The Modern Retail Podcast

This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, special projects editor Melissa Daniels sits down with David's Bridal CEO Kelly Cook to go behind the scenes of the company's post-bankruptcy turnaround plan. The roughly 76-year-old U.S. retailer is known for its wedding gowns and formalwear. But it’s had a challenging time staying solvent in recent years and filed for Chapter 11 in November 2018, and again in April 2023. The company's retail footprint has gone from more than 300 stores to around 150 today. Cook took on the CEO role about one year ago and has shepherded changes under the "Aisle to Algorithm" transformation plan to help reposition the company as a digitally driven brand that offers more than just gown sales, including wedding planning assistance through its Pearl Planner service. Their conversation gets into: How AI is helping David's reposition itself, establish internal efficiencies to acquire customers The in-store upgrades it's making to provide a more omnichannel experience The morale and culture challenges a business faces after filing for bankruptcy

On this week’s Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporter Gabi Barkho delves into the growing phenomenon of AI-generated review summaries.It’s one of the many ways generative AI is already impacting the way people discover products and shop online. These summaries are not only changing the way chatbots talk about products, they’re also pushing brands and marketers to navigate customer reviews differently.In this episode, Barkho is joined by Dawn Hilarczyk, chief operating officer at Borghese, and Nick Lafferty, who leads growth marketing at Profound. Hilarczyk and Lafferty break down the following: How AI-generated customer reviews are condensed and spread by AI search engines like Gemini, ChatGPT and Rufus.  Why bot-written summaries decontextualize product descriptions and features.  What brands can do to better control the way their customer reviews show up in summaries.

They spot 2026’s standout trends: high-protein and fiber-forward products, and protein-filled sparkling drinks. Convenience rules with sachets, shots and portable formats replacing giant tubs. Functional coffees and creatine-infused morning routines are rising. The MAHA movement reshapes ingredient choices, boosting alternatives like beef tallow and cleaner sweeteners.

Kris Malkoski, president of learning and development at Newell Brands, oversees brands like Graco and Sharpie. He discusses tariff planning and inventory moves to avoid disruptions. He explains how AI builds virtual personas and predicts price tolerance. He describes teamwork across product, packaging, and retail partners to test assortments and boost sales.

Discussion of how AI is changing marketing workflows and creative production. Examples of AI handling retouching, chatbots, and ad-platform tools are explored. Conversation about risks of AI-generated site content affecting search visibility. Debate over balancing AI efficiency with maintaining human-driven brand trust.

A fast breakdown of the Supreme Court ruling that struck down sweeping tariffs and how that legal reasoning unfolded. Discussion about whether companies can recoup tariffs paid and the messy logistics behind refunds. Exploration of how tariff threats have reshaped supply chains and whether firms will reverse nearshoring moves. A look at immediate port, inventory and trade-watch items to follow next.

Nate Checketts, co-founder and CEO of Rhone, a performance lifestyle apparel brand. Melissa Mash, co-founder and CEO of Dagne Dover, a functional design-forward bag brand. They unpack DTC 3.0 as a post-COVID, omni-channel, audience-first approach. They reflect on early DTC roots, fundraising choices, the role of physical retail, and why slow, profitable growth and storytelling matter more than quick-scale playbooks.

Julia Waldo, senior reporter covering retail and brand activations, breaks down how brands lean into pop-ups, concerts and IRL experiences around the Super Bowl. Short takes on pop-up culture, memorable activations like Cheez-It, large-scale stunts from Levi's and how activations reach new audiences. Conversations cover trademark limits, ROI realities and making live events worth attendees' time.

Anna Hensel, executive editor in Minneapolis who reports on local ICE activity and its impact on businesses. She describes how ICE presence shapes daily life and retail foot traffic. Discusses staffing shortages, customer protests, widespread business closures during strikes, and how national brands reacted and showed solidarity.

Arin Schultz, Naturepedic chief growth officer, explains LayerSwap, quick fixes for mattresses, and smarter logistics. Samantha Gold, founder of Motet, talks slim margins, a customer poll that changed her returns policy, and tech to simplify exchanges. They explore hidden costs of free returns, large-item disposal, and ways to make returns effortless for shoppers.