Keeping it Real with Retail Leadership: A Chat with Bill Thorne

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton welcomes Bill Thorne, Senior Vice President of Communications, Research, and Marketing at the National Retail Federation (NRF) and host of the Retail Gets Real podcast. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of retail, from how customer insights drive innovation to the power of storytelling in shaping brand loyalty.

This engaging conversation covers the impact of COVID-19 on retail operations, how agility and speed became key to survival, and why retailers must embrace change to stay competitive. Bill also shares insights from his time at Walmart, lessons from Savannah’s booming port economy, and why successful retailers prioritize community and connection.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) The pace of change in retail

(01:22) The power of customer insights

(05:15) Retail storytelling and brand loyalty

(10:05) Savannah’s role in global supply chains

(14:26) The future of retail logistics

(18:03) Walmart’s digital transformation

(22:50) Retail’s pandemic response and lessons learned

(27:36) The importance of personalization in shopping

(31:11) Why agility is key in modern retail

(38:29) How data drives retail success

Additional Links & Resources:

• Connect with Bill Thorne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-thorne-b82a146/
• Learn more about the National Retail Federation: https://nrf.com/
• Check out Retail Gets Real: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mpqKwH4QSDwFS8ukDbSIe?si=cdc84c550d034763
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com 
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  
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This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Joshua Miranda. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/keeping-real-retail-leadership-1407