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Remarkable Retail

Remarkable Retail

By: Michael LeBlanc Steve Dennis
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 If we had to pick a couple of words to describe the last few years, "volatile" and "uncertain" are very likely to be at the top of anyone's list. What words and themes will define this next year? Chaos? Clarity? Prosperity? Purpose? Will struggling retailers at long last make the bold leaps they must, or edge ever closer to the precipice? Can the promises of innovation be met, taking consumer experiences to new heights?/ 2025 looks to be a year where agility and resilience reign supreme as retailers must navigate a world of accelerating technological change, constrained consumer spending, new political realities, and greater power concentrated among only a handful of large retailers. When more and more change is certain, but the way forward is often less than clear, you need a compass, a map, keen insight and no-nonsense advice. This is Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. I invite you to join me and fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc each week as we make sense of an increasingly volatile and uncertain retail world. The Remarkable Retail podcast is the only podcast hosted by two of the NRF's 2025 Top Retail Voices. In this, our tenth season, we'll continue our award-winning formula by giving our hot takes on the week's most important retail news and by featuring guests who are on the leading edge of what's new and next in commerce today. So be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts so you won't miss an episode. Get ready for a steady stream of lively conversations, inspiring leadership stories, and no BS perspectives. Our tenth season of the Remarkable Retail podcast debuts on Tuesday, January 14th. If you want to surf the waves of change and thrive in 2025, we hope you'll join us. © 2020-2025 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.2020-2025 Remarkable Retail Podcast Partnership Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Future-Proofing Retail: Mark Irvin Best Buy's EVP & Chief Supply Chain Officer on Agility, AI & Delivering for Customers

    Future-Proofing Retail: Mark Irvin Best Buy's EVP & Chief Supply Chain Officer on Agility, AI & Delivering for Customers
    Jun 24 2025
    In the latest episode of Remarkable Retail, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis return with a their hot takes on the week's top retail headlines.The duo begins with a macroeconomic update, including political gridlock in the U.S. over the "Big Beautiful Bill," the Fed's inflation outlook, and uncertainty surrounding consumer spending. They then break down TikTok's extended 90-day reprieve, speculate on Amazon's motivation behind extending Prime Day to four days, and assess the e-commerce giant's recent shift in tone regarding AI impacts on future hiring needs The hosts also spotlight Walmart's surprising 23% growth in online apparel sales, consider the luxury sector's first contraction in 15 years, and dig into a new Profitero study that reveals digital channels now influence 64% of retail transactions—emphasizing the needs to break down silos and implement a harmonized shopping experience.Then it's over to this week's featured guest: Mark Irvin, Best Buy's Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. With more than 12 years at the retailer and a deep background in logistics, Irvin pulls back the curtain on what it takes to operate one of the world's largest and most complex retail supply chains. From visibility and speed to adaptability, Irvin outlines the three pillars of Best Buy's evolving logistics strategy. He explains how they leverage AI-driven sourcing to reduce delivery errors, digital twins to simulate future supply networks, and a growing control tower to dynamically reroute inventory in response to global disruptions—like the Panama Canal's low water levels or shifting geopolitical challenges.He also details Best Buy's commitment to sustainability, including partnerships for electrified freight and aggressive reverse logistics programs to refurbish or responsibly dispose of aging tech. The conversation wraps with a preview of his upcoming keynote at NRF's Big Show Europe in Paris, September 16-18., where he'll explore the future of retail supply chains and what it takes to deliver exceptional customer experiences by 2030. About UsSteve 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 authro 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 the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.
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    47 mins
  • "The Analysts" Part 2: The Future of Department Stores and Agentic AI with Sucharita Kodali, Neil Saunders & Simeon Siegel

    "The Analysts" Part 2: The Future of Department Stores and Agentic AI with Sucharita Kodali, Neil Saunders & Simeon Siegel
    Jun 17 2025
    In the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, co-hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc return with Part Two of “The Analysts," which featues three of the retail industry’s most respected thought leaders—Sucharita Kodali (VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester Research), Neil Saunders (Managing Director, GlobalData Retail), and Simeon Siegel (Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets).But first, Michael and Steve unpack a news cycle packed with volatility. They begin by exploring the ripple effects of renewed Middle East conflict and its impact on oil prices, inflation, and economic sentiment. From there, the duo tackle the Trump administration’s intensifying immigration enforcement and its chilling effect on the U.S. labor force—particularly in agriculture, hospitality, and retail. Shoppers are anxious, workers are disappearing, and companies are bracing for cost spikes.The episode then zooms into earnings season, with fresh data from RH (Restoration Hardware), Inditex (Zara), and Victoria’s Secret. RH defies expectations with revenue gains despite a sluggish home goods sector, while Zara and Victoria’s Secret warn of tariff-related turbulence ahead. Steve and Michael also sound the alarm on a string of cyberattacks, including the Victoria’s Secret hack and a Whole Foods supplier breach, painting a stark picture of retail’s digital vulnerabilities.Then it’s time for “The Analysts” segment. Sucharita Kodali explains the hype—and the misunderstanding—around Agentic AI, warning retailers of its disintermediating potential if shopping bots take hold. The panel weigh in on the future of department stores, urging traditional retailers to rethink their value proposition, especially as beauty shifts to standalone players like Sephora, Blue Mercury, and Ulta.From TikTok’s uncertain future to retail media network fatigue, the lightning round keeps the insights flowing with wit and depth. The panel also lifts up up-and-coming remarkable brands like Vuori, Alo Yoga, and Eleventy as ones to watch. Here is a 10% off code for the CommerceNext Growth Show exclusive to Remarkable Retail listeners: REMARKABLE. About UsSteve 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 authro 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 the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.
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    48 mins
  • "The Analysts": Sucharita Kodali, Neil Saunders & Simeon Siegel Decode What Really Matters

    "The Analysts": Sucharita Kodali, Neil Saunders & Simeon Siegel Decode What Really Matters
    Jun 10 2025
    This landmark episode launches "The Analysts," a periodic new feature segment, bringing together three of retail's most respected thought leaders in a new format . Part One features Sucharita Kodali (Forrester Research), Neil Saunders (GlobalData Retail), and Simeon Siegel (BMO Capital Markets) who cut through industry chaos to reveal what really matters.News of the Week Highlights: The episode opens with Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc's signature news analysis, which covers the Trump-Musk political tensions and their potential retail implications, including leadership chaos and economic uncertainty. They examine surprisingly resilient U.S. job market data, showing 4.1-4.2% unemployment despite rising layoff announcements, with a particular focus on AI's emerging threat to entry-level positions as companies like McKinsey dramatically reduce their hiring.A significant development has emerged, with Chinese retailers Temu and Shein experiencing dramatic 50% U.S. sales declines following tariff implementations, although both companies are pivoting aggressively to European markets. The hosts analyze this as validation of tariff impacts while noting potential "brace for impact" implications for international listeners.Eangs season wrap-up reveals telling mixed signals: Lululemon's shocking 23% stock decline despite maintaining profitability, driven by weak guidance amid increased promotional pressure; Dollar General raising guidance despite tepid 2% comp growth; and standout Five Below achieving impressive 7% comps while expanding to 1,826 stores across the U.S. The continuing collapse of second-wave DTC darlings gets spotlight treatment, particularly Rent the Runway's staggering 97% stock decline.Sarah Shaprio's article in PUCK (gifted access):https://puck.news/everlane-the-millennial-dtc-brands-midlife-crisis/?sharer=135890&token=b9132ffadc485c7284df8c90f0940e62 Here is a 10% off code for the CommerceNext Growth Show exclusive to Remarkable Retail listeners: REMARKABLE. About UsSteve 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 authro 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 the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.
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    50 mins
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