Rethink Retail

On the floor at Shoptalk Europe, RETHINK Retail’s Marie Driscoll sits down with Nicolas Kroeger, Chief Digital Transformation Officer at Manor AG, Switzerland’s largest department store chain. In a dynamic conversation, Nicolas shares how his expanded role is driving process efficiency and innovation through AI across departments.

Live from the LEAD Summit, Sandy Hernandez sits down with Sarah Angelmar, Executive Director of Customer Experience at Clarins Group, the brand that helped define “clean beauty” before it was a trend. From their AI chatbot "Cara" to the emotional science behind loyalty, Sarah reveals how Clarins blends 71 years of family heritage with bold CX innovation. Timestamps [02:00] – Clarins’ roots: From plant science to prestige skincare [05:30] – "Cara": The AI chatbot that supports (not replaces) beauty advisors [08:15] – Why Clarins became a B-Corp, and what it means for customers [11:45] – Rethinking loyalty: No points. No gimmicks. Just trust. [15:20] – How customer emotion informs CX design [19:10] – Family-owned in a corporate world: Moving fast without losing soul ✨ “We don’t want to be transactional. We want to be unforgettable” — Sarah Angelmar Join our global retail community: www.globalretailleaders.com

What does it take to bring authentic Korean traditional food to a global audience through e-commerce? David Polinchock chats with Ryan Kim, founder of Kim'C Market, a Korean food import business, to explore how personal experience sparked a mission to deliver healthier, artisanal products directly from Korean farmers. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Ryan’s personal story: loss and health awakening [02:30] Starting an e-commerce brand with no prior experience [05:00] Sourcing authentic ingredients: visiting farmers in Korea [08:00] Educating customers on fermentation and product quality [11:00] Navigating marketing and growing a diverse customer base [14:00] The power of authenticity and direct relationships [17:00] Lessons learned and future plans for expansion

Rethink Retail, was live at The Lead 2025 in NYC with our host Liza Amlani and Dr. Alisa Brady, founder of Sweetums, a fast-growing beauty and sexual wellness brand blending intimacy, scent, and science. A clinical psychologist turned entrepreneur, Dr. Brady shares how customer data, cognitive research, and product innovation are driving Sweetums’ retail expansion. From flavored intimate wipes to lip balm with a built-in applicator, learn how Sweetums is taking pleasure mainstream, one scented swipe at a time. You’ll hear: - How Dr. Brady used psychology and scent science to design her first product - What the data really says about men, cinnamon buns, and buying behavior - Why women are the surprise buyers of Sweetums’ men’s line - How flavored fragrance and function-first packaging are driving connection - Where Sweetums is winning in retail and what’s next after The Lead 2025 pitch stage Join our global retail community: www.globalretailleaders.com

Retailer Tech Tips: How Retailers are Driving Next-Gen Fulfillment Strategies In this episode, we’re diving deep into how retailers are transforming fulfillment with the power of cloud technology. Brandon Rael (Kyndryl), Prateek Trivedi (Cognizant), and Shannon Kirk Nakamoto (Icertis) join us to unpack fulfillment strategies that deliver speed, agility, and customer satisfaction in an increasingly digital retail landscape. Key takeaways include: - The evolution of modern fulfillment - Automation and AI in warehouse operations - Dropshipping, hybrid models, and micro-fulfillment - Vendor collaboration through smarter data - Real-time tracking and visibility - Addressing labor, sustainability, and delivery challenges Whether you're reimagining your supply chain or scaling fulfillment for the holidays, this episode delivers practical insights and future-forward strategies to keep your business moving.

What’s the secret to transforming traditional hospital wear into stylish, comfortable, and empowering apparel? Host Robin Barrett Wilson sits down with Chaitenya Razdan, Founder of Care + Wear, to uncover how this visionary brand is changing the face of healthcare uniforms. Discover their mission to blend fashion with function, elevate caregiver morale, and push the boundaries of medical apparel design. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Care & Wear’s origin story and vision [03:10] Designing for comfort without sacrificing style [06:50] How Care & Wear supports healthcare workers’ confidence [10:20] Overcoming challenges in a conservative industry [14:00] Future plans: innovation, sustainability, and growth [17:30] Chet’s top tips for entrepreneurship and brand building

On this episode of Rethink Retail, host Marie Driscoll sits down with Shunda Lynch, luxury retail expert with extensive experience at Bloomingdale´s. Shunda shares her unexpected journey into luxury retail, from studying fashion design to building a loyal clientele through passion and deep relationship-building. Hear how her love for classic and innovative luxury brands shaped her approach in a competitive industry. Join the conversation and gain fresh insights into luxury retail leadership and customer connection. Join our global retail community: www.globalretailleaders.com

Welcome to Rethink Retail, the podcast where we uncover the stories and strategies behind some of the world’s most successful brands. From retail giants to ecommerce disruptors, we reveal the secrets of their success and share key insights to drive true retail transformation. Shannon Flanagan chats with Jessica Rosario-Calcano, VP of Merchandising at Perry Ellis International. Jessica shares her unique journey into merchandising, her philosophy of balancing data-driven decisions with creativity, and how collaboration across teams fuels innovation. Tune in to explore how the future of retail and AI are shaping the industry today, are you ready to rethink retail?

What sets great brands apart in the age of AI? Maria Carlton, former Under Armour Senior Director and retail strategist, joins host Alan Malcomson live from The Lead Summit in New York. With 20+ years in the industry, Maria shares lessons on agility, authenticity, and leadership, from driving predictive analytics to embracing sustainability and mentoring future talent. ⏱️ Highlights: [01:00] Retail's constant evolution [03:30] How AI is transforming operations [06:00] The secret to brand authenticity [10:00] Agility & future-proof leadership

In this episode of Rethink Retail, host Rebekah Kondrat speaks with Victoria Katsarou, VP of Global Retail at Estée Lauder Companies, live from The Lead. Victoria unpacks how Estée Lauder blends luxury, innovation, and humanity to shape the future of beauty retail. From building agile teams to staying laser-focused on the consumer experience, her people-first philosophy drives transformation at scale. We cover: ✔️ Leading with empathy in a global retail org ✔️ How tech enhances, not replaces, the human connection ✔️ Scaling agility across 150+ markets ✔️ What the future of beauty retail looks like

In this episode of Rethink Retail, host Sharon Yourell sits down with Dr. Michael Schulte from Diebold Nixdorf and Reghu Kutikat from Lulu Group to explore how strategic partnerships and advanced retail tech are transforming in-store experiences. From smart checkouts to data-driven loyalty, discover how retailers are using personalization, automation, and AI to future-proof their businesses and deepen customer engagement.

The Future of Commerce & Community with David Polinchock & Richard Honiball Welcome to Rethink Retail, the podcast where we uncover the stories and strategies behind some of the most successful retail markets worldwide. From traditional giants to e-commerce disruptors, we explore the secrets behind their success and deliver insights to transform the real retail experience. In this episode, David Polinchock and Richard Honiball dive into how the future of retail blends AI, community, and unified commerce, especially through the eyes of the younger generation. Discover how the concept of the “third place” is evolving and why creating authentic, connected retail experiences matters now more than ever.

In this podcast, top industry experts share how retailers can unify their in-store technologies to drive growth and improve customer experience. Featuring:

The Cyber Edge: Retail Security in an AI-Powered World by

In this episode of Rethink Retail, recorded live from Shoptalk Europe in Barcelona, Nick Harbaugh sits down with Julia Xu, CEO and Founder of not one, but two trailblazing companies: Wayo, an AI-powered product sourcing platform, and Multitasky, a bold lifestyle brand making waves in traditional retail.

On this episode of Rethink Retail, host April Sabral takes us into the heart of retail innovation with special guest Paula Angelucci. Broadcasting live from New York City, April and Paula dive deep into the evolving role of AI in brick-and-mortar stores. Paula brings her rich background working with Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, and Burlington Stores, sharing how AI is not replacing, but empowering store associates to elevate customer experience. Together, they explore practical ways leaders can introduce AI to their teams, transforming fear into opportunity and enhancing product knowledge. Tune in for inspiring insights on leadership, the human connection in retail, and the future of AI in stores. Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com.

In this episode, Rethink Retail host Corin Dennison speaks with Christoph Annemuller (Diebold Nixdorf) and David Naumann (Verizon) about how AI, computer vision, and edge computing are transforming loss prevention. They explore how AI can spot mis-scans, recognize products in real time, and improve the self-checkout experience, while reducing theft and operational strain. You’ll learn: - Why 1/3 of shrink happens at the checkout - How AI is boosting accuracy without hurting CX - What makes edge computing essential for retail AI - Why solving real problems should come before picking the tech

What does it take to scale a specialty brand from a handful of boutiques to thousands of retail doors worldwide? Bellamy Grindl chats with Vanessa Urenda, co-founder of ADA Collectiojn, shares her journey navigating distribution, building curated assortments, and partnering with the right retailers to grow successfully. Discover the strategy, execution, and market insights that make it happen. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Vanessa’s early days & founding Audit Collection [03:15] Building a distribution network: from 50 to 2,500 boutiques [07:40] The power of curated assortments & market segmentation [11:20] Partnering with department stores & specialty retailers [15:00] Creating strategy & execution support for founders [18:45] Lessons learned on growth, retail partnerships & scaling

What does it take to lead a legacy brand into the digital future? Flick Collingwood chats with Nuno Miller, Digital COO at N Brown Group, to explore the company’s bold transformation from mail-order giant to modern e-commerce player. Hear how N Brown is reshaping its culture, breaking down silos, and placing customer-centricity at the heart of its operations. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] N Brown’s legacy: From catalog to digital [02:30] Why transformation is more than just technology [05:45] OKRs, mission drives & cross-functional tribes [09:30] Breaking silos & building customer-first teams [13:30] The critical role of CEO sponsorship [17:30] Lessons learned: mindset shifts & cultural change [21:00] Nuno’s advice for leading successful digital transformations

In this episode, Marc Scanlan chats with Maryia Zotorovich (Intel) and Christian Weber (Diebold Nixdorf) about the tech transforming retail. From AI-powered checkouts to energy-efficient hardware and modular POS, learn how innovation is meeting real-world retail needs.