RETHINK RETAIL

Host: Natalie Berg, Retail Analyst & Founder, NBK Retail (Top Retail Expert) Guests: Darrell Maton, Senior Director of Retail Services Solutions at Diebold Nixdorf Alan Burt, Senior Manager | Retail Technology Lead at RBR Data Services Join Darrell and Alan as they discuss the impact of staff empowerment on retail success. From IT self-service to improving store efficiency, this episode uncovers how the Shift Left approach is reshaping the retail landscape. Tune in now to hear insights from the experts!

In our latest episode, we catch up with Lena Moriarty live from eTail Palm Springs to uncover what’s in store for this year’s event and beyond. From launching a new brand identity—Power Your Growth—to debuting their first-ever AI Summit, Lena shares how eTail is moving from just conversation to implementation. Next stop? eTail London 🇬🇧 — and the conversation’s just getting started. 🎧 Listen in to hear how eTail is shaping the future of retail through community, content, and courageous ideas. 🔗 Join the community or apply to be a guest: www.globalretailleaders.com

In this RETHINK Retail episode, host Aliyah Flowers sits down with Madison Lee, CEO of Nēmah, to explore how this fast-growing perinatal skincare brand is redefining beauty, trust, and community for modern mothers. 🔹 Key Topics & Timestamps [00:52] The meaning behind “Nēmah” and its deeply personal origin [01:47] Building a brand for one of life’s most emotional journeys [03:35] The power of minimalist packaging and clean-girl aesthetics [05:04] Why education, transparency, and trust drive skincare loyalty [06:34] Ambassador-led growth and the future of influencer marketing [09:05] Rethinking ROI: Why loyalists beat one-time influencers [11:27] Using segmentation to build customer loyalty and relevance 🎧 Tune in to learn how Nēmah is turning skincare into storytelling—and building a brand that truly sees its customers. 🔗 Join the community or apply to be a guest: www.globalretailleaders.com

In this RETHINK Retail episode, host Shannon Flanagan chats with Kristen Elmer, VP of D2C Sales at Bark, about how the brand behind BarkBox uses data, personalization, and lifestyle-driven merchandising to keep tails wagging. 🔹 Key Topics & Timestamps [01:00] Kristen’s 7-year journey at Bark [03:00] Shopify migration: Enhancing customer experience [06:00] Personalization through data: breed, toy preferences, allergies [08:00] Cohort curation: birthdays, football fans, Halloween lovers [10:00] Retail expansion and what’s next for Bark [13:00] Bestsellers and Kristen’s favorite product 🎧 Tune in to hear how Bark is transforming D2C e-commerce with heart, humor, and serious tech smarts. 🔗 Join the community or apply to be a guest: www.globalretailleaders.com

In this RETHINK Retail episode, Kait Stevens speaks with Ashley Newman, Director of Marketing & Communications at Zippy Paws, about how the brand has navigated its rebrand, fostered a deep connection with customers, and created meaningful in-person experiences that drive loyalty. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to RETHINK Retail [02:10] Meet Ashley Newman, Director of Marketing & Communications at Zippy Paws [05:30] How Zippy Paws is navigating its rebrand during the pandemic [10:00] The role of in-person events in creating brand loyalty [15:20] Encouraging user-generated content and customer engagement [20:30] Zippy Paws’ unique community-focused marketing [25:45] The brand’s future vision and growth potential 🔗 Join the community or apply to be a guest: www.globalretailleaders.com

AI is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s a business imperative. In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, we’re joined by PwC’s Alison Furman and Remzi Ural to explore how AI is transforming customer experience, operations, and revenue growth in retail. From strategy shifts to scaling adoption, learn what retailers need to succeed in 2025 and beyond. 🎙️ Hosted by Carol Spieckerman, President, Spieckerman Retail 👥 Guests: Alison Furman, US Consumer Markets Industry Leader, PwC + Remzi Ural, Principal, PwC 🔍 Key Topics: - AI as a core business strategy - Scaling through structure: stand-up, expand, integrate - Moving from imitation to augmentation - AI-driven personalization and supply chain intelligence 🧠 “Make AI a core business strategy. This goes beyond experimentation—it takes courage, and a willingness to disrupt yourself.” – Alison Furman 🎧 Listen now and future-proof your strategy.

In this Global Retail Leaders episode, Fritz Finlay chats with Andrei Rebrov, CEO of Scentbird, about how the fragrance subscription service is making it easier to try new scents while building an omnichannel brand. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to RETHINK Retail [01:25] Meet Andre at Sandberg, CEO of Scentbird [04:15] The beginnings of Scentbird and its fragrance subscription model [08:30] How Scentbird makes fragrance discovery easier online [12:50] The power of personalized recommendations [17:00] Subscription model: The convenience of monthly fragrance deliveries [22:30] Expanding into omnichannel: How Scentbird is navigating brick-and-mortar retail 🌍 Join our community at: www.globalretailleaders.com

A RETHINK Retail episode in collaboration with Cognizant Retailers face increasing pressure from labor shortages, supply chain complexity, and evolving customer expectations. So what’s the key to staying competitive? Smarter operations. In this episode, we team up with Cognizant to explore how operational transformation drives bottom-line success. Experts Scott TumSuden and Karthik Chandrasekar (Cognizant) and retail consultant Ian Scott reveal how the Stores 360 platform—developed with ServiceNow and Thirdera—is helping brands optimize workflows, boost employee performance, and elevate the customer experience. 🎯 You’ll hear: - Why store ops matter more than ever - How AI and automation power better store performance - Real-world impact of Stores 360 in action Advice for building smarter, more resilient retail environments 💬 “The in-store experience is only as good as the operations behind it.” 📲 Subscribe for more insights from the minds reshaping the future of retail. #RetailPodcast #RETHINKRetail #RetailTransformation #StoreOperations #AIinRetail #Automation #Cognizant #SmartStores

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, host Richard Kestenbaum, Partner at Triangle Capital and Forbes contributor, sits down with Alicia Littleton, Director of E-commerce at Gerber Children’s Wear, to explore how technology, AI, and personalization are transforming the retail experience—especially for today’s digital-native parents. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction: Meet Richard and Alicia [03:30] Social algorithms, data, and understanding today’s parent [08:45] Retail channel strategy: Target, Walmart, Amazon & DTC [14:10] Resale, sustainability & loyalty in babywear [19:20] The future of retail tech: AI & conversational commerce [21:05] AI’s role in personalization and consumer expectations [24:00] What is conversational commerce and why it matters 🔗 Join the community or apply to be a guest: www.globalretailleaders.com

Only 5% of specialty retailers are leading in unified commerce. In this special podcast episode, Manhattan Associates, in partnership with Google Cloud and research firm Incisiv, breaks down the just-launched 2025 Unified Commerce Benchmark for Specialty Retail. 🔍 What’s inside: - Insights from 220 top retailers across shopping, checkout, fulfillment, and service - The 4 critical battlegrounds shaping customer experience - What separates Leaders like Apple, Nike, and Sephora from the rest - The impact of GenAI and real-time inventory on retail performance 📊 “35% of differentiating capabilities in 2023 are table stakes in 2025.” 🎧 Listen to the conversation with Michael Klein, Ann Sung Ruckstuhl, and Giri Agarwal to learn how to stay competitive in today’s retail ecosystem. 📥 Download the full 2025 Benchmark Report here: https://shorturl.at/Rufba