
Retail Gets Real
Retail impacts everyone, everywhere, every day. Join the National Retail Federation for authentic, insightful conversations with the industry's most interesting people. Hear retail executives, industry experts, entrepreneurs and influencers discuss trends, their career stories and the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
Latest episodes

Feb 7, 2018 • 20min
#43 Using data to shape the shopping journey
With all the new advancements in retail technology, it’s important for retailers to know how it applies to their business. In this episode, Salesforce SVP of Retail Industry Shelley Bransten and PwC Partner Ian Kahn discuss how retailers can leverage data to seamlessly merge the omnichannel shopping experience.

Feb 5, 2018 • 20min
#42 Inside Walmart's next-gen tech incubator
Walmart’s Store No 8 incubates cutting-edge retail technology to help people save money and live better. Lori Flees, Walmart’s SVP of Next Generation Retail and Principal of Store No 8, makes sure that America’s second largest retail company is investing in the right retail technology.

Jan 31, 2018 • 21min
#41 Terry Lundgren looks back on a career in retail
With his tenure as Executive Chairman of Macy's Inc. coming to an end, Terry Lundgren sat down with NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay to discuss a decades-long career in retail and Lundgren’s rise to success. In this episode, Lundgren shares wisdom gained over the years as well as what he sees in retail’s future.

Jan 29, 2018 • 22min
#40 Tomorrow’s cool retail tech, today
As one of the curators behind the Innovation Lab at NRF 2018: Retail’s Big Show, Seth Webb of Tusk Ventures has his finger on the pulse of retail’s newest and most game-changing technology. In this episode, learn about the latest technologies showcased at NRF 2018, and how they’re poised to transform the retail industry in the not-so-distant future.

Jan 22, 2018 • 23min
#39 Behind the curtain at Retail's Big Show
More than 37,000 retail industry professionals came to NRF 2018: Retail’s Big Show this January to talk about retail trends and technology. So how does a 120-person team bring an entire industry together? SVP of Conferences Susan Newman and VP of Event Content and Education Angela Elder chat about how it all comes together and the event’s impact on the industry. NRF’s Ellen Davis co-hosts.

Jan 22, 2018 • 23min
#38 How “Mattress Mack” became a retail icon
The owner of Gallery Furniture, Jim "Mack” McIngvale, became a Houston icon and hometown hero for his commitment to giving back, especially after he turned his stores into shelters for victims of Hurricane Harvey. McIngvale joins this episode from NRF 2018: Retail’s Big Show to share why caring for the community is so important in retail. PwC's Steve Barr co-hosts.

Jan 15, 2018 • 25min
#37 How West Elm syncs the in-store and digital experiences
Luke Chatelain began his career as a molecular biologist and is now West Elm’s vice president of innovation. In this episode, he explains how his background prepared him to develop forward-thinking solutions for the furniture retailer.

Jan 8, 2018 • 22min
#36 How one high-tech McDonald’s is evolving an icon
Carlos Mateos Jr. got his start working part-time at his father’s McDonald’s and now owns the restaurant where he first flipped burgers. In this episode, Mateos discusses his dynamic career with McDonald’s and how automation is changing the business.

Jan 2, 2018 • 26min
#35 HSN helps make entrepreneurial dreams come true
HSN gives entrepreneurs a platform to sell their products to a large television audience and the prospect of finding the next innovation energizes Dara Trujillo, VP of New Business Development. In this episode, Trujillo discusses how the company elevates entrepreneurs with business education, guidance and exposure, and chats about HSN's new American Dreams Academy program.

Dec 26, 2017 • 23min
#34 Retail industry predictions for 2018
STORES Magazine Editor Susan Reda believes that 2017 was one of the most transformative periods of retail we’ve seen in decades and predicts that 2018 will continue to be just as dynamic, with technology playing an increasingly important role for both physical and digital retailers. Listen to learn more about her retail industry predictions for 2018.