Resilient Retail

Allbirds was one of DTC’s first pioneers when they built their successful sustainable sneaker brand. Driven by an ethos of transparent sustainability, every pair of Allbirds shoes is made with earth-friendly materials like merino wool and eucalyptus fiber. Travis Boyce is Head of Global Retail Operations at Allbirds and handles all things brick and mortar for the brand. He explained why Allbirds decided to pursue a global retail strategy - and why they view their current efforts as simply another channel within their original DTC framework.

On today's BONUS episode, Kristen takes us on a tour across the UK and Ireland retail. You'll hear from four retailers and experts based in the UK and Ireland as they tell us the stories of their last 12 months and their plans for reopening.

Every Friday, join us as we cover the hottest industry news and trends of the week. This week, Kristen and Kat Cole talk about all things cannabis industry, dispensaries and their retail methods, their favorite brands, and Kat shares her theory of how CBD will blow up in the years to come!

Sustainability starts with good habits, and good habits can start with great role models. This episode of Resilient Retail focuses on Azora Zoe Paknad, founder of ecommerce retail brand Goldune. Goldune is all about injecting excitement into the realm of sustainable and zero waste shopping. For Azora, this meant elevating sustainability out of the realm of hippie handbags or wealthy housewives and transforming it into something both approachable and chic. By curating a carefully vetted collection of sustainable brands from diverse merchants, Goldune entices shoppers to put sustainability center stage.

Join Steph LaPosta each week for Real Life Retail. A weekly segment with honest, candid conversations with retailers. In this episode, Richard Nair of Nishe shares his story of launching Nishe, the loyalty and emotional aspect of connecting to stores, and how creating monthly idea sounding boards helps further the business.

When Jack Meredith became the first employee at Kettle & Fire, the company had zero revenue and next to no retail know-how. Today, their healthy bone broth products are sold online, in stores like Whole Foods, via subscription, and more. Kettle & Fire’s technique lies in proactively listening to customers and taking a uniquely hands-on approach to growth. In this episode of Resilient Retail, Jack described how Kettle & Fire took on the wholesale market by mailing letters to local nutritionists, and how they use their digital presence to test and execute the perfect marketing messages.

Every Friday, join Kristen and a co-host to cover the hottest industry news and trends of the week. This week, Halie LeSavage, writer of Retail Brew is here to chat about Dick’s Sporting Goods’ new experiential flagship concept, a major acquisition in the jewelry world, results from a new teen spending survey, and lastly our hosts wonder whether the pandemic has made brunch culture a thing of the past.

When Althea Johnson opened Korean beauty shop Propr Life + Style a mere week before the pandemic, she was soon surrounded by shuttered stores on all sides. But the creative and resourceful retailer refused to be one of them. Instead, she anchored herself in growing her business through an innovative combination of home delivery, social media, and email marketing. By listening to her customers’ changing needs and remaining available through thick and thin, Althea earned the loyalty of a customer base that was eager for self-care dialogue during a trying time.

Join Steph LaPosta each week for Real Life Retail. A weekly segment with honest, candid conversations with retailers. In this episode, Brenda Ngina Kahura of Parkdale Pet Foods shares her experience starting a business in the midst of COVID, navigating health regulations, the booming pet industry, oh yeah, and all the regular growing pains and celebrations of starting a small business.

For many physical retailers, business is driven by maximizing square footage and cramming the windows with bestsellers. For Gorjana and Jason Griffin Reidel, building their jewelry business gorjana was more about feng shui. By embracing things like aesthetics, scent, and an authentic sense of place - not to mention gorgeous jewelry - the couple has created a growing brand that customers come back to again and again.