Retail Gets Real

This week, the Retail Gets Real team gathers around an open fire with chestnuts and a microphone to reflect on their favorite moments of 2019, featuring: Chip Bergh of Levi’s, Mary Beth Laughton of Sephora, Elie Donahue of Rothy’s, Michelle Kelly of Lilly Pulitzer, Becky Waddell of Take Care, Rachael Gruntmeir of Black Scintilla, Ed Stack of Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse of R.Riveter.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Katherine Cullen, head of NRF’s consumer research division, joins the show to share what happened between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, some surprising data about generational purchasing behavior and what shoppers have left to do this season. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Re-commerce, experiences and CBD ... oh my! In this episode, we look ahead to 2020 with Susan Reda, editor of NRF’s STORES Magazine, who digs into the insights reported in STORES’ 2020 retail trends forecast. Read STORES’ full 2020 retail trends forecast to see the full list of predictions, and listen to the full episode to hear why Reda thinks experiential retail is maturing beyond Instagrammable moments and how wellness trends are shaping the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Katherine Cullen, NRF's head of consumer research, provides some insight into what consumers are looking for this holiday season and how it's shaping up for retailers. Learn more about what to expect from November and December shopping at nrf.com/holiday.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade started back in 1924, but it's still bringing Americans together for a shared cultural experience that delights both young and old. Susan Tercero, executive producer of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, joins Retail Gets Real to share how it all comes together and what it means to Macy's.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

What does it take to create “the most interesting store in the world?” In this episode, Tal Nathanel, CEO of SHOWFIELDS, discusses the process of reinventing how to use retail spaces with a fresh take on creating immersive customer experiences. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Men's grooming brand Hawthorne is spicing up the men's personal care market, using technology to provide a personalized experience and catering to men who don’t know much about grooming products. CEO and co-founder Brian Jeong shares the origins of Hawthorne, as well as why accessibility in the personal care space involves more than just lowering the price point. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As the trade war continues, U.S. businesses and consumers are paying the price, but how did we get here and what is the end game? Scott McCandless, Trade Policy Leader for PwC US joins the podcast along with NRF Chief Lobbyist David French to shed light on how tariffs are impacting the industry.  Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Ministry of Supply brings a scientific approach to redesigning the work wardrobe, blending high-tech performance materials, extensive research and experimentation. On this episode, CEO and Co-founder Aman Advani talks about what happens when engineering meets fashion and what the future of retail looks like. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

NRF forecasts that 2019 holiday sales will grow between 3.8% and 4.2% over 2018, to between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion. NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz discusses what's behind those numbers and the state of the economy heading into the holidays. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.