Retail Corner: New Normal in Retail Technology & Business
A deeply informative podcast on New Normal in Retail Industry. We cover current retail landscape, best of breed products and retail business best practices. Tune in to listen to retail experts and community thinkers on retail industries current trajectory as well as future projections.
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Episodes
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Make sure you catch this installment of Retail Corner, featuring Tyler Renaghan, Vice President of Retail at Upside, as he highlights the significance of personalization in the retail industry. Tyler also provides expert advice to help retailers optimize their ad spending for maximum returns. You will listen to our guest host talking with Tyler on the following points:
What is ROAS (Return On Ad Spend), and why do retailers use it today? Pros and Cons.
Common pitfalls or mistakes retailers make when trying to improve their ROAS and how to avoid them?
How is personalization different from targeting and customer segmentation?
What Role does personalization play in improving performance metrics? Any best practices?
What are emerging trends and technologies in the ad space that can help retailers achieve better performance metrics?
How can Marketing and Finance stakeholders shift their strategy to measure their efforts more effectively?
About our guest, Tyler Renaghan:
Tyler is a business development leader with over 15 years of experience in identifying new segment opportunities, developing high-performing sales teams, and elevating company profiles with target markets. As Vice President of Grocery, he is responsible for developing the go-to-market strategies that drive merchant adoption and continued growth through our retail partners on the Upside platform. Prior to joining Upside, held critical leadership roles at Instacart and Groupon.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renaghan/
Website: https://www.upside.com
About Retail Corner Podcast:
Host: Cole Koumalats
Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate
Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360
Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast
or https://retailcorner.live
Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1
Interested in being on our podcast?
Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Don't miss out on this episode of Retail Corner, where Umesh Sripad, Chief Product Officer at PureRED, reveals priceless insights into how the integration of AI and cutting-edge technologies is reshaping consumer behavior, paving the way for a bright and promising future in the retail industry. You will listen to our host talking with Umesh on the following points:
Would you mind shedding some light on your professional background and the valuable experiences you've had while collaborating with renowned companies such as IKEA?
How have you observed consumer behavior change in the retail industry in recent years?
In your opinion, what key factors drive the changing consumer behavior in the retail industry? How do you see technology, particularly AI, playing a role in this shift?
Could you share any successful strategies or initiatives that retailers have implemented to adapt to changing consumer behavior? How has technology, such as AI, been utilized in these strategies?
How do you envision the future of retail with the continued integration of AI and other advanced technologies? What are some potential opportunities and challenges that retailers might face? - How do you think the role of physical stores will evolve with the rise of AI and e-commerce?
Can you share any examples of retailers successfully leveraging AI-powered chatbots or virtual assistants to enhance customer service and engagement?
About our guest, Umesh Sripad:
Umesh Sripad is a C-level executive, high-energy agile leader, dynamic business strategist, and growth driver with a passion for digital technologies, product innovation, data & insights, and creating compelling consumer brand experiences. He is passionate about leading and shaping teams and individuals to achieve personal and commercial success to surpass business ambitions. He has pioneered multiple successes in transforming business models across various industries – Retail, e-commerce, Media, Advertising tech, and Consumer tech.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umeshsripad/
Website: https://www.umeshsripad.com/ | https://www.purered.net/
About Retail Corner Podcast:
Host: Carlos Diaz
Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate
Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360
Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast
or https://retailcorner.live
Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1
Interested in being on our podcast?
Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Tune in to this episode of Retail Corner as Amy Alabaster, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at UPPAbaby, shares invaluable insights. Drawing from the D2C playbook, she delves into the world of winning strategies and the challenges involved in crafting a victorious brand. You will listen to our host talking with Amy on the following points:
Could you give the audience some insights into your background, roles, and responsibilities as the Senior Vice President of Global Sales at UPPAbaby?
Considering the changing retail landscape and disruptive trends, how do you define what makes a brand successful in today's market?
Can you discuss the shift from a wholesale-focused distribution model to incorporating direct-to-consumer channels for your brand? What were the key factors that influenced this decision?
What role does advocacy play in building a brand, and how do you approach creating non-advertising-driven brand awareness and loyalty?
Could you explain the difference between grassroots initiatives and paid advertising in terms of brand promotion? Which approach do you find more impactful, and why?
What are the key challenges and opportunities in the current brand management landscape, and how do you stay ahead of the curve in such a dynamic industry?
How important is mentorship in your life? Has there been a specific individual who has greatly influenced you? What advice would you offer to someone who is embarking on their career journey?
About our guest, Amy Alabaster:
Amy Alabaster, Senior Vice President of Global Sales for UPPAbaby, brings more than two decades of leadership experience in the luxury lifestyle and retail goods space. A graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business with a concentration in sales and marketing, Amy has focused her career path on her ultimate passion: building brands with purpose and leading teams through vision. Prior to joining UPPAbaby, Amy held executive roles at fast-growing consumer brands such as Shinola, an American lifestyle brand known for its watches and leather goods, and ViewPoint, a full-service sales and marketing division for many prestigious designer collections.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-alabaster/
Website: https://uppababy.com/
About Retail Corner Podcast:
Host: Carlos Diaz
Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate
Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360
Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast
or https://retailcorner.live
Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1
Interested in being on our podcast?
Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Listen to Julie Vargas, VP/General Manager of Avery Dennison, in this episode of Retail Corner on how RFID is transforming retail operations and enhancing customer experiences. You will listen to our host talking with Julie on the following points:
Could you give the audience some insights into your background, roles, and responsibilities as the Vice President and General Manager of Identification Solutions at Avery Dennison?
As a market expert, how have you seen sustainability initiatives shape the journey of businesses in recent years? - Frictionless retail has gained popularity in recent years. How can automation and inventory management contribute to a more sustainable approach in this context?
Consumer food waste and recalls are pressing issues. How can technologies like RFID be applied to address these challenges and reduce waste in the food industry?
Cost reduction is a common goal for businesses. How can implementing sustainability plans, particularly in tackling food waste, help retailers save money while also benefiting the environment?
Regarding the application of RFID technology, do you have an opinion on where items in the food supply chain should be tagged to maximize efficiency and traceability?
Looking ahead, what do you see as the next steps for RFID technology in the context of sustainability, and how should we navigate those developments in the coming years?
About our guest, Julie Vargas:
Julie Vargas leads the North American Identification Solutions team for the food and logistics sector at Avery Dennison, where RFID is building new capabilities for supply-chain traceability, inventory optimization, and convenience retail. Her team drives accelerated market adoption and integrated, scale US-based manufacturing for automation and identification solutions across food service, grocery, and supply chains.
Julie has spent the last decade at the intersection of digital and physical retail. As Director of Digital Solutions, she led brand and retail partnerships in on-product innovation and helped shape the vision for the “Internet of Clothing”. Julie has also partnered with apparel and footwear retailers and brands to implement innovative RFID strategies. Prior to joining Avery Dennison, Julie led product and business development for interactive RFID experiences in Latin America and was a senior analyst at Coach, where she helped launch the buy online/pickup in-store program.
Julie has shared her expertise at global events, including SXSW, the Economist Feeding the Future, Greenbiz VERGE, the GS1 Digital Convergence Forum, PI Apparel, RFID Journal, the Internet of Things Summit, and Summit Latin America. She holds a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julierodgersvargas/
Website: https://www.identificationsolutions.averydennison.com
About Retail Corner Podcast:
Host: Cole Koumalats
Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate
Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360
Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast
or https://retailcorner.live
Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1
Interested in being on our podcast?
Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Listen to Justin Chen, co-founder of Pickfu, in this episode of Retail Corner on consumer perceptions. You will listen to our host talking with Justin on the following points:
Can you explain the process of incorporating consumer feedback to improve product selection and packaging designs? How do you gather and analyze this feedback, and what steps do you take to implement changes based on it?
How do you utilize competitive analysis to understand what shoppers want? Can you describe the steps you take to conduct a competitive analysis, and how you use the insights to develop and deliver products that meet customer preferences?
When it comes to optimizing product listings on platforms like Amazon, what strategies do you employ from top to bottom? How do you optimize product titles, descriptions, images, and A+ Content to maximize sales and session rates?
Can you share your approach to launching products on other e-commerce marketplaces like Walmart and eBay? How do you gather targeted consumer insights specific to these platforms, and how do you use those insights to ensure a successful launch?
In your experience, how have you managed to increase click-through rates (CTR) by 12% with just a single image change? Can you explain the process you followed and the factors you considered when selecting or modifying images to achieve such results?
Have you conducted any experiments that led to higher conversion rates? Can you share some examples and discuss how you structured and executed these experiments and the outcomes you achieved?
About our guest, Justin Chen:
Justin Chen is the co-founder of PickFu, a polling platform anyone can use to get fast, reliable feedback from real people. Justin built PickFu with co-founder and college classmate John Li to use in their first business venture. People and businesses worldwide now rely on PickFu to help them make better, data-driven decisions, faster. He has a BS in electrical engineering and computer science from UC Berkeley and an MS in engineering management from Santa Clara University. A firm believer in remote work, Justin braves Los Angeles traffic daily to shuttle his kids between school and activities.
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/justinchen
Website: https://www.pickfu.com
About Retail Corner Podcast:
Host: Carlos Diaz
Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate
Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360
Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast
or https://retailcorner.live
Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1
Interested in being on our podcast?
Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Listen to Chris Gerbig, co-founder and president of Pink Lily, in this episode of Retail Corner on how to focus on growing the brand naturally. The story of Pink Lily is very inspiring and a must for entrepreneurs to get some insights. You will listen to our host talking with Chris on the following points:
Would you mind sharing a bit about your background with the audience and how Pink Lily came to be?
How did Pink Lily manage to achieve $4 million in sales within its first year of launching? What strategies or factors contributed to its rapid growth and profitability?
How has technology influenced the fashion and retail industries, and what specific advancements have had the most significant impact?
Can you explain the role of retail e-commerce in the fashion industry, and how companies can leverage data to derive meaningful insights for their businesses?
When considering the impact of social media on a brand, what are some key benefits that come from integrating brand ambassadors into the business model?
Looking ahead, what trends do you foresee in the fashion and retail industries, both in terms of technology adoption and consumer behavior?
About our guest, Chris Gerbig:
As a self-proclaimed business and finance nerd, Chris Gerbig’s professional journey started as you might expect. He earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from Western Kentucky University, then spent nearly a decade in personal finance and banking, corporate finance, and global supply chain management for companies that include Bank of America, Fruit of the Loom, and Dollar General Corporation. But he became tired of corporate America, wanting more time with his family and fewer hours spent in a cubicle. Simultaneously, as he and his wife, Tori, began selling items on online marketplaces to pay off student loans, inspiration struck, and they decided to take a risk.
In 2014, the two founded Pink Lily to bring women an ever-changing assortment of apparel, footwear, and accessories, and the lifestyle brand quickly became one of the fastest-growing online retailers in America. In the years since, Pink Lily has continued to bring fashion, positivity, and community to its customers as a family-owned and family-run business. As president, Chris is responsible for finance/accounting, recruiting, IT, operations, supply chain, and legal. Even while working full-time at Pink Lily, Chris also completed his MBA at Tennessee Technological University, graduating magna cum laude.
Chris is most proud of profitably growing a side hustle into a mega lifestyle brand without any outside funding or investments. To date, Pink Lily has sold over $200,000,000 worth of products online, and Chris has invested in and managed over 120,000 square feet of real estate. These accomplishments have earned him a spot on the Inc. 5000 list three times. Chris has a wealth of experience, education, and real-life knowledge that he loves to share with other aspiring entrepreneurs. He has written multiple articles for Forbes' Business Development Council. He is open to speaking engagements on business and entrepreneurship topics such as e-commerce, startups, finance, technology, and real estate.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gerbig-mba-a1a68451/
Website: https://pinklily.com/
About Retail Corner Podcast:
Host: Carlos Diaz
Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate
Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360
Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast
or https://retailcorner.live
Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1
Interested in being on our podcast?
Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Listen to Kiera Ganann, a seasoned merchandising and commercial executive, in this episode of Retail Corner, focusing on various retail aspects that drive brand loyalty, from product innovation to consumer expectations. You will listen to our host talking with Kiera on the following points:
Could you provide the audience with some insights into your background and your roles and responsibilities as the Chief Commercial Officer at Bolt Threads?
How can companies effectively engage consumers through their products and experiences to build brand loyalty?
What strategies can businesses employ to create regional or customized assortments that cater to diverse consumer preferences?
In what ways can brands express their power and values through their products and in-store experiences to create a memorable and impactful brand image?
What are some key considerations for brands looking to improve their direct-to-consumer (DTC) business and leverage wholesale partnerships simultaneously?
About our guest, Kiera Ganann:
Kiera Ganann has over 25 years of experience in the apparel and accessories industry, leading sales and merchandising teams for large global brands. She currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer for Bolt Threads, where she leads the sales and marketing teams for the biomaterials company focused on mycelium-based leather, Mylo.
Prior to joining Bolt, she established a global merchandising function for Connect Fitness Company, iFIT, owner of NordicTrack and Proform, among many other fitness brands. Previously, she was the VP of Merchandising for Levi Strauss Americas, where she led wholesale and retail merchandising teams across all categories and genders. Before that, she held various leadership positions in sales and merchandising at Ralph Lauren in the men’s and women’s wholesale divisions.
Ganann serves on the Board of Directors for the Fashion Scholarship Fund and has a strong understanding of consumers around the globe as well as a passion for products.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieraganann/
About Retail Corner Podcast:
Host: Carlos Diaz
Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate
Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360
Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast
or https://retailcorner.live
Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1
Interested in being on our podcast?
Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
In this episode of Retail Corner, listen to Bradford and Bryan Manning, Co-founders of Two Blind Brothers, as they share their life stories and discuss their philanthropic entrepreneurial journey while being blind. Their mission is to help the blind community by donating 100% of their profits back to research for eye disease through the Foundation Fighting Blindness. You will listen to our host talking with Bradford and Bryan on the following points:
Could you provide some insight into your personal backgrounds and what motivated you guys to establish the company, Two Blind Brothers?
Can you share an overview of your company's mission and the approach you are taking to cure blindness?
What are some of the biggest challenges or obstacles your team has encountered since the company was founded in 2015?
What kind of support or partnerships do you seek from the public, government bodies, or philanthropic organizations to further advance your mission?
Can you share any inspiring stories or testimonials from individuals who have benefited from your company's efforts to restore vision?
About our guests, Bradford and Bryan Manning:
Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing and accessories company that donates 100% of its profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition inspired a special attention to details, a passion that carries over into the construction of their products. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch."
Linkedin:
Bryan Manning: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-manning-0b390070/
Bradford Manning: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradford-manning-0b7b3139/
Website: https://twoblindbrothers.com/
About Retail Corner Podcast:
Host: Carlos Diaz
Producer: Sachin Kumar Bhate
Podcast Sponsor: Proxima360
Listen to other podcasts at: https://proxima360.com/retail-corner.podcast or https://retailcorner.live
Subscribe our Podcast: Apple iTunes: https://apple.co/3eoeUdT
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3dvjpDJ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3DFHXHw
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3tkbhk1
Interested in being on our podcast?
Submit request at: podcast@retailcorner.live