Podcasts

January 14, 2021 If you’re not careful, dysfunctional business strategies can highjack your future. Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, chief strategy officer for TRR, reveal four key barriers that can sideline retail leaders. From lack of enlightenment and a siloed and sclerotic culture to insufficient capital and the need for speed to leapfrog over outdated systems and strategies, leaders face a crippling obstacle course to sustaining a successful business model. Robin says, “The unenlightened will cry against change saying, ‘This is the way it was always done'” The death knell for the future.

January 14, 2021 If you’re not careful, dysfunctional business strategies can highjack your future. Robin Lewis reveals four key barriers that can sideline retail leaders. From lack of enlightenment and a siloed and sclerotic culture to insufficient capital and the need for speed to leapfrog over outdated systems and strategies, leaders face a crippling obstacle course to sustaining a successful business model. Robin says, “The unenlightened will cry against change saying, ‘This is the way it was always done'” The death knell for the future.

January 7, 2021 Listen in as CEO Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan, chief strategy officer of TRR talk about why brands shouldn’t distribute through as many channels as possible, through all retail models, and their own stores. The threat is that they become too ubiquitous – “once hot and now they’re not.” They also define “new consumerism” and what it will take for retailers to respond to new demands and pressures in the marketplace. Robin advises precision focus, strategic flexibility and technological investments. As he says, “Today, another value chain function, tomorrow, the world.” Give yourself 15 minutes to get up to warp speed on the new retail distribution reality.

Disruption, Acceleration + Reconstruction with William Lauder

October 15, 2020 In a lively and dynamic conversation, Robin Lewis taps into the insights and experience of William Lauder, Executive Chairman, Estée Lauder. They dig into emerging trends and the accelerated changes in consumer behavior as a result of the pandemic; the fate of America’s retail industry and its struggling malls; the economy and how we can support local businesses; leadership and ensuring a positive workplace culture: and new brand and retail models that will stick after our economy recovers and the global health crisis has been resolved. Provocative, predictive and prescient: Listen in on two industry icons.

October 8, 2020 Provocative and insightful, Robin Lewis talks candidly about the power of technology in leading the way to innovative breakthroughs in the retail industry. Stacey Shulman, Chief innovation Officer and VP of the Internet of Things Group at Intel joins Robin in a freewheeling talk about how digitally-powered experiences can give retailers a competitive edge in an unforgiving marketplace led by demanding consumers. Stacey shares how thinking differently transforms experiential and convenience creativity into meaningful and memorable shopping experiences that are redefining retail in the 21st century. Listen to this fascinating conversation that fuses emerging tech with high touch to forge the future of retail and improve consumers’ lives.

October 6, 2020 Robin Lewis and his expert guests give a candid, real-time assessment of the state of retail in Q3 2020. The industry faces the trifecta of a volatile economy, potential second wave of coronavirus and ongoing civil unrest. How do retail leaders keep their balance and plan for a sustainable near-term future with the holidays looming on the horizon? Outspoken and opinionated, Chris Walton, Co-CEO and Editor-in-Chief Omni Talk and Jan Kniffen, CEO of J Rogers Kniffen World Wide join Robin in a wide-ranging conversation about the 2020 winners and losers; the ever-growing shadow of Amazon (with Walmart nipping at its heels); and what retail has to do to survive with disruptive supply chains and DTC; a playbook for the end of the year and predictions for 2021. Listen in and learn in a lively, no-holds-barred discussion of retail’s current challenges as it walks on a precarious balance beam.

August 27, 2020 Robin Lewis joins Paul Charron, the former CEO of the iconic brand, Liz Claiborne to discuss what new normal retailing may look like in a post-pandemic world, what changes to consumer behavior will stick post-pandemic, and the economic impact of Covid-19 on the retail landscape. 

August 12, 2020 A perfect storm is three violent weather fronts, all colliding at the same time: Covid-19, an economic shutdown and the national movement for social justice, equity and inclusivity. Robin Lewis, in conversation with Mark Cohen and Don Unser, discusses how leadership can focus on these disruptive forces and create new business models. Listen to how the major changes in consumer behavior will stick post-pandemic. The candid conversation explores just how senior and c-level executives are leading their people and their businesses through this perfect storm. Robin Lewis also reveals some of the findings from a recent survey conducted by The Robin Report regarding how businesses are being affected by the current economic and social crisis.

November 21, 2019 Get the scoop on “The Aging of eCommerce.” And vital issues such as the health of the consumer marketplace from three of NPD’s leaders: Don Unser, President of NPD’s retail practice; Matt Powell, VP/Senior Advisor over the sports segment; and David Portalatin, VP/industry advisor over the food category. Gain insights into what’s on consumers’ minds; winners, losers and laggards across retail; emerging trends, what follows the maturing of digital commerce; what the landscape looks like in a new normal, and finally a 2019 Holiday outlook.

November 14, 2019 Headache-sized issues in “The Chaotic New World of Retailing” features Robin Lewis; Don Unser, President of NPD’s retail practice; and CEO of Vince, Brendan Hoffman. Listen in as they discuss personalization, sustainability, distribution strategies, the future and how NPD tracks it all.

November 6, 2019 Listen in to have a learning experience from our “educators,” Don Unser, President of NPD’s retail practice, Zia Wigder, Global Chief Content Officer, Shoptalk and Steve Sadove, former CEO of Saks Inc. Learn about the fragmenting consumer “tribes,” and how NPD’s mountains of data tracks it all. Hear about new business models and the four major barriers to change, why digital-native brands are opening stores and the impact of virally connecting brands through social media and influencer marketing.