Podcasts about shoppers

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

Leisa Krauss makes the case for secret shopping your own practice, and she's not interested in trapping anybody. She wants to know whether the patient experience you believe you're delivering is the one your patients are getting. She walks the whole journey looking for where the money escapes: the phone inquiry answered with a price and nothing else, the Instagram DM treated like a menu board, the consultation that prescribes before it discovers, the handoff that dumps a warmed-up patient into the parking lot, the follow-up that never happens after somebody says she needs to think about it.Along the way she builds a hundred-point scorecard you can run from your phone, explains why one shop is a snapshot and only patterns are useful, and draws a hard line between a coaching issue and a performance issue. She also turns the lens around, because owners, managers and injectors get shopped too. Accountability can't only travel downhill.If your standards only hold when you're standing at the front desk, you don't have standards. You have supervision.Not a member yet? No worries! Just head over to ScalpelOfTruth.com and sign up today! Get the full episodes in your own private, personal podcast feed all while ensuring this show continues to grow and thrive! Thank you!ScalpelOfTruth.com • Join Club Bitchacho for full episodes today!Check out our MedSpa Workshops and Trainings and schedule a discovery call today

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  

Who doesn't like to see a bit of biff in the checkouts? The Nth Qld Cowboys make a cheeky move in Logan, Merv gears us up for the cricket, whilst Harris Andrews gears up for this weekend's Q Clash!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

As an eBay seller, chances are you use eBay's Product Research as your go-to tool for setting prices. Beware! In this episode of the I Love to Be Selling podcast, you'll learn about a Product Research site glitch that could have you leaving money on the table or pricing yourself out of a sale. Tune in to find out what's glitching, how to double-check your pricing, and how to work around this glitch until it's fixed. You'll also gain access to I Love to Be Selling's exclusive 2026 Pinterest Power Guide for eBay Sellers, on sale for a limited time only at 50% off. Shoppers use Pinterest to discover products, making it a perfect place to showcase your eBay inventory — and this guide covers everything you need to know to get your Pinterest up and working for you pronto, including simple step-by-step instructions designed specifically for eBay sellers to help them attract more buyers. Download your copy for half price today at https://ilovetobeselling.com/webinars-and-workshops/pinterest-power-flash/. I'm Kathy, and I love to be selling!

Running an Australian eCommerce or Shopify store? Your customers have started shopping inside ChatGPT, and shoppers arriving from AI answer engines convert around 1.5x better than any other source.Melbourne eCommerce Aus Event - Tickets Here. Online shopping has become… boring? A recent Criteo study found 77% of Australians describe online shopping as unexciting, and that's just the starting point for one of our most forward-looking conversations yet.Ryan sits down with Matt Hurle from Criteo to unpack the findings of their latest report and what they mean for anyone running an eCommerce business in Australia. Matt brings 20 years in advertising, 15 in digital and 10 in martech, from cold-calling rural businesses out of the Yellow Pages to sitting at the front edge of AI-powered retail media.The big theme: the path to purchase is no longer linear. Consumers are bouncing between publishers, retailer sites, social platforms and AI answer engines like ChatGPT, and increasingly starting their entire shopping journey inside those answer engines, at the very first spark of an idea. Criteo was the first technology company integrated with OpenAI via API and has already run 2,000+ campaigns in that environment. Early signal? Shoppers arriving from ChatGPT convert about 1.5x more efficiently than any other source.We also get into the eternal marketer's tension Ryan sums up perfectly: "The thing I love about digital marketing is you can track every dollar. The thing I hate about digital marketing is you can track every dollar." Attribution, brand vs. performance, the resurgence of SEO (or GEO/AIO, whatever we're calling it this week), influencer strategy, and why customer support and honest reviews now beat polished influencer content for building real trust.Key TakeawaysThe funnel is dead — long live discovery. Consumers now begin shopping journeys inside AI answer engines, far earlier than the traditional mid-to-lower funnel signals marketers relied on. Brands need to show up higher up the discovery journey.Commerce data is the new gold standard. Moving away from demographics and guesswork toward real commerce signals — what people add to cart, actually buy, and browse before and after. Criteo observes 1T+ in annual eCommerce transactions across 730M+ daily active shoppers.Show up across surfaces, not just your own. Criteo's independence means it serves ads on whichever "surface" (open web, ChatGPT, Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, X) is most likely to convert — not a walled-garden's owned inventory.ChatGPT shoppers convert ~1.5x better. They've researched and validated inside the answer engine, so trust is high by the time they land.SEO/GEO/AIO matters more than ever. As search shifts from keywords to full-sentence, conversational queries, rich product data and verifiable messaging determine whether you appear in AI answers — or get left out of the consideration set entirely.Trust beats polish. Verified reviews and genuine customer support now outweigh paid influencer content. 200 five-star reviews can be less trusted than a 4.7 average. Reply to bad reviews honestly. (Ryan's Nero merino example and Matt's Artisan chopping-board recall story both make the point.)Match the influencer to the job to be done. Celebrities drive reach and exposure; micro-influencers drive engaged, community-level trust and conversion. Different jobs, different tiers.AI answer engines stay out of sensitive categories. OpenAI keeps advertising away from health-related matters, directing people back to their GPs.

Stephen Grootes spoke to Nonku Pitje about her leadership journey at Discovery and building high-performing teams, Lee Soobrathi about why online shopping remains South Africa’s biggest consumer complaint, Advaita Naidoo about the leadership and succession challenges facing family businesses, and Claire Swanson about growing ARK Provisions from a home kitchen into a Checkers confectionery success story. The Money Show is a podcast hosted by well-known journalist and radio presenter, Stephen Grootes. He explores the latest economic trends, business developments, investment opportunities, and personal finance strategies. Each episode features engaging conversations with top newsmakers, industry experts, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and politicians, offering you thought-provoking insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape.    Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa     Follow us on social media   702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702   CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702 CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Grootes spoke to Nonku Pitje about her leadership journey at Discovery and building high-performing teams, Lee Soobrathi about why online shopping remains South Africa’s biggest consumer complaint, Advaita Naidoo about the leadership and succession challenges facing family businesses, and Claire Swanson about growing ARK Provisions from a home kitchen into a Checkers confectionery success story. The Money Show is a podcast hosted by well-known journalist and radio presenter, Stephen Grootes. He explores the latest economic trends, business developments, investment opportunities, and personal finance strategies. Each episode features engaging conversations with top newsmakers, industry experts, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and politicians, offering you thought-provoking insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape.    Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa     Follow us on social media   702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702   CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702 CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

https://rumble.com/user/TheCultureWarshttps://x.com/NewsK365https://buymeacoffee.com/courtpresshttps://www.youtube.com/@NewsK365Email: newsk365@protonmail.com

https://rumble.com/user/TheCultureWarshttps://x.com/NewsK365https://buymeacoffee.com/courtpresshttps://www.youtube.com/@NewsK365Email: newsk365@protonmail.com

https://rumble.com/user/TheCultureWarshttps://x.com/NewsK365https://buymeacoffee.com/courtpresshttps://www.youtube.com/@NewsK365Email: newsk365@protonmail.com

https://rumble.com/user/TheCultureWarshttps://x.com/NewsK365https://buymeacoffee.com/courtpresshttps://www.youtube.com/@NewsK365Email: newsk365@protonmail.com

Ace Hardware's RedVest Media is rewriting the retail advertising playbook by turning a late market entry into a strategic advantage across its 5,200 store footprint. Head of Retail Media Molly Hjelm joins Mike Shields to explain why friction-free Pacvue integration, closed-loop endemic attribution, and re-embracing physical stores outperform legacy off-platform tactics. Key Highlights ⏰ The Late-Mover Edge: Launching a network today means skipping years of clunky tech builds and plugging straight into mature e-commerce and delivery setups.

AI is changing what search means in e-commerce. Shoppers are no longer just typing keywords and scanning static results. Conversational agents are shaping discovery, addressing objections, and guiding purchases like digital salespeople. Brands must look beyond traditional SEO and design for both human shoppers and AI-driven journeys. Jeremy Goldman sits down with Sean Whitehead, VP of Digital Product & Tech at Fracture, and Aniket Deosthali, CEO and Founder of Envive AI, to discuss how brands can bring in-store service online, adapt to the rise of AI search, earn consumer trust, and preserve brand distinctiveness as AI tools become commoditized. INSIDE THE EPISODE: From Keyword Matching to Digital Salesmanship Traditional search assumes shoppers already know what they want. AI can address hesitation and objections directly on the product page before they turn into abandoned carts. The Financial Imperative of AI Search With half of consumers using AI search, and a projected $750B revenue impact by 2028, optimizing for AI engine visibility (AEO/GEO) is non-negotiable. Brands need to focus on durable fundamentals: structured data, strong content, authority, and answering real customer questions. Trust and Security Are the Ultimate Bottlenecks for AI Adoption With nearly 40% of consumers fearing AI scams or data misuse, brands must "treat AI like a new hire"—using strict guardrails and brand-approved data to prevent costly glitches. Brand Differentiation Will Shift to Proprietary Data and Brand Voice As AI tools commoditize, standing out requires training models on your distinct brand voice and unique customer data.

Mayor Marc Gwinn is a regular street performer at Montpelier's “Ramble,” an effort to encourage people to come downtown to experience the city's business and arts offerings.

TOP STORIES AT 11 // AGREE TO DISAGREE! // WE HEAR YOU! and WORDS TO LIVE BY

Is this 'breaking' the rules when it comes to the 10 items or less line?

Is this 'breaking' the rules when it comes to the 10 items or less line? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shoppers not happy with some stores..."Three Things You Need to Know"...phone call...Cracker Barrel CEO out...textsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bike shop owners and managers are often diligent about merchandising in their stores. The same type of attention can make a positive difference on bike shop websites. Let's talk about homepage merchandising! It's exciting, right?“Above the fold” - what this means and why it's importantBanners:Highlighting important topics (free shipping threshold, special events, special store hours, etc.)....Only text with linksHeader:These can be customized for a unique lookNavigators:FocusedNot too clutteredSale navigatorResources - up-to-date resources - events page, for example.Services - Bike Repair, Fitting, Bike RentalsHomepage Hero/HighlightHot topics with engaging graphicsRotators/Slideshows - just not too manyRefreshed at least 1 per monthFor increased SEO, the graphic should have selectable, readable text, not just text baked into the image itself, as search engines can't read that wellHighlight focused brands with a logo carousel with linksHighlight focused categories in blocks….These can be seasonal, meaning: lights, trainers, winter/summer apparel, cargo, etc.Staff PicksSocial Media/Instagram feedReview feedPop-Up forms ...asking for email to be added to email list, maybe in exchange for a discount.Clean footer with extra resources such as policy/return pages, career opportunities, etc. Consider a Premium Theme for a reasonable price, get a semi-custom designed homepagePRO TIP: It's great to add custom images of your shop or staff to your site…but PLEASE be aware of the backgrounds …is the background messy?  Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.Find Us on LinkedInMark Still, Senior Business DevelopmentDavid Martinez, Key Accounts AdvisorWe also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Welcome to another edition of Retail Roundup—your weekly brief helping retail leaders decode the biggest shifts in retail, AI, and commerce. In this week's episode, Jeremy sits down with Martin Bailie (MWB Advisory) and Kimberly Morgan (The Fashion Tech Exec) to break down how three major retail moves signal a definitive shift away from safe, superficial trends toward bold execution. INSIDE THE EPISODE: - Marketplaces As Infrastructure: GameStop's CEO Ryan Cohen put $500M of his own capital toward acquiring eBay (a company 5x GameStop's size). Regardless of the outcome, it shows massive conviction in combining physical store networks with marketplace scale to power modern commerce. - Practical AI Execution: Instacart acquired computer-vision startup Arpalus to track shelf inventory in real time. Shoppers will experience fewer substitutions and out-of-stock items. (For more on Instacart's infrastructure moves, check out our interview with the Chief Commercial Officer, Ryan Hamburger, here) - Profits Over Growth: Reformation's $1B IPO filing will test public market appetite for direct-to-consumer brands. The standards have changed: investors now prioritize healthy margins, sane customer acquisition costs, and durable unit economics over raw expansion. Different headlines, same story. Safe, incremental moves aren't cutting it anymore. Moving ahead right now takes clear strategy, strong execution, and real financial discipline.

PXY Mornings w/ Moose and Breezy! 8am Hour: Grocery bills continue to climb and climb. Shoppers are left in the dust but an unforeseen foe could potentially become a friend during your grocery trips.

Maveron partner Natalie Dillon joins Brian and Alicia to challenge the consumer-collapse narrative: sentiment sits at post-9/11 lows while spending breaks records. Natalie sheds light on truths of today's consumer, who is skeptical but continually shopping amid a cultural undertow where AI adoption stays surprisingly shallow, Gen Z turns skeptical, and analog living re-emerges as status. PLUS: Are cults the new future of commerce?  Your Gen Z Consumer Is Busy Touching Grass Key takeaways: Shoppers reallocated rather than retreated. Stats show fewer purchases that are higher value and more intentional.  AI adoption stays shallow, but health and wellness is the emerging opportunity, especially among consumers aged 35+.  Gen Z, the presumed AI natives, skew most negative, fueling an analog revival. Costco remains the disciplined benchmark for marketing, merchandise, and customer experience. [26:30] "Gen Z spikes the most negative on AI across age groups, which was shocking." — Natalie Dillon [43:09] "I do think some companies still look to Costco…but I think no one has disciplined themselves to the extent that Costco has." — Natalie Dillon Associated Links: Learn more about Maveron Maveron consumer research report "Your Body is a Data Land" (Future Commerce, 2017) Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode #1402: Polestar dealers demand answers as the EV brand abandons the U.S., Stellantis recruits new leaders to revive Jeep and Ram, and back-to-school shoppers prove convenience is the new value as families spend more but shop smarter. Show Notes...

As auto sales plummet in China, industry analyst John McElroy says one car dealer group is trying to get more shoppers in the door by selling humanoid robots. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

From protein shakes and oral care to home fragrance, brain health, and everyday essentials, discover some of the 2026 Product of the Year USA winners that consumers say stand out for innovation and performance

From protein shakes and oral care to home fragrance, brain health, and everyday essentials, discover some of the 2026 Product of the Year USA winners that consumers say stand out for innovation and performance

In this episode of Future Shop, Wendy Liebmann sits down with Kiri Masters, founder of the Retail Media Breakfast Club, to dissect the rapid evolution of the shopper journey in the age of generative AI. Using real-world buying experiences—from hair tools to refrigerators—they reveal how tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are bypassing traditional retail homepages and sending consumers straight to product detail pages. This shift challenges the multi-billion-dollar foundation of modern retail media networks, forcing brands and retailers to rethink their advertising playbooks. Wendy and Kiri discuss why a low-price strategy isn't the only way to win, how Amazon's AI shopping features change the ad economy, and why keeping an agile, "test-and-learn" mindset is the ultimate key to survival.HighlightsThe Bypassed Homepage: How AI search engines send 55% of referred shoppers directly to the product detail page, completely missing traditional on-site ads.The Myth of the Lowest Price: Why convenience, timing, and brand ecosystem matter just as much as perfect price visibility in AI results.The Real Impact on Retail Media: What Amazon's Alexa Shopping (Rufus) means for the future economics of sponsored product listings.Incentives vs. Evolution: Why legacy retail media network goals might be slowing down the adoption of future-ready advertising models.Send us Fan MailVisit our website for transcripts, links mentioned on this episodes, and video podcasts. Subscribe and rate us with your favorite podcast app!Send us Fan MailVisit our website for transcripts, links mentioned on this episodes, and video podcasts. Subscribe and rate us with your favorite podcast app!

Get ready for a good show today...we're going through 7 pricing psychology tricks that work even on savvy consumers! Backed by real studies, from why discounts can make a painkiller feel less effective to a 1-cent pricing hack that made 25% more money on eBay. In this episode, we break down the research behind charm pricing, price anchoring, credit card spending, partitioned pricing, and more — plus real test results from their own brands, including a $777 bundle that outsold a $699 control and a free-shipping test that flipped conversion rates. 00:00 Cold open: we've been sleeping on this topic 00:02 The most impactful lever most brands never test 00:03 The Price Placebo Effect: the energy drink study that messed with their heads 00:06 Why running sales year-round can quietly kill your product's perceived quality 00:07 The Nine-Ending Paradox: why $39 outsold $34 by 24% 00:08 Real case study: the $777 Jack Daniels bundle that beat the control price 00:09 The Phonetic Length Effect: why $999 feels bigger than $1,000 00:11 Personal price anchors and the IKEA "4 cups of coffee" pricing trick 00:12 The Credit Card Premium: cash bidders vs. card bidders in a real auction 00:15 Partitioned Pricing: the penny-plus-shipping trick that made 25% more 00:19 The Endowed Progress Effect: the car wash loyalty card study 00:20 Getting "got": a real-time example of a surprise upgrade offer

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Deepak Maini, SVP and GM of Walmart +, Walmart's membership program helping members save more time & money with exclusive benefits. Follow Deepak on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-maini-49b9089/Follow Walmart+ online at: https://www.walmart.com/plusDeepak answers these questions:Walmart+ has grown from 3 benefits at launch to 12 today — still at $98 a year. How does that expanding benefit stack change the behavior of the Walmart+ member in ways that matter to CPG brand partners — in terms of basket size, purchase frequency, and category loyalty?Walmart reaches 150 million shoppers every week across ecommerce and 4,600 stores, with data mapped to the SKU level. How does Walmart+ membership amplify the quality and fidelity of that first-party data signal — and how should CPG brands be thinking about activating against it differently than they do with non-member data?Before running Walmart+, you led the VP/GM role for Customer Digital Identity and Data Platform at Walmart. How does a logged-in, identified Walmart+ member change the economics of the digital shelf for CPG brands, particularly as agentic commerce and AI-powered discovery reshape how shoppers find products?The honest question your CPG audience wants answered: when brand partners think about their joint value creation with Walmart, how should they be weighting Walmart+ member households versus non-member households in their investment strategies? Is the gap in lifetime value as dramatic as what your major online competition has seen with their loyalty subscription program?The addition of Peacock to Walmart+‘s streaming choices drove a record number of sign-ups in Q3. What does entertainment engagement tell you about a member's overall relationship with the Walmart ecosystem — and does streaming behavior surface any insights that CPG partners can act on?Walmart Connect grew 33% in the U.S. last quarter, representing, along with membership fees, about a third of Walmart's operating income . How tight is the integration between Walmart+ membership data and the Walmart Connect advertising platform — and what does that mean for a CPG brand trying to close the loop from impression to in-store purchase?Walmart tested its first advertising formats tied to the Sparky AI shopping agent in fall 2025, with 81% of surveyed Walmart customers saying they'd used Sparky to check product availability and review specs before buying . How do you think about Walmart+ membership as a foundation for agentic shopping — and what does that mean for how CPG brands show up in those AI-mediated discovery moments?Walmart has publicly highlighted share gains with upper-income households as a strategic priority. Does Walmart+ skew toward those households — and if so, what does that mean for premium CPG brands that may have historically underinvested at Walmart?You ran Fire TV, Alexa Skills, and Amazon Music — all businesses that lived at the intersection of media, identity, and commerce. What's the most important thing you brought from that Amazon experience that directly shaped how you're building Walmart+?Walmart+ is five years old. If you fast-forward five more years, what does the relationship between Walmart+ membership and CPG brand investment look like — and what should brand and agency leaders be doing right now to position themselves for that future?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Gen Z's love affair with thrifting is real. We dive into the appeal of one-of-a-kind finds and the growing movement toward eco-friendly, secondhand style with the founders of the monthly vintage clothing market Drop Soda Vintage Market and a sustainability specialist at WashU.

Chinese consumer sentiment isn't collapsing across the board, but retail sales growth is projected to hit a four-year low. While big-ticket categories like home appliances and autos crumble under subsidy fatigue, highly resilient segments are holding ground, particularly cosmetics, luxury, and premium sportswear. In e-commerce, Alibaba and rival giants are locked in a margin-crushing battle over agentic AI to capture shrinking wallets. Catherine Lim, APAC head of Bloomberg Intelligence and senior consumer and technology analyst, joins John Lee to unpack her latest retail survey. Catherine reveals exactly where the wealthy plan to spend next -- which players, like Laopu Gold, are winning over shoppers, and how AI agents are reshaping the digital marketplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Being on Shopify means you get access to agentic automatically, out of the box." Your store is already selling inside ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Shop, whether you've noticed or not. Aaron Glazer, Director of Product at Shopify, joins Kurt to explain Agentic Storefronts, the new Admin experience that finally makes that presence visible and controllable. The buyer behavior has already shifted. Shoppers now have long conversations with an AI about a whole use case, a camping trip, a problem, a gift, and arrive at your store already sold. Agentic Storefronts shows you the traffic, sales, and conversions from each AI channel, plus the real queries surfacing your products, so you can see where you rank and where you don't. Aaron and Kurt get into why this is the new SEO, why complete product data is the whole game, how Shopify Catalog structures your catalog for agents, what native checkout in an AI channel actually means, and why you stay the merchant of record with the customer relationship intact. Plus a bonus on Rollouts and SimGem heading into BFCM. SPONSORS Swym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & more getswym.com/kurt Cleverific - Smart order editing for Shopify cleverific.com Zipify - Build high-converting sales funnels zipify.com/KURT LINKS Agentic Storefronts: Shopify Admin > Agentic Storefronts (left nav) Shopify Catalog (for developers): build on the product discovery API Rollouts and SimGem: in Shopify Admin WORK WITH KURT Apply for Shopify Help ethercycle.com/apply See Our Results ethercycle.com/work Free Newsletter kurtelster.com The Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

This is the evening All Local for July 13th, 2026.

Send us Fan MailWhat's really happening in your sales offices when you're not there? Leah Turner, national sales coach and trainer at Melinda Brody & Company, is back on the show for the 40th anniversary year of one of the most unique research studies in new home sales. In this episode, she and Anya Chrisanthon dig into the 2025 Annual Benchmark Report - and what the data reveals about where sales teams are winning and where they're still leaving sales on the table. Listen to a previous episode with Leah here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secrets-to-successful-realtor-engagement-with-leah/id1602564768?i=1000623849874What video mystery shopping actually looks like Shoppers walk into your sales office with a hidden camera. The full interaction is recorded, scored, and sent to the sales manager. But what makes Melinda Brody & Company different is the one-on-one call before the shop - where the shopper is briefed on the specific challenges that sales manager wants to address. It's not a gotcha. It's a baseline.The builder story gap - still Only 49% of sales associates shared the builder story in 2025. Leah says the problem isn't awareness - it's the introduction. Salespeople don't know how to bring it up naturally. Her fix: start with "Have you ever built a new home before?" and let the answer lead you in. And whatever you do - say the builder's name. One associate described the warranty, the quality, and the energy efficiency for several minutes and never once said who the builder was.The model demo jump From 84% to 95% in one year. The biggest shift Leah has seen: top producers are bypassing the sales office entirely and taking buyers straight into the model. Into the kitchen. Let them walk. Join them. The forced "sit down in the sales office first" approach was raising everyone's anxiety - including the salesperson's.Closing is not a moment - it's the whole presentation Closing sits at 52%. Leah's take: salespeople treat closing like something that happens at the end, which makes it terrifying. If you ask "what's important to you in a home, a homesite, a builder, a community?" upfront - and customize everything around those answers - the close at the end is just a natural next step. You've earned the right to ask.The buyers walking in today are already qualified Buyers use technology to disqualify. If they made it through the research phase and walked into your sales office, they are interested. They are a hot lead. As Leah puts it - they're more like a B-back than a first-time visitor. Treat them that way.Follow-up jumped from 51% to 67% Technology and CRMs are helping. But Leah's warning: generic follow-up is worse than no follow-up. If your message is "thanks for coming out, call me if you have questions" - don't bother. Make it specific. Make it memorable. Reference something real from the presentation. Better yet - shoot a 30-second video of yourself.The cringiest things caught on camera Smoking cigarettes on the home site. Painting fingernails. Eating lunch. Not standing up when a prospect walks in. And the shift Leah has seen over the last ten years: top performers now ask to be video shopped. They want to see themselves. They want to improve.Connect with Leah: leah.turner@melindabrody.com Connect with Ben Marks: ben.marks@melindabrody.com Melinda Brody & Company on LinkedIn and FacebookAbout Anewgo Anewgo is an all-in-one new home sales and marketing platform. We equip builders with AI-ready homebuilder websites, interactive design tools, floorplans, sitemaps, AI Sales Assistants, and data analytics to create personalized buyer journeys. Learn more at anewgo.com or find every episode at anewgo.com/podcast.Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anewgo-of-new-home-sales/id1602564768

Host Paul Spain is joined by Ben Rose, Head of Financial Services at AA New Zealand. Together they discuss lessons from Money20/20 Bangkok, the rise of agentic commerce, stablecoins, digital finance and how AI is transforming financial services.They also delve into the latest tech news including:Google Maps' new Māori pronunciation updateTesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) v14 arrives in New ZealandUK High Court backs police use of live facial recognition.AI helps uncover a major vulnerability in ticketing platformNZ company CarbonScape secures investment and partnership with CATLInvest NZ's ambitions for large-scale data centre investmentThanks to our partners: Fortinet, One NZ, Workday, 2degrees, Spark, PwC New Zealand, and Gorilla Technology.

Thanks to these dudes for chatting. Sorry I was low on sleep and appear kinda tired!

Shoppers don't remember what they bought—they remember the experience around it. Macy's Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer Sharon Otterman explains how the retailer is shifting from one-off transactions to "retailtainment": in-store activations, engraving stations and immersive events tied to moments like prom, Father's Day and an upcoming 50th annual July 4th fireworks. She also breaks down how the team tests new activations in select stores before scaling fleet-wide, and the media mix modeling and attribution tools shaping where marketing budget goes. Dig deeper ~Macy's launches creative agency review ahead of 100th Thanksgiving Parade ~Macy's celebrates summer in its first campaign from new CMO and agency ~Opinion: How CMOs can prove their growth impact—the metrics that matter ~Inside Pacsun and LAFC's playbook for building a culturally relevant sports partnership

PJ hears how businesses are seeing a real turnaround in City Centre security, learns how Ringmahon Rangers had to concede a walkover, hears how the VQ are putting on a photography competition. And more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most brands still evaluate enterprise Shopify on license cost. The operators in this conversation evaluate it on opportunity cost, and that reframe changes the whole decision.Rick Watson opens a three-part series on the business case for enterprise Shopify with three people who have actually run the migration. Elara Verrett, Chief Digital and Customer Officer at Reitmans made the move to get closer to the customer without standing up an army of engineers. Renee Halverson, CMO at Marine Layer, has run on the platform for more than a decade and scaled the brand without hiring a CTO to babysit the stack. Scott Lux, VP of Digital Commerce at Stanley 1913, came from the Salesforce and Demandware world and now uses Shopify to survive high-heat drops, where the only question that matters is how many orders per minute the platform can clear.The number that came up: one brand cut its tech partner count from 40 to 10. The argument underneath it: a fashion retailer's core competency is retailing, not running a development shop.It isn't all upside. Scott's warning is blunt. The front end is nimble, but the downstream integrations into OMS and ERP are where "easy" goes to die, so pressure test them before anyone signs. Lara's warning is about people, not software. The agility is real, and most large organizations are not built to absorb it.One point they all landed on, and it cuts against instinct: standardization beats customization where it counts. Checkout is the example. Shoppers trust the flow they already know, and rebuilding it rarely pays for itself.The Big Green Bag Of Promise: Enterprise Shopify Webinar Series is sponsored by Avalara, Domaine, and Pattern.

Keir Starmer resigns as UK Prime Minister and Labour Leader. Dana exposes Starmer's political successor's even more socialist view points. A ridiculous Algerian sports analyst claims Lionel Messi is protected by the Jewish lobby. The EU chants “SEND THEM BACK” in a remarkable vote over migrant returns. Shoppers across the country lined up outside Trader Joe's after the grocery chain released a new $2.99 tote bag. An American Olympic canoeist is arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Iran pulls a 180 on one of the MOU agreements. Was J.D. Vance snubbed by the Qatari Prime Minister? Plus more, commentary.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…Concerned Women For Americahttps://ConcernedWomen.org/DanaFor a donation of $20 or more, Concerned Women of America  will send you their book: A Woman's Guide: Seven Rules for Success in Business and Life.  Ghost Bedhttps://GhostBed.com/DANAGhostBed has the cooling luxury mattress you need for the best summer sleep. Use code DANA for an extra 10% off sitewide.Jones Road Beautyhttps://JonesRoadBeauty.comGet a Free Full Size Mascara with first purchase using code DANA.Webroothttps://Webroot.com/DanaMake the switch and feel the difference of truly fast, modern antivirus protection — for a limited time, you can save 60% with code DANARelief Factorhttps://ReliefFactor.comDeclare your independence from pain with Relief Factor—start the 3-Week QuickStart for just $17.76Prebornhttps://PreBorn.com/DanaDonate today to help another Mother and Father experience hope. $28 sponsors one ultrasound and can help save a baby's life. Or Dial  #250 and say BABYByrnahttps://Byrna.com/DanaTrusted by law enforcement, security professionals, and everyday Americans—defend yourself and your family with Byrna.HumanNhttps://Humann.com/DanaSave $5 on HumanN Cholesterol Health Daily at Sam's Club. Head to your local Sam's Club and do more to support your cholesterol health with the science-first brand. Patriot Mobilehttp://PatriotMobile.com/DANAVisit online or call 972-PATRIOT and use promo code DANA for a FREE month of service.Pocket HoseText DANA to 64000For a limited time, get two FREE gifts—a 360° rotating pocket pivot and thumb drive nozzle when you buy a new Pocket Hose Ballistic; just text DANA to 64000, message and data rates may apply.Subscribe today and stay in the loop on all things news with The Dana Show. Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramXMore InfoWebsite

Retail sales are rising, but retail stocks are struggling. What gives? Join Barron's Live for a deep dive into the consumer economy and retailing business, and a discussion of retail stocks. Senior Managing Editor Lauren R. Rublin speaks with Dana Telsey, an award-winning retail analyst and founder of Telsey Advisory Group, and Senior Writer Teresa Rivas, who covers Walmart, Costco, Tapestry, and other retail industry leaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Walmart's decision to open Walmart.com to shoppers in Mexico and what it means for the future of global marketplaces. Chris Walton and Ben Miller discuss cross-border commerce, international marketplace growth, pricing transparency, and why Walmart continues to make bold investments in long-term growth opportunities. The conversation also examines operational challenges, customer experience concerns, and how Walmart's marketplace ambitions compare to other global retail giants. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/toy5NmyXau4

Every now and then, I like to hop into the wayback machine and share a fresh listen to conversations that influenced our current times. The one you are going to register to today was recorded live in 2014 from DIEM, Design Intersects Everything Made symposium presented by the West Hollywood Design District featuring Frances Anderton, then with KCRW ad Jeff Denby, co-founder and then with Pact. A clothing brand you will be hearing more about.  The following conversation was focused on values based capitalism, an economic model with which places value on profit generation that also generates positive social impact. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise. TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation As you listen to this chat between Frances and Jeff, you might notice the “feel-good” vibes and high ideals that come from a focus on values based consumerism patterns. Buy well-made products that come from sustainably based materials and made by people who are valued to those producing the products and then by those who buy the product. At the time of this recording, this idea was catching on and even now, companies that have a value-system connected directly to products speak openly about the social capital being generated. I would argue we hear far less now because sustainability has been linked politically to DEI, and there is a group of people who see that has more of a social ill, than a societal benefit. I'm not here to change any minds, only share different perspectives. And this is one worth sharing with the hope that it will make a return, not just in fashion or consumer packaged goods, but in the home decor and architectural materials sectors. Consumer Awareness Evolution How Whole Foods and the food industry educated consumers about product origins. Extension of that curiosity to body care and apparel: understanding what goes on the skin and into daily wear. The role of design in making sustainable products attractive and desirable. Philanthropy and Social Impact Early collaborations with nonprofits through limited-edition collections and direct aid. Shift toward improving the lives of workers within the supply chain. Emphasis on economic, environmental, and social impact as part of the business model. Challenges of Domestic Manufacturing Difficulties of reviving large-scale apparel production domestically, including labor costs, fractured supply chains, and compliance issues. Comparison with global supply chains and the decision to work where systems already exist. Insights from attempts at localized production and the challenges of sustainable sourcing. Product Expansion and Market Strategy Focus on apparel basics for the emerging generation of socially conscious consumers. Building a generational brand by appealing to evolving values. Commitment to price accessibility while maintaining sustainability and ethical production. Supply Chain Ethics and Certification Working exclusively with certified factories and farms to ensure fair labor practices. Ensuring worker protections and representation, including female supervisors. Direct engagement with farmers and supply chain partners to secure market access and stability. Sustainability and Waste Management Recycling factory scraps and leftover materials into new products. Finding secondary uses for garment remnants, including mattress filling. Factories incentivized to reduce waste as part of both economic and environmental sustainability. Consumer Education and Transparency Educating customers about the human and environmental story behind clothing. Leveraging social media, coalition branding, and events to communicate supply chain practices. Positioning Pact as a non-toxic apparel brand with safe-for-skin products. Research and Industry Collaboration Participation in textile and sustainability coalitions with like-minded brands. Supporting the growth of organic cotton farming and sustainable supply chains. Promoting transparency in manufacturing practices and educating the public on chemical exposure in conventional apparel. Ethical apparel requires intentional design, transparent supply chains, and collaboration across the industry. Consumers increasingly demand products that are safe, well-designed, and socially responsible. Philanthropy is most effective when integrated into the core business, benefiting both workers and communities. Scaling sustainability in mass-market apparel is challenging but possible with careful planning, partnerships, and public education. Conscious Basics: How Textiles Can Be Ethical, Sustainable, and Stylish In an era when consumers increasingly demand transparency and ethical responsibility, Pact is reshaping the apparel industry by marrying sustainability, social impact, and thoughtful design. Co-founder Jeff Denby spoke with Frances Anderton in 2014 about the philosophy behind the brand, tracing a journey from organic cotton farms in India to certified factories in Turkey, all with the goal of delivering high-quality, accessible clothing that respects both people and the planet. Denby notes that consumer awareness has evolved in stages. Shoppers first became curious about food origins, learning that groceries come from farms, not just shelves. This consciousness extended to body care products, as people began asking what they were putting on their skin. Apparel is the next frontier. “People want to know what they're wearing every day,” Denby explains. “They want products that are beautifully designed, sustainable, and safe, without having to reinvent what underwear or socks should look like.” Early in Pact's history, the company experimented with philanthropic partnerships, designing collections that supported nonprofit causes. These initiatives provided aid to communities abroad, from distributing lanterns in Haiti to rebuilding community centers in Japan. However, Denby realized the brand could make a deeper impact by focusing inward—supporting the lives of the workers who create the products. By investing in stable, ethical supply chains, Pact achieves a triple bottom line: economic, social, and environmental benefits. Reviving large-scale apparel manufacturing in the United States proved impractical for Pact. Labor costs, fractured supply chains, and limited domestic processing infrastructure made it impossible to produce affordable basics at scale. Instead, the brand partnered with existing factories abroad, ensuring they meet strict certifications such as the Global Organic Textile Standard. Denby emphasizes that these certifications guarantee fair labor practices, gender equity, and safe working conditions—factors often overlooked in conventional apparel production. Beyond ethical sourcing, Pact prioritizes product safety and environmental responsibility. Cotton cultivation and traditional textile processing can involve significant pesticide use and harmful chemicals. Pact works with organic cotton farmers and certified dye houses, eliminating heavy metals and carcinogens from their products. Waste management is also integral; leftover yarn and fabrics are recycled into new garments or repurposed for other industries, demonstrating that sustainability extends from field to factory to finished product. Denby envisions Pact as the “basics brand for the change generation,” appealing to consumers who value ethics, transparency, and design. The brand is part of a coalition with other sustainable apparel companies, collaborating to secure fair market access for farmers, grow organic cotton production, and educate the public on the human stories behind clothing. Social media and events provide direct channels to communicate these values, allowing consumers to engage with the brand and understand the people and processes behind the garments they wear. For Pact, the mission goes beyond selling clothing. It is about proving that everyday apparel can be ethical, well-designed, and accessible, while creating meaningful social impact. By integrating philanthropy, sustainability, and consumer education into the business model, Pact is showing that the basics—underwear, socks, and t-shirts—can carry a powerful message: that fashion can be responsible, thoughtful, and inclusive.

What if your biggest mattress sale strategy is actually scaring away Gen X buyers with the most money? The data says it's true. Here's why.Are your mattress marketing tactics stuck in the past? In this episode, Mark Kinsley sits down with Nicole Bergen of Elevate—one of the sleep industry's top consumer research experts—to reveal the hidden disconnect between what retailers think works and what actually matters to today's most powerful buyers: Gen X.Nicole shares eye-opening data from thousands of consumer interviews, exposing why relentless discounting and “NASCAR” promos don't work on shoppers aged 45-55. Instead, assurance and trust—like comfort guarantees and real customer reviews—win the sale. You'll learn why most brands overlook Gen X, despite their massive buying power, and how failing to update your playbook means losing sales to online giants.Ever wondered why your brand awareness is high but conversions are low? Nicole decodes the essential marketing funnel—attention, education, offer—and reveals the number one mistake retailers make (and how you can fix it with a simple brand health “timeout”).If you've ever struggled to connect with skeptical, research-driven customers or feared you're wasting ad dollars, this episode gives you the playbook to pivot. Plus: actionable tips for leveraging data, optimizing for generative AI, and turning happy buyers into raving ambassadors.Timestamps:- 01:35 – The hidden problem with mattress marketing: why Gen X tunes out- 04:30 – How relentless promos are killing in-store joy (and trust)- 06:58 – The power of assurance: Why guarantees beat discounts for big-ticket buyers- 09:40 – “Top of funnel” secrets: What attracts attention in 2024- 12:50 – Why your ad recall is broken (and how to fix it)- 17:55 – The market-by-market myth: Why what works in Cincinnati fails in Houston- 21:15 – The “Timeout Playbook” for brand clarity (and avoiding costly mistakes)- 27:40 – Data traps: The ROAS lie and how to spot media waste- 31:20 – Unlocking Gen X: Winning strategies for the new power buyer- 36:45 – Problem-agitate-solution: Messaging that turns skeptics into buyersConnect with The FAM Podcast:

Jim McTague reports on consumer behavior at a Costco in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, following Memorial Dayweekend. He observes that despite a significant drop in gas prices, the store remained unusually empty. McTaguesuggests that shoppers are becoming increasingly budget-conscious and picky, intentionally reducing their consumption costs even as the holiday rush subsides.1945 PENNSYLVANIA