Future Shop Podcast with WSL

In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Fiona Sartoretto Verna, retail architect and co-leader of the company Sartoretto Verna™, founded by her grandfather to reshape the global pharmacy landscape.  Today, the company has designed pharmacies in over 48 countries, including the US. 

Episode Highlights:

• How her family company was founded to create a “temple of care”, rather than merely a dispensary
• How the model of US health care retail is obsolete, and requires new thinking to be profitable
• The importance of building health care retail that reflects each community it serves
• Creating unique experiences for younger and older patients (shoppers), pharmacies can no longer be one-size-fits-all.
• The role of technology in delivering not only efficiency but a customized, personalized health care selling experience
• Insights from other countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Italy, that are relevant for the reinvention of US health care

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Honaman, Head of Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development at Amazon Web Services, about the impact of the latest technologies transforming business.  

They discuss:

• How generative AI is the next big thing – at least for a moment.
• How the issues are around tariffs have turned CPG and retail conversations back to supply chain – for the moment.
• How AI is now part of every business discussion -- and not the next big thing.
• How companies win in this new technology age only if the CEO is totally engaged.
• And, the continuing speed at which everything is changing. Fast.

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Kevin Host, SVP Health & Wellness Pharmacy at Walmart about how the retailer is bringing accessible health care to communities across the US, every day and in times of crisis. 

They discuss: 

• The ongoing challenges to delivering easy to access pharmacy and medical care in the US 
• How Walmart is bringing solutions to “health deserts” 
• The ways technology – from automatic pharmacy fills to home delivery --  are enabling pharmacists to deliver healthier patients outcomes, easier access and better in-store experiences 
• Walmart’s “health strategy”  that involves, more affordable nutritional options, Nourish My Health 
• How other countries are addressing the challenges of health coverage 
• Accessible health care in times of weather-related crises 
• And, the role of drones, new store formats, parking lots and more. 

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Anna Harman, CEO and co-founder of Studs, the specialty ear piercing and earring retailer, with 33+ stores and e-commerce site, founded in 2019 just in time for Covid.  

They discuss:

• Going from corporate law to Walmart innovation lab to opening Studs.
• Creating a unique brand ecosystem through quality products, hospitality, and people.
• Learning early how to be good at dealing with emergencies to adapt a business model quickly in chaotic times. 
• TikTok and Instagram's critical role in building awareness of the brand’s unique customer experience.
• Why the mall is not dead as a point of distribution (but it needs to be the right mall).
• The role of unique (odd?) collaborations (like food) to grow awareness.
• Being ego-less, listening to customers, and not being reluctant to adapt fast.

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Keith Sleight, expert in “shopping understanding”, who most recently lead the Shopper Centre of Excellence at Unilever, about the state of shopper insights and where it’s headed.

They discuss:

• The biggest changes in the shopper research field over the last five years
• How “connected commerce” has changed how companies need to study shopping behaviors
• How we have more data than ever, but not necessarily more insight -- or context
• The impact of AI on research and analytics
• The lost art of observation and small data
• How to build a modern relevant organization (clue:  break down the silos, and get people away from their desks and into stores) 

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Diana Melencio, partner at XRC Ventures, an investor in the early-stage intersection of consumer behavior and technology, and its investment approach in the health, beauty, and technology sectors.

They discuss:

•  How XRC finds opportunities (one way:  scraping the web)
• The touchpoints of the consumer journey that have become so critical in understanding opportunities
• The challenges of growth when physical retail is shrinking, where stores will become showrooms, and DTC profitability is a challenge
• Retailers who win are those at the forefront of testing new things in growth marketing and performance marketing
• How AI is a must for accelerating growth opportunities
• How Retail Media is fast becoming the profit center for many retailer
• The concern for brands in the middle and their potential race to the bottom

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Honaman, Head, Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development at Amazon (AWS) about innovation and what expertise -- technology and people driven -- is required to build a modern company. 

They discuss:

• Real life use cases for how AI – and generative AI – is transforming work for retailers and brands, whether it’s product design or writing corporate manuals.
• How to innovate in the future. Where to go to be inspired.  They discuss places beyond the obvious.
• How critical it is to get out of the office, and your aisles – and take your teams with you.
• Why big brands and retailers are being disrupted every day. (Statis is not a long-term growth strategy).
• What people skills will be required in 2030 and beyond (it’s not what you think).
• How excited they are about the future of commerce.

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Joanna Jensen, founder of Child’s Farm, the British multi-award winning, baby and child personal care brand that took leadership of the category from behemoth Johnson’s Baby.

They discuss:

• How to take on the biggest brand and win.
• Why passion so often leads to disruptive brand and retail innovation.
• That the spending power of women will drive growth – now and in the future.
• Why the physical store still matters: it’s the power of social interaction.
• The importance of retaining a challenger brand mentality, after a business is acquired by large organizations
• How to build a relevant work culture: it’s in person, lifestyle relevant and health supported. (Yes, menopause support makes a difference, for women and men.)

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Catherine Magee, co-founder of Playground, the sexual health and wellness brand, about the opportunities and challenges facing this newly emerging area of women’s health.

They discuss:

• How sexual health and wellness is the last frontier of overall health and wellness.
• That 60 million women in the US suffer from some sexual health or pleasure issue often driven by a life stage change such as pregnancy, peri-menopause or menopause. 
• How social media is creating a greater openness.
• The urgency to transition from outdated category definitions and shaming into vernacular that is more relevant and positive.
• How new products and categories are emerging quickly, and will bring a modern openness to the retail aisle (physical or digital)
• That retailers across channels, from Target to Ulta to Nordstrom, see the opportunity.
• Challenges of building a women-first brand centered around women’s pleasure and health needs, and where future investment is required to capture the massive opportunity.

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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Honaman, Head of Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development for Amazon Web Services.  They preview 2025, and what winning companies are doing – and need to do – to capitalize on the latest technology…and other things.

They discuss:

• The continuing tension around pricing.
• How AI is quickly becoming ingrained into the everyday business culture; from supply chain to CRM, ecommerce and marketing transformation
• The state and future of retail media 
• How to leverage technology in new ways to drive personalization and loyalty
• In-store technology, including self-checkout, are being embraced. 
• New ways for brands and retailers to collaborate
• The re-emergence – and dangers -- of silo-ism
• A call to action to get out from behind our desks to immerse ourselves beyond data, and categories, to see all the innovation and opportunity

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