Jim Okamura, Partner at McMillan Doolittle on what is now, new and the future of local and global retail commerce live from the CommerceNext Growth Show

The Voice of Retail

In this must-listen episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc is joined by seasoned retail strategist Jim Okamura, Partner at McMillan Doolittle and Co-Founder of the Global E-commerce Leaders Forum (GELF). Recorded live at the CommerceNext show in New York City, the two Canadians delve deeply into the current and future state of retail, blending global expertise with practical insights from the ground up.

The conversation begins with Jim's background and a look at McMillan Doolittle's role in driving innovation across various retail formats. Known for their globally respected annual Retail Innovations report, Jim explains how international partners nominate the most forward-thinking concepts, regardless of whether they achieve commercial success. From trailblazing store formats, such as Printemps' architectural marvel in Manhattan, to localization strategies that shape international brand launches, Jim shares examples that reflect where retail is headed next.

The duo then shifts to a frank discussion about the collapse of Hudson's Bay and what it signals for the broader department store format. Comparing North American challenges with the success of Japanese models that utilize a leased brand approach, Jim highlights how changing consumer behaviour—especially in beauty and apparel—has fragmented traditional retail categories. He argues that the decline of department stores is less a retail apocalypse and more a natural part of the lifecycle of formats.

As the conversation moves to unified commerce and digital transformation, Jim emphasizes that success isn't just about tech—it's about culture. Companies that embrace a testing and analytics-driven mindset have a competitive edge. He also discusses the generational shift in expectations, including the normalization of paid same-hour delivery via platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats.

The episode wraps with insights from GELF's work helping global brands expand across borders. Jim reveals how localization, unified commerce strategies, and innovative partnerships with distributors are fueling cross-border growth—even amid global trade uncertainty. With AI, logistics disruptions, and rising tariffs reshaping the terrain, Jim calls for nimble thinking and sharper execution from brands and their ecosystems.

This rich, wide-ranging discussion offers a panoramic view of retail's past, present, and future—making it essential listening for anyone navigating the changing commerce landscape.

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.