Retail Remix

Even when we're not in lock down, we've likely all been minimizing the number of trips we take to stores, even grocery stores. That's why, following years of buzz, we're finally seeing a boost in digital grocery shopping. Although grocery shopping app Basket has always focused on helping customers find the best price for items on their shopping lists, the company has uncovered a new opportunity: to help grocers and brands better understand and serve shoppers, even as their needs and behaviors change.

During this episode, Basket co-founder Andy Ellwood reveals:

• How Basket has evolved from a shopping app to a powerful insights platform;
• Key trends and consumer behaviors the app is tracking in light of the pandemic;
• Why these behaviors are driving Basket's strategic priorities;
• Ways retailers and brands can adapt to respond to online grocery's official arrival; and
• The future of loyalty in grocery.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Basket
• Get in-store pricing insights

Streaming services have disrupted traditional TV advertising as we know it. Gone are the days when brands and retailers could push messaging via commercial spots and see revenue roll in. With more households bingeing on Netflix, Hulu and Apple+ content, companies need a more contextual way to reach and influence consumers. Laura and Hank Frecon started Source Digital as a result of Laura's work as a costume designer for shows like "Mad Men." She wanted to find a better, more organic way to connect viewers to the products featured in specific scenes. Now, the company is helping usher in a new era of "contextual commerce" and driving innovation in one of advertising's most renowned channels. During this episode, Laura and Hank share:

• What "contextual commerce" is;
• How it's evolving and advancing as a result of COVID-19;
• Applications and use cases for different product categories; and
• How "contextual commerce will impact media buying and marketing strategy.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Source Digital

As the pandemic continues to shift consumer behaviors and sentiment, brands and retailers should rethink the way they market. Historically, demographic consumer data was enough to formulate a messaging and marketing plan. But humans are complex and they want to buy from companies that offer great value, great experiences and align with their needs and values. During this episode, Ross Kimbarovsky, Founder and CEO of crowdspring, shares his perspective on how the psychology of marketing has changed, and how these changes will impact:

• Branding and design;
• Messaging and engagement strategies;
• Adoption of mission-based business; and
• Brand reinvention

RELATED LINKS

• Visit the Crowdspring blog
• Dig deeper into marketing psychology topics

As Co-founder and CEO of retail technology company Bluecore, Fayez Mohamood has had his fair share of conversations with brand executives, especially those in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) space. While many think of companies like Warby Parker and Dollar Shave Club, which have successfully disrupted their categories, we're seeing household names like PepsiCo and Clorox launch their own branded experiences to get closer to their customers. As more companies try to capitalize on the DTC movement, there are some new trends, best practices and implications they must consider, especially in the current climate. That is why Mohamood founded the DTC Collective, an industry think tank for and by digital retail executives. During this episode he shares:

• Why a collective was needed for the booming DTC space;
• New challenges that have emerged for DTC amid the pandemic;
• How DTC brands and their retail peers can address new customer needs and expectations; and
• Trends and best practices to apply during the holiday season and beyond.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about the DTC Collective
• Download the DTC Collective's report on the forever-changed consumer
• Read the DTC Collective's report on the digital-first holiday season
• Check out the Bluecore website
• Visit Bluecore’s Retail Data Dashboard: Ongoing Insights into Online Shopping
• Download Bluecore’s 2020 Retail Email Benchmark Report

Historically, payment has been defined merely as a "last step" in the buying journey — the aftermath of the immersive and exciting elements that make a brand or retailer stand out. Klarna is changing that; the "buy now, pay later" company was recently valued at $10.65 billion in an investment round led by Silver Lake and garnered investment from Macy's. Klarna also has an impressive roster of brand and retailer partners in its corner, and coupled with partnerships with the likes of Cosmopolitan, these relationships point to Klarna's evolution from a B2B fintech company to an end-to-end B2C experience provider.

During this episode, host Alicia Esposito sits down with David Sykes, who is the Head of Klarna US, to discuss:

• Why the payment experience gets such a bad rap;
• The inspiration behind Klarna's approach to virtual brand experiences;
• The influence and impact of the "buy now, pay later" market during the recession; and
• Accounting for engagement, business ethics and accountability in a time of industry transformation.

When you get the right people in a room (or in most cases today, on a video call), magical things can happen. New ideas are shared and new opportunities are discovered. But make no mistake, the "right people" doesn't mean the "same people." As CEO of The Medici Group, Frans Johansson spends his days consulting with business leaders on the value of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), and how they support business differentiation and growth. He founded the business following the release of his 2004 book, The Medici Effect: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us About Innovation. The book drove home one key point, according to Johansson: “Diversity drives innovation. When you bring together different perspectives, you have a better shot at breaking new ground.”

During this special episode, Johansson sits down with host Alicia Esposito to discuss how:

• DE&I has evolved with the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement;
• Diverse teams impact organizations' ability to innovate and differentiate; and
• A commitment to diversity can impact talent acquisition, retention and loyalty.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Frans Johansson and his work
• Buy his books
• Book him for one of your events

Retail TouchPoints is lucky to have Frans as a speaker during the Retail Innovation Conference Online Experience, which is taking place Oct. 13-14. All podcast listeners have access to a special offer: 25% off an All-Access Pass! Just register using: pod.ric20.online

Jason McNary is no stranger to pop-ups. As UNOde50's CEO of the Americas, McNary has helped the brand generate awareness, boost engagement and connect more directly with local markets. Pop-up stores were an integral part of this strategy. But what does the future of pop-ups look when the entire brick-and-mortar world is being turned upside down? During this episode, McNary shares his insights on:

• The successes and lessons of UNOde50's pop-up strategy;
• Whether he believes the pop-up trend will fizzle or sizzle in a post-pandemic world; and
• How cutting-edge technology and demand for touchless experiences will shape future investments.

Retail TouchPoints is lucky to have Jason as a speaker during the Retail Innovation Conference Online Experience, which is taking place Oct. 13-14. All podcast listeners have access to a special offer: 25% off an All-Access Pass! Just register using: pod.ric20.online

James Thomson is a former Amazon executive that helped make the Internet titan what it is today. Now, he's using his experiences and learnings to help brands be successful on the platform...and beyond. As Chief Strategy Officer of Buy Box Experts and Co-Founder of the PROSPER Show, James sits down with host Alicia Esposito to discuss:

• The unavoidable growth of Amazon during the pandemic;
• Key developments and innovations from the company;
• Important findings and takeaways from Jeff Bezos's antitrust hearing testimony; and
• Why it's time for brands to prioritize integrity of product data and all things content.

RELATED LINKS

• Listen to the Buy Box Experts podcast
• Get more insights and resources from the blog
• Register for the PROSPER Virtual Show
• Buy the book: Controlling Your Brand in the Age of Amazon
• Read Retail TouchPoints' latest report on marketplaces

Ready to save 25% off your All-Access pass for the 2020 Retail Innovation Conference?

Register here: http://pod.ric20.online
Discount Code: PODVIP

Bra shopping has never been easy. Even in high-end locations with white-glove fitting services, consumers often find themselves with imperfect fits and money down the drain. ThirdLove was founded to make the bra shopping process painless. Using cutting-edge technology and data, ThirdLove has built a cult-like following because the company doesn't just make finding the perfect bra super easy; it helps customers feel connected to a larger community of like-minded individuals. But the brand's fitting technology isn't the only source of data used to power the business. During this episode, co-founder and CEO Heidi Zak reveals how data is embedded into all facets of the ThirdLove business, and how the team used new insights during the pandemic to inform:

• Product development and inventory management;
• Marketing and content creation; and
• New business endeavors and communities, such as the TL Effect.

Retail TouchPoints is lucky to have Heidi as a speaker during the Retail Innovation Conference Online Experience, which is taking place Oct. 13-14. All podcast listeners have access to a special offer: 25% off an All-Access Pass! Just register using: pod.ric20.online

Influencer marketing has become a hot-button trend for brands and retailers alike. Lauded for its effectiveness and overall ability to foster engaged communities, influencer marketing also has received its fair share of criticism, especially in light of some influencers using bots and other methods to inflate their results. During this episode, Stacy DeBroff, Founder and CEO of Influence Central, breaks down what brands and retailers need to know about the present and future of the space, and answers key questions including:

• Have consumers relied on influencers more or less during COVID?
• How will key influencer channels change in light of the shift to digital?
• What value does TikTok bring to influencer marketing?
• How will a potential sale impact TikTok's future impact?
• What do brands and retailers need to do to ensure influencer marketing success?

RELATED LINKS

• Get more influencer marketing news on the Influence Central blog

Ready to save 25% off your All-Access pass for the 2020 Retail Innovation Conference?

Register here: http://pod.ric20.online
Discount Code: PODVIP