

The Glossy Podcast
Glossy
The Glossy Podcast is a weekly show on the impact of technology on the fashion and luxury industries with the people making change happen.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 6, 2024 • 40min
Jill Renslow on Mall of America’s Black Friday strategy: ‘250,000 people’ will shop our stores
As the largest retail and entertainment complex in the U.S., Minnesota-based Mall of America is currently experiencing its annual Super Bowl. Depending on who you ask, the holiday shopping season is already on — and, according to Jill Renslow, the center’s chief business and marketing officer, Mall of America is embracing every related opportunity. As in years past, its strategy for the season includes hosting dedicated events, charity initiatives and Black Friday festivities, all of which have contributed to making a holiday shopping trip to Mall of America a tradition for oodles of consumers.“About 250,000 people come to Mall of America on Black Friday,” Renslow said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. “We don't even need all the traditional doorbusters. People come for the tradition and the fun experience of [shopping] Black Friday [at Mall of America].”Also on the podcast, Renslow discusses what it takes for a mall to be successful in 2024 and how she’s tackled marketing when 40% of the center’s 32 million annual visitors are tourists.

Nov 1, 2024 • 28min
Week in Review: Miu Miu's defiant growth, CFDA Award winners, The RealReal's new CEO
On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, we talk about the immense growth of Miu Miu which defies the ongoing slowdown across luxury. We also discuss the winners of the CFDA Awards, announced this week, and the appointment of Rati Sahi Levesque as the chief executive of The RealReal, replacing short-lived CEO John Koryl.

Oct 30, 2024 • 32min
MeUndies CRO Ariel Stoddard on retaining ‘extremely high LTV’ customers while evolving the brand
In February, Ariel Stoddard joined 13-year-old MeUndies as its chief revenue officer, transitioning from Fabletics where she spearheaded the launch of its menswear and scrubs categories. Now, she has grand growth plans for MeUndies, which has for years experienced double-digit growth and profitability. Earlier this month, Stoddard drove the launch of a new brand direction with a campaign dubbed “Welcome to the Underworld.” But, in evolving MeUndies, she and her team are ensuring its valuable existing customers are along for the ride.“They have extremely high LTVs, and they are very loyal. Many of them have been with the brand for many, many years and counting,” Stoddard said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. “That's part of our secret sauce: We have always been community-focused on the people who have been with us and given us that loyalty; we always keep them in mind.”Also on the podcast, Stoddard discussed MeUndies’ latest campaign strategy and its plan to remain “flexible” this holiday shopping season.

Oct 25, 2024 • 28min
Week in Review: The impact of China's contracting luxury market
On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, we talk about the impact of China’s contracting luxury market on companies like Kering, the slowing revenue growth of Shein’s and how that will impact its upcoming IPO, and the ongoing drama at Vivienne Westwood.

Oct 23, 2024 • 44min
Sneaker designer Brandon Brubaker: Remaining tapped into culture is a business advantage
Brandon Brubaker, co-founder of the 10-year-old SoCal sneaker brand Clearweather, is somewhat of a sneaker legend. In the sneaker game for 30 years, he first designed iconic sneaker styles for Vans after being recruited by the company at age 20. He then went on to launch the multimillion-dollar skate sneaker division at Nike-owned Converse. Today, Brubaker is hitting the gas on growing his own company, with a fresh round of funding, a new business partner, a relaunched website and big plans for international expansion. He’s intentionally taking a unique approach to the market, which, so far, has served his brand well. “[We decided] to stop trying to fight for dollars with Nike, which completely dominates everything, when it really comes down to it,” he said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. “Instead, we want to just be a really premium California culture brand, and that's where we're at today."Also on the podcast, Brubaker discusses how the sneaker market is faring and what it takes to maintain relevance in the crowded, competitive industry.

Oct 18, 2024 • 27min
Week in Review: The return of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, we talk about the return of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and how it's changed in the six years it was on hiatus. Later, we discuss what’s causing so many luxury brands to report falling sales, and Jill gives us a dispatch from Shoptalk in Chicago.

Oct 16, 2024 • 33min
Leigh Batnick Plessner on Brooklyn-born Catbird's national expansion: 10 more stores by 2026
As chief creative officer of the 20-year-old jewelry brand Catbird, Leigh Batnick Plessner is always thinking of ways to bring the brand's story to life through innovative products and collaborations. In 2015, for example, Catbird introduced the concept of "getting zapped," the brand's term for custom-fitting and welding one of its solid gold Forever Bracelets on a customer's wrist.Since joining Catbird a year after its 2004 launch, Plessner has worked alongside Rony Vardi, co-owner and founder of Catbird, to grow the Williamsburg-birthed brand beyond its first 225-square-foot retail store on Metropolitan Avenue. In 2006, they opened a second location on Bedford Avenue that quickly became Catbird's flagship. Under Plessner's creative direction, Catbird also evolved into a popular retailer of demi-fine jewelry.After David Yurman alum Mo Sakurai joined the company as CEO in September 2022, Catbird has accelerated its growth mode, including by opening stores across the country. The company plans to open at least 10 more by 2026.On the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast, Plessner discusses Catbird's strategies for becoming a national brand and staying true to its mission: to create the ultimate luxury jewelry that can be repaired.

Oct 11, 2024 • 25min
Week in Review: Luxury struggles and shakeups at Gucci, Mulberry
On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.On this week’s luxury-focused episode, we talk about Stefano Cantino being appointed the new CEO of Gucci and Kering's attempt to bring back sales growth at its biggest brand. Later, we talk about the ongoing saga around Mulberry, including the takeover bid from part-owner Frasers Group. And, finally, we discuss the new joint venture between Authentic Brands Group and Saks Global.

Oct 9, 2024 • 32min
Hanesbrands' Jane Newman on the big shapewear opportunity and the Skims effect
As the chief design officer of global innerwear at Hanesbrands, Jane Newman oversees innerwear products for all the brands in the company’s portfolio, including Hanes, Bali and Maidenform — each of which is at least 97 years old. On this week’s episode of the Glossy Podcast, Newman discusses how she’s keeping each brand relevant as the intimates category evolves – among other factors, the DTC boom and the unofficial rebranding of shapewear as “sexy” have changed the space.

Oct 4, 2024 • 25min
Week in Review: The future of Celine without Hedi Slimane
On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.This week, we discuss Paris Fashion Week's homogeneity and safeness, Hedi Slimane’s 6-year tenure at Celine and his replacement, and LVMH’s $110 million-per-year deal with Formula 1.