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New customers could be sitting on your site right now, waiting for a reason to join your email list before Black Friday. This week, I'm sharing ways to grow your email list before the holiday rush, from the basics most stores get wrong to the creative ideas your competitors aren't using yet. Shoppers are already researching their Black Friday buys, and the ones who join your list now are the ones you'll get to sell to when your sale drops. Whether you have a handful of subscribers or thousands, you'll walk away with a few new ways to get more of the right people on your list in time for BFCM. In this episode: How to optimize your pop-up strategy The default Klaviyo setting quietly keeping past customers off your list A mystery discount code idea that gets people excited to open your Black Friday emails How to make social media sign-ups feel like a game instead of a chore When price drop and wishlist alerts are worth the setup (and when to skip them) What happens when you keep your sign-up forms live during Cyber Week _______ Links Mentioned Full Show Notes https://ecommercebadassery.com/394 Holiday Resources https://ecommercebadassery.com/holidaypodcast The Lounge https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership _______ Learn With Me Work with Me 1:1 https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/ https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/ Courses & Membership https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs _______ Let's Connect Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership _______ Rate, Review, & Subscribe Like what you heard? I'd be forever grateful if you'd rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it's also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear. Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
Watch Full Video Episode What if the customer calling for a price isn't someone to avoid, but an opportunity your shop has been trained to turn away? Brian Walden, COO and co-founder of Mango Automotive, challenges one of the automotive repair industry's longest-standing practices: don't give prices over the phone. Instead of putting up the familiar wall of, “We can't give you a price until we see the vehicle,” Brian's team does something different. They give the customer a price range, explain that the vehicle still needs to be inspected and the problem confirmed, and invite them into the shop. The result? Brian says Mango Automotive doubled its phone conversion rate. Today's customers have access to more information than ever. They may have already searched the symptoms, pulled a trouble code, asked AI what might be wrong, and researched what the repair could cost before they ever call your shop. Rather than dismissing that research, Brian believes shops can meet customers where they are and use transparency to build trust. What You'll Learn Why the traditional “we don't give prices over the phone” response can create an immediate barrierHow Mango Automotive uses AI to generate price ranges in secondsWhy the word “range” changes the conversation with a price shopperHow to give a price range without promising an exact repair price before inspecting the vehicleHow meeting customers in their “comfort zone” can build trustWhy Mango Automotive's phone conversion rate doubled after changing its pricing strategyHow price ranges can give service advisors more confidence on the phoneWhy every incoming phone call should be viewed as a valuable opportunityHow AI call analysis, transcripts, dashboards, and weekly coaching help improve advisor performanceWhy Brian views AI as a “flashlight” that exposes where your strategy and communication are breaking down The bigger lesson goes beyond pricing: don't waste the opportunities already calling your shop. Every phone call represents marketing dollars already spent, a potential relationship, and potentially an entire repair order. Instead of building another wall between the customer and your business, ask whether there is a better way to help them take the next step. Brian Walden, COO and co-founder of Mango Automotive Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Learn more about the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with on-site training and six days a week of support: http://napatracs.com/ Connect with the Podcast: Download Our Mobile App:https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/Website:https://remarkableresults.biz/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriottoFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club:https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmastersJoin Our Private Facebook Community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976Join our Insider List:https://remarkableresults.biz/insiderBooks Page:https://remarkableresults.biz/booksOur Classroom Page:https://remarkableresults.biz/classroomEpisode Collections:https://remarkableresults.biz/collectionsBuy Me a Coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcastwith Carm Capriotto:https://remarkableresults.biz/Automotive Field TheorywithMatt Fanslow:https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/Business by the NumberswithHunt Demarest: https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/The Auto Repair Marketing Podcastwith Brian and Kim Walker: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/The Weekly Blitzwith Chris Cotton: https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/Speak Up! Effective Communicationwith Craig O'Neill: https://craigoneill.captivate.fm
HEADLINES: UK counter terror police are investigating whether Iran is linked to a suspected plot targeting an RAF base used by US bombers Jim Chalmers has unveiled a budget boost ahead of an expected RBA rate rise A ban on card surcharges starts Thursday, but shoppers may not be better off if retailers raise prices Taylor Swift has become the most-awarded artist in VMAs history, and Madonna returned to the stage for the first time since 2003 GET IN TOUCHGot a story, news tip-off, feedback or dilemma?Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au HELPFUL LINKS: Become a Mamamia subscriber and get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts and early listening, subscriber-only articles, monthly giveaways and our home workout app, MOVE. Get access to Very Peri, Mamamia's exclusive perimenopause series, for just $59. 25 world-leading experts, over 20 on-demand sessions, available now. We’ve sorted through the noise so you don't have to. Go to veryperi.com.au today. You hot? Same. CREDITSHost: Tamsin RoseAudio Producer: Scott StronachGroup Executive Producer: Tamsin Rose and Georgie Page Check out The Quicky Instagram here and our TikTok here Discover more Mamamia podcasts here Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here! Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From 1 October, card surcharges disappear. Will businesses absorb the cost or pass it on elsewhere?In this episode: Sarah Megginson from Finder explains the change with Tom Kennedy. Paul Bloxham from HSBC shares his interest rate and recession outlook with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo GoncalvesIsaac Poole, chief investment officer at Ascalon Capital, discusses the market and investment opportunities.SBS On the Money is a daily finance podcast where SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves unpacks the ASX, the economy and the latest market moves with leading analysts and executives.Listen to more episodes of SBS On the Money, and follow the show on the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.For the latest news from Australia and around the world, visit SBS News and follow us on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
From 1 October, card surcharges disappear. Will businesses absorb the cost or pass it on elsewhere?In this episode: Sarah Megginson from Finder explains the change with Tom Kennedy. Paul Bloxham from HSBC shares his interest rate and recession outlook with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo GoncalvesIsaac Poole, chief investment officer at Ascalon Capital, discusses the market and investment opportunities.SBS On the Money is a daily finance podcast where SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves unpacks the ASX, the economy and the latest market moves with leading analysts and executives.Listen to more episodes of SBS On the Money, and follow the show on the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.For the latest news from Australia and around the world, visit SBS News and follow us on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We're breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob dig into shrinkflation, the quiet price increase that shrinks the product instead of raising the number on the shelf. A decade of retail scanner data shows shoppers shrug off a smaller box, cheer a bigger one, and keep buying either way.Topics covered: [01:40] "Shrinkflation and Consumer Demand" [02:20] Shrink the box or raise the price? [03:20] Inside four million products and 50,000 stores [04:10] Detergent, cereal, and other quiet categories [05:30] Shoppers are twice as sensitive to price as size [06:40] What marketers should do about it To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter. Resources: Janssen, A., & Kasinger, J. (2026). Shrinkflation and consumer demand. Marketing Science, 45(1), 142–158. https://doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2024.0948 Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This episode is brought to you by KWI.Shoppers are walking into stores armed with more than a shopping list. AI is helping them research products, compare prices and evaluate brands before they ever arrive, creating a new challenge for associates who need to answer increasingly specific questions while keeping the in-store experience moving. The opportunity for retailers isn't simply adding more AI. It's giving associates accurate information at exactly the moment they need it.In this special Retail Remix Deep Dive, sponsored by KWI, host Kate Robertson sits down with Josh Goodelman, Chief Revenue Officer at KWI, to explore how retailers can equip store teams for this new generation of informed shoppers. They discuss where AI is delivering tangible value in stores, why strong product, inventory and customer data must come first, and how practical tools like image search can help associates work faster and deliver better experiences during the critical holiday season.Key TakeawaysWhy AI-powered shoppers are entering stores with greater confidence in the product, pricing and availability information they've already gatheredHow retailers can give associates fast access to the information they need without adding more complexity to the customer interactionWhy practical AI applications like image search, product discovery and task automation can create more value than forcing conversational AI into storesHow focusing on specific workflows and measurable business outcomes can help retailers move AI initiatives beyond the pilot stageWhy accurate product, inventory and customer data must come before AI when building a more connected store experienceRelated LinksExplore KWI's unified commerce platformGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix ----KWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP.
Retail sales are running 5.3% ahead of last year, beating NRF's 4.4% forecast. Michael Bull, CCIM asks NRF Chief Economist Mark Mathews why shoppers keep spending. Consumer sentiment sits near the lowest readings on record, yet shoppers keep buying. Mark Mathews, Chief Economist and Executive Director of Research at the National Retail Federation, explains why most of the 2026 growth is real rather than inflation: goods inflation is running about 0.8%, and a dollar spent on a durable good 30 years ago costs about 79 cents today. Mark breaks down the K-shaped consumer (the top 20% of households drive about 60% of spending), how $60 billion in extra tax refunds offset higher gas prices through August, and why retailers who win on price are winning now. He also covers diesel and tariff costs, blended e-commerce and physical stores, AI shopping assistants, TikTok and influencer-driven sales, and his outlook for holiday spending. For owners and investors in retail real estate and net lease retail, this is a clear read on the consumer behind the rent checks. In this episode: 00:00 Retail Real Estate: Are Retailers Really Doing Well? 01:41 Retail Sales Up 5.3% vs. NRF's 4.4% Forecast 03:44 Who's Winning: Retailers That Own Low Prices 04:55 Dollar Stores and the K-Shaped Consumer 06:03 Gas Prices, the Top 20% and $60B in Tax Refunds 08:30 Consumer Confidence Near Record Lows 10:07 Diesel, Tariffs and Who Absorbs the Cost 11:30 E-Commerce, Blended Commerce and Physical Stores 13:07 Why Shoppers Still Want to Touch the Product 13:51 AI in Retail: Big Investment, Unclear Payoff 15:51 Showing Up in AI Search Results 18:11 Retail Sales Outlook and Holiday Spending 19:28 Advice for Retailers and Retail Property Owners 21:14 TikTok, Influencers and the Customer as Emperor 22:24 Wrap-Up Connect with Mark Mathews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mathews-cbe-4522913/ National Retail Federation Website: https://nrf.com Connect with Michael Bull & The Show: Michael Bull, CCIM Bull Realty, Inc https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbull/ For more commercial real estate market data, sector forecasts, and video episodes, visit CREshow.com. America's Commercial Real Estate Show is brought to you by our proud sponsors. TCN Worldwide: Commercial real estate property management, leasing, and sales solutions across the US and globally. Learn more: https://www.tcnworldwide.com Build Out: The ultimate product suite for commercial real estate brokerage firms looking to streamline their business. Learn more: https://www.buildout.com Bull Realty: Regional commercial real estate brokerage services headquartered in Atlanta, delivering market intel and strategies. Learn more: https://www.bullrealty.com Commercial Agent Success Strategies: Twenty-one cloud accessed commercial broker training videos with slide deck action notes. Learn more at https://www.commercialagentsuccess.com/ #RetailRealEstate #RetailSales #CommercialRealEstate #CRE #NRF #ConsumerSpending #NetLease #RetailForecast #Economy #AIinRetail #BullRealty #CREShow
Before you lock in your Black Friday plans, let's talk about what shoppers say they want, and what that actually means for your business. I'm breaking down Tapcart's BFCM shopper survey and sharing where I agree, what deserves a closer look, and how I'd approach these findings as an eCommerce strategist. From choosing your promotion to deciding how often to email, this episode will help you ask better questions about your Q4 plans before you add one more thing to your to-do list. In this episode: Who's behind the survey and why that matters when interpreting the results What spending expectations can, and can't, tell you about your customers Whether different shopper behaviors call for different marketing strategies How AI is influencing product discovery and shopping decisions When holiday shopping starts, and what that means for your promotional calendar Which offers shoppers say they prefer and how to weigh that against your own results How much communication customers are open to during a sale The role loyalty programs can play beyond the holiday season _______ Links Mentioned Full Show Notes https://ecommercebadassery.com/394 Holiday Resources https://ecommercebadassery.com/holidaypodcast The Lounge https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership _______ Learn With Me Work with Me 1:1 https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/ https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/ Courses & Membership https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs _______ Let's Connect Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership _______ Rate, Review, & Subscribe Like what you heard? I'd be forever grateful if you'd rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it's also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear. Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683
In this episode, sponsored by Instacart Enterprise, Portager, Vusion, and Sifter Solutions, Ben Miller is joined by Lauren Livak Gilbert, Executive Director of the Digital Shelf Institute, live from Las Vegas on the eve of Groceryshop 2026, to unpack the latest grocery news and trends shaping the global grocery and CPG industry. This week, they discuss: • UK concerns over autonomous delivery robots, following a YouGov poll and the end of Starship Technologies' Sheffield pilot: https://retail-systems.com/rs/Brits_concerned_over_delivery_robots_on_pavements_poll_shows.php • Target naming Mark Weinstein as its new Chief Marketing and Guest Experience Officer, and what his appointment could mean for the shopper experience: https://progressivegrocer.com/target-appoints-new-chief-marketing-and-guest-experience • Morrisons rolling out “Shop to Light” across more than 200 stores, and whether the ESL use case adds real value for shoppers: https://www.retail-week.com/grocery/morrisons-to-introduce-flashing-labels-to-help-customers-find-products/7052135.article • Kroger removing Red Bull from its stores and fuel centers, amid its push to challenge suppliers on pricing: https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/kroger-just-pulled-red-bull-110000492.html Plus, Lauren joins us to preview Groceryshop 2026, including the key themes to watch and her one must-see session, and of course, she shares a global grocery story in GrocerTalk Grab & Go. A few things worth checking out from this week's episode: Follow along with Omni Talk's coverage from Groceryshop 2026, including exclusive interviews with executives from Kroger, Sam's Club, Hy-Vee, Costco, Albertsons, Instacart, Ahold Delhaize and more. Catch the interviews across the Omni Talk LinkedIn page, podcast channels and YouTube. Episode 006. Welcome to GrocerTalk. P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/ Music by hooksounds.com.
Welcome to the American grocery store, where “Reduced Fat” is just code for “I've replaced your nutrients with a science experiment.” Shoppers want to eat healthier but are flying blind. And while more than half expect retailers to support their wellness journey, existing tools often oversimplify nutrition, leaving shoppers confused at the point of purchase. Nutrition transparency is quickly becoming no longer optional. However, I'm certain no one will feel bad for food retailers after hearing how this “new cost of doing business" will inevitably be transformed into its “new revenue growth engine.” Retailers don't need to stock thousands of new products each year…especially when focus is prioritized towards helping shoppers navigate the 100K food items already carried. And a recent case study confirmed significant financial impact can come from shifting consumer behavior within existing categories. 27% of shoppers swapped to a healthier product once they had a clear “nutrition” score. Shoppers were 125% more likely to choose the highest-scoring option, even though it was one of the most expensive. Thus, if a large food retailer scales just one product swap to 10 million shoppers annually…it projects a revenue increase of around $14 million. But I'm left wondering, is “growth through nutrition transparency” all that terrible sounding if it ultimately leads to measurable public health improvements?
Send us Fan MailSelling on Amazon Europe can help US sellers test EU demand, handle VAT, and start with Germany before expanding across European marketplaces.MAG Growth podcast guest Nick Penev of hellotax and eCom Hot Sauce talks about Amazon Europe expansion, Amazon VAT, FBA, product compliance, listing localization, and finding the right partners. Nick explains why US brands should check demand first, test a small catalog, and add European markets only when the numbers make sense.Check out Nick Penev on LinkedIn for more on EU VAT, selling in Europe, and ecommerce partnerships: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-penev-0051791a/#AmazonEurope #AmazonFBA #AmazonVATWant free resources? Dowload our Free Amazon guides here:Your $1M Roadmap is here!: https://bit.ly/3SBO7VkDownload the 2026 Amazon AI Operating Manual: https://bit.ly/3SLmusPAmazon Receiving Delay Guide: https://hubs.ly/Q04cdD4c0Amazon Catalog Spring Cleaning: https://hubs.ly/Q046BVfp0Amazon Proft Margin Defense 2026: https://hubs.ly/Q042trRH0Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTAmazon Seller Strategy Report 2026: https://bit.ly/3YN1RME2026 Ecommerce Website & SEO Readiness Checklist: https://hubs.ly/Q04btghf0Amazon 2026 PPC guide: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXTimestamps0:00 - Selling on Amazon Europe: Market Size and Opportunity0:57 - Amazon Europe Expansion With Nick Penev2:30 - How US Sellers Should Check European Demand4:43 - Why Europe Is More Than One Marketplace5:19 - How to Start Amazon FBA Europe From Germany7:24 - Amazon Europe VAT Rules for US Sellers9:44 - Amazon Europe Product Compliance and EPR Basics11:08 - Partners Needed for Amazon Europe Expansion14:35 - How to Find Ecommerce Partners in Europe15:23 - Business Advice From Nick Penev-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show
Layla, Shiloh and Tommy are waiting for the school bus when a speedy orange visitor whizzes past—with plans to open a milkshake shop!
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. Customer expectations are moving faster than traditional digital experiences can keep up. Today, we explore how AI, personalization, and connected commerce are reshaping the way brands attract, serve, and retain customers.Joining us is Jacquelyn Baker, Global General Manager, Consumer at APPLY. With over 23 years of experience across brands including General Mills, PepsiCo, P&G, and Kraft Heinz, Jacquelyn brings deep expertise in omnichannel strategy, retail media, and digital transformation.Key HighlightsAgentic CX: How intelligent customer experiences are changing the future of digital commerce.AI Native Experiences: Moving beyond basic digitization to create smarter brand interactions.Retail Media Lessons: What growing brands can learn from the strategies of major retailers.Leadership Agility: Guiding teams through rapid technological and creative transformation.Connected Commerce: The first step toward fixing fragmented digital customer experiences.Special Thanks to Our Partners:UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor more expert insights, visit https://canadiansme.ca/ and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!To learn more about how we are supporting the ecosystem, please visit the CanadianSME Small Business Foundation at https://smbfoundation.ca/.Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
Seattle could soon ban "algorithmic-based price discrimination" for grocery shoppers. It's a move that city leaders are pushing in the name of affordability and privacy protection. In this episode, we'll talk to a City Councilmember who's trying to pass it, as well as an industry leader who has critiques of the ordinance as it's written. We'll also hear from a privacy reporter about what this fight against "surveillance" or "personalized pricing" looks like around the country. Plus: Soundside's Weekend Warmup (click for links to events!) Today on the show: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Seattle City Councilmember; Amanda Dalton, president and CEO of the Northwest Grocery Retail Association; Alfred Ng, privacy reporter at POLITICO Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Consumer spending made a comeback in August, even as Americans continue to deal with higher prices at the pump and elsewhere. The AP's Marcela Sanchez reports.
Brought to you by the English Programme. Featuring news, politics, popular culture, celebrity trivia, quizzes, book readings, and a whole host of fun.Support Our Rescue Cats | Our Blog | Get New Episodes By Email | Rumble | X | YouTube | NewsK365 on Spreaker | Get New Blog Posts By Email | Throne Wishlist |
Brought to you by the English Programme. Featuring news, politics, popular culture, celebrity trivia, quizzes, book readings, and a whole host of fun.Support Our Rescue Cats | Our Blog | Get New Episodes By Email | Rumble | X | YouTube | NewsK365 on Spreaker | Get New Blog Posts By Email | Throne Wishlist |
If a growing share of your customers now begin their shopping journey on a platform you don't own — and can't see into — is your website still your most important marketing asset?Agility here isn't just about reacting to new customer behavior. It's about building an infrastructure that can meet customers wherever they show up, and still have the brand behave like one company when it gets there.Today, we're going to talk about:- The great fragmentation of product discovery and why traditional marketing funnels are becoming obsolete.- Strategies for maintaining brand and data consistency across countless channels when only 14% of consumers say it's done well today.- The role of AI and automation in not just personalizing experiences, but optimizing for new discovery engines.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Gary Lombardo, CMO at Athos Commerce.About Gary LombardoGary Lombardo is Chief Marketing Officer at Athos Commerce, where he leads marketing, brand strategy, communications, and thought leadership. With more than 20 years of experience in retail technology, ecommerce, and SaaS, he helps retailers navigate the rapidly evolving world of AI-powered commerce. Gary is a frequent speaker on topics including artificial intelligence, digital merchandising, product discovery, customer experience, and the future of retail.Gary Lombardo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garylombardo---------- Resources ---------- Athos Commerce: athoscommerce.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873fChaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716baCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We'll learn about how Target has been tracking shoppers using its carts and we'll hear from a scientist about new research that might reveal some of the secrets hidden in dark matter – a material that is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe, according to NASA. Featuring audio from and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
Emergency services flooded Bromley High Street in south-east London on Thursday afternoon after four men were stabbed during a violent altercation linked to a KFC restaurant, leaving one victim in critical condition and prompting the rapid arrest of seven men. Brought to you by the English Programme. Featuring news, politics, popular culture, celebrity trivia, quizzes, book readings, and a whole host of fun.Support Our Rescue Cats | Our Blog | Get New Episodes By Email | Rumble | X | YouTube | NewsK365 on Spreaker | Get New Blog Posts By Email | Throne Wishlist |
Emergency services flooded Bromley High Street in south-east London on Thursday afternoon after four men were stabbed during a violent altercation linked to a KFC restaurant, leaving one victim in critical condition and prompting the rapid arrest of seven men. Brought to you by the English Programme. Featuring news, politics, popular culture, celebrity trivia, quizzes, book readings, and a whole host of fun.Support Our Rescue Cats | Our Blog | Get New Episodes By Email | Rumble | X | YouTube | NewsK365 on Spreaker | Get New Blog Posts By Email | Throne Wishlist |
Strategic Account Manager Sam Farzan and Senior Strategic Account Executive Shane Finnegan from Upside met up with Sean Kosednar at the 2026 Innovation Showcase. The three discussed the trend of uncommitted shoppers and how AWG member retailers can use Upside to bring those shoppers back to their stores.
What do today's secondhand shoppers actually want from thrift and resale stores? For Caroline Phillips, founder of Paloma Modern Consignment in Austin, the answer goes beyond finding a great deal. Shoppers are looking for quality, recognizable brands, an inviting experience, community, and an easier way to make secondhand part of how they shop. On the Get Thrifty Podcast, host Maggie Scivicque talks with Caroline about creating an upscale modern consignment boutique that bridges everyday fashion and luxury while making secondhand shopping more approachable. They explore the stigma that still surrounds thrifting, why younger shoppers are embracing resale differently, and how trust, hospitality, sustainability, and community can shape the modern resale experience. GUEST HANDLES & RESOURCES TT: @paloma_consignment IG: @paloma_consignment Website: https://www.palomaconsignment.com/ SHOW NOTES How a curated boutique experience can make secondhand shopping more approachable to people intimidated by traditional thrifting Why shoppers want everything from Lululemon and Anthropologie to Chanel, Gucci, Prada, and Hermès secondhand What Caroline is learning about Gen Z shoppers discovering resale through TikTok Why building trust and community can matter more than pushing for an immediate sale How buying, wearing, and reselling clothing creates a more circular approach to fashion Why Caroline focuses primarily on modern pieces from the past five years, including new-with-tags inventory How events, local makers, and experiences like color analysis can turn a resale store into a community destination
Torey Van Oot from Axios joins Adam and Jordana.
How do shoppers define value in today's retail environment? In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, Kantar experts explore new research on what drives consumer purchasing decisions beyond price. The discussion examines affordability pressures, loyalty programs, prepared foods, health and wellness trends, and how retailers and brands can create meaningful value through convenience, quality, and experience. Tune in for actionable insights on the evolving shopper mindset and what it means for the future of retail. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn
AI is changing the way retailers present products, understand customers, and create digital shopping experiences.In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we explore how AI and Marketing are transforming retail through digital merchandising, temporal merchandising, social merchandising, and smarter customer decision-making.The conversation begins with the evolution of e-commerce and the challenges facing brick-and-mortar retailers. Many retail activities remain highly manual, creating opportunities for intelligent automation.A central topic is ROPO, or research online and purchase offline. Shoppers frequently research products online before visiting a physical store. This makes the retailer's website an important marketing tool and a second front door.The discussion then explores digital merchandising and product relevance. AI can enrich product information with stronger titles, descriptions, metadata, imagery, and contextual information.Temporal merchandising takes this further by adapting products to seasons and events. The same product can become relevant for different occasions throughout the year.Social merchandising provides another opportunity. Retailers already create valuable videos and social content. AI can identify products featured within those videos and connect the content directly to product pages.This approach turns short-lived social posts into lasting product-level assets.The episode also explores temporal commerce and how it differs from agentic commerce. Agentic systems can automate repetitive purchasing decisions. Temporal commerce focuses on timing and context while keeping the final decision with the customer.AI enabled Market Research can support these strategies by helping businesses understand customer interests, preferences, and behavioral signals.The broader lesson is important. AI should not simply push customers toward the cheapest option. It should help people make better decisions based on relevance, context, and value.The future of retail will combine intelligent technology with human expertise. AI can amplify what great retailers already know about their customers and products.
https://directtoconsumer.typeform.com/DTC-Brand?utm_source=podcast-644&utm_medium=podcastTo Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupPhillip Jackson has spent 22 years in ecommerce, first building the software, then running agency strategy, and now running Future Commerce (futurecommerce.com), where the operating thesis is that commerce is culture.If you are a founder, brand lead, or growth operator trying to figure out what AI traffic is actually doing to your store, this one is worth the 50 minutes.What's inside:The Future Commerce study: 77% of shoppers want AI to recommend and nothing more. No booking, no buying, no agent acting on their behalfWhat that shopper does when they land: converts about 3x more often, spends about half as much, does zero browsingWhy the fix is counterintuitive. You now have to add friction back into the buying process and tell more brand story on a product pageNike's decline read from someone with a partnership inside the turnaround: streetwear over sport, owned channels over retail partners, and the running category handed to On and Hoka"Ma," the Japanese cinema concept, applied to brand. Nobody wants to hear from you constantly, and the brands that never rest never get a cultural high point eitherProof of work: Dr. Martens selling pre-broken-in secondhand boots at Brewer Street, Levi's repair, $1,200 Pope tees, and why patina is now the productThe agentic reader. Future Commerce stopped treating a human as its primary audience for discoveryCannes Lions and the collision of retail media with the traditional ad ecosystem, plus what that means for creator strategy in 2026Who this is for: DTC founders and operators watching LLM referral traffic show up in their analytics and not knowing what to do about it, plus brand people who want a sharper vocabulary for what is happening to culture.What to steal: rebuild your PDP for answer engine traffic. That visitor arrived pre-sold on one SKU and will not browse unless you give them a reason.Follow Phillip: futurecommerce.comTimestamps:03:00 Why Commerce Is Culture06:00 How Brands Participate in Culture24:00 Why Consumers Can Spot AI Content32:00 How AI Is Changing the Marketing Funnel44:00 The Rise of Consumer SovereigntySubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video
Pam Lewison of the Washington Policy Center argues the White House plan to allow 300,000 metric tons of tariff-free ground beef imports will depress cattle markets during a critical sales season, force ranchers to sell more cattle than they want, and do little to lower grocery bills for American consumers. Six major agriculture organizations, including the NCBA and the American Farm Bureau Federation, have united in opposition. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-ground-beef-imports-are-a-no-win-plan-for-consumers-producers/ #GroundBeef #AgriculturePolicy #CattleProducers #BeefPrices #WashingtonPolicyCenter #Opinion #FarmPolicy #USAgriculture #Ranchers #FoodPrices
Tom Cochrane is founder of Eleviam, a brand accelerator running more than forty CPG brands across Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok Shop. Before building the agency, he put nearly five million dollars of his own capital into Amazon inventory to prove the model himself.This episode tackles a problem every CPG brand now faces: platforms are getting more expensive, more competitive, and harder to attribute, even as consumer attention keeps fragmenting.Tom and Eitan dig into the halo effect between TikTok Shop and Amazon, why a third of TikTok-driven purchases convert somewhere else entirely, and how Amazon's new AI shopping layer is changing what actually belongs in a listing.Listeners walk away with a clearer view of how to sequence platform investment as a brand matures, and why profitability discipline matters more than chasing growth at any cost.Website: https://expanio.com/Podcast website: https://expanio.com/commerce-untold-podcast/Eitan Koter's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eitankoter/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CommerceUntoldGuest: Tom Cochrane, Founder, EleviamTom Cochrane's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasgcochrane/Eleviam: https://eleviam.io/Key Takeaways: • Ninety percent of US consumers still validate a purchase on Amazon even when they discovered the product somewhere else. • Thirty-seven percent of TikTok Shop transactions convert off of TikTok, most often on Amazon. • Creator partnerships should be judged on proven GMV track record, not follower count. • Amazon's AI shopping layer now reads full PDP and A+ content, so listings need to answer real buyer objections instead of just stuffing keywords. • Brands should launch omnichannel from day one, but stay narrow with a hero SKU before expanding the catalog. • Agencies scale by building repeatable systems and pod structures before they scale revenue.Chapters:[00:19] Introduction to Tom Cochrane and background[02:35] Running Amazon and TikTok Shop together: the halo effect[05:36] Rising platform costs and the shift toward creator partnerships[08:08] Competition, agentic shopping, and Amazon's AI-driven listings (Cosmos, Rufus)[11:53] Matching platform strategy to a brand's lifecycle stage[19:41] CPG challenges today: LTV, margins, and building a moat[26:11] Inside Eleviam: ICP, delivery, and where e-commerce is headed
In this episode, sponsored by Instacart Enterprise, Portager, and Vusion, Ben Miller is joined by Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures at IGD and a leading grocery retail analyst and industry expert, to unpack the global grocery news stories from this week that we believe are worth paying attention to. This week, they discuss: • Whether weak US consumer confidence is finally translating into changes in grocery shopping behavior, from strong results at Dollar Tree and Dollar General to lower-income shoppers pulling back at Walmart: https://www.supermarketnews.com/finance/dollar-tree-pops-in-q2 • BJ's Wholesale Club's plans to reduce its SKU count by 20%, and whether cutting back on choice is the right move for the membership retailer: https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/bjs-wholesale-club-to-cut-skus-by-20/828618/ • Target's new Beauty Studio concept, launching across 600 stores, and whether it can successfully rebuild the retailer's beauty proposition following the end of its Ulta partnership: https://progressivegrocer.com/target-launching-beauty-studio-concept-across-600-stores • Aldi's decision to close its grocery delivery business in Switzerland, and whether the move is a one-off or a broader reality check for online grocery: https://adalytica.com/news/aldi-swiss-grocery-delivery-10344f62 • Walmart bringing its Scintilla commerce intelligence platform to Sam's Club, and what it means for suppliers, retail media and Sam's future: https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-technology/walmart-brings-commerce-intelligence-platform-to-sam-s-club Plus, GrocerTalk Grab & Go brings even more stories to the table, including Simbe's Tally expanding with Tesco, Erewhon's latest store opening, a new Sobeys concept store, and Costco bringing custom cakes and party platters to online delivery through Instacart. GrocerTalk is a weekly podcast from the Omni Talk Podcast Network covering the trends, innovations and technologies shaping global grocery. Episode 003. Welcome to GrocerTalk. P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/ Music by hooksounds.com.
In this episode, Andrew McNamara, VP of Applied ML at Shopify, returns to unpack how much has changed in agentic commerce since his last episode. Andrew and Liam dig into why agents are becoming "the new front door to commerce," why orders coming to Shopify stores from AI are up 13x, and what's actually happening inside Shopify's personalized shopping agent in the Shop app. They also get into the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and why AI commerce is growing 9x faster than social commerce did at the same stage, how Sidekick's architecture and app extensions work, and SimGym, Shopify's system for training AI shoppers to A/B test store changes before they ever reach a real customer. Key Topics Covered How shopping is shifting from stores and desktops toward agents as "the new front door to commerce" Why orders coming to Shopify stores from AI are up 13x, and why catalog-powered AI search converts twice as well as general AI search Inside Shop app's personalized shopping agent, and how it learns different shopping personas (like shopping for a pet versus a child) Why customers are shifting from keyword searches to natural language queries, and the higher conversion rates that come with it Why Shopify keeps shopping data personalized to the individual user rather than training it into a larger internal model What the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) is, and why AI commerce is growing 9x faster than social commerce and 3x faster than mobile did at the same stage The story of Shopify's CEO giving his own Hermes agent a budget so it can send him gifts in the mail Sidekick's app extensions, and how partners like Klaviyo and Loop plugged in at launch Campaign Autopilot's "auto research loop," and its parallels to reinforcement learning SimGym, and how Shopify trains AI shoppers to A/B test store changes before running them on real customers Why Sidekick runs on Anthropic's Sonnet model hosted on Google Cloud, and why that choice is model agnostic Andrew's own habit of shopping by taking pictures throughout the week and searching by image through UCP-connected agents Episode Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and welcome 00:29 - What's changed in AI and shopping since their last conversation 01:47 - Agents becoming "the new front door to commerce" 04:16 - Inside Shop app's personalized shopping agent 07:32 - Why data stays personalized to each shopper instead of training a larger model 11:53 - What the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) is, and orders from AI up 13x 14:58 - Merchant tooling for tracking AI-driven traffic and conversions 15:55 - The story of Tobi's Hermes agent sending him gifts in the mail 20:48 - Andrew's own habit of shopping by taking pictures and searching by image 26:59 - Sidekick's app extensions and partner integrations 33:02 - Inside Sidekick's architecture: the Sonnet model and knowledge base 35:18 - Campaign Autopilot's auto research loop 38:58 - SimGym: training AI shoppers to test store changes 42:23 - What's next for Shopify's agentic commerce features 44:17 - Where to find Andrew Andrew's Socials: Twitter (X) - https://x.com/DrewCH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmcnamara1/ Partner Links Upgrade your AI toolkit: https://www.theaireport.ai/ai-executive-pass Subscribe to our free newsletter: https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe Join the community: https://community.theaireport.ai/checkout/the-ai-report-welcome-gift?coupon_code=WRTH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
(00:00 - 3:44) It's Wednesday! We pay tribute to music legend Dolly Parton who passed away yesterday at the age of 80. LBF tells us a few stories of Dolly's impact. (3:44 - 8:32) Today's DM Disaster is from Will. He and his wife are trying to eat healthy, but Will has a problem with midnight snacking. So, one night Will snuck downstairs to snack. He thought his wife was sleeping turns out she had notifications turned on for the smart fridge and caught him cheating on his diet! That's Will's DM Disaster! (8:32 - 15:32) Aldi is asking shoppers to vote on the next two flavors of Barissimo Coffee Creamer. Shoppers can weigh in on which two of eight flavors they want to see hit shelves next year. We vote on some of the flavors they're attempting to do. (15:32 - 19:00) Today's Supah Smaht player is Leah from Avon. Find out if they were Supah Smaht! (19:00 - 25:34) We have discovered the most chaotic storage solutions in America. And if you're hiding your junk in one particular appliance, please tell LBF before she comes over, the stuff you're hiding could get toasted! (25:34 - 30:57) We may have just discovered the easiest way to make a dog happy. No treats, no belly rubs, no humiliating baby voice required. Plus, Disney is teaming up with the NFL and LBF quizzes Adam 12, how did he fare! All this and more on the ROR Morning Show with LBF & Adam 12 Podcast. Find more great podcasts at bPodStudios.com…The Place To Be For Podcast Discovery! Follow us on our socialsInstagram - @rormorningshowFacebook - The ROR Morning ShowSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we dive into why website analytics and star ratings fail to show the full customer journey. Cheryl Zajac, VP of Client Insights at Bizrate Insights, shares how collecting pre-purchase and post-delivery feedback helps brands fix friction points and boost conversions. She also reveals how to capture non-buyer insights, use targeted survey triggers, and balance AI data with human understanding to drive true growth. Topics discussed in this episode: How star ratings hide critical checkout friction.What 98 percent of non-buying traffic reveals.Why pre-purchase surveys capture lost revenue.How targeted triggers improve response rates.What custom questions uncover about intent.Why small sample sizes deliver actionable insights.How post-delivery data boosts buyer retention.What drives shoppers to competitor websites.Why human empathy beats AI data analysis.How real customer feedback fixes site drop-offs.Star ratings tell you how customers feel. Bizrate Insights reveals what's driving those ratings, helping ecommerce brands create smoother shopping journeys, inspire confident purchases, and build lasting loyalty. Turn verified shopper feedback into clear priorities and better customer experiences. Learn more at bizrateinsights.com/coffee Links & ResourcesWebsite: https://bizrateinsights.com/coffee/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bizrateinsights/X/Twitter: https://x.com/bizrateinsightsGet access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at https://tinyurl.com/yuhp9nv6______________________________________________________LOVE THE SHOW? HERE ARE THE NEXT STEPS!Follow the podcast to get every bonus episode. Tap follow now and don't miss out! Rate & Review: Help others discover the show by rating the show on Apple Podcasts at https://tinyurl.com/ecb-apple-podcasts Join our Free Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ Support The Show On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EcommerceCoffeeBreak Partner with us: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/partner-with-us/
Prices for some back-to-school supplies are up this year, alongside other essentials like groceries and gas. Shoppers aren't just turning to cheaper brands — they're buying less, and cutting out non-essentials. This morning, we look at how inflation could affect shopping extending into the holiday season. Then, we discuss the cost of our debt pushing up interest rates, and a North Carolina Girl Scout talks cookie selling.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:“Back to school” on a budget
Prices for some back-to-school supplies are up this year, alongside other essentials like groceries and gas. Shoppers aren't just turning to cheaper brands — they're buying less, and cutting out non-essentials. This morning, we look at how inflation could affect shopping extending into the holiday season. Then, we discuss the cost of our debt pushing up interest rates, and a North Carolina Girl Scout talks cookie selling.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:“Back to school” on a budget
Want to thrift better than most shoppers? Former thrift store employee and REISSUED creator Andrew Harper shares the insider tips, sourcing habits, and secondhand lessons he learned from years of seeing what comes through the doors and what shoppers leave behind. On the Get Thrifty Podcast, Maggie Scivicque talks with Andrew about his three years working at a ReStore, the thrifting tips behind his most-viewed YouTube video, and how he spots quality, overlooked potential, and one-of-a-kind pieces. They also get into restoring unwanted furniture, thrifting while traveling, decorating with secondhand finds, and why Andrew has become more selective about what he brings home. GUEST HANDLES & RESOURCES YouTube: @REISSUED IG: reissued.studio Website: https://www.reissued.studio/ SHOW NOTES Why Andrew recommends making two laps around every thrift store What materials can signal a quality secondhand find Why estate sales, yard sales, and Facebook Marketplace belong in your sourcing rotation What working at a thrift store taught him about pricing and the items shoppers overlook How Andrew turns unwanted furniture and even discarded pieces into elevated home decor Why smaller cities and towns can offer a different thrifting experience than major markets How his approach shifted from collecting more to "more detail, less stuff" Why learning basic restoration and upholstery skills can open up an entirely new category of thrift finds
In answer to questions from subscribers, I'm sharing my best tips for buying things secondhand -- including where and how to look for what you need, and my favorite categories of things to buy used. Show Notes VERSES CITED: Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Psalm 37:4-5 - "Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." James 1:17 - "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." Ephesians 3:20 - "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us...." RELATED LINKS: Successful Garage Sales: Tips for Shoppers and Sellers STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website
A SEAT at THE TABLE: Leadership, Innovation & Vision for a New Era
For years, luxury seemed almost immune to economic downturns. Consumers might cut back elsewhere, but luxury remained remarkably resilient.That has changed.Some of the world's most powerful luxury brands are facing slowing sales and weaker results. But the problem may go deeper than economics.Shoppers are more informed, expectations around quality are higher, resale has created new competition, and simply putting a famous logo on a product may no longer be enough.In this episode of A Seat at the Table, host Jane Singer sits down with retail industry veterans Burt Flickinger III, Managing Director of Strategic Retail Group, and Denise Seegal, former President and CEO of Maggiasconi Apparel Group, to discuss what's gone wrong, what today's luxury consumer wants, and where they see new opportunities for retail growth.What You'll LearnWhy luxury brands are under pressure around the world.How changing consumer priorities are reshaping luxury spending.Whether luxury has become too accessible and lost some of its exclusivity.Why merchandising, product innovation and emerging designers matter.How ecommerce and resale have changed luxury shopping.Why consumers are questioning luxury product quality.Why South Korea and India could become important luxury markets.What successful retailers are getting right about customer experience.Why Is the Luxury Market Struggling?Mr. Flickinger points to weakening demand across several historically important luxury markets, along with changes in international travel. Ms. Seegal believes brands need to look beyond economics."The consumer priorities have shifted," she says.Economic volatility, geopolitics and tariffs have affected spending. Social media, influencers and AI have changed how consumers discover and evaluate products.The lesson for brands: start with the consumer rather than assuming yesterday's definition of luxury still works.Has Luxury Lost Its Exclusivity?Another issue is overexposure.Luxury expanded aggressively, including through department stores and shop-in-shop concepts. But wider distribution can make it harder to maintain the discovery, exclusivity and personal attention consumers expect when paying luxury prices.Luxury consumers aren't simply buying a product. They want specialness, service and an environment that reinforces why the product deserves its premium positioning.What Happened to the Great Merchants?The conversation also raises a bigger problem: the decline of merchandising culture.Ms. Seegal recalls her years as a Bloomingdale's buyer, when part of the job was actively searching for emerging designers. She regularly made time to meet new designers, look at their work and ask: What's next?Today's department-store economics can make that harder.Brands may be expected to finance floor space, fixtures, staffing and other costs. Established brands can afford that investment. Emerging designers often cannot.The result can be stores filled with brands that have the resources to secure space rather than necessarily the most exciting products.Fashion needs newness. Without new designers, products and ideas, retailers give consumers fewer reasons to return.Is Luxury Quality Declining?Consumers increasingly complain that products—even expensive ones—don't feel as well made as products they purchased 10 or 20 years ago.Premium pricing needs to be supported by premium materials, craftsmanship, fit and construction.Brands diversifying their supply chains face a challenge beyond finding capacity or negotiating price: they have to transfer knowledge and quality standards to their new manufacturing base.Online Shopping and Resale Changed LuxuryLuxury shopping has moved far beyond the traditional department store.Platforms such as Net-a-Porter, Matches and Farfetch helped make consumers comfortable buying high-priced fashion online, giving shoppers access to enormous assortments without visiting a physical luxury store.Then came another disruption: resale.Luxury customers aren't simply buying secondhand products. They're also selling items from their own wardrobes and using the proceeds to purchase something different.Vintage has another advantage: some consumers believe older merchandise offers better tailoring, materials or construction.That means resale can compete with new luxury on quality, uniqueness and product discovery—characteristics traditionally associated with luxury itself.Where Are the Next Luxury Growth Markets?The geography of luxury is changing.The conversation highlights South Korea as an important laboratory for luxury, combining fashion with digital communication, entertainment, gaming, social networks, wellness and highly connected consumer communities.India could represent another major frontier as its consumer market develops.The next chapter of luxury therefore may not simply involve waiting for traditional markets to recover. Brands need to rethink where luxury consumers are emerging and what luxury means within those markets.The Luxury Store Experience Still MattersDespite digital commerce, the physical store isn't necessarily obsolete. But mediocre stores may be.Personal service is particularly important at the high end, where relationships between customers and trusted salespeople can generate significant repeat business.Can Luxury Make a Comeback?Ms. Seegal believes it can.Consumers still love beautiful products, exceptional design, craftsmanship and quality. But they're also better informed. They can quickly research a designer, compare products and decide whether a brand fits the identity or community they want to be part of.The next era of luxury may depend less on the logo and more on the things that originally made luxury desirable: exceptional product, innovation, craftsmanship, exclusivity, service and experience.Episode Timestamps00:00 – Why luxury is suddenly struggling01:54 – What's happening to global luxury demand?05:58 – How luxury consumer priorities have changed08:12 – Has luxury become overexposed?09:48 – South Korea and the changing luxury experience15:04 – Why fashion needs merchants and emerging designers18:48 – How the shop-in-shop model changed luxury retail20:37 – South Korea and India as future luxury markets22:13 – How ecommerce changed luxury shopping25:13 – The impact of luxury resale and vintage26:36 – Are consumers getting lower-quality products?31:37 – Why factory training matters to quality35:04 – When cost cutting starts damaging luxury37:17 – Does Hermès need a bigger owner?39:25 – Can luxury retailers successfully expand internationally?43:25 – What would it take to revive luxury department stores?48:32 – What Bloomingdale's is getting right49:51 – Why customer service remains a competitive advantageFrequently Asked QuestionsWhy are luxury brands struggling?The episode identifies weaker spending in important global markets, changing travel patterns, economic uncertainty, changing consumer priorities, ecommerce and resale competition, and concerns around innovation, exclusivity and quality.What do luxury consumers want today?Consumers increasingly expect more than a recognizable brand name. Quality, design, exclusivity, service, experience and cultural relevance all contribute to whether a luxury purchase feels worthwhile.Has luxury become too accessible?Potentially. Expanding distribution can increase sales but also weaken exclusivity. The discussion highlights the importance of controlling the retail environment and creating a distinctive brand experience.Is luxury product quality declining?The conversation highlights consumer concerns about quality across mainstream and luxury fashion. Maintaining quality requires strong materials and craftsmanship, experienced suppliers, factory training and sourcing decisions that aren't driven exclusively by cost.Which markets could drive future luxury growth?South Korea and India emerge as particularly interesting opportunities. South Korea combines luxury consumption with fashion, beauty, wellness, entertainment and digital culture, while India's evolving consumer market could make it an increasingly important luxury frontier.About the GuestsBurt Flickinger III is Managing Director of Strategic Retail Group, a global retail and consumer packaged goods consultancy.Denise Seegal is the former President and CEO of Maggiasconi Apparel Group and former Executive Director of M. Magtigu Limited. She now leads her own consulting firm and brings extensive experience in merchandising, product development, manufacturing, fashion and retail.Together with A Seat at the Table host Jane Singer, they explore what's going wrong in luxury retail—and what brands and retailers need to get right to win the next generation of luxury consumers.SEND US A MESSAGEVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm
Two-thirds of holiday shoppers are using AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity to find and compare products, bypassing traditional search bars. Neil Twa dives into why your Amazon listings might be invisible to this massive audience and what you can do about it. After reading a Retaildive article, Neil was struck by the fact that 67% of shoppers have already adopted AI for their purchasing decisions. He shares a real-world example from a home goods brand that, despite having a strong product and reviews, is missing out on visibility. Neil outlines three critical moves to make before Black Friday, applicable whether you're making $5,000 or $500,000 a month. These steps are crucial for ensuring your listings are optimized for AI discovery. If you're realizing your listings need to work harder across more platforms than just Amazon, this episode is a must-listen. Ready to implement with us? Join the Voltage Business Builders cohort at voltagedm.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=epNone Ready to implement with us? Join the Voltage Business Builders cohort at voltagedm.com: https://voltagedm.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep-draft