In this episode of our Anchored podcast, host Ethan Chernofsky interviews Courtney Hawkins, the Senior Vice President of Retail at J.Jill, who brings a wealth of executive experience from former roles at major brands like Gap, Old Navy, and Bath & Body Works. Hawkins shares her personal morning routine, emphasizing that an almond milk vanilla latte is an essential prerequisite before starting her day or attending meetings. She reveals that she was drawn to J.Jill after visiting a store and falling in love with its product and customer base. She highlights that J.Jill focuses on serving women over the age of 50—a demographic that is traditionally underserved in the retail market—and aims to build a community and seamless omnichannel experience spanning catalogs, digital platforms, and physical spaces.

Hawkins heavily emphasizes that despite the rise of AI and automation, the human touch remains irreplaceable in brick-and-mortar retail. J.Jill customers enjoy deep, first-name relationships with store associates, often visiting stores specifically to shop using physical catalogs. She views technology as a supportive enabler that eliminates friction—such as facilitating inventory lookups or "buy online, pickup in store" (BOPIS) services—allowing associates to focus entirely on building genuine connections. Looking to the future, Hawkins discusses how retail spaces are evolving into community hubs that favor curated assortments, digital styling integration, and pop-ups over traditional massive checkout areas. To conclude, she names the intersection of AI and physical retail as the industry's biggest trend, calls to retire the overhyped "retail apocalypse" narrative since physical stores never truly left, and shares her recent inspiration from a highly personalized shopping trip at a boutique in Soho.

In this episode of Anchored, host Ethan Chernofsky sits down with James Cook, Head of Retail Research at JLL and host of the Where We Buy podcast, to explore the rapidly evolving intersection of entertainment and retail real estate. The discussion centers around a comprehensive report tracking location-based entertainment (LBE)—excluding movie theaters—and its massive footprint expansion across North America. As macroeconomic pressures prompt consumers to swap big vacations for close-to-home experiences, landlords and developers are increasingly utilizing vacant mid-price retail spaces to bring innovative concepts online.

From the dominance of trampoline parks and indoor kid zones to highly replayable "challenge rooms" and single-sport competitive socializing venues, the conversation breaks down how these concepts drive recurring traffic and change the fundamental layout of modern shopping destinations. The episode wraps up with Cook's takes on the future of physical retail, the reality of the "barbell economy," the oversaturation of the niche beverage market, and a look at San Juan Capistrano's River Street Marketplace.

This episode of our Anchored podcast features Adam Shane, the owner of Yoga Joint New York and former executive at both Barry's and Equinox. The discussion explores the significant evolution of the fitness and wellness industry over the past several years, attributing its growth to a foundational generational shift toward longevity and a healthier lifestyle rather than just a temporary post-pandemic reaction. Shane describes this as a move toward "360 wellness" that encompasses everything from hyper-focused boutique studios to massive "urban and suburban country clubs" like Lifetime Fitness.The conversation also delves into the operational strategies necessary for success in an increasingly competitive market, highlighting the vital roles of consistency, hospitality, and community building. Shane explains how Yoga Joint creates fully immersive, high-capacity experiences to foster large communities, comparing the emotional connection of these spaces to high-end hospitality brands. Additionally, the episode addresses the impact of GLP-1 medications on the market, noting how they act as a "flywheel" by bringing new, more confident participants into boutique fitness and strength training environments.

In this episode of Anchored, host Ethan Chernofsky is joined by Hue Chen, President and CEO of Saglo Companies, to discuss the current state of the retail real estate ecosystem. Chen expresses significant optimism, noting that retail fundamentals are at their strongest in over two decades due to a prolonged lack of new construction, steady population growth, and the stabilization of e-commerce as a market disruptor. The conversation explores the transformative potential of AI in streamlining property operations and reducing the "toil" of administrative tasks, which in turn allows real estate professionals to focus more on human interactions and community building

The discussion also delves into the specific success of the Florida market, attributing its recent acceleration to a business-friendly environment and its rapid reopening following the pandemic. Chen emphasizes the importance of "necessity-based" and "daily needs" retail, arguing that a shopping center’s strength lies in its connection to the local community rather than its physical appearance alone. He highlights the unique "superpower" of local "mom and pop" tenants who maintain deep ties to their neighborhoods, often proving more resilient and dedicated than national chains during economic shifts.

Host Ethan Chernofsky welcomes Brent DeRaad, CEO of the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, to Placer.ai’s Anchored podcast to discuss the regional impact of hosting the World Cup at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium). DeRaad highlights that preparing for the tournament required a massive three-year regional coordination effort involving various city departments, different levels of government, and the state office of tourism. While hoteliers grew anxious due to lower occupancy rates two weeks prior to the matches, a massive surge of last-minute bookings occurred within 48 hours of game times. Ultimately, June hotel occupancy fell 1% year-over-year, but the average daily rate jumped 47%, driving a record-breaking $31 million in room revenue for the city.

DeRaad emphasizes that international visitors brought a tremendous spirit of camaraderie, showing high engagement with local venues like "Texas Live" while seeking out authentic Texas experiences like barbecue and cowboy hats. A major logistical highlight was the "Ambassador Row" initiative, which allowed group-stage consulates to set up temporary offices near the stadium to assist visitors with immediate medical care, tracking ride-shares, and replacing lost passports. Looking ahead to the 2028 LA Olympics, DeRaad advises planners to account for heavy ride-share usage from international travelers and to maintain operational flexibility for impromptu fan marches. Concluding on broader tourism trends, DeRaad outlines a bifurcated market where high airfares are pushing budget travelers toward localized drive markets, and expresses excitement over potentially hosting future events like the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup and another Super Bowl.

In this episode of our Anchored podcast, host Ethan Chernofsky sits down with Evie Gross, the Vice President of National Accounts at Brixmor Property Group, to explore the current dynamics of the retail real estate market. The conversation highlights a significant shift in the sector, noting that a decade-long lack of new supply has pushed occupancy rates to approximately 95%, granting landlords the ability to be highly selective with their merchandising strategies. Gross outlines the essential elements of a successful modern shopping center, which include a mix of community-relevant local concepts, "first-to-market" national brands, and high-quality grocery anchors tailored to local demographics.

The discussion further delves into the evolving role of convenience and the physical store, emphasizing how retailers are using data to navigate space scarcity and test non-traditional formats like grocery-anchored centers. Gross explains that landlords are increasingly focused on "placemaking" by incorporating green spaces and community events to enhance brand discovery and engagement. This episode covers emerging industry trends, identifying the integration of health and wellness as a major growth area while questioning the long-term sustainability of aggressive, multi-thousand-store expansion plans for drive-thru coffee chains.

This episode of Placer.ai's Anchored podcast features host Ethan Chernofsky in conversation with Zora Senat, Chief Commercial Officer at Cuebiq. The discussion explores the significant evolution of the data industry over the past 15 years, moving from static direct mail lists to a modern, multi-channel landscape defined by addressable audiences and the growing importance of first-party data. Senat shares insights on how different sectors, like financial services and retail, can learn from each other regarding privacy, regulation, and sophisticated data management.

A major theme of the episode is the necessity of remaining customer-centric by democratizing information across a business to improve consumer experiences. The conversation also addresses the role of AI, framing it as a critical tool that relies heavily on high-quality data and human expertise to be effective. Senat highlights retail media networks as a burgeoning trend and emphasizes that human-driven service models remain a key differentiator in an increasingly automated world.

In this episode of Anchored, Ethan Chernofsky sits down with retail industry veteran Barrie Scardina to explore the shifting dynamics of the physical retail landscape. Drawing on her executive experience at iconic brands like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, Scardina provides a multi-layered analysis of retail from the consumer, brand, and real estate perspectives.The conversation delves into the "K-shaped economy" and the specific sectors currently driving growth, such as value retail and the burgeoning health, wellness, and beauty space.

Scardina outlines the "ingredients" for a successful modern shopping center—emphasizing community-driven data and the "urbanization of the suburbs"—and discusses why the future of the physical store depends on shifting from a transactional ethos to an experiential one. The episode concludes with a forward-looking look at the role of AI in retail and the enduring importance of knowledgeable brand ambassadors in building long-term customer loyalty.

In this episode of Anchored, host Ethan Chernofsky sits down with Stephanie McMahan, Director of Shopper Insights at the Coca-Cola Company, to explore why human connection remains retail's most irreplaceable asset. The conversation unpacks the enduring power of the physical store — not just as a place to transact, but as a space for discovery and social engagement, especially for younger generations who treat retail environments as social hubs.

The discussion dives into what it actually takes to meet the moment, from navigating macro shifts like an aging population and the rise of Gen Alpha, to rethinking category management and brand strategy amid historically low consumer sentiment. McMahan makes the case that brands and retailers carry a real responsibility to create in-store experiences that uplift and engage — going far beyond the transaction. The episode also tackles AI's growing role in retail, where McMahan frames it as a powerful "co-pilot" for efficiency and ideation, while drawing a clear line: critical thinking and the art of human connection must stay human. Looking ahead, she points to hyper-personalization through first-party data as the next major frontier — enabling retailers to recognize and respond to the unique, situational needs of every individual shopper.

In this episode of Anchored, host Ethan Chernofsky sits down with Andrew Lipsman to unpack why the physical store may be retail media's most underestimated frontier. The conversation explores the concept of the in-store environment as a "mega channel," breaking down how what currently generates a few hundred million dollars in advertising revenue could scale to $20 billion over the next decade — if retailers move decisively.

The discussion dives into what it actually takes to capture that opportunity, from investing in digital infrastructure like in-store screens and backend technology, to navigating the organizational and customer experience challenges that stand in the way. This episode offers a clear-eyed look at what separates retailers who will lead the in-store media revolution from those who will be left behind.