Podcasts about Retail

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Alanna Handelman, Head of U.S. Commerce & Canada Mid-Market Sales at Snap Inc., a technology company that contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. Follow Alanna on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alannahandelman/Follow Snap for Business online at: http://forbusiness.snapchat.com/cpgguysFollow Snap Business Blog at: https://forbusiness.snapchat.com/blogFollow Snap on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/snapchat-for-business/postsAlanna answers these questions:What do you say to marketers who still think of Snapchat as “just for Gen Z”? Talk to us about your audience proposition. How does Snapchat compare with other digital platforms when it comes to driving awareness and conversion for CPG products?Retail media is exploding, but most of it is focused on on-site. Where does Snapchat fit into the off-site retail media puzzle?How is Snapchat uniquely positioned to support CPG brands in today's attention-fragmented world? Give us a breakdown of the various products / inventory available to brands and agencies?Can you talk about how Snapchat is partnering with retailers or data providers to close the loop on attribution and sales lift?Measurement is always a top concern for CPG advertisers. What's Snapchat doing to help brands prove ROI or incrementality? What's the most misunderstood metric in social advertising for CPG, in your opinion?How do you see AI and personalization shaping the future of ad experiences on Snapchat for CPG brands?Let's close by discussing how a partnership with Snapchat works. Start fo finish, what does it take and how does it get executed?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comCPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.comRhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

In this special summer edition of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis return to the mic for a jam-packed Month-in-Review episode. With interviews from the CommerceNext Growth Show rolling out all summer long, the duo takes a break from the regular cadence to reflect on the key developments dominating retail headlines.Kicking things off, Michael and Steve catch up on their summer travels, from retail safaris to personal DIY projects, before diving into on-the-ground observations from recent store visits. They note intensified promotional activity, flagging department store performance, and struggling retailers like Kohl's—whose housekeeping and inventory issues speak volumes about the deeper structural challenges facing legacy banners.A major theme is the ripple effect of evolving tariff policies. Steve breaks down the shifting landscape of trade "deals"—or lack thereof—impacting everything from apparel to automobiles, including the end of the de minimis clause that could reshape the business model of players like Shein and Temu. While retailers have largely absorbed tariff costs for now, Q4 pricing and profitability are big question marks, particularly for cash-strapped players.The conversation turns to macroeconomic conditions and a surprisingly resilient U.S. consumer. However, Steve warns against viewing “the consumer” as a monolith, emphasizing growing bifurcation between income brackets. The luxury market underscores this divide—Hermès continues to thrive, while Gucci and more aspirational brands struggle, and Saks Global faces mounting losses and vendor tensions.The episode also unpacks Amazon's latest earnings, with standout 23% growth in ad sales, despite investor jitters around AWS and an uncertain outlook.Other hot takes include AI's expanding role in customer interaction, the controversy around American Eagle's “gene/jeans” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney, and the headline-grabbing soap opera surrounding Hudson's Bay's failed resurrection attempt in Canada.Looking ahead, Michael and Steve preview August retail earnings, the fall retail conference season, and the ongoing evolution of AI-enabled search.  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.

Will systems-driven commerce be the death of our (Brian's) peace? This week, Phillip and Brian explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping expertise, the chokehold inflexible systems have on modern life, and the meaning of the digital afterlife. Plus: learn how brands like American Eagle are balancing controversy and virality to shock themselves into relevancy while feeling minimal aftershocks.One Year Closer to the Digital AfterlifeKey takeaways:The ChatGPT Expert Problem: AI is enabling a new class of "nouveau experts" who cite disparate cultural theorists like Freddie DeBoer and Peter Turchin to sound authoritative, creating sophisticated-sounding but potentially hollow analysisPeak Inflexibility: Modern life is increasingly controlled by inflexible systems that eliminate human judgment and serendipity, from cell phone stores that can't override basic functions to restaurants requiring months-advance reservationsOne-Round Game Marketing: Brands like American Eagle are adopting political-style "one-round game" tactics, where temporary controversy and outrage generate attention without long-term brand damage, as demonstrated by Sydney Sweeney's "good genes" campaignThe Post-Internet Brain: We're outsourcing memory, emotions, and even nostalgia to algorithms, with AI potentially eliminating the need to ask questions by providing contextual information before we realize we want it[00:25:55] Brian: "I believe that there is a set of business leaders out there that see ChatGPT as a way to make decisions about their business... they're sending it to an entity that effectively is confirmation bias."[00:24:27] Phillip: "What we found in our primary research is that TikTok doesn't show up for direct like spear fishing—that's Amazon. It doesn't show up for inspiration like window shopping—that's Instagram. And it doesn't show up for entertainment or learning—that's YouTube."[00:54:49] Brian: "Someday we're not going to call it the internet anymore, actually. Because it's actually an extension of our brains. It's a way for us to store information."[01:13:54] Phillip: "A blonde woman talking about her good genes. You're telling me that not one person thought about this? This is perfectly engineered for outrage."In-Show Mentions:Jack Conte on X: TikTok vs. YouTube as search enginesAlex Greifeld on X: “One round game marketing”Associated 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 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!

Redefining Trust in Online Jewelry Retail by

The Trump Administration is boldly rewriting the landscape of government contracts in the name of speed, efficiency, and its agendas — even if it means breaking a few things along the way. GovExec's Editor-in-Chief Frank Konkel joins Rapid Response to take listeners inside the recent government contracting tumult, shares trends on where power and money are moving, and how tech firms — and particularly in AI — are putting newfound pressure on legacy providers. So, is Trump actually succeeding in making the government function more like a business? Konkel weighs in, and explores how the redefined relationship between the public and private sector could alter US progress for years to come. Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following article of the E-Commerce & Retail industry is: “Rethinking Recirculation for Retailers” by  Sergio Thome, Regional General Manager - Latin America, Sensormatic.

Are your listings sitting with no showings, no offers, and zero momentum? In this episode, I break down the proven C+3P Plan (Communication + Photos, Price, Property) I've used to sell over 1,000 homes. You'll learn how to: ✅ Stop seller pressure with my Tuesday Update Communication Plan ✅ Make your first 5 photos irresistible to buyers ✅ Get sellers on board with property prep and decluttering ✅ Reset price expectations using Retail, Fair & Auction pricing models ✅ Drive more exposure with Facebook ads, reverse prospecting, and niche sites Plus, I'll share how to set clear expectations at your listing appointment so price reductions and tough conversations become easy.

A round-up of the main headlines in Sweden on July 30th, 2025. You can hear more reports on our homepage www.radiosweden.se, or in the app Sveriges Radio. Presenter and producer: Michael Walsh

How should LPs evaluate retail real estate deals, especially when the strategy involves stabilized shopping centers and low leverage? In this episode, Paul Shannon is joined by Andy Weiner of RockStep Capital to walk through a real-life deal and answer questions from a panel of passive investors including expert LPs Pascal Wagner and Adam Cranmer. Andy lays out his firm's “hometown market” strategy, targeting power centers and neighborhood retail with national tenants in overlooked metros. He breaks down the underwriting, loan structure, and business plan behind a recently acquired asset and why retail investors should pay close attention to tenant quality, lease structures, and local relationships. Our LP panel gets details on deal terms, downside protection, and risk-adjusted return, offering a front-row seat to the kind of conversation you should be having before wiring your funds. Key Takeaways: How RockStep finds and underwrites stabilized shopping centers Why the team favors open-air retail over enclosed malls What lease terms and tenant types reduce risk How “hometown markets” create pricing advantages The role of low leverage and longer-term debt in today's market When retail outperforms industrial and multifamily How to evaluate sponsor experience and alignment What passive investors should ask before funding a retail deal Disclaimer: The comments, views, opinions and any forecasts of future events, returns or results expressed in this episode reflect the opinions of the given host or participants (including the personal opinions of PassivePockets employees or contractors, as applicable), are subject to change without notice, do not reflect the views of PassivePockets or its affiliates, may not reflect actual investment results, are not guarantees of future events, returns or results and are not intended to provide financial planning, investment advice, legal advice or tax advice. The accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information discussed in this podcast, including any comments, views, opinions, forecasts, graphs, charts, ratings, reviews, videos, and other audio and/or visual aids cannot be guaranteed, are not reviewed by PassivePockets, are provided for informational purposes only, and should not be solely relied upon in making an investment decision. PassivePockets receives compensation from sponsors in exchange for profiling sponsors and/or their sponsored deals in this episode; however, such paid advertisements shall not be construed as an endorsement, testimonial, or recommendation by PassivePockets to invest in any sponsor, investment strategy or investment opportunity. Investing in real estate is inherently risky and suitable only for sophisticated and qualified investors. Prospective investors should consult with their own investment advisors, financial advisors, and tax advisors, as applicable, in connection with any decision to invest.

In this insightful summer bonus episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, we welcome Stuart Hogue, Lands' End, Senior Vice President, US Consumer, for a fast-paced conversation recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York City. Stuart brings a wealth of brand experience—spanning time at Nike and a passion for brand strategy shaped by none other than fellow podcast guest Scott Galloway—and shares how Lands; End is evolving while staying grounded in its heritage.Founded in 1963 as a sailing outfitter, Lands' End has evolved over the decades from a catalogue stalwart to a digitally savvy harmonized retailer. Stuart walks us through how the company continues to build on its legacy of quality, durability, and classic American style, while embracing modern retail strategies—from digital marketplaces and fashion drops to AI-driven customer discovery.Stuart details Land's Ends; successful expansion into platforms like Nordstrom.com and Amazon, where clever use of data helped make their Bedford quarter-zip sweater a top seller. He emphasizes the importance of aligning product selection with platform-specific customer mindsets, demonstrating a sharp and disciplined approach to marketplace strategy.We also delve into how Lands' End achieved surprising viral success through personalized tote bag pop-ups in Soho, which not only drove younger customer engagement but also created powerful emotional brand moments that were amplified organically through TikTok. The brand's strategic move toward monthly product drops has helped introduce newness while preserving customer loyalty around legacy franchises, such as Tugless swimsuits, no-iron chinos, and its legendary Squall jackets.Stuart shares thoughtful insight into omnichannel retail, calling it less about technology and more about being present at key customer moments across touchpoints. He highlights the growing influence of AI agents. He emphasizes the need for brands to prepare for a new era of product discovery, where brand authority and relevance across marketplaces become increasingly crucial for staying top of mind. 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.

Rethink Retail brings together two powerhouses shaping the future of commerce:

Cloudflare recently made headlines with breakthrough technology that stops AI companies from scraping online content with impunity. That's major impact, since the company is involved in more than 20 percent of all online traffic. Cloudflare co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince joins Rapid Response to share how the new tools are poised to dramatically impact AI firms, publishers, and the future of the internet. Prince also takes listeners inside the state of cyberwarfare in the age of AI, and why Trump's immigration policy could erode US business dominance for years to come.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the AdTechGod pod, Edina Kalamperovic, SVP of Retail Growth at Epsilon, shares her unique journey from agency to ad tech, emphasizing the importance of understanding client relationships and the evolving landscape of digital advertising. She discusses the significance of data utilization, personalization, and the future of retail media, while also highlighting her personal brand loyalty to Anthropology and the impact of consumer experience. Takeaways Edina's journey into advertising was influenced by her creative background and desire for impact. Understanding the psychology of consumers is crucial in advertising. Clients are increasingly focusing on customer-centric strategies and data utilization. Personalization is key to effective marketing campaigns. Loyalty should be viewed as a mindset rather than a program. Retail media presents new opportunities for brands to connect with consumers. Measurement and understanding of data are critical for driving business outcomes. The retail landscape is evolving, requiring brands to adapt to consumer preferences. In-store experiences can significantly enhance customer loyalty. Brands that understand their customers will succeed in a competitive market. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AdTech and Edina's Journey 08:20 The Evolution of Client Relationships and Data Utilization 15:39 Retail Media and the Future of Commerce 20:28 Personal Brand Loyalty and Consumer Experience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the third episode of Broad River Retail's new summer series on Stories from the River, where CEO Charlie Malouf takes listeners behind the scenes of the Story of Broad River with a full explanation of Monthly Budgets and the way Broad River plays the game.  Charlie opens this episode by sharing the pivotal story of DASH (an acronym for Broad River's Home Delivery program: Delivery. Assembly. Service. in your Home.) and its transformational impact on the business.  Charlie recounts Broad River's journey from a scarcity mindset—where delivery was seen merely as a break-even cost and low fees resulted in subpar delivery service—toward a spirit of abundance. By restructuring delivery pricing, investing in higher-quality service, and introducing commissions for Memory Makers on delivery sales, the company cultivated mutual prosperity and elevated both customer and Memory Maker experience while also boosting profitability. The DASH program became not just a service, but a brand differentiator, emphasizing white-glove care and quality that customers truly value. Charlie also dives into the evolution of the company's financial discipline, particularly the budgeting process, as Broad River moved from turbulent years and near-bankruptcy to a streak of consistent profitability. He discusses how transparent goals, departmental accountability, and a dual-budget approach—conservative bank budgets and more moderate stretch retail performance budgets—have helped drive both financial reliability and the rewarding of Memory Makers through generous bonuses. This approach nurtures a people-centric, performance-driven culture with a focus on long-term, shared success. Throughout the episode, Charlie stresses the importance of playing the long game, embracing change, and fostering a culture where Memory Makers are challenged, supported, and can share in the company's abundance. Watch the first two episodes of the series: Building Broad River Retail: How We Play the Game of Business | Part 1 (2003-2014) - https://youtu.be/ZacOr4KMGqk    Breaking and Rebuilding: The Bold Reset That Saved Broad River Retail - https://youtu.be/67hsX3ly19A  Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8eoeU7N-Mt8  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com                                 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail    

70% of dealership sales staff quit within a year. Why is the auto retail industry bleeding talent? We expose the 5 brutal reasons behind record staff turnover – backed by NADA data.

What does it actually take to scale AMC, operationalize SQP, and build a reporting stack that helps you make better decisions, not just gather more data?In this episode, Destaney sits down with Dustin Wassner, Head of Product at BTR, to unpack how he has turned some of the clean room chaos into category-level clarity.They cover:The truth behind AMC adoption (and why most brands still can't access it)SQP's biggest limitations and how we make it actionable anywayThe system Dustin has built to apply AMC audiences at scaleHow dashboard design and funnel tagging unlock better decisionsWhat LTV, CAC, and conversion lag actually look like in the real worldConnect with Destaney https://www.linkedin.com/in/destaney-wishon/Connect with Dustin https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-wassner/Learn more about BTR Mediawww.btrmedia.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us for FREE on Discord! https://discord.gg/8C7VdZ2AX7From clueless real estate agents and utterly incompetent office assistants to man-child boyfriends and lost grocery hunters, today's Kevin Parade features four brain-bending encounters with people who leave you wondering how they manage to function in society. One Kevin sues for "plus money," another thinks the back button is a myth, one can't figure out toast or recycling, and one walked into an office supply store demanding apples and milk. You'll laugh, cringe, and maybe even worry about the future of humanity. Buckle up, it's full Kevin mode today.Submit your own stories to KarmaStoriesPod@gmail.com.Karma Stories is available on all major Podcasting Platforms and on YouTube under the @KarmaStoriesPodcast handle. We cover stories from popular Reddit Subreddits like Entitled Parents, Tales From Tech Support, Pro Revenge and Malicious Compliance. You can find new uploads here every single day of the week!Rob's 3D Printing Site: https://Dangly3D.comGet your Custom Hand Turned Pen by Rob at https://CanadianRob.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/karma-stories--5098578/support.

Mid-Summer Update - Road Trips, Trade Shows, and What's NextPhil and Kenny reconnect for a candid mid-summer update on what's been keeping them busy and what's coming up for This Commerce Life. After spending five hours together booking travel (and learning they should have let Keelin handle it), the duo shares their exciting plans for the fall.In This Episode:Anuga 2025: The hosts are headed to Germany's massive food trade show (October 4-8) to bring back marketplace intelligenceOntario Road Trip: Kenny's coming to Toronto in late September/early October for filming across Central Ontario - from London to Barrie, or potentially east to the Belleville-Kingston areaBehind the Scenes: Meet Keelin, their "not-so-secret weapon" who keeps them organized, and why they're crystallizing their three core focusesThe Unsexy Fundamentals: Why they keep returning to the same crucial topics - cost of goods, margins, cash flow - that aren't glamorous but are essential for Canadian retail successRetail Stories: Their passion for independent Canadian retailers, from Brian Pilau's stores to Peter at Kelowna Your Independent Grocer, and their dream to visit North West Company's Arctic Circle operationsLooking Ahead: BC Food & Bev accelerator program, Manitoba webinars, a mystery Interior BC conference, and their ongoing mission to showcase Canadian retailThank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

Join us on Pathmonk Presents with Mike Hewitt, Director of Marketing at Aroma Retail, a company bringing hotel-grade fragrances to homes and businesses since 2017. Mike shares how Aroma Retail taps into the power of scent to evoke memories and enhance environments for a global audience. From leveraging Google, Meta, TikTok, and Pinterest to drive traffic, to optimizing their mobile-first website with a fragrance quiz, Mike reveals strategies for engaging diverse customers. Learn how continuous learning and adaptability fuel their growth. Tune in for insights to elevate your e-commerce strategy!   

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) and one of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction winners. Thomas shares some of his experiences at the IRS, where he won the 2021 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction, and how he moved from the IRS to join the FRTIB. Tom covers how he successfully integrated strategy and ERM at the FRTIB. He tells how the FRTIB moved from a high-level to a medium-level cyber risk posture, with improved Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) scores. Tom shares how the FRTIB  works with a managed services model in a way that's scalable and sustainable. Tom relates his views on risk culture and the portfolio view that a mature ERM program supports.   Listen to learn how to nominate your organization's ERM Program for the RIMS ERM  Award of Distinction.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:14] RIMScast is a proud nominee of the 20th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards. We are nominated in the category of Government and Organizations, and we would appreciate your support. [:26] Help us win that award by visiting PodcastAwards.com and the link in this episode's notes.  [:36] About this episode of RIMScast. We will be joined by Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board and one of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction winners. [1:05] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next Virtual RIMS-CRMP exam prep, co-hosted by Parima, will be held on September 2nd and 3rd. [1:17] The next RIMS-CRMP-FED virtual workshop will be held on November 11th and 12th, and led by Joseph Mayo. Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:34] RIMS Virtual Workshops! On August 5th, we have a day-long course about “Emerging Risks.” [1:42] RIMS has launched a new course, “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders.” This is a two-day course. The first two-day course will be held on August 12th and 13th and will be led by former RIMS President, Chris Mandel. [1:56] The course will be held again on November 4th and 5th and will be led by Elise Farnham. RIMS members enjoy deep discounts! [2:05] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [2:17] Mark your calendars for November 17th and 18th for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is jam-packed with educational sessions that will resonate with risk practitioners at all stages of their careers. [2:38] See the full agenda at RIMS.org/ERM2025. Nominations are open for the RIMS Global ERM Award of Distinction 2025. The nomination deadline is Saturday, August 16th. The award is presented annually at the RIMS ERM Conference. There is a link in this episode's show notes. [3:05] If your organization's ERM program or one you know of deserves this recognition, we want to hear about it. Remember to send in that nomination form by August 16th. [3:16] RISKWORLD 2026 will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 3rd through May 6th. RIMS members can now lock in the 2025 rate for a full conference pass to RISKWORLD 2026 when registering by September 30th. [3:31] This also lets you enjoy earlier access to the RISKWORLD hotel block. Register by September 30th, and you will also be entered to win a $500 raffle. Don't miss out on this chance to plan and score some extra perks. [3:44] The members-only registration link is in this episode's show notes. If you are not yet a member, this is the time to join us. Visit RIMS.org/membership and build your risk network with us here at RIMS. [3:58] On with the show! Our guest today is one of the winners of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction. He is also the Chief Risk Officer for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB). [4:15] Tom Brandt is here to discuss ERM and how it has been a guiding light throughout his risk career, which includes several years at the IRS. He recently participated in the RIMS ERM Q&A Series, and we're going to extend the dialogue beyond those digital pages, so let's get to it. [4:35] Interview! Tom Brandt, welcome to RIMScast! [4:42] At long last, Tom Brandt is here on RIMScast! Tom is one of the members of the Strategic and Enterprise Risk Management Council and one of the recipients of the 2024 ERM Award of Distinction. There's so much to discuss when it comes to ERM! Tom loves ERM. [5:18] Tom was also a 2021 ERM Award of Distinction recipient for his work at the IRS, where he worked for about 27 years, for the last eight of which, he was their Chief Risk Officer. There, he got into the whole ERM space. [5:38] Then, in late 2021, an opportunity opened at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), and Tom took on the role of Chief Risk Officer. He enjoys the opportunity to work in a small organization with a different focus. [5:55] The FRTIB is sort of the 401(k) for federal employees and uniformed services. They have a singular mission around that plan. [6:13] Tom was brought into the FRTIB to integrate strategy and ERM. He stresses the importance of linking risk and strategy. When Tom started, the offices of Enterprise Planning and Enterprise Risk had just been brought together. [6:51] They were looking for the first Director of Planning and Risk/CRO. Tom applied and was selected for the role. Even though it's a small agency of 250, those functions had been siloed. [7:07] Tom's first area of focus was getting the staff to know each other and learn more about what each process entailed, and then working with the team to look at how to bring these processes together. [7:23] Tom says, when we're identifying risks and needing to mitigate risks, the next question is, where do we get the resources? When the process is not integrated into your planning and budgeting process, that becomes very challenging. [7:36] As we go through our annual planning process, we work with our business offices, and if they're risk owners, we talk about what risks they are managing or mitigating, and if there are related initiatives or resources needed. [7:51] That information gets captured in the annual plan and becomes an input to the budget process. We're not only raising the risks and talking about them, but also identifying initiatives and getting funding, support, and resources to manage and mitigate those risks. [8:16] Tom's risk group has seven or eight people. They also do internal controls, policies, and procedures. They are the agency's anti-fraud group. They do brand monitoring and run the third-party risk monitoring program. They do work beyond the enterprise risk component. [8:51] The FRTIB moved from a high-level to a medium-level cyber risk posture, which improved Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) scores. FISMA is an annual cybersecurity audit of federal organizations. [9:27] Years ago, the FRTIB was scoring in the 1s and 2s on most domains in this audit, out of a possible score of 5. That coincided with cybersecurity being one of the FRTIB's high risks. They needed to put in place better governance and protections. [9:53] Because cybersecurity had been one of the FRTIB's high risks, they require any of their enterprise risks that are medium high or higher to have a risk treatment plan. They work with their CISO and the cyber team to develop risk treatment plans each year. [10:08] The risk treatment plans identify resource needs and specific areas of focus. They use the FISMA domains, questions, and assessment criteria to keep in mind where they need to shore things up. [10:20] Justin clarifies that FISMA, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, is a U.S. Federal law that requires federal agencies to develop a document and implement information security programs to protect government information. [10:36] Tom remarks that as a result of great work done by the CISO and the cyber team, the FRTIB scored a 5 in each domain on their 2024 FISMA audit. That moved the cybersecurity risk score down. It's still at a medium level because the threat landscape continues to evolve. [10:56] Threat actors are always out there, trying to stay one step ahead of you, so you have to stay on your game to get ahead of them. [11:15] The cyber threat is so significant that collectively, we all need to be working as hard as we can to maintain our defenses. Tom says the CISO community is working together to integrate the latest technology and developments and understand where the threat is. [11:49] The CISO community is staying on top of what's happening in the AI space to be able to share good practices across agencies and ensure that our posture government-wide is as strong as possible in detecting and preventing the cyber threat. [12:06] One of the strategic goals for FRTIB is the managed services model. Tom speaks about assessing and monitoring third-party and vendor risks in a way that's scalable and sustainable. [12:18] When Tom moved into his position, in December 2021, the agency was about six months away from implementing that managed services model for their record-keeping service. Record keeping is a huge part of the FRTIB's work. They have almost 7.5 million participants. [12:36] Managing participant transactions and keeping their information is a core responsibility for the agency. They were moving to a managed service model. [12:48] When you shift to that type of model, you don't give up accountability and responsibility for the program. You work with a provider. The Agency needed to look at what its mechanism for oversight was, to manage and understand third-party risk. [13:06] The Agency had some capabilities in place for vendor monitoring and supply chain risk management. Tom's area of focus was to build up the third-party risk management program. [13:18] Tom did a maturity assessment to compare what they were doing to good practices and look for opportunities to enhance their capabilities. He brought in some services from external providers to help with access to data about the performance of third-party services. [13:42] Quarterly, Tom reports to the FRTIB board on their top vendors, their overall operations, whether there are any risks he has concerns about, and if so, what is being done to address those risks. That has helped to put in place a strong third-party risk management program. [14:03] When Tom joined the FRTIB, his predecessor had already built a strong, mature ERM program. There was a repeatable process in place with a risk register and a risk profile. [14:22] The opportunity was in integrating risk with planning and looking at how to enhance the program and bring it to the next level of maturity and build out that third-party risk management monitoring capability.  [14:42] RIMS Events! The very first RIMS Texas Regional Conference will be held from August 4th through August 6th in San Antonio at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Public registration is open. The full conference agenda is live, so you can start planning. [15:00] Don't miss the post-conference workshop, the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep course available on-site. This event is open to any RIMS chapter member. [15:10] If you are local to the area, you might consider becoming a RIMS member today so you can get all the benefits and begin networking with your new RIMS Texas peers. Visit RIMS.org/TexasRegional. [15:22] Just a month later, we will be up North for the RIMS Canada Conference 2025, which will be held from September 14th through the 17th in Calgary. Registration is open. Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca and lock in those favorable rates. We look forward to seeing you! [15:41] On September 18th, the 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum will be held at The Old Post Office in Chicago. Register at ChicagoRIMS.org. [15:52] Also on September 18th, the Spencer Educational Foundation will host the 2025 Funding Their Future Gala at the Cipriani 42nd Street. Visit SpencerEd.org. [16:03] On October 1st through the 3rd, the RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held in North San Jose at the Santa Clara Marriott. The agenda is live. It looks fantastic! Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com and register today! [16:20] Let's Return to My Interview with RIMS 2024 ERM Award of Distinction Winner, Tom Brandt! [16:37] Shortly after Tom won the 2021 ERM Award of Distinction, along with Melissa Reynard, for his work with the IRS, he left to go to the FRTIB. Tom talks about the switch. [16:57] Tom had a great career with the IRS. He had a range of different roles and responsibilities. For his last eight years with the IRS, he was the CRO. [17:23] Tom was ready to make a change. He learned about the opportunity at FRTIB to help them bring risk and strategy programs into one department. He was happy to be selected and see the value of having risk and strategy come together. [18:12] Tom was the second CRO at the IRS. In 2013, the IRS had a crisis, so they brought in a CRO from the GAO for about a year. Tom had been doing risk work in one of the business units of the IRS. He was chosen for the CRO position in 2014. [18:50] The IRS crisis in 2013 related to concerns about how the agency had been handling applications for tax-exempt status. It led to Congressional hearings and IRS leadership changes. [19:04] Before going to the FRTIB, Tom was contacted by a recruiter. Someone in the risk community knew of the position and suggested Tom for it. He's thankful he was contacted because it has turned out to be an excellent opportunity. [19:35] Through RIMS, Tom connects with public and private sector colleagues. He sees a lot of similarities. The public sector has been practicing ERM for just under a decade. [20:16] The most essential ingredient in ERM is leadership support. Tom has support at FRTIB from leadership and the Board. Without leadership support, ERM is a compliance exercise. If ERM is truly leveraged, it can add a lot of value. [20.42] Tom thinks we're seeing too many instances where organizations have not had robust risk programs and have had risk events that could have been prevented or had the impact lessened, had they had a risk program.  [21:02] Tom thinks the challenge in the public sector is that there isn't much room for government error. Anything that doesn't go according to plan tends to get attention. [21:22] That oversight creates an environment that tends to be more risk-averse. That's not the way we want to run our risk program, because we want to take advantage of the opportunity that risk prevents, but it's a factor of the environment we operate in. [21:44] Part of what led to the establishment of the IRS ERM program was the 2013 crisis and an after-event assessment of what went wrong. Bad news didn't make it to the top quickly enough. Information that leadership should have been made aware of didn't get there in time. [22:05] As a result, issues and problems were allowed to fester and go out of control. In the IRS, people took a lot of pride in fixing and solving their problems. Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to fix an issue before it goes sideways. [22:41] A real benefit from sharing information is that often you can find other parts of the organization that can help because they've experienced a similar type of issue. They might have additional resources. Ignoring or hiding the problem doesn't make it go away. [23:01] The key value of ERM is creating a culture where people are willing to speak up, information gets escalated quickly, and you're able to bring the right people and resources together to work collectively to manage and mitigate those risks. [23:15] At FRTIB, Tom focuses on creating an environment where people feel comfortable speaking about risk, where it's part of the regular way they operate. [23:32] Since starting in risk many years ago and working with his teams, Tom's approach has been doing risk with offices and not doing risk to offices. He wanted to meet them where they were, understand where they needed help, and nudge them, rather than drag them, along. [24:00] Tom says take time to understand the organization, the unique needs of each office, and work with them to help manage and mitigate a risk, versus trying to force something on them. [24:18] A Quick Plug! If you tuned in to the recent episode featuring James Lam, you will know he is hosting a new six-module workshop for us, the “RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management”. [24:33] The inaugural summer course is completely sold out! We are filled to the virtual capacity! Don't worry, in the Fall, the bi-weekly course will begin on October 9th. Registration closes on October 2nd. A link is in this episode's notes. Check it out and register today! [24:52] If you're getting inspired by Tom Brandt and his ERM Award of Distinction win, remember that nominations are now open for the ERM Award of Distinction 2025. Be sure to listen closely for the tips that he offers about what makes a strong nomination! [25:10] The link to the nomination form is in this episode's show notes. Good luck! [25:13] Let's Return to the Conclusion of My Interview with Tom Brandt! [25:18] Before becoming the CRO at the IRS, Tom was the Director of Planning and Research for the Large Business and International Division with responsibility for case selection, determining risk on corporate and international tax returns, and which ones should be selected for audit. [25:52] This was a compliance risk experience. That provided the stepping stone to take on a more strategic, operational view of risk within the division. When the broader CRO opportunity became available at the IRS, he was considered and ultimately selected for that position. [26:14] Tom's view of risk has evolved. Within a business unit, he focused on the day-to-day operational and compliance risk. He didn't take a view of the whole organization or what choices he made for his unit ight create risk for another part of the organization. [26:51] It's a real value for ERM to have a portfolio view of the most critical risks across the organization, and understanding how actions to address risks in one area could create or exacerbate a risk somewhere else. [27:08] Tom tells of reputational risk. Sometimes decisions don't factor in how they will be perceived. Tom helped people at the IRS understand reputational risk and the stakeholders they may need to engage to help them understand why particular decisions are made. [28:22] Tom shares advice for nominating an ERM Program for the ERM Award of Distinction. What are the results? What are the outcomes that the program accomplished that you can talk about? How did ERM help the organization? What value did it bring? [29:07] Take an example of something you can share, and explain how ERM was able to surface the risk and bring the right people together to help with that risk and help the organization. [29:24] It's critical to have letters of recommendation. At the IRS, Tom had two Deputy Commissioners write letters about what they saw as the value that ERM brought to the agency. [29:42] At FRTIB, Tom had letters from the Executive Director and a member of its Board, who had served for over a decade and had historical knowledge of how ERM had helped the Agency. [30:04] Tom notes that the process of going through the application is a great learning opportunity to reflect on accomplishments as well as areas of remaining opportunity. [30:17] If you are fortunate enough to be selected to receive recognition, it's a great way to recognize the team. Tom used the Awards to recognize his teams at the IRS and at FRTIB, who are the ones who make all of this possible. The recognition turns out to be great kudos for them. [30:41] You can learn more about Tom's achievements through the links on this episode's show notes, which feature his recent ERM Q&A from 2025. I've also included one with his former coworker from the IRS, Melissa Reynard, from 2022. [30:58] This should give you a great sense of not just the great work that Tom has done but also, what it takes to have your nomination seen and heard and get the recognition that you deserve. [31:13] Tom, it's been great getting to know you these past few years, and I look forward to seeing you in Seattle. Thank you for joining us here on RIMScast! [31:32] Special thanks again to Tom Brandt for joining us here on RIMScast. Be sure to check out the links in this episode's show notes for recent ERM Q&A interviews about his work with the FRTIB. [31:46] Tom is a recipient of the RIMS ERM Award of Distinction. The Call for Nominations is open through August 16th. Check this episode's show notes for the link and details. [32:00] The Awards will be presented at the RIMS ERM Conference 2025, November 17th and 18th in Seattle. A link to that event is also on this page. [32:08] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [32:36] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [32:54] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [33:12] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [33:29] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [33:43] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [33:50] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: 20th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards! Vote for RIMScast (Gov't & Organizations) To vote for RIMScast, please sign up with your email, then select RIMScast on the pulldown under Government and Organizations. Thank you! RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov. 17‒18 | RIMS Global ERM Award of Distinction 2025 Nominations Open Through Aug. 16 “Embedding ERM Into One of the World's Largest Retirement Programs.” — RIMS Interview with Tom Brandt (2025) RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 3‒5 | Registration open. RIMS-CRMP In-Person Workshop in Texas Aug. 6 & 7 RIMS Canada 2025 — Sept. 14‒17 | Registration open! 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum — Sept. 18 | Registration open! RIMS Western Regional — Oct 1‒3 | Bay Area, California | Registration open! RISKWORLD 2026 — Members-only early registration! Register through Sept 30! RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation 2025 Funding Their Future Gala — Sept. 18, 2025, in NYC! RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov 17‒18 in Seattle! [Save the Date!] RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management — Featuring Instructor James Lam! Summer course sold out! | Next bi-weekly course begins Oct 9. RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy | RIMS Legislative Summit SAVE THE DATE — March 18‒19, 2026 RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — Sept 2‒3, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and PARIMA RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — November 11‒12 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Emerging Risks” | Aug 5 | Instructor: Joe Mayo “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Aug. 12‒13 | Instructor: Chris Mandel “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Nov. 4‒5 | Instructor: Elise Farnham See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Risk and Clarity with Huw Edwards, RIMS Texas Keynote” “James Lam on ERM, Strategy, and the Modern CRO” “ERM, Retail, and Risk with Jeff Strege” “Bigger Risks with the Texas State Office of Risk Management” | Sponsored By Hillwood “ERMotivation with Carrie Frandsen, RIMS-CRMP” “Live from the ERM Conference 2024 in Boston!” “Risk Quantification Through Value-Based Frameworks”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

Carol's back with another Retail Heat Map episode, connecting the dots between seemingly random retail headlines to reveal the bigger patterns reshaping retail. From Target's operational disasters and identity crisis to Netflix's ambitious physical retail gambit to Temu and Shein's spiral to Mexico's cross-border rescue mission, these aren't isolated stories – they're collision points where old retail strategies are meeting new market realities. Drawing from her recent media commentary and expert analysis, Carol reveals three major shifts happening right now: The identity crisis hitting some of retail's biggest players, massive shifts in consumer behavior that nobody saw coming, and a global market deal that is completely rewriting the rules (in a good way). While some retailers struggle with basic execution and strategic drift, others are making billion-dollar bets on cross-border innovation that could reshape North American commerce.Key takeaways:Vision beats operations every time – Target's apparel chaos and leadership drift prove that without clear vision operational fixes are futile Consumer behavior has fundamentally shifted – Amazon's "record" Prime Day still felt disappointing as consumers kicked into treasure-hunting mode.Mexican retail is hitting high notes – El Puerto de Liverpool's grande investment in Nordstrom validates Mexican retail's strength and shuts off Wall Street's glare.Resource-eating media might hamper merchandising hopes – Netflix's retail gamble has built-in advantages but Tik Tok and YouTube got to the good stuff first.The retailers winning right now recognize that collision isn't always destruction – sometimes it's the force that creates something completely new (and better). Want to be a guest on Spieckerman Speaks Retail? Contact team@spieckermanretail.comCheck out more of Carol's retail insights and updates Follow Carol on LinkedInFollow Carol on Twitter

It's the third episode of Broad River Retail's new summer series on Stories from the River, where CEO Charlie Malouf takes listeners behind the scenes of the Story of Broad River with a full explanation of Monthly Budgets and the way Broad River plays the game.  Charlie opens this episode by sharing the pivotal story of DASH (an acronym for Broad River's Home Delivery program: Delivery. Assembly. Service. in your Home.) and its transformational impact on the business.  Charlie recounts Broad River's journey from a scarcity mindset—where delivery was seen merely as a break-even cost and low fees resulted in subpar delivery service—toward a spirit of abundance. By restructuring delivery pricing, investing in higher-quality service, and introducing commissions for Memory Makers on delivery sales, the company cultivated mutual prosperity and elevated both customer and Memory Maker experience while also boosting profitability. The DASH program became not just a service, but a brand differentiator, emphasizing white-glove care and quality that customers truly value. Charlie also dives into the evolution of the company's financial discipline, particularly the budgeting process, as Broad River moved from turbulent years and near-bankruptcy to a streak of consistent profitability. He discusses how transparent goals, departmental accountability, and a dual-budget approach—conservative bank budgets and more moderate stretch retail performance budgets—have helped drive both financial reliability and the rewarding of Memory Makers through generous bonuses. This approach nurtures a people-centric, performance-driven culture with a focus on long-term, shared success. Throughout the episode, Charlie stresses the importance of playing the long game, embracing change, and fostering a culture where Memory Makers are challenged, supported, and can share in the company's abundance. Watch the first two episodes of the series: Building Broad River Retail: How We Play the Game of Business | Part 1 (2003-2014) - https://youtu.be/ZacOr4KMGqk    Breaking and Rebuilding: The Bold Reset That Saved Broad River Retail - https://youtu.be/67hsX3ly19A  Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8eoeU7N-Mt8  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com                                 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail    

Relebogile Mabotja speaks to Nevo Hadas, CEO at Smartfill discussing plastic free July promoting single-use plastics which challenges us to rethink how we make sustainable living more accessible to everyone especially in lower-income communities. Refill models are emerging as a smart solution and they reduce both waste and costs, making green choices practical and affordable. 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja is broadcast live on Johannesburg based talk radio station 702 every weekday afternoon. Relebogile brings a lighter touch to some of the issues of the day as well as a mix of lifestyle topics and a peak into the worlds of entertainment and leisure. Thank you for listening to a 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja podcast. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 13:00 to 15:00 (SA Time) to Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/2qKsEfu or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/DTykncj Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today - Clark discusses how retailers and consumers are handling inflation. To deal with higher prices, we're changing how & where we shop. It works!  Also, it's more important than ever to be on guard because scam attempts are nearly constant. Clark alerts you to some of the latest scams so you don't get ripped off.  Offset Inflation: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Most Common Scams: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: 10 Ways You're Wasting Money on Groceries Axios: Store brands become retail's secret weapon against tariffs Dollar General is shaking off tariff fears and winning over higher-income consumers Barrons: The Rich Are Shopping in Dollar Stores. What It Means for the Economy. Best 529 College Savings Plans By State 529 to Roth IRA: Rollover Rules, Conversion Guide, and FAQs BBB-File a Complaint How to Freeze Your Child's Credit Overwhelmed by Scammers? 96% of Americans Are Targeted Every Week Scammers posing as SPCA and animal welfare staff AI Obituary Pirates Are Exploiting Our Grief. I Tracked One Down to Find Out Why Student loan scammers won't offer relief This hurricane season, prepare to avoid the scams Are you really out of Cloud storage or is that message a scam? Think Twice Before You Click ‘Unsubscribe' The Safer Way To Use Your Debit Card Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com  /  Ask Clark Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do successful people navigate their careers, overcome barriers, and strategically position themselves for success? It is often challenging to navigate the complexities of professional growth when embarking on a successful career path. From shifting industry landscapes to personal and social expectations, professionals face numerous challenges and success in careers is largely determined by how one strategically positions themselves. Grace Puma and Christiana Smith Shi, through their book Career Forward: Strategies from Women Who've Made It, provide strategic insights to define and achieve career aspirations. Aimed at millennials facing pivotal career decisions, this book highlights the importance of taking calculated risks early in a career to achieve outsized returns.  In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius is joined by Grace and Christiana to discuss strategies for crafting a successful career, embracing resilience, and strategically navigating the ever-changing landscape of professional life. They also talk about Grace and Christiana's upcoming book, Career Forward, set to launch on February 20, 2024. Topics include: The importance of leveraging network in finding a writing partner Christiana highlights the value of having a clear direction or “cardinal direction” Building professional networks and how it can be beneficial Path of least resistance vs. intentionality The concept of building professional equity by consistently demonstrating excellence The idea of having a “growth stock mentality” The concept of “operating at the top of your license” Grace and Christiana talk about the audience for their book Career Forward The idea of taking asymmetric risks in one's career Understanding and advocating for one's worth in the professional realm And other topics… Sponsored by: Constant Contact: Try Constant Contact free for 30 days at constantcontact.com. IDEO U: Enroll today and get 15% off sitewide at ideou.com/greatness.  Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/darius. Shopify: Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/darius.  Connect with Grace: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/39999441.Grace_Puma  Connect with Christiana: Website: https://www.lovejoyadvisors.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csshi  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, I sit down with Cathy Wagner—retail industry veteran, founder of RETAILMavens, and host of The Richer Retailer Podcast. With nearly 30 years of experience in independent retail, Cathy has seen it all: running her own brick-and-mortar stores, navigating bankruptcy, and building back stronger to now help small retail businesses scale to 7-figure revenue.If you're an independent retailer or product-based business owner struggling to adapt to inflation, tariffs, AI in retail, and shifting consumer behavior, this episode is your wake-up call—and your roadmap to survive and thrive in today's economy.Why Retailers Fail (and What the 7-Figure Ones Do Differently)According to Cathy, retail isn't dead—but staying stagnant is. The top-performing retail businesses embrace change, silence self-doubt, and make data-driven decisions, not emotional ones. She unpacks the four traits that successful retail founders share:Kill the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts)Reframe fear as excitementFocus on what you can controlKnow and use your numbers for better retail sales growthReal Tactics You Can Use Right Now to Grow Retail SalesForget the hype. Cathy breaks down real, proven strategies that help retail store owners boost profits:Adjust your retail pricing strategy to reflect actual cost increasesUse email marketing for retail (minimum 2x/week) as your most profitable channelCurate tighter product assortments to reduce overwhelm and increase conversionsHost low-cost retail events focused on connection and communityBuild brand trust by leading with your core business valuesAI for Non-Techie Retailers: A Simple Hack That WorksNo need to master tech. Cathy shares how small retail business owners can use ChatGPT to gain customer insights from top-performing content. Just copy and paste your best emails or product pages into AI and ask:Who is my best customer?Who is NOT my customer?What messaging drives purchase behavior?This simple AI habit has delivered surprising clarity and results for Cathy's clients—and it can for you too.Why Neutrality Is No Longer a Strategy in Retail BrandingYou don't need to be political—but you do need to be personal. Cathy makes a compelling case for ditching generic, faceless branding and embracing authenticity. Whether you're selling confidence, comfort, or community, your brand story and values should shine through every retail marketing email, event, and conversation.Final TakeawayYou don't need to show up everywhere or master every tech tool. What independent retail business owners do need:✅ A clear brand stance ✅ Consistent and authentic communication ✅ A community-first mindset ✅ Courage to evolve with market changesWhether you're struggling to compete or trying to grow a small retail business in a noisy digital world, this episode reminds you: you're not alone—and the best is still ahead.If you want to land your first feature for free without any connections, I want to invite you to watch my PR Secrets Masterclass, where I reveal the exact methods thousands of bootstrapping small businesses use to hack their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought-after industry expert. Register now at www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclass.   Watch the #1 PR Secrets Masterclass to get you featured for free in 30 daysJoin the Small Biz PR Facebook Group to get the best PR TipsDownload the 10

The U.S. economy is demonstrating resilience with strong consumer spending and low unemployment filings, despite looming inflation and tariff pressures. Retail sales rose by 0.6% in June, surpassing expectations and indicating solid growth in gross domestic product for the second quarter. However, concerns about rising import costs, which saw their largest monthly increase in over a year, continue to cast a shadow over the economic outlook. While manufacturers anticipate growth and increased hiring, the uncertainty surrounding tariffs remains a significant concern.IBM's CEO, Arvind Krishna, argues that fears of artificial intelligence (AI) eliminating jobs are exaggerated, suggesting that AI will actually enhance employment opportunities by increasing productivity. He notes that while some clerical roles may be phased out, new job creation will occur in programming and sales. Meanwhile, Gartner forecasts a substantial rise in global IT spending, projected to reach $5.43 trillion in 2025, driven largely by investments in AI infrastructure. This shift indicates a growing trend where companies must adapt to the changing landscape or risk being left behind.The podcast also discusses recent layoffs at major tech firms, including Microsoft, Tata Consultancy Services, and Intel, as they navigate the challenges posed by AI and automation. Microsoft has laid off approximately 9,000 employees while reporting significant revenue growth, highlighting the paradox of job cuts amid financial success. Similarly, TCS plans to cut 12,000 jobs, primarily affecting senior and mid-level positions, as clients demand AI-driven services and cost reductions. This trend underscores the rapid transformation of the workforce as companies pivot towards automation and higher-margin activities.Legislative updates include the Federal Communications Commission's review of state laws on AI, aimed at reducing regulations to promote American AI systems. Critics argue that this approach lacks a comprehensive vision for AI innovation. In the UK, a court has denied WhatsApp's intervention in a case involving Apple's compliance with government orders to access encrypted data, raising concerns about privacy. Additionally, New York has announced stricter cybersecurity regulations for water utilities, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures in critical infrastructure. These developments reflect a broader struggle between regulatory frameworks and the fast-evolving tech landscape. Four things to know today 00:00 U.S. Economy Grows Steadily as AI Reshapes Labor and IT Spend Soars to $5.43 Trillion04:45 Global Policy Divide on AI and Cybersecurity Widens as U.S., UK, and New York Take Conflicting Regulatory Paths07:54 Layoffs Mount Across Tech and Services as AI Drives Shift Toward Margin, Not Manpower12:09 Intel Restructures for AI Future with Major Layoffs, Factory Slowdown, and Network Division Spinoff Supported by:  https://scalepad.com/dave/ https://businessof.tech/sponsor/moovila/  Tell us about a newsletter!https://bit.ly/biztechnewsletter All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   In This Episode:   Let's simplify the numbers you need to know and why in your retail business. Don't be that retailer that is overwhelmed by numbers in retail—or worse, avoiding them altogether. In this episode of the Creative Shop Talk Podcast, I'm sharing the surprisingly simple method I use to help retailers finally understand their sales goals, profit margins, and growth potential. Say goodbye to spreadsheet stress and hello to clarity with my Profit Planning Masterclass and “back-of-the-napkin” profits calculator. It's the calculator you have been waiting for and my clients LOVE.  Whether you're just getting started or years into running your retail business, this is the financial pep talk and practical tool you didn't know you needed. What You'll Learn about Profit Planning: Why profit is essential (and not a dirty word!) What your “keep the lights on” number is and why you need to know it How to calculate your real sales goal using 3 simple numbers: foot traffic, conversion rate, and average order value The link between confident planning and business peace-of-mind Your Next Steps: Grab the Profit Planning Masterclass! Visit wendybatten.com/profit to access the $47 on-demand workshop and get the simple sales calculator that helps you set clear profit goals. Calculate Your “Keep the Lights On” Number Identify your essential operating expenses—like rent, payroll, inventory—and plug them into the calculator to find out your real sales goal. Gather 3 key data points from your POS system: Average Order Value (AOV), Foot Traffic, and Conversion Rate. Set a Weekly or Monthly Sales Goal Use the calculator to determine exactly how much revenue you need—and how many customers you need to serve to reach it. Talk to Your Team Share your new goals and engage your team in improving sales through better customer service and upselling techniques. Join the Retailer's Inner CircleGet ongoing support, coaching, and access to my full library of trainings and tools. Related podcasts we think you'll like:    Episode 31: 7 Strategies to Attract Foot Traffic to Your Brick and Mortar Episode 103: Increase Sales With Your Silent Salesperson: Signage Episodes 163-166: Simple Sales Strategy Series About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven't met yet, I'm Wendy, a small business coach and founder of the Retailer's Inner Circle, where I help other independent shop owners learn how to gain the right business skillsets to see more profits, paychecks, and joy as they navigate running their retail business.  Through online classes, business coaching programs, speaking, and a top-ranked podcast, I've helped hundreds of retailers around the globe reclaim their dream and see the success they want from their beautiful shops. My signature private coaching community, The Retailer's Inner Circle, has helped retailers around the world build their retail business skill sets and confidence.  I am proud to have been featured in several major publications, including my own business column in What Women Create magazine. I have been privileged to be a guest on top-ranked podcasts and sought-after as a guest speaker and teacher for several brands, associations, and communities that are passionate about the success of independent retailers. When I'm not coaching, you will find me either DIYing and renovating my very imperfect old crooked cottage by the sea in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, NS, or blogging about our travel and RVing adventures and the weird fun things we get up to in our coastal village. I'd love to invite you to check out one of my free resources for real retailers at https://wendybatten.com/free-resources/    For more support from Wendy   Join Wendy's CEO Planning Session for Retailers Retailer's Inner Circle - Join Wendy inside the best retailer's community Free resources for shop owners   Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG    All of Wendy's programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.  Subscribe & Review on iTunes Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you're not, I'd love you to consider it. Subscribing means you won't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe to iTunes! If you want to be more of a rockstar, I'd love it if you could leave a review over on iTunes as well.  Those reviews help other retailers find my podcast and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

Brendan Appel of The Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Brendan and Tom opened the show by complaining about the extreme heat lingering over the Chicago area. Tom then noted that Jill was correct last week when she suggested that Toyota had a 20-percent stake in Subaru. Tom had suggested a lower figure. Still in the first segment, Brendan and Tom acknowledged the passing of the TLX, Acura's excellent midsize sedan which has struggled in the marketplace for several year. The sporty 4-door will be discontinued after the 2025 model year. Brendan shared details of a video just posted at We Are Motor Drive (host site to the Sons of Speed). Brendan and “Sons” partner Paul Herrold spent time with the all-new, electric, Dodge Charger Daytona sedan. Brendan and Paul were generally delighted with the new Dodge EV, but have some thoughts on how Dodge can make the vehicle more generally appealing. In the second segment, Brendan and Tom welcome Ram Executive Vice President of Retail and Commercial Demand, Nate Buelow to the show. Nate updated the hosts on a number of important changes to the Ram line, including a new drivetrain warranty, more-affordable trim levels, and the return of the Hemi V8 engine. Nate also discussed Ram's return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 2026. In the last segment, Brendan is subjected to Tom's “Dodge!” quiz, and someone mentioned the Chrysler Cordoba. 

Alibaba may be known for its massive scale — but at the heart of its U.S. strategy is something much more focused: empowering small businesses.In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein sits down with Justin Liu, U.S. Country Manager at Alibaba.com, to explore how the global B2B marketplace is helping American entrepreneurs source more efficiently, build more resilient supply chains and take advantage of cross-border opportunities.With experience at Amazon, Meituan and streetwear marketplace Poizon, Justin brings a global lens to today's most pressing retail topics — from digital discovery to de-risking the sourcing process. Together, they discuss:How global supply chain disruption has changed brands' sourcing timelines and strategies;How Alibaba is evolving to better serve U.S. small businesses;The company's strategy for simplifying product discovery and vendor relationships; andThe role of trust, transparency and tech in the future of B2B ecommerce.RELATED LINKSExplore Alibaba.com's offerings for U.S. small businessesTry out Alibaba's new AI-powered sourcing platform Accio.com Read more about the Alibaba-Wix partnership on Retail TouchPointsLearn about Alibaba's efforts to support SMBs, including Olympic athletesListen to more episodes of Retail Remix

Join us for FREE on Discord! https://discord.gg/8C7VdZ2AX7In this episode of Malicious Compliance, we dive into stories of workplace defiance done right. From a property manager who demanded a 15-minute log and got 90 days' worth, to a Chick-fil-A worker who was robbed after following orders, these stories show what happens when bad instructions are taken literally. A paralegal lets a cocky lawyer tank his own assignment, a call center agent weaponizes the script, and someone follows "don't touch my stuff" a little too precisely. You'll laugh, wince, and maybe even cheer as each OP delivers the perfect petty response.Submit your own stories to KarmaStoriesPod@gmail.com.Karma Stories is available on all major Podcasting Platforms and on YouTube under the @KarmaStoriesPodcast handle. We cover stories from popular Reddit Subreddits like Entitled Parents, Tales From Tech Support, Pro Revenge and Malicious Compliance. You can find new uploads here every single day of the week!Rob's 3D Printing Site: https://Dangly3D.comGet your Custom Hand Turned Pen by Rob at https://CanadianRob.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/karma-stories--5098578/support.

The Commerce Minister says he's disappointed in businesses who say they will pass on the cost of surcharge scrapping. Most in-store surcharges on card payments will be banned, with the changes set to kick in next May. Scott Simpson says this is a win for consumers. He told Mike Hosking they've also taken action on the fees banks charge businesses. Simpson says those rates will be lower following regulation that will kick in at the end of the year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drop us a message!In this week's episode, we sit down with Adrian Last, the Chief Marketing Officer at ITV Studios. We dive into the marketing strategy of ITV Studios in the crowded media landscape, as well as the key trends that are shaping the entertainment industry today.We're also chatting to Brianna and Elena, two Social Media Managers here at Giraffe Social to get their thoughts on Consistency vs. Creativity in marketing.Want to be featured on the pod? Drop us a voice note on Instagram at @GiraffeSM. About Giraffe Social's Social in 10 Podcast Giraffe Social is a multi-disciplined digital marketing agency specialising in social media marketing based on the South Coast of the United Kingdom. We work with a wide range of industries, spanning from Fintech and L&D, to Beauty and Retail. Social in 10 is a weekly podcast about all things digital marketing. We discuss all the things social media managers want to know, including the latest platform updates, emerging trends, campaign ideas, and best practices to help you stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're managing multiple clients or growing your brand in-house, each episode is packed with actionable insights… all delivered in under ten minutes. Hosted by the Giraffe Social team, this is your fast, fun, no-fluff guide to making sense of social. New episodes every week, so tune in and level up your marketing game!

The Finance Minister has hinted changes are on the way for the supermarket sector, with a further update due out by the end of August. Speculation indicates the Government will make an announcement to address the situation. Nicola Willis says Prime Minister Luxon has confirmed the Government will be making an announcement this quarter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks for listening to this podcast: You can now buy some great merch on:⁠https://www.teepublic.com/user/mr-guru-305⁠ https://teespring.com/stores/the-fam-305-store⁠⁠Check out the great shirts and more! Make sure you follow us on X(Formerly Twitter), Instagram,Threads( mr_guru305954)Facebook, and Tik Tok  at @TheFam305podcast.Our website isTheFam305podcast.com, check us out!Also, you can email us at thefam305podcast@gmail.com.We are now live streaming on YouTube and Facebook Live: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLoepE3TIiPhuaGcYGbzqoQ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/The-FAM-305-104943024514608/⁠Don't forget to listen, share and subscribe to the Fam305 on Apple Podcasts Come join in the fun with the Fam305 podcast crew! You can message us live during the livecast and also listen to our podcast @thefam305podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Anchor, and other podcasting apps!

Happy Friday! Rob and Yano are back to talk the markets, PNC's collab with Coinbase, Hyperliquid being disrupted by Coinbase's new Perps launch, NFTs return, Pump's slump and the continued rise of the Crypto Treasury Companies. -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- GEODNET is the world's largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes. Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire -- "Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3. Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"": - Transactions posted to the blockchain - Compatibility with TradFi rails - Integrated DeFi features UR, built by Mantle, is the first real-world example: an on-chain money app offering Swiss IBANs and unified access to fiat (EUR, CHF, USD, RMB) and crypto — bringing crypto into everyday finance. Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier. Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'." -- Zenrock is a permissionless, decentralized custody network backed by 1RoundTable Partners, 10T, Maven11, and Spartan. Live on Jupiter, $ROCK is the native token for transactions within the Zenrock ecosystem and secures Zenrock's decentralized custody network. The first application launching on Zenrock is zenBTC – yield-bearing Bitcoin on Solana. zenBTC is now live. -- Citrea is the first zero-knowledge rollup to enhance the capabilities of Bitcoin blockspace and enable Bitcoin applications (₿apps). Citrea is optimistically verified by Bitcoin, offering the most Bitcoin-secured and native way to extend BTC's utility to DeFi. Learn more about Citrea: https://citrea.xyz/?utm_source=bellcurve&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=website_promo Follow Citrea on X/Twitter for the latest on its journey to mainnet: https://x.com/citrea_xyz -- Chapters: (0:00) Introduction (1:53) Comment Roasts (2:52) Market Updates (13:20) Ads (Geodnet & Bitwise) (14:57) Digital Asset Treasury Companies (31:16) Ads (Geodnet & Bitwise) (32:53) Pump Analysis (38:11) Hyperliquid & Coinbase's Perps (45:51) Ads (Mantle, Zenrock & Citrea) (48:05) NFTs Are Back (52:01) PNC x Coinbase -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Retail investors are surging back into alts — but is this a warning sign for the cycle? We're breaking down the Senate's new crypto market structure bill, JPMorgan's move to lend against crypto, Goldman and BNY's tokenized money market play, and Coinbase launching perpetuals for US traders. Plus, David Bailey's hedge fund sees a 640% gain... but is treasury concentration now a risk to Bitcoin? Nathaniel Whittemore: https://x.com/nlw ►► JOIN THE WOLF PACK - FREE Telegram group where I share daily updates on everything I'm watching and chat directly with all of you.

The hunt for certainty is killing creativity.Rory Sutherland, chairman of Ogilvy and the poet of persuasion, joins us live from Klaviyo London to challenge marketing's obsession with thin-tailed attribution. Brands are facing an existential crisis in an increasingly brandless, chat-interface powered world, but Sutherland believes that current measurement models are not designed to allow marketers to test, fail, learn, and grow, systematically destroying breakthrough potential.Key takeaways:Technology evolves from option to obligation: Parking apps that liberated us from coin machines now trap those without smartphones, while McDonald's screen-only outlets eliminate human flexibilityMarketing is fat-tailed, business is not thin-tailed: "10% of what you do delivers 130% of the value, but you don't know what the 10% is in advance." But marketing's current measurement system is designed for us to fail. Attribution models punish necessary failures and do not credit long-term breakthroughsInterface changes redistribute power overnight: When fundamental interaction modes shift from typing to voice and stores to apps, established advantages can disappear instantly, creating opportunities for complete market disruptionBrand value is multifarious, not monolithic: Fame, trust signals, and decision-making heuristics remain valuable even as chat interfaces challenge traditional brand expression. "People will come and find you rather than you having to find them." – Rory Sutherland[00:06:13] "Interface change is always disruptive, because if you change the interface within which people choose and act, you fundamentally change behavior." - Rory Sutherland[00:20:25] "There's a concern I always have about technology, which is the extent to which a lot of technology arrives as an option and ends up as an obligation." - Rory Sutherland[00:42:47] "There's a danger that what [AI is] doing is enshrining groupthink. It's taking groupthink and effectively engraving it." - Rory SutherlandLinks & In-Show Mentions:Learn more about OgilvyCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

On today's podcast episode, we discuss how retail media is impacting traditional search marketing, and how marketers can best leverage themselves on the wave of new retail media network platforms. Then, we break down how AI tools will affect the future of paid search advertising. Join our conversation with guest host and Director of Reports Editing, Rahul Chadha, Principal Analyst, Sarah Marzano, and Senior Analyst, Max Willens. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.   To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+ go to EMARKETER.com   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-behind-numbers-retail-media-social-changing-search-marketing   © 2025 EMARKETER Quad is a global marketing experience company that gives brands a frictionless way to go to market using an array of innovative, data-driven offerings. With a platform built for integrated execution, Quad helps clients maximize marketing effectiveness across all channels. It ranks among Ad Age's 25 largest agency companies. For more information, visit quad.com.  

As AI evolves, the world of work is getting even better for the most creative, curious, and growth-minded employees. So says LinkedIn's Chief Economic Opportunity Officer, Aneesh Raman. Raman joins Rapid Response with intriguing, urgent insights on why the career ladder is disappearing – and how AI will help transform it into more of a climbing wall, with a unique path for each of us. Hear which parts of the workforce Raman sees as most affected by AI, and why he remains “radically pro-human” as the very nature of work dramatically shifts. 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.

AI is changing advertising—and fast. In this episode, Joe and Maarja break down how AI is impacting the world of Amazon and retail media, from generative creative tools to AI-driven customer journeys and predictive campaign optimization. They explore what's real, what's hype, and what it all means for brands and marketers.

This episode of 'This Week in Futures Options' on the Options Insider Radio Network covers extensive details on various active commodities in the futures options market. The discussion begins with a breakdown of Nat Gas, analyzing its significant drop towards the three-handle and the activity around three puts and four calls. WTI's consistent trading around the 65 level and the potential implications are explored. Copper's tariff-driven surge and related options activity, including various put spreads, are examined. The show also touches on the behavior of Nasdaq during earning season and the rise of zero-day options in the futures market. Hosted by Mark Longo, with insights from Russell Rhoads, the episode dives into market sentiment, trading strategies, and key economic indicators shaping the futures options landscape.   02:41 Show Kickoff and New Network Edition 03:58 Guest Introduction: Russell Rhoads 04:50 Discussion on Retail vs. Institutional Trading 06:19 Movers and Shakers Report 11:56 Volatility Analysis 15:56 Energy Market Insights 26:00 Crude Oil Market Analysis 26:53 WTI and Nat Gas Volatility 27:26 Key Levels in Crude Oil 29:32 Put Options Activity in Crude 32:18 Copper Market Insights 42:01 Equity Indices During Earnings Season 48:16 Zero-Day Options and Market Sentiment 49:17 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Interaction  

This episode of 'This Week in Futures Options' on the Options Insider Radio Network covers extensive details on various active commodities in the futures options market. The discussion begins with a breakdown of Nat Gas, analyzing its significant drop towards the three-handle and the activity around three puts and four calls. WTI's consistent trading around the 65 level and the potential implications are explored. Copper's tariff-driven surge and related options activity, including various put spreads, are examined. The show also touches on the behavior of Nasdaq during earning season and the rise of zero-day options in the futures market. Hosted by Mark Longo, with insights from Russell Rhoads, the episode dives into market sentiment, trading strategies, and key economic indicators shaping the futures options landscape.   02:41 Show Kickoff and New Network Edition 03:58 Guest Introduction: Russell Rhoads 04:50 Discussion on Retail vs. Institutional Trading 06:19 Movers and Shakers Report 11:56 Volatility Analysis 15:56 Energy Market Insights 26:00 Crude Oil Market Analysis 26:53 WTI and Nat Gas Volatility 27:26 Key Levels in Crude Oil 29:32 Put Options Activity in Crude 32:18 Copper Market Insights 42:01 Equity Indices During Earnings Season 48:16 Zero-Day Options and Market Sentiment 49:17 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Interaction  

Our guest on this week's episode is Manish Kapoor, founder and CEO of Growth Catalyst Group. Since we have passed the mid-summer mark of 2025, retailers are now focused on the next dates on the retail calendar – and that's back to school season. This is traditionally the second busiest season of the retail year. But like everything in supply chains in 2025, this year has not been normal. Our guest helps us find out how retail supply chains are coping and what we can expect over the coming weeks.A new industry-sponsored program is designed to inspire next generation of supply chain leaders. Girl Scouts of the USA and contract logistics provider DHL Supply Chain have launched the "Solutions Superstar" program to advance critical thinking and problem-solving skills for K-12 girls and to introduce them to supply chain careers. A modern distribution center or fulfillment center is often full of automation at many different levels. It might have robots like AMRs and AGVs, dense storage like an AS/RS, and software platforms like an ERP or WMS system. But often, each of those units operates by itself, or it takes orders from just one source, like the WMS software. And that can make it hard for them all to work together as a team. But lately, we've been seeing progress in the industry toward fixing that situation.  Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series has just started on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Growth Catalyst GroupIndustry sponsored program inspires the next generation of supply chain leadersSeegrid AMRs to meet interoperability standard by 2026Visit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics AutomationOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

On the floor at Shoptalk Europe, RETHINK Retail's Marie Driscoll sits down with Nicolas Kroeger, Chief Digital Transformation Officer at Manor AG, Switzerland's largest department store chain. In a dynamic conversation, Nicolas shares how his expanded role is driving process efficiency and innovation through AI across departments.

Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We're breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob challenge the assumption that older consumers stick with older brands. Real purchase data from over 88,000 grocery trips shows older shoppers buy a mix of brands based on size and relevance, not age or nostalgia.Topics covered:   [01:00] "Examining Older Consumers' Loyalty towards Older Brands in Grocery Retailing"[02:00] What the data revealed about older shoppers[04:00] Do these findings apply beyond grocery categories?[05:00] Financial services and credit card research[06:00] Cars, durables, and 25 years of cross-category data[08:00] Your brand preferences are like your closet  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources: Phua, P., Kennedy, R., Trinh, G., Page, B., & Sharp, B. (2020). Examining older consumers' loyalty towards older brands in grocery retailing. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 54, 101893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.101893:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}   Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

This episode builds on Dave Norton's article on Substack about Kate King's report in the Wall Street Journal: Can the French Reinvent America's Broken Department Store Model. Aransas Savas, Joe Pine, and Dave Norton discuss the evolving landscape of retail, particularly focusing on the experiential model as exemplified by the French department store Printemps. They explore the differences between traditional American department stores and European models, emphasizing the importance of creating engaging experiences that encourage customers to linger. The conversation also touches on metrics for measuring success in experiential retail and highlights case studies like La Varia Leo bookstore, while critiquing Macy's for missing opportunities to connect with consumers. Takeaways The American department store model is in decline. Experiential retail focuses on creating reasons for customers to stay. Time spent in a retail space correlates with increased sales. European department stores are thriving by offering immersive experiences. Retailers need to shift from product staging to experience staging. Metrics for success should include time well spent and revenue increases. Charging for experiences can turn marketing into a profit center. La Varia Leo bookstore successfully monetized its experience. Macy's has not adapted to the experiential retail trend. Retailers must innovate to compete with online shopping. Sound bites "It's about time well spent." "You want to hang out there." "Macy's has done none of this." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Experience Economy 02:46 The European Retail Experience 11:30 Transformative Retail Experiences 19:58 Metrics for Success in Retail 23:35 The Future of Retail Experiences   Read more https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/commercial/can-the-french-reinvent-americas-broken-department-store-model-ff719a4a?st=9K6WB8&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink https://theexperiencestrategist.substack.com/p/america-looks-to-europe-to-reinvigorate Register for a free pilot program with Feedback Now https://marketing-info.feedbacknow.com/free-pilot Learn more about Stone Mantel https://www.stonemantel.co Sign up for the Experience Strategist Substack here: https://theexperiencestrategist.substack.com  

This episode is part two in an ongoing series about brands and how they influence our identities and drive consumerism.In this episode:We are going to hopefully answer the question “why might someone get so caught up in a brand that they start fighting with strangers about it on social media?”Amanda explains where "off price" stores like TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack really get their inventoryWe examine why it's more important than ever to support small businesses (and how we can do that)We will explore the background and influence of Marc Gobés 2000s book Emotional Branding, considered “the bible” of contemporary marketing and brandingWhy is Lululemon kind of like a cult?We will walk through the “10 commandments of emotional branding” and examples of how they have been appliedWe will realize that Supreme isn't as cool as it seemsWe explore why people join brand fan groups on FacebookHow Nooworks made a major fan out of Amanda after seeing how the brand handled a crisisAmanda explains why taste is a classist constructAnd so much more!Additional reading:"Getting Emotional With Marc Gobé," Design Emotion."Why Do People Join Cults? Linguist and 'Cultish' Author Amanda Montell on the 'Invisible Power of Language,'" Dillon Dodson, Parade.Cultish by Amanda Montell"The Cult-Like Following Of Lululemon Is Stronger Than Ever — Despite Controversies," Cory Stieg, Refinery29.Business Insider piece about working for LululemonALSO: get your tickets for Clotheshorse LIVE!10/23  Seattle, WA @ Here-After10/26  Portland, OR @ HoloceneGet 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.The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at thepewterthimble.comSt. Evens is an NYC-based vintage shop that is dedicated to bringing you those special pieces you'll reach for again and again. More than just a store, St. Evens is dedicated to sharing the stories and history behind the garments. 10% of all sales are donated to a different charitable organization each month.  New vintage is released every Thursday at wearStEvens.com, with previews of new pieces and more brought to you on Instagram at @wear_st.evens.Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories that are sustainable, gender fluid, size inclusive and high quality--made to last for years to come. Deco Denim is trying to change the way you think about buying clothes. Founder Sarah Mattes wants to empower people to ask important questions like, “Where was this made? Was this garment made ethically? Is this fabric made of plastic? Can this garment be upcycled and if not, can it be recycled?” Signup at decodenim.com to receive $20 off your first purchase. They promise not to spam you and send out no more than 3 emails a month, with 2 of them surrounding education or a personal note from the Founder. Find them on Instagram as @deco.denim.Vagabond Vintage DTLV is a vintage clothing, accessories & decor reselling business based in Downtown Las Vegas. Not only do we sell in Las Vegas, but we are also located throughout resale markets in San Francisco as well as at a curated boutique called Lux and Ivy located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jessica, the founder & owner of Vagabond Vintage DTLV, recently opened the first IRL location located in the Arts District of Downtown Las Vegas on August 5th. The shop has a strong emphasis on 60s & 70s garments, single stitch tee shirts & dreamy loungewear. Follow them on instagram, @vagabondvintage.dtlv and keep an eye out for their website coming fall of 2022.Country Feedback is a mom & pop record shop in Tarboro, North Carolina. They specialize in used rock, country, and soul and offer affordable vi...

A replay from VISIONS Summit: NYC featuring YouTuber and architect Dami Lee.From the stage of VISIONS Summit at MoMA, Dami Lee reveals why the most chaotic spaces often teach us the most about what it means to be human. As a licensed architect turned YouTube storyteller with over 200 million views, she's discovered that making architecture approachable isn't about simplifying complexity, it's about finding the human stories embedded in our built environment. Through her exploration of places like Kowloon Walled City, Dami demonstrates how the most profound spaces emerge not from master plans but from organic human adaptation, creating connections and meaning through what philosophers call "rhizomic growth."When a Deeper Connection Is Better Than a Wider OneKey takeaways:Human framing trumps technical perfection: No matter how many hours spent making content beautiful or technically accurate, none of it matters without taking time to make it human and frame architecture from a human angle.Personal investment drives authentic storytelling: Topics perform best when team members have genuine personal connections to the subject matter, leading to deeper research and more compelling narratives.Rhizomic processes create unexpected connections: Non-linear, seemingly inefficient creative processes allow for serendipitous discoveries and cross-categorical insights that wouldn't emerge through structured approaches.Extremes ignite curiosity: Audiences gravitate toward architectural stories that push boundaries—like the world's densest city—because extremes reveal fundamental truths about human behavior and adaptation.Associated Links:Check out Dami Lee on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!