Retail War Games

In this episode of Retail War Games, I'm joined by Wayne Wu, General Partner at VMG Partners, for a deep dive into the 20-year evolution of the consumer brand ecosystem. Wayne shares his incredible personal journey—from being the son of an immigrant engineer in Houston to leading one of the most influential investment firms in retail—and explains why "hard work enables you to make your own luck".

We discuss the true meaning behind VMG (Velocity Made Good) and how it serves as a nautical metaphor for navigating the "choppy seas" of brand building. Wayne pulls back the curtain on what VMG looks for in a portfolio brand, the shift from digitally native to pragmatic omni-channel strategies, and why the ultimate competitive advantage for any founder is the ability to evolve.

"We make the coziest products on the planet."

In this episode of Retail War Games, I sit down with Hyaat Chaudhary, the Founder and CEO of Luxome, to deconstruct the journey of building a powerhouse luxury comfort brand from the ground up. From surviving two weeks in the Utah wilderness with no food to scaling a global brand without external investors, Hyaat shares a masterclass in patience, precision, and the "human" side of entrepreneurship.

We dive deep into the rigorous product development process that defines Luxome. Hyaat explains why he chooses to ignore the industry-standard "investor clock" to focus on creating timeless, high-performance products—like a resort bathrobe that takes four years to perfect. Whether you're a founder looking to scale profitably or a retail leader interested in the future of international expansion, this conversation offers a unique look at what happens when you prioritize brand integrity over rapid, unchecked growth.

In this episode of Retail War Games, I'm joined by my friend Ben Checketts, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Rhone. We dive deep into the raw, entrepreneurial journey of building one of the most respected premium activewear brands in the market today, and how a focus on community and quality has been their ultimate North Star.

Ben and I discuss the philosophy that has guided Rhone from day one: the belief that "all ships rise with the tide". We explore how they've navigated the complexities of scaling a global brand while staying rooted in authentic human connections. From the early lessons learned growing up between the East Coast and Utah to receiving career-defining advice from industry legends like Jerry at Nike, Ben offers a masterclass in creative leadership and the power of putting "good vibes" back into the business ecosystem.

In this episode of Retail War Games, we sit down with Michelle Bacharach, CEO and Founder of FindMine, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, high-level curation, and the future of fashion tech. Michelle shares her fascinating journey from professional acting in LA to leading a tech revolution that is changing how retailers handle merchandising and customer experience at scale.

The conversation dives deep into the reality of AI in 2026. While many see AI as a magic wand, Michelle argues for the necessity of "Human-in-the-loop" systems to prevent the generation of "slop" and ensure that brand equity remains intact. We discuss why automated curation is the new competitive advantage for omni-channel brands and how to leverage technology without losing the creative soul of a brand.

In this episode of Retail War Games, we pull back the curtain on the world of high-level visual narrative with Benjamin Willis, Head of Animation at DreamWorks. While our usual focus is on the "war games" of retail and supply chain, today we explore the strategic "architecture" behind some of the most successful animated stories in the world.

Benjamin discusses the immense complexity of leading creative teams through years-long production cycles. We dive into the director's chair to understand how a vision is maintained across thousands of frames, the evolution of storytelling in the age of streaming, and why "imaginary situations" are a vital mental reset for consumers and creators alike. Whether you are building a brand or a blockbuster, the principles of world-building and collaborative strategy remain the same.

In this episode of Retail War Games, we are joined by Brynn MacLennan, CEO and Founder of Slate Flosser, to discuss how she is disrupting a category that hasn't seen real innovation in decades: oral care. With a background in industrial design, Brynn transformed a medical necessity into a high-performance consumer product, effectively creating a new category: "Power Flossing".

Brynn shares the journey behind Slate Flosser, from the engineering challenges of succeeding where dental giants failed in the 90s, to building a brand that balances professional dental endorsements with an exceptional user experience. We also dive into the power of strategic collaboration and why founder-to-founder transparency is the key to scaling in today's market.

In this high-energy closing session of the Retail Collective Summit, we bring together a powerhouse panel of creative disruptors and marketing legends to deconstruct the new rules of brand building. Featuring leaders from Vans, Final Boss Sour, VidAngel, Creatably, and Biggest Agency, this discussion cuts through the noise of traditional advertising to reveal how "Content is the New Commerce."

The panel explores the shift from polished, corporate messaging to the raw, high-stakes world of creator-led brands. From the "Mugatu-style" viral marketing of Final Boss Sour to the deep brand equity studies of Vans, these experts share how to capture attention in an era where consumers value authenticity above all else.

In this episode of Retail War Games, we explore the cutting edge of industrial evolution with Arnaud Daurat, Founder and President of Exxovantage. While much of the retail world is focused on digital software, Arnaud is focused on the physical backbone of the industry: the humans in the warehouse. Exxovantage is bridging the gap between science fiction and operational reality by deploying wearable exoskeletons and robotic assistance designed to augment the human body.

Arnaud discusses how these "bionic" solutions are solving the logistics industry's most pressing challenges, from skyrocketing injury costs to chronic labor shortages. We dive into the ROI of ergonomics, the psychology of "human-centric" robotics, and why the future of fulfillment isn't about replacing workers with machines, but empowering them to do more with less physical strain.

In this high-stakes session from the Retail Collective Summit, industry titans from Lovesac, Purple, TruFru, Perk Energy, Lume, T-ROC, and TPH Global Solutions pull back the curtain on one of the most challenging and rewarding retail environments in the world: Costco.

The panel explores the strategic shift from a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) focus to a true Omni-channel presence. The discussion moves beyond simple placement, diving into the "Costco Language," the "Treasure Hunt" psychology of their shoppers, and the brutal operational discipline required to survive a 12-week roadshow or a full-time pallet rotation.

Key Executive Insights:

• The "Costco Language": Why you need experts who speak the internal dialect of Costco to navigate their unique promotion and rotation systems.

• The Treasure Hunt Experience: How to design packaging and products that create a "get it before it's gone" urgency.

• Operational Discipline: The reality of managing massive inventory volumes, pallet configurations, and the "last three feet" of the sales floor.

• The Roadshow Secret: How Lovesac and Purple utilize roadshows not just for sales, but as a massive customer acquisition tool that drives traffic back to their own stores and websites.

• Relationship Management: The importance of internal advocacy and understanding that a Costco buyer's promotion can change your entire brand trajectory overnight.

Panel Participants:

• David Schmidt (CEO | President, TPH Global Solutions)

• Brian Kava (President, T-ROC)

• Shawn Nelson (CEO, Lovesac)

• Rena Dolman (Founder/Owner, Perk Energy)

• Jared Olsen (VP Sales, Purple)

• Dan Griffiths (CEO, Lume)

• Taz Murray (Co-Founder, TruFru)

Whether you are looking to scale into wholesale or optimize your current retail footprint, this panel provides the definitive playbook for winning in Big Box retail.

In this episode of Retail War Games, we take a deep dive into retail strategy and brand building with Shana Rocheleau, EVP of Strategy and Business Development at Bedgear. Drawing from her background as a merchant for giants like Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond, Shana offers a masterclass in shifting a traditional commodity category into a high-performance ecosystem.

This conversation explores the "Merchant Mindset"—the ability to oversee massive business categories and manage the delicate balance between brand vision and retail execution. Shana explains how to build a competitive moat through aggressive intellectual property protection, scientific legitimacy, and a "consultative" approach to retail partnerships that optimizes the entire customer journey.