EP 213: Why Circular Store Design Will Redefine Resilient Retail

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us!

39:50

The truth is out West! We’re hopping on the ET Highway and venturing to the most notorious alien hot spots, including Roswell’s infamous crash site, Area 51’s eerie perimeter, and a mysterious desert watchtower. Join us as journalist Laura Krantz, host of the podcast Wild Thing , beams up to share stories from the front lines of UFO reporting—from strange sightings and quirky festivals to a mailbox where people leave letters to extraterrestrials. Maybe you’ll even decide for yourself: Is Earth a tourist stop for spaceships? UFO hot spots you’ll encounter in this episode: - UFO Watchtower (near Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado) - Roswell, New Mexico - Area 51, Nevada - Extraterrestrial Highway (aka State Route 375), Nevada - Little A’Le’Inn, ET Highway, Nevada - E.T. Fresh Jerky, ET Highway, Nevada - Alien Research Center, ET Highway, Nevada - The Black Mailbox, ET Highway, Nevada Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group .…

about a year ago 32:00

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Special Guest: Rebekah L. Matheny, NCIDQ, IIDA, Associate Professor | Interior Design | Department of Design, The Ohio State University; Founder & Director | REBEL Sustainable Futures Lab

The retail industry stands at a pivotal crossroads where sustainability, inclusivity, and profitability are converging to create a new model for growth. As consumer preferences evolve and environmental consciousness continues to rise, traditional retail operations are being challenged by a more circular, purpose-driven approach that promises both economic and environmental advantages. Circularity also includes store design with compelling supporting data: Circular retail models can generate up to four times higher profits per item while reducing environmental impact by 80 percent. Join Shelley and Rebekah as they unpack why circular design is not just about sustainability, it’s about creating a resilient business model. The imperative for change is clear: As Gen Zers and Alphas gain more purchasing power, their expectations for sustainable and inclusive retail experiences will reshape the industry. Retailers who pivot now will be better positioned to capture this growing market while contributing to a more resilient retail future.

For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com, where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

241 episodes

#Business News #News Talk #Business #News #Robin Lewis #MBA #Retail #Apparel #Strategy #Business Insight. C-level

EP 213: Why Circular Store Design Will Redefine Resilient Retail

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us!

Special Guest: Rebekah L. Matheny, NCIDQ, IIDA, Associate Professor | Interior Design | Department of Design, The Ohio State University; Founder & Director | REBEL Sustainable Futures Lab

241 episodes

#Business News #News Talk #Business #News #Robin Lewis #MBA #Retail #Apparel #Strategy #Business Insight. C-level

All episodes

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

1
EP 241: Reeling from Tariff Whiplash 39:06

3 days ago39:06

39:06

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Special Guests: Sonja Chapman: Associate Professor in the Department of International Trade and Marketing at SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology Ken O’Brien: CEO and President of Gemini Shippers Group The shifting seas of trade policy is creating economic whiplash and ripple effects far beyond immediate cost implications, forcing strategic pivots that impact everything from production timelines to container logistics. While large retailers have invested eight-figure sums to rapidly shift production to alternative markets like Vietnam and Bangladesh, these facilities often struggle to match China's scale and efficiency, producing only about two-thirds of required volume. Join Shelley, Sonja Chapman, Associate Professor in the Department of International Trade and Marketing at SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology, and Ken O’Brien, CEO and President of Gemini Shippers Group, as they discuss how the evolving global supply chain landscape demands strategic recalibration by forward-thinking organizations. Retailers and brands must face critical decisions about balancing redundancy with efficiency as traditional supply networks undergo transformation. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 240: How to Bridge the Retail Tectonic Shift 42:50

10 days ago42:50

42:50

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Special Guest: Jan Kniffen, CEO of retail consultancy, J Rogers Kniffen Worldwide Today's retail industry faces unprecedented transformation driven by three major forces: tariff restructuring affecting global supply chains, AI implementation across all business functions, and evolving consumer behaviors that reject mediocrity. Industry expert Jan Kniffen, CEO of retail consultancy, J Rogers Kniffen Worldwide says, this is a "retail tectonic shift where the industry isn't simply evolving but "being torn down and rebuilt on a dead sprint.” Join Shelley and Jan as they discuss how the retail industry stands at a pivotal moment that will determine which organizations thrive in the next decade. They also caution that retailers merely reacting to disruption face increasing irrelevance in a landscape dominated by forward-thinking competitors who manage the onslaught of change. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 239: The Tariff Storm: Navigating the Harsh Inequity of Global Trade 27:50

17 days ago27:50

27:50

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Special Guest: Maytee Pereira, Managing Director in PwC’s US Customs and International Trade practice Regardless of the flipflops of the Trump administration’s trade policies, retailers are operating in the middle of a tariff war. When nations retaliate, executive strategies for tariff-driven disruption are thrown into chaos. Retailers face unprecedented challenges managing the transformation of 10-20 percent blanket tariffs into a complex web of constantly changing country-specific penalties disrupting forecasting, sourcing, and pricing strategies. Maytee Pereira, Managing Director in PwC’s US Customs and International Trade practice joins Shelley to help deconstruct tariff inequities. Supercenters can leverage scale to minimize shocks while discount retailers, heavily dependent on Chinese imports, face existential challenges. And small businesses have the toughest road without the deep financial pockets of the megabrands. Shelley and Maytee discuss the stark differences in readiness across sectors; apparel companies with years of experience navigating duties demonstrate remarkable adaptability, while other consumer goods retailers are encountering significant tariff impacts for the first time without tested response playbooks. Listen in and learn how forward-thinking organizations are implementing sophisticated approaches to mitigate tariff impacts. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 238: Luxury in Flux: LVMH's American Gambit 29:28

24 days ago29:28

29:28

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Guest: Marie Driscoll, a retail analyst, consultant and TRR contributor The luxury market finds itself at a critical inflection point with industry titan LVMH serving as a perfect case study of resilience buffeted by volatility. As aspirational consumers pull back spending and economic uncertainty prevails, LVMH is making strategic pivots to redefine luxury's trajectory. The recent luxury boom is resetting to sobering realities: price increases, impending tariffs, and the weaking dollar. Join Shelley and Marie Driscoll, a retail analyst, consultant and TRR contributor, as they dive into LVMH’s strategies to keep their brands relevant and top of mind for the consumer during a time of major market disruptions. The challenges are steep: LVMH and other luxury powerhouses must reimagine their value propositions by building authentic community through experiential retail. The luxury tool of the future? Digital storytelling that introduces brand essence and value that transcends superficial, fleeting TikTok impressions. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 237: How Chewy Is Reimagining Veterinary Care 31:05

4 weeks ago31:05

31:05

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Guest: Mita Malhotra, President of Chewy Health Pets are big business; 66% of U.S. households are pet parents. Chewy has been a pioneer in online pet care and is now transforming in-person veterinary care by seamlessly integrating ecommerce convenience with personalized clinical experiences. In fact, Chewy was named a 2024 Crave Retail Radical by The Robin Report. Their digital-first healthcare model has earned high customer reviews by delivering instant access, technological convenience, and exceptional service. Join Shelley and Mita Malhotra, President of Chewy Health, as they explore how Chewy continues to innovate with a revolutionary in-person veterinary clinic practice. With a stress-free, spa-like clinical environment that calms both pets and humans, Chewy is one step ahead of the market that is hungry for modern, predictable, trusted healthcare that connects physical care with digital convenience. Learn how Chewy consistently exceeds expectations with award-winning customer service and reimagining veterinary care with its deep understanding of how to serve pet parents and their pets. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 236: How Forever Chemicals Are Reshaping Retail's Future 39:49

5 weeks ago39:49

39:49

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Guests: Michelle Bellanca, CEO and co-founder of Claros Technologies Arick Wierson, Emmy Award-winning producer and TRR contributor The retail industry faces a transformative reckoning beyond tariffs and supply chain disruptions: PFAS chemicals. These "forever chemicals" are ubiquitous in everything from textiles and cosmetics to food packaging and electronics. What’s more, PFAS compounds have infiltrated 99 percent of all humans’ bloodstreams. Regulatory frameworks are tightening worldwide, with Europe leading aggressive restrictions while the U.S. market remains primarily litigation driven. Guests Michelle Bellanca, CEO and co-founder of Claros Technologies and Arick Wierson, Emmy Award winning producer and TRR contributor join Shelley with a call to action about this $13 trillion threat to the retail industry. The technology exists to detect and destroy these compounds, and innovative companies can lead rather than react to eradicate PFAS. Consumers will also put pressure on manufacturers to provide PFAS-free products. We are at a critical juncture to reverse the PFAS tide. Listen and learn! For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 235: How Flow Fashion Could Save Our Planet and Your Wallet 26:34

6 weeks ago26:34

26:34

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Guests: Ann Cantrell, small business owner and FIT associate professor Liz Alessi, retail supply chain expert We’re celebrating Earth Day Week early! The fashion industry has an environmental crisis on its hands. It uses an astronomical number of resources (a single T-shirt requires 700 gallons of water to manufacture) contributing 10 percent of global carbon emissions. Fast fashion brands are accelerating production cycles while regulatory rollbacks are threatening progress: understanding sustainable alternatives has never been more urgent for both consumers and brands. In this episode of Retail Unwrapped, Shelley and sustainability experts Ann Cantrell and Liz Alessi discuss innovative solutions in the face of global supply chain challenges and economic headwinds ensuring both economic and environmental sustainability. Consumers hold significant power through their purchasing decisions while brands can drive change through innovative approaches like "flow fashion,” which is combining the best business practices of fast fashion with the core values of slow fashion, maintaining sustainability principles. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 234: Retail Media Redefines Customized Marketing 26:24

7 weeks ago26:24

26:24

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Special Guest: Dominick Miserandino, CEO of Retail Tech Media Nexus Consumer attention is the ultimate currency in today’s disruptive marketplace. Retailers are becoming publishers as a strategy to forge deeper connections with customers through authentic storytelling. Savvy retailers are leveraging first-party data with insights to create experiences that resonate on a personal level, upending the traditional advertising model. Join Shelley and Dominick Miserandino, a retail media mastermind to learn how the retail media network revolution isn't merely about selling ad space; it's about understanding customer journeys and facilitating meaningful interactions that transform browsing into belonging. As press releases and traditional marketing become less relevant, personalized narratives are emerging as the connective tissue between brands and consumers in an increasingly fragmented marketplace. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 233: Store Closures and Lease Structures Are Reshaping Commercial Retail 28:54

8 weeks ago28:54

28:54

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Guest: Stephanie Cegielski, VP of Research at ICSC The retail marketplace is in the throes of transformation. Despite the popular narrative of a retail apocalypse, commercial spaces are undergoing a renaissance. If developers and retailers are inventive and bold, store closures offer an opportunity for innovative reinvention. Today, vacancy rates hovering around just 4 percent; there's intense competition for those empty spaces. Scarcity, coupled with high construction costs, has created a competitive marketplace where the retailers that are reimagining traditional can thrive. Join Shelley and Stephanie Cegielski, VP of Research at ICSC as they discuss how successful malls have become vibrant ecosystems as technology hubs, dining spots, entertainment venues, and educational facilities. Listen and learn how retailers can successfully transform by taking advantage of new lease structures that have evolved dramatically, with flexible terms replacing rigid, decade-long commitments. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 232: Urban Outfitters Masters Strategic Innovation 30:49

9 weeks ago30:49

30:49

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Guest: Sandy Stein, founder of Retail Speak, and TRR contributor What makes a retail brand resilient? It starts with visionary leadership that sees the business holistically balancing merchandising expertise and creativity with financial discipline. Urban Outfitter CEO and founder Richard Hayne has a merchant-first mentality and leads the organization with strategic pivots to align with changing consumer preferences while maintaining brand integrity. Join Shelley and strategic visionary Sandy Stein as they discuss how Urban Outfitters has maintained a customer-centric culture, showing patience in stark contrast to aggressive scaling models that have led many other retailers to overexpansion and subsequent painful contraction. Surviving a series of market disruptions, like Amazon's and Walmart’s fashion plays into the contemporary market, Urban Outfitters has remarkable agility in navigating both headwinds and tailwinds. It stands as a compelling case study in adaptive strategy and vertical integration. Listen and learn how Hayne’s holistic approach to brand management, built on merchandising expertise rather than pure financial orientation, delivers a sustainable future for Urban Outfitters. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 231: Hudson’s Bay's Downfall: Why Richard Baker Failed 32:31

10 weeks ago32:31

32:31

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Guest: Mark A. Cohen Former Director of Retail Studies at the Columbia Business School, and Former CEO Sears Canada. Hudson’s Bay, once Canada's proud retail institution, has descended into Chapter 11 restructuring. And the blunt truth is it’s not because of recent trade tensions as the company proclaimed, but rather from years of financial neglect, unpredictable customer experiences, and questionable strategic moves. The department store's inconsistent merchandise assortments across different locations undermined The Bay’s identity, leaving customers confused about what the retailer actually stood for. Join Shelley and retail veteran Mark Cohen as they discuss how CEO Richard Baker's real estate-focused leadership and lack of retail expertise have led to catastrophic outcomes, reflecting the danger of prioritizing deal-making over operational excellence. His ineptitude doesn’t stop at Hudson’s Bay. Saks Global is at risk of long-term survival. It’s the perfect storm for Saks: The large luxe brands are not going to be bullied by Saks 90-day payment terms and Baker's financial engineering will give market share to Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 230: Rethinking Retail Marketing Leadership: AI and the Fractional Revolution 27:40

11 weeks ago27:40

27:40

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Guest: Lindsey Scheftic, CMO, Owner and Founder, The CMO Sidekick Fractional CMOs with blue-chip experience are sources of enterprise-level talent accessible even to mid-market companies. Couple that resource with AI tools that are moving at the speed of light, these strategic co-pilots are separating marketing winners from losers. With the explosion of video channel fragmentation creating a measurement nightmare and threatening attribution accuracy, and retail media networks evolving from a "necessary evil" into precision targeting powerhouses – both demand a new level of marketing expertise. Join Shelley and Lindsey Scheftic, CMO, owner and founder of The CMO Sidekick as they explore how marketing expertise is being fundamentally redefined. The traditional career path is dead, yesterday's marketing education is obsolete, and 65 percent of future marketing roles don't even exist today. Listen in to this provocative conversation to get up to speed on the future of marketing. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 229: Consumer Boycotts: A Major C-Suite Headache 26:48

12 weeks ago26:48

26:48

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Special Guest: Warren Shoulberg, Retail Journalist and TRR Writer Consumer spending is increasingly reflecting personal values. In a disruptive, unpredictable marketplace, the rise of grassroots activism presents unprecedented strategic challenges for retail executives. These orchestrated economic blackouts can transform individual purchasing decisions into collective action, triggering a compromised retail brand reputation with financial implications. While any immediate sales impact is difficult to quantify, brands are still vulnerable. Join Shelley and Warren Shoulberg, retail expert and TRR contributor, as they discuss whether these movements are successful and how the true power of these boycotts may lie in the symbolic expression of shifting the public discourse, particularly fueled by social media. The growing tension between consumer activists and retail brands sits at the heart of the strategic calculus of how the C-suite serves its customers and makes decisions. Now more than ever, retailers need to work harder to earn customer loyalty. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 228: When Necessities Become Luxuries: The Bird Flu Economy 18:33

13 weeks ago18:33

18:33

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! Special Guest: Phil Lempert, consumer behavior analyst The bird flu outbreak has transcended egg producers in the farming industry to become a critical economic disruptor and potential public health threat. With consumers spending 53 percent more on eggs in January 2025 compared to the previous year, this potential pandemic illustrates the fragility of our food systems despite technological advances. Join Shelley and Phil Lempert, expert analyst on consumer behavior, marketing trends and the changing retail landscape, as they discuss how the bird flu crisis is creating complex challenges for retailers, restaurateurs, supply chain executives, and public health officials alike. For more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com , where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .…

Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report

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EP 227: The What-Ifs of Potential Tariffs 23:19

14 weeks ago23:19