RETHINK RETAIL

In this RETHINK Retail episode, Kait Stevens speaks with Ashley Newman, Director of Marketing & Communications at Zippy Paws, about how the brand has navigated its rebrand, fostered a deep connection with customers, and created meaningful in-person experiences that drive loyalty. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to RETHINK Retail [02:10] Meet Ashley Newman, Director of Marketing & Communications at Zippy Paws [05:30] How Zippy Paws is navigating its rebrand during the pandemic [10:00] The role of in-person events in creating brand loyalty [15:20] Encouraging user-generated content and customer engagement [20:30] Zippy Paws’ unique community-focused marketing [25:45] The brand’s future vision and growth potential 🔗 Join the community or apply to be a guest: www.globalretailleaders.com

AI is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s a business imperative. In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, we’re joined by PwC’s Alison Furman and Remzi Ural to explore how AI is transforming customer experience, operations, and revenue growth in retail. From strategy shifts to scaling adoption, learn what retailers need to succeed in 2025 and beyond. 🎙️ Hosted by Carol Spieckerman, President, Spieckerman Retail 👥 Guests: Alison Furman, US Consumer Markets Industry Leader, PwC + Remzi Ural, Principal, PwC 🔍 Key Topics: - AI as a core business strategy - Scaling through structure: stand-up, expand, integrate - Moving from imitation to augmentation - AI-driven personalization and supply chain intelligence 🧠 “Make AI a core business strategy. This goes beyond experimentation—it takes courage, and a willingness to disrupt yourself.” – Alison Furman 🎧 Listen now and future-proof your strategy.

In this Global Retail Leaders episode, Fritz Finlay chats with Andrei Rebrov, CEO of Scentbird, about how the fragrance subscription service is making it easier to try new scents while building an omnichannel brand. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to RETHINK Retail [01:25] Meet Andre at Sandberg, CEO of Scentbird [04:15] The beginnings of Scentbird and its fragrance subscription model [08:30] How Scentbird makes fragrance discovery easier online [12:50] The power of personalized recommendations [17:00] Subscription model: The convenience of monthly fragrance deliveries [22:30] Expanding into omnichannel: How Scentbird is navigating brick-and-mortar retail 🌍 Join our community at: www.globalretailleaders.com

A RETHINK Retail episode in collaboration with Cognizant Retailers face increasing pressure from labor shortages, supply chain complexity, and evolving customer expectations. So what’s the key to staying competitive? Smarter operations. In this episode, we team up with Cognizant to explore how operational transformation drives bottom-line success. Experts Scott TumSuden and Karthik Chandrasekar (Cognizant) and retail consultant Ian Scott reveal how the Stores 360 platform—developed with ServiceNow and Thirdera—is helping brands optimize workflows, boost employee performance, and elevate the customer experience. 🎯 You’ll hear: - Why store ops matter more than ever - How AI and automation power better store performance - Real-world impact of Stores 360 in action Advice for building smarter, more resilient retail environments 💬 “The in-store experience is only as good as the operations behind it.” 📲 Subscribe for more insights from the minds reshaping the future of retail. #RetailPodcast #RETHINKRetail #RetailTransformation #StoreOperations #AIinRetail #Automation #Cognizant #SmartStores

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, host Richard Kestenbaum, Partner at Triangle Capital and Forbes contributor, sits down with Alicia Littleton, Director of E-commerce at Gerber Children’s Wear, to explore how technology, AI, and personalization are transforming the retail experience—especially for today’s digital-native parents. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction: Meet Richard and Alicia [03:30] Social algorithms, data, and understanding today’s parent [08:45] Retail channel strategy: Target, Walmart, Amazon & DTC [14:10] Resale, sustainability & loyalty in babywear [19:20] The future of retail tech: AI & conversational commerce [21:05] AI’s role in personalization and consumer expectations [24:00] What is conversational commerce and why it matters 🔗 Join the community or apply to be a guest: www.globalretailleaders.com

Only 5% of specialty retailers are leading in unified commerce. In this special podcast episode, Manhattan Associates, in partnership with Google Cloud and research firm Incisiv, breaks down the just-launched 2025 Unified Commerce Benchmark for Specialty Retail. 🔍 What’s inside: - Insights from 220 top retailers across shopping, checkout, fulfillment, and service - The 4 critical battlegrounds shaping customer experience - What separates Leaders like Apple, Nike, and Sephora from the rest - The impact of GenAI and real-time inventory on retail performance 📊 “35% of differentiating capabilities in 2023 are table stakes in 2025.” 🎧 Listen to the conversation with Michael Klein, Ann Sung Ruckstuhl, and Giri Agarwal to learn how to stay competitive in today’s retail ecosystem. 📥 Download the full 2025 Benchmark Report here: https://shorturl.at/Rufba

🎧 Therapy: Retail @SHOPTALK 2025 | Powered by Retail Cloud Alliance In this episode, we bring you exclusive insights from SHOPTALK 2025 with retail industry leaders: ✅ Melissa Minkow, Global Director of Retail Strategy at CI&T ✅ Linda Johansen, Founder/CEO at International Retail Group ✅ Hitha Herzog, Chief Retail Analyst at H Squared Research ✅ Joshua Rockoff, Senior Executive at Anbaxis LLC Explore the emerging retail trends and technologies that are reshaping the industry, including: - AI-driven personalization and its impact on customer experiences - The seamless integration of omnichannel strategies that improve consumer engagement - The role of data analytics in optimizing retail supply chains 🔊 Tune in now for deep insights from the minds leading retail transformation. #RetailInnovation #RetailPodcast #SHOPTALK2025 #AI #Omnichannel #DataDriven #CustomerExperience

Roy Horgan, a strategic leader at VusionGroup, and Zach Whigham from Kyndryl, discuss the transformative impact of AI and cloud technology on retail environments. They highlight how electronic shelf labels boost efficiency while redefining in-store engagement through computer vision. The conversation shifts to the importance of targeted strategies and real-time data sharing for maximizing ROI. Their insights reveal the shift towards collaborative ecosystems and the future of retail as a tech-driven experience, ensuring retailers stay competitive in today's market.

Paulo Correa, CEO of C&A Brazil, shares his expertise as a leader in a fashion retail giant. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing retail by enhancing productivity and customer experiences. Correa highlights C&A's successful digital transformation and the importance of AI in optimizing pricing and inventory management. He also emphasizes customer-centric strategies, utilizing technology for tailored shopping experiences that blend online and offline interactions, pointing towards a brighter future for retail.

How can retailers embrace sustainability and drive social impact at scale? In this episode of RETHINK Retail, host Lisa Amlani sits down with Bev Kobe, President & CEO of Goodwill Industries, to discuss how Goodwill is redefining retail through the circular economy, resale innovation, and social enterprise. Goodwill is more than just a thrift store-it’s a leader in sustainability and job creation, diverting billions of pounds from landfills while employing those who need it most. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to RETHINK Retail [01:20] Meet Bev Kobe, CEO of Goodwill Industries [03:45] The scale of Goodwill: 154 networks and 6 billion pounds of goods collected [07:10] How Goodwill is innovating in circular retail [12:30] Sustainability goals: resale, recycling, and reducing waste [17:50] Beyond retail: Goodwill’s impact on communities and job creation [22:15] Take-back programs & retailer partnerships [27:30] Final thoughts: How brands can start their circular journey 🌍 Join our community at: www.globalretailleaders.com