Total Retail Talks

In episode 185 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan interviews Zak Normandin, founder and CEO of Iris Nova, parent company of innovative beverage brand Dirty Lemon, which sells it products via a direct-to-consumer conversational commerce model. Normandin addresses retail and grocery/CPG industry disruption, the future of text messaging as a commerce channel, and…

In episode 184 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan interviews Dave Steck, vice president of IT — infrastructure and application development at Schnucks Markets, a Missouri-based supermarket chain. Listen in as Steck discusses the grocer's partnership with Simbe Robotics and its use of autonomous shelf-scanning robot, Tally, to improve in-store operations and inventory management.

In episode 183 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan talks with Ron Bonacci, vice president of marketing and advertising at Weis Markets. Listen in as they discuss the growth of the grocer's digital business with help from partners Mercatus, an integrated e-commerce platform, and Shipt, an app-based grocery delivery service. This episode was recorded…

In episode 182 of Total Retail Talks, recorded at Groceryshop in Las Vegas, Heather Kang, global vice president of digital commerce at Mars Wrigley Confectionery (MWC), parent company of leading brands such as M&M's, Snickers, Twix and others, details how the company is building a culture of innovation, provides insight into two recent digital commerce…

In episode 181 of Total Retail Talks, Cory Barnes, digital marketing manager at Exxel Outdoors, parent company of leading outdoor brands such as Kelty and Sierra Designs, discusses how an e-commerce platform has helped the business better manage the websites for its 10 brands. In addition, Barnes offers five tips for other retailers and brands…

In episode 180 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan interviews David Dancer, chief marketing officer at MedMen. In the wide-ranging conversation, Dancer discusses his varied background in the retail industry and what led him to join a cannabis company, how MedMen is disrupting the product category with what people are calling the "Apple Store…

In episode 179 of Total Retail Talks, Shelagh Stoneham, senior vice president of marketing, Chico's, reviews the women's apparel and accessories brand's #HowBoldAreYou social campaign, aimed at celebrating women's uniqueness and authenticity, and not just their ages. Stoneham offers insights into the customer feedback that Chico's has gotten from the campaign, as well as the…

In episode 178 of Total Retail Talks, Chris Brigham, director of omnichannel, and Michael Wheeler, omnichannel sales analyst, both of City Gear, discuss the urban footwear and apparel retailer's use of its mobile app to generate customer loyalty. In addition, Brigham and Wheeler share how City Gear's use of mobile push notifications has helped to drive…

In episode 177 of Total Retail Talks, recorded at the 2018 Shop.org conference in Las Vegas, Bai Gan, chief product officer at Zenni Optical, an online eyewear retailer, discusses the brand's growth from humble beginnings (i.e., selling products out of the founder's garage) into a leading seller of prescription glasses and sunglasses. Zenni Optical currently owns…

In episode 176 of Total Retail Talks, Kelly Murphy, director of marketing and causes at Olivela, a luxury philanthropic retail site that donates a portion of each purchase to charitable causes, offers insights into the brand's socially conscious business model and growth strategy. Murphy addresses Olivela's mission to make shopping for women's fashion a charitable…