In episode 328 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Melissa Gonzalez, founder and CEO of The Lionesque Group, an experiential retail firm, as well as a principal and shareholder in global architecture firm MG2. Listen in as Gonzalez discusses the presentation she gave at CRMC 2021 focused on brick-and-mortar stores as a point…

In episode 327 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Sarah Rasmusen, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Lands' End, an American clothing and home décor retailer that specializes in casual clothing, luggage, and home furnishings. Listen in as Rasmusen discusses Lands' End's current digital offerings, how the business operated during the…

In episode 326 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Sachin Shroff, vice president of CRM, loyalty and marketing technology at Michaels, the largest arts and crafts retail chain in North America. Shroff discusses the technology investments the retailer made to support its personalization efforts, how Michaels is using personalization to optimize the performance…

In episode 325 of Total Retail Talks, Joe Keenan interviews Bill Ready, president of commerce, payments and next billion users at Google. Ready discusses his professional background and current role, as well as how Google is trying to create a different online commerce experience for both consumers and merchants, fostering democratized choice and transparency. He…

In episode 324 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Sarah Philips, vice president of marketing, and Tim Pitt, former senior vice president of marketing and merchandising, at Rent-A-Center, a rent-to-own industry leader. Philips and Pitt discuss how consumer behavior has shifted among Rent-A-Center customers in the last year-plus, how the business has reacted to those…

In episode 323 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Andre Persaud, chief retail officer of Rite Aid, the trusted, everyday care connector operating over 2,500 retail pharmacy locations across 17 U.S. states. Persaud discusses Rite Aid's RxEvolution strategy, how the business is redesigning the in-store experience for its customers, and the internal cross-functional…

In episode 322 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paul Kang, senior director of product management and consumer loyalty at VF Corporation, one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies operating a family of outdoor, active and workwear brands including Vans®, The North Face®, Timberland®, and Dickies®. Kang discusses how product management…

In episode 321 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Paul Hedrick, CEO of Tecovas, a seller of handmade, high-quality western boots. Hedrick discusses the Tecovas business and his professional background, his inspiration for launching the western brand, and the factors he believes have spurred growth during the COVID-19 pandemic through physical retail expansion…

In episode 320 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Christine Grasser, manager of corporate communications, giving and volunteerism, and Sam Di Scipio, vice president of corporate communications, giving and volunteerism at Macy's. Grasser and Di Scipio discuss Macy's recent partnership with the National Retail Federation Foundation's RISE Up training and credentialing program, and how the…

In episode 319 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jill Feldman, vice president and general manager of Kids Foot Locker, the children's brand under Foot Locker, Inc. Feldman discusses Kids Foot Locker's success during this year's back-to-school season, the target demographic for the retailer, and the dynamic of both parents and children influencing…