What happens when the keen eye of a museologist meets the ancient craft of rug-making? The answer lies in the remarkable journey of Shailen Smith, CEO of Raj Group, a heritage brand with roots stretching back to 1939 in the historic city of Panipat, India.

"When an archaeologist's job is over, the museologist's job begins," explains Smith, whose unique background brought fresh perspective to a centuries-old craft. Initially arriving to document weaving as an artistic practice, Smith discovered a company at a crossroads – torn between preserving handcrafted traditions and embracing modern technology. Rather than choosing sides, she pioneered a third path: using technology to enhance craftsmanship without replacing it.

This delicate balance between heritage and innovation forms the cornerstone of Raj's identity today. "If we are to stay unique, there must be that perfect balance where handcrafted is aided by technology," Smith reflects. This philosophy extends beyond production to encompass everything from sustainability practices to leadership style. The company demonstrated its commitment to its artisans during COVID by maintaining its entire workforce despite production slowdowns – recognizing that their people aren't just employees but guardians of cultural heritage.

As one of few female CEOs in a deeply patriarchal region, Smith brings a distinctive leadership approach that blends strength with empathy. Raised by her father "as a neutral gender" with focus on inherent strengths rather than societal expectations, she navigates traditional business structures while championing greater opportunities for women throughout the organization.

Smith's observations about today's consumers resonate deeply: we're experiencing a revolution in home goods similar to what happened in beauty – questioning artificial standards and returning to authenticity. "We've been feeding consumers something unnatural," she notes, as more people seek products with meaningful stories, sustainable materials, and ethical production.

Discover how this heritage brand stays rooted in tradition while confidently embracing the future. As Smith puts it, "If you know what your roots are, you will move forward without doubt, and you will thrive and survive."

Join Casey Roberts, Founder of STAT Recovery Services, as he uncovers how suppliers lose revenue through deductions, chargebacks, and other opportunity areas within the retail supply chain.

Casey breaks down real-world insights on thinking like a retailer, preventing profit erosion, and optimizing the supplier-retailer relationship. From root cause analysis to strategic recovery tactics, you'll gain the tools to spot issues early, fix them permanently, and boost long-term profitability.

If you're doing business with major retailers, this podcast might reveal what you didn’t know you were missing—and what it’s really costing you.

What if there was a "third place" in retail media that went beyond product pages and high-level brand communications? Brad Godwin, SVP of CPG Partnerships at Breaktime Media, reveals how brands can create meaningful connections with shoppers through personalized digital experiences.

The retail landscape is evolving rapidly, with value now encompassing far more than just price. Today's consumers seek experiences, trust, and relationships with brands. Breaktime Media addresses this by building what Godwin calls "experiences you want to put on your fridge" – digital brand pages that combine personalization, storytelling, and seamless commerce.

For CPG brands facing complex product assortments, Breaktime's approach offers a compelling solution. Rather than overwhelming shoppers with options, their interactive quizzes and personalized recommendations help consumers quickly find the right products for their needs. This personalization drives tangible results, with an average $2.87 incremental return on advertising spend.

What makes Breaktime's model particularly attractive is its performance-based structure. They build brand experiences at no upfront cost, charging only for actual customer engagements. This "cost per human engagement" approach ensures brands pay for results, not just impressions.

Through a new partnership with Walmart Connect, Breaktime is also reimagining retail events by extending physical demonstrations into the digital realm. This allows brands to maintain deep customer connections while dramatically increasing reach and improving measurement.

At its core, Breaktimes philosophy centers on human connection. As Godwin thoughtfully notes in the episode, "We're all trying to do the same thing – we want connection with each other, we want to be known, we want to be seen and loved." In an increasingly digital retail world, perhaps that human element matters most of all.

Ready to transform how customers experience your brand online? Discover how personalized digital experiences can drive meaningful engagement and conversion for your products.

Radio personality Jon Williams opens up about the art of authentic endorsements and his journey from failed baseball aspirations to becoming one of Northwest Arkansas' most recognizable voices. Williams shares how he pioneered a unique business model where he receives no salary from his radio station, instead earning his living entirely through commissions from brand partnerships. 

What sets Williams apart isn't just his entrepreneurial approach, but his unwavering commitment to exclusivity. While most radio personalities might promote competing businesses on the same day, Williams maintains strict brand category exclusivity. "I won't have competing brands on my show," he explains, creating tremendous value for his 26 partners ranging from local businesses to national giants like Nestlé and Coca-Cola. This exclusivity has fostered remarkable loyalty, with many partners renewing year after year.

The turning point in Williams' career came from advice given by the late Cameron Smith, a legendary figure in Northwest Arkansas' business community. "John, you're a brand," Smith told him. "Build your brand. Don't build anyone else's brands, but yours and people that pay you to build theirs." This perspective shift transformed Williams' approach, helping him understand that his greatest asset was authenticity - only endorsing products he actually uses and believes in.

Williams also shares his deep connection to Northwest Arkansas, from emceeing charity galas that have raised millions for causes like type 1 diabetes research to his role announcing University of Arkansas sports. Through it all, his philosophy remains steadfast: real value comes from genuine relationships, not just transactions. For anyone looking to build a personal brand or create lasting business partnerships, Williams' journey offers a masterclass in the power of authenticity and strategic exclusivity.

In this episode of The Retail Journey, Simone Parry, former Vice President of Private Brands for Consumables at Walmart, joins us to discuss how private brands are evolving in today’s retail environment. She reflects on her time at Walmart, where she worked across cross-functional teams to build private label strategies, improve supplier partnerships, and support category performance.

Now with High Impact Analytics, Simone leads Growth & Development. She has been integral in launching High Impact’s Private Brand Hub - built to equip your team with tailored support through product ideation to the retail shelf. 

This episode offers a practical look at the challenges and opportunities in managing private brands at scale—and where the industry is heading next.

Ever wonder what happens when purpose drives a business more than profit? In this captivating conversation, Bill and Sheila Ford, founders of Ozark Mountain Bagel Company, reveal how a chance question – "Hey, you want to open a bagel shop?" – transformed their lives and the Northwest Arkansas food scene.

The Fords share their remarkable journey from careers in oil refining and education to becoming beloved bagel entrepreneurs. After running a successful bagel shop in Oklahoma for eight years, they relocated to Northwest Arkansas in 2017, seeking a new adventure where they could continue their mission of "spreading joy, love, and cream cheese." What they discovered was a business community unlike any they'd experienced – collaborative rather than competitive, where even potential rivals reached out to offer help.

At the heart of their story is a leadership philosophy that treats employees as partners rather than subordinates. With roughly 75% of their workforce being teenagers in their first jobs, Bill and Sheila focus on developing future leaders, challenging them to think beyond themselves and find purpose in their work. This approach has created a culture where employees feel valued and customers experience genuine warmth with every visit.

The Fords' business acumen shines through as they discuss their growth from a single location to six stores across Northwest Arkansas, including one in Walmart's new food hall. Their expansion strategy balances opportunity with purpose – they're developing a franchise model but emphasize finding the right people who align with their values rather than growing for growth's sake.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or simply someone who appreciates authentic leadership, this conversation offers valuable insights about building a business with heart. Subscribe now to hear more inspiring stories from local entrepreneurs who are shaping Northwest Arkansas and beyond.

When we sat down with Jeff Clapper, President and CEO of 8th & Walton, we knew we'd get insights on supplier training – but our conversation revealed something much more profound about the evolving retail landscape.

From its origins teaching suppliers about Walmart's culture and systems to today's comprehensive support services, 8th & Walton has witnessed and adapted to dramatic shifts in what suppliers need to succeed. Jeff shares how the organization now balances urgent operational training with strategic education that prevents problems before they occur.

The transition from legacy data systems like DSS to new platforms like Scintilla represents both challenge and opportunity. While these systems offer unprecedented visibility into consumer behavior, they demand constant learning from suppliers who can't afford to fall behind. As Jeff aptly describes, success requires being an "aggressive student" of retail – recognizing that yesterday's expertise quickly becomes obsolete in this fast-moving environment.

Jeff shares about 8th Walton's journey to becoming a certified B Corporation, demonstrating that business growth and positive impact aren't mutually exclusive. Jeff's perspective on "scaling values" rather than just scaling revenue offers a refreshing counterpoint to traditional retail metrics. This philosophy aligns perfectly with the emerging trend of consumers preferring brands that demonstrate ethical practices and sustainability.

The conversation culminates with Jeff's preview of the upcoming "Consumer Impact" event in Bentonville, bringing together impact-minded brands to share best practices in sustainable retail. It's a tangible example of how the supplier community is evolving beyond transactions to create meaningful change.

Whether you're a seasoned Walmart supplier or just beginning your retail journey, this episode offers valuable perspective on navigating today's complex retail environment while building a business that makes a positive difference.

In this episode, we hear all about the artistic and cultural transformation happening in Northwest Arkansas as we chat with Jill Wagar, the visionary director of the Momentary and senior director at Crystal Bridges. 

Explore Alice Walton's profound philanthropic endeavors, including the Art Bridges Foundation, designed to bring art to communities nationwide. We discuss the collaborative spirit that drives Alice Walton’s visionary projects, from free museum admission policies supported by Walmart to groundbreaking educational initiatives like the Alice Walton School of Medicine. Jill sheds light on how these initiatives not only make art more accessible but also aim to transform healthcare delivery, emphasizing the Walton family's significant investments in the region's growth and accessibility.

Jill shares about the magic behind the Momentary, where art meets entertainment in unforgettable ways. From renowned performances by Brothers Osborne to the unique Supper Club food series, the Momentary has become a beloved community hub. She shares exciting news on upcoming events and festivals like Send it South, a thrilling blend of mountain biking and music, promising to captivate art and music enthusiasts alike. Join us as Jill invites collaboration and engagement, reinforcing the community aspect of these cultural gatherings.

Join us for a captivating conversation with Joe Murphy, the trailblazing founder of ShelfSight, as he shares his remarkable journey from a sales career to becoming a product management visionary. 

ShelfSight is transforming the way we understand product listing pages on Walmart, offering groundbreaking insights into search rankings, ratings, and reviews. With Joe's expertise, we reveal how blending organic and paid traffic strategies can revolutionize online sales and enhance digital shelf presence.

We uncover the dynamic evolution of Walmart's online platform, where complete product attributes are now essential for success. Walmart's Creator Program offers innovative tools for suppliers to strengthen their online presence, while Walmart Connect campaigns underscore the significance of the platform as a vital research and advertising hub for in-store shopping.

We also dive into the role of AI in streamlining processes and generating content, offering a glimpse into a future where automation facilitates rapid growth. The episode also addresses the strategic intricacies of retail media, from optimizing landing pages and search efforts to tackling offsite conversion tracking challenges. For suppliers hesitant about retail media costs, we provide practical recommendations, including the benefits of starting with low-budget automated campaigns and using marketplace platforms as testing grounds for new products.

Explore Bentonville, Arkansas with Brandon Gengelbach, President and CEO of the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Brandon shares what drew him to Northwest Arkansas, including professional opportunities and his love for cycling. We dive into Bentonville's unique vibe, blending local entrepreneurship, major corporations like Walmart, and a thriving community spirit.

Hear how the Chamber fosters business growth, connects Walmart employees with the community, and champions Bentonville’s vibrant culture—complete with great schools, restaurants, arts, and outdoor adventures.

We also look ahead to exciting projects, like the Alice Walton School of Medicine and collaborations with Cleveland Clinic and Mercy, while reflecting on lessons learned and the importance of creating emotional connections in a welcoming community. Tune in for a fresh take on Bentonville’s growth and its bright future!