Retail Gets Real

It’s the time of year for out-of-office notifications. Since it's vacation season, we're going to talk about how to turn off work and recharge. We all know it's important, but this is something a lot of people just don't do very well. It's also something our friends at the NRF Foundation have been asking industry executives about in their 20 questions episodes over the past several months. We’re going to explore some of those answers now to see how different successful people manage to turn off work and take a break.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As shopping for secondhand goods becomes increasingly popular, the resale market continues to grow quickly, and more and more retailers are leaning into the trend. Our guest today is Andy Ruben, Founder and CEO of Trove, which enables retailers such as REI, Lululemon, Patagonia, and Levi's to offer what they call “circular shopping.” We'll talk to Andy about the resale market and about how organizations like his are making the retail industry more sustainable. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

While many retail workers were on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, other corporate employees have been working from home for more than a year. We're talking with Organizational and Workforce Transformation Advisory Partner, Elizabeth Yates, and Deals Partner at PwC, Sushil Ahuja, about how retailers can navigate return-to-office plans in their organizations. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

We hear so much about the death of physical retail, but are the reports of retail’s death greatly exaggerated? We’re talking about the future of physical retail with Melissa Gonzalez, CEO of The Lionesque Group, and a principal at MG2. The Lionesque Group specializes in strategy and retail design. We'll find out what trends Melissa is watching as she works with leading retailers across the country to create fresh and engaging customer experiences. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

With more than 689 million users across the world, TikTok has emerged as a social media app that brands and consumers can’t ignore. Our guest today is Matt Cleary, TikTok's Vertical Director for Retail and Restaurants. We're going to ask him to share how retailers are using TikTok, what works for brands, and how consumers are engaging with the platform. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Rob Mills, Exec VP/Chief Technology & Strategy Officer at Tractor Supply Company on retail acceleration, family and what’s next for Tractor Supply Company. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Jason “Retailgeek” Goldberg is the Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis Group and has been a go-to retail expert for industry leaders for years. He is consistently one of our top-rated speakers at NRF events, not to mention the host of his own podcast on eCommerce, the Jason & Scot Show. Jason will be speaking at our upcoming NRF Retail Converge event in June. In this episode, we discuss the hottest things happening in retail today. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As we head towards NRF’s newest event, NRF Retail Converge, we’re highlighting a few speakers you’ll hear from at the event. Mark Irvin, Best Buy’s Chief Inclusion, Diversity, and Talent Officer, joined Retail Gets Real earlier this year for a conversation. Originally released March 2, 2021. Best Buy’s Mark Irvin, is working hard to build and maintain an inclusive work environment for the 125,000 employees that work at Best Buy. In this episode, he talks about his path to the role and the retailer's approach to attracting, retaining, and growing a diverse talent pool. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

This summer, NRF is putting on a whole new virtual event, one that brings together the entire retail community to hear from leaders and experts about where the industry is today and where it’s headed in the future. NRF Retail Converge will run from June 21st through the 25th. Today, we sit down with Martine Reardon, CMO and EVP of Content and Membership at NRF, to discuss how the show is coming together and why we're so excited about it.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

When Ten Thousand Villages opened its doors in 1946, it was a fair trade pioneer, offering ethically-sourced, handmade products, crafted by artisans from developing countries. In today's episode, we're speaking with their CEO, Gordon Zook, about how the organization continues its mission, helping to positively impact the life and community of its makers and villages around the world, even as consumers and the world of retail evolve.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.