In episode 420 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Erin Malone, director of digital strategy at Free People, a bohemian women's apparel and lifestyle retailer, part of the Urban Outfitters portfolio of brands. Malone provides an overview of the brand and her role (0:50), how Free People is optimizing the online shopping experience (2:30),…

In episode 419 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Greg Elder, chief retail officer at L.L.Bean, a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. During the wide-ranging conversation, Elder provides an overview of L.L.Bean's recently announced 2023 omnichannel growth plans (0:50), the retailer's approach to wholesale partnerships (2:00), and its decision to…

In episode 418 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Lyndsie Adams, former vice president of CRM and loyalty marketing, and James Nelson, director of marketing analytics at Life Time, a chain of athletic clubs in the United States and Canada. Listen in as Adams and Nelson discuss what omnichannel personalization looks like at…

In episode 417 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Thomas Kirk, global loyalty strategy director, and Claudio Corti, global membership strategy senior manager at Adidas, the second largest sportswear manufacturer in the world. Listen in as Kirk and Corti discuss how Adidas collects customer feedback around its adiClub loyalty program (1:35) and how adapting…

In this bonus episode of Total Retail Talks, Total Retail's Digital Content Director Kristina Stidham and Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan discuss the recently released 2023 Retail Technology Report. This annual report, which was produced in conjunction with retail point-of-sale and omnichannel platform KWI, features survey data from Total Retail’s audience of technology decision makers about their companies’ current…

In episode 416 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Deanna Hernandez, senior manager of digital offers and loyalty at McDonald's, the leading global foodservice retailer. Hernandez discusses her role and responsibilities (0:43), how McDonald's is evolving to match consumers' changing digital behaviors (1:40), and how digital engagement results in more loyal customers for…

In episode 415 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Chris Ebel, former assistant vice president, marketing and CRM at Pep Boys, the leading automotive aftermarket chain in the U.S. Listen in as Ebel discusses his role at the organization (0:40), why it's critical for retailers to track shoppers' paths to purchase (1:10), and how…

In episode 414 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Valerie Grant, lifecycle marketing manager at Kroger, an American grocer operating a variety of banner names. Grant discusses her role leading engagement and retention membership marketing (0:45), how Kroger differentiates its approach between brand and lifecycle marketing (1:45), and the importance of agile, sustainable marketing…

In episode 413 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Cathy Miller, executive vice president of sales and marketing at West Music Company, a family-owned, Iowa-based music instrument and education retailer. Listen in as Miller discusses the business and her role (0:40), as well as how the company tells the story of its over…

In episode 412 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Jenna O'Connor, senior director of loyalty marketing, and Allison Bentley, senior director of merchandising initiatives at GNC, a leading global health and wellness brand. O'Connor and Bentley discuss their roles at GNC (0:55), how the myGNC Rewards loyalty program factors into the organization's overall…