commercial real estate.  In this episode, Shanti Ryle, Director of Content Marketing at Crexi, sits down with Jay, one of Los Angeles's most prominent retail commercial real estate brokers. They discuss Jay's background, his journey from aspiring actor to leading real estate broker, and his significant transactions, including deals with top global fashion brands and high-profile real estate deals along Rodeo Drive and Melrose Avenue. Jay shares insights into the world of luxury retail, the challenges and strategies in securing prime retail locations, and the importance of genuine connections and caring about the community's landscape. They also explore the impact of social media on retail, the dynamics of leasing and buying in high-demand areas, and Jay's perspective on the future of retail in Los Angeles.Introduction and Guest WelcomeJay Luxe's Background and Career HighlightsEarly Career and Transition to Real EstateChallenges and Strategies in Real EstateSpecialization in Retail LeasingNotable Deals and Community ImpactLuxury Retail and Market InsightsUnderstanding Real Estate PricingLocation and Rent DynamicsChallenges in Leasing and Landlord-Tenant RelationshipsImportance of Taxes and Broker RepresentationRetail Landscape and Market TrendsRestaurant Real Estate DynamicsFuture of Retail and Real Estate InsightsRapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts About Jay Luchs:Jay Luchs is Vice Chairman at Newmark and one of Los Angeles' most recognizable commercial real estate brokers, known for his “For Lease” and “Leased” signs across the city. He specializes in retail, office, and investment sales, representing top global fashion brands, entertainment companies, and emerging retailers. Luchs has completed major transactions for clients such as LVMH, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine, KITH, James Perse, and Equinox, including high-profile deals along Rodeo Drive, Melrose Avenue, and Sunset Boulevard.He played a key role in LVMH's $200 million purchase of the Luxe Hotel and the $122 million sale of 457-459 N Rodeo Drive to the Rueben Brothers. He's also helped launch first stores for brands like Alo Yoga and James Perse, and secured pop-up and permanent spaces for brands like Supreme, SKIMS, and Fear of God.In addition to retail, Luchs places corporate offices for fashion and entertainment clients, including Tom Ford, H&M, STAUD, and Brunel cuccinelli and various lvmh offices. He's also active in the local art and restaurant scenes, helping galleries like Gagosian and restaurants such as Craig's, Avra, and Tao Group find key locations across LA.Luchs and his team represent over 125 landlord listings in premier areas such as Rodeo Drive, Abbot Kinney, and Malibu. A top producer at Newmark since 2014, he has closed several billion dollars in deals. Originally from Maryland, Luchs graduated from the University of Virginia and has lived in Los Angeles since 1995. He serves on MOCA's Acquisition and Collections Committee. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our newsletter and enjoy the next podcast delivered straight to your inbox. For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi's blog. Ready to find your next CRE property? Visit Crexi and immediately browse 500,000+ available commercial properties for sale and lease. Follow Crexi:https://www.crexi.com/​ https://www.crexi.com/instagram​ https://www.crexi.com/facebook​ https://www.crexi.com/twitter​ https://www.crexi.com/linkedin​ https://www.youtube.com/crexi

John is a Stanford guy, but not Wall Street. He has spent his entire career in the real world solving the biggest problems facing the largest companies.Problems like how to win, grow sales, and improve the stock price. He has driven value across diverse industries: Consulting, Technology, Industrial, Retail, and Transportation. But he no longer works for McKinsey, HP, Exxon, AutoZone, or GM. Now he works for you! And he applies that problem-solving, creativity, and corporate background to decide how to best invest your assets. It would be his honor if people would consider him a money manager.On a personal note, he is married with 3 children. He is the 7th of 9 children in an extended family where everyone still gets along. They were raised by faithful parents who taught strong values, including that they are all part of a greater family of brothers and sisters. He served a 2-year full-time mission in the Netherlands & Belgium to help share that message.Learn more: http://www.stellar-assets.com/Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-john-wright-cfa-chief-investment-officer-of-stellar-assets-discussing-beating-the-market

In this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Brian Harper, co-founder of 11North Partners and former CEO of RPT Realty, to discuss leadership, reinvention, and the enduring relevance of retail real estate. With a background spanning General Growth Properties, Rouse Properties, and RPT, Brian brings decades of insight from navigating some of the most complex moments in the retail sector—including corporate bankruptcies, public-to-private transitions, and large-scale portfolio transformations. They also discuss: * The principles behind great retail: hospitality, curation, and community * Lessons from navigating the GGP and RPT turnarounds * Why physical retail is far from dead—and what's driving its resurgence * Building culture in public companies vs. founder-led ventures * How personal experiences, including raising a son with autism, have shaped Brian's leadership style * The founding vision behind 11 North Partners and their thesis on long-term, durable retail This episode offers a grounded, values-driven look at how great retail gets built—and the personal moments that shape the leaders behind it. Links: 11North Partners - http://11northpartners.com/ Brian on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-harper-5431265/ Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak 1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coaching Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:08) - Brian's career and background (00:12:19) - Is retail becoming un-investable? (00:14:52) - Experience and hospitality as an opportunity to save retail (00:16:45) - Brian's experience at GGP and Rouse (00:23:55) - The collapse of bad malls (00:27:17) - Positioning malls for success (00:37:06) - What makes a spectacular open-air center? (00:40:36) - What retailers are picking the best locations? (00:42:40) - What goes wrong in retail centers? (00:44:26) - Building 11North (01:03:01) - Raising a child with autism (01:17:26) - What is your favorite hotel?

In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, eye care professionals (ECPs) face both unprecedented opportunities and mounting challenges. From artificial intelligence (AI) transforming diagnostic workflows to the growing demand for retail sophistication, and a profession grappling with its identity, the time for clarity and action is now.Pierre Bourre—an optician by trade with over 30 years of […]

Emma Lewis is the owner of Rare Form and The Twentieth, both based in Chicago. Emma works to digitally restore and reinterpret 100-year-old designs to create unique greeting cards, stationery, and more. Through her work, her goal is to empower and affirm others with a brand that combines vintage images with unapologetic contemporary feminist language and over-the-top messages of affirmation.The Twentieth is a stationery, gift, and design brand that brings historical maximalism together with 21st-century wit and an unapologetic attitude. The brand brings Art Deco imagery into the 21st century with empowering language and more than a hint of sarcasm. Rare Form offers a variety of Emma's feminist prints, greeting cards, antiques, and other gifts. There, she uses her nerdy, sarcastic sense of humor to create digital collages that combine vintage photographs of women with empowering, contemporary feminist language.Sonia McMoran spent more than a decade reporting on interior design and technology trends for publications such as The New York Times, Wired, ReadyMade, and Apartment Therapy. While taking a hiatus from journalism, Sonia realized that what she loved most about her job wasn't the writing, butthe excitement of uncovering cool products and the people who make them and sharing her discoveries with the world. This was the impetus for Home/Work, an affordable and unique shop for the home and home office that celebrates the best in past and present design.Sasha Varni was raised in Carmel in a family of retailers - it's in her blood! Sasha worked for her mom's candle store growing up and in college. After a brief stint in Italy, Sasha moved to SF and worked for Sephora and bareMinerals. She then moved to Walnut Creek and after taking maternity leave, she decided to go all-in on opening the gift shop Wish with her mom. Thanks to her amazing customers, Sasha has been able to expand her shop and now ships nationwide through her website. This month, Wish is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. In this first all-female retail roundtable, Emma, Sonia, and Sasha join Michelle to dive deep into their stores and recap the last holiday season. They also share how they like to tackle gift shows, strategies to boost special event attendance, and how to deal with crappy customers and social media trolls. The roundtable wraps up with tips to handle returns and run a successful loyalty program.Cadeau Ami Agency is solely a road rep agency of 10+ associates that handle the states of CA, AZ, HI, and parts of Nevada for many of their 23 or so boutique/gift brands, such as Chive, SF Mercantile, Sock it to Me, French Broad Chocolate, Pomegranate, Calypso Cards, Good Juju, Ryland Peters & Small, Kei & Molly and has been a part of the industry for over 30 years now. What's Inside: A recap of the last holiday seasonHow to boost attendance at special eventsTips for handling crappy customers and returnsMentioned In This Episode:Wish Walnut Creek on FacebookWish Walnut Creek on InstagramWishwalnutcreek.comShoprareform.comHome/Work on InstagramHome/Work on FacebookHome/Work on TikTok

One year into her role as global CMO at Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW), Sarah Crockett is reimagining how the legacy retailer shows up for today's consumer — across 500 stores, an upgraded e-commerce experience and a newly expanded digital media mix.

John is a Stanford guy, but not Wall Street. He has spent his entire career in the real world solving the biggest problems facing the largest companies.Problems like how to win, grow sales, and improve the stock price. He has driven value across diverse industries: Consulting, Technology, Industrial, Retail, and Transportation. But he no longer works for McKinsey, HP, Exxon, AutoZone, or GM. Now he works for you! And he applies that problem-solving, creativity, and corporate background to decide how to best invest your assets. It would be his honor if people would consider him a money manager.On a personal note, he is married with 3 children. He is the 7th of 9 children in an extended family where everyone still gets along. They were raised by faithful parents who taught strong values, including that they are all part of a greater family of brothers and sisters. He served a 2-year full-time mission in the Netherlands & Belgium to help share that message.Learn more: http://www.stellar-assets.com/Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-john-wright-cfa-chief-investment-officer-of-stellar-assets-discussing-beating-the-market

After five years with BTR Media, COO Alex Amos appears on his first podcast episode! Jeff Cohen, Amazon Ads Tech Evangelist, credits Alex as the "silent assassin" behind BTR Media, recognizing his influential role in the company's growth. Alex and Destaney break down how geo-targeting works with Walmart's display ads and why it's important to align audience targeting with business goals. Their conversation covers how brands are adjusting to new opportunities across various retail media platforms by focusing on case studies involving Instacart and Walmart. Alex shares the challenges of managing advertising on these platforms, sharing unique examples like the marketing strategies for the mandarin orange brand, Cuties.Major takeaways from this episode:Understanding the strategic importance of selecting the right retail media networks based on brand alignment and operational capabilities.Highlights the benefits of leveraging retail media networks' unique features, such as Walmart's item set-level advertising and geo-targeting.Emphasis on the role of detailed audience segmentation and creative optimization in driving successful advertising campaigns.Revealing new opportunities with brands using insights into how Instacart and Walmart advertising can drive significant lift in both online and in-store sales.The importance of using comprehensive retail media network data to inform strategy and optimize advertising spend effectively.Connect with Alex on LinkedInConnect with Destaney on LinkedInLearn more about BTR Media & our capabilitiesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CEO Jolie Weber joins the Marketer's Brief podcast to discuss the brand's partnerships and new look

Discover why the reselling rate is a game-changer for your business! In this video, we break down what reselling rate means, why it's crucial for profitability, and how to optimize it for success. Whether you're into e-commerce, thrifting, or dropshipping, understanding this key metric can boost your revenue and growth. Stick around for expert tips and strategies to improve your reselling rate today! Keywords: reselling rate, reselling tips, e-commerce success, profitability metrics, how to resell, business growth strategies Subscribe for more insights on reselling and business hacks! Drop a comment: What's your biggest reselling challenge? #ResellingRate #EcommerceTips #businessgrowthsolutionsRECOMMENDED TOOLS AND THINGS TO MAKE RESELLING EASIERVendoo Crosslisting Platform: https://vendoo.co/register?via=robbMy Favorite Tape Gun: https://amzn.to/4cF4wOzExcellent Packing Tape: https://amzn.to/42KJg6tPostage Scale: https://amzn.to/44vNwbgLabel Printer: https://amzn.to/4jBlSxUScotty Peelers Stick Removers: https://amzn.to/44vOBzQHeat Gun: https://amzn.to/4jAGxSCPhotography Lights: https://amzn.to/4lOS1EeMagic Eraser: https://amzn.to/3Gfizhu Goof Off Cleaner: https://amzn.to/4imA50H

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 21st May 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: Museum Wales website: https://museum.wales/Big Pit National Coal Museum: https://museum.wales/bigpit/Catherine Pinkerton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-pinkerton-b1905a110/Catherine Pinkerton is the Group Retail Manager at Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales.Having worked in senior management positions for some of the high street's most recognisable brands such as Harrods, Selfridges, Dior and Guerlain to name but a few, Catherine spent 20+ years in London building her management career. Catherine is now the Group Retail Manager for Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales). She is responsible for the management of all aspects of retail operations and development, across the national museums of Wales. Catherine is currently leading on a transformation project to create immersive retail experiences in each of the museum shops, reflecting the visitor experience and collections of each of the varied museums.Guests Also Featured in This Episode:Anya Kirkby, Freelancer - Anya Kirkby Ltd – Product Development and Graphic Design anyakirkby@gmail.comArantxa Garcia, Freelancer - Exibeo VM Creative Studio – Shop Design and Visual Merchandising Arantxa@exhibeovm.co.ukNia Elias, Director Relationships and Funding, Amgueddfa Cymru nia.elias@museumwales.ac.ukGuy Veale, Freelancer – Freelancer - Sound artist/designer - gbveale@gmail.comAmy Samways, Shop Supervisor, Amgueddfa Cymru - amy.samways@museumwales.ac.ukKate Eden, Chair, Amgueddfa Cymru - Members of Board | Museum Wales Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue. I'm your host, Paul Marden. So today you join me on the top of a mountain in Blaenavon in Wales at Big Pit, the National Mining Museum. I'm here today for a really special event. I've been invited to the opening of Big Pit's new Museum Retail experience, which is a programme of work that's being done by the Museums Wales Group to improve the sense of place and the sense of feeling for what could be a blueprint for the rest of the group. We're going to be joined by a number of different people that have taken part in the project and without further ado, let's get started on our tour of Big Pit. Catherine Pinkerton: Morning, everybody. Hello, welcome. It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you all today and I know there's been a lot of you'd have travelled far and wide, so thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate you coming to see the amazing store that we've created and I hope you love it. We're just going to cut the river now. Paul Marden: First up I've got Catherine Pinkerton, Group Head of Retail at Museum Wales. Catherine, welcome to Skip the Queue. Catherine Pinkerton: Thank you very much. Thank you so much for having me. Paul Marden: Absolute pleasure. And this is a corker of an episode. I think everybody is going to be really interested in finding out about the retail, the gift shop experience that you guys have introduced at Big Pit and then you're going to go wider into. Into Museums Wales. This is a really weird episode because you and I are recording the morning after the day before. So yesterday was the big launch event and I was with you at Big Pit and I've met lots and lots of people and we're going to cut to them throughout the episode and hear from those people that were taking part in the project. But you and I have got the benefit of having enjoyed yester today's event and we can look back on what that experience was like and talk a little bit about the project. Paul Marden: Before we do that, I think it would be really lovely for you to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about Museums Wales and Big Pit specifically. Catherine Pinkerton: Absolutely. Okay. So I'm Catherine Pinkerton. So I head up all of the retail stores within Amgueddfa Cymru, which is National Museums of Wales. I've been with the museum just under three years and I'm good that Cymru hosts seven sites. It's an incredible establishment to be part of and I think, you know, coming from a very commercial background, this is very different for me, but I think it's given me lots of insights into bringing kind of. Lots of. Kind of different skill sets, I guess, to this cultural sector. I think when I first initially joined Amgueddfa Cymru, there were lots of challenges. And that's not to say that we still have those challenges as they are in many of our museums. And I think coming from a retail background, it's. It's looking at something that's not. That's commercial, Paul.Catherine Pinkerton: That's key. But actually, how can we make it very collection and story based on our amazing assets that we hold within our museums? And I think that I felt was probably the biggest thing that was missing because I thought we've got these amazing exhibitions, these amazing collections, amazing, you know, opportunities, and how are we putting that into the retail structure and how do we offer that to us, you know, to our visitors? And I think. I think sometimes it may be. Have forgotten that you go around these amazing spaces and it's very based on that visitor focus and how can we make that visitor feel very happy and engaged. But actually the end part of that process is nearly always coming through, exiting through the retail space. Right. Catherine Pinkerton: And if they've had this amazing opportunity to go and, you know, a lot of investment in these amazing spaces, and then they come through that retail space which has some elements, but not all of what our collections hold, there's a confusion there. You know, that end piece. And for me, customer service and visitor experience is absolutely key to how they. How they finish and how they end their day. And if they're ending their day with something, oh, okay, I'll just have a magnet then. Because there's nothing really else here. Yeah, that pains me. That really hurts me. I think, come on, guys, we can do better than this. We are in an element of. We have our own assets, our own elements to be able to kind of display that. Catherine Pinkerton:  And I think very much it would be very easy and to take the kind of easy road of having, you know, let's. Let's pop a dragon on a mug and yeah, we're a Welsh museum. No, we're not. We have assets here. We have beautiful exhibitions, we have beautiful spaces. And actually looking from further afield into. In terms of an emotional connection. And I think, you know, for me, from all of my past kind of previous work, I'm working with Amgueddfa Cymru. It's probably been the most challenging to get perhaps senior management to understand a crazy way of Catherine Pinkerton working into a. What's emotional retail? What does emotive selling mean? This lady is crazy. What's she talking about? But actually, it's really basic, isn't it? Catherine Pinkerton: Because for me, if I take my daughter or my husband to any kind of day trip, I want to take something emotional that I've connected with home with me, and that's so simple. But actually, sometimes it's not thought about in that way. And, you know, for me, I'm all about the emotional connection. And I think we put so much investment in curatorial teams to kind of give that to our visitors. We need to end that. That end part is so important for them to finish, you know, that journey with that emotional connection that they can take home as a souvenir. So, yeah, I've probably said more than I needed to there, Paul, but.Paul Marden: Absolutely. So I think you're capturing the need to curate the. The ending experience because, you know, the nature of. The nature of people's memory is they remember the beginning and they remember the end and the bit that is in the middle is hugely important to the storytelling experience they have whilst they're at the attraction. But if you don't end on a high, then their emotional connection to you and the space and the stories they've heard is not going to be as impactful for them. Catherine Pinkerton:  Absolutely, totally agree. I think it's really key, and not just in the kind of, you know, the cultural sector, but in any sector, really. I think it's really important that connection is instant, really, because that is what you need to. That's the hook, isn't it, of getting that person, you know, and. And actually understanding what the visitor needs. I mean, it's very easy for me to say on a personal level, I'd love to have this collection of products within the shop, but actually, that's not what data tells us. That's not what our demographic tells know, you know. And they are the ones that are important. Our local communities, our demographic is key for us to be successful. Paul Marden: You know, so one of the things that I took from yesterday was the importance that you were moving away from being just any other generic Welsh gift shop to being a gift shop associated with the place. Yeah, that. That's the. That was the nub of I think, what you were trying to get to how do you go about doing that? How did you make it feel so much like a gift shop? About Big Pit? Catherine Pinkerton: It's taken a process of really pulling everything back and getting under the skin, what is the detail and the personality of the site. But actually it's talking to people and being humour. And Paul, you know, I think, very much, as I say, it'd be very ignorant for me to say this is what I think will work. And that's absolutely not what we want. What we want is for the visitors to say, I really. I mean, what was really interesting, actually, is that we did quite a lot of data analysis in terms of the demographics of customers that come through our sites. But also what was really key is areas of the sites that were really kind of, you know, three key areas that they really enjoyed or they really loved. Catherine Pinkerton:  And actually, one of the top ones was the pit ponies that they all love the pit ponies, they love talking about it, they love the stories that the mining team would talk about. It was a really inspiring, you know, inspirational moment for them to think, oh, my gosh, the pit ponies lived underground. This is really so, you know, I think in some respects that was probably missed in terms of our retail offer, because what we did after that is that we had a workshop with all our retail team and we almost did a little bit like a Dragon's Den effect. We said, right, these are the products that we have, right? Can you pick up out of these products, which products represent the pit ponies? Which products represent the shower rooms? Catherine Pinkerton: And actually, when you're talking to the teams in kind of a literal sense, there wasn't a lot within our retail offer that we already had. And I think it was a bit of a light bulb moment, really, for the retail team and said, “Oh, Kath. Right, I see, Yeah, I understand what you mean.” That's not represented in our retail offer. So what's represented currently was wonderful things and lots of Welsh kind of products. But actually, what. What makes that relatable to our site? And so I think what I wanted to do originally is just go on a journey and to kind of really, from a very basic stage, is understand what the site's POS was and actually understand what their personality was and what the curatorial team were trying to push forward as being their identity. Catherine Pinkerton:  And I think once we got the identity, we then broke that down into themes in terms of there's pit ponies. That's a huge part of the, you know, the exhibition. The other huge part of the exhibition were the canaries. So, you know, that was something that was talked about. There's a huge story around that. And then, you know, the kind of mining history and the community was massive. And actually that element was so important to me and the retail team to make sure that we got right. Because this is history, right? And this is. I come from both my grandparents were miners. So for me it was very much a, you know, a very emotional time for me to make sure that we got it right and that it was respectfully done. Catherine Pinkerton:  So that was really key in terms of how do we deliver this. That's really. That we are not stepping on people's toes. We're not profiting from something that was, you know, the strike range is very significant within what we've offered, but we really wanted to make sure that was respectful and that it was done in a tasteful way that people felt they could take a souvenir away, but know that was actually part of the exhibition. So it was those kind of areas that we really wanted to work. So once we have those themes in place in terms of what those looked like, it was then developing that and how do we develop that into an actual concept? Paul Marden: Yeah, and you've drawn in lots of people. You've already mentioned the kind of wide team that you brought in from Big Pit itself, but from the wider team in the group. Talk a little bit about what that experience has been like as a team. Who have you brought into this? Catherine Pinkerton:  So originally, when we wrote the retail concept and the retail strategy, you obviously have to kind of involve quite a lot of internal candidates to be able to allow them to believe that this journey and vision is a good one. And I'm super thankful. I've got the most amazing manager, Marc Simcox. He's the head of enterprises and he is incredible. He's very commercial, but very trusting in terms of understanding what the business should look like and actually giving that freedom to say, yeah, I think this can work. Kath. So you, you go ahead and that. That's huge. Right. We're not talking about a small project here. So that firstly was great for me. And then I think having the, you know, the opportunity to be able to get some key people. Catherine Pinkerton: And Matthew Henderson we've worked with previously and we've, you know, I knew straight away, for me, Matthew Henderson has gotten. Got a very unique way of working and we work very well together. We've got quite similar kind of ways of working, but I think that development and concept phase is really key and I think it really got to the point where we just sat in a room and kind of really understood what are we trying to achieve here, how can we achieve that? And really just making it very basic in terms of the key themes. And then in terms of product development, we brought on Anya Kirkby. So she is an illustrator and a very clever lady indeed. And we have worked with lots of illustrators and lots of suppliers over the years. Catherine Pinkerton: But what we wanted something for Big Pit was to be quite different in terms of the illustration and the product development. Because what we wanted to deliver with Big Pit was something that had been my vision since the very beginning when I started with Amgueddfa Cymru. And that is, you know, going into the shop and having those guidelines, you know, pricing guidelines, information guidelines, those small details which would probably mean nothing to the average person walking through, but actually a price ticket on something that's been illustrated pains me to see, because the work that's gone on behind that is so key. Catherine Pinkerton: And, you know, for most people not understanding that a price ticket on that is so I think those details are really key, Paul, and I think she really worked stringently with me to make sure that was, was, that was kind of a massive aspect of that role. And then Arantxa Garcia, who is just the most incredible designer. She's, she's a genius in what she does. She's incredibly creative and sometimes you have to kind of pull her back and say, okay, you want this? Okay, can you deliver this rancher? Paul Marden: Yeah. Catherine Pinkerton: And what was really interesting with a rancher is that, you know, she's got a huge, amazing CV of working with lots of people within the cultural sector and designing amazing, incredible pieces. But I think were very nervous because the, the original kind of renders that she sent through to us were quite amazing and impressive. And I said, arantha, are you able to deliver this under the kind of, you know, the budget? We've got a tight budget here. Paul Marden: That's the challenge, isn't it? Catherine Pinkerton: I mean, isn't it? Paul Marden: You do not want to be paying, you don't want to be offered the picture of a Maserati when you have got a Ford Fiesta budget, do you need to know that you can afford it. Catherine Pinkerton: Absolutely. And I think with Aranta, she was very, again, super creative lady. And I think I, as soon as I saw that image, I did say to her, right, you need to deliver this now. You've, you've committed to it, Arantia, so this needs to happen. And then finally, Richard Evans, who has, is hugely respected in the cultural sector and he really supported in terms of project management and the, you know, I hate to say this, and you won't mind me saying this, but the kind of boring kind of financial Gantt charts and keeping me in line actually. Right, Cath, we haven't got a budget for that. You can't spend that. Come on, Richard, make it work. Move some things around, you know. Catherine Pinkerton: So I think that was kind of the main area and then internally, Tracy Lucas, who was kind of my right hand woman, is our operations manager within Amgueddfa Cymru and she really supported me along with Amy, the shop manager, shop supervisor to really look at the product development. So I think, you know, and I think it was really nice actually to have them on board because I think it gave an opportunity for them to see what could be. And I think, you know, definitely in terms of retail, it's been an opportunity for us to be able to say, look, this, the impossible can be possible. Catherine Pinkerton: Actually this is an amazing project and I think what was really incredible is that when we decided to work on Big Pit, the Big Pit team and all of the mining team actually just came on board, Paul, they took it on board and I think the reason why they did that is that one of the mining teams said to me, he said, kath, you know, we never get any funding here. It's always in this big cities, you know, we, the Cardiff and it's never here, you know, we're just in the middle of nowhere. And I was like, absolutely not. That is not what this is about. It's about, you know, making sure that the community in that area is solid. Catherine Pinkerton: And I think the mining industry and they're very proud of that in terms of who works there, they're incredibly proud of what they do. And so because we chose that as our first project, they were so helpful in terms of, yeah, we're going to make this work, let's make it a success. Cath, how can we do that? What do you need from me? I mean at one point we had two of the mining staff pulling one of the drums which we upcycled out of it was like a lake or, yeah, I suppose a lake with a tractor. And I was like, this is crazy. This is crazy but just amazing that these team members are willing to do above and beyond to kind of go and help and support.Catherine Pinkerton: Dwayne Smith, finally I have to mention him because he went above and beyond. He, he's an electrical engineer for Amgueddfa Cymru and no feat was kind of Too hard for him. He helped us massively. He's got a huge team of people and anything that we needed done, I'm not, you know, I'm not a trades person, so anything Trady. I was like, Dwayne, yeah, I'm on it, Kath, I'll do it. Which is great because I was like, okay, yes, that was massively helpful, but huge learning curve, Paul. I feel I've never been so excited about drums in my entire working career as I am now. Paul Marden: And I never heard of one until yesterday. But what I found interesting was you see them all the way through the underground experience. I went down in the. The cage to the bottom of the pit head, did the whole tour. You talk about these drams and the importance of them and the transportation of the coal from throughout the mine back up to the top. And then you walk into the shop and it's subtle. The way that you've blended the museum into the shop is a subtle experience. It doesn't feel, it doesn't feel crude. But you've got a dram in the middle of the workshop. Now, I know it's a real one because we talked about it yesterday and I know the pains that you went through, but it's very subtle placed in there so that it doesn't feel crude. Paul Marden: It doesn't feel like you're trying to overwork the metaphor of the mine in the shop. It's very cleverly done. Catherine Pinkerton:  Oh, that's great, great, great to hear. Because that's absolutely what we did not want. And I think in terms of visual merchandising, actually, and picking up on your point there, is that it's very easy for us and this is something that we're doing in a different shop. It's very easy for us to look at some of our assets and pop them on a tote bag and say, there you go, that's done, we'll sell that. But actually, no, what can we do that's different? That's more kind of innovative? That's more creative. That is a hint or perhaps an opportunity for us to show and display something that is. Is then part of the visitors question. So when they're coming into store and they're speaking to our retail teams, they're questioning, is this a real drum? Catherine Pinkerton:  You know, and that is a conversation opener, isn't it? You know, and I think Kerry Thompson, who is the curator for Big Pit, he's a really inspiring man. I could listen to him all day. And he told me lots about kind of the drums and the history of Big Pit and the strikes. He's such an interesting man, but I think having the inspiration from him allowed us to make sure that we did it not in a crude way, actually, Paul, but that it was representative of the site, but not in a way that's, I guess, too obvious, you know. Paul Marden: Look, Kath, we could carry on talking for ages, but let's cut at this point to hear about some of the voices from the team that you worked with, your internal team, some of the partners that you worked with, about the experiences that they've had on the project. Paul Marden: So let's hear from some of the internal team members involved in the project. Firstly, we have Amy Samways, the retail supervisor at Big Pit, followed by Kate Eden, the chair of Museum Wales. And lastly, Nia Elias, the Director of Relationships and Funding at the Museum of Wales. Hey, Amy, how you doing? Lovely to meet you. What's your role at the museum, Amy? Amy Samways: I'm the shop supervisor for Big Pit. Paul Marden: What have you been doing in this whole project? I guess you've been integral to the whole kind of making it all about the place. Amy Samways: Yeah, so I've worked with Anya, who did all the products for the new shop. So we walked around all the exhibitions. We did a lot of underground visits and a lot of museum visits and just put things together. I've done a lot of work before this project for the last two years to try and get things more relevant to us and not just a Welsh souvenir shop. So a lot of those products stayed and then we just expanded them then. Paul Marden: So how do you go about looking for those products that make it local to here? Amy Samways: Well, we've got a fantastic exhibition at the top of the hill. We've got obviously our ex miners and we also have a lot of events through the times as well. So this year was a lot about the strike because obviously it's the 40th anniversary and we've got a massive exhibition down in Cardiff and also there's a smaller one up year as well. So we just walked through the museum and obviously, you know that disasters are obviously a big issue. We didn't want to make a big issue about those, but obviously they need. They're part of history, aren't they? So more books. We made sure we had books around that. And as you walk through, there's a lot of signs that the staff liked as well, because a lot of our guys have been done about the new projects with those as well on. Paul Marden: So do you then go looking for local suppliers to help you with that? And where do you find those? Amy Samways: Etsy, Facebook. Paul Marden: Oh, really? Amy Samways: Yeah, a lot of them. And also online. And then we've also. Because we work with a lot of suppliers as well, I'll say we need this and then they'll say, oh, you should ask so and so, and then we'll go and ask both. Paul Marden: Brilliant. So one of the things that's really interested me this year is talking to people that are running museum retail and that kind of process that goes from you as a buyer, having an idea, what do you want? How do you stock the shop? I think is really interesting process to go through, but flip it on the other side, as a local creator, you've got your thing and you want it in the shop. How do you get it found? Well, yeah, sticking it on Etsy is something that they're going to do, but then that might help them get into the museum. Amy Samways: Even if there is something that we want. Like at the minute, we're looking for NCB soap. Paul Marden: For what? Amy Samways: NCB soap. Paul Marden: What's that? Amy Samways: It's either bright green or bright pink and they used to buy it in the canteen shop and it's just imprinted with NCB. The guides have been asking and asking for it, but we have actually found a supplier now who's going to be working on it. So that should be coming this summer. Paul Marden: Wowzers. Amy Samways: Yeah. That's really exciting for you. Paul Marden:  What was the highlight? What's the one thing about this space, about the whole experience of the project. Amy Samways: That jumps out for me is seeing all the stock we've worked on and somebody actually buying it. Paul Marden:  And what is it that people are picking up? What are they walking in and gravitating to? Amy Samways: Anything Big pet, really. The little enamel little mugs have gone really well. I think the wording on those are great because it says they must not be removed from the premises. So our guides are loving those. And also our retro sign, which we had for our 40th anniversary and three years ago, but we kept it because it's such a brilliant design. It was the original from 1983 and it was on the original road sign as you drove in. So we've had that recreated and that sells really well. Paul Marden:  That's really interesting. So my wife with the family about 25, 30 years ago, came on a family holiday and they had the original guidebook that they picked up when they were here with the kind of the retro. Retro signage on there. Amy Samways: Yeah, we're back selling it again. Kate Eden: Yes, So my name's Kate Eden. I'm chair of the board of Amgueddfa Cymru. Paul Marden:  Tell me a little bit about your involvement in this project. Kate Eden:  As the board, we've been tracking the development of commercial and enterprises over the past year. Really. And really thrown our way, weight and support behind what the team has been trying to do here as a kind of flagship, really, for what we would all like the new benchmark to be across all of the seven sites of anger for Cymru. So seeing it all come together this morning has just been such a special experience. It's absolutely fantastic. I'm going to bring the rest of the board here as soon as I can so the trustees can see this and see the reaction of staff and of visitors as well, because it's a fabulous achievement and it shows us what we can do now as a national museum. Paul Marden: How well does it tie back into the original pitch at trustees? So I'm a trustee of a charity as well. The pressures that we're all under in terms of reducing funding and having to generate our own funding is so hugely important. This must be integral to the conversations that you were having as trustees. Did you have this in mind when you were signing off the agreement to spend the money? Kate Eden: Yeah. So I don't think anybody realised just how successful this could be. We'd had some mock ups and we'd had a presentation, so there was a lot of excitement and there was sort of the fledgling idea years. So we've got a sense of what it could be. But I think importantly for us, it's about that marriage of financial sustainability because it's got to wash its face, it's got to provide a working profit that can go back into the running of Big Pit here.Kate Eden: But it's got to be authentic to this place. It can't be the add on the visitor should shop that you walk through at the end. And it's a bit of a tedious thing to get back to the car park. It's got to be an integral part of the whole visitor experience in this place. And I think that's what they've achieved. Paul Marden: It's so impressive. So impressive. You know, just the structure that they've built to give you the impression of the mine in a really subtle way. The product that they've chosen, the way that they've laid out that, the shop is amazing. I think they've done an amazing job. Kate Eden: That's it. I mean, this is my local site. Paul Marden: Okay. Kate Eden: I live about three miles over the mountain there. So I bring my friends and family here. This is our go to place when I've got visitors. And I think just the way they've opened up the room, they've removed the barriers, which is really important. It's a small thing, but really important so that people feel welcome. They can walk in or they can walk ground. Paul Marden: Yep. Kate Eden: And it's. And it just feels a little bit more inclusive. It feels a bit more kind of, you know, we're here, it's easy to come and see us, you know, and spend time and then spend a little. Paul Marden: A little bit of money. Yeah. So where do we go from here as trustees? Are you fully behind rolling this out now? Kate Eden: Yeah, I mean, I think now that we've seen what we can do and the type of data that's coming through from sales, this is now the new. This is the bar. Paul Marden: Oh. So it has made a discernible difference to say. Kate Eden: So early data from Easter is really promising. Yeah. So this is the benchmark now from all of the other sites. Nia Elias: Hi, Paul. Hi, I'm Nia. Paul Marden: Lovely to meet you. Tell me about your role at the museum. Nia Elias: I am Director of Relationships and Funding. It basically means I get to work with all of the teams across the museum that work on the reputation, the reach, but also the revenue of this wonderful charity and national museum that we are. Because as well as getting funding from Welsh government, we raise our own income so it can be invested.Paul Marden: What sort of split? Nia Elias: What sort of split? So the majority of the money that comes to us does come from Welsh government because we're a public service, we're here free of charge for the people of Wales and we look after the national collection, which is over 5 million items across seven museums and a collection centre. Nia Elias: But there's a proportion then of money that we raise ourselves about sort of 30%, which is from our cafes and our car parks and the experiences that people have, and most importantly, our shops. Paul Marden:  So what was the inspiration for this project? Why kick off a strategy project around the whole retail experience? Nia Elias:  Well, this whole project, in essence started three and a half years ago when the museum decided that it would bring a strategy together for all of its self generated income. So that means our philanthropic income generation and through our enterprise, including our retail. And from a retail perspective, we knew that what we wanted to achieve with all of the money that we raise ourselves is that it's really rooted in the collection, because we have an amazing collection. It tells the story of Wales and it's owned by the people of Wales. Paul Marden: Right. Nia Elias: And from a retail perspective, we knew if people could engage with that and could take away something from the wonderful experience that they've had on site, that it would be something that they would want and it would make it unique that it's only possible to have here. Developing a project like this is quite challenging. You need the time, you need the teams and expertise, some of which are on your permanent team, some of which are naturally not. And also you need investment. And so by starting the thinking and the route of where we wanted to get to three and a half years ago, it meant when we had the funding and the opportunity to do so here at Big Pit, we knew exactly what to do. Paul Marden: Okay, so you. You put all of those pieces together and then came here and did the first cookie cutter stamp. But what's interesting is it's not a cookie cutter stamp, is it? This totally feels like the gift shop for this museum, doesn't it?. Nia Elias:  Yeah. So we feel really strongly that we wanted the balance of knowing that you're at a National Museum Wales site, knowing that you're somewhere unique, but equally that it has a sense of a place. Because all of our seven museums together tell the holistic story of Wales, but you really get a sense of personality on all of those sites, not just from the collection and the buildings and the items, but also from the colleagues that work here as well. Paul Marden: Right. Nia Elias: They're very much a part of that in terms of the stories that they tell, their lived experiences, and we had a sense of responsibility and fun to bring that through in the shop. Not just the ambiance, but also the products themselves, so much of them, the majority of them actually, are grounded in being inspired by the collection in some way, and also has a really strong Welsh and local profit as well. What we think that will come through to our customers and visitors and guests is that because we've worked across all of the teams in the museum, so curators and people who care for the collection, our colleagues here at Big Pit, many of whom are former miners, and our colleagues front of house, it means that everybody will be able to speak about the product. Nia Elias: So as you're walking around picking things up, imagining them in your home or as gifts, our colleagues can talk about what they mean to the place. And that brings something additional that you can't really buy. Paul Marden: Yeah. There's a story to it. There's a background to it that roots it. Yeah. Lovely. For you, what's the standout experience from the whole project? What have you enjoyed the most? Nia Elias: Two things I think in terms of the way that it's been done, the fact that so many teams have worked together behind the scenes to make it happen. That means that as we want to change things or tweak things or improve things, we'll have all of the knowledge and expertise already baked in, especially learning from other suppliers who've come along and helped us. So we've got that baked in now, which is really exciting. And the second thing is that I can stand here knowing that this is the standard of a national museum that our guests and visitors expect and want to see. Paul Marden: And now let's hear from a few of the external partners that Kath brought into the project. Arantxa Garcia was the shop designer and visual merchandiser. Anya Kirkby was responsible for product development. And Guy Veal was responsible for sound design. Tell me about your involvement in the project. Arantxa Garcia: Sure. So I'm the shop designer and visual merchandiser. It's a freelance role, so. So I worked with the team, Matthew, Richard, Anne and Guy. Paul Marden: Excellent. Arantxa Garcia: So we kind of all came as part of a team and each one of us looked after different areas of the project. And my involvement was to kind of reinvent and reimagine what was already here. And the idea was to create a space that was connected to the experience and to the site itself. So we've basically ripped the space apart. We've kind of kept the structure, obviously, but we've opened up the space as well. Before the shop, it would be very separate. You'd have admissions and then you have the shop area, which meant that you were only really accessing the shop if you came to visit the site. But as a local, you wouldn't be able to come, for example. Or you could, but maybe not in such an open way. Paul Marden: Yeah, you wouldn't feel welcome. Arantxa Garcia: Exactly, exactly. You may not want to just because you didn't know, whereas now you can just come in and basically hang around and also browse the shop. Exactly. We took inspiration from life underground, from the mine itself. So before the building was white, the units were white, so it could be a shop anywhere. You know, it didn't really have a DNA, so to speak, or an identity that related it directly to the site. So when visiting down to the underground and King Call as well, the exhibition that we've got just up the hill, we took inspiration from basically sort of like the. The cladding that you've got on the walls. Cladding is not the right word. So if one of the miners hears me saying that, they'll be. Arantxa Garcia: That's not the word that we told you, but the idea is that all the materiality that we're using, it's really evocative of. Of the site and it's the materials that have been used underground. So even, like the safety lamps, they'll set authentic safety lamps. And the team on site, Dwayne Smith, has electrified them. So it means that now they work, obviously, as a normal light, but it's a safety. Paul Marden: But they are the original safety. Arantxa Garcia: They are the original safety. Paul Marden: Wowsers. And what about these styles? Arantxa Garcia: So, yes, I always like going for a hunt on the side. So basically the team took me to different rooms and we just found stuff, if you like. So they're like the pressure gauges, you know, we're gonna use them just to add, again, like, references to the site and the authenticity, of course. So you also find loads of tools that would have been used underground as well. Paul Marden: I would imagine that this has been a really enjoyable project for you. I can see it on your face, how much you've enjoyed it. Arantxa Garcia: It has. And I think for designers, sometimes there's projects that take a bit longer to emerge and you keep changing things because you just don't feel probably quite right. There's something. But with this one, it kind of. After the site visit, it was just. Paul Marden: I clicked immediately.Arantxa Garcia: It just clicked immediately. So we darkened the wall. So we've kind of given that sort of grey background just to kind of creating more of like a cosy and shrinking the space. Paul Marden: But you. It pops the orange. Arantxa Garcia: Exactly. And the orange is everywhere. So, like, we've also changed the lighting, so it's a lot warmer. So again, that hint of orange. Yeah, orange on the back, orange on the miners on here. And then it comes also from the products. So the identity is there, but without going fully corporate, if that makes sense. That's the colour that you remember, isn't it? You've just been on the ground. All our guides and miners wear the orange overalls and the sort of, like the blue jackets over it, whether it's a donkey jacket in the winter or then they wear the soft shells as well. So, yeah, it's all those details, like those hints to the experience that kind of are embedded in the design. And these are regional as well. The drums are regional, all the flatbeds. Arantxa Garcia:  So the team here took the metal sides off and then sort of like left the skeleton of the drum, varnished it. And then our shop fitters aren't here. They did all the sort of the cladding using reclaimed scaffolding boards. But the original Drums would have been made out of wood. Paul Marden: Beautiful. It's so tactile, isn't it? Arantxa Garcia:  It's tactile. Again, we're looking at the DNA all the time. And shops can be more than just shops. Shops can tell stories. You just connect with it in a very different way. And just having the time the team on site involved has been absolutely incredible. Like the sense of pride and belonging and provenance that this kind of has awakened, it's been great. It's your job done really as a designer. When you just feel like everyone owns it, that's your job, that's when you can walk away. Paul Marden: What an amazing testimonial for you and the work that everyone feels like that. Anya, lovely to meet you. Tell me, what was your involvement in the project? Anya Kirkby: So I mainly focused on product development. So we looked at where we could get inspiration from the site and how we could translate that really from the site experience into the shop experience as well. Paul Marden: Okay, so you're coming, you're experiencing what's going on and then looking to the outside world as to how you can source your products. Where do you go for the inspiration for the products? Anya Kirkby: Working with the team a lot. So Amy was a huge help on guiding us on what things would be very useful for visitors, what they really enjoyed when they were on site, what were their key take home messages that they experienced. And then working with Amy and Tracey as well to look at what products people like when they're in the shop anyway and how we can kind of marry those two up. Paul Marden: So what is it that people like when they come to Big Pit? Anya Kirkby: Well, unsurprisingly, the mine, they enjoy the mines, the mining experience. So that was just something that we already had in the shop. So we just expanded on that more if possible. But then we've also taken inspiration from signage. So they already had the original Big Pit signage and we looked at that and kind of again expanded on it. So then we've kind of expanded that to signage that you find in some of the other exhibits. So up in the showers, for example, in the canteen, signage, some of the original pieces from collections. We then translated that into products. So you'll see we've got the designs across mugs, original little metal signs, moved that across to prints, notebooks, postcards. Paul Marden: You've been developing a lot of the products yourself, so bringing that kind of the unifying feel to everything. Anya Kirkby: Yeah. So along with product development and making all the kind of the new things that we can have it's just bringing across the branding through the AC brand really strongly across everything. It's got such a strong message that we may as well have that on as many products as we possibly can do. Paul Marden: And how much of the stuff is actually locally sourced? Anya Kirkby: Oh, it's huge amounts. And the exciting thing is after speaking to Amy, the things that she needs to reorder are the local suppliers, which is so nice. So a lot of the confectionery that's locally sourced candles, soap, the coal figures, the wooden spoons, chocolate boxes, the biscuit boxes. So as much as possible. And then we've worked with local suppliers as well to do photography, to do some of the signage, to do the original signwriting in the shop as well. So beyond products, we've looked at the POS points like elements of the shop as well. So thankfully we've used as many local spires as we possibly can. Paul Marden: You've enjoyed this project, haven't you? Anya Kirkby: I absolutely loved it, yeah. It's fantastic to see it's absolutely amazing. Paul Marden: Yeah. Anya Kirkby: So yeah, it's really special. Paul Marden: And then from here you springboard on to the other seven sites. How do you, how do you come up with the ideas then? Anya Kirkby: Exactly the same process. So working with the teams to find out what it is that visitors absolutely love about their sites and bringing that into the shop experience. So again I get very lucky. I get to go around a lot museums and experience it. Paul Marden: It's a tough job, isn't it?Anya Kirkby: It's tricky. But basically finding out what they love and bringing that through the really things that visitors take home with them anyway and just making it into a product that they can actually physically take a piece of the museum home with them as well. Paul Marden: It's great because there are some pocket money items here because I take kids on school visits and it's a very expensive experience. You know, if they catch take a fiver with them, often they can't get anything with a fiver but they can walk in and they've got pencils, they've got rubbers and they'll walk out happy with those little bits. But at the same time you've got some beautiful stuff that the grown ups can come and pick up and really enjoy. Anya Kirkby: It's the same as any museum visitor. You kind of have to look at who's going to be visiting. It's all types of people that come and just gauging it from that as well. So having an offer for everyone that they can enjoy. Someone said to me once that children for the first time. It's often their first time having a transaction monetary wise. Is that a museum on a school trip? So it's just lovely to kind of have something for them to experience that as well. Paul Marden: Never thought of it like that. They're out on their own. They're not with mum and dad. So they've got the money themselves and they've got to make the decision. So we are at. I took some kids to the science museum last year. Anya Kirkby: Oh. Paul Marden: And the amount of time we took in the shop because of the indecision that they had. Anya Kirkby: It's the indecision decision and then the queue of all them having a five pound note and having all the change come back or not having quite enough. But I think it's such an important. If you can't do that in a museum, where can you do it? Paul Marden: Guy. Hi. Guy Veale: Hi. Paul Marden: I just wanted to talk to you a little bit about what was your part of the project? Guy Veale: I was sound designer for the soundscape which we can't hear when everyone's chatting. Paul Marden: I can hear some birds in the background. Is that. Guy Veale: Is that canaries? Living canaries. Not dead gas. Paul Marden:  Coal mine canary. Guy Veale: So I did a little bit of research sort of towards the end of the project after lots of stuff had been built in, when they decided that some low level sound would be a good part of the experience. And looking at the brief and the shape of the room, the acoustics, a lot of this new ducting that's gone in that was not then easy to put cables into. We had to go for a wireless solution. Paul Marden:  Okay. Guy Veale: As part of that I found a Swedish company that had a system that creates its own network which is like a weird dream because normally you've got to go the IT guys and then something goes wrong and there's some sort of address problems or. Bluetooth is not always reliable. This has been a revolution just in terms of. Guy Veale: Don't if you can see them. There's little. They look like light fixtures that are centrally over these panels. Paul Marden: Oh right. Guy Veale: And they're quite. Paul Marden: Oh. And so they're speaking speakers pointing down onto the panel to separate it. So what. What. The other kind of sound pictures that you're painting. We've got the canary. What else have you got? Guy Veale: So the whole idea is that you're trying to represent the industrial heritage of the site and have as many authentic sounds from the site as possible. Paul Marden: Right. Guy Veale: So we've reused some of the really high quality recordings that also feature at different parts of the site already. Paul Marden: Yep. Guy Veale: But then, also sourced about another 70 or 80 sound from the BBC archive. Paul Marden: Oh, wow. Guy Veale: Paid for. And so. But if you think about those sounds, they're quite punctuated and aggressive. You think of any industrial sound and like chipping away or different tipples working. You know, the idea is that you don't want to surprise someone that while they're shopping and leaning over next to a speaker and hearing. So it needed to be softened in some way. And you know, traditionally the way I've done work is music and sound design is using different textures and tonal design and like a drone, I suppose, is this as a sort of basis that can be moving and organic, not totally static? Paul Marden: Yeah. Guy Veale:  And the idea was to sort of try and include fragments of relevant songs using the male voice choir.Paul Marden:  Really.Guy Veale: And we tried several things and I looked at it and I realised that you might catch someone coming in for five minutes here and they catch a snippet and it's all well and good for them, but the staff and you've got to hear this eight hours a day, every day, you know, four weeks, a month, so forth. So even just one little identifiable recurring melody starts to get too much, even on quite a long five. Paul Marden: Oh, really? Guy Veale: And I found that it wasn't sustainable. So I, in the end, I ended up using the. Almost like the vocal warm ups and breaths of the choir artificially extended out so they're not breathing, just this constant low level, breathy sort of expulsion. I mean, if went quiet now, we'd hear it as the. As a backdrop and it's embedded with a few other little musical elements that just sort of try and soften and support. I think of it like the vowels of the track and then the consonants. Paul Marden: Or the industrial chipping noises and the harsher noises. Guy Veale: So they're harsher but they're there and they're a bit removed and reverberate and in the background. Paul Marden: But it's really interesting how you describe it in that kind of. Using the metaphor of the letters. Guy Veale: Yeah, that's what it felt like. Just trying to find something that was like a vocabulary of work that has to tick so many different boxes, including like a therapeutic retail experience. People leaving the site with a sense of well being. Also like summarising what they've been through, not sort of projecting them out the door with, you know, a completely new thing or somewhere that they haven't been through yet. So, you know, fair few things to try and fit in there and, you know, hopefully it works and we'll see how things are in a year's time. Paul Marden: Yeah. Cath, the last point I wanted touch on before we finish today is oh my God, how happy everybody was at that event yesterday. How positive the experience was for all of the team members. What was for you the big standout moment for the entire project? Catherine Pinkerton: I mean, there's so many, Paul. But I think for me it's an opportunity to see what can be achieved when people collaborate. And I think, you know, joining the museum three years ago is really collaborating with lots of different departments to achieve something as a team.Catherine Pinkerton: Teamwork is absolutely the key to kind of success and I think you can only achieve that by having that really product professional kind of embodiment with all of the collaborative teams to work together for the same goal. And I, I was really proud yesterday that it took a lot of work, but actually without a team of 40 people as well as the wider organisation, it would not have been, it was no mean feat, but it was certainly wasn't just down to one person saying this is my project because it was a team effort. Catherine Pinkerton: And I was so proud of everybody that was there to kind of thank them along the way to say, this is, we've done this and now onwards and upwards. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. You should be so proud. It really was. Catherine Pinkerton: Thank you. Paul Marden:  It's a demonstration of what a museum gift shop experience can really be like when you work together like that, when you collaborate. So well done to all of you. It was such a lovely experience yesterday. Thank you for inviting me. Catherine Pinkerton: Thank you so much for coming, Paul. I appreciate it. Paul Marden: Before we go though, I always ask for a book recommendation from our guests. Now it would have bankrupted me to have asked everybody yesterday for book recommendations. So you have to take the responsibility of a recommendation on behalf of everybody. What have you got for me? Catherine Pinkerton: The secret for me is, you know, that that book seems to be. I always go back to that book very often and I think it's a key one for lots of areas. So that's definitely a takeaway for me. But the other one I'm reading at the moment called A Monk's Guide to Happiness. I'm not sure if you've had enough to read it. Yeah, it's a 21st century take on A Monk's Guide. It's written by Gelong Thubten and he had a very high powered job and he had a burnout and interestingly he changed his whole mindset in terms of what makes him happy and really making it quite basic. Right. Catherine Pinkerton: So it's a, it's a real eye opener in terms of just pulling things back sometimes, you know, at the end of the day, come on, let's just live life and be happy but, you know, not stress out about things. I'm quite easy to do that. So this is very much a. Just breathe, Kath, get through it. But it's a good one. If you want to just strip it back and just kind of understanding the basics of being happy, then, yeah, he's great. Paul Marden: Oh, Cath, that's a great recommendation. If you go over to Bluesky and repost the show message that Wenalyn put out and say, I want Kath's book, then the first person that does that will get a copy of the book sent to them. Kath, it was absolutely delightful. I enjoyed my day wandering around Big Pit yesterday no end. Given that half my family is from the valleys and most of them were miners, I feel like I should have done this a very long time ago. But it was lovely. And to enjoy the experience of the celebration that you had yesterday, it was a real privilege. So thank you. Catherine Pinkerton: Oh, huge privilege to have you there. Paul. Thank you so much. I'm really appreciative. Did you purchase? Paul Marden: I did purchase on my way out. Catherine Pinkerton: Yay. Great, great, great.Paul Marden: Deal. Catherine Pinkerton: Deal. Thank you so much. Paul Marden: So after my trip 90 metres down to the bottom of the mine shaft, where I of course couldn't take microphones, I'm now back up on the surface, microphones back in hand and enjoying myself, wandering around currently in the winding house, which is where all the machinery is for lifting the cages that 90 metres down to the bottom of the pit head. I've had an amazing day here at Big Pit. It's been so interesting to see this museum and to talk to many of the amazing staff that have taken part in this big project to redesign their gift shops. Highly recommend a day trip to Big Pit. Really has been very enjoyable, if for no other reason, to see that amazing new gift shop experience. Paul Marden: Now, as always, if you'd like a copy of Catherine's book, head over to Blue sky and repost the show notice that Wenalyn will post out and say, I want a copy of Catherine's book and the first person to do that will get that copy sent over to them. So all that remains for me to say is thank you to Catherine for inviting me here to Big Pit today. And I'll see you again soon. Take care. Bye Bye. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.  The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

In this episode, we chat with Krishan Gopaul, Senior Research Analyst at the World Gold Council, who are the authority on Gold. They explore the unique gold market and industry research, producing analysis, commentary, and insights on the precious metal to improve the understanding, access, and trust in the yellow metal. Krishan has been with the World Council for over 14 years and is here today to give us an update on their latest Gold Demands Trend report for the first quarter of this year, some of the main drivers of gold at the moment, investor demand, and the activities of the central banks, and more. KEY TAKEAWAYS In the first quarter of 2025, total gold demand increased by 1% to 1,206 tonnes, marking the highest first quarter of gold demand since 2016. Investment demand, particularly from gold ETFs, was a significant driver of this increase. The main drivers for gold demand included macroeconomic factors such as inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainties. Central banks continued to be a major source of demand, with ongoing purchases contributing to the overall support for gold prices. Retail investment in gold, particularly in bars and coins, saw a 3% year-on-year increase in the first quarter. This growth was driven by heightened uncertainty in the market, prompting both institutional and retail investors to seek gold as a safe haven asset. Central banks have been net buyers of gold since 2010, with significant purchases continuing into 2025. Emerging market central banks, such as those in Poland and China, were noted as key purchasers, maintaining a robust demand for gold. Jewellery demand faced pressure due to rising gold prices, with a 21% year-on-year decline in consumption. However, the value of gold jewellery sales increased by 40% year-on-year, indicating that consumers were spending more despite purchasing less volume, reflecting a shift towards viewing jewellery as an investment. BEST MOMENTS "We saw total gold demand in the first quarter up 1% to 1,206 tonnes, the highest first quarter of gold demand that we have seen since 2016." "In times of heightened uncertainty, gold tends to perform well; people see it as a safe haven asset." "Central banks have been net buyers of gold since 2010, and this trend is likely to persist." "Jewellery consumption was down 21% year on year, unsurprisingly given the rapid increase in price that we've seen." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GDT Q1 2025 Press Release: https://bit.ly/3YwykqH GDT Trends Q1 2025 Report: https://bit.ly/3ERvS7z GUEST SOCIALS https://www.gold.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishan-gopaul-32576114/ https://www.gold.org/goldhub/research/gold-demand-trends/gold-demand-trends-q1-2025 ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.

A better future for our planet means most people buying secondhand clothing most of the time. Right now we live in a “golden era” of shopping secondhand…if you're the customer! But the infrastructure as it exists right now for the people doing the work of finding, repairing, cleaning, and selling secondhand clothing needs a lot of improvement.  This week, Amanda is joined by Valeria Brenner of Thryft Ship to dissect how and why the current state of secondhand resale isn't equitable for the people doing the work:We will break down the reality of the fees that these platforms are charging (and how it makes running a financially sustainable business nearly impossible for secondhand resellers),We will talk about how the socially ingrained expectation of free shipping makes that even more difficult, And we will discuss how this system could be better! Maybe it will get some of you thinking about new tools and systems for the secondhand economy!Also, Valeria will explain why the secondhand reseller community is so amazing.Find Thryft Ship:IG: @thryftshipWebsite: thryftship.comRead Alex's Substack (1-800-Vintage) about why she no longer calls herself a resellerGet your Clotheshorse merch here: https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it's a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.worldDid you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/clotheshorseClotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at thepewterthimble.comSt. Evens is an NYC-based vintage shop that is dedicated to bringing you those special pieces you'll reach for again and again. More than just a store, St. Evens is dedicated to sharing the stories and history behind the garments. 10% of all sales are donated to a different charitable organization each month.  New vintage is released every Thursday at wearStEvens.com, with previews of new pieces and more brought to you on Instagram at @wear_st.evens.Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories that are sustainable, gender fluid, size inclusive and high quality--made to last for years to come. Deco Denim is trying to change the way you think about buying clothes. Founder Sarah Mattes wants to empower people to ask important questions like, “Where was this made? Was this garment made ethically? Is this fabric made of plastic? Can this garment be upcycled and if not, can it be recycled?” Signup at decodenim.com to receive $20 off your first purchase. They promise not to spam you and send out no more than 3 emails a month, with 2 of them surrounding education or a personal note from the Founder. Find them on Instagram as @deco.denim.Vagabond Vintage DTLV is a vintage clothing, accessories & decor reselling business based in Downtown Las Vegas. Not only do we sell in Las Vegas, but we are also located throughout resale markets in San Francisco as well as at a curated boutique called Lux and Ivy located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jessica, the founder & owner of Vagabond Vintage DTLV, recently opened the first IRL location located in the Arts District of Downtown Las Vegas on August 5th. The shop has a strong emphasis on 60s & 70s garments, single stitch tee shirts & dreamy loungewear. Follow them on instagram, @vagabondvintage.dtlv and keep an eye out for their website coming fall of 2022.Country Feedback is a mom & pop record shop in Tarboro, North Carolina. They specialize in used rock, country, and soul and offer affordable vintage clothing and housewares. Do you have used records you want to sell? Country Feedback wants to buy them! Find us on Instagram @countryfeedbackvintageandvinyl or head downeast and visit our brick and mortar. All are welcome at this inclusive and family-friendly record shop in the country!Located in Whistler, Canada, Velvet Underground is a "velvet jungle" full of vintage and second-hand clothes, plants, a vegan cafe and lots of rad products from other small sustainable businesses. Our mission is to create a brand and community dedicated to promoting self-expression, as well as educating and inspiring a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle both for the people and the planet.Find us on Instagram @shop_velvetunderground or online at www.shopvelvetunderground.comSelina Sanders, a social impact brand that specializes in up-cycled clothing, using only reclaimed, vintage or thrifted materials: from tea towels, linens, blankets and quilts.  Sustainably crafted in Los Angeles, each piece is designed to last in one's closet for generations to come.  Maximum Style; Minimal Carbon Footprint.Salt Hats:  purveyors of truly sustainable hats. Hand blocked, sewn and embellished in Detroit, Michigan.Republica Unicornia Yarns: Hand-Dyed Yarn and notions for the color-obsessed. Made with love and some swearing in fabulous Atlanta, Georgia by Head Yarn Wench Kathleen. Get ready for rainbows with a side of Giving A Damn! Republica Unicornia is all about making your own magic using small-batch, responsibly sourced, hand-dyed yarns and thoughtfully made notions. Slow fashion all the way down and discover the joy of creating your very own beautiful hand knit, crocheted, or woven pieces. Find us on Instagram @republica_unicornia_yarns and at www.republicaunicornia.com.Cute Little Ruin is an online shop dedicated to providing quality vintage and secondhand clothing, vinyl, and home items in a wide range of styles and price points.  If it's ethical and legal, we try to find a new home for it!  Vintage style with progressive ...

Today's slide deck: https://bit.ly/3Sn9Ook   - Today we discuss the US bearish case remaining intact as key resistance has held, signs that Palantir may finally be paying the price for its bubbly valuation, the latest rip in gold prices and drivers there, as well as in crude oil, the outlook for JPY,  an FOMC preview and outlook for Fed policy the rest of this year, the latest must reads and so much more. Today with Head of Commodity Strategy Ole Hansen and Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.   Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and SaxoStrats Market Strategy Team here. Please reach out to us at marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions. Click here to open an account with Saxo.

In the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis continue their conversation with retail media expert Andrew Lipsman, founder and chief analyst at Media, Ads and Commerce, exploring the evolution and future of retail media networks.The episode kicks off with an in-depth news segment covering significant economic developments. The hosts discuss the recent GDP drop in the US, which they note is primarily driven by increased imports and inventory buildup as retailers front-loaded inventory ahead of tariff implementations. They analyze the recent disconnect between poor consumer confidence numbers and actual retail spending patterns. The hosts also examine tech company earnings, with most reporting strong results except for Apple, which is facing challenges related to tariffs and China exposure. Apple's response to tariffs—shifting manufacturing to India and Vietnam rather than the US—highlights unintended consequences of the trade policies. The news segment concludes with a discussion of Amazon's earnings and the surprising termination of Kohl's CEO Ashley Buchanan over an improper vendor relationship.In the interview segment with Andrew Lipsman, the conversation centers on the mechanics of successful retail media networks and future trends. Lipsman explains his concept of the "retail media flywheel," noting that when this flywheel takes off, it produces exponential rather than linear growth. He emphasizes that while Amazon pioneered this approach, other retailers can build their own flywheels tailored to their specific assets.A significant portion of the discussion addresses concerns about whether retail media might compromise customer experience. Lipsman acknowledges this concern but believes it can be managed with thoughtful execution and relevant advertising. He points to Trader Joe's as an interesting counterexample—a retailer explicitly rejecting retail media to focus on merchandising excellence.For retailers considering or developing retail media networks, Lipsman advises realistic expectations, particularly for mid-size and smaller players who may benefit more from joining aggregated networks rather than building walled gardens. He cautions that many retailers overvalue their first-party data and underestimate what's needed to monetize it effectively.Looking to the future, Lipsman predicts that while on-site search advertising will continue to drive significant revenue, the big growth opportunities lie in streaming TV advertising and in-store media. He estimates in-store advertising represents a potential $20-40 billion opportunity, noting that physical stores account for about 5% of all media time spent but currently capture only 0.1% of ad spending. While acknowledging implementation challenges, he points to successful examples outside the US, particularly in the UK and Asia, as evidence of the model's viability. YouTube episode Photo by Nathan Cima on Unsplash Here is a 10% off code for the CommerceNext Growth Show exclusive to Remarkable Retail listeners: REMARKABLE. 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.

When Elon Musk stepped into the White House spotlight and brought his DOGE chainsaw, no one was better poised to cover the fallout than WIRED. The tech journalism outlet knew Musk's playbook from the get-go, from years of covering his companies and his takeover of Twitter. WIRED's Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond joins Rapid Response to take us inside Musk's transformative, head-spinning time at President Trump's side thus far. Drummond weighs the lasting impact of DOGE's efforts 100 days in, and says that even as Musk announces plans to step back from politics, we can still expect plenty more to come.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Operations. This is your April edition of the Retail Round-Up! In today's episode, we dive into the latest trends shaking up the retail media landscape, from AI-driven shopping innovations and Walmart's evolving media strategy to concerns about Prime Day restock limits and the ongoing impact of tariffs. The retail media space is moving fast, and there's no sign of slowing down. We're excited to welcome special first-time guest Shahrez Anjum, Senior Account Manager at Acadia, alongside our media expert and friend of the pod, Ross Walker, Director of Retail Media at Acadia. Tune in to stay ahead of the curve!   KEY TAKEAWAYS In this episode, Julie, Jordan, Ross, and Shahrez discuss: Amazon recently introduced two major AI-driven features that signal a fundamental shift in how product discovery and shopping journeys will operate: Interests AI and Buy for Me. Interests AI is a product discovery tool that allows Amazon shoppers to enter detailed prompts reflecting their hobbies and passions.  Buy for Me, currently in beta, uses agentic AI to place orders on third-party brand websites directly from the Amazon app. Amazon has introduced tighter control over off-site placements, which allows advertisers to manage their spend on external platforms more effectively. Walmart has made two significant updates to its media offering through Walmart Connect, adding Vizio inventory for media buying and the ability to do advanced targeting for on-site display ads.  Amazon has made significant strides in simplifying and enhancing how advertisers can interact with its audience targeting capabilities, particularly by integrating AMC (Amazon Marketing Cloud) audiences into its ad console. Native Bid Boosters: Amazon is making it easier for advertisers to access and use audience segments directly within the ad console. The ongoing discussions around tariffs and their potential impact on retail prices have become a recurring topic in the e-commerce space, especially in relation to Amazon. As Prime Day approaches, concerns about restock limits and potential supply chain challenges are rising. In particular, there are indications that Amazon may reintroduce restock limits, a measure previously used to manage inventory flow.

In this episode, Kris Sidial joins Jack Forehand and Brent Kochuba to break down the mechanics of tail risk hedging, why most volatility strategies fail, and how his team approaches dislocations in the market. We explore what's really driving volatility behind the scenes, the evolving market structure, and why the current environment may be far more precarious than it appears. If you've ever wondered how professional vol traders monetize chaos—or why volatility can stick around far longer than people expect—this episode is for you.Topics Covered:What tail risk funds are and why many of them underperformHow to build a long volatility strategy that doesn't bleed capitalWhy rebalancing is a critical component of portfolio resilienceLiquidity fragility and how it amplifies market movesRetail's role in the latest rally and the fading institutional bidStructural risks created by passive flows and policy shiftsMonetizing volatility spikesThe psychological traps that lead to poor volatility trading decisionsWhy volatility might stay elevated for far longer than most expect

Retail analyst Kristin Bentz joins the show to discuss the marketing strategies companys are using to attract customers amid tariff uncertainity. 

From Restaurant Owner to Tea Entrepreneur with Nicole KeatsJoin hosts Phil and Kenny as they sit down with Nicole Keating, founder of The Newfoundland Tea Company. In this candid and energetic conversation, Nicole shares her remarkable journey from running a fine-dining bistro in Gander to building a premium organic tea brand that's rapidly expanding beyond Newfoundland's shores.Nicole opens up about weathering personal and professional challenges—including a divorce, health struggles, and the devastating impact of the pandemic on her restaurant business—before finding unexpected success in the tea industry. Learn how her distinctive moose logo came to be, why premium tea is finding its market in a coffee-dominated world, and the creative ways she's incorporated tea into everything from cocktails to merchandise.This episode showcases an entrepreneur whose resilience, gut instincts, and commitment to quality have helped her navigate career transitions while staying true to her roots. Whether you're a tea lover, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply enjoy stories of reinvention, Nicole's authentic and spirited take on building a business from the heart offers inspiration and practical insights for the commerce life. check out Nicole's product here: https://www.thenewfoundlandteaco.com/Find Nicole here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-keats-084444266/Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/ 

On this episode of Rethink Retail, host Matt Muller sits down with John Beasley of Home Delivery World and Leena Nunez of the Last Mile Retail Awards to explore the future of last mile innovation

In this episode, Catherine LoPresti, VP of Professional Revenue Cycle Operations at Hackensack Meridian Health, shares how her time at Walmart Connect reshaped her approach to healthcare operations, from leveraging real-time data to empowering physicians and driving patient-centered innovation.

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode of the Work at Home Rockstar Podcast, Tim Melanson chats with Katie O'Malley, Executive Coach and Founder of (en)Courage Coaching. Katie opens up about her leap from higher education into full-time entrepreneurship, the power of self-compassion, and the invisible forces that challenge leadership. From launching her business at 40 to giving a TEDx talk, Katie brings actionable wisdom for anyone striving to build a purposeful and flexible work-from-home life. Who is Katie O'Malley? Katie O'Malley is an Executive Coach and Leadership Educator with twenty years of experience in nonprofit, education, and corporate spaces. She founded (en)Courage Coaching to make leadership and career development more accessible and empowering. Her work is recognized by Fast Company and Thrive Global, and she's spoken at SHRM, Women in Retail, and TEDx Boston. Connect with Katie O'Malley: Website: https://encouragecoaching.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/encouragecoachchicago/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ENCOURAGECOACHCHICAGO LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateomalley/ Host Contact Details: Website: https://workathomerockstar.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workathomerockstar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workathomerockstar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmelanson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkAtHomeRockStarPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/workathomestar Email: tim@workathomerockstar.com In this Episode: 00:33 – Katie shares her journey from higher ed to launching her coaching business 04:24 – Authentic client relationships and how she avoids “salesy” pressure 07:45 – A leadership failure and what it taught her about accountability 12:31 – How she managed stress after an attempted break-in 18:37 – Her morning routine for energy, clarity, and balance 20:44 – Why self-compassion is critical for sustainable success 24:36 – Her take on modern leadership and freedom in the workplace 30:24 – The TEDx talk: how it came to be and what it's about 34:47 – Katie reveals her favorite rockstar and her music influences

   With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   In This Episode:  Can couples successfully run a retail shop together? Absolutely! From a flash of inspiration on a trip to London to creating a beloved community hub in Thomasville, Georgia; Amy and Chris Hart join me on the Creative Shop Talk Podcast to share how passion, teamwork, and a little bit of "what's our widget?" can turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Amy and Chris own The Hare and the Hart, a boutique inspired by the couple's time in the Cotswolds. They describe the shop as “English at heart with a Southern sensibility and a French twist.” Amy is an active member of the Retailer's Inner Circle and has been in the Level Up Mastermind for almost 5 years running. This episode is packed with tips for independent retailers, especially those working together as a couple. From finding your niche, connecting with your community, and navigating the ups and downs of retail life together, Amy and Chris are an inspiration to all aspiring retail shop owners. Takeaways for Retail Shop Owners: Finding your "widget": Identify your unique product (like Amy's Toile designs) Involving family: Amy and Chris have incredibly talented family members who showcase unique products in their shop.   Defining Roles: The importance of defining roles and communicating them clearly.    Build your community: Make it a point to connect with members of your community. Featuring local artisans in your shop is a good way to do that. Overcoming challenges: Amy and Chris know when their slow season is and have come up with ways to draw customers in and also keep their minds right knowing things do pick up.   Chris's Advice : "Don't give up your dream to somebody else.”  Listen in for more thoughts on what Chris and Amy could have done differently if they could rewind 7 years. “Don't give up your dream to somebody else.” -Chris Hart Need more? Join me and our supportive community of retailers in my Retailer's Inner Circle! There is so much to love about the Inner Circle: access to countless masterclasses on everything from inventory management to money matters, a supportive community of like-minded retailers to bounce ideas off of, a monthly playbook to track your progress and help you plan your events and promotions, and so much more. Check it out HERE.   Not ready to join but want to purchase the stand-alone Foot Traffic Made Simple masterclass? You can purchase it on demand HERE.   About Amy and Chris: Sweethearts since college, Amy and Chris Hart chose Thomasville, Georgia, as their adopted hometown in 2018 after many adventures. The Hare & The Hart is their shop in the beautiful, historic downtown, offering gifts and goods that are English at heart with a Southern sensibility & a French twist. They adore celebrating the beauty of the places people love, embellishing the spaces surrounding them, and sharing in the extraordinary joy of the everyday. Their family takes part by designing collections, including Amy's Toile of Thomasville. They are pleased to carry local artisans, along with those discovered on and inspired by their travels. Amy and Chris continue their adventures in a wibbly, wobbly 1850s house just blocks from the shop with their Labrador named Rugby.   Related podcasts we think you'll like:  Episode 78: Learning to Level Up with Amy Hart Episode 127: Level Up Mastermind Q+A: Invest in Yourself Episode 256: Retailers in the Wild: Elevate Your Retail Shop Using These Observations From My Time in New Zealand About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven't met yet, I'm Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer's Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.  Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I've helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer's Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.  I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers. When I'm not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I'd love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/    For more support from Wendy   Retailer's Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer's community Free resources for shop owners   Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG    All of Wendy's programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.  Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you're not, I'd love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes! If you want to be more of a rockstar, I'd love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

John is a Stanford guy, but not Wall Street. He has spent his entire career in the real world solving the biggest problems facing the largest companies.Problems like how to win, grow sales, and improve the stock price. He has driven value across diverse industries: Consulting, Technology, Industrial, Retail, and Transportation. But he no longer works for McKinsey, HP, Exxon, AutoZone or GM. Now he works for you!And he applies that problem-solving, creativity, and corporate background to decide how to best invest your assets. It would be his honor if people would consider him a money manager.On a personal note, he is married with 3 children. He is the 7th of 9 children in an extended family where everyone still gets along. They were raised by faithful parents who taught strong values, including that they are all part of a greater family of brothers and sisters. He served a 2-year full-time mission in the Netherlands & Belgium to help share that message.Learn more: http://www.stellar-assets.com/Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-john-wright-cfa-chief-investment-officer-of-stellar-assets-discussing-managing-market-risk

  Hey, hey, hey – welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! This season, we're talking all about rookie mistakes and real talk – the stuff that's keeping so many talented designers stuck. And today? We're hitting a big one: shopping retail. Yep. I'm talking about that habit of ordering from Pottery Barn, HomeGoods, or West Elm, skipping your trade vendors, and sending clients links instead of curated presentations. Sound familiar? I get it. I've been there myself—and I've coached hundreds of designers who've struggled with the same thing. Whether it's the fear of clients balking at markups, the desire to be “helpful,” or the looming fear of liability… retail feels like the easy button. But babe—it's not. It's costing you big time. What I cover in this episode: Why retail shopping chips away at your profits, your positioning, and your authority How sending links is training your clients to bypass you Why markup is NOT a dirty word (and how to confidently talk about profit) Real talk from a designer named Lindsay who learned this the hard way The difference between being a personal shopper vs. a professional designer How to shift your business model so sourcing becomes a strength—not a stressor The mindset shift that leads to a more profitable, scalable, and luxury-level business Here's the truth: when you rely on retail, you lose control—of the quality, of the client experience, and of your income. Your design becomes replicable. Your service looks DIY. And your value? Flattened. But when you embrace trade sourcing, you gain back authority, margin, and process. And yes, you can absolutely educate your clients about it without apologizing. So ask yourself: where are you defaulting to retail out of fear or convenience? And what would shift—financially, creatively, emotionally—if you trusted yourself to lead like a CEO?   You're not selling stuff. You're selling an experience. A transformation. A feeling when someone walks into a room and says “Wow.” And that? That's worth protecting. Podcast Website and Resources: Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery   Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business. Stay in touch with Michelle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/  Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad  Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact   A Podcast Launch Bestie production