The Modern Retail Podcast

On this week’s episode, senior reporters Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels get into the shakeup hitting telehealth platforms following the FDA’s crackdown on compounded GLP-1 medications — and what new deals between pharmaceutical companies and platforms like Hims & Hers mean for the future of weight-loss prescriptions. Plus, we unpack how Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour is driving a spike in Western fashion and fueling brand tie-ins with Queen Bey's Cécred. Then the team dives into a discussion on how the avian flu outbreak is scrambling the retail landscape. While egg prices are hitting record highs, some shoppers are rethinking their breakfast habits. And companies like Tractor Supply Company and Wayfair are also getting a boost thanks to an influx of interest in backyard chicken coops. Then, Barkho interviews Russell Breuer, co-founder of pet food brand Spot & Tango about how "eggflation" is impacting its supply chain and operations.

This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporters Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels kick things off with a discussion about how mergers and acquisitions in the retail space are going on pause amid widespread uncertainty. Industry watchers are closely monitoring the situation, and some consumer brand investors tell Modern Retail they're “taking a beat” before pulling the trigger on new deals. The pair also analyzes Walmart's announcement that it's testing out beauty bars in some stores as part of its spring beauty sales event. While a bid to compete with the likes Target and Ulta, it's also a continuation of a strategy to up its a beauty game. It's added more than 40 premium brands in the past year, expanded assortment in our core business, and launched a beauty accelerator program. Then (17:03), in honor of Earth Month, sees Daniels sits down with Rachel Kibbe, the founder and CEO of Circular Services Group (CSG) and American Circular Textiles (ACT) for this week's featured segment. Tariff policy changes are throwing sourcing and supply chain into the spotlight, souring conversations about American manufacturing and near shoring. Advocates for circular manufacturing, or systems that can help material be reused, recycled or remade, see the potential shift to more U.S. factories as an opportunity to stand up this infrastructure. Daniels and Kibbe discuss the promise and pitfalls of circular manufacturing and what it would take to get more infrastructure and industry in place here in the U.S. And Kibbe discusses the advocacy efforts ACT is undertaking in Washington, D.C. They also lay of land of domestic manufacturing, and the challenges that businesses face if they're looking to nearshore their supply chain in an effort to avoid tariffs.

On this week's Modern Retail podcast, senior reporters Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels dive into the ins and outs of LVMH's earnings that showed first-quarter sales in the U.S. dropped by 3%. And they discuss how brands and consumers are responding to the rash of videos from alleged Chinese manufacturing hubs that have taken over TikTok feeds.Then, the pair are joined by executive editor Anna Hensel for a roundtable discussion about how tariffs are affecting some unexpected and disparate categories (18:50). They chat about what they're been hearing from business leaders about how their costs, sourcing and operations are changing -- and so far, it seems no one is spared.

Lisa Perlmutter, Chief Customer Officer at Hanna Andersson, shares her insights on building a successful loyalty program for the premium children's apparel brand. She discusses innovative strategies that go beyond discounts, prioritizing customer feedback and personalization. The conversation also touches on how marketers are navigating tariffs and economic challenges while maintaining marketing efforts. Perlmutter highlights the importance of genuine relationships with customers, especially parents, to foster brand loyalty and trust.

This week, the podcast dives into the chaos unleashed by new tariffs dubbed 'Liberation Day,' with major retail companies feeling the pinch. The hosts discuss the uncertainty surrounding TikTok's future and the battle among brands vying for its acquisition. The conversation also covers Hershey's bold $750 million move to buy the healthier popcorn brand LesserEvil. Listeners will get insights into the shifting landscape of food and beverage M&A and the impact of strategic acquisitions on innovation in the industry.

Bea Dixon, founder and CEO of The Honey Pot, created her plant-derived feminine care brand after facing bacterial vaginosis. She discusses how the vaginal wellness space is evolving, asserting that 'better-for-you is the new conventional.' Dixon shares her emotional journey following a major business sale, expressing gratitude for her new partnership with Compass Diversified. She emphasizes the importance of innovation in feminine care products and highlights how consumer insights are driving her company’s growth and rebranding efforts.

Dollar Tree sells Family Dollar for a mere $1 billion, far below its original price, highlighting struggles in the dollar store market. GameStop plans to shutter around 1,000 locations while eyeing potential investments in Bitcoin, reflecting their battle in the retail sector. Meanwhile, H&M faces plummeting profits due to high markdowns and inflation, grappling with altered consumer habits and fierce competition in fast fashion. The conversation delves into the evolving dynamics impacting these major retail players.

Victoria Gioia, co-founder of Perelel, shares her journey in building a successful wellness brand during the pandemic. She discusses how organic social media and a subscription model fueled early growth while she personally handled customer service. Perelel's impressive 600% annual growth is notable, along with their expansion into new products like a protein powder designed specifically for women, addressing issues such as brain fog and fatigue. Gioia emphasizes the importance of customer feedback and medical insights in shaping their offerings.

Klarna is making waves as it prepares for an IPO, with key partnerships like those with DoorDash and Walmart enhancing its buy-now, pay-later services. Meanwhile, Edible Brands is jumping into the cannabis market with the launch of Edibles.com for THC-infused products. On the other hand, Nike is grappling with weaker sales and is implementing a strategic turnaround plan, including leadership changes and a focus on direct-to-consumer sales, as it seeks to navigate a challenging retail environment.

PopSockets is the leader of what its CEO, Jiayu Lin, likes to call the phone grip category. The company is known for small, retractable circles that come in a  wide variety of prints and colors and attach to the back of someone’s phone, making it easier to grip.But, the company really wants to be known as a lifestyle brand. It’s an inflection point that many accessories brands reach at one point or another, as they want consumers to know them for more than just a single widget. And, Lin is thinking day in and day out about how to position PopSockets as a lifestyle brand through events, collaborations, new product launches and more.“I want to take [PopSockets] to the next level by transitioning the company from a tech accessory to a mobile lifestyle brand,” she said. Lin joined The Modern Retail Podcast to talk about her vision for PopSockets. She’s been with the company since 2022, starting out as its gm of APAC and becoming the company’s CEO in September. PopSockets has been focused on product expansion for the past few years, and it now sells phone cases, wallets and more, in addition to its ubiquitous grips.  One concept Lin is particularly interested in is the idea of the mobile lifestyle — that is, as people carry their phones everywhere, phones are increasingly becoming an extension of people’s identity. So, PopSockets is focused on launching a greater variety of products that speak to people’s interests and hobbies — for example, a music festival survival kit. “This idea of a mobile lifestyle – we want to be part of you, and an extension of you, to help you express yourself — whether it's at work, at home or at play,” Lin said. Creating exclusives for different retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Apple and more is also a big part of this. In addition, PopSockets is looking at more pop-up opportunities and events this year, Lin said. “It’s very important for us that we find the right channels for the different products we carry,” she said.