Retail Gets Real

NRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen is back to tell us more about one particularly interesting bit of data from the Thanksgiving weekend shopping survey: gifting trends! Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

NRF’s Director of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen walks us through the biggest surprises from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, how consumer behaviors are changing this holiday season and the role of social media. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Zenni Optical isn’t replacing the demand for glasses — it’s creating new demand by changing the business model for prescription eyewear. Zenni’s Chief Product Officer, Bai Gan, talks about the company’s mission, how it’s able to sell a pair of glasses for $7 and the retail approach that fosters rapid business growth. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Retail is one of the most dynamic industries in the world and retailers are driving innovation. On this episode, Matt Alexander, co-founder of Neighborhood Goods, discusses how the Plano, Texas, startup is rethinking the traditional department store experience. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

We are in the early days of blockchain and not everyone yet understands the full scale and scope of its impact. Scott Likens, new services and emerging tech leader at PwC, helps us get past the buzzword and learn the current and future impact of blockchain on the retail industry. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Everyone in the United States — and everyone who trades with the U.S. — is likely to experience the impact of the administration’s newly implemented and proposed tariffs. Small business owners and manufacturers can already feel the effects, and it’s only a matter of time before the increasing costs trickle down to consumers, employees and communities. NRF's Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jon Gold explains what retailers need to know about this complicated topic, and we hear from small business owners about how the tariffs are impacting them. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

CVS Pharmacy is a purpose-driven company dedicated to helping people on their path to better health. But that path is rapidly changing, and CVS has to change with it. President of CVS Pharmacy Kevin Hourican discusses how CVS is adapting in the face of a changing industry and, even more importantly, changing customer behaviors. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As retail continues to evolve, online marketplaces are booming. Millions of sellers have turned to Amazon Marketplace to grow their retail business. Theo Prodromitis is the owner of Florida-based small business Spa Destinations, and she's become an expert in using Amazon's platform to her advantage. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

How can retailers bring the best of online thinking into the physical world? It’s a big question, but one retailers must tackle to give customers the experience, service and speed they will expect from retail in the future. Healey Cypher of ZIVELO is working to create the kind of tech that brings the advantages of digital into the store. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Sur La Table is one of the nation’s largest kitchenware retailers and a huge component of the business is its culinary school — over 80 stores have a cooking school in the store taught by resident chefs, and more than 600,000 students annually take advantage of them. CEO Billy May talks about how this strategy helps Sur La Table acquire customers and keep them coming back for more. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.