Join Emily Heyward and JB Osborne, co-founders of Red Antler, as they share insights from their renowned branding agency that has birthed icons like Allbirds and Casper. They explore how AI is revolutionizing retail, enhancing consumer interactions and brand strategies. The duo emphasizes the power of empathy and storytelling in building memorable brands. They also discuss their innovative equity-based partnership model and reflect on their favorite campaigns, all while navigating the evolving landscape of consumer expectations.
44:28
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
AI's Impact on Retail
AI will revolutionize retail by enabling personalized omnichannel experiences and fulfilling evolving customer expectations.
Retailers must invest in AI to remain competitive and avoid being left behind.
insights INSIGHT
Conversational Search
Conversational search using natural language processing will greatly improve online shopping.
This will allow for more intuitive and personalized product discovery and outfitting.
insights INSIGHT
Red Antler's Branding Approach
Red Antler's "secret sauce" is deep empathy for consumers and understanding their needs.
Their branding strategy focuses on connecting with people emotionally and making brands part of their identity.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this episode of The Retail Pilot, host Ken Pilot dives into the future of branding and retail innovation with Emily Heyward & JB Osborne, Co-Founders of Red Antler and a pre-flight discussion with retail futurist Jan Kniffen.
From the transformative role of AI in customer experience to the secret sauce behind some of today’s most iconic brands, this conversation explores how emotional resonance, creativity, and technology intersect in modern retail. Ken, Emily, and JB also discuss brand building from scratch, the challenges of rebranding, and their venture fund Habitat Partners. Plus, they reflect on favorite campaigns, dream brand revivals, and the evolving landscape of consumer expectations.
Show Notes
Ken Pilot introduces the episode with commentary from retail expert Jan Kniffen on the seismic impact of AI across industries, especially in retail.
Jan shares why AI will redefine omnichannel experiences and customer expectations, emphasizing the urgency for retailers to invest or fall behind.
Emily Hayward and JB Osborne join Ken to discuss Red Antler’s approach to branding, which centers on empathy, storytelling, and strategic creativity.
Insights into how Red Antler partners with early-stage founders and legacy businesses, building emotional connections through meaningful brand positioning.
Reflections on helping launch brands like Allbirds, Casper, Burrow, and Hinge, including the challenges and rewards of naming and storytelling.
Candid thoughts on the rise and stumbles of DTC pioneers and how capital structure, not branding, often drives downfall.
A look at Habitat Partners, their investment arm, and why equity plays helped foster long-term alignment with founders.
Exploration of how AI is impacting creative workflows, campaign ideation, and brand communication.
Rapid fire favorites, from travel destinations to go-to coffee brands, and the dream jobs Emily and JB would pursue outside of Red Antler.
Plus, JB and Emily name the brands they’d love to reimagine—from OpenTable to LinkedIn—and share their vision for brand leadership in a tech-driven era.
The Retail Pilot