Podcasts about Retail

For the last two decades, marketers have lived by the decisions one company has made and the experience customers have with that company's search bar (and in many cases, browser). But what happens when Google is dethroned by an AI? Agility requires not just adapting to new channels, but fundamentally rethinking the entire customer discovery journey when the rules are rewritten overnight. It's about moving from optimizing for keywords to influencing AI-driven conversations. Today, we're going to talk about the rise of AI browsers and Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO. Whether it's using ChatGPT or Perplexity to search the web or with tools like OpenAI's Atlas browser, we're seeing a convergence of search, shopping, and conversation that could fundamentally change how brands are discovered, evaluated, and purchased, creating a new battleground for customer data and attention. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Imri Marcus, CEO and Co-Founder at Brandlight. About Imri Marcus Imri Marcus is the CEO and Co-Founder of Brandlight AI, the strategic data and influence partner for Fortune 500 enterprises navigating the shift to AI-driven consumer discovery. A serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits in the media and AI sectors, Imri is now focused on empowering the world's leading brands to own their narrative in this new, zero-sum marketing channel. Imri earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Reichman University and splits his time between Tel Aviv and New York.,Yes,This will be completed shortly Imri Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imri-marcus-89074a79 Resources Brandlight: https://www.brandlight.ai/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://ratethispodcast.com/agileConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Survival *is* political. This week -- for the first episode of 2026 -- Amanda is joined by Lisa Sharp, aka Retro Housewife Goes Green.  Lisa shares her own experiences becoming activated politically. In this episode, we will discuss the following:What inspired Lisa to leave the Republican party in 2012How Lisa avoided the "trad wife pipeline"How she is inspired by the resistance of women and children in France, Germany, and Poland...and how we can be inspired by history todayHow we can make a difference and show up for our communitiesWhere Lisa finds hope nowAnd more!Find Lisa on Instagram and Threads.Retro Housewife Goes Green (website)Get 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:Slow Fashion Academy is a size-inclusive sewing and patternmaking studio based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designer and fashion professor Ruby Gertz teaches workshops for hobbyists and aspiring designers, so that anyone can learn the foundational skills of making, mending, and altering their own clothes. Ruby also provides professional design and patternmaking services to emerging slow fashion brands, and occasionally takes commissions for custom garments and costume pieces. She has also released several PDF sewing patterns for original designs under her brands Spokes & Stitches, and Starling Petite Plus. Check the schedule for upcoming workshops, download PDF sewing patterns, and learn about additional sewing and design services at www.slowfashion.academy.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.Selina 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.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 values.  Find us on Instagram at @CuteLittleRuin.

When 62% of your customers are making decisions based on deals and discounts, is investing in premium customer experience a luxury you can still afford, or is it the only thing that can actually save you? Agility requires brands to move beyond seasonal planning and into a state of continuous listening. It's about having the insight and infrastructure to pivot your customer experience strategy in real-time based on economic signals and shifting consumer priorities. Today, we're going to talk about decoding the often-conflicting signals consumers sent during the last holiday season. Five9 posted some of their findings in a report that we'll link out to in the show notes. We'll explore how deep-seated economic pressures are reshaping shopping habits, and how AI is moving from a back-office tool to a front-line differentiator that can deliver both the savings customers crave and the experiences that build loyalty. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Jenn Edwards, VP of Customer Experience at Five9. About Jenn Edwards Jenn Edwards is an accomplished professional in customer experience and marketing, currently serving as the VP of Customer Experience at Five9. With a robust background that includes roles such as Marketing and Customer Experience Advisor at JME Consulting and Co-Founder of Community Art Collaborative, Jennifer has demonstrated strong leadership and innovative thinking. Previously, Jennifer held the position of Americas Field Marketing Leader at Cisco and served as VP Global Demand at WalkMe™. Educationally, Jennifer holds a Master of Science in Telecommunications Management from UCL and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing/International Business from Manhattan College. Jenn Edwards on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermaciveredwards/ Resources Five9: https://www.five9.com/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://ratethispodcast.com/agileConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

In this episode of the Produce Industry Podcast, Patrick Kelly sits down with Jeff Cady, Vice President of Procurement for Tops, to discuss retail sourcing, supplier relationships, and today's produce market challenges. Jeff shares insights on procurement strategy, leadership, and what it takes to succeed as a retail partner in an evolving industry.

Pool Pros text questions hereIn this episode of Mondays Down Under on the Talking Pools podcast, host Lee, along with Shane from Pukka Pools and industry veteran Peter Legaz, delve into the intricacies of transitioning from service-based businesses to retail in the pool industry. They share personal anecdotes about their journeys, highlighting the natural progression many businesses experience as they expand their service offerings. Lee recounts her unexpected entry into the pool industry, initially starting as a mobile service provider before successfully branching into retail. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs, building strong supplier relationships, and managing data effectively to ensure a smooth transition and sustainable growth.The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of the pool industry, with insights into how businesses can adapt to changing market demands. The trio discusses the significance of data management, the challenges of staffing, and the potential for growth through diversification. They encourage listeners to view the pool and spa industry as a long-term career path, filled with opportunities for professional development and innovation. Overall, the episode serves as a valuable resource for those looking to navigate the complexities of business transitions within the pool sector.Keywordspool industry, business transition, retail, service business, data management, customer needs, staffing challenges, career opportunities, pool maintenance, entrepreneurshipTakeaways"Moving from a service business to retail is a natural progression.""Data is the most valuable part of your business.""You should feel comfortable asking for the right advice.""The pool and spa industry is a long-term career, not just a short-term job.""It's important to have the right systems in place to avoid theft and mismanagement.""Building strong relationships with suppliers can help your business thrive.""Many pool builders are starting maintenance companies to capture recurring revenue.""The job of a service technician is multifaceted and often undervalued.""Good service is what customers want, not just the lowest price.""You need to sell the industry as a career to attract new talent."Sound bites"Moving from a service business to retail is a natural progression.""Data is the most valuable part of your business.""The pool and spa industry is a long-term career, not just a short-term job."Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests01:02 Transitioning from Service to Retail03:28 Personal Journeys in the Pool Industry05:42 The Importance of Data Management10:49 Challenges in Staffing and Business Operations18:53 The Evolving Landscape of Pool Maintenance26:07 The Multi BufferZoneBufferZone has been created by a frustrated pool maintenance companyThe Pool Shop Coachan online store offering industry-specific business mentoring, coaching, and training programs Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: Facebook Instagram Tik Tok Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

It's the beginning of the year, and for independent retailers, knowing what consumers are buying is half the battle. In this episode of Rooted in Retail, Crystal Vilkaitis sits down with Anjarae Hamilton, Head of Retailer Sales and Account Management at FAIRE, to break down the highly anticipated 2026 Faire Forecast.Anjarae reveals the four major data-backed trends shaping consumer behavior this year, all centered around the theme of "self-expression". From the rise of "Well-Read" retreats to the maximalism of "More is More," this conversation provides a roadmap for what to stock to stay relevant. Beyond the trends, Anjarae shares crucial strategies for staying profitable amidst economic uncertainty, the importance of agility in buying, and how FAIRE is leveraging AI to simplify the search process.This episode is your ultimate guide to a successful year.[2:19] Anjarae's journey from small-town Tennessee to leading sales at FAIRE[4:43] The 2026 Forecast theme: Investing in the truest self[5:56] Trend 1: Well-Read—Why books and reading retreats are booming[6:00] Trend 2: Fanfare—Preparing for the Olympics and World Cup watch parties [7:08] Trend 3: More is More—The return of maximalism and bold prints [8:50] Trend 4: Witching Hour—Magic, manifestation, and astrology[14:53] How successful retailers are adjusting buying habits to stay profitable[18:08] Using AI and Natural Language Search to find the perfect inventory [22:25] The "iTunes model" of wholesale: Testing consolidated shipping [23:44] FAIRE Direct: How to get commission-free orders with existing brand relationships [26:12] "Point of Slay": Saving time with POS integrations Join the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch! Go to http://indera.co/prompt to access the prompt

Season 5, Episode 2: In this episode of Season 5, Jack and Alex sit down with David Auerbach, CIO at Hoya Capital and a leading REIT strategist known for his deep read on public real estate markets. David explains the current state of REITs, where valuations stand, which sectors are positioned for recovery, and how capital is behaving differently across public vs. private markets. He highlights key themes shaping 2025–26, including liquidity pressures, balance sheet strength, and the growing gap between winners and laggards. David also shares what investors often overlook and how to read the signals that matter. A must-listen for anyone watching the REIT landscape closely. Shoutout to our sponsor, Bracket. The AI platform transforming how we underwrite deals. TOPICS 00:00 – Introduction 03:02 – Data Centers, Cell Towers, and Misunderstood REIT Sectors 05:02 – Media Narratives vs. Real REIT Fundamentals 07:03 – Why REITs Stay Cheap: Sentiment, Rates, and Risk Appetite 11:28 – The REIT Dividend Machine and Long-Term Compounding 17:01 – SL Green Case Study and Smart-Money Office Signals 22:40 – Sector Deep Dive: VICI, Vegas, Retail, and Data Centers 25:21 – NAV Discounts, M&A Activity, and REIT Consolidation 33:26 – Housing Crisis, SFR Growth, and Multifamily Cap Rates 43:18 – Mortgage REITs, Preferreds, and Signs of Market Turnaround For more episodes of No Cap by CRE Daily visit https://www.credaily.com/podcast/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoCapCREDaily About No Cap Podcast Commercial real estate is a $20 trillion industry and a force that shapes America's economic fabric and culture. No Cap by CRE Daily is the commercial real estate podcast that gives you an unfiltered ”No Cap” look into the industry's biggest trends and the money game behind them. Each week co-hosts Jack Stone and Alex Gornik break down the latest headlines with some of the most influential and entertaining figures in commercial real estate. About CRE Daily  CRE Daily is a digital media company covering the business of commercial real estate. Our mission is to empower professionals with the knowledge they need to make smarter decisions and do more business. We do this through our flagship newsletter (CRE Daily) which is read by 65,000+ investors, developers, brokers, and business leaders across the country. Our smart brevity format combined with need-to-know trends has made us one of the fastest growing media brands in commercial real estate.

ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN INDICATORS AND SECRECY AT THE WHITE HOUSE Colleague Jim McTague, Former Washington Editor of Barron's. Jim McTague observes unusually light traffic and retail activity in Washington, D.C. and Lancaster, signaling a potential economic slowdown. He notes blocked views of White House construction and predicts a recession driven by rising state taxes and the depletion of pandemic-era stimulus funds for local governments. NUMBER 161835

ABOUT JENNIFER:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejenniferwalsh/ Websites:https://www.walkwithwalsh.comBio:For nearly 30 years, Jennifer has been at the forefront of transformative movements in beauty, retail, & biophilic design. As a consummate innovator, she has been dedicated to reimagining the human experience, whether through pioneering retail concepts, creating immersive outdoor experiences, or driving biophilic design solutions across industries.In the 1990s, Jennifer founded Beauty Bar, the first experiential omni-channel beauty brand in the U.S., introducing open-sell environments, curbside service, and men's skincare departments, concepts that reshaped how people shop for beauty. This trailblazing work integrated biophilic principles long before they became mainstream, earning recognition as an industry innovator. After selling Beauty Bar ultimately purchased by Amazon in 2011, she continued to build groundbreaking businesses and brands, always staying ahead of the curve. Another first was created in 2014 with Pride & Glory, a collegiate beauty brand. Today, she guides large and small scale biophilic design projects to create spaces that promote human flourishing. From Recharge Rooms to retail spaces, homes, schools, and urban landscapes, her work transforms environments into ecosystems of opportunity. All inspired from lived experiences. Jennifer helps organizations leverage the neuroscience of nature to enhance experiences, foster resilience, and build deeper connections within their organizations.SHOW INTRO:Welcome to Episode 84! of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast…In every episode we follow our catch phrase of having “Dynamic Dialogues About DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts.” And as we continue on this journey, we'll have guests that are thought provoking futurists, AI technology mavens, retailers, international hotel design executives as well as designers and architects of brand experience places.We'll talk with authors and people focused on wellness and sustainable design practices as well as neuroscientists who will continue to help us look at the built environment and the connections betw een our mind-body and the built world around us.We'll also have guests who are creative marketing masters from international brands and people who have started and grown some of the companies that are striking a new path for us follow.If you like what you hear on the NXTLVL Experience Design show, make sure to subscribe, like, comment and share with colleagues, friends and family.The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is always grateful for the support of VMSD magazine.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. I think the IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing us to keep on talking about what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience. SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.org Today, EPISODE 84… I talk with Jennifer Walsh who for nearly 30 years, has been at the forefront of transformative movements in beauty, retail, & biophilic design. Jennifer is an innovator, and has been dedicated to reimagining the human experience, whether through pioneering retail concepts, creating immersive outdoor experiences, or driving biophilic design solutions across industries.Talking about biophilic design isn't new on the podcast, this time though we bolt on retailing, neuroscience and experience. This conversation is more introspective and looks at one's motivation to change to considering our environments and biophilic design from the point of view of sense of well-being and personal growth.We'll get there in a minute but... first a few thoughts…*                     *                          *                          *If you go back to the early episodes of the podcast, you'll come across Bill Browning. Bill and I connected while I was working the hospitality industry and focusing my efforts on the redesign of the Westin guestroom and lobby design strategy.Bill's world is Biophilic – both literally and philosophically, may be even existentially. He literally wrote the book on Biophilic Design's 14 principles, which now includes a 15th with the addition of ‘Awe,' and he has written a more recent publication with Katie Ryan called “Nature Inside,” it is a terrific handbook to implementing Biophilic design principles in built environments.I think a lot about the design of places where nature has been completely eliminated - think major downtown cities in any corner of the world.It is also not lost on me that when I sit working in my Home Office I have the extraordinarily good fortune to lookout on 2 1/2 acres of green space with a rolling hill down towards a creek that when it rains particularly hard overflows and becomes a small river in my backyard. But this point of view to my backyard and the way I feel sitting on my deck having a morning coffee is not just about the warm feeling of my cup in my hands but that there are key principles of biophilic design at play - namely refuge and prospect. Being exposed daily to these perspectives towards a forest at the back of my property I have an immediate body sense of calm, wonder and awe.I see sun rises to the left of my property and sun sets to the right. The re are Canada geese that, like clockwork, fly over my backyard every fall as they migrate South. I'm attuned to the textures and colors of the sky and the varying degrees of light intensity - bright and brilliant and dreary and diffused.All of these features of a natural world have the effect of putting me at ease.In the past few years, I've begun to connect that mind body experience, the somatic experience of natural places, with what I understand about neuroscience and our long evolutionary history of living the largest proportion of our human development among trees - in a real jungle versus the concrete ones that we have now built all around us.It's no surprise that the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku – forest bathing – is actually therapeutic. When we immerse ourselves in a forest atmosphere, using all five senses to connect with nature, we are promoting stress reduction and well-being. Slowing down, and taking mindful walks, appreciating sights, sounds, and smells is so good for us and yet many of us, especially those who are city dwellers, rush from place to place making sure to stay on the clock moving from one appointment to the next and filling our schedules every day with a mind-numbing number of things to check off on our To Do List Taking a moment to disconnect from technology calms the mind and body and has proven benefits like lower stress hormones and boosting immunity.The multi layered, highly textured and colored natural environments that we have evolved from, are often being replaced by environments of banality that actually have deep psychological effects when we are continually exposed to boring buildings.Bringing this intuitive sense, that natural environments support well-being, into the design of built environments, and intentionally creating places that reference biophilic principles, often proves very hard to do in a world where efficiency and productivity leading to increased profitability are what we are taught to drive towards as a reflection of success.Many times, adding plants to a space is an afterthought, like decoration, to make things look better - but they are not really being incorporated as a strategy for building environments to enhance well-being. Interestingly though, when people learn more about how to apply biophilic principles, beyond simply introducing plants as a nod to creating more nature-based experiences, they begin to also understand that their assumptions about adding additional cost may not be well founded. If you consider designing with nature in mind from the get-go, incorporating principles of biophilic design in the places we build as part of the strategy, then managing the costs is totally achievable.Anthropologie stores are a great example of introducing living green walls to their stores. Too be sure, these are not without expense both in their implementation and maintenance but the effect of walking up the grand staircase with this green wall rising from floor to ceiling across multiple levels feels wonderful. I still remember one of my first experiences in the Anthropologie store on Regent Street in London and have since sought to find similar experiences in other retail stores around the world. Design ideas like the green walls in Anthropologie stores is a conscious, intentional, move that enhances experience as well as environmental air quality. We simply feel better when we were places like this and if that turns into reduced absenteeism of associates or increased customer visits then… all the better. There's no question that being under a wash of fluorescent light standing on hard surfaces or sitting in cubicles is perhaps one of the worst ways to be productive and happy in our workplaces. I would imagine that sales associates in Anthropologie stores generally feel better than in big boxes with uniform high intensity lighting, relentless aisles of merchandise, hard surfaces and stale air with no natural sunlight.Full disclosure, when I look back over my career of designing retail places, very infrequently has the design team spent time considering what it would be like to be a sales associate in one of these places. Standing for hours on end in environments that are depleting leads to poor interactions between sales teams and customers. Seems kind of obvious but when people feel better in their workplaces, they're more likely to translate that to positive interactions with guests. More positive interactions with guests could naturally lead to larger basket size and increased number of return visits. All good if you're a retailerAnd yet, we seldom see retail places that fully embrace ideas that support well-being through the strategic introduction of biophilic design principles.New disciplines in the world of neuroscience like neuroaesthetics are beginning to be more widely accepted in the design community and there is a broader recognition about the positive effects of creating environments that apply principles of biophilia that enhance a sense of well-being. And while there is a growing trend of wider adoption of neuroaesthetics we need to keep on beating the drum about environments that are actually good for us.This is where the story leads to my guest Jennifer Walsh.In the 1990s, Jennifer founded Beauty Bar, the first experiential omni-channel beauty brand in the U.S., introducing open-sell environments, curbside service, and men's skincare departments - concepts that reshaped how people shop for beauty. Jennifer says that she just wanted people to feel good when they came into her store and she somehow intuitively knew that introducing elements of biophilia, though I'm not sure that we actually even had a name for it back then, into her store, would attract people, have them stay longer and return more often.Jennifer's integration of biophilic principles, long before they became mainstream, earned her recognition as an industry innovator. After Beauty Bar was ultimately purchased by Amazon in 2011, she continued to build groundbreaking businesses and brands, always staying ahead of the curve.Today, she guides large and small scale biophilic design projects to create spaces that promote human flourishing. In retail spaces, homes, schools, and urban landscapes, her work transforms environments into ecosystems of opportunity. All inspired from lived experiences. Jennifer helps organizations leverage the neuroscience of nature to enhance experiences, foster resilience, and build deeper connections within their organizations.ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites: https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comTwitter: DavidKepronPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron the Retail Studio Principal for the architecture and design firm Little (https://www.littleonline.com). He is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore.  In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. I caught up with Bryan at the SHOP Marketplace event in Charlotte and chatted about his focus on shaping what comes next in digital signage and experiential design. The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production is by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.

In this episode of the AI for Sales podcast, host Chad Burmeister speaks with Sid Bonatou, founder and CEO of Aira, a personal shopping AI that learns user preferences to enhance the shopping experience. They discuss how AI is transforming customer experiences, the importance of aligning business models with consumer interests, and the ethical considerations surrounding data privacy. Sid shares insights on the future of AI in shopping, the misconceptions about AI, and the skills sales professionals need in this evolving landscape. Takeaways Aira is a personal shopping AI that learns user preferences. AI is transforming shopping from a fragmented experience to a continuous one. The incentive model should align with consumer interests, not advertisers. Memory is crucial for enhancing user experience in shopping. Aira's AI companions will help users find the best deals and products. Ethics in AI revolves around transparency and consumer privacy. Sales professionals need to focus on understanding customer problems. Automation should enhance personalization in the shopping experience. Emerging AI technologies are reshaping consumer interactions. The future of shopping will prioritize user trust and data protection. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Aira and Its Vision 02:32 Transforming Customer Experience with AI 07:15 Case Studies and Success Stories 08:18 Understanding AIRA: The Meaning Behind the Name 09:44 Market Trends and Business Models 11:39 AI Misconceptions and Innovations 14:37 Balancing Automation with Personal Touch 16:57 Emerging AI Technologies 19:07 Ethics in AI 22:02 Skills for Sales Professionals in the AI Era 23:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The AI for Sales Podcast is brought to you by BDR.ai, Nooks.ai, and ZoomInfo—the go-to-market intelligence platform that accelerates revenue growth. Skip the forms and website hunting—Chad will connect you directly with the right person at any of these companies.

Retail Media Networks are generating billions of dollars, but not all brands benefiting from them equally. Agility requires more than just shifting budgets to the newest channel; it demands a fundamental rethinking of how internal teams collaborate and how technology is applied to the unique environment of retail. Today, we're going to talk about the nuanced reality of Retail Media Networks. They represent one of the biggest shifts in marketing, but many brands are finding that the playbook from traditional digital advertising doesn't quite translate. We'll explore why simply plugging in programmatic tools isn't the silver bullet it's promised to be, how to navigate the internal budget battles between trade and media teams, and what it really takes for AI to deliver on its potential in a retail context. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Dave Simon, President of In-Store Marketplace at ISM. About Dave Simon David Simon, EVP of Advertising for Mood Media and President of Vibenomics and In-Store Marketplace (ISM), is a seasoned ad tech executive with extensive experience driving programmatic advertising growth across mobile app, CTV and web platforms. As former Chief Revenue Officer at Fyber, he led the mobile app ad monetization platform from $100 million to $500 million in revenue before its acquisition by Digital Turbine. His career spans leadership positions at Moloco, Jounce Media, Verizon Media, Vidible (acquired by AOL), Turn, Right Media and Yahoo. Simon specializes in programmatic strategy, marketplace development and bridging supply-demand gaps in retail media advertising. Dave Simon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjsimon/ Resources ISM: https://instoremarketplace.com/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://ratethispodcast.com/agileConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Fresh from the Javits Center, Phillip, Brian, and Alicia unpack NRF 2026's dominant themes, from AI's omnipresence to its curiously low adoption among the very professionals championing it. The conversation moves beyond technology theater to explore what truly drives commerce: cultural connection, intentional brand heritage, and multiplayer engagement that treats customers as collaborators rather than data points.2026 Brought Us An AI Wake-Up CallKey Takeaways:AI saturation at NRF contrasts sharply with minimal executive adoptionSuccessful AI integration preserves brand heritage rather than replacing itMultiplayer brand engagement becomes reality through tools like Taco Bell's Fan StyleplatformAnalog intimacy resurfaces as consumers fight against  digital fatigue"Who here has used AI to search for a product that you would like to buy? Not a single hand went up. Three out of 300 people had used ChatGPT to search for anything." — Phillip"The point isn't the technology. The point is building a memorable experience that connects people to people." — Brian (referencing Taco Bell's Dane Matthews)"How do you take a brand that is as beloved and known for being a merchant and design-led company and use technology in a way to just add to it and not try to over modernize it?" — Alicia (on Ralph Lauren's approach)"Maybe people are just figuring out where they want their time and how they want to spend their time... getting back to our roots through things like mahjong, board games, and very simplified intimate spaces." — AliciaIn-Show Mentions:Future Commerce Holiday AI Report, produced in partnership with CimulateMore details from NRF 2026Our official recap of Phillip's conversation with Dane MathewsShop Future Commerce's Multiplayer Brand bookAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce Plus 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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From new vaccine guidance to nutrition policy to AI, the health care industry is already navigating massive change in 2026. New York Times health care reporter Sarah Kliff joins Rapid Response to break down major shifts reshaping American health — including new vaccine recommendations, an updated food pyramid, the continued rise of GLP-1 drugs, and OpenAI's Health GPT. Kliff explains why these changes matter far beyond hospitals and clinics, and why leaders across sectors should be paying close attention as health care, technology, and policy collide.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.

Alan MacKenzie is CEO of JLL Canada, overseeing all business lines including capital markets, work dynamics, leasing, and property management across the country. MacKenzie shares his journey from founding a retail real estate company in 2000 to leading JLL's Canadian operations, including his work bringing Lowe's to Canada and representing Walmart. He discusses the current state of Canadian retail real estate, explaining why vacancy rates at top-tier malls are below 2% despite economic headwinds. MacKenzie also covers the impact of Hudson's Bay department store closures, the bifurcation in consumer spending behavior, and why Canada has been slower than the U.S. in returning to office. He explains the unique characteristics of the Canadian market, including stringent zoning policies, limited new construction, and strong immigration-driven demand that's creating a landlord's market in premium retail locations.   James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  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.  

A CEO fired in 100 days. A retail icon's stock down 49%. Membership clubs crushing every metric. Nine predictions. One year of chaos. How well did I call 2025's retail winners and losers?Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Omnii Talk Retail Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Brought to you with the help and support of Mirakl - The catalyst of commerce. Over 450 retailers are opening new revenue streams with marketplaces, dropship, and retail media. Unlock more products, more partners, and more profits without the heavy lifting. Visit Mirakl.com to learn more.Subscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.

What Does It Take to Go the Distance in Retail Real Estate Today?Retail real estate in early 2026 is defined by imbalance. In many suburban, open-air markets, demand is overwhelming supply. Five tenants are chasing one quality space. Vacancy is razor-thin. New construction still does not pencil. The result is leverage—and it is shifting.Chris Ressa and Andrew Mahr of Bialo Real Estate dig into how that leverage is actually showing up in deals. Face rents are not always jumping overnight, but economics are tightening through lower tenant improvement packages, higher tenant capital contributions, and tougher negotiations around delivery costs. Retail is repricing—just not always in the most obvious way.The conversation also highlights the growing divide between markets. Urban cores tied to office traffic remain uneven, while suburban lifestyle centers are absorbing demand from retailers with capital, patience, and long-term conviction. Strong operators are choosing to invest more upfront to control fixed occupancy costs over time, especially in junior anchor and specialty formats.A North Miami case study brings the thesis to life. An off-market Wild Fork deal shows how the best sites are no longer “available”—they are unlocked through persistence, relationships, and a willingness to target occupied real estate. The takeaway is simple: in today's market, waiting for vacancy is passive. Going direct is how deals get done.What You'll HearHow rising rents are showing up through deal structure, not always through face rateWhy tenant improvement packages are shrinking and tenant capital is coming back into the equationWhat it really means when deals “don't pencil” in a high-cost, high-rate environmentHow strong retailers are deciding when it makes sense to invest more upfront to control long-term occupancy costsWhy off-market strategies matter more in a low-vacancy worldA real North Miami case study showing how targeting occupied real estate can unlock best-in-market locationsHow landlord-tenant alignment can accelerate expansion and turn single deals into long-term partnershipsChapters00:00 – Welcome and introductionsChris Ressa welcomes Andrew Mahr and sets the stage for a wide-ranging conversation on retail, relationships, and the market.01:00 – Running, resilience, and perspectiveAndrew shares his Boston Marathon journey and why endurance, advocacy, and long-term commitment shape how he approaches business.03:00 – What Bilo Real Estate actually doesA look at Bilo's role as a national, outsourced real estate department and why deep market familiarity matters.05:15 – Retail in 2026: a tale of two marketsUrban cores tied to office demand lag while suburban, open-air retail faces intense competition and limited supply.07:45 – Why new retail still doesn't pencilInterest rates, construction costs, and underwriting realities continue to stall speculative retail development.09:30 – Leasing momentum and shifting deal economicsRents are rising—but often through reduced TIs and higher tenant capital, not just headline numbers.12:00 – Who's winning: strong retailers with capitalWhy the healthiest tenants are choosing to invest more upfront to control long-term occupancy costs.13:30 – Hospitality and wellness as growth categoriesRestaurants, social...

AI is transforming how retailers manage payments, prevent fraud, and deliver seamless checkout experiences. In this episode of the Rethink Retail podcast, host Matthew Adam Smith speaks with Kai Lindstrom, VP of Retail Payment Services at SOK, and Jagrati Singh, Regional Sales Director at HCLTech. Key Takeaways: - AI-powered checkout: faster, seamless, and secure transactions - Fraud prevention: smarter detection and reduced operational risk - Modern POS systems: upgrading legacy infrastructure for agility - Hyper-personalization: tailored offers and experiences at scale - Systems integration: aligning platforms, partners, and data for frictionless payments

About JaimieJaimie Wolanski has over 20 years of experience in the games industry, with a career spanning major brands and mass-market hits. She's worked as a sales rep bringing games into stores like Target and Barnes & Noble, and has helped launch titles like Shopkins, Catan, Ticket to Ride, Bananagrams, and Exploding Kittens. She even worked with Justin to bring You Gotta Be Kitten Me to market. In this episode, Jaimie shares what it takes to succeed in a crowded space, how to build teams you can trust, and why knowing when to let go of a project can be just as important as seeing one through. If you care about the business of games—especially the part that happens after the prototype—this conversation is packed with sharp insights and real-world experience. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/subscribe

Isabel Washington is the Founder and CEO of Laurel's Coffee, the fast-growing RTD latte brand made with organic, regenerative A2 dairy. On this episode of ITS, Ali and Isabel talk about balancing conflicting consumer preferences, building for existing rituals, and the first thing you learn as a McKinsey consultant.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The year ahead in commerce, with insights from the NRF Big Show conference, where retailers congregate every January. Plus, the 2026 privacy policy cheat sheet.  

Do you ever wonder whether your grocery store cares about whether you have a healthy diet? Every time we shop or read advertisement flyers, food retailers influence our diets through product offerings, pricings, promotions, and of course store design. Think of the candy at the checkout counters. When I walk into my Costco, over on the right there's this wall of all these things they would like me to buy and I'm sure it's all done very intentionally. And so, if we're so influenced by these things, is it in our interest? Today we're going to discuss a report card of sorts for food retailers and the big ones - Walmart, Kroger, Ahold Delhaize USA, which is a very large holding company that has a variety of supermarket chains. And this is all about an index produced by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), a global foundation challenging the food industry investors and policy makers to shape a healthier food system. The US Retail Assessment 2025 Report evaluates how these three businesses influence your access to nutritious and affordable foods through their policies, commitments, and actual performance. The Access to Nutrition Initiatives' director of Policy and Communications, Katherine Pittore is here with us to discuss the report's findings. We'll also speak with Eva Greenthal, who oversees the Center for Science in the Public Interest's Federal Food Labeling work.   Interview Transcript Access ATNi's 2025 Assessment Report for the US and other countries here: Retail https://accesstonutrition.org/index/retail-assessment-2025/ Let's start with an introduction to your organizations. This will help ground our listeners in the work that you've done, some of which we've spoken about on our podcast. Kat, let's begin with you and the Access to Nutrition Initiative. Can you tell us a bit about the organization and what work it does? Kat Pittore - Thank you. So, the Access to Nutrition Initiative is a global foundation actively challenging the food industry, investors, and policymakers to shape healthier food systems. We try to collect data and then use it to rank companies. For the most part, we've done companies, the largest food and beverage companies, think about PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and looking are they committed to proving the healthiness of their product portfolios. Do the companies themselves have policies? For example, maternity leave. And these are the policies that are relevant for their entire workforce. So, from people working in their factories all the way up through their corporate areas. And looking at the largest companies, can these companies increase access to healthier, more nutritious foods. One of the critical questions that we get asked, and I think Kelly, you've had some really interesting guests also talking about can corporations actually do something. Are corporations really the problem? At ATNi, we try to take a nuanced stance on this saying that these corporations produce a huge amount of the food we eat, so they can also be part of the solution. Yes, they are currently part of the problem. And we also really believe that we need more policies. And that's what brings us too into contact with organizations such as Eva's, looking at how can we also improve policies to support these companies to produce healthier foods. The thought was coming to my mind as you were speaking, I was involved in one of the initial meetings as the Access to Nutrition Initiative was being planned. And at that point, I and other people involved in this were thinking, how in the world are these people going to pull this off? Because the idea of monitoring these global behemoth companies where in some cases you need information from the companies that may not reflect favorably on their practices. And not to mention that, but constructing these indices and things like that required a great deal of thought. That initial skepticism about whether this could be done gave way, at least in me, to this admiration for what's been accomplished. So boy, hats off to you and your colleagues for what you've been able to do. And it'll be fun to dive in a little bit deeper as we go further into this podcast. Eva, tell us about your work at CSPI, Center for Science in the Public Interest. Well known organization around the world, especially here in the US and I've long admired its work as well. Tell us about what you're up to. Eva Greenthal - Thank you so much, Kelly, and again, thank you for having me here on the pod. CSPI is a US nonprofit that advocates for evidence-based and community informed policies on nutrition, food safety and health. And we're well known for holding government agencies and corporations to account and empowering consumers with independent, unbiased information to live healthier lives. And our core strategies to achieve this mission include, of course, advocacy where we do things like legislative and regulatory lobbying, litigation and corporate accountability initiatives. We also do policy and research analysis. We have strategic communications such as engagement with the public and news media, and we publish a magazine called Nutrition Action. And we also work in deep partnership with other organizations and in coalitions with other national organizations as well as smaller grassroots organizations across the country. Across all of this, we have a deep commitment to health equity and environmental sustainability that informs all we do. And our ultimate goal is improved health and wellbeing for people in all communities regardless of race, income, education, or social factors. Thanks Eva. I have great admiration for CSPI too. Its work goes back many decades. It's the leading organization advocating on behalf of consumers for a better nutrition system and better health overall. And I greatly admire its work. So, it's really a pleasure to have you here. Kat, let's talk about the US retail assessment. What is it and how did you select Walmart, Kroger, and Ahold Dehaize for the evaluation, and why are retailers so important? Kat - Great, thanks. We have, like I said before, been evaluating the largest food and beverage manufacturers for many years. So, for 13 years we have our global index, that's our bread and butter. And about two years ago we started thinking actually retailers also play a critical role. And that's where everyone interfaces with the food environment. As a consumer, when you go out to actually purchase your food, you end up most of the time in a supermarket, also online presence, et cetera. In the US 70% or more of people buy their food through some type of formal food retail environment. So, we thought we need to look at the retailers. And in this assessment we look at the owned label products, so the store brand, so anything that's branded from the store as its own. We think that's also becoming a much more important role in people's diets. In Europe it's a really critical role. A huge majority of products are owned brand and I think in the US that's increasing. Obviously, they tend to be more affordable, so people are drawn to them. So, we were interested how healthy are these products? And the US retail assessment is part of a larger retail assessment where we look at six different countries trying to look across different income levels. In high income countries, we looked at the US and France, then we looked at South Africa and Indonesia for higher middle income. And then finally we looked at Kenya and the Philippines. So, we tried to get a perspective across the world. And in the US, we picked the three companies aiming to get the largest market share. Walmart itself is 25 to 27% of the market share. I've read an amazing statistic that something like 90% of the US population lives within 25 kilometers of a Walmart. Really, I did not realize it was that large. I grew up in the US but never shopped at Walmart. So, it really does influence the diet of a huge number of Americans. And I think with the Ahold Delhaize, that's also a global conglomerate. They have a lot of supermarkets in the Netherlands where we're based, I think also in Belgium and across many countries. Although one interesting thing we did find with this retail assessment is that a big international chain, they have very different operations and basically are different companies. Because we had thought let's start with the Carrefours like those huge international companies that you find everywhere. But Carrefour France and Carrefour Kenya are basically very different. It was very hard to look at it at that level. And so that's sort of what brought us to retailers. And we're hoping through this assessment that we can reach a very large number of consumers. We estimate between 340 to 370 million consumers who shop at these different modern retail outlets. It's so ambitious what you've accomplished here. What questions did you try to answer and what were the key findings? Kat - We were interested to know how healthy are the products that are being sold at these different retailers. That was one of our critical questions. We look at the number of different products, so the owned brand products, and looked at the healthiness. And actually, this is one of the challenges we faced in the US. One is that there isn't one unified use of one type of nutrient profile model. In other countries in the Netherlands, although it's not mandatory, we have the Nutri Score and most retailers use Nutri Score. And then at least there's one thing that we can use. The US does not have one unified agreement on what type of nutrient profile model to use. So, then we're looking at different ones. Each company has their own proprietary model. That was one challenge we faced. And the other one is that in other countries you have the mandatory that you report everything per hundred grams. So, product X, Y, and Z can all be compared by some comparable thing. Okay? A hundred grams of product X and a hundred grams of product Y. In the US you have serving sizes, which are different for different products and different companies. And then you also have different units, which all of my European colleagues who are trying to do this, they're like, what is this ounces? What are these pounds? In addition to having non-comparable units, it's also non-standardized. These were two key challenges we face in the US. Before you proceed, just let me ask a little bit more about the nutrient profiling. For people that aren't familiar with that term, basically it's a way to score different foods for how good they are for you. As you said, there are different profiling systems used around the world. Some of the food companies have their own. Some of the supermarket companies have their own. And they can be sort of unbiased, evidence-based, derived by scientists who study this kind of thing a lot like the index developed by researchers at Oxford University. Or they can be self-serving, but basically, they're an index that might take away points from a food if it's high in saturated fat, let's say but give it extra points if it has fiber. And that would be an example. And when you add up all the different things that a food might contain, you might come away with a single score. And that might then provide the basis for whether it's given a green light, red light, et cetera, with some sort of a labeling system. But would you like to add anything to that? Kat - I think that's quite accurate in terms of the nutrient profile model. And maybe one other thing to say here. In our retail index, it's the first time we did this, we assess companies in terms of share of their products meeting the Health Star rating and we've used that across all of our indexes. This is the one that's used most commonly in Australia and New Zealand. A Health Star rating goes zero to five stars, and 3.5 or above is considered a healthier product. And we found the average healthiness, the mean Health Star rating, of Walmart products was 2.6. So quite low. Kroger was 2.7 and Food Lion Ahold Delhaize was 2.8. So the average is not meeting the Health Star rating of 3.5 or above. We're hoping that by 2030 we could see 50% of products still, half would be less than that. But we're not there yet. And another thing that we looked at with the retail index that was quite interesting was using markers of UPFs. And this has been a hotly debated discussion within our organization as well. Sort of, how do you define UPF? Can we use NOVA classification? NOVA Classification has obviously people who are very pro NOVA classification, people who also don't like the classification. So, we use one a sort of ranking Popkins et al. developed. A sort of system and where we looked at high salt, fat sugar and then certain non-nutritive sweeteners and additives that have no benefit. So, these aren't things like adding micronutrients to make a product fortified, but these are things like red number seven and colors that have no benefit. And looked at what share of the products that are produced by owned label products are considered ultra processed using this definition. And there we found that 88% of products at Walmart are considered ultra processed. Wow. That's quite shocking. Eighty eight percent. Yeah, 88% of all of their own brand products. Oh, my goodness. Twelve percent are not. And we did find a very high alignment, because that was also a question that we had, of sort of the high salt, fat, sugar and ultra processed. And it's not a direct alignment, because that's always a question too. Can you have a very healthy, ultra processed food? Or are or ultra processed foods by definition unhealthy beyond the high fat, salt, sugar content. And I know you've explored that with others. Don't the retailers just say that they're responding to demand, and so putting pressure on us to change what we sell isn't the real problem here, the real issue. It's to change the demand by the consumers. What do you think of that? Kat - But I mean, people buy what there is. If you went into a grocery store and you couldn't buy these products, you wouldn't buy them. I spent many years working in public health nutrition, and I find this individual narrative very challenging. It's about anything where you start to see the entire population curve shifting towards overweight or obesity, for example. Or same when I used to work more in development context where you had a whole population being stunted. And you would get the same argument - oh no, but these children are just short. They're genetically short. Oh, okay. Yes, some children are genetically short. But when you see 40 or 50% of the population shifting away from the norm, that represents that they're not growing well. So I think it is the retailer's responsibility to make their products healthier and then people will buy them. The other two questions we tried to look at were around promotions. Are our retailers actively promoting unhealthy products in their weekly circulars and flyers? Yes, very much so. We found most of the products that were being promoted are unhealthy. The highest amount that we found promoting healthy was in Food Lion. Walmart only promoted 5% healthy products. The other 95% of the products that they're actively promoting in their own circulars and advertising products are unhealthy products. So, then I would say, well, retailers definitely have a role there. They're choosing to promote these products. And then the other one is cost. And we looked across all six countries and we found that in every country, healthier food baskets are more expensive than less healthier food baskets. So you take these altogether, they're being promoted more, they're cheaper, and they're a huge percentage of what's available. Yes. Then people are going to eat less healthy diets. Right, and promoted not only by the store selling these products, but promoted by the companies that make them. A vast amount of food marketing is going on out there. The vast majority of that is for foods that wouldn't score high on any index. And then you combine that with the fact that the foods are engineered to be so palatable and to drive over consumption. Boy, there are a whole lot of factors that are conspiring in the wrong direction, aren't there. Yeah, it is challenging. And when you look at all the factors, what is your entry point? Yes. Eva, let's talk about CSPI and the work that you and your colleagues are doing in the space. When you come up with an interesting topic in the food area and somebody says, oh, that's pretty important. It's a good likelihood that CSPI has been on it for about 15 years, and that's true here as well. You and your colleagues have been working on these issues and so many others for so many years. But you're very active in advocating for healthier retail environments. Can you highlight what you think are a few key opportunities for making progress? Eva - Absolutely. To start off, I could not agree more with Kat in saying that it really is food companies that have a responsibility for the availability and affordability of healthy options. It's absolutely essential. And the excessive promotion of unhealthy options is what's really undermining people's ability to make healthy choices. Some of the policies that CSPI supports for improving the US retail environment include mandatory front of package nutrition labeling. These are labels that would make it quick and easy for busy shoppers to know which foods are high in added sugar, sodium, or saturated fat, and should therefore be limited in their diets. We also advocate for federal sodium and added sugar reduction targets. These would facilitate overall lower amounts of salt and sugar in the food supply, really putting the onus on companies to offer healthier foods instead of solely relying on shoppers to navigate the toxic food environments and make individual behavior changes. Another one is taxes on sweetened beverages. These would simultaneously nudge people to drink water or buy healthier beverages like flavored seltzers and unsweetened teas, while also raising revenue that can be directed towards important public health initiatives. Another one is healthy checkout policies. These would require retailers to offer only healthier foods and beverages in areas where shoppers stand in line to purchase their groceries. And therefore, reduce exposure to unhealthy food marketing and prevent unhealthy impulse purchases. And then another one is we advocate for online labeling requirements that would ensure consumers have easy access to nutrition, facts, ingredients, and allergen information when they grocery shop online, which unbelievably is currently not always the case. And I can also speak to our advocacy around the creating a uniform definition of healthy, because I know Kat spoke to the challenges in the US context of having different retailers using different systems for identifying healthier products. So the current food labeling landscape in the US is very confusing for the consumer. We have unregulated claims like all natural, competing with carefully regulated claims like organic. We have a very high standard of evidence for making a claim like prevents cold and flu. And then almost no standard of evidence for making a very similar claim like supports immunity. So, when it comes to claims about healthiness, it's really important to have a uniform definition of healthy so that if a product is labeled healthy, consumers can actually trust that it's truly healthy based on evidence backed nutrition standards. And also, so they can understand what that label means. An evidence-based definition of healthy will prevent misleading marketing claims. So, for example, until very recently, there was no limit on the amount of added sugar or refined grain in a product labeled healthy. But recent updates to FDA's official definition of healthy mean that now consumers can trust that any food labeled healthy provides servings from an essential food group like fruit, vegetable, whole grain, dairy, or protein. And doesn't exceed maximum limits on added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat. This new healthy definition is going to be very useful for preventing misleading marketing claims. However, we do think its reach will be limited for helping consumers find and select healthy items mainly because it's a voluntary label. And we know that even among products that are eligible for the healthy claim, very few are using it on their labels. We also know that the diet related chronic disease epidemic in the US is fueled by excess consumption of junk foods, not by insufficient marketing of healthy foods. So, what we really need, as I mentioned before, are mandatory labels that call out high levels of unhealthy nutrients like sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat. Thanks for that overview. What an impressive portfolio of things you and your colleagues are working on. And we could do 10 podcasts on each of the 10 things you mentioned. But let's take one in particular: the front of the package labeling issue. At a time where it seems like there's very little in our country that the Democrats and Republicans can't agree on, the Food and Drug Administration, both previously under the Biden Harris Administration, now under the Trump Vance Administration have identified for a package of labeling as a priority. In fact, the FDA is currently working on a mandatory front of package nutrition label and is creating a final rule around that issue. Kat, from Access to Nutrition Initiative's perspective, why is mandatory front of package labeling important? What's the current situation kind of around the world and what are the retailers and manufacturers doing? Kat - So yes, we definitely stand by the need for mandatory front of package labeling. I think 16 countries globally have front of package labeling mandated, but the rest have voluntary systems. Including in the Netherlands where I live and where Access to Nutrition is based. We use the voluntary Nutri Score and what we've seen across our research is that markets where it's voluntary, it tends to not be applied in all markets. And it tends to be applied disproportionately on healthy products. So if you can choose to put it, you put it all on the ones that are the A or the Nutri Score with the green, and then you don't put it on the really unhealthy products. So, then it also skews consumers. Because like Eva was saying, people are not eating often. Well, they, they're displacing from their diet healthy products with unhealthy products. So that that is a critical challenge. Until you make it mandatory, companies aren't going to do that. And we've seen that with our different global indexes. Companies are not universally using these voluntary regulations across the board. I think that's one critical challenge that we need to address. If you scan the world, there are a variety of different systems being used to provide consumers information on the front of packages. If you could pick one system, tell us what we would actually see on the package. Kat - This is one we've been debating internally, and I saw what CSPI is pushing for, and I think there's growing evidence pushing for warning style labels. These are the ones that say the product is high in like really with a warning, high in fat, high in salt, high in sugar. And there is evidence from countries like Chile where they have introduced this to show that that does drive change. It drives product reformulation. Companies change their products, so they don't have to carry one of the labels. Consumers are aware of it. And they actively try to change their purchasing behaviors to avoid those. And there's less evidence I think interpretive is important. A Nutri Score one where you can see it and it's green. Okay, that's quick. It's easy. There are some challenges that people face with Nutri Score, for example. That Nutri Score compares products among the same category, which people don't realize outside of our niche. Actually, a colleague of mine was telling me - my boyfriend was in the grocery store last week. And he's like picked up some white flour tortillas and they had a Nutri Score D, and then the chips had a Nutri Score B. And he's like, well, surely the tortillas are healthier than the chips. But obviously the chips, the tortilla chips were compared against other salty snacks and the other one was being compared to bread. So, it's like a relatively unhealthy bread compared to a relatively healthy chip. You see this happening even among educated people. I think these labels while well intentioned, they need a good education behind them because they are challenging, and people don't realize that. I think people just see A or green and they think healthy; E is bad, and people don't realize that it's not comparing the same products from these categories. One could take the warning system approach, which tells people how many bad things there are in the foods and flip it over and say, why not just give people information on what's good in a food? Like if a food has vitamins and minerals or protein or fiber, whatever it happens. But you could label it that way and forget labeling the bad things. But of course, the industry would game that system in about two seconds and just throw in some good things to otherwise pretty crappy foods and make the scores look good. So, yeah, it shows why it's so important to be labeling the things that you'd like to see less of. I think that's already happening. You see a lot of foods with micronutrient additions, very sugary breakfast cereals. You see in Asia, a lot of biscuits and cookies that they add micronutrients to. I mean, there's still biscuits and cookies. So Eva, I'd like to get your thoughts on this. So tell us more about the proposed label in the US, what it might look like, and the history about how this got developed. And do you think there's anything else needed to make the label more useful or user-friendly for consumers? Eva - Absolutely. It is a very exciting time to work on food policy in the US, especially with this momentum around front of package labeling. CSPI actually first petitioned calling for front of pack labeling in 2006. And after more than a decade of inaction, industry lobbying, all these countries around the world adopting front of pack labeling systems, but not the US. In 2022 CSPI filed a new petition that specifically called for mandatory interpretive nutrient specific front of package labeling, similar to the nutrient warning labels already required in Mexico, Canada, and as Kat said, around 16 other countries. And in early 2025, FDA finally responded to our petition by issuing a proposal that if finalized would require a nutrition info box on packaged foods. And what the nutrition info box includes is the percent daily value per serving of sodium, added sugar and saturated fat, accompanied by the words high, medium, or low, assessing the amount of each nutrient. This proposal was a very important step forward, but the label could be improved in several ways. First off, instead of a label that is placed on all foods, regardless of their nutrient levels, we strongly recommend that FDA instead adopt labels that would only appear on products that are high in nutrients of concern. A key reason for this is it would better incentivize companies to reduce the amount of salt, sugar, or saturated fat in their product because companies will want to avoid wasting this precious marketing real estate on mandatory nutrition labels. So, for example, they could reduce the amount of sodium in a soup to avoid having a high sodium label on that soup. And also, as you were saying before around the lack of a need to require the positive nutrients on the label, fortunately the FDA proposal didn't, but just to chime in on that, these products are already plastered with claims around their high fiber content, high protein content, vitamin C, this and that. What we really need is a mandatory label that will require companies to tell you what they would otherwise prefer not to. Not the information that they already highlight for marketing purposes. So, in addition to these warning style labels, we also really want FDA to adopt front of package disclosures for foods containing low and no calorie sweeteners. Because this would discourage the industry from reducing sugar just by reformulating with additives that are not recommended for children. So that's a key recommendation that CSPI has made for when FDA finalizes the rule. FDA received thousands and thousands of comments on their labeling proposal and is now tasked with reviewing those comments and issuing a final rule. And although these deadlines are very often missed, so don't necessarily hold your breath, but the government's current agenda says it plans to issue a final rule in May 2026. At CSPI, we are working tirelessly to hold FDA to its commitment of issuing a final regulation. And to ensure that the US front of pack labeling system is number one mandatory and number two, also number one, really, mandatory, and evidence-based so that it really has the best possible chance of improving our diets and our food supply. Well, thank you for the tireless work because it's so important that we get this right. I mean, it's important that we get a system to begin with, even if it's rudimentary. But the better it can be, of course, the more helpful it'll be. And CSPI has been such an important voice in that. Kat, let's talk about some of the things that are happening in developing countries and other parts of the world. So you're part of a multi-country study looking at five additional countries, France, South Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Kenya. And as I understand, the goal is to understand how retail food environments differ across countries at various income levels. Tell us about this, if you would, and what sort of things you're finding. Kat – Yes. So one of our questions was as companies reach market saturation in places like France and the US and the Netherlands, they can't get that many more customers. They already have everyone. So now they're expanding rapidly. And you're seeing a really rapid increase in modern retail purchasing in countries like Indonesia and Kenya. Not to say that in these countries traditional markets are still where most people buy most of their food. But if you look at the graphs at the rate of increase of these modern different retailers also out of home, it's rapidly increasing. And we're really interested to see, okay, given that, are these products also exposing people to less healthy products? Is it displacing traditional diets? And overall, we are seeing that a lot of similar to what you see in other context. In high income countries. Overall healthier products are again, more expensive, and actually the differential is greater in lower income countries. Often because I think also poor people are buying foods not in modern retail environments. This is targeting currently the upper, middle, and higher income consumer groups. But that will change. And we're seeing the same thing around really high percentages of high fat, salt, sugar products. So, looking at how is this really transforming retail environments? At the same time, we have seen some really interesting examples of countries really taking initiative. In Kenya, they've introduced the first Kenyan nutrient profile model. First in Africa. They just introduced that at the end of 2025, and they're trying to introduce also a mandatory front of package warning label similar to what Eva has proposed. This would be these warnings high in fat, salt, and sugar. And that's part of this package that they've suggested. This would also include things around regulations to marketing to children, and that's all being pushed ahead. So, Kenya's doing a lot of work around that. In South Africa, there's been a lot of work on banning marketing to children as well as front of package labeling. I think one of the challenges we've seen there, and this is something... this is a story that I've heard again and again working in the policy space in different countries, is that you have a lot of momentum and initiative by civil society organizations, by concerned consumer groups. And you get all the way to the point where it's about to be passed in legislation and then it just gets kicked into the long grass. Nothing ever happens. It just sits there. I was writing a blog, we looked at Indonesia, so we worked with this organization that is working on doing taxation of sugar sweetened beverages. And that's been on the card since 2016. It actually even reminded me a lot of your story. They've been working on trying to get the sugar sweetened beverage tax in Indonesia passed since 2016. And it gets almost there, but it never gets in the budget. It just never passes. Same with the banning marketing to children in South Africa. This has been being discussed for many years, but it never actually gets passed. And what I've heard from colleagues working in this space is that then industry comes in right before it's about to get passed and says, oh no, but we're going to lose jobs. If you introduce that, then all of the companies that employ people, people will lose their jobs. And modeling studies have shown this isn't true. That overall, the economy will recover, jobs will be found elsewhere. Also, if you factor in the cost to society of treating diabetes from high consumption or sugar sweetened beverages. But it's interesting to see that this repeats again and again of countries get almost over the line. They have this really nice draft initiative and then it just doesn't quite happen. So, I think that that will be really interesting. And I think a bit like what Eva was saying in many of these countries, like with Kenya, are we going to see, start seeing the warning labels. With South Africa, is this regulation banning marketing to children actually going to happen? Are we going to see sugar sweetened beverage taxes written into the 2026 budget in Indonesia? I think very interesting space globally in many of these questions. But I think also a key time to keep the momentum up. It's interesting to hear about the industry script, talking about loss of jobs. Other familiar parts of that script are that consumers will lose choices and their prices will go up. And those things don't seem to happen either in places where these policies take effect. But boy, they're effective at getting these things stomped out. It feels to me like some turning point might be reached where some tipping point where a lot of things will start to happen all at once. But let's hope we're moving in that direction. Kat - The UK as of five days ago, just implemented bans on marketing of unhealthy products to children, changes in retail environment banning promotions of unhealthy products. I do think we are seeing in countries and especially countries with national healthcare systems where the taxpayer has to take on the cost of ill health. We are starting to see these changes coming into effect. I think that's an interesting example and very current. Groundbreaking, absolutely groundbreaking that those things are happening. Let me end by asking you each sort of a big picture question. Kat, you talked about specific goals that you've established about what percentage of products in these retail environments will meet a healthy food standard by a given year. But we're pretty far from that now. So I'd like to ask each of you, are you hopeful we'll get anywhere near those kind of goals. And if you're hopeful, what leads you to feel that way? And Kat, let's start with you and then I'll ask Eva the same thing. Kat - I am hopeful because like you said, there's so much critical momentum happening in so many different countries. And I do find that really interesting. And these are the six countries that we looked at, but also, I know Ghana has recently introduced a or working to introduce a nutrient profile model. You're seeing discussions happening in Asia as well. And a lot of different discussions happening in a lot of different places. All with the same ambition. And I do think with this critical momentum, you will start to break through some of the challenges that we're facing now too. Where you see, for example, like I know this came up with Chile. Like, oh, if you mandate it in this context, then it disadvantages. So like the World Trade Organization came out against it saying it disadvantaged trade, you can't make it mandatory. But if all countries mandate it, then you remove some of those barriers. It's a key challenge in the EU as well. That the Netherlands, for example, can't decide to introduce Nutri Score as a mandatory front of package label because that would disadvantage trade within the European Union. But I think if we hit a critical point, then a lot of the kind of key challenges that we're facing will no longer be there. If the European Union decides to adopt it, then also then you have 27 countries overnight that have to adopt a mandatory front of package label. And as companies have to do this for more and more markets, I think it will become more standardized. You will start seeing it more. I'm hopeful in the amount of momentum that's happening in different places globally. Good. It's nice to hear your optimism on that. So, Eva, what do you think? Eva - So thinking about front of package labeling and the fact that this proposed regulation was put out under the previous presidential administration, the Biden Harris Administration and is now intended to be finalized under the Trump Vance Administration, I think that's a signal of what's really this growing public awareness and bipartisan support for food and nutrition policies in the US. Obviously, the US food industry is incredibly powerful, but with growing public awareness of how multinational food companies are manipulating our diets and making us sick for their own profit, I think there's plenty of opportunity to leverage the power of consumers to fight back against this corporate greed and really take back our health. I'm really happy that you mentioned the bipartisan nature of things that starting to exist now. And it wasn't that long ago where you wouldn't think of people of the political right standing up against the food companies. But now they are, and it's a huge help. And this fact that you have more people from a variety of places on the political spectrum supporting a similar aim to kinda rein in behavior of the food industry and create a healthier food environment. Especially to protect children, leads me to be more optimistic, just like the two of you. I'm glad we can end on that note. Bios Katherine Pittore is the director of Policy and Communications at the Action to Nutrition Initiative. She is responsible for developing a strategy to ensure ATNi's research is translated into better policies. Working collaboratively with alliances and other stakeholders, she aims to identify ways for ATNi's research to support improved policies, for companies, investors and governments, with the aim of creating a more effective playing field enabling markets to deliver more nutritious foods, especially for vulnerable groups in society. Katherine has been working in the field of global nutrition and food systems since 2010. Most recently at Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI), where she worked as a nutrition and food security advisor on range projects, mostly in Africa. She also has also worked as a facilitator and trainer, and a specific interest in how to healthfully feed our increasingly urbanizing world. She has also worked for several NGOs including RESULTS UK, as a nutrition advocacy officer, setting up their nutrition advocacy portfolio focusing aimed at increasing aid spending on nutrition with the UK parliament, and Save the Children UK and Save the Children India, working with the humanitarian nutrition team. She has an MSc in Global Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a BA in Science and Society from Wesleyan University.  Eva Greenthal oversees Center for Science in the Public Interest's federal food labeling work, leveraging the food label as a powerful public health tool to influence consumer and industry behavior. Eva also conducts research and supports CSPI's science-centered approach to advocacy as a member of the Science Department. Prior to joining CSPI, Eva led a pilot evaluation of the nation's first hospital-based food pantry and worked on research initiatives related to alcohol literacy and healthy habits for young children. Before that, Eva served as a Program Coordinator for Let's Go! at Maine Medical Center and as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member at HealthReach Community Health Centers in Waterville, Maine. Eva holds a dual MS/MPH degree in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from Tufts University and a BA in Environmental Studies from University of Michigan.  

To kick off the first episode of the year, host Eva Hartling sits down with Sophie Boulanger — founder and former CEO of BonLook; advisor and investor — for a season-opening conversation about what retail transformation really means in 2026.Because this is not the year for surface-level change. Brands will either evolve at the core… or fall behind.In this episode, Sophie shares the lessons behind building one of Canada's rare modern retail success stories — and what she believes today's brands need to understand about changing consumer expectations, experience design, and the return to proximity and independent retail.Eva and Sophie also zoom out to unpack what legacy retail can teach us right now: what the Hudson's Bay fallout reveals about adding digital to a broken model, why Simons continues to win, and how smart operators are building resilience in a shifting market.And finally, they look ahead — to what AI and technology integration can genuinely unlock for modern companies, and why the opportunity isn't about gimmicks, but about becoming faster, smarter, and more connected to the customer.A must-listen for founders, marketers, and business leaders navigating the next era of retail.This is part one of this conversation, to be continued next week.This season of our podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/wie // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

In a world obsessed with Martech optimization and AI, is the most overlooked competitive advantage simply understanding how the human brain actually works? Agility requires more than just adapting to new technologies; it requires a deep, empathetic understanding of the timeless human behaviors that drive customer decisions. Today, we're going to talk about the intersection of marketing and human psychology. We'll explore how understanding cognitive biases and behavioral science isn't just an academic exercise, but a critical tool for creating more effective customer experiences, more persuasive messaging, and ultimately, a more resilient and agile brand. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Phill Agnew, Host of Nudge Podcast at Nudge Podcast. About Phill Agnew Phill Agnew hosts Nudge, the UK's #1 marketing podcast. It's a critically acclaimed behavioural science show that has featured world-renowned guests such as Richard Shotton, Rory Sutherland, Tali Sharot, Jonah Berger, Dan Pink, and Chris Voss. With a knack for demystifying complex psychological concepts, Phill translates cutting-edge behavioural science into actionable insights for marketers, business leaders, and everyday professionals. His podcast has been downloaded by hundreds of thousands across the globe, establishing Phill as a trusted voice in behavioural marketing.,Yes,This has been completed Phill Agnew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/ Resources Nudge Podcast: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://ratethispodcast.com/agileConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

SHOW1-14-251671 Guests: Elizabeth Peek and John Batchelor. Batchelor and Peek discuss inflation holding firm at 2.7% in December. They evaluate falling gasoline prices and strong holiday retail performance as indicators of improving consumer sentiment. Peek also critiques a DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell, labeling it an "unforced error" that might inadvertently extend Powell's tenure. Guest: Elizabeth Peek. This segment addresses political dissent in Minnesota following a tragedy involving an ICE agent. Peek argues that liberal activists are nationalizing the incident to demonize law enforcement. She views this as partisan positioning for the midterms, intended as a weapon to be used against President Trump. Guests: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus Matter. Dempsey explains that the EU lacks a cohesive strategy for Irandespite a consensus on increasing sanctions. Regarding Ukraine, she highlights staggering divisions among European states as the U.S. withdraws military help. Dempsey notes a ceasefire remains unlikely because Russiacurrently has no interest in negotiations. Guests: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus Matter. The discussion focuses on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's efforts to address immigration to counter the populist AfD party. Dempsey explores the nuances of refugee integration into the German workforce. Finally, she reports European "horror" at potential U.S. moves to annex Greenland, which could threaten the survival of NATO. Guest: Joseph Sternberg. China faces a "sluggish zombie economy" characterized by a burst property bubble and anemic consumption. Sternberg warns of "Japanification," where growth remains stagnant for decades. Beijingstruggles with price deflation, further burdening a heavily indebted economy. Meaningful recovery requires political reforms Xi Jinping resists.  Guest: Joseph Sternberg. President Trump is reportedly using an investigation into Fed Chairman Jerome Powell as a pretext to influence interest rate decisions. Sternberg notes that while central banks like the Bank of England strive for independence, they are increasingly politicized. Additionally, Western media outlets like the BBC initially faced criticism for slow coverage of Iranian massacre 7Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Intense protests in Iran, sparked by decades of mismanagement, have led to a violent crackdown by the regime. Schanzer highlights that these demonstrations are uniquely supported by President Trump's rhetoric. Reza Pahlavi has emerged as a potential figurehead for a transitional government or constitutional monarchy, as the population remains largely pro-Western.8 Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Syria's new central government remains extremely fragile, with authority barely extending beyond Damascus as factions clash in Aleppo. Schanzer describes a "Sunni jihadist regime" facing retribution from sectarian minorities. Meanwhile, regional tensions escalate as Israel and Iran reportedly narrowly avoided direct conflict, prompting Russia to evacuate its embassy. Guest: Dr. Brenda Shaffer. Iran is a multi-ethnic state where Persians constitute less than 40% of the population. Shaffer explains that while current protests are Persian-led, the regime's survival often depends on the participation of ethnic minorities like Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Baluch. These groups frequently engage in direct retribution against security forces. Guest: General Blaine Holt (retired). Holt discusses potential U.S. intervention to support Iranian protesters, emphasizing strikes on command nodes rather than ground troops. While the U.S. maintains air superiority, putting special operators on the ground carries high risk. The Iranian people face a critical window of days to succeed before facing stunning reprisals. Guest: Brandon Weichert. Iranian protesters face a brutal regime that may utilize a "Samson Option," firing all missiles at Israel if the government falls. Weichert notes that while the Israelis and CIA have covert assets on the ground, the protest movement lacks a cohesive leader. Proposals for restoring the Pahlavi dynasty are criticized as an impractical solution. Guest: Brandon Weichert. Turmoil in Iran threatens China's energy security, as Beijing receives roughly 70-80% of Iranian oil. Weichert suggests Russia and China are using the crisis to test anti-Starlink technologies. Furthermore, the regime might import foreign terrorists to suppress domestic dissent, while the U.S. provides behind-the-scenes support to the movement. Guest: Gregory Copley. Iran's collapse could dismantle the "International North-South Transport Corridor," a vital trade route for Russia and India. Copley argues that the Iranian public is increasingly secular, with the youth rejecting clerical authority. While the regime may fire remaining missiles in desperation, a post-clerical Irancould ignite Central Asian economic potential. Guest: Gregory Copley. Although the U.S. promises help, Copley warns that a ground invasion is physically difficult and historically unsuccessful. There are signs that Iranian police and some Revolutionary Guard units are refusing to fire on protesters. Ultimately, the Iranian people must take ownership of the revolution to ensure the legitimacy of any successor government. Guest: Gregory Copley. Following the arrest of Maduro, Venezuela is controlled by four competing "crime families." Copley notes the absence of a clear U.S. plan for citizens facing food and medical insecurity. The U.S.seeks to enforce an oil embargo against Cuba, which is currently suffering from infrastructure collapse and electric grid failures. Guest: Gregory Copley. Reza Pahlavi proposes a constitutional monarchy where the crown serves as a symbolic figurehead, similar to the British system. Copley highlights Pahlavi's unique name recognition and legitimacy as the former crown prince. However, air power alone cannot decisively change the situation on the ground, requiring covert support after the clerics collapse.

SHOW SCHEDULE1-13-251868 PUBLISHER'S ROW NYC Guests: Elizabeth Peek and John Batchelor. Batchelor and Peek discuss inflation holding firm at 2.7% in December. They evaluate falling gasoline prices and strong holiday retail performance as indicators of improving consumer sentiment. Peek also critiques a DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell, labeling it an "unforced error" that might inadvertently extend Powell's tenure. Guest: Elizabeth Peek. This segment addresses political dissent in Minnesota following a tragedy involving an ICE agent. Peek argues that liberal activists are nationalizing the incident to demonize law enforcement. She views this as partisan positioning for the midterms, intended as a weapon to be used against President Trump. Guests: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus Matter. Dempsey explains that the EU lacks a cohesive strategy for Irandespite a consensus on increasing sanctions. Regarding Ukraine, she highlights staggering divisions among European states as the U.S. withdraws military help. Dempsey notes a ceasefire remains unlikely because Russiacurrently has no interest in negotiations. Guests: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus Matter. The discussion focuses on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's efforts to address immigration to counter the populist AfD party. Dempsey explores the nuances of refugee integration into the German workforce. Finally, she reports European "horror" at potential U.S. moves to annex Greenland, which could threaten the survival of NATO. Guest: Joseph Sternberg. China faces a "sluggish zombie economy" characterized by a burst property bubble and anemic consumption. Sternberg warns of "Japanification," where growth remains stagnant for decades. Beijingstruggles with price deflation, further burdening a heavily indebted economy. Meaningful recovery requires political reforms Xi Jinping resists. Guest: Joseph Sternberg. President Trump is reportedly using an investigation into Fed Chairman Jerome Powell as a pretext to influence interest rate decisions. Sternberg notes that while central banks like the Bank of England strive for independence, they are increasingly politicized. Additionally, Western media outlets like the BBC initially faced criticism for slow coverage of Iranian massacres. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Intense protests in Iran, sparked by decades of mismanagement, have led to a violent crackdown by the regime. Schanzer highlights that these demonstrations are uniquely supported by President Trump's rhetoric. Reza Pahlavi has emerged as a potential figurehead for a transitional government or constitutional monarchy, as the population remains largely pro-Western. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Syria's new central government remains extremely fragile, with authority barely extending beyond Damascus as factions clash in Aleppo. Schanzer describes a "Sunni jihadist regime" facing retribution from sectarian minorities. Meanwhile, regional tensions escalate as Israel and Iran reportedly narrowly avoided direct conflict, prompting Russia to evacuate its embassy. Guest: Dr. Brenda Shaffer. Iran is a multi-ethnic state where Persians constitute less than 40% of the population. Shaffer explains that while current protests are Persian-led, the regime's survival often depends on the participation of ethnic minorities like Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Baluch. These groups frequently engage in direct retribution against security forces. Guest: General Blaine Holt (retired). Holt discusses potential U.S. intervention to support Iranian protesters, emphasizing strikes on command nodes rather than ground troops. While the U.S. maintains air superiority, putting special operators on the ground carries high risk. The Iranian people face a critical window of days to succeed before facing stunning reprisals. Guest: Brandon Weichert. Iranian protesters face a brutal regime that may utilize a "Samson Option," firing all missiles at Israel if the government falls. Weichert notes that while the Israelis and CIA have covert assets on the ground, the protest movement lacks a cohesive leader. Proposals for restoring the Pahlavi dynasty are criticized as an impractical solution. Guest: Brandon Weichert. Turmoil in Iran threatens China's energy security, as Beijing receives roughly 70-80% of Iranian oil. Weichert suggests Russia and China are using the crisis to test anti-Starlink technologies. Furthermore, the regime might import foreign terrorists to suppress domestic dissent, while the U.S. provides behind-the-scenes support to the movement. Guest: Gregory Copley. Iran's collapse could dismantle the "International North-South Transport Corridor," a vital trade route for Russia and India. Copley argues that the Iranian public is increasingly secular, with the youth rejecting clerical authority. While the regime may fire remaining missiles in desperation, a post-clerical Irancould ignite Central Asian economic potential. Guest: Gregory Copley. Although the U.S. promises help, Copley warns that a ground invasion is physically difficult and historically unsuccessful. There are signs that Iranian police and some Revolutionary Guard units are refusing to fire on protesters. Ultimately, the Iranian people must take ownership of the revolution to ensure the legitimacy of any successor government. Guest: Gregory Copley. Following the arrest of Maduro, Venezuela is controlled by four competing "crime families." Copley notes the absence of a clear U.S. plan for citizens facing food and medical insecurity. The U.S.seeks to enforce an oil embargo against Cuba, which is currently suffering from infrastructure collapse and electric grid failures. Guest: Gregory Copley. Reza Pahlavi proposes a constitutional monarchy where the crown serves as a symbolic figurehead, similar to the British system. Copley highlights Pahlavi's unique name recognition and legitimacy as the former crown prince. However, air power alone cannot decisively change the situation on the ground, requiring covert support after the clerics collapse.

Greenland, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia – USA is the world’s Cop again? More .. Housing, Credit cards, Fannie and Freddie – all in week’s work.. Retail investors in control – don’t care about the noise. PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter   Warm-Up - Greenland, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia - USA is the world's Cop again? - More .. Housing, Credit cards, Fannie and Freddie - all in week's work.. - Retail investors in control - don't care about the noise Markets - DJIA plowing ahead - NASDAQ on fire - what can stop this? - Nuclear stocks back in play - Defense names on the move - Interesting economic news. FIRST - President Donald Trump said drug “cartels are running Mexico,” and suggested the U.S. military could start land strikes against them there. - The comments come on the heels of suggestions that Trump could take military action in Cuba and Colombia, and to annex Greenland. - The Trump administration has reportedly carried out 35 known strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, killing 115 individuals. - I will be going to Mexico later this week for a couple of days..... Retail Ruling - Retail traders have extended a buying spree into the new year, following a record-setting performance in 2025, with purchases in the first four trading days of January hitting the second-highest level in almost eight months. - Individual investors have bought about $10.1 billion of US equities since the start of the year, mainly via exchange-traded funds, far exceeding the 12-month weekly average. - Retail investors' confidence has helped stabilize markets during recent pullbacks, and if they keep snapping up equities, gains in the US stock market are likely to persist, according to analysts. Employment Report - 4.4% Unemployment Rate - Nonfarm Payroll Employment: U.S. employers added +50,000 jobs in December 2025. This came in below economists' expectations (consensus around 60,000–73,000) and was a slowdown from the downwardly revised +56,000 in November. - Unemployment Rate: Edged down slightly to 4.4% (from a revised 4.5% in November), contrary to forecasts of 4.5%. The number of unemployed people remained around 7.5 million, showing little change. - Full-Year 2025 Performance: Total payroll growth for the year was just +584,000 jobs (average monthly gain of +49,000), marking one of the weakest years for hiring since 2020 (impacted by the pandemic). This is a sharp drop from +2.0 million added in 2024 (average +168,000 monthly). -Revisions to Prior Months: -- October 2025: Revised down to -173,000 (from -105,000, reflecting federal government buyouts and shutdown effects). -- November 2025: Revised down by 8,000 to +56,000. -- Combined October–November: 76,000 fewer jobs than previously reported. GDP - HOT - Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari (voting FOMC member) on CNBC says it is very surprising how strong GDP growth is; says labor market is clearly cooling; says inflation still too high; has confidence housing inflation will trend down - Q3 at +3.8% and Atlanta GDP NOW is predicting that Q4 will come in at +5.1% More Eco - Productivity (Prelim Q3): 4.9% vs. 2.5% consensus - Productivity measures output per hour worked. A jump to 4.9% (almost double the consensus) suggests businesses are producing much more per labor hour than expected. Prior was revised up to 4.1% from 3.3%, so the trend is strengthening. WOW! Unit Labor Costs (Prelim Q3): -1.9% vs. +0.8% consensus - Unit labor costs measure labor cost per unit of output. A negative number means costs per unit are falling. Prior revised to -2.9% from +1.0%, so costs have been dropping sharply. -Could be due to technology adoption, automation, or efficiency improvements. Post-pandemic restructuring and leaner operations may have boosted output without adding labor. OOOOOOOPS - White House official says Truth Social disclosure of December jobs report was an "inadvertent release"; says White House will review protocols - CNBC  What next? - President Donald Trump called for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%, effective Jan. 20, without specifying details. - Trump wrote on social media that the American Public will no longer be "ripped off" by Credit Card Companies that are charging Interest Rates of 20 to 30%, and even more. - Maybe because of this: Hours before his message on Friday, Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, said on X: “Trump promised to cap credit card interest rates at 10% and stop Wall Street from getting away with murder. Instead, he deregulated big banks charging up to 30% interest on credit cards.” - BUT! Credit card companies will not be forced to issue credit - right? It will hurt people that need credit for business, personal or other needs. Then there was this: - Mortgage rates fell sharply on Friday, a day after President Donald Trump said on social media that he is instructing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds. - “This will drive Mortgage Rates DOWN, monthly payments DOWN, and make the cost of owning a home more affordable,” he said in the Truth Social post. - Still not clear where the money will come from and hot this actually works with the current structure of Fannie and Freddie - Talk of Fannie/Freddie IPO? --- Both are still still in conservatorship and book value per share still negative - SO WHERE DOES MONEY COME FROM? OHHHHH - How about this - 4PM browbeating for the Defense companies - RTX was in the hotseat (as were others) taking the wrath of Pres Trump saying that they were basically fat and happy and ripping off the taxpayer - No more dividends and no more buybacks was the call - Stocks dropped 5% into the close and then more after - 30 minutes later - conversation changed and the idea of a move from $1T in spending for the defense budget should move to $1.5T in 2027. ----- Where does that money come from? - Stocks JUMPED! Can't Ignore this - Trump suggesting that Corporations and institutional investors cannot buy single family homes - “People live in homes, not corporations,” he said. - The argument is that corporate ownership has helped push housing further out of reach for everyday Americans. - It is for that reason, and much more, that I am immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, and I will be calling on Congress to codify it. - Invitation Homes, which is the largest renter of single-family homes in the country, tumbled 6%. Shares of Blackstone, an investing firm that owns and rents single-family homes, dropped more than 5%. Private equity firm Apollo Global Management also declined over 5%. Then there is this... - DOJ putting he screws to Powell - The Trump administration has ramped up its pressure campaign on the U.S. central bank, threatening to indict Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over comments he made to Congress about a building renovation project, prompting the Fed chief to call the move a "pretext" to gain more influence over the ?setting of interest rates. - The latest development in a long-running effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to push the Fed to dramatically lower rates had immediate fallout in Washington and on global markets. - Powell came out with a video over the weekend. - Initially futures were down

On today's podcast episode, the team reports straight from the show floor at NRF's Big Show 2026 to break down the most compelling themes dominating the conference, noteworthy insights from off-stage and hallway conversations, and what retail leaders should prioritize next based on what mattered most at one of the retail industry's most influential events. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, along with Principal Analysts Sky Canaves and Sarah Marzano.   Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters   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: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-what-everyone-talking-about-nrf-s-big-show-2026-reimagining-retail   © 2026 EMARKETER

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Martin Bailie, Senior Advisor at Vusion, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why the execution gap has become the biggest risk facing retailers in 2026. As retailers invest heavily in AI, data platforms, and digital transformation, many are discovering that strategy alone does not drive results. Martin breaks down why execution at store level, not vision decks or pilot programs, determines whether technology delivers real P & L impact. From disconnected systems and poor data quality to organizational silos and change management challenges, this conversation examines why retailers struggle to move from ideas to outcomes. Key Topics Covered: • Why the execution gap is now retail's biggest competitive risk • The difference between strategy, pilots, and scalable execution • How disconnected store systems undermine AI and analytics investments • Why data quality and real time visibility matter more than new tools • The role of connected store platforms in driving consistent execution • Organizational barriers that prevent technology from delivering value • How retailers can align store operations, IT, and leadership priorities • Turning technology investments into measurable P & L results • What retailers must do in 2026 to avoid permanent execution debt Stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello! #NRF2026 #RetailExecution #ConnectedStores #RetailTechnology #RetailAI #StoreOperations #Vusion #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Mark Williamson, AVP of Retail Media at Costco, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how Costco is building its retail media business in a way that stays true to its culture, values, and member-first philosophy. Mark shares how Costco's retail media organization has evolved over the past year, including major investments in people, data infrastructure, and foundational capabilities designed to support personalization at scale. Rather than prioritizing short-term monetization, Costco is intentionally building a retail media platform that serves its broader member communication and personalization strategy. Looking ahead to 2026, Mark outlines upcoming product launches including a new clean room, expanded offsite media measurement, search and shopping integrations, and a rebuilt onsite ad server designed to connect identity, data, and in-warehouse sales outcomes. The discussion closes with a look at how Costco views scan-and-go style experiences, warehouse mode, and the role of the app as a one-to-one personalization channel. Key Topics covered: -How Costco's retail media business has evolved since NRF 2025 -What it means to build retail media “the Costco way” -Hiring from within and preserving Costco culture at scale -Why retail media is subordinated to member communication strategy -The role of AI in delivering personalization across 135 million members -Why data readiness is the foundation for scalable retail media -Balancing national brands and Kirkland Signature within retail media -Clean rooms, offsite measurement, and growing advertiser expectations -New search, shopping, and onsite ad server capabilities for 2026 -How Costco thinks about scan-and-go, warehouse mode, and the member app Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #Costco #RetailMedia #RetailTechnology #Personalization #RetailAI #OmnichannelRetail #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

Dawn shares a retail update about Saks. Then she's got the skinny on a story about Paul Rudd's junk. There's an Avengers/M&Ms mashup. Dawn's got dreams. Bradley shares a list of cities that people think are the most inauthentic.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Excess Returns, we welcome back Liz Ann Sonders to discuss the evolving market and economic landscape heading into 2026. The conversation focuses on why this cycle feels fundamentally different, how instability rather than uncertainty is shaping investor behavior, and what that means for inflation, the labor market, Federal Reserve policy, and equity markets. Liz Ann breaks down the growing bifurcation across the economy and markets, the shift away from the Great Moderation era, and how investors should think about diversification, earnings, valuations, and AI-driven capital spending in a more volatile and fragmented environment.Main topics covered• Why today's environment is better described as unstable rather than uncertain• The K-shaped economy and growing bifurcation across consumers, sectors, and markets• Inflation dynamics and why 2 percent may now be a floor rather than a ceiling• How deglobalization, supply chains, and tariffs are changing the inflation regime• The shifting relationship between stocks and bonds• Hard data versus soft data and what sentiment is really telling us• The labor market's headwinds and tailwinds, including immigration and hiring trends• AI's impact on productivity, jobs, and capital spending• The AI capex boom and how it differs from the late 1990s tech cycle• Earnings growth, valuation compression, and market broadening• Rolling recessions versus traditional economic downturns• Federal Reserve challenges under a conflicted dual mandate• Why factor-based investing matters more than sector or style callsTimestamps00:00 Introduction and why this cycle feels different02:00 Uncertainty versus instability in markets03:30 The K-shaped economy and market bifurcation07:00 Market broadening, small caps, and diversification09:00 Inflation measurement challenges and data reliability12:00 Why inflation may stay above 2 percent15:00 Stock and bond correlations across cycles17:30 Labor market crosscurrents and immigration effects20:45 AI, productivity, and entry-level job pressures24:30 Sentiment versus fundamentals in markets27:30 Retail trading, behavior, and market psychology31:00 Rolling recessions and post-pandemic distortions38:00 Technology, cyclicality, and sector rotation40:30 The Fed's policy dilemma and internal disagreements45:00 AI capital spending and comparisons to the dot-com era51:00 Earnings growth versus valuation expansion55:00 Factors, GARP, and portfolio positioning for 2026

In this episode, Michelle walks through how she tackles post-holiday blues in-store and as a buyer—sharing practical merchandising strategies, sale philosophy, and ways to reinvent existing inventory to keep stores fresh and profitable through January and beyond.We are doing our first-ever open call! You can submit your store or favorite store to be on the podcast because every store has a story behind it! Go to theretailwhorepodcast.com, click on SUBMIT YOUR STORE, fill out an easy form and we'll see you on the mic!What's inside:Reset fast: Run a decisive post-holiday sale (Michelle's go-to is 50% off) to recover cash, then reinvent remaining stock instead of dumping everything.Reinvent and recolor: Use “coloring out,” regrouping, and cross-department moves to make random or low-stock items feel new and abundant.Seasonal strategy shift: Adapt buying cadence for local demand (e.g., strong January sales in tourist markets), keep bread-and-butter SKUs, and take creative risks to avoid complacency.Support the show

Horacio “Haio” Barbeito, president and CEO of Old Navy, joins Retail Gets Real to reflect on a global career in retail, the responsibility of developing future talent and how leaders can navigate rapid change while keeping humanity at the center of the business.With nearly three decades of experience spanning Argentina, the United States, Chile, Puerto Rico and Canada, Barbeito's leadership philosophy was shaped by working across cultures and markets. His journey — which included 26 years at Walmart and CEO roles in multiple international businesses — reinforced an early lesson: Growth happens when leaders are willing to leave their comfort zones. Retail, he says, is never static. It demands constant learning, movement and responsiveness to customers whose expectations evolve at the speed of culture.(00:00:00) Building a global retail career through change(00:06:16) Creating first jobs that change lives(00:10:26) Why investing in people is smart business(00:13:20) Navigating AI without losing the human touch(00:19:14) Advice for the next generation of retail leadersThe National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association.Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.Resources:• Learn more about Retail's Big Show in NYC• Become an NRF member and join the world's largest retail trade association• Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.comRelated:• 391. AI, skills-first hiring and the next era of retail jobs

As Dish Media's new head of programmatic partnerships, Kristinnsson is helping turn advanced TV into a single, addressable marketplace.  Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian Fowler.Ilyse Liffreing (00:01):And I'm Ilyse Liffreing.Damian Fowler (00:02):And welcome to this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (00:09):Today, we're joined by Liam Kristinnsson, head of programmatic partnerships at Dish Media, where he's helping shape how the company connects advertisers with premium audiences across both linear and digital environments.Damian Fowler (00:23):Dish has been pushing hard into the programmatic space. From Dish Connected, it's addressable solution across the ecosystem to Advantage, which links programmatic buying with linear inventory in real time. It's all part of a broader move to bring automation and accountability to advanced TV.Ilyse Liffreing (00:39):We'll talk with Liam about how Dish is tackling fragmentation, what premium really means in a mixed green world, and where the next phase of programmatic growth is headed.Damian Fowler (00:51):So let's get into it.Liam Kristinnsson (00:57):Dish Connected has really revolutionized our product in the marketplace. We've been able to convert an additional four million to five million households into tangible CTV devices across real-time bidding systems across the industry. And it's kind of given us a leg up against some of our more linear competition where we now have full autonomy over our inventory and can enable and provide transparency downstream to any client.Damian Fowler (01:28):That's amazing. I mean, there was a moment there where there was a sort of either all linear or CTV, but this is something that's kind of connecting thoseLiam Kristinnsson (01:38):Two worlds. I think this is the start of the convergence. I know it probably truly started post-pandemic, I would say, but the reality is now that what is perceived as underutilized impression-based audiences are now becoming tangible and kind of overlapping with their traditional legacy linear purchases. And there's much more value to it because we are not enabling people to find attribution in a more roundabout extrapolated way, but we can provide meaningful real time results to third party attribution vendors or measurement vendors.Damian Fowler (02:20):And that brings us to Advantage, which you introduced in May to Power Programmatic and Linear at the same time. Could you tell us a little bit more about that?Liam Kristinnsson (02:30):Yeah. So the beauty of Advantage is it really expands upon what we've already built for Programmatic in Disconnected, but it provides solutions across the whole suite of products we have. Our addressable business can tap into real-time kind of innovations, real-time optimizations against audiences, ensure that we are better delivering across the target audience and finding that incremental reach that in the past may have been next to impossible to verify. And now we have all that inventory in one place. It's kind of like a grocery store when I think the industry has become accustomed to going to a bodega. That's very New York with me, I understand. I like that. But sometimes bodegas have eggs, they have a deli, they might have milk, but they might not always have milk and seltzer and all the little things that you want on a day-to-day basis. And the reality is something lacking when it comes to you being able to actually fill your fridge.(03:35):Now we have all those components that the customer or the client is looking for.Damian Fowler (03:40):Yeah. I like that analogy.Ilyse Liffreing (03:41):It's a good one. Yeah, no, I like that. And now Liam, I'm curious about the advertisers you're working with. Is there a new segment of buyers that Programmatic is really opening the door to here? What is basically your sense of that cohort?Liam Kristinnsson (03:58):Yeah, I think it really has grown overnight programmatic in general, but I think it allows us to have expanded exposure across all clients that are looking for that more meaningful kind of results. I think we are seeing a lot of success in generating a lot of traction across the CPG world, the direct to consumer world. And I think we're finding a nice overlap from a category perspective of what we traditionally looked at as direct IO or addressable business, but maybe not all those brands or clients in maybe like a pharmaceutical vertical would tap or earmark dollars for commitments early in their planning phase. Now they have the liberty and the luxury to find that right audience and enable dollars downstream where we're just not hunting in that lane and now we can kind of, instead of spreading ourselves thin, the technology can enable us to really kind of tap into all those brands, whether it be the CPG or the pharmaceuticals.(05:05):Now on the CPG side, I would double down further. I think because in the linear world, traditionally there's a level of fragmentation when you were to buy linear and you're only getting a percentage of the marketplace. Now the transparency and data that we're passing downstream really changes that, right? Because now these CPG brands are looking to trade off their kind of gross rating points, but kind of understand, all right, am I serving a family that would buy my products? And now we're freeing up the inventory and making it available to those brands that maybe were not always keen on addressable or linear didn't provide enough eyeballs. We're compensating for that with the data we'reIlyse Liffreing (05:49):Providing. Do you have an example of a brand you're working with?Liam Kristinnsson (05:52):Yeah. So I mean, more specifically, even though that wasn't in some of the categories I called out, there was one or two major financial brands that we've been able to elevate our profile quite significantly with and then partner with them around some of their initiatives on the backend. And I think it kind of shows some of the flexibility that a publisher can now provide brands that I don't think they ever associated with a conglomerate or a media company like ourselves.Damian Fowler (06:23):On that point, there is a perception that the space is fragmented and that there's linear here and then there's streaming here. Do you think that that is changing that perception, maybe thanks to some of the work that you're doing?Liam Kristinnsson (06:36):I think that's a lot of our goal. I think that we are simplifying the process and enabling a household or a device level, right? And the device level tends to be at the unique user level and we have the ability to kind of triangulate that and make sure that we're providing good and strong data down to our partners. I think that as a marketplace holistically, I think the fragmentation has changed and I think a lot of that's around some consumer behavior that has changed or specifically around the way consumers are watching more free content or there's pockets where they're not required to provide a subscription. And I think that there's still a gap there and we do have some front porch access to our apps, but we are looking on our end to continue to develop and then enable through Advantage how we can kind of provide those, specifically those returning viewers, that clean look to the advertisers on the back end and really kind of leveraging deterministic data and first party signals to really define that audience more cleanly in some ways that competitors of ours maybe can't do.Ilyse Liffreing (07:53):Overall, how would you describe your measuring the success of these programmatic partnerships?Liam Kristinnsson (08:00):Yeah. So I think that that's a really unique place because that's something that has been our bread and butter. We have our own targeting and attribution team. They've worked very diligently on the direct IO side. I think a lot of the legacy information that they've been able to provide clients and the insights and the ways that we've been able to either cut our inventory or kind of group or the target audiences for these clients have helped demonstrate the programmatic partners the value in not just our audience, which I think is somewhat being underserved because Dish tends to be middle America and maybe they have less apps or maybe they leverage less apps. So they have been underserved. We have a legacy of success around specific verticals and we're able to kind of provide that to these brands. I think the challenge is it's a little bit of a black hole sometimes of how they tie it back to each other.(08:56):And I think there needs to be a little bit more assistance on our end. And by us, I mean the royal we across the industry of like providing some of those insights that I kind of alluded to earlier, whether it's, are we targeting and talking about unique users? Are we looking at success at a household level? And there is some innovation that's required there in the industry, but I think what we're doing is really at the forefront of enabling that.Ilyse Liffreing (09:23):Are there any particular channels that have surprised you in terms of performance or even advertiser adoption?Liam Kristinnsson (09:31):Sure. I mean, I think I imagine everybody talks about the success of sports. Sports has been a real catalyst to the boon of CTV enablement in general, but I think that I'd be remiss not to call out that a lot of our entertainment brands have shined, but not in the ways that traditionally they've been leveraged, right? Even though certain pockets of inventory is not super desirable in the marketplace at times, like news, there are a ton of clients that we've seen a lot of traction there and like pick up incremental success and really drive reach by anonymizing the content that they buy and focusing on the audience.Damian Fowler (10:20):That's interesting. Is there still some resistance to the idea of being around current affairs and news?Liam Kristinnsson (10:26):Yeah. I think I myself came from the website world years ago and I saw firsthand when a certain brand would be next to a certain type of content. And I understand the urgent need to not expose a valuable legacy luxury brand to something that may or may not be bad, right? Yeah. But the reality is often there is a disconnect from the content being consumed and the pod of commercials that's watched, right? Yeah. And while we often, and I'm sure we ... My mother certainly will watch news for hours and hours upon day, which is maybe not healthy for her lifestyle, but I think what's great about it, specifically when she goes to sit down, she is glued in to the TV. And that's something I think that a lot of people are trying to figure out, are people watching? Are they tuned in? Are they walking away?(11:30):And that's the black box of advertising, but I know that people that watch news are glued into the TV and consuming the content between segments. It's kind of like sports, right? Yeah.Damian Fowler (11:43):I think that's true. And I think that's true across all channels as far as I know people reading digital news as well, but I don't want to go off on a massive digression about news, but anyway. But it is fantastic. Can we pull back and look at the big picture a little bit? And we were wondering if there were any precedents or points of inspiration inside or outside of media that inform how you think about programmatic partnerships at Dish?Liam Kristinnsson (12:10):Sure. I mean, I think that back to what I was saying about evolution, I think often in the media industry, we look at things like baseball teams are run today. Not to use a sports analogy. I know you guys are probably sick of them, but- We love sports analogies here. Nelly said the trade death.(12:32):But the reality is these days people want home run hitters. And I think back in the day, that's a little bit of a cyclical history. People always want home run hitters and like big stats, but you win championships with diversity. And I think what partnerships means today is not what it maybe meant 12 or 13 years ago. I think there's a ... We're becoming a world where people, we're all playing Tetris and there's a way to make it all fit together if we cooperate and enable each other. So it's not one size fit all fits all. I think there's a lot of small partnerships and that's good for the competition of the industry and it doesn't take away from the value of these big partnerships. And I think I don't think in my time in TV there's ever been more opportunity there than there is today.Ilyse Liffreing (13:28):Something we often write about at the current is the value of like premium content versus maybe like user generated. For instance, what would you say is the importance of premium and I guess what kind of premium content is most popular? I mean, you brought up sports, but are there any others?Liam Kristinnsson (13:50):Yeah. I mean, I think premium content, I'm sure many people discuss across the course of ad week or just in the industry and in general, how valuable, unique and what's deemed as traditionally primetime TV is. But the reality is it's even more valuable than that because you are in a lot of ways demanding an eclectic audience to watch your spectrum of content and you can't always guarantee that in other places. There is also, sure there's some oversaturation for specific channels and maybe the product that they air, but the reality is it is not what everybody is consuming these days, right? It's Halloween. Everybody can find a bunch of great horror movies or Halloween's coming up, I should say. Everybody could find a bunch of great horror movies across the board, can't always guarantee what is in that content, how glued in they are versus just kind of like, "Oh, it's in season." I think with premium content, specifically around live TV, there's 365 days a year of people competing against each other from a content perspective, but it demands eyeballs.(15:07):And I think we're also starting to see a surprising jump in the youth getting app fatigue, I suppose, that is better enabling that premium content to ensure eyeballs there, but they're paying attention and I cannot stress that enough. In a world of a short attention span, they want to know what's going on and they consumeDamian Fowler (15:28):It. I would almost say it's short form content fatigue to a certain extent. There's something nice about a long form, a game,Liam Kristinnsson (15:41):ADamian Fowler (15:41):Football game,Liam Kristinnsson (15:42):A soccer game, or a movie. To that point, right? I was probably part of the problem with TV from a consumer point of view. I became like a cinephile which didn't help a company's ability to monetize myself, but the more meshed I get into the industry and the more, I don't know, popular I get, the less time I have to go find a film, right? The more time I have to maybe watch a drama about women in New York and I will watch the rerun that I just saw the week before at eight o'clock in anticipation of what's going to happen at nine o'clock, but really because I want to see the reunion or the interview at 10 o'clock, right? So now I'm consuming the same content twice, but I'm even more engaged in the live TV and there's something afterwards that is actually, maybe taped, but it feels live, right?(16:37):Yeah.Damian Fowler (16:37):And that's the proposition that Dish is getting into. I'd want to ask you, how's Dish Media building on the momentum that you've already created?Liam Kristinnsson (16:45):Yeah, I think right now it's what more can we do and how can we keep providing and enabling inventory for the right providers? I think that the assumption in the marketplace for any new product that comes out is, wow, this is it, it's here. 100% of it's enabled. That's never the case, right? It takes a year to ramp up typically for the average product, sometimes as much as three for us. We've been hitting the gas and I think now we're about to go from fifth to sixth speed and really kind of enable our inventory holistically to the marketplace. So for us, it's a little bit of crawl, walk, run from an enablement perspective and with that comes even greater insights into what are they consuming, what's the audience? How do we help define and clean up that audience downstream and then let others maybe do what they do best.(17:45):But we are really in a great position to keep kind of growing that and exposing net new insights about users that I'm not sure everybody's contemplating.Damian Fowler (17:56):Yeah, I'm sure.Ilyse Liffreing (17:57):Very cool. I have a question here about the economy and as you know, and everybody does, it's on kind of shaky ground, you don't know. How do you see spend evolving in the programmatic space at this time?Liam Kristinnsson (18:16):Well, I'm glad you asked that. I think there is marketplace concerns about what is happening on the demand side and a lot of them are valid. A lot of them are maybe being overthought perhaps, but I think there's some rocky roads ahead for specific industries, but it presents a unique opportunity. And I think from a publisher perspective, maintaining the value of inventory and the premium content that they have is absolutely a must because we are going to continue to provide insights and improve products that ultimately will provide better outcomes for backend users. If we kind of enable knee-jerk reactive spend, I think that actually goes against the grain of supply path optimization and increasing outcomes holistically under the guise of potentially lower rates or what have you. But I truly believe that if one category is down, another needs to go up. And I think advertising is like a mutual fund like that where I have lived in Europe in the past and there's a phrase in Scandinavia that like, no matter what happens to our small economy, people will advertise beer because somebody will buy it, right?(19:46):And I think that's much more universal than just in a few select small countries. And I think in a lot of ways we saw that in the pandemic, right? Direct to consumer brands, a lot more variety of entertainment companies or hardware products or TVs were able to kind of put their best foot forward and give the consumer options, right? And I think it's some of their responsibility to provide those options. What we, the publishers can do is enable and ensure they're getting the right results for the content and fitting them in the content or audiences that they really can get the best out of them, right?Damian Fowler (20:28):Absolutely. Okay. We're going to bring this home now with some quick fire questions, right? And here's the first one. What are you obsessed with figuring out right now?Liam Kristinnsson (20:38):Well, this might be a little divisive, but I am obsessed with continuing to improve supply path optimization, but I believe that comes with the slow sunsetting of linear. When I got to Dish, we were still primarily, while our bread and butter was addressable, we were still primarily from a percentage basis, linear, right? Since then, we've completely flipped the script. We are by far and away, mostly impression based. And the reality is I think that we are leveraging too many legacy tools to tell and provide stories on outcomes that are not always as accurate as they should be. We live in a world where transparency is key, maybe not full transparency all the time, but enough transparency where I, the client or brand should be getting a return on our investment or understanding why the audience or the content I was targeting is not working for me.(21:42):And I think that's, those are the pockets we need to start exploring and understanding, not so much the, how do I understand foot traffic on a day-to-day basis, but not convert that to sales when I'm extrapolating out 32 families, right? So that's really, really what I think needs to happen. And I think there's a lot of work to be done there and it's not going to happen overnight, but it starts here and starts with an advantage really.Ilyse Liffreing (22:06):Wow. And why do you think that the slow death of linear, as you said, has to happen for that?Liam Kristinnsson (22:15):I shouldn't say it has to happen. I think there is a time and a place for it, right? I think if I'm going to a bodega and I think I want a soft drink, that's their goal is to make sure that the first thing I think of is whatever the product is, but I think that time and a place is actually creating a lot of noise downstream and creating a lot of challenges for folks on the attribution and measurement side to actually understand and holistically look at their media purchases. And I think it's okay to have gross in terms of volume, ways of looking at how media should be purchased and leveraged, but I believe nine out of 10 clients really, they deserve the insights and the understanding of who is buying their products and how we can figure out how to kind of tie that together and improve into the next year.(23:10):That's how their products are going to build, especially with some of this like in certain categories. There's maybe too many brands or too little, right? Better data will inform beyond individual clients, but it'll enable people to start unique businesses that can compete in an area where there's clearly a lot of eager consumers,(23:35):Right?Ilyse Liffreing (23:36):Very cool. What's one piece of wisdom you'd pass on to other media leaders navigating the shift to programmatic?Liam Kristinnsson (23:43):Yeah. So I hate to say the same thing twice, but if I were to give one piece of wisdom is value your inventory that is going to be the future of your business and there are ways that you can improve your product and enable and improve a third party client or vendor's product, but racing to the bottom for what is happening tomorrow will not enable you next year. And it's a real concern in the marketplace, but my concern is actually twofold that it doesn't actually just hurt publishers, but it ends up ultimately hurting the brands and the people buying the inventory because they are going to receive exponentially more noise, right? And I think that as an industry with a lot of noise, we should really think about like how we can kind of isolate it into, and harness it into, into actual meaningful outcomes.Damian Fowler (24:48):If you could pick one brand that's really nailing programmatic right now, who would it be?Liam Kristinnsson (24:53):Without explicitly calling out a unique brand, but I'll give you two types of folks that are really nailing programmatic. One, I think is second tier auto brands where they are unlocking, and I really think Disconnected plays a great role here. They are unlocking and understanding how they can better access inventory for the right audiences, period. That could be isolating and understanding how I could serve ads from a reach perspective across the city of Des Moines, or it can be somebody looking for blonde-haired men that have two boxer dogs. Secondly, and I think this is part of the paradigm shift across the industry. I think there's quite a number of CPG brands that legacy-wise have really had outstanding success reaching mass eyeballs, whether it's through billboards, radio, traditional linear television. But now again, like they are able to fill a void across the whole ecosystem by getting better, more dynamic insights into the audiences that they're selling to, but also they're actually getting insights, period.(26:13):Retail data, you're talking about? Retail data, yes. And I think if I'm a chip brand, sometimes I want people to know my name first. And that's great. There's a need for that, but eventually you have to start focusing on how you can get money back from that. It's not just about getting your name out there, or it could be diversified. Maybe your name is out there, but now other names have come in, right? Now, how do you leverage the dynamic component of programmatic to diversify your creative and your ability to deliver to the same audience? It'll change the way we think and look at maybe traditional frequency capping or traditional exposure, but now the brand through Programmatic can really lead the new age of creative storytelling and how people understand or change the way people think they know products.Damian Fowler (27:13):And that's it for this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (27:15):This show is produced by Molten Heart. Our theme is by Love and Caliber, and our associate producer is Sydney Cairns.Liam Kristinnsson (27:22):And remember ... We're also starting to see a surprising jump in the youth kind of getting app fatigue, I suppose, that is better enabling that premium content to ensure eyeballs there, but they're paying attention.Ilyse Liffreing (27:37):I'm Damian. And I'mDamian Fowler (27:38):Ilyse. And we'll see you next time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Existing home sales increased for the fourth months in a row, says Kevin Green, a positive signal for a struggling housing market. As for November's retail sales, he notes pressures in goods along with utility and gas prices accelerating higher. KG explains what it all means for the Fed's fight against inflation. On the commodities front, he talks about metals like gold, silver, and even tin hitting all time highs paired with crude oil's spike on geopolitical headlines. ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Humble Beginnings in a Feed Store Sarah Cohen never imagined she'd spend her life making potato chips in rural Virginia. Growing up in Washington, DC, where she worked in her family's restaurant and hotel business from age 12, she learned work ethic early. However, manufacturing knowledge? That came later—much later. In her twenties, Sarah launched Route 11 Potato Chips in an old feed store in Middletown, Virginia. The setup was as bare-bones as it gets. "We had wooden floors," she recalls, still sounding slightly incredulous. "I know it sounds like the 1800s." The operation ran on 1960s equipment, and workers literally carried potatoes through the office to reach the peeler. Most remarkably, they stirred batches of chips with a garden rake. "I thought we must be the absolute most inefficient chip factory in the world," Sarah admits. Nevertheless, something magical happened. The local community grew curious, came to watch, tried the chips, and became advocates. That grassroots support hasn't stopped since day one. The Power of Transparency From the beginning, Route 11 did something unusual for its time: they installed viewing windows. Initially, this decision stemmed from necessity rather than marketing genius. Without a packaging machine during the first year or two, the company hand-packed chips and relied on customers coming directly to buy them. The window gave visitors something to do besides standing awkwardly in a "weird little wooden building." Before long, tour buses arrived. People came out of sheer curiosity to watch food being made—a rarity in manufacturing. When Route 11 moved to Mount Jackson in 2008, the town made "fry viewing" a stipulation of the deal. Sarah and her business partner Mike embraced this transparency wholeheartedly. "We're very shameless about just showing it as it is," Sarah explains. "This is the real deal. This is how something is made." Today, this openness feels prescient. Craft breweries and artisan food makers routinely showcase their processes, but Route 11 pioneered this approach decades ago. The Partnership That Changed Everything Running a chip factory with breaking-down equipment from the 1960s proved exhausting. Sarah attended food shows unable to sell with confidence because she couldn't guarantee production without breakdowns. Then came a serendipitous encounter in a Winchester bar. Mike, who had been "fixing lawnmowers in his diapers," loved the product but saw room for improvement. An Army veteran with an engineering mindset, he brought manufacturing vision and intensity to complement Sarah's creative approach. "We are very different types of people," she notes. "He's very engineer brain, sees the world in very black and white terms, whereas I'm much more muddled." Mike's obsession with preventive maintenance transformed the operation. Eighteen years later, visitors consistently comment that the equipment looks brand new. "That's because we take care of it," Sarah says simply. "We baby it and pamper it." This philosophy stands in stark contrast to many manufacturers who adopt a "run it until it breaks" mentality. As the conversation reveals, preventive maintenance literally saves money, especially in today's world of long lead times for parts. Route 11 maintains stockpiles of commonly needed components because they can't assume availability when equipment fails. Keeping It Simple: The Ingredient Philosophy Route 11's chips contain a remarkably short ingredient list. This minimalism serves multiple purposes. First, it lets potato chips taste like potatoes—a revolutionary concept in an industry often dominated by artificial flavors and additives. Second, it reduces exposure to recalls. As Sarah explains, "The more ingredients a product has, the more exposure you have to a recall. If one ingredient gets recalled, then you've gotta pull all that product." The company operates as a gluten-free certified facility with only one allergen: dairy, found in trace amounts in their dill pickle chips. They've developed careful protocols for running dairy-containing flavors at the end of the day, followed by thorough cleaning. Interestingly, Route 11 pioneered the dill pickle chip flavor—now ubiquitous in the snack aisle. Sarah, who enjoyed mixing pickle juice with her potato chips and grilled cheese sandwiches, decided to formalize the combination. The flavor garnered press coverage, morning show appearances, and a mention in Oprah's Magazine. "It's the closest thing we've actually formulated," Sarah says. "It's our version of a Doritos." The Costco Courtship Route 11's relationship with Costco began unexpectedly. The buying team discovered their dill pickle chips at a Leesburg deli and started calling. Sarah, having just moved to Mount Jackson, felt unprepared. "I was nervous about it," she admits. Costco persisted, eventually sending their buying team to the facility. They offered flexibility: "Just do what you're comfortable with. You tell us what you can do." This approach proved crucial for a small manufacturer wary of overextending. Today, Route 11 supplies Costco's northeast region—roughly 20 Virginia warehouses. They've learned that many small businesses mistakenly believe they must supply all Costco locations nationwide. Regional arrangements exist precisely for companies like Route 11. Supplying all 90 warehouses would require two to three truckloads weekly—essentially their entire production capacity. "We need a separate Costco production facility to be able to maintain this," Sarah jokes. Instead, they've found their sweet spot: getting chips into as many Virginia locations as possible while maintaining quality and reliability. Costco's rigorous annual audits have elevated Route 11's standards. "Their standards are higher than anybody's," Sarah notes. While the company would maintain high standards regardless, having customers with such exacting requirements pushes continuous improvement. The Flavor Balancing Act Route 11 currently offers eight flavors plus seasonal varieties, including the cult-favorite Yukon Golds. When Yukon Gold season arrives, the company experiences what they call "the Gold Rush"—digging, cooking, and shipping the chips as fast as possible before they sell out. However, Sarah learned a counterintuitive lesson about flavors: more doesn't equal better. "I was very delusional," she admits about her early vision. "I thought everybody's gonna love the chips so much, they would take one of each bag." Reality proved different. People have favorite flavors, and for all potato chip companies, most customers reach for the classic salted variety. Route 11's lightly salted chips represent 60% of sales. When slower-moving flavors like Chesapeake Crab occupy shelf space, they create holes where the lightly salted should be, hampering overall sales velocity. Consequently, Route 11 actually offers fewer flavors now than when they started. To introduce a new flavor, they must discontinue an existing one. This disciplined approach extends to their mission statement, which Sarah describes as "not very exciting": make a great product in a clean and safe environment. For a single-facility operation, one recall could prove catastrophic. Larger manufacturers can shift production to different locations; Route 11 has no such luxury. Crisis and Innovation: The Ukraine Connection The war in Ukraine delivered an unexpected blow to Route 11. Ukraine supplies 90% of the world's sunflower seeds, and when shipping stopped, the entire vegetable oil market seized up. "This is how we're gonna go out of business because we can't get any oil," Sarah remembers thinking. Their oil supplier found peanut oil—more expensive and carrying the stigma of being peanut oil—but something proved better than nothing. Route 11 had to apply different labels to every single bag, creating what Sarah describes as a "dizzying" OSHA hazard. Fortunately, the situation lasted only a couple months, and loyal customers understood. Yet this crisis sparked innovation. While desperately searching for sunflower oil, Sarah discovered a North Carolina farmer preparing to press his own oil. Soon, Route 11 will receive their first tractor-trailer load of oil from this farmer—just five hours away. For the first time, they'll purchase directly from a farm rather than through distributors. "I would not have necessarily found him had we not been turning over every single rock," Sarah reflects. This development aligns perfectly with Route 11's original vision of being regional, local, and sustainable. They already work with local potato growers in Dayton, Virginia, and certified organic sweet potato growers in Mattaponi, Virginia. Adding a sunflower oil supplier completes the circle. The Sweet Spot of Growth Route 11 now employs 53 people and operates on a four-day, 10-hour workweek. They cook during the day, with no Saturday or night shifts. This schedule reflects a deliberate choice about growth and quality of life. "We could add another shift if we wanted to," Sarah acknowledges. However, additional shifts mean accelerated equipment wear, increased maintenance costs, and the prospect of 2 a.m. phone calls about breakdowns. "That's the beauty of having your own business," she says. "You can make decisions like that. We know what we can manage." This philosophy recognizes a truth many businesses miss: there's a profitability sweet spot. Beyond a certain point, scaling up means doing more work for proportionally less profit. Route 11 has found their equilibrium—large enough to matter to suppliers, small enough to maintain quality and control. Instead of adding shifts, they've focused on optimization. Recent investments include a bigger water line for faster cleaning, an additional warehouse for better organization, and new oil tanks for receiving directly from farmers. These improvements help them "eek out more pallets of product" without fundamentally changing their operational model. Retail and Tourism: The Other Revenue Stream While wholesale accounts like Costco generate significant volume, Route 11's retail operation remains vital. The facility welcomes visitors who tour the production area, purchase chips, and browse merchandise including t-shirts and tins. The company ships nationwide, serving customers far beyond their regional grocery footprint. This retail presence serves as their primary marketing channel. People experience the product, see how it's made, and become evangelists. The model has proven so successful that Mount Jackson now hosts an annual Tater Fest—a potato-themed festival celebrating the town's most famous product. Lessons from the Trenches When asked what advice she'd give aspiring food manufacturers, Sarah's immediate response is characteristically honest: "Don't do it. Whatever you do." Then she elaborates more seriously. Small business ownership is all-consuming, like having children. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Success requires time, money, deep pockets, and support systems. Sarah deliberately avoided investors, unwilling to be "enslaved" to return-on-investment demands or have others dictating shortcuts for profit. Realism matters, but so does a touch of delusion. "If I had been realistic, I never would've done it," Sarah admits. Vision must balance with number-crunching. She credits the Small Business Development Center where Bill helped her develop a business plan and understand concepts like breakeven points. The timeline proves sobering: Route 11 took nearly seven years to break even. During that period, Sarah worked part-time at a pizzeria while her co-founder worked as a line cook at the Wayside Inn. They put every dollar back into the business, personally making no money. "You have to be in your twenties," Sarah jokes. The energy and resilience required make this a young person's game. When people call seeking mentorship while envisioning running their company from a beach in St. Barts, Sarah's response is blunt: "No, sorry. If you're already envisioning yourself running your company from the beach, you probably should not even start." Manufacturing demands on-site presence. It's like being a conductor, orchestrating multiple moving parts simultaneously. Customers calling with problems don't want to hear ocean waves in the background. Looking Ahead Route 11's future involves maintaining and growing thoughtfully. The pandemic forced a holding pattern, but Sarah feels ready to resume trade shows and active selling now that they've optimized production capacity. Challenges loom, particularly federal government layoffs affecting the DC market—a significant customer base for Route 11. Many restaurants are closing due to reduced lunch business, and Route 11 has been part of that ecosystem. Adaptation will be necessary. Yet Route 11's greatest strength remains reliability. "The most important thing about selling to somebody is that you're reliable," Sarah emphasizes. Potato chips move quickly, and if you can't deliver on time, customers find alternatives. Route 11's commitment to reliability has built trust that transcends market fluctuations. From wooden floors and garden rakes to Costco shelves and 53 employees, Route 11 Potato Chips embodies the American manufacturing dream—not the fantasy version where entrepreneurs run companies from tropical beaches, but the real version requiring grit, adaptability, community support, and an unwavering commitment to quality. As Cohen surveys her 20,000-square-foot facility, the journey from that cramped Middletown feed store seems both improbable and inevitable. "It's just a very interesting story," she says with characteristic understatement. For anyone who's ever tasted a Route 11 chip—crispy, perfectly salted, tasting unmistakably like actual potatoes—the story is more than interesting. It's inspiring.

 Ready to elevate your laundromat? Learn from the retail industry how to make small changes that create a big imact on customer experience. Stan Sugarman, owner of Oz Laundry in Atlanta, shares what he learned from his vast experience in the retail and real estate industries to create his remarkable laundromat in this episode of The Laundromat Millionaire Show with Dave & Carla Menz.Referenced Links: Our Guest's Links: Oz Laundry: https://www.ozlaundry.com/Our Sponsors: H-M Company Drain Troughs: https://www.draintroughs.com & LaundroBoost: https://laundroboostmarketing.comOur Website: https://www.laundromatmillionaire.comOur Online Course: https://dave-menz.mykajabi.com/sales-pageOur Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/c/LaundromatMillionaireOur Podcast: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/podcast/Our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laundromatmillionaire/Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/laundromatmillionaireOur LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-laundromat-millionaire-menz/Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laundromatmillionaire/Our laundromats: https://www.queencitylaundry.comOur pick-up and delivery laundry services: https://www.queencitylaundry.com/deliveryOur WDF & Delivery Workshop: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/pick-up-delivery-workshop/Suggested Services Page: https://www.laundromatmillionaire.com/servicesWDF & Delivery Dynamics: A Complete Business Blueprint: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/wdf-delivery-dynamics-a-business-blueprint/The Laundromat Millionaire Insurance Program: https://laundromatmillionaire.com/insurance/Wholesale Laundry in Alabama: https://www.alaundryman.com/Eastern Funding: https://www.easternfunding.com/Laundry Cares: https://laundrycares.org/Atmosphere TV: https://www.atmosphere.tv/Presso: https://getpresso.com/CCI – Fascard System: https://www.laundrycard.com/products/fascard/Cents – LaundroWorks: https://laundroworks.com/Alliance ProCapture: https://alliancelaundry.com/news/alliance-feature-ends-lint-issues/Previous Episode with Craig Madson on Procapture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zbp5xwruBETimestamps 00:00 Episode 112 Intro – Stan Sugarman00:54 Spotlight: The Laundromat Millionaire WDF & Delivery Workshop2:18 More Customers, Not More Equipment05:50 Stan's Background09:10 Creating Oz Laundry12:09 Lessons for Laundromats from a Retail Perspective17:49 Reinvesting and a Longterm Mindset20:46 Laundromat Business Model21:31 Pivoting with Presso25:24 Equipment Brand and Mix27:31 Payment Systems and Coins vs Cards30:49 Laundromat Journey Challenges and Changes for the Future34:59 Advice for Prospective Laundromat Owners36:38 Marketing a New Store39:14 Importance of Competitive Analysis41:33 Future Growth & Replacing Yourself43:11 Contact Information44:00 Tax Advantages of Laundries45:08 Final Thoughts 

Guests: Elizabeth Peek and John Batchelor. Batchelor and Peek discuss inflation holding firm at 2.7% in December. They evaluate falling gasoline prices and strong holiday retail performance as indicators of improving consumer sentiment. Peek also critiques a DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell, labeling it an "unforced error" that might inadvertently extend Powell's tenure.FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD 1917

Welcome to a new type of episode where we sit down with some celebrities of our industry to find out where they grew up, what they did before this. What passions, activities and how they spend their time having fun outside of Ecommerce and Retail. We hope everyone enjoys getting to know Martin Heubel better. Martin has been the leading voice on LinkedIn for Amazon Vendors for many years now and has a very successful consulting business working with some of the biggest and best CPG companies in the world. Martin created his company Consulterce before the pandemic after he spent 5 years as a Vendor Manager and then Sr. Category Manager in the CPG space at Amazon. He talks about his childhood, some jobs you will never imagine and how he was drawn to tech and Amazon. Not to mention his music choices might surprise you! Enjoy Always Off Brand is always a Laugh & Learn!    FEEDSPOT TOP 10 Retail Podcast! https://podcast.feedspot.com/retail_podcasts/?feedid=5770554&_src=f2_featured_email Guest: Martin Heubel  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinheubel/ Website: https://consulterce.com/ QUICKFIRE Info:   Website: https://www.quickfirenow.com/ Email the Show: info@quickfirenow.com  Talk to us on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quickfireproductions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quickfire__/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@quickfiremarketing LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/quickfire-productions-llc/about/ Sports podcast Scott has been doing since 2017, Scott & Tim Sports Show part of Somethin About Nothin:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/somethin-about-nothin/id1306950451 HOSTS: Summer Jubelirer has been in digital commerce and marketing for over 17 years. After spending many years working for digital and ecommerce agencies working with multi-million dollar brands and running teams of Account Managers, she is now the Amazon Manager at OLLY PBC.   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/summerjubelirer/   Scott Ohsman has been working with brands for over 30 years in retail, online and has launched over 200 brands on Amazon. Mr. Ohsman has been managing brands on Amazon for 19yrs. Owning his own sales and marketing agency in the Pacific NW, is now VP of Digital Commerce for Quickfire LLC. Producer and Co-Host for the top 5 retail podcast, Always Off Brand. He also produces the Brain Driven Brands Podcast featuring leading Consumer Behaviorist Sarah Levinger. Scott has been a featured speaker at national trade shows and has developed distribution strategies for many top brands. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ohsman-861196a6/   Hayley Brucker has been working in retail and with Amazon for years. Hayley has extensive experience in digital advertising, both seller and vendor central on Amazon. Hayley lives in North Carolina.  LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-brucker-1945bb229/   Huge thanks to Cytrus our show theme music "Office Party" available wherever you get your music. Check them out here: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cytrusmusic Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cytrusmusic/ Twitter https://twitter.com/cytrusmusic SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VrNLN6Thj1iUMsiL4Yt5q?si=MeRsjqYfQiafl0f021kHwg APPLE MUSIC https://music.apple.com/us/artist/cytrus/1462321449   "Always Off Brand" is part of the Quickfire Podcast Network and produced by Quickfire LLC.  

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc open the first episode of 2026 with a clear-eyed look at the retail news shaping the year ahead. Holiday sales landed largely as expected. Online sales grew faster, but at a decelerating pace, reinforcing the continued centrality of stores—particularly as click-and-collect represented a meaningful share of holiday fulfillment. The hosts also dig into sector-level performance, noting continued softness in big-ticket home categories alongside strength in apparel, beauty, and sporting goods.Attention then turns to structural stress in retail. The looming Chapter 11 filing of Saks Global underscores the limits of debt-heavy consolidation strategies and the difficulty of rationalizing oversized store portfolios. Steve outlines why store closures, vendor confidence, and new leadership will be critical to any successful reorganization. The news segment closes with a sobering look at U.S. job growth, which has slowed sharply, particularly in retail and manufacturing. While unemployment remains low, constrained labor supply and weak hiring momentum raise important questions for 2026.From there, the episode shifts to a wide-ranging discussion with The Analysts, this time featuring Simeon Siegel, Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim Partners, and Sucharita Kodali, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester. Reflecting on 2025, both describe a year marked by cognitive dissonance: record retail spending alongside low consumer confidence and wildly uneven outcomes. Rather than a simple “K-shaped” economy, Simeon argues that execution matters most, pointing to stark performance differences between retailers selling similar products to similar customers.The Analysts explore where market share is truly shifting, why off-price and value leaders continue to gain ground, and how e-commerce growth is normalizing as the channel matures. Sucharita explains why physical retail remains resilient in the U.S., while Simeon adds that rising friction—fees, returns, and fulfillment costs—has dulled some of e-commerce's original advantages. The conversation also tackles tariffs, AI, and technology hype. The episode concludes with Steve and Michael's perspectives on Amazon's surprising new physical retail stores plans and a possibly big Supreme Court ruling on tariff policy. 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.

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at Vusion's booth, Jim Norred, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Vusion, and Gina Ayala Claxton, CVP of U.S. Retail & Consumer Goods at Microsoft, join Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why connected stores are quickly becoming a P&L priority for retailers in 2026. As margin pressure, labor constraints, and ecommerce fulfillment demands intensify, retailers are being forced to connect store infrastructure, data, and AI to drive faster, more accurate decisions. From Bluetooth-enabled connectivity and real-time shelf availability to agentic AI, data readiness, and governance at scale, this conversation breaks down what it really takes to modernize stores without creating costly “science projects.” Key Topics covered: -Why ecommerce picking accuracy is accelerating connected store adoption -Operational vs. marketing-led drivers of connected store investments -The anatomy of a connected store: BLE, data, and AI -Why Bluetooth is emerging as the heartbeat of in-store connectivity -Agentic AI, observability, and speeding decisions from signal to execution -Platform vs. point solutions and how retailers avoid technology sprawl -Governance, security, and scaling AI across thousands of stores -How retailers are prioritizing initiatives with measurable P&L impact -Turning connected store investments into loyalty, efficiency, and ROI Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #ConnectedStore #RetailTechnology #RetailAI #OmnichannelRetail #StoreOperations #VusionGroup #Microsoft #RetailInnovation #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Aimee Bayer Thomas, Chief Retail Officer at Ulta Beauty, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why physical stores remain the foundation of Ulta's omnichannel strategy and how experiences are becoming a powerful growth driver in beauty retail. Overseeing more than 1,500 stores and 60,000 associates, Aimee shares how Ulta Beauty is scaling experiential retail through services, technology, and one of the industry's most ambitious event strategies. From salons and beauty services to birthday parties, brand-led activations, and Ulta Beauty World, she explains how Ulta executed more than 80,000 in-store events and why guests increasingly come in pairs and groups to discover, play, and connect. Key Topics covered: -What the Chief Retail Officer role covers at Ulta Beauty -Why Ulta believes stores are still central to omnichannel retail -How beauty services like salons, brows, and piercings create differentiation -The strategy behind executing 80,000 plus in-store events -Scaling experiential retail without creating noise or inconsistency -How Ulta partners with brands to deliver high-touch experiences -The role of technology and the Ulta app in discovery and store engagement -Why guests shop beauty experiences in pairs and groups -Birthday parties, celebrity events, and Ulta Beauty World as loyalty drivers -Balancing centralized event governance with local store execution Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #UltaBeauty #ExperientialRetail #OmnichannelRetail #RetailLeadership #StoreExperience #RetailInnovation #BeautyRetail #CustomerExperience #OmniTalk

What did the latest holiday shopping season reveal about consumer confidence as the year begins? Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach joins Rapid Response to unpack the signals he's seeing across global spending — from shifting consumer sentiment to AI's growing role in financial security. Miebach also explores how credit cards fit into a future shaped by crypto, digital wallets, and agent-driven commerce, and what it will take for businesses to stay competitive amid continued market disruption.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.

David Stever is the former CEO and CMO of beloved ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's. David started with the company back in the early 80's, working as a tour guide at their factory in Waterbury, Vermont. Over time, David ascended within Ben & Jerry's, helping to grow the then start-up into an iconic, multinational corporation. Over the course of his decades-long career there, David led marketing initiatives, drove massive brand growth, expanded global market share, and helped facilitate reinvention and product innovation, all while keeping Ben & Jerry's social mission front and center. He joins Roy to discuss his journey from tour guide to C-Suite, the many learnings he took from founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the profound effect of pursuing a triple bottom line, and much more.        Highlights from our conversation include: David's initial interest in the ice cream industry and how it evolved into his career (1:32)Working with Ben and Jerry in the early days (3:50)Leadership lessons learned through periods of massive growth and scaling (6:13)David's strengths and keys to success as Ben & Jerry's CMO (8:48)What surprised him the most when he transitioned from CMO to CEO (13:48)What it means to do “business as unusual” (15:29)The influence of Ben & Jerry's blend of activism and commerce on his leadership (18:12)How David defines Ben & Jerry's unique culture and how he helped sustain it through the years and through acquisition (20:26)Successful hiring throughout Ben & Jerry's different phases (22:48)Qualities David sought in his top leadership team (27:40)What he believes is often overlooked when assessing prospective talent (28:47)David's next chapter and what he's most excited about in looking ahead (31:00)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon

Digital commerce is shifting fast, and ten big “trends to prepare for” can feel overwhelming. In this conversation, Emma and Hannah Donoghue (SVP, Commerce Intelligence at Flywheel) walk through Flywheel Retail Insights' “Digital Trends to prepare for in 2026” report and translate it into concrete next steps. From agentic commerce and data clean rooms to value cycles, private label pressure, consolidation, and CTV, Hannah explains what changed, why it matters now, and how to build a focused 2026 plan instead of chasing every headline.Read the full "Digital Trends to prepare for in 2026" report here.

With AI like ChatGPT now handling the customer journey from search to potentially the entire transaction, are we about to witness the end of the brand website as the primary point of conversion? Agility requires not just reacting to new technologies like AI, but proactively redesigning the core operating model of the marketing organization. It demands a shift from mastering a set of fixed channels to building a flexible system that can learn, test, and scale with entirely new platforms for discovery and engagement. Today, we're going to talk about how AI is fundamentally rewriting the playbook for marketing—from how customers discover brands in the first place, to the very nature of content creation, and the operational realities of building a team and a tech stack that can keep up. It's a topic filled with both existential threats and massive opportunities.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Lisa Avvocato, Chief Marketing Officer at Vitam and former VP of Marketing and Community at Sama. About Lisa Avvocato Lisa Avvocato on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisaavvocato Resources Vitam: https://thevitam.com/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://ratethispodcast.com/agileConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Monday Minute, part of our new series on The Independent Dealer Podcast, brought to you by our sponsor, Podium.The Monday Minute is your quick weekly reset. It's designed to help you lead better, think clearer, and build your dealership with intention. Think of this as the mindset. The Sunday newsletter is the roadmap.This week, Jeff breaks down one of the most important decisions you'll make as a dealer: choosing the right dealership model.Retail, Buy Here Pay Here, Lease Here Pay Here. There's no single “best” option. The right model depends on your market, your capital, your risk tolerance, and even the season of life you're in. Too many operators chase what looks good on paper instead of what actually works in their market.In this episode, we cover:Why dealership models aren't one-size-fits-allThe real tradeoffs between retail and BHPHHow market demographics should guide your decisionThe role of capital, debt, and cash flowWhy honesty about risk, stress, and time mattersBefore you fall in love with any model, make sure you're asking the right questions and doing the market research. Cash flow mistakes can end a dealership before it ever really starts.Don't forget to review this week's Sunday newsletter, where we lay out the full theme and practical exercises to help you take action.If you're not subscribed yet, head to TheIndependentDealer.com and join us.Let's build it together.Check out our new sponsor: Podium - podium.com

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 in the Vusion podcast studio, Mark Propes from Vusion and Art Miller from Qualcomm reveal how their partnership is enabling "detect and connect" capabilities that transform physical retail into personalized experiences, and why retailers still testing need to operationalize now before the gap becomes permanent. From edge computing that processes 4K video locally instead of streaming to the cloud, to closed-loop attribution tracking customer intent in real-time physical space, Mark and Art break down the multimodal signal taxonomy (RFID, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, vision) powering connected stores. They share insights on why scanning barcodes continuously creates data-poor environments, how agentic AI creates new doorways into physical stores, and the precision needed for sub-30 minute delivery promises. If you've wondered what detect and connect actually means beyond buzzwords, this conversation delivers the technical foundation and business applications.

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, Matthew Shay, President and CEO of the National Retail Federation, joins us live from NRF's Big Show from the Vusion podcast studio to break down what's really happening in retail right now. From consumer resilience to affordability pressures, Matt reveals the dual forces shaping 2025's surprisingly strong performance and what that means for 2026. He shares exclusive insights on holiday season results, policy challenges retailers navigated, and why AI is becoming the ultimate force multiplier for businesses of all sizes. Plus, Matt drops a bold prediction about transformation, partnerships, and alliances coming in 2026 that nobody's talking about yet.

What if I told you that for every new dollar you've added to your marketing budget in the last two years, your actual impact on customers has gone down? Agility requires moving beyond the muscle memory of simply increasing ad spend. It demands a continuous reassessment of what truly connects with customers and a willingness to pivot creative strategy based on real-time cultural and emotional insights. Today, we're going to talk about a paradox that's likely keeping many marketing leaders up at night: the massive increase in global ad spend versus the startling drop in marketing impact. It's what Shutterstock's latest research calls the "impact gap," and we'll explore why the old playbook of just spending more is broken, and what the new drivers of success—like emotional connection, cultural relevance, and AI-powered personalization—actually look like in practice. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Allison Sitzman, Vice President of Brand Strategy at Shutterstock. About Allison Sitzman Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Allison Sitzman is a strategic marketing leader who helps brands navigate inflection points, translating customer insight into growth and differentiation. Allison leads Shutterstock's Brand Strategy organization, overseeing the global brand portfolio. She is responsible for defining and evolving Shutterstock's positioning, audience strategy, and brand architecture. Allison's leadership is focused on meaningful connection, business growth, and the consistent expression of the company's purpose to fuel great work. Beyond her marketing leadership, Allison is deeply committed to building inclusive, high-performing teams. She previously co-chaired Cox Automotive's women's employee resource group and now serves as co-executive sponsor of Shutterstock's LGBTQ+ employee resource group, advocating for belonging, empathy, and emotionally intelligent leadership across creative and marketing organizations. Allison Sitzman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsitzman/ Resources Shutterstock: https://www.shutterstock.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://ratethispodcast.com/agileConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company