Retail Revolution

Stephen Richards Jr. is an entrepreneur and bespoke clothier. He is the owner of Richards Bespoke a custom clothing company that specializes in custom made suits, sport coats, slacks, dress shirts, and accessories.

Learn more: LinkedIn | Richards Bespoke

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

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Daniel Salcedo is content producer and serial entrepreneur focusing on creating technology products and video content. Over the past 15 years, he has managed and lead video productions for Fortune 500 brands such as Pepsi, Samsung, Toyota, and Delta; cable networks, OTT’S, and studios including HBO, Discovery, Turner, Netflix, and Youtube/Vevo. Daniel has produced Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) products that were featured in the Sundance Film Festival, Art Basel, and New York Fashion Week

As an entrepreneur, Daniel co-founded Muuseme and Trenderscope, a music licensing platform developed for the advertising industry in the USA. He successfully sold that company three years after founding it. His latest venture, ShopYourFIt was born out of two of his biggest passions: video and technology. It is the first discovery platform for the fashion industry that matches users with clothing based on their body type and style.

Learn more: LinkedIn | ShopYourFit

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

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Steve Dennis is a consultant, keynote speaker and author focused on retail growth and innovation. He has been named a top global retail influencer by multiple organizations and his thoughts on the future of shopping are regularly shared in his role as a Forbes Senior Contributor. Steve's best-selling book-- "Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption"--will be released in a completely revised and expanded 2nd edition this Spring. He is also the host of the Remarkable Retail podcast.

During a 30 year career as a senior executive at two Fortune 500 retailers–and more recently as a strategic advisor–Steve has worked with dozens of retail, consumer, luxury and social impact brands to inspire, catalyze and design their journey to remarkable results.

As a sought-out keynote speaker, Steve has delivered talks on six continents, sharing his unique perspective on what it takes to reignite customer growth in a world of constant change and shifting consumer preferences.

He has contributed commentary to Bloomberg/Business Week, the BBC, CNBC, CNN, the Harvard Business Review and the Wall Street Journal, among many others.

Steve is currently the President of SageBerry Consulting. Prior to founding SageBerry, he was the chief strategy officer and SVP, multichannel marketing for the Neiman Marcus Group.

Steve received his MBA from Harvard and a BA from Tufts University.

Learn more: LinkedIn | Steve P Dennis

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

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With 16 years experience in the global fashion industry living and working in 4 countries (Turkey, China, Germany and England UK) over 4 continents (USA/Europe/Asia and Africa) for international brands and retailers including Puma, C&A, Animal, Russell Athletic, WIlson and Fila, Professional Fashion Designer Jacqueline Shaw birthed Africa Fashion Guide, the only sourcing consultancy and information based platform for African fashion. Africa Fashion Guide has become a key tool that educates, informs and retunes the perceptions of Africa's fashion and textile industry – an industry Jacqueline sees as a vehicle for trade and development.

Now as an Author of the acclaimed coffee table book Fashion Africa, an International Public Speaker, a University lecturer, an African Fashion Business Coach, a Consultant and an industry researcher, Jacqueline, who owns a Bachelors degree in Fashion (2001), a Masters degree in Ethical Fashion (2011) and a Masters in Social Research (2018) is known for being an expert and most proudly an ambassador in the Ethical African fashion landscape.

Having spoken at elite venues such as House of Lords London, London Eye, European Commission Brussels, Fashion Institute Technology NYC, Who's Next Paris to name a few, she actively campaigns for a more responsible way of doing fashion business and doing it well in Africa. Jacqueline has built up her name and is recognised internationally as a public speaker.

As an African Fashion Business Coach with past clients that includes Lineapelle, Miroglio, Brighton Museum (for their Fashion Cities Africa exhibition), Prospero World (World for their African Fashion Award) and British Council (for their Enterprise Africa Summit), she uses her expertise to bring to life African fashion led projects. Jacqueline, with her unique tools and strategies, specialises in creating sustainable solutions that help new and existing fashion businesses successfully navigate the sourcing and manufacturing landscape of Africa's fashion and textile industry. 

Jacqueline believes Africa is Fashion's Future and has used her African fashion tee shirt campaign using Fairtrade, organic African cotton tees made in Africa by Africans to spread this message on the catwalks of London Fashion Week to Ghana to Los Angeles. Jacqueline is unapologetically a champion for fashion in Africa and her work and reputation not only proceeds her, but represents her enthusiasm and high belief in this. Due to this she aims to equip as much people as possible in setting up businesses in Africa to build trade, contribute to Africa's GDP, and impact thousands of African lives using the vehicle of Fashion.

Jacqueline through Africa Fashion Guide Ltd has an array of events and programs including Fashion Africa Conference, Fashion Africa Voices, Fashion Africa Business Academy, Fashion Africa Trade Expo and Fashion Africa Sourcing Trips.

Learn more: LinkedIn | Wax and Wraps

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

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Paul Kweku Akrofie is the founder and CEO of Real Peoples Company (RPC) Ltd., a Ghanaian design and manufacturing brand that currently produces quality bags and accessories in Accra. With a passionate belief that quality comes from Africa, Paul uses a creative mix of locally sourced materials to create forward-looking designs that are locally inspired, globally oriented. The company also works on design and manufacturing contracts for multinational brands like the Vlisco Group (Woodin) and Nestlé. Through his leadership and enthusiasm to create dignified and meaningful jobs for Africa’s youth, Paul serves as a business training coach in partnership with the Impact HUB Accra and is providing local tailors with skill sets and jobs through his contracts which would have been outsourced internationally. He is also a member and alumni of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum and currently heads the Ghana committee for sustainable fashion organized yearly in partnership with Fashion Revolution in Accra.

Learn more: LinkedIn | Real Peoples Company Ltd.

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

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Sydney Price is an award-winning executive and the Founder and CEO at The Knew Purpose, a conscious leadership company with the vision to advance sustainability, social impact, and innovation in business. She is a dynamic force at designing, developing, and implementing sustainability and social impact programs while creating new revenue channels and profitability for companies.

Sydney is recognized as a catalyst in business transformation for her abilities to intertwine purpose, business, and social impact and, as a result, has been awarded “Most Influential Women” by CEO Connection, 2015. As an ICF certified coach and inspirational facilitator, Sydney continues to take her experiences to the next level by empowering other leaders, businesses, universities, non-profits, and social entrepreneurs.

Previously, as SVP of Social Impact at Kate Spade & Company (KSC), Sydney strategically developed, implemented, and led a new, profitable commercial channel within KSC value chain and built a women-focused international Social Enterprise Supplier Model in Rwanda. Sydney’s innovative model was awarded “Best Economic Empowerment Program” from the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation in 2015 and was studied and endorsed by Georgetown University in 2017. Prior to this role, she was SVP of Direct to Consumer and Global Merchandising at KSC and held multiple leadership positions at Neiman Marcus Group.

Through The Knew Purpose, Sydney works with leaders, companies and communities to create a better world. 

Learn more: LinkedIn | The Knew Purpose

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

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Andrew Rotondi is a corporate leader with over 40 years experience in developing and deploying multi-client distribution and logistics systems for fashion and consumer product vendors, retailers and e-tailers in North America and Asia. Andrew is the Chief Operating/Information Officer at Dynamic Worldwide, an asset based logistics provider of fulfillment, value-added services, transportation and information technology provider to omni-channel vendors, retailers and e-tailers. 

Learn more: LinkedIn | Dynamic Worldwide | Fashion Service Network

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AJ Lacouette discusses major fashion retail trends and the overall effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on retailing. She shares insights on the importance of customer focused strategies, moving away from a brand centric model.

AJ is a creative strategist and trend forecaster specializing in the fashion and lifestyle sectors. Her 13+ year career — spanning editorial, strategy, and creative development — has been spent at some of the world's most notable companies including LVMH and Condé Nast, and WGSN. 

AJ is focused on connecting the dots between culture, brands, products, and consumers in dynamic ways by producing innovative solutions mapping the cultural landscape, forecasting consumer behaviors, and identifying emerging trends.

Learn more: LinkedIn | AJ Lacouette | Trend Report

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

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Host, Christopher Lacy is joined by producer, Joshua Williams, for a look back on Season 3, part of a tumultuous year in fashion retail. They also discuss what's coming in Season 4 and how listeners can engage with the podcast.

Learn more: Christopher Lacy | Joshua Williams

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer: Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zi Xuan and Yijia Wang, founders of Advene, discuss the process of developing a new accessories brand in the middle of the pandemic, with a focus on sustainability and transparency. They discuss the intersection of data and design and the important role it plays in today's retail marketplace.

After graduating from Fashion Institute of Technology, Zi gained multiple years of experience working as a handbag designer for Marc Jacobs and Coach in New York City. She has experience in working with designers and vendors across the globe and an in-depth understanding of North America and Europe fashion trends and markets.

Yijia moved to New York in 2015 and started working as a marketing analytics professional, using data to model and predict consumer behavior. She specialized in developing actionable branding and marketing strategy based on data analytics and marketing mix modeling. Yijia graduated with a BS Quantitative Economics major from Tufts University, and MA Design Studies at Parsons School of Design.

While working in marketing, Yijia was constantly on the lookout for the perfect handbag — one that would suit her multifaceted lifestyle, eco-conscious values, and aesthetic adventurism. She consulted Zi, a longtime friend (and handbag aficionado), and they realized that a fairly priced luxury quality bag for the conscious consumer did not exist yet... So they decided to make it on their own. The result is advene, an accessories brand that merges innovative design principles with conscientious production processes.

advene was created by Zi Xuan and Yijia Wang.

Learn more (Zi Xuan): LinkedIn | Advene

Learn more (Yijia Wang): LinkedIn | Advene

Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design

Executive Producer:Fashion Consort

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @RetailRevolutionPodcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices