On this week's Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels discuss the rollout of ChatGPT's new Instant Checkout feature that will initially support single-item purchases from Etsy sellers, and how brands are increasingly looking at third-party AI tools as a sales channel. Then they chat about Walmart's announcement that it's removing more artificial dyes and additives from its private label food products amid a growing drumbeat of customer demand for transparency and clean ingredients.

Then on the featured segment (16:40), the hosts are joined by Taylor Capuano and Casey Sarai, who co-founded Cakes Body in 2021. Their discussion focuses on the company benefits they've rolled out to improve company performance, and how emerging brands can redefine corporate culture. The company blew up on TikTok and has now surpassed $100 million in revenue. This summer they also made their national retail debut in Ulta stores.

Behind the scenes, though, Cakes offers benefits to employees like child care reimbursement and unlimited PTO that the founders say increases company performance in the long run. Their conversation dives into not only why Cakes offers such benefits but how it is adhering to this company culture as it scales, including: the importance of a $3,000 per month child care benefit that is used by around 20% of their team, how Cakes employees schedule and plan to accommodate week-long companywide quiet periods, even during the fourth quarter, and the advantages of being a bootstrapped company when it comes to deciding operational expenses.