Podcasts about retail experience

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

In this episode we speak to Stephanie Thomas, Head of Retail Experience at VCCP. Stephanie talks about her experience in moving from a start-up culture in the Middle East to working with iconic brand McDonalds, how personalisation and target engagement is the key to success, the catalysts behind the Retail Media boom and how retailers can capitalise on its future.

Matt Bradley, Founder and Director of the Retail Technology Show, joins Alex to share the behind-the-scenes story of growing one of the UK's leading retail events. Discover why Matt believes retail gatherings must go beyond exhibitions—they should entertain, educate, and inspire. He reveals the strategic move to London's Excel Centre, the decision behind the show's carnival theme, and the extraordinary lineup, including keynotes from retail legends and social media entrepreneur Joe Wicks. If you're seeking fresh insights, practical retail solutions, and a truly engaging experience, Matt promises the Retail Technology Show 2025 delivers.Whether you're tackling payment hurdles, supply chain challenges, or leveraging AI, Matt's goal is clear: every visitor should leave having learned something valuable, made meaningful connections, and enjoyed themselves along the way.Episode Highlights (Show Notes):•Matt's Journey: From RBTE to Retail Technology Show—reinventing retail events.•Why Excel London? The strategic decision behind moving venues and how it benefits attendees.•Carnival Atmosphere: Transforming a retail event into an immersive experience.•Free yet Premium: How the Retail Technology Show offers top-tier content without a price tag.•Speaker Lineup: Joe Wicks, Archie Norman (M&S), Steve Hewitt (Gymshark), Sophie Neary (Google), Richard Lim (Retail Economics), and more.•Retail Insights & Innovations: Practical solutions in AI, payments, and the evolving retail landscape.•Community & Celebration: The importance of fun, networking, and the highly anticipated retail carnival party.Retail, Retail Technology Show, Matt Bradley, Retail Innovation, Excel London, Joe Wicks, Archie Norman, Gymshark, Sophie Neary, AI, Retail Conference, Retail Experience, Retail Trends, Networking, Free Retail Events, Retail PodcastReserve your spot at the Retail Technology Show, April 2-3, 2025, at Excel London, and transform your retail strategies with fresh insights and practical innovations.Website link: www.retailtechnologyshow.com

¿Cómo transformar la experiencia del cliente en retail y hacer que cada interacción cuente? En este episodio, conversamos con Oziel López, experto en ventas y experiencia del cliente, sobre estrategias clave para potenciar la percepción de marca, fidelizar clientes y mejorar la rentabilidad. Descubre su visión sobre el futuro del retail y las tácticas que los líderes pueden aplicar hoy. ¡Dale play y transforma tu estrategia!

This is Derek Miller of the Salt Lake Chamber with your Utah Business Report. As demand for immersive experiences grows in retail, entertainment, and hospitality, design-build construction company Outside the Lines has launched Aquarius Interactive, a new patented AI technology revolutionizing guest interactions with commercial property amenities. Now featured at Mountain View Village, an 85-acre mixed-use destination in Riverton, Utah, the technology enhances the property's water feature by using AI technology to respond to visitors' movements with dynamic water jets and changing lights, or both. In addition to its engagement and interactive capabilities, the technology can also capture valuable demographic data, such as the volume of foot traffic in front of the fountain at any given time of day, as well as the length of stay. To learn more, visit the Outside the Lines website. The Salt Lake Chamber. We Stand as the Voice of Business. Originally aired: 2/26/25

Is selling medical equipment the next big move for your pharmacy? Join retail experience consultant Acacia Flory as she shares insights from 20 years in retail and her passion for helping pharmacies boost profits beyond prescriptions. Discover why mobility aids, bathroom safety, and durable medical equipment (DME) could be game changers—and how expert sales can create a loyal customer base. Don't miss practical tips, success stories, and why Amazon isn't the only player in the game. Tune in now!

In this episode, Alex Tallman, Director of Retail Experience at Fleet Feet, offers insights into the company's approach to customer experience and technological innovation. Alex reflects on his career and the importance of understanding the needs of both in-store associates and franchisees to drive success.Additionally, he discusses how Fleet Feet integrates advanced technology, such as FitID 3D foot scanning, and utilizes stores as eCommerce fulfillment hubs to seamlessly connect in-store and online shopping experiences.

Socrates Rosenfeld, CEO and co-founder of Jane Technologies, explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the cannabis retail sector. Rosenfeld unveils "my high," a cutting-edge platform designed to enhance the in-store experience for both customers and budtenders."My high" leverages AI to provide personalized product recommendations based on customer purchase history and preferences. This information empowers budtenders to offer tailored guidance, elevating customer service and fostering deeper connections. Rosenfeld emphasizes that the platform complements, rather than replaces, the expertise of budtenders, enhancing their ability to cater to individual needs.The conversation addresses the unique challenges of the cannabis industry, including stringent ID verification requirements. Rosenfeld highlights how AI can streamline these processes, creating a smoother and more efficient shopping experience. He envisions a future where technology seamlessly integrates with the in-store environment, optimizing operations and enhancing customer satisfaction.Rosenfeld and our host delve into the evolving landscape of omni-channel retail, particularly within the cannabis sector. Rosenfeld proposes innovative strategies to curate product knowledge for budtenders, enabling them to focus on a select range of high-potential and personalized recommendations. This approach, he suggests, can be applied across various retail sectors, from restaurants to brick-and-mortar stores.The discussion highlights the power of smart digital tools to revolutionize the in-store experience. By leveraging AI-driven insights, retailers can optimize product displays, personalize interactions, and create a more engaging and rewarding shopping journey for customers, ultimately driving sales and loyalty.Rosenfeld explores the potential of data analytics to optimize inventory management and pricing strategies. By analyzing consumption patterns and stock levels, retailers can implement just-in-time inventory systems, ensuring product availability while minimizing waste. Data-driven pricing strategies enable dynamic adjustments, maximizing profitability and enhancing competitiveness.Rosenfeld introduces the Jane Kiosk, an innovative in-store solution designed to enhance the shopping experience. These kiosks guide first-time shoppers, curate personalized product selections, and streamline the purchasing process. This approach empowers customers to make informed choices, reducing overwhelm and enhancing satisfaction.The conversation addresses concerns surrounding data security and privacy. Rosenfeld assures viewers that Jane Technologies prioritizes customer data protection, implementing robust security measures and adhering to strict privacy protocols. He emphasizes their commitment to responsible data usage and regulatory compliance.Rosenfeld discusses the company's adaptability to varying state regulations, highlighting the modular design of their software. He expresses optimism about the future of cannabis legalization and its potential impact on the industry, emphasizing their commitment to supporting their partners through this evolving landscape.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How are AI and edge computing revolutionizing the retail industry? In this episode, Bill sits down with Omar El Gohary, Vice President and General Manager of IoT Solutions at ServiceNow​​. Omar shares how AI and edge computing are transforming retail by optimizing operational efficiencies and reshaping customer experiences. He also delves into the challenges of managing distributed data, the impact of GenAI, and the opportunities for innovation in today's fast-paced retail environment.--------Key Quotes:“ Technology that is use case driven, that brings you benefit, that's where retailers have to go and that's where the benefits lie.”“You do see that retailers that have more robust processes, that have integrated their entire value chain, that are able to act on data and be proactive and not reactive, will definitely have an advantage.”“ One of the key words is how do you reduce the barrier to the adoption of the use cases, right? And that is by having the correct edge device, by having the right data approach and bringing the silos together, and having the right AI components.”--------Timestamps: (04:27) Evolving with technology in retail(06:33) Challenges in digitizing the retail industry(14:38) Technology adoption and its impact on retail(18:00) Breaking down data silos (27:03) Managing distributed data at the edge(39:03) GenAI's role in transforming retail--------Sponsor:Edge solutions are unlocking data-driven insights for leading organizations. With Dell Technologies, you can capitalize on your edge by leveraging the broadest portfolio of purpose-built edge hardware, software and services. Leverage AI where you need it; simplify your edge; and protect your edge to generate competitive advantage within your industry. Capitalize on your edge today with Dell Technologies.--------Credits:Over the Edge is hosted by Bill Pfeifer, and was created by Matt Trifiro and Ian Faison. Executive producers are Matt Trifiro, Ian Faison, Jon Libbey and Kyle Rusca. The show producer is Erin Stenhouse. The audio engineer is Brian Thomas. Additional production support from Elisabeth Plutko.--------Links:Follow Omar on LinkedInFollow Bill on LinkedInReimagining Intelligent Modern Retail: Redefining the Retail Experience for TomorrowLearn more about ServiceNow: https://www.servicenow.com/industries/retail.htmlhttps://www.servicenow.com/products/retail-operations.htmlhttps://www.servicenow.com/company/media/press-room/now-assist-ai-industry-solutions.html

Join the Rooted in Retail Mastermind: Resilient Together--The right music, a carefully chosen scent, and thoughtful textures—small details like these add up to something bigger than you might expect. In today's episode, we explore how every sense plays a role in creating an unforgettable customer experience.You don't need to be a luxury retailer to apply these insights. Small, intentional touches can make any store feel special. Today, Felix Johnson from The FELIX Experience joins me to show how you can infuse a little luxury into your store.It starts with the music you play in-store. Felix shares a specific beats-per-minute range that encourages customers to stay longer—and it's amazing how much of a difference this can make! We'll also dive into how engaging the five senses helps nurture your customer experience. If you're ready to rethink the way you connect with your audience, you're going to love this conversation.[02:37] Felix's childhood dream of owning a mall[04:51] How Felix took big box insights to craft his own brand vision[06:14] What luxury means in a digital world of evolving expectations [08:18] Tips for indie retailers to create sensory-rich experiences for unique brands[12:10] What retailers can learn from the Saks-Neiman Marcus acquisition[14:14] Felix's resilience round--Links:Get all of the resources in our show notesJoin the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation Get your ticket to EVOLVE 2025 - $200 off when you use the code rooted Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch!

In this episode I sit down with Ryan Cheyne who has been operating as a HR leader for almost 20 years. Ryan's began his career in retail at Argos, quickly rising through the ranks to become a store manager before transitioning to HR. He talks about a hugely pivotal time at Pets at Home, where he tackled high attrition rates and focused on creating a positive workplace culture. From this we learn about his belief that the most important thing in HR is creating amazing places to work. He emphasises that HR's role is fundamentally about ensuring that employees have a positive and rewarding experience in the workplace. This involves focusing on culture, values, and employee engagement while also ensuring that the basics—such as pay, disciplinary processes, and overall HR functions—are handled effectively. Ryan asserts that when employees feel valued and engaged, they are more likely to deliver excellent service to customers, ultimately leading to the commercial success of the business.The discussion also covers Ryan's experience at rentalcars.com and his subsequent role at Flutter, where he continued to champion the idea that a strong people strategy is essential for business success. Throughout the episode, Ryan highlights the significance of building and maintaining professional relationships, the power of networking, and the impact of having supportive leadership in HR.NotesEdit

In the latest episode of the CX Innovators podcast, Victoria Patterson, field marketing manager for the East Coast at Fleet Feet, and Alex Tallman, director of retail experience and education at Fleet Feet, share insight with RetailCustomerExperience.com editor Judy Mottl on how the iconic hospitality and lodging brand is transforming the brand.Patterson's team supports stores in their grassroots outreach initiatives. The key is connecting with local organizations, (medical professionals, gyms, run/walk clubs, hotels) in order to enhance community wellness. Tallman's team is all about ensuring front-line associates are equipped to deliver an experience that satisfies both the customer and the referring provider.In a previous CX Innovators podcast, Tallman shared insight about the brand's 3D foot scanning technology and other customer experience strategies in play.Remember to subscribe to Networld Media Group's YouTube channel to keep up with the latest CX Innovators podcasts.

In this episode of Kaya Cast, we delve deep into the mind of a top cannabis industry investor, Scott Grossman, the strategic force behind Turning Point Brands. With a rich background in investment banking and extensive experience in both private and public equity, Scott brings unparalleled insights into what really catches an investor's eye in the burgeoning cannabis market.What You'll Learn:- Investment Strategies: Scott outlines his approach to evaluating cannabis businesses, emphasizing the importance of a solid team and a clear understanding of the market problem the business intends to solve.- Essential Business Qualities: Discover the key attributes Scott believes are vital for a business to attract investment, including direct experience, operational understanding, and a compelling value proposition.- Advice for Entrepreneurs: Scott provides actionable advice for cannabis entrepreneurs on what to consider when approaching investors, how to demonstrate potential for scalability and defendability in the market.- Navigating Challenges: Learn about the nuances of investment in the volatile cannabis industry and how businesses can position themselves to be more attractive for investment.- Insider Insights: Gain insights from Scott's robust experience on mistakes to avoid and strategies to employ when seeking funds to ensure your business not only survives but thrives in competitive markets.This episode is a goldmine for any cannabis entrepreneur aiming to understand the investor's perspective deeply. Scott not only shares what attracts investment but also discusses common pitfalls and the resilience required to succeed. Whether you're preparing for your initial pitch or looking to expand, Scott's expert advice could potentially pivot your business strategy towards greater success.Make sure to tune in to this insightful conversation full of actionable strategies that could help elevate your cannabis business to the next level!Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you love to listen. Subscribe to Kaya Cast Podcast for more insights on growing and scaling your cannabis business successfully. Highlights00:00 Introduction to KayaCast00:20 Meet Scott Grossman: Investment Insights00:59 Key Factors for Investment: The Team05:06 Retail Experience and Unique Value Propositions09:29 Top Qualities for Entrepreneurs14:32 The Importance of Resiliency17:35 Raising Capital: Strategy and Execution20:33 Building Prototypes and Demonstrating Value23:30 Understanding Your Customer Base24:04 Raising Capital: Key Considerations27:01 Building a Cannabis Brand29:16 Finding Investors in the Cannabis Industry35:50 Crafting the Perfect Elevator Pitch37:04 Evaluating Investors and Metrics43:25 Personal Investment Insights45:30 Final Thoughts and Contact InformationFind out more about Turning Point Brands, Inc at:https://www.turningpointbrands.com/home/default.aspxhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/turning-point-brands-inc./#kayacast

In this conversation, Robert Welsh shares his experiences in the makeup industry, emphasising the importance of self-expression and inclusivity. Robert reflects on his time at MAC, where he felt empowered by the diverse and creative environment. The discussion also covers the challenges of navigating the beauty industry, the significance of retail experience in personal growth, and the evolving landscape of customer service and beauty trends. Key highlights include the impact of social media on consumer behaviour and the pressures faced by makeup brands in a fast-paced market.00:00 Embracing Uniqueness and Self-Expression04:59 The Power of Retail Theatre10:10 Navigating the Makeup Industry15:09 The Impact of Retail Experience on Personal Growth20:11 The Changing Landscape of Customer Service24:54 The Evolution of Beauty Trends30:08 Reflections on the Future of Makeup Brands

Ted Galperin, Partner and Head of Retail at Mythology, and Mariah Parsons, Host of Retention Chronicles & Head of Marketing at Malomo, discuss crafting immersive design. Ted's work on the American Girl store in Dallas emphasizes the challenge of fitting a large experience into a 5,000-square-foot space. Key elements include a life-size dollhouse, a premium salon, and a cafe with a doll-sized door. Galperin also highlighted the importance of nostalgia in modern retail, citing examples like Vacation Sunscreen and Olipop. He shared insights on Warby Parker's retail strategy, focusing on creating a library-like atmosphere to enhance the customer experience. Additionally, he discussed the Sonos store in Soho, which used sound-attenuated pods to showcase the product's audio quality effectively. Episode Timestamps: 2:28: American Girl Store Project Overview 10:24: Nostalgia in Retail and Market Trends 19:06: Mythology's Multifaceted Approach 22:25: Warby Parker's Retail Experience 32:29: Sonos Retail Store Innovation 36:30: Balancing New and Returning Customers 40:17: Retail as Marketing and Awareness Tool

AI is revolutionizing nearly every aspect of our lives, and retail is no exception. Traditional commerce, once dominated by in-store interactions, has shifted toward e-commerce, yet the online experience often lacks the nuanced guidance of a knowledgeable salesperson. With advancements in Generative AI (Gen AI), this gap is closing, transforming the retail experience through AI into something more personalized and dynamic for consumers worldwide. As the retail industry faces increasing pressure from giants like Amazon, brands are under immense pressure to offer more engaging and accessible platforms.How can Gen AI bridge the gap between in-store expertise and digital convenience to deliver a truly enhanced AI-driven retail experience?DisruptEd, hosted by Ron Stefanski, features Dan Wagner, CEO of Rezolve AI, who explains how AI is reshaping retail by enhancing customer engagement, combating counterfeit products, and improving the digital shopping experience.Key Points:AI as the Ultimate Salesperson: Gen AI offers a deeper level of product understanding by integrating product catalogs, customer reviews, and user manuals, simulating expert sales assistance.Breaking Language Barriers: Rezolve's AI allows consumers to communicate in their native language, both online and in-store, enabling more inclusive and seamless interactions.Combating Counterfeiting: Wagner's technology includes invisible watermarking to ensure product authenticity, reducing counterfeit risks in an increasingly digital marketplace.Dan Wagner is a veteran of the digital retail industry, with over 40 years of experience. His entrepreneurial ventures include Vendo, the leading European e-commerce platform, now part of Oracle. His latest project, Rezolve AI, leverages AI to revolutionize consumer engagement in retail.

alexandra, co-founder of foile, discusses her journey from the fashion industry to creating a sustainable skincare brand. she shares insights on product development, the challenges of custom packaging, and how running sauna studios laid the foundation for foile. the conversation covers foile's commitment to sustainability, their unique approach to retail, and their vision for the future of skincare. 

Sasha, a model and producer, shares her journey of breaking into fashion, from working in retail to moving to Paris and kickstarting her modeling career. She also discusses her experience on the production side of the fashion industry and how she juggled two career tracks. In the Hype Seat, we get into topics such as diversity and inclusion, luxury fashion, and sparking kindness in the fashion industry. Follow her on Instagram! Key takeaways: Take pride in your appearance, and try not to forget to accessorize when appropriate. Working in retail provides valuable experience and understanding of the fashion business. The definition of luxury is subjective and varies from person to person. The modeling industry is evolving, with more opportunities for diverse representation and street casting, but it is crucial to stay open, adaptable, and willing to learn. Beware of social media—it can both inspire and hinder creativity. Chapters 00:00Introduction and Background 02:08Growing Up in New York and Fashion Influences 05:42The Business Side of Fashion and the Role of Retail 07:52The Importance of Retail Experience in the Fashion Industry 10:24Transitioning to Event Production and Creating Community 12:20Discovering Passion for Production and Creating Spectacles 14:21Moving to Paris and Manifesting Dreams 17:29Arriving in Paris and Overcoming Doubt 20:50Breaking into the Fashion Industry in Paris 27:37Modeling and Production in Paris 34:14The Evolution of the Modeling Industry 38:09Lessons Learned in Production and Navigating the Industry 39:13Flexibility and Open-Mindedness 43:24From Paris to Milan: A Pandemic Journey 46:08Three Months Turned into Three Years 49:54Networking in the Fashion Industry 53:58The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media 55:29Questioning Hype Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, and Luxury Fashion 01:06:47Outro.mp4

In this episode of the Speaking Business Podcast, Maria Franzoni reconnects with her very first boss, Steve Sumner, a trailblazer in high street sports retail and a pioneer of online business strategies. With over 40 years of experience, Steve has helped build multi-billion-pound businesses and launched five successful startups. In the episode, he's sharing his insights on how speakers can unlock growth in their own businesses. From navigating the challenges of legacy mindsets to leveraging digital tools like LinkedIn, Steve provides actionable advice for speakers looking to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your speaking career to the next level, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on innovation, strategy, and staying true to yourself. Tune in to learn how you can apply the principles of business growth to your speaking career and keep your audience coming back for more.

The retail landscape has dramatically transformed since the GSS began in 1994. In addition to shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are now regular monthly sales on double-digit days which can lead to discount fatigue. As consumer expectations shift, how can retailers future-proof their operations, stay relevant and achieve success? Yash Thakker, Director of Cloud Consulting of Searce, one of Google Cloud's largest partners globally, tells us more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Kailin Noivo as he sits down with E-commerce consultant Tyler Sperry. Together, they explore how and why you should collect data to uplevel your personalization and omnichannel experiences, as well as the key to site merchandising.

Today - we're taking you to Cashmere, where a new commercial hub, Side Street Cashmere, is reshaping the local retail experience.  And later - a quick update on the upcoming primary elections.Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Claudia Lloreda, founder and general manager of Blush-Bar, the Latin American beauty specialty retailer about creating a unique beauty experience for Gen Z shoppers. They discuss:How to create a unique beauty retail experience for Gen Z, by challenging the established orderWhy sustaining a clear shopper-led vision – and passion – is so critical to successThe importance of creating an experience that reflects the values and needs of younger shoppers (e.g., sustainability, mental health)The importance of the in-store beauty advisor and service for younger shoppersThe role of social media and ecommerce in building Blush-BarHow to adapt the product focus to different LatAm beauty culturesLearnings for Hispanic beauty shoppers in the US, andThe power of pink bunniesVisit our website for transcripts and video podcasts. Subscribe and rate us with your favorite podcast app!

Welcome to a special episode of Future Commerce, recorded live from the Outdoor Retailer conference held at the beautiful Tracy Aviary. In this episode, Brian sits down with industry leaders to discuss the future of omnichannel retail in the outdoor industry. Discover insights into enhancing the customer journey, reducing checkout friction, and optimizing operations to create seamless, memorable experiences for both B2B and B2C markets.Key Takeaways[00:02:30] - Elcee Vargas: "The prevailing research right now is that 70% of carts are abandoned, which is an overwhelmingly large number."[00:07:00] - Jordan: "We do a ton of A/B testing to create the quickest checkout experience. Taking a 120-second checkout process down to 6 seconds makes a huge difference."[00:21:30] - Travis: "With payments being the lifeblood of your company, you can't disrupt the revenue coming in and where it's going."[00:36:00] - Ken: "The closer you are to the top of search results, the more opportunities you have to make sales. Shipping plays a huge part in this."[00:39:00] - Carl: "Making sure you've got something that feeds these different channels is crucial for scalability and success."Maintaining customer relationships during off-seasons helps keep the brand top-of-mind, ensuring readiness to purchase when the season returns.Ensuring that your technology stack is cohesive and scalable is essential for seamless operations across B2B and B2C channels.Automating processes and having real-time visibility into inventory and sales trends can help manage tax implications and optimize inventory management.Continual A/B testing and optimization of the customer experience, especially at checkout, can lead to significant improvements in efficiency and customer satisfaction.Associated Links:Links & Resources:Learn more about Klaviyo, Stripe, Avalara, ShipStation, NetSuite, BigCommerceCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

In this episode of the eCom Ops Podcast, host Norbert Strappler chats with Yuriy Boykiv, CEO of Front Row. Yuriy shares his journey from marketing to leading an eCommerce accelerator, providing insights into the evolving eCommerce landscape and the importance of omnichannel strategies.

Why do some retailers excel at creating a welcoming environment for a diverse customer base while others fall short? Bain & Company's Naiara De León and Madison Dyal Anderson discuss their research on how companies that excel in customer advocacy and inclusion consistently outperform their peers by a staggering 10 percentage points annually. Beyond quantifying inclusion's sizable revenue impact, they also share data from their survey of over 7,700 US consumers on the lasting negative psychological toll exclusion has on retail customers—and why one bad experience can turn someone off a brand forever. We analyze the root of the issue: What causes consumer exclusion in the first place? We also share examples of companies' winning inclusive strategies, from the importance of eye contact to plentiful product assortment to purposefully designed campaigns. Guest: Naiara De León, Partner, Bain & Company Guest: Madison Dyal Anderson, Partner, Bain & Company Host: Rob Markey, Partner, Bain & Company Give Us Feedback: We'd love to hear from you. Help us enhance your podcast experience by providing feedback here in our listener survey. Want to get in touch? Send a note to host Rob Markey: https://www.robmarkey.com/contact-rob Time-stamped list of topics covered: [3:30] Research study overview and key findings [6:33] Research findings on how inclusion is universally important [8:02] Personal experiences of feeling welcomed or excluded in different stores [10:13] Balancing inclusivity with a retail brand's target market [12:16] How the feeling of belonging or being welcomed affects customer advocacy [13:04] Types of negative retail experiences that lead to customer detractors [15:00] The subtleties of interaction that affect customer perceptions of inclusion [20:14] Examples of companies that have created welcoming and inclusive atmospheres [22:10] How product assortments and staff training contribute to inclusivity [26:32] How retailers can assess and improve their levels of inclusivity for good [30:54] The greater impact of inclusive practices on strategy and market position Time-stamped list of notable quotes: [00:32] “There is this line between welcomed and belonging. The core customer needs to feel like they belong.” [2:24] “Universally, customers across all demographics desire to feel invited and welcomed.” [6:33] “Inclusion matters to everyone. It's actually pretty universal.” [10:34] “The core customer needs to feel like they belong. That's where you are tuning in to those behaviors and those customer segment needs and wants. Make people feel heard and seen.” [14:45] “[In terms of survey findings, there were] verbatims that talked about, ‘The store associate never made eye contact with me. I have hearing loss and that made [communication] very hard. English is not my first language and I need that eye contact to carry all the way through [a conversation].” [31:13] “It is quite profitable to [prioritize inclusivity] because it helps you grow. It helps you lead, versus your peers. It's also the right thing to do.” Additional Resources: Read Madison and Naiara's Bain research, In Retail, Inclusive Customer Journeys Lead to Growth

Amy Leachman of Delivery Solutions talks about the brand & what they do; ecommerce & the importance of omnichannel; and provider and solution diversification. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [07.58] How, and why, the ecommerce market has evolved so rapidly over the last few years; and the landscape of the industry in 2024. “COVID really shaped or accelerated the business… the need for last mile delivery, and how we think about true retail operations and technologies, has really morphed over the last four years.” [11.13] The challenges and opportunities that retailers are facing in the current climate; and the importance of keeping a close eye on cost and control. “COVID rushed everyone to say ‘I need to integrate here, there and everywhere!' So, looking at your tech stack, you then have 9, 10 different integrations for everything post-click. How do we simplify that – the cost and the maintenance it takes to uphold all of those API integrations – as well as keep the control?” [12.31] An overview of Delivery Solutions – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. “Delivery Solutions is a seamless omnichannel experience for everything post-purchase.” [16.34] Amy's background; how she moved from delivery service provider to technology solution provider; and why she's so passionate about the retail industry. [18.36] The ideal client for Delivery Solutions. [19.35] The importance of Delivery Service Provider (DSP) diversification; and how Delivery Solutions is helping customers to successfully manage their DSPs. “When you have different delivery partners across the board, not all of them will have the same value prop… each is going to provide a different technology solution, coverage, what they will and won't do… It's very important to diversify in order to make sure you're choosing the most cost-effective providers, and those that are hitting the right KPIs.” [23.43] What the diversification of delivery options means for clients, customers and the industry; and how collaboration allows all partners to achieve shared success. “It's coming together to simplify omnichannel, and to say: “we're all in this together.” We want to work with the delivery partners, with the shipping carriers; we want to make sure the communication is clean, concise and proactive. Because, the more the customer is buying and the more opportunities they have to interact with the brand, the more we all win together.” [26.33] How the Delivery Solutions team are helping clients to manage the balance between customer demand and expectation, and demanding sustainability goals. [28.48] A case study showing how Delivery Solutions helped a large retailer to drastically reduce its integrations – simplifying its tech stack, reducing costs, and increasing order volumes by 35%. [32.19] A closer look at onboarding and implementation, and how Delivery Solutions work with clients. [35.29] How Delivery Solutions use AI and machine learning to boost customer experience, improve communication, and help retailers make informed decisions for themselves. [37.51] The future for Delivery Solutions; and the omnichannel trends we should be looking out for in 2024 and 2025. “Retailers are going to continue to meet customers where they are, based on their buying habits and the ever-evolving technology solutions they can provide them.” RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Delivery Solution's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Delivery Solutions and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or Facebook, or you can connect with Amy on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about retail and the last mile, check out 393: Get 100% Visibility Over Your Final Mile, with OneRail, 394: Be Agile, Decrease Costs, and Improve Supply Chain Accuracy, with Osa Commerce, or 383: Transform Your Supply Chain and Retail Planning, with RELEX Solutions.

In this episode of The Ecommerce Braintrust, Kiri Masters sits down with Angela Caltagirone, the Chief Digital Marketing Officer of PB5 Star, a brand in the pickleball category. They discuss the official launch of PB5 Star at the Etail West conference in Palm Springs, the demographics of pickleball players, the brand's positioning and go-to-market strategy, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the e-commerce space for a new brand. In today's episode, Kiri and Angela discuss: PB5 Star's official launch at Etail West and the success of the pickleball tournament at the conference. The demographics of pickleball players and the inclusive nature of the sport. The positioning of PB5 Star as a brand that combines style, camaraderie, and wellness for the pickleball community. Differences between pickleball and tennis apparel, focusing on attention to detail, comfort, and style. The founding team's extensive retail experience and their go-to-market strategy for PB5 Star. The decision to start with a direct-to-consumer approach and plans for future expansion into retail channels and marketplaces. The brand's emphasis on authentic storytelling, partnerships, and collaborations in its marketing strategy. The use of technology, AI, and a focus on responsible growth to establish the brand's presence in the market.

AI is quickly becoming a leading player in building a unified retail experience. However, that success hinges on retailers' ability to use the technology to generate brand trust and authenticity. Without those elements, it's just AI.On the latest episode of Retail Refined, host Melissa Gonzalez chats with Krystina Gustafson, Senior Vice President of Content at Shoptalk, about the evolving landscape of retail and e-commerce. They discuss how AI, brand trust, and unified retail experiences reshape consumer interactions and what this means for the future.Gustafson, a former CNBC retail reporter, brings her frontline insights into the trends steering the retail sector. Their conversation highlights the importance of AI in creating efficient, personalized shopping experiences and the role of brand trust in building consumer loyalty. They also discuss the concept of unified retail, which aims to provide seamless customer experiences across all channels, emphasizing the need for retailers to adapt to these changes to stay competitive.As retail continues to evolve, staying informed about these critical trends is crucial for anyone involved. This episode of Retail Refined offers a concise overview of retail's current and future prospects, making it a must-watch for industry professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Cultivating Success: Inside the High-End Cannabis Industry with Joanne WilsonIn this episode, we have Joanne Wilson, Founder and CEO of Gotham NYC, a prominent cannabis dispensary in New York. Joanne shares her professional journey, highlighting her venture into the cannabis industry and the challenges faced within the New York regulatory landscape. The conversation delves into the intricacies of building a distinctive brand, emphasizing the need for a high-end luxury experience for customers. Joanne discusses the dynamic nature of the cannabis market, reflecting on her vision for the future, potential expansion into other states, and the incorporation of psilocybin products. Joanne is a successful early-stage angel investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist with a diverse background in retail, wholesale, media, real estate, and technology. She has over 140 companies in her investment portfolio such as Food52, Eater, Just Works and Parachute Home, and has invested in several restaurants throughout downtown New York City. Joanne is the co-founder of Frame Home, a Brooklyn-based residential real estate development company that prioritizes sustainability with style. In addition to her business ventures, Joanne is actively involved in non-profits as she sits on the board of The Highline and The Public Housing Community Fund in NYC. Joanne's passion for innovation and community development is evident in this latest venture, GOTHAM, which she cannot wait to share with the city she loves.IG @gotham.ny - https://www.instagram.com/gotham.ny/?hl=enTikTok @gotham_nyc - https://www.tiktok.com/@gotham_nyc

In this episode, Will Glaser, Founder and CEO of Grabango and a board member of Blue Shield of California, joins us for a fascinating chat about technology and retail. Will discusses his journey from pioneering music streaming as the Founder of Pandora Media to revolutionizing the retail experience with Grabango's cutting-edge technology. Key Takeaways:(05:12) The genesis of Grabango and its mission to transform the retail checkout process.(11:30) The technical challenges and breakthroughs in implementing computer vision in retail.(17:45) The accuracy and reliability of Grabango's technology in various retail environments.(22:50) The importance of privacy in retail technology and how Grabango addresses these concerns.(31:05) Creating Pandora's Music Genome Project and its influence on current ventures.(40:15) The future of retail technology and the evolving consumer experience.(48:20) The balance between innovation and ethical considerations in tech development.Resources Mentioned:Will Glaser -https://www.linkedin.com/in/willglaser/Grabango | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/grabango/Grabango | Website -https://www.grabango.com/Blue Shield of California | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-shield-of-california/Blue Shield of California | Website -https://www.blueshieldca.com/en/homePandora Media | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/pandora/Pandora Media | Website -https://www.pandora.com/aboutThis episode is brought to you by Content Allies.Content Allies helps B2B tech companies launch revenue-generating podcasts and build relationships that drive revenue through podcast networking. We schedule interviews with your ideal prospects and strategic partners so that you can build relationships and grow your business. You show up and have conversations, we handle everything else. Learn more at ContentAllies.com #B2B #BusinessLeaders #Leadership

On this episode, we're joined by Ivan Muccini, Vice President of Product at Cloud4Wi, a Meraki Marketplace ecosystem partner. Tune in as we delve into Cloud4wi's impact on the retail industry, the transformative power of data, and exciting developments on the horizon.Request a demo todayHost Tanner Yehlik, Technical Marketing Engineer, Meraki Product Management, Cisco Guest Ivan Muccini, Vice President of Product, Cloud4Wi

Every off-week, listeners who have chosen to support Weird Studies by joining our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/weirdstudies) at the Listener's Tier get to enjoy a bonus episode. These episodes are different from the flagship show. Less formal and entirely improvised, they offer Phil and JF a different way of exploring the weird in art, philosophy and culture. To tide our listenership over until the next new episode drops on January 24th, here is a recent example of a Weird Studies audio extra, recorded as the holiday season was getting under way. Happy New Year.

Yes, you read it right. We are focusing on the retail space. You're welcome!In this episode, Stephanie Leger & Michele Kline discuss the many ways the brick & mortar retail space leaves valuable opportunities to create great experiences for consumers on the table.From what those opportunities are to tips on how to tackle them, this episode has it all.What is driving you away from shopping in person?Follow usWebsite https://www.wtfwalkthefloors.comLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/wtf-walk-the-floorsYouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWJvSeZmvlNH8eRHJ6OyMDgConnect with the hosts on LinkedInMichèle Kline https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelekline/Stephanie Leger https://www.linkedin.com/in/sleger/Hosts Company LinksMichèle Kline https://www.klinehospitality.com/Stephanie Leger https://www.firstratehospitality.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is Alan Siebenaler.   Alan has flipped over 250 units, homes, apartment buildings, and condos. He has made SINGLE transaction profits of over $1m, and has bought and sold in 9 different states. His projects have been featured on HGTV.   Show summary:  In this episode, Alan talks about repositioning industrial properties into flex spaces, flipping homes, and exploring opportunities in the boutique hotel model. He also shares his current projects, including a luxury flip with ocean views. The conversation also covers the potential of converting office spaces into storage units and the shift towards experience-based retail. Alan emphasizes the importance of adapting to changing market trends and meeting the evolving needs of end users in the real estate industry.   -------------------------------------------------------------- Intro (00:00:34)   Alan Seaborn's Real Estate Background (00:01:03)   Alan Seaborn's Current Projects and Strategies (00:03:28)   The Industrial Property Trend (00:10:29)   Economies of Scale in Commercial Properties (00:12:39)   The Shift in Retail Experience (00:16:35)   Converting Office Space into Storage (00:21:27)   The Future of Office Space (00:21:55)   Conclusion and Contact Information (00:22:34) -------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Alan: YouTube: www.youtube.com/alsiebs   Instagram: @alansiebs   Connect with Sam: I love helping others place money outside of traditional investments that both diversify a strategy and provide solid predictable returns.     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowtoscaleCRE/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwilsonhowtoscalecre/ Email me → sam@brickeninvestmentgroup.com   SUBSCRIBE and LEAVE A RATING. Listen to How To Scale Commercial Real Estate Investing with Sam Wilson Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-scale-commercial-real-estate/id1539979234 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4m0NWYzSvznEIjRBFtCgEL?si=e10d8e039b99475f -------------------------------------------------------------- Want to read the full show notes of the episode? Check it out below: Alan Siebenaler (00:00:00) - But let's say you take an industrial property, just a large, maybe warehouse or something like that, and you divide it up. So you take 10,000ft² and you change it into five 2000 square foot spaces. You give each space their own roll up door, high ceilings, maybe a little bit of office space, but mostly what we'd call flex industrial. So high ceilings and a little bit of office, and then the amount of clients you can attract to that type of space right now is huge. Welcome to the how.   Intro (00:00:34) - To scale commercial real Estate show. Whether you are an active or passive investor, we'll teach you how to scale your real estate investing business into something big.   Sam Wilson (00:00:46) - Alan Seaborn has flipped over 250 units, homes, apartments, buildings and condos. He had made single transaction profits of over $1 million and has bought and sold in nine different states. His projects have also been featured on HGTV. Alan, welcome to the show.   Alan Siebenaler (00:01:03) - Thanks for having me.   Sam Wilson (00:01:04) - Absolutely. The pleasure is mine. Alan.   Sam Wilson (00:01:06) - There are three questions I ask every guest who comes on the show in 90s or less. Can you tell me where did you start? Where are you now and how did you get there?   Alan Siebenaler (00:01:14) - Where did I start? So I started with the desire to have some financial control over my future. I got a hold of the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. This was over 23 years ago and I decided to start in real estate, and I got my real estate license and started in commercial real estate because I wanted to learn from real estate investors. So those were my clients. I was helping them buy and reposition retail centers, office buildings, industrial complexes, apartment buildings, and I just learned a ton. I didn't make a lot of money starting out as a commercial real estate agent, but I the the wealth was in the knowledge that I picked up. Um, what was the second question?   Sam Wilson (00:01:57) - Where are you now?   Alan Siebenaler (00:01:58) - Where am I now? So now I am 23 years down that journey. I started personally as an investor with one fixer condo, and we moved into it and fix it up.   Alan Siebenaler (00:02:11) - While living in it, my wife and I and somehow survived that and then moved out of it, rented it out, and then just kept moving forward. Eventually bought a four unit, fixed it up, rented it out, then started doing some 1031 exchanges up into larger properties and then into apartment buildings. And then during the Great Recession in 2009, commercial deals stopped. So I started raising capital and then flipping homes. We were buying them on the courthouse steps in Los Angeles, and we started buying these homes off of banks, repositioning them and selling them retail to like first time home buyers. And so now I have moved up in that portfolio. I've actually, ironically, sold most off. Fortunately, I sold my largest multifamily last February, which I think was kind of at the peak of the multifamily market, and I'm repositioning to re-enter the market. We actually just bought our first construction project. It is a bit of a flip. It's a multimillion dollar flip, and now we're going to be repositioning ourself back into the market, kind of taking advantage of a lot of the buyers sitting on the sidelines and having less competition.   Alan Siebenaler (00:03:28) - So we are actively looking right now.   Sam Wilson (00:03:32) - Is that the actively looking right now that's back into the multifamily space.   Alan Siebenaler (00:03:38) - Uh, that's a good question. It depends. I now I'm only I'm in California based out of Santa Barbara, California, and I'm not going to go long distance unless I have a multifamily. First of all, that's large enough. Meaning? Well, north of 100 units, be able to have a really good management company and a full time presence on the property. And also I'd want it in an A location but with value add, right. So that I can get really good demographics of tenants by adding value to the property, repositioning and improving it, then I might go out of state. In terms of in our area, we're on the coast, so prices are really high. But I really like the model of repositioning industrial space into flex space and breaking it up into smaller spaces, which we can talk about when we talk about industrial and flex. But I'm looking for that. I also like the boutique hotel model.   Alan Siebenaler (00:04:34) - I've done a lot of short term rentals, Airbnbs, furnished corporate rentals in our apartment buildings over the past 15 years, and so transitioning that into a hospitality model like boutique hotels in wine country, looking up and down the coast here in wine country. So that's kind of fun.   Sam Wilson (00:04:54) - Absolutely. How do you decide? I mean, there's there's you've done so much. You've seen so many aspects of this business. How do you decide what it is that you're going to focus on for the foreseeable future?   Alan Siebenaler (00:05:06) - Man. That's a good question. I'll do my best to answer it. One is based on the team of support I have around me. Real estate's a team sport, so there's no way I can pull off what we do on my own. So I have to have the right team. And that's everyone from. It could be my my investors that I have on board. It could be the contractor and renovation team because typically we're doing value add. You know, we're not just buying something that's already completely turned around.   Alan Siebenaler (00:05:39) - So I have to have the right team in position in that area to know and have confidence. And we can build a team fairly quickly. But my team here, my home base, you know, we can only go so far and then we're out of range. And then I'd have to build a whole new team. So a lot of it will depend on that and of course on the opportunity. Sometimes when you find the right opportunity, you can quickly build a team around it. But that's high, higher risk. Because when you're using a new team that that's not seasoned, a lot more things can go wrong. And typically you'll have turnover and you'll have to get to the point where you actually have a good team, if that makes sense.   Sam Wilson (00:06:21) - It does indeed. Yeah. No, I appreciate appreciate your insights there on that front. So just to clarify, I mean, you've done a lot of different things over the years. You've got a high end construction. You said a project flip I think you mentioned that.   Sam Wilson (00:06:34) - Yeah, they're in the things you're working on right now as well. What type of a project is that? Yeah.   Alan Siebenaler (00:06:40) - Right now it's really a fun project. We are working on basically a luxury flip. It's full ocean view, 180 degree view of the ocean and city. It overlooks the city of Santa Barbara Harbor views. You can see the sailboats going in and out, and we purchased it for 2.5 million, and we're putting about 400,000 into it. And we're repositioning it into like a modern beach feel. When I say modern and beach, those two terms kind of clash. But so it's not modern modern. It's like a modern beach. So wide plank floors, lots of whites and woods and and we're creating this feel to it that'll just modernize the property. And with that view, we can afford a lot of upside if the project's done right.   Sam Wilson (00:07:34) - Yeah. No. Absolutely. How do you go? I mean, I'm just really curious, you know, when you when you say luxury ocean flip, I'm thinking like, okay, 2.9 million.   Sam Wilson (00:07:43) - Why would it seems like that seller could just sell it open market as opposed to selling it probably to somebody that's looking to renovate it and flip it? I mean.   Alan Siebenaler (00:07:51) - Yeah, it was a motivated seller. It was, you know, it's what you're looking for is a motivated seller. It was a divorce and the property had been neglected for years. And so the inside of it looked like it was dated 1980s. The outside is like 1970s stucco. So we're just modernizing everything, the stucco, we're turning it into a smooth plaster. We're adding a bunch of custom features to the property. You know, everything cosmetically is changing on the property. And then we're doing some value add where we're making because it's up high with the view, there's not as much flat yards. So we're adding a retaining wall and adding some more yard space, which is huge to have yard space with an ocean view. So there's just certain things we're doing that they would have never done because they were divorced. And you know, unfortunately fighting.   Alan Siebenaler (00:08:42) - And so we were able to come in and solve those problems and reposition it for a higher end buyer to come in and say, that's my home. I want to live the rest of my days in and purchase it at a, you know, at what would be a good return for us, right?   Sam Wilson (00:08:58) - No. That's awesome. I love that I don't know where you live currently or what your house looks like, but when you see projects like that with, what do you say, 180 degree ocean views, is it tough not to be like, man, I should just move in here instead?   Alan Siebenaler (00:09:11) - Yeah, I think about that every day. I'm thinking, how do I keep this property? You know, maybe one of the exit strategies as well is that we'd keep it and we'd rent it out as a what you call mid term rental. So 30 days or more. Because in that area, like a lot of areas right now you can't do short term rentals but you can do mid term. So I could have someone come down from Canada or you know Memphis.   Alan Siebenaler (00:09:37) - And then in the wintertime you're going to come out here and get some sunshine and look at the ocean all day. You might rent it for a month or three months, and we can get a really good rental rate from that. And so that that is another exit strategy, is just to hold it and rent it in mid term furnished. Right.   Sam Wilson (00:09:53) - Oh that's cool I love it. Those got to be kind of fun projects there to work on, which is not necessarily, you know the the standard. Just basic flip. It is something where you get to use your creative skills and actually see a fun project come, come full circle. That's awesome. Let's talk a little bit about so. So that's the construction project flip you mentioned right there. You said something about industrial to flex. Yes. What? I don't even know what that means. Can you break that?   Alan Siebenaler (00:10:22) - Yeah, that's that's a really exciting strategy. You've seen it I know you've seen it. It's it's happening across the country right now.   Alan Siebenaler (00:10:29) - But let's say you take an industrial property just a large maybe warehouse or something like that, and you divide it up. So you take, you know, I'll just use the analogy of 10,000ft² and you change it into five, 2000 square foot spaces. You give each space their own roll up door, high ceilings, maybe a little bit of office space, but mostly what we'd call flex industrial. So high ceilings and a little bit of office, and then the amount of clients you can attract to that type of space right now is huge. You have everything from CrossFit gyms to every contractor. You could think of plumbers, wood floors, you know, tile, Hvac to, you know, I'm even seeing wine bars going in our area. You know, we live in a little bit of wine country and you have wine bars going into these industrial spaces and, you know, setting up a tasting area and, and breweries going in. And, you know, so we're seeing all this kind of just intersection between retail and industrial happening.   Alan Siebenaler (00:11:41) - And just for that cool sort of feel of high ceilings and a roll up door, you can do a lot with that. And that's a very popular trend right now that I'm pretty excited about.   Sam Wilson (00:11:51) - Oh yeah. No, I can I can certainly see the appeal because they're so like you said, there's so many different uses for it that it's even even for some of the stuff that we're doing. I'm like, gosh, you know, that'd be that'd be fantastic. If you know your little 2 or 4000 square foot, I mean, that that would just you can serve a lot of customers that way, each in their own, I think, unique way. And they're probably not limited in from a zoning perspective. I mean, you're probably not fighting the I mean, if it's if it's zoned industrial and they're putting a wine tasting bar in like. Who actually cares?   Alan Siebenaler (00:12:25) - Yeah, yeah, usually you're okay, but you have to work with the government. But the most exciting part about it for the investor is that when you're dividing up that space, you're now going to a much higher price per square foot because of economies of scale.   Alan Siebenaler (00:12:39) - Right? Because now you're not leasing a 10,000 square foot space, now you're leasing five 2000 square foot spaces. So you can imagine what that does to your income on the property at the end of the day, not costs you something. I mean, we looked at one just yesterday where we realized that if we did this on this property, we divided it up. We estimated, let's say it cost us 300,000 to do it. You know, just because it needed the ceiling's blown out. It needed a lot of stuff. But let's say it cost us 300,000 to divide up this industrial property. We ran the numbers on what the new rent would be. And because these commercial properties, the value is determined by the rent and by the leases that back them, we ran a cap rate analysis and figured out that that property would go up in value by $1 million. So spending 300 to go up by buy a million, we're like, man, that's a that's a green light, right? That's a good one.   Alan Siebenaler (00:13:36) - And so that's where it gets really exciting. Is that much more than residential residential. You can improve and you kind of have to fight with the price per square foot and compare it to other residential properties where commercial you can improve. And if your income goes up, the value goes up accordingly. So it's that's a pretty exciting strategy to use.   Sam Wilson (00:13:56) - Absolutely. No, I think that's really, really cool. Is there are there certain types of assets or certain, I guess, profiles of buildings that people should be looking out for, or even locations in general that people should be looking out for to say, hey, these would be the types of assets that this could work in or that strategy could work in.   Alan Siebenaler (00:14:16) - Yeah. Good question. I think, you know, you have to put on your hat of what would it be like to be the end user of this property. Right. So if I'm the investor, I'm thinking if I'm going to divide this up, who are my end users? And we just went through some of them.   Alan Siebenaler (00:14:34) - My end user is a contractor. So what's important to a contractor? Well, they want probably as big of a rollup door as possible that I can get away with in my current zoning. They probably want ceilings as high as possible. They want some storage area. They they might want some power. If I can upgrade the power, that would be great. Um, you know, and then they might want a little bit of office space to be able to go in there and close the door, or have someone go in there and do the books and close the door. So just thinking through, what would your end user want? And some end users won't want any office space if it's going to be, you know, the CrossFit gym or the wine bar sort of space, they might just want as big and open as possible. So just thinking about what an end user want and maybe giving them a few options.   Sam Wilson (00:15:25) - I like that. No, that's absolutely great. Let's talk about some other opportunities that are out there right now.   Sam Wilson (00:15:30) - What are you seeing in maybe the retail. And then if you can talk and touch on the much probably looked down upon office space right now.   Alan Siebenaler (00:15:41) - Yeah. Yes. I'd love to talk about both of those. So retail right now, even if you just look back, maybe the past 1015 years, it's been really interesting to watch. Somewhat painful as the Amazons and the, the online businesses came in. And then you saw all these smaller stores just go out of business, and it's been a little bit painful to watch. But what's been exciting is some of the new life that's coming in, especially over the past few years in that retail experience has shifted to become more of an experience based business than just buying a widget. Like if you want to buy a widget, your Radio Shack type of widgets, you're going to just click a button on your phone and that widgets going to show up in right 1 or 2 days, right? But if you want an experience, you want to go and have a drink or you want to go in for kids, it's the Build-A-Bear thing.   Alan Siebenaler (00:16:35) - Or you know, you want to build a toy, your kid wants to build a toy, or you want to throw an axe. You know, axe throwing is is a new chain that's spreading across the country. Any of those sort of retail experiences, wine tasting, brewery, all of those are bringing in new life into retail. But it's also changing. You know, it's hard to take what was a RadioShack, which were just but ugly on the inside and make it look really, you know, for an experience. We wanted to have a certain feel right now would be more typical to have higher ceilings and beams and lots of window or natural light or whatever. And so there is a bit of a painful transition going on, but there's a lot of excitement there as well for the just the experience based retail, I think.   Sam Wilson (00:17:24) - Experience based retail and then also the I mean, the type of retail that we're seeing, not go places, is like even down to I'm just thinking in here in Memphis, the, you know, ice cream, like ice cream stores or barber shops or there's still a lot of things, I think in retail where there's opportunity on the smaller retail side that is, I think still a compelling, still a compelling asset to, to, to invest in just because again, it's not it can't be Amazon.   Sam Wilson (00:17:55) - It can't be shipped. It can't necessarily be DoorDash. It's something where you got to actually go and and again, that's experience base the ice cream shop, the you know, the barber shop, the liquor store, whatever it is, it's all still experience based retail but just a little bit different.   Alan Siebenaler (00:18:09) - Even you reminded me of another one. Have you seen the ones where they'll take a space? Let's say it's 3000ft² and no one's leasing it, and then they'll have three concepts come in and lease that space together. And one will be like a coffee shop concept, and another will be like empanadas or Latin food, and then something else will be over here, maybe knickknacks or touristy items or whatever, and all three of them will share the space. And that. That's been kind of cool too.   Sam Wilson (00:18:36) - Yes, yes, I have seen that. And I like I like that as well, because it's kind of like that, that indoor outdoor shopping, whatever experience it can be, you know, depending on the space is laid out.   Sam Wilson (00:18:45) - But yeah, I've seen that as well. And that's really cool. Talk to me then, if you can, about opportunity if there is any in office.   Alan Siebenaler (00:18:54) - Office. Yeah. Office is kind of the elephant in the room right now isn't it. My gosh, who would have predicted who would have predicted that no one wants to go to office anymore and they can kind of get away with it. So yeah, it's our post-Covid world is that we have office spaces. Sitting vacant all across the country, and I've got one right now. I'm trying to help a client get leased because they consolidated their offices, and so they're subleasing this space. And I've had like two showings in six months. I mean, it's just we just keep reducing the price. And so office there is always an opportunity in the crisis. Right. So office opportunity is to be repositioned into probably residential. But that's not an easy thing to do. These buildings were built for office, not for every unit to have its own, you know, bathroom and kitchen.   Alan Siebenaler (00:19:54) - And and then you got the zoning challenges and just all kinds of challenges. And so they're really trying to figure that out. It is something that I have my eye on and I don't think anybody's figured it out. But but there is opportunity there. It's kind of like just brainstorming on what that could be. And are there places that could be converted into residential in a way that wouldn't be cost prohibitive? You know, I saw a school recently that was converted to residential, so that was interesting. But yeah, I mean, there's ways to do it for sure, especially if the numbers can make sense. But there's a lot of challenges too.   Sam Wilson (00:20:38) - There are a lot of challenges, man. And that's I think that's it. Like you said, it just it's kind of a in its own right, a TBD in the right locations. I know I'm a passive investor in, in office. What is it. Office to office to storage conversion. Yes. And it's going really well like yeah they're they're ahead of projections across the board.   Sam Wilson (00:21:01) - But again it has to be in the right spot. Like you can't just do office to storage everywhere. There's because one we don't need that much storage I don't think Americans and their stuff but I don't think we need that much storage. And then secondly, just need to be in the right spot. So, you know, but that's that's a much easier lift, I think putting up partitions and roll up doors versus, like you said, running plumbing for every residential unit inside a building like that. Yeah, I.   Alan Siebenaler (00:21:27) - Like that one. I like Office of Storage because you're just like you said, you're not putting in a kitchen in a bathroom. So if you're converting office into storage, you're really just building out the framework for walls and doors and, you know, electrical and but that could work really well of course. Yeah. Based on is the demand in that area enough to support it because you will have some fairly significant construction costs. But that's a cool one. Yeah.   Sam Wilson (00:21:54) - Yeah, yeah.   Sam Wilson (00:21:55) - No, it absolutely is. I'm excited about that project from a personal standpoint. But again, you know, it's I think it is just an interesting time to be looking at office and going, okay, what where does this go in the end. So this has been fascinating. Thank you, Allen, for taking the time to come on the show today and really talk to us about a lot of different asset classes, things that you're both seeing personally and that you have also invested in and done your your resume, if I'll call it that, of things that you've done in the real estate space is fascinating and certainly been insightful to have you on the show today. So thank you for taking the time to come on and share this. If our listeners want to get in touch with you and learn more about you, what is the best way to do that?   Alan Siebenaler (00:22:34) - Yeah, I'm on YouTube at youtube.com. So it's a l s like Sam I e b like boy, s like Sam. That's a best place to find me.   Sam Wilson (00:22:48) - Awesome. YouTube.com al Allen, thank you again for your time today. I certainly appreciate.   Alan Siebenaler (00:22:53) - It. Thanks for having me.   Sam Wilson (00:22:55) - Hey, thanks for listening to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate podcast. If you can, do me a favor and subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, whatever platform it is you use to listen. If you can do that for us, that would be a fantastic help to the show. It helps us both attract new listeners as well as rank higher on those directories. So appreciate you listening. Thanks so much and hope to catch you on the next episode.

Today, shopping is increasingly digital, the retailer and customer completely separated, and a customer's value lies not in their friendly wave as they enter a store, but in the data displayed in their online behaviour. Dr Kimberly Thomas-Francois, Thompson Rivers University, Canada, and Professor Simon Somogyi, University of Guelph, Canada, are scholars of consumer behaviour in the food business and are particularly interested in how technology shapes food retailing – a concept called ‘digital grocery shopping'. Read the Research Features article: doi.org/10.26904/RF-147-4481154037Read the original Research: doi/10.1108/BFJ-06-2022-0510

Jordan Fisher, founder and CEO of Standard AI, joined Michelle Labbe, Toptal's Chief People Officer, at Collision in Toronto on The Talent Economy podcast. Fisher discussed the company's groundbreaking “checkout-free” shopping solution and other achievements of Standard AI. With a diverse background spanning computational fluid dynamics, securities regulations, video games, machine learning, and retail, Fisher has dedicated his career to product research and development. Standard AI has reached many significant milestones under his leadership as the field of artificial intelligence becomes increasingly competitive. With Standard AI, customers no longer need to scan their items or pay at a kiosk. Instead, they simply scan their phones at the exit and a series of AI-powered cameras generate a receipt based on the items that customers picked up.Utilizing its next-generation technology, Standard AI aims to continue augmenting human interactions within physical spaces while providing tailored product experiences. Its approach has the potential to revolutionize retail and expand to other industries.Some Questions Asked: Why is it important for entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to attend tech conferences?How does Standard AI define its vision, and what are the company's next goals?What does the future of retail look like from Standard AI's perspective?In This Episode You Will Learn: How society has shifted from “humans adapting to technology” to “technology adapting to humans.”Why “data is dead.”How AI opens up possibilities for new experiences in brick-and-mortar stores. Links: Jordan Fisher - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're looking back on Connected episodes that not only stand the test of time, but cover topics that are incredibly relevant to our changing industry today. Check out conversations with industry experts on: -Customer data platforms and how they can impact dealers -Protecting your dealership against cyberattacks -The evolution of the modern day service lane -How eContracting is changing the F&I department -Using data to strategically price vehicles

A big part of winning at retail is understanding what motivates consumers to buy.It's a topic that has gotten increasingly complex now that retail spans so many different channels.One man has made it his life's work to go deep and get inside the mind of the consumer.Meet Paco Underhill, founder and former CEO of Envirosell, a behavioural research and consulting firm that tests prototype stores, as well as monitoring consumer behaviour on websites and in brick and mortar stores.In this episode, Paco discusses:1. How fashion has evolved into what he refers to ‘uniforms' and ‘costumes'2. The new influences on women's choice of career wear.3. Shifts in how consumers shop - and some best practices in how retailers can respond.So let's sit down with Paco and try and make sense of today's fast changing retail market.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Paco Underhill:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pacounderhill/Envirosell's website:  https://envirosell.com/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

This episode covers everything to know about the budding cannabis retail sector with Barry Wolfe, Senior Director at Marcus & Millichap.The Crexi Podcast explores various aspects of the commercial real estate industry in conversation with some of the top CRE professionals in the space. In each episode, we feature different guests to tap into their wealth of CRE expertise and explore the latest trends and updates from the world of commercial real estate. In this episode, Crexi's Yannis Papadakis sits down with Barry to talk about the emerging world of cannabis-specific retails, the potential opportunities in the sector, and fundamentals that investors need to consider when exploring investment options. Their wide-ranging conversation covers:Introductions, career paths, and early lessons learned entering the cannabis real estate space.The underlying fundamentals of cannabis commercial real estate and what sets it apart nationally and locally from other market sectors.How regulatory challenges in the cannabis sector actually provide unique opportunities and siloed competition to property owners who meet the requirements.How the investment demographic of capital entering the cannabis space has changed over the last five years and what's happening as national perception of the market shifts.The challenges and obstacles potential owners and investors need to consider when looking to invest in cannabis real estateAnd much more!If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our newsletter to receive the very next one delivered straight to your inbox. For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi Insights.Ready to find your next CRE property? Visit Crexi and immediately browse hundreds of thousands of available commercial properties. Follow Crexi:https://www.crexi.com/​ https://www.crexi.com/instagram​ https://www.crexi.com/facebook​ https://www.crexi.com/twitter​ https://www.crexi.com/linkedin​ https://www.youtube.com/crexi About Barry Wolfe:Barry is a Senior Director of both Marcus & Millichap's National Retail Division and Net Leased Properties Division. Barry specializes in the sale of single-tenant properties and shopping centers. He has successfully assisted his clients in selling more than 705 properties with a total value exceeding $2 billion, having closed sales in over 40 states across the United States.Barry is frequently quoted in publications like Chain Store Age, Restaurant Business Magazine, and The Real Deal regarding matters affecting the real estate market. Barry is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).Prior to joining Marcus & Millichap in 2001, Barry was a practicing attorney for nearly ten years, initially in private practice with a transactional, real estate focus. As an attorney in private practice, Barry represented many developers and several national restaurant chains. Subsequently, he served as in-house counsel for a publicly traded NYSE company, where he ran the legal-real estate department. Barry's legal background frequently proves invaluable in helping his clients navigate the landmines inherent in real estate transactions.

If you've ever been to downtown Franklin, Tennessee or to one of Nashville's trendiest neighborhoods in 12 South or the Gulch, chances are you've either walked by or shopped in Finnleys, a women's clothing boutique.I've been a superfan of Finnleys for the last several years. In fact, if you've read my book, Creating Superfans, you may recognize this week's guest from my case study in chapter 17. Dawn Craig is the CEO and owner of Finnleys, a local brand that firmly checks every box of my SUPER Model. In this episode, she shares her journey of building a thriving small business that's become a shining example of what's possible when you create exceptional customer and employee experiences. Dawn and I chat about the origin story behind the boutique, the struggles of managing and scaling a business during and after Covid, and the intentional experience design she's put into each of her three retail locations to make them their own.Show Notes4:04 - Dawn describes her background and the industry she was working in prior to opening Finnleys5:20 - How Dawn went from Grocery retail to fashion retail7:25 - Dawn chats about the Finnleys motto: “pretty things, great people, good vibes.” 8:45 - How her motto sets the standard for Finnleys, both internally and externally11:15 - Dawn's struggles as she first started running Finnleys12:30 - The Finnleys origin story and the store's rebrand14:35 - How Dawn got the second location of Finnleys in Nashville17:35 - How Dawn has tailored the store experience from location to location to match what the customer is looking for18:50 - Is Finnleys going to expand to other cities or locations?21:00 - How Finnleys weathered the pandemic22:22 - How does Dawn's daughter Finnley feel about being the namesake of the brand?24:08 - Brittany's recent customer experiences with Tesla and Lowe's27:02 - The Finnleys online package that helped them survive during Covid27:14 - How Dawn transformed the omnichannel experience for her website30:30 - The “superfans project” that Finnleys has been working on33:20 - How is Finnleys serving their customers for the Taylor Swift concert in Nashville? Shop Finnleys online store.

Sole Material details the robust evolution of the consumer shopping journey and explains why the future is omni-channel.

What can the Workplace Learn from Retail Experience? Some companies are finding it hard to encourage people back to the Office after the pandemic. They know that they need to offer their employees a better experience than working from home but are struggling to do it. Retail is at the forefront of creating experiences, so what can we learn from retail about creating a better workplace experience and building a stronger culture? We talk to Julia Lindberg from AgentHuset and John Karsberg from Workshop, who share their in-depth knowledge.

What can the Workplace Learn from Retail Experience? Some companies are finding it hard to encourage people back to the Office after the pandemic. They know that they need to offer their employees a better experience than working from home but are struggling to do it. Retail is at the forefront of creating experiences, so what can we learn from retail about creating a better workplace experience and building a stronger culture? We talk to Julia Lindberg from AgentHuset and John Karsberg from Workshop, who share their in-depth knowledge.

The global retail industry in 2022 was worth $23 Trillion USD, and in 2022, there were over 2.3 billion online shoppers. That number has increased by 40% over the past five years. So it is safe to say that online retail is here to stay. That means that the digital customer experience is now more crucial than before. Customers expect companies to deliver personalized content and service. How can companies keep up with the new digital demand? In this episode, Brian Lannan, VP of Retail Experience for TTEC Digital highlights how retail organizations are utilizing Dynamics 365 to digitally transform their process and strategies. Episode Topics What are the top digital transformation obstacles customers are facing in the RCG Industry? How are customers using D365 in the RCG Industry? Where are customers finding the most success with D365 within the RCG Industry? Please share a customer success story from the RCG Industry. Useful Resources TTEC Digital Dynamics 365 for RCG Dynamics 365 Connect with Brian Lannan here – Brian Lanna | LinkedIn We'd love to hear from you: Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, suggestions, or feedback! We'd love to hear from you. Send your hosts an email at digestibledynamics@microsoft.com Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 2 of Elevating Brick and Mortar. We're excited to bring you more insights from some of the brightest minds and key voices in facilities management. And share an inside look at how the top performers keep a competitive edge and drive brand performance.     As consumer expectations evolve and economic unpredictability continues, we will hear how optimum facilities play a huge role in creating consistent and compelling brand experiences. Join our host Sid Shetty, industry and FM technology thought leader and Chief Business Development Officer at ServiceChannel, as he talks with the world's top professionals across industries about how they're addressing challenges like supply chain disruption and labor shortages—and looking beyond the needs of today and leveraging technology, data, and sustainable design to contribute to their broader organizational goals. Welcome to Elevating Brick and Mortar. Powered by ServiceChannel.

The way we consume is changing. It started with technology helping us buy whatever we want, wherever we are, with a simple click of a button. And it's now affected the idea of the retail store's purpose.We're thrilled to be joined by Giovanni Zaccariello, Senior Vice President of Global Visual Experience at Coach, to talk technology, innovation, and how to start leveraging experiences to reinvent retail.

It's time for a new compilation - This time, it's a spooky set of True Retail HORROR Stories! Now, get out of my house - I'll be back at work soon with more Tales from the Break Room. Join EERIECAST PLUS to unlock ad-free episodes and support your favorite Eeriecast shows! https://www.eeriecast.com/plus Timestamps: 0:00 INTRO 0:32 Ghost in the Warehouse from TDN 6:09 A Retail Experience from Shattered Silent Soul 14:48 The Third Floor from Adrian 19:34 Creepy Customer from Joey D. 22:54 Tag Ripper Tom from Archer 35:10 A Broken Clock from EyeDoctor78 Listen to more free horror podcasts at https://www.eeriecast.com/ Enjoy this narrator? Get more from him on the Unexplained Encounters podcast! https://pod.link/1152248491 Story Music by CO.AG! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcavSftXHgxLBWwLDm_bNvA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Getting kidnapped while working a night shift is the last thing you'd expect, but it might just happen to you! Join EERIECAST PLUS to unlock ad-free episodes and support your favorite Eeriecast shows! https://www.eeriecast.com/plus Timestamps: 0:00 INTRO 0:36 Mysterious Woman from Vladimir 4:25 Ghost in Assisted Living from KS 8:27 A Retail Experience from Shattered Silent Soul 17:07 The Mustang Creeper from Rockin.jsb.customs Listen to more free horror podcasts at https://www.eeriecast.com/ Enjoy this narrator? Get more from him on the Unexplained Encounters podcast! https://pod.link/1152248491 Story Music by CO.AG! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcavSftXHgxLBWwLDm_bNvA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Retail is not dead, in fact, all signs point to the fact that retail is on the rise. But the retail experience isn't going to be what it has always been in the past. The world of retail is evolving, and brands of all kinds are trying to find the best ways to give their customers what they want and need across channels, including in stores. Anjee Solanki, the National Retail Director for the USA at Colliers, has an inside look at what this next evolution will look like, and she shared her insights on this episode. Tune in to learn:What is the state of retail today? (11:10)How should retail evolve to meet consumer expectations? (19:10)Breaking down innovative (28:20)How Asia's efforts might be adopted elsewhere (35:20)Up Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.