Tell Me Something Good About Retail

CEO and Founder Nolan Wheeler comes from retail loss prevention and store operations with hypermarket, grocery, big box, electronics, and more. Fatigued with the lack of solutions for FLW (frontline worker) and store operations, having watched 25 years of solutions being provided for online shopper, all-while developing few in-store technologies and further creating more friction (locking showcases, display-only, out of stocks), SYNQ went on a mission to respect the customer's time, increase "customer productivity" while making the FLW day more enjoyable and productive.

Robert M. Schindler is Professor of Marketing at Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey. He has researched consumer perception, attitude, and motivation. His papers have appeared in publications such as the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Retailing, Journal of Advertising, and Journal of Consumer Psychology. A focus of his interest has been pricing-related topics, such as the effects of 9-ending prices and price promotions, and he has written the textbook Pricing Strategies: Harvesting Product Value, 2nd edition (Sage Publications, 2023). He has been ranked among the most published researchers in the area of pricing and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fordham University Pricing Center. Professor Schindler received a B.A. in biochemistry and psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. and Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Massachusetts. He has been teaching courses in marketing, consumer behavior, and pricing at Rutgers-Camden since 1989. He is a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence and the Rutgers University Scholar-Teacher Award.

Christine Miles is the founder and CEO of EQuipt, an award- winning author, professional keynote speaker, consultant, executive coach, thought leader, entrepreneur, and world- renowned expert in the field of listening differently.

In essence store management is trying to solve the problem of increasing the dignity of working in a physical store. Instead of taking steps to distance customers from employees, Sparkplug helps retailers reward employees for doing the job of making more sales - not just moving merchandise or shipping orders.

Colleen Wilson is a retail executive with over two decades of management experience and an established record for driving strategies to increase customer engagement and drive operational and service excellence. In her current role as SVP of Retail and Wholesale at Kendra Scott, Colleen leads the development and implementation of all strategies across the brand’s retail and wholesale businesses. Prior to joining Kendra Scott, Colleen spent nearly 11 years in various retail management roles at Anthropologie, rising to Regional Director of their Western region where she was awarded the DIG Award (Design, Inspire, Grow) for thought leadership in talent management. She also held multiple retail positions for L Brands (Bath & Body Works, White Barn), where she was a four-time Presidents Club awardee for scaling growth and training teams in sales best practices and product knowledge. Colleen developed her passion for retail at a young age, working for a local jewelry store at age 16. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Illinois State University. She resides in Denver, Colorado with her husband and daughter.

So many retailers buy what they like instead of buying what they need. Discover the four questions to ask yourself before purchasing anything as well as tips for how to get rid of slow moving merchandise and how buying has changed since the pandemic.

Dr. Janel Anderson is the founder of Working Conversations and a voracious researcher, author, and podcaster. During her conversation with Bob, Dr. Anderson shared insights about her experience of re-engineering dishes from her favorite restaurant. She stated that it was a trial and error process, and getting it right usually takes a few attempts. Dr. Anderson also discussed the labor shortage, and she suggested that it's been sneaking up on us prior to the pandemic. She emphasized that the pandemic has caused the great resignation and reshuffle, and we've also got long Covid-19 in the mix. Dr. Anderson's key insight is to help organizations not be so surprised by these trends and to be prepared for them.

Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert and the Chief Amazement Officer of Shepard Presentations. He is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eight books and has been inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement in the speaking profession.

1. Importance of Being Helpful: Being helpful goes beyond being friendly. It's about understanding the customer's needs and providing the best solution, even if it means suggesting a cheaper product.
2. Return on Investment in Training: Training is not a cost but an investment. It has a payback and ROI that can lead to better customer satisfaction and sales growth.
3. Proactive Follow-up: Keeping customers informed and in control of their situation is vital. Proactive follow-up builds trust and loyalty even when there's a problem.
4. Generational Differences: Different generations have varying expectations and tolerances for service quality. Understanding these differences is key to delivering the right experience.
5. Integration of Technology: The merging of technology with human-to-human experiences is enhancing the customer experience. Tools like AI and augmented reality are becoming more accessible and can personalize the shopping experience.
6. Creating Repeat Customers: The goal is to create an experience that makes customers say, "I'll be back." This requires understanding what success looks like and training staff to achieve it.

Dr. Kimberly McGlonn is an advocate for justice & environmentalism, an advocacy that informs her approach to leadership in the fashion industry. As Founder & CEO of the manufacturing start-up Grant Blvd®, she oversees the brand's creative direction and growth strategy. Grant Blvd’s mission is to construct stylish, sustainably sourced fashion by creating living wage jobs for women, particularly those who are formerly incarcerated. Founded in 2017, Grant Blvd is the first Black-owned B Corp in North America in the fashion space. Outside of these roles, Kimberly disrupts via her second company, the thrift/vintage concept Blk Ivy, which tells the story of fashion as activism through a curation of garments that amplify the style of 1954-1972, her podcast “The School for Disrupters”, and her role as a faculty member of Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.

Her work has been featured by Fast Company, Inc Magazine, WWD, and has been funded by Beyonce’s BeyGood Foundation. In 2022 she was a recipient of the Visa’s “She’s Next in Fashion Award” and was honored with the Black Enterprise “Business Disruptor of the Year” award.

Nate Woodbury is a popular YouTuber who creates videos about entrepreneurship and digital marketing. He started his channel in 2016 and has since amassed a large following of over 300,000 subscribers. Nate's videos are informative and easy to understand, making them perfect for beginners who are interested in starting their own businesses. In this episode, he shares tips and tricks for growing an online presence and building a successful brand . Nate is known for his friendly personality and approachable style, which has helped him connect with his audience and earn their trust.