January 28, 2022 Special guest Charlie Youakim, CEO of Sezzle, joins Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, to dig into the crackdown on the BNPL industry. There’s plenty to talk about with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau looking into the BNPL space to determine if the industry may be using abusive consumer practices and if it needs to be more highly regulated. That could put a dent into a fintech business that is predicted to grow to $114 billion in 2024. Listen and learn from the experts.
January 21, 2022 There is still a total supply chain implosion, not the least of which is the bottleneck of goods squeezing through the supply chain while demand continues to soar. On top of that, inflated air cargo rates and fewer flights…or no flights from Asia. And then there’s the ongoing pandemic and China’s strict lockdowns. Join Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, as they examine the supply chain mess and discuss how to contain costs before consumers cannot or will not pay more for goods and services.
January 14, 2022 There is too much money chasing too few goods. There’s no real problem with the supply chain or production, the issue is demand has surged out of control and the supply chain can’t handle it. Join special guest, the outspoken industry expert Jan Kniffen, CEO of J Rogers Kniffen Worldwide, Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, as they debate how the U.S. economy will handle rising inflation (it certainly won’t be a flashback to the 70s) and the systemic problems facing retailers that will separate the haves and have-nots in 2022.
January 7, 2022 Retail is cresting the wave but could fall into the depths if the industry doesn’t heed the warning signs. A global pandemic and climate change are ongoing existential issues; supply chain, stagflation and labor shortages are real and present operational challenges. Join Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, as they predict the risks and rewards for retail leadership in 2022 as it faces a disruptive, dynamic marketplace led by demanding, opinionated customers.
December 31, 2021 How can the “Closer to You” mantra of Nordstrom deliver an integrated premium customer experience if the Rack is riffed out? There are so many more questions than answers in this debate. Join Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan as they discuss the pros and cons of this hot topic. And here’s a bright idea as an alternative to the off-price model for luxury goods: Nordstrom should pioneer a vendor consortium for liquidating premium merchandise. They are perfect for this job and know how to pull it off without tarnishing any brand image. Listen and learn from two experts who have a lot to say on the subject.
Time Stamps:
1:06 – Why the confusion? Nordstrom’s new game plan, spinning off Rack was not part of it!
4:45 – Early days of the Rack
7:20 – What’s the difference? Off-price versus outlet stores
13:55 – Digital’s role in the off-price model
18:10 – The future of off-price inventories
December 24, 2021 Quit rates are up across all industries and retailers are facing the music with a power shift from employer to employee. There are fewer workers which translates to reduced services which then translates to unhappy customers. Workers are creating a movement for higher pay, better working conditions and more work-life balance. Join Robin Lewis and Shelly E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, as they explore The Great Resignation, how to reverse the mass worker exodus and strategies for rebalancing employee/employer power.
Timestamps:
1:00 – The Shift of Power From Employer to Employee
9:30 – Why People Are Quitting
14:55 – A Rise In Unions
20:32 – The Return Of The Middle Class
December 17, 2021 Who will blink first? Will consumers resign themselves to higher prices, or will retailers face up to inflation, lower their prices and take a hit on margin to gain more market share? Retailers can take a page out of CEO Doug McMillon’s playbook at Walmart who is taking a pragmatic approach and managing category pricing to win market share by focusing on the bottom-line profits. Join Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, as they thrash out how inflation could derail retail’s recent gains.
Timestamps:
3:42 – Who Blinks First?
6:55 – Apparel and accessories pricing
9:23 – What will stop consumers from spending
11:25 – Enormous disruption and transformation
December 10, 2021 The shift away from credit cards purchases to debit and cash by next gens has prompted a slew of companies to offer a buy-now-pay-later solution. In fact, BNPL growth will reach $680 billion by 2025, and many retailers are already offering these services for ecommerce business. Gen Z and millennials are more afraid of debt than death, plus they don’t trust big banks, Wall Street or credit card companies. Listen in as Robin Lewis is Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, discuss whether BNPL is offering credit to an unsuspecting generation and may actually drive them into credit debt.
December 3, 2021 Don’t write off physical stores just yet. Both digital natives and retail giants realize that brick-and-mortar stores are the key to customer acquisition and excellent depots for same-day pick up and returns. Plus, shipping from physical stores is less costly than shipping from warehouses. Join Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, as they reveal how everything old is new again as stores will become the heartbeat of digital brands.
November 19, 2021 Two-day delivery, one-day delivery, same-day delivery has now morphed into a 15-minute delivery craze with consumers demanding near real-time product deliveries from local stores. There is a surge of well-funded small startups, especially in grocery, that are chomping at the bit to deliver products within a small window of time, but can this model compete against the incumbent juggernauts? Join Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist as they delve into dark stores and the temptation of instant gratification through instant fulfillment.
November 12, 2021 The Great Resignation hit retail hard. And it’s causing a labor shortage just in time for the Holidays. It’s a buyers’ market for employees, and they are being very selective in rejoining the retail workforce, if they rejoin at all. What does this mean for the busiest time of the year? Join Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, TRR’s chief strategist, as they dig into the war for talent with prospective employees now calling the shots. Will they sit out this sales season and enjoy the Holidays at home? Listen in to find out!