Retail Unwrapped - from The Robin Report Robin Lewis and Shelley E. Kohan

Top headlines in retail reinforce the seismic shifts in the industry, including vertical integration, aligned brand platforms, private branding, new department store models, and updated workplace policies. It has all turned retail operations on its side as leaders grapple with how to master so many changes happening all at once. Join Robin and Shelley as they discuss the hot topics in today’s retail environment, including what Walmart’s recent earning report means, what’s up with CEO Kev...

Special guests Susan Vison, VP and executive director of REI’s Path Ahead Ventures, and Ed Chang, co-founder of Varlo, join Robin and Shelley to discuss how big companies can help elevate and support underrepresented BIPOC brand owners.An estimated one percent of founders in the outdoor industry identifies as a person of color, despite over 30 percent of outdoor participants identifying as such. REI is addressing that gap with its Path Ahead Ventures launched in 2021 to focus on providing sup...

Special Guest: Charlie Youakim, Chairman and CEO, SezzleThe BNPL market has exploded over the past two years as consumers have ramped up this fintech alternative to credit cards. Competition is heating up; will only the strong survive?Special guest Charlie Youakim, Chairman and CEO of Sezzle, joins Robin and Shelley to talk about how this online payment platform increases purchasing power for consumers with interest-free installment plans.Listen in to learn why BNPL is in such a growth mode (...

If Walmart, Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JP Morgan Chase can’t figure out how to make healthcare work, then there is something seriously wrong with today’s U.S. retail healthcare model. In 2018 Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan Chase announced a joint venture into healthcare called Haven. Three years into the venture, they walked away. Now Walmart is closing its clinics and telehealth services because it’s just not a sustainable business model. Join Robin and Shelley as they re...

The evolution of frictionless shopping in self-checkout continues to meet customer expectations and enhance the in-store experience. What’s behind the technology? Join Robin and Shelley to reveal the expanding role of RFID across retail industries and its broader use cases in supply chain, customer engagement areas, and combating theft and counterfeiting. This is a critical conversation you won’t want to miss. Special Guests: Bill Toney, Vice President Global, Food Soluti...

Weather analytics and retail are connected. The most basic connection is seasonal changes prompt seasonal sales. But there’s more to it. Special guest Evan Gold, EVP of Global Partnerships & Alliances at Planalytics joins Robin and Shelley to talk weather’s impact on retail. Learn how climate change has added complexities into understanding and managing one of retail’s biggest disruptive forces… the weather. Using analytics to better manage how today’s volatile weather patterns...