The Modern Retail Podcast

On this week's Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses the issues plaguing Dollar General as it tries to lure bargain shoppers with its low-priced products. Lululemon's stalled growth in the U.S. also shows that the company isn't as economy-resistant as it has been over the last few years. Meanwhile, Foot Locker is scrapping international growth in favor of cost-cutting to improve profit margins.

Dan Murphy, senior vice president of marketing at Liquid Death, shares insights into the brand's quirky approach to marketing. He emphasizes the importance of humor, revealing that the team comprises comedians rather than traditional marketers. Murphy discusses campaigns that spark organic engagement, like their wild fighter jet giveaway. He describes how they aim for products that stop shoppers in their tracks, advocating for in-house creativity and risk-taking to drive unique brand success.

Price cuts are luring shoppers back to Target but leaving Macy's behind. Peloton is turning the tide with a $95 activation fee for pre-owned bikes, tapping into the burgeoning secondhand market. Chick-fil-A surprises everyone by venturing into streaming, aiming to create family-friendly shows as part of their marketing strategy. The evolving interplay between retail and media is reshaping consumer engagement and preferences.

Jon Alferness, Walmart's chief product officer, shares insights on integrating technology to enhance customer experiences. He discusses his collaborative role in launching major projects across departments. Alferness emphasizes that new products must address real customer needs, particularly in AI innovation. He explains Walmart's use of AI for guided searches and inventory management, while ensuring a human touch in customer service. The conversation also touches on digital shelf labels and strategies for improving the holiday shopping experience.

Retail sales in the U.S. bounced back unexpectedly in July, spurred by seasonal promotions and a positive job market. Beauty brands are pivoting to self-funding, seeking government loans as VC funding dwindles. Insights from the eTail East conference highlight the shifting dynamics of retail, especially in embracing profitability. Furthermore, AI's role in e-commerce is dissected, revealing a mix of excitement and skepticism, particularly among Gen Z. Brands are also navigating social media strategies to engage consumers effectively.

Tony Tjan, co-founder and CEO of Miniluxe, shares insights on transforming the nail salon industry through franchising. He believes that empowering employees to become "mani-millionaires" is vital for growth. The discussion centers on Miniluxe's commitment to hygiene, craft, and creativity in its salons. Tjan details the importance of selecting franchise partners who align with their values. Additionally, he emphasizes innovative products, like advanced Press-On Nails, as part of an ambitious strategy to elevate the brand and broaden accessibility.

This week’s episode of the Modern Retail Rundown kicks off with a Reuters report of Mars allegedly looking to acquire Kellanova, the parent company of Cheez-It and Pop-Tarts. Over at resale platform ThredUp, the company has made the decision to pull out of the European markets and focus on its U.S. business. Finally, employees at an Apple store in Maryland receive their first union contract two years after voting to unionize.

Revo is not a new company, but it's now in the process of reintroducing itself to more people.The performance eyewear brand first launched in the '80s selling fashionable sunglasses with science-backed sun protection. Over the years, the brand got sold to many big players, including Ray-Ban and Essilor Luxxotica. But in 2018, an eyewear company called B. Robinson -- with the help of some outside investors -- decided to purchase Revo."It didn't have the same level of investment and the same level of support that it has had as an independent brand," said Cliff Robinson, the CEO of Revo, as well as the chief executive of B. Robinson.Now, the company is in growth mode once again and just opened its first U.S. store in New York -- less than a year after opening a store in Barcelona."The growth has been coming from all these different sectors," said Robinson. "We're seeing growth in optical stores. We're seeing growth in the golf channel. We're seeing growth in the winter market with both goggles and sunglasses at resort areas. We're seeing growth from resorts and hospitality."Robinson joined the Modern Retail Podcast and spoke about the new strategy with Revo and what's ahead. The focus now is on reintroducing people to the brand. They may remember it from decades ago, but now the company is trying to get front and center. With that, it's been working with athletes -- including the U.S. sailing team.According to Robinson, Revo has always had the chance to become a true eyewear leader. "We felt there was this really great opportunity to breathe some additional life -- breathe some additional TLC -- and really make Revo the independent brand that it had been previously," he said.

On this week’s episode of the Modern Retail Rundown, the staff begins with a recap of some food establishment earnings, which include growing sales at Chipotle and Starbucks' continued slump. This week also saw Etsy’s announcing its first-ever membership program to incentivize shoppers with perks. Finally, a new report from Semafor outlines how former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is still indirectly involved in the company through joint investments in olive oil.

Nespresso's U.S. marketing strategy is about going beyond the coffee machine."We, first and foremost, are a coffee brand," said Jessica Padula, Nespresso's vp of marketing. She joined the Modern Retail Podcast and spoke about the brand's growth plans in the U.S.Nespresso has had retail locations for years. But the brand -- best known for its pod-based coffee brewing system -- has always tinkered with the model, testing out new markets and concepts while sunsetting others. According to Padula, the focus of Nespresso's new retail projects is to showcase the brand's coffee prowess."You want to go a level deeper," she said.For example, some locations have begun offering master classes to teach customers about the origin of some coffees. The hope is to make the coffee and its quality top of mind, according to Padula. "Sometimes, since the machine is what you lead with, that often gets in the way," she said.With this, Nespresso is testing out new types of retail concepts and looking into new locations. This includes updates to major markets."Newness in New York is definitely coming," Padula said.