Joining us this week is Kristina Rogers, EY's Global Consumer Lead. We leverage Kristina's vast experience working with retailers and consumer brands around the world to get her perspectives on which consumer behaviors are most critical to understand and respond to. We discuss which Covid behaviors are persisting, how current economic forces are driving the growth of private label, and the evolving nature of convenience, both online and in-store. In particular, we delve into some of the key recent and soon to be released findings from EY's Future Consumer Index.

But first we dissect the most important retail news starting with the National Retail Federation's annual holiday sales forecast. We then take on a robust week of macro-economic news, Amazon's decision to end its apparel brick-and-mortar experiment, Walmart's anteing up big time as it commits to $9 billion in physical store investments, and Shein's acquisition of Missguided. Then it's on to quarterly earnings from Starbucks, Shopify, elf Cosmetics, and Wayfair. We wrap up with news that Eataly, one of our favorite remarkable retailers, plans to grow to three locations in Toronto.

About Kristina

As EY Global Consumer Leader, Kristina is responsible for defining and implementing the EY strategy for consumer products companies, retailers, and in agribusiness. She ensures that EY’s global clients are well served across geographies, leading over 30,000 EY professionals worldwide. Kristina works directly with clients on the strategic issues they face as they pursue profitable and sustainable growth. Kristina is also the architect of EY’s seminal Future Consumer programs including FutureConsumer.Now, FutureConsumerIndex, and FutureConsumerExperience. These programs help clients meet the future now in order to make better decisions to win later.

Prior to her current role, Kristina served as Emerging Markets Leader for Consumer Products & Retail. Before joining EY, she was a Senior Partner at a global strategy consulting firm. Kristina has lived and worked in more than 20 countries. Over the course of her career, she has built long-term client relationships with some of the world’s largest global consumer products companies, helping them solve some of their most complex strategic marketing issues across geographies.

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor, board member, and keynote speaker focused on strategic growth and transformation and the impact of digital disruption. He is the author of the bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption and the forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Michael LeBlanc  is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice.   He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast,       The Voice of Retail, plus  Global eCommerce Leaders podcast, and The Food Professor  with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.    You can learn more about Michael   here  or on     LinkedIn. 

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue,  his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.

Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast.  He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.