Retail Remix

Retail executive. Keynote speaker. Consultant. Author. Steve Dennis has an expansive history, and undeniable passion, for retail. Over the past 30 years, he has kept a pulse on where the industry is going, and has provided invaluable guidance to help organizations can respond. New developments surrounding the novel coronavirus have forced retailers to pause, pivot or completely rethink their businesses. Steve believes these new realities will accelerate some of the key trends he has discussed in his lectures, articles for Forbes and even his new book, Remarkable Retail. 

In this episode of Retail Remix, Steve delves into:

• The mounting uncertainties surrounding COVID-19;
• The acceleration of disruptive forces, including the "collapse of the middle";
• What the mall of the future may look like; and
• The key theories and examples that drive his new book.

SHOW NOTES

• Buy Steve's new book, Remarkable Retail 
• Read Steve's articles on Forbes
• Have Steve speak

News and updates surrounding the novel coronavirus are emerging daily, if not hourly. Retailers are scrambling to adapt and respond, whether it be in the form of new hours, alternative fulfillment offerings, enhanced safety policies or furloughs. Other brands, especially those in apparel, cosmetics and other non-essential categories, are attempting to pivot their marketing and engagement strategies to digital, as more consumers spend their days browsing online.

During this follow-up conversation, the Retail TouchPoints editorial team discusses the latest news around:

• Shifts in consumer behaviors;
• Lifts in e-Commerce traffic; and
• How brands are responding.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Coronavirus Effects, Moody's
• Coronavirus Safety & Security Tools, National Retail Federation
• Resources & Tools for Addressing COVID-19, National Council
• Coronavirus Information & Resources, ICSC
• COVID-19 Global Cases, Johns Hopkins
• Coronavirus Report, SAS
• Retail TouchPoints Coverage & Analysis

All brands are adapting their experience strategies to Gen Z in order to capture more wallet share. For Barnes & Noble College, it's imperative for survival. That's why Ken Wincko, VP of Marketing, is focusing on creating digital strategies that help college students feel more connected to their communities. During this episode of Retail Remix, Ken reveals why he's actually in the business of experience orchestration, and how Barnes & Noble College has seen success with:

• Mobile and social integration;
• Lifestyle-inspired product curation; and
• Brand partnerships, activations and events.

With a rich history in licensing, Christine Currence has reached a new milestone in her career: president and owner of Badgley Mischka. Now, she's helping the brand navigate this exciting, albeit volatile, time in fashion. The advent of social media has eliminated the exclusivity in luxury, with consumers demanding more access, more authenticity and more alignment with brands. During this episode of Retail Remix, we sit down with Christine and dig into:

• Her rich career in fashion, and how she ended up owning Badgley Mischka;
• What the fall of "exclusive luxury" means for fashion brands; and
• How the brand is using innovative technology, such as Runway by SAP, to bridge the gap between customer feedback and brand strategy.

News and developments surrounding COVID-19 are being released at a rapid pace. The Retail TouchPoints editorial team has been working diligently to update readers on new guidelines, store closures and realities surrounding supply chain, logistics, e-Commerce experience and more. However, these updates have been coming so quickly that the team has decided to come together to have a quick discussion around what's happening right now and what the implications may be down the line.

During this episode, Alicia Esposito connects with editor Adam Blair and senior editor Glenn Taylor, to get their perspectives on:

• Latest store closures and revised hours across categories;
• The state of malls and possible implications for developers and mall-based retailers;
• Strategic approaches to "social distancing," with an emphasis on flexible fulfillment options;
• Supply chain delays and logistics challenges that are impacting the customer experience; and
• How brands are leveraging empathy to take a people-first approach to navigating the pandemic.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Coronavirus Effects, Moody's
• Coronavirus Safety & Security Tools, National Retail Federation
• Resources & Tools for Addressing COVID-19, National Council
• Coronavirus Information & Resources, ICSC
• COVID-19 Global Cases, Johns Hopkins
• Coronavirus Report, SAS
• Retail TouchPoints Coverage & Analysis

As the president and owner of Badgley Mischka, Christine Currence is tasked with helping her business partners (including Mark Badgley and James Mischka) keep pace with new consumer trends and engagement imperatives. When she's not, she's a shopper...just like us. During this installment of Rapid Fire Retail, we learn her preferences and what tech she believes will have the biggest impact on the industry in 2020.

Melissa Gonzalez, Founder and CEO of the Lion’esque Group, has been one of the driving forces in the era of experiential retail. One of the first experts to delve into the pop-up paradigm (hence her book of the same name), Melissa has worked with countless brands to help them reimagine their brick-and-mortar experiences. Listen in as she shares her take on what’s next in experiential, the technology she’s especially excited about, and how her company’s merger with MG2 will lead to big things for the industry at large. 

How does one of the key leaders in experiential retail prefer to shop? What brands is she loyal to? Most importantly, what advice does she have for retailers striving to stay relevant in consumers’ minds and hearts? During this episode of Rapid Fire Retail, we get to the heart of some key issues (and have some fun) with Melissa Gonzalez, Founder and CEO of the Lion’esque Group. 

In the new era of retail, having the right price and product will only get you so far. That’s what people use Amazon for. To win shopper loyalty, brands must prove to them that they stand for something—and that they align with consumers’ values, beliefs and lifestyles. Rob Garf, VP of Industry Strategy and Insights at Salesforce, breaks down the big trust issue in retail, and how diversity, sustainability, and other issues are rising to the top of retailers’ priorities. 

Rob Garf has been in the retail space for 20 years. He’s whip-smart, forward-thinking and is an all-around good guy. He’s a key source for Retail TouchPoints as we strive to uncover the leading tech trends and imperatives for experience success. While we dig into a lot of that in next week’s episode, this week we want to get to know him a little bit better. During the first installment of our Rapid Fire Retail segment, Rob shares his favorite brands, his shopping preferences, and his take on which technologies are a must-watch—and which are a merely a fad.