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In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Max Ma — Founder of 7thonline — to break down the real reason retail planning fails, and how AI, better data, and smarter processes are transforming how retailers buy, forecast, and operate.

Max shares the original “broken moment” that inspired him to create 7thonline, and why planning is still one of the retail industry’s most misunderstood — and most critical — disciplines.
 From dirty data and omnichannel distortion to guardrails, returns, and the human vs AI balance, this conversation gets right to the heart of what makes modern retail operations succeed.

You’ll hear insights on:

• The biggest gaps still hiding inside retail planning
 • Where AI truly outperforms humans — and where it still needs them
 • How to fix bad data before adopting any forecasting tool
 • Why returns data must flow directly into next-season buys
 • Guardrails every AI model needs to stay grounded
 • How to guide veteran merchants into AI-supported decision-making
 • The metrics that prove a planning transformation is working

Whether you’re a planner, merchandiser, operator, tech founder, or retail leader, this episode is packed with practical, real-world strategies you can apply immediately.

🎧 Retail Voices — real conversations with the people shaping retail today.
🎙 Hosted by Mark Lack
👉 Subscribe for more at Retail101online.com

Learn more about 7thonline at: https://7thonline.com

#MaxMa #7thonline #RetailPlanning #RetailForecasting #AIForecasting #RetailData #InventoryManagement

#RetailVoices #Retail101Online #MarkLack #RetailLeadership #RetailOperations #RetailTechnology #ProducedByMAKAndPineleafStudios

#FutureOfRetail #AI #RetailIndustry #BusinessPodcast #Ecommerce #SupplyChain

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What does it really mean when we say “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”?
In this episode of Retail101online, we go beyond the buzzword and explore whether culture truly trumps strategy—or if it’s just a leadership cliché.

We’ll unpack:

• The origin and meaning of the phrase
• Real-world retail examples of culture and strategy colliding
• Why culture alone isn’t enough
• How to align your strategy with your store culture
• 5 practical tools for retail leaders and managers

Whether you’re in HR, operations, or running your own store, this episode is a must-listen if you want your plans to actually work in the real world.

👂 Hit play, reflect, and share your thoughts below:
 
 What’s the one workplace culture shift you’d make tomorrow?

 #RetailManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #RetailPodcast #StoreOperations #RetailStrategy #Retail101 #PeterDrucker #CultureVsStrategy #RetailTips #RetailLeadership #RetailCoaching #HRLeadership #BusinessCulture #EmployeeEngagement #RetailTeamwork #CustomerExperience #FrontlineLeadership #RetailExecution #RetailTraining #CompanyCulture #RetailStoreManagement #RetailTalks #RetailManager #RetailSuccess

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“Let’s circle back and align on a value-led pivot before we move the needle…”

If that sentence made you laugh (or cry), this episode is for you.

In this week’s Retail101online, we dive headfirst into the wonderful, wobbly world of business jargon. From procurement to performance reviews, LinkedIn humblebrags to boardroom buzzwords — we’re calling out the clichés that should’ve been retired with dial-up internet.

We cover phrases like:

 🦆 “Getting our ducks in a row”
 🛫 “Let’s see how it flies”
 🪞 “Proud and humbled”
 🚪 “We’ve decided to go in a different direction”
 👑 “Let’s stick a pin in that one”

…and more real-life examples from LinkedIn followers brave enough to admit what drives them round the synergy-sphere.

But we’re not just here to laugh. We’ll also unpack what people actually mean when they say these things — and what to say instead if you want to be clear, honest, and respected as a leader.

Whether you’re a frontline manager, a senior exec, or just someone who’s been “voluntold” into one too many meetings — this episode cuts through the fluff with humour, heart, and a healthy dose of no-nonsense retail wisdom.

You’ll laugh. You’ll cringe.

 You might even rethink that draft email that’s still sitting, waiting for you to press the send button.

#BusinessJargon #OfficeSpeak #RetailLeadership #WorkplaceHumour #CorporateClichés #LeadershipTips #CommunicationMatters #RetailPodcast #LinkedInLingo #BuzzwordBingo #ClarityIsKindness #Retail101online #SpeakLikeAHuman

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In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Luke Doran, Founder of The One Percent, to explore how mindset, self-awareness, and marginal gains are reshaping what it means to lead in retail today.

Luke brings lessons from both elite sport and corporate coaching to the table — revealing how small, consistent changes can deliver extraordinary results.
 They discuss the psychology behind leadership, resilience under pressure, and the habits that help retail professionals perform at their peak.

You’ll hear insights on:

• Why emotional awareness defines great leaders
• The parallels between athletes and retail managers
• How to build resilience without burning out
• And what “one percent better every day” really looks like in action

🎧 Retail Voices — real conversations with the people shaping retail today.
🎙 Hosted by Mark Lack
👉 Subscribe for more at Retail101online.com 

Find Luke at The One Percent

#RetailVoices #Retail101Online #MarkLack #LukeDoran #TheOnePercent
 #RetailLeadership #Mindset #Motivation #RetailPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment
 #PerformanceCulture #RetailTraining #Resilience #FutureOfRetail

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In this BONUS episode of RETAIL101online: Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Ashutosh Labroo, Chief Human Resources Officer and Founder of SuccessionIQ, to explore how human capital is transforming the future of retail.

Ash shares his unique perspective on what it really takes to build and sustain high-performing teams in an industry that never sleeps. From navigating digital transformation and e-commerce disruption to balancing automation with empathy, this episode gets right to the heart of what makes retail businesses thrive — their people.

Together, they discuss:

• How HR leaders can future-proof their workforce against technological change
• Why talent development must now focus on adaptability and emotional intelligence
• The role of leadership in driving innovation and resilience
• How feedback, culture, and purpose can be turned into tangible results

If you’re a retail leader, HR professional, or simply passionate about building better workplaces, this is an episode packed with insights and real-world lessons you can use today.

🎙️ Retail Voices — real conversations with the people shaping retail today.
👉 Subscribe for more episodes at Retail101online wherever you get your podcasts!

 #RetailVoices #Retail101Online #MarkLack #AshutoshLabroo #SuccessionIQ
 #HumanCapital #RetailLeadership #FutureOfRetail #RetailTransformation
 #PeopleInRetail #RetailPodcast #HRStrategy #EmployeeEngagement #RetailInnovation 

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Title: Big vs. Best: Who Really Wins in Grocery Retail?

In this deep-dive episode of Retail101Online, we explore the difference between being the biggest and being the best in global grocery retail. While giants like Walmart dominate by size, we spotlight the five retailers consistently praised for operational brilliance, customer experience, and long-term strategy.

🔍 Featuring:

• Mercadona: The Spanish powerhouse redefining supplier relationships and private label quality
• Trader Joe’s: A cult-favorite with unbeatable customer love and curated simplicity
• Aldi: A masterclass in global scale through ruthless efficiency and SKU control
• 7-Eleven: Japan’s icon of localization and Tanpin Kanri excellence
• Circle K: A global convenience contender on the rise (full disclosure – I work for them across the GCC!)

🚀 Learn how these brands achieve more than just profit — they create meaningful connections, operational consistency, and long-term value.

Plus, in our Help Is On The Way segment, we give you five actionable takeaways to apply in your own retail environment — whether you run a single store or a national chain.

🎧 Don’t just chase scale. Learn what it takes to be truly excellent in modern retail.

#Retail101Online
 #GroceryRetail
 #RetailExcellence
 #Mercadona
 #TraderJoes
 #Aldi
 #7Eleven
 #CircleK 

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Most retail managers are promoted because they were great at their jobs—not because they were trained to lead. That’s the hard truth behind Leadership Mindset 2.0 by R. Michael Anderson, and it’s exactly why this episode matters.

In this episode of Retail101online, we explore how to rewire your mindset to thrive as a retail leader. You’ll discover why mindset matters more than skillset, how Anderson’s 4-phase leadership evolution works in real store life, and why the ARC model (Awareness, Response, Compassion) could be your secret weapon when chaos hits the shop floor.

If you’ve ever felt thrown into leadership without a roadmap, this episode will show you how to reset, rewire, and rise above firefighting to lead with clarity, resilience, and influence. Packed with practical shifts you can start this week, this is retail leadership training you won’t find in any manual.

🎧 Tune in, and learn how to stop just managing shifts—and start transforming yourself, your team, and your store.

 #RetailLeadership #LeadershipMindset #StoreManagers #RetailManagers #RetailPodcast #ManagementGrowth #RetailTraining #LeadershipDevelopment #RetailCareers #LeadershipEvolution #GrowthMindset #Retail101online 

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Episode 28: Who Moved My Cheese? What Retail Managers Must Learn from Change

In this episode of Retail101online, Mark Lack explores the timeless business parable Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson and applies its lessons to the fast-paced world of retail.

Learn how to spot change, adapt quickly, guide your team through resistance, and avoid the trap of standing still while the industry evolves around you. With practical insights and a dose of reflection, this episode helps retail leaders become proactive, flexible, and resilient in times of uncertainty.

We will break it down into four sections

🐭The characters in the maze: understanding the metaphor

📉 The emotional journey of change

🧀 Cheese in retail: where it moves and why it hurts

🏃 Becoming the sniff and scurry in your store

And have the usual 🛠️”Help Is On The Way” segment and some 🧠Final Thoughts from me.

#WhoMovedMyCheese #RetailLeadership #ChangeManagement #RetailPodcast #Retail101 #StoreManagerTips #Adaptability #ResilienceInRetail #RetailGrowth #SpencerJohnson #RetailMindset #RetailStrategy #ChangeIsComing #LeadershipDevelopment #RetailPlanning #RetailOperations #MindsetShift #RetailCulture #TeamDevelopment #RetailInspiration #PersonalGrowth #HawVsHem #CheeseMoves #RetailTribe #StoreSuccess #FutureOfRetail 

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Managing the Butchery (When You're Not a Butcher)

Episode 27 of Retail101online takes store managers deep into the world of butchery — without needing to pick up a knife. 

Host Mark Lack explores how to manage this complex, high-margin department with confidence, even if you're not trained in meat cutting. Learn to challenge shrink, monitor hygiene, measure yield, monitor daily plans, and drive value-add performance.

Plus, get 5 practical actions in the "Help Is On The Way" segment that will beef up your butchery management playbook.

• How to view the butchery as a business within your store.
• What to monitor daily to control shrink, waste, and yield.
• Which KPIs really matter — and how to use them.
• Hygiene and safety – the hidden risk to the store.
• 5 actionable steps in the “Help Is On The Way” segment.

Whether you’re new to fresh departments or want to sharpen your oversight skills, this episode will help you lead with clarity and confidence. 

#Retail101 #ButcheryLeadership #ButcheryManagement #ShrinkControl #RetailShrink #YieldMatters #GroceryLeadership #StoreManagerTips #RetailTraining #KPIAccountability #FreshFood #ValueAdd #MeatRetail #RetailPodcast #HelpIsOnTheWay #RetailMargins #StoreOperations #ButcheryAudit #FoodSafetyRetail #MeatWaste #DailyProductionRetail #PrepPlanning #ButcheryChallenges #RetailStrategy #RetailExecution #CrossContamination #ButcheryHygiene

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Episode 26: 8 Lies About Life and Success (And The Truths That Will Set You Free)

In this deeply personal episode, Mark Lack unpacks 8 common myths about life and success that hold people back in business and beyond. 

Inspired by a visual from Victoria Repa, this conversation blends reflection, real-world retail insights, and hard-earned truths to reset your mindset and sharpen your growth.

From redefining wealth and embracing imperfection to understanding the power of self-learning and consistency, this episode will help you rethink what success really means—on your terms.

A must-listen for retail leaders, emerging professionals, and anyone ready to rewrite their internal story.

#LifeAndSuccess #RetailMindset #TruthsAboutSuccess #RetailLeadership #GrowthMindset #Entrepreneurship #RetailPodcast #Retail101Online #MythBusting #RetailTransformation 

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