We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us! As the world’s number-one PC manufacturer, Lenovo’s mission is to deliver smarter technology for everyone. The company journey has transformed from a wholesale business to a DTC model supported by rich data and analytics delivering world-class experiences for its users. How did they do it? Join Shelley and Jennifer Downes, Lenovo’s CMO of Global eCommerce, as they discuss how attracting repeat customers for a business based on infrequent purchases requires innovative thinking. The new Lenovo custom ..read more

 Special Guest:  Michelle Crossan-Matos, Chief Marketing Officer, Ulta Beauty We’re experiencing a deficit in joyfulness; 85 percent of people wish they felt a high level of joy in their lives, but only 58 percent report feeling that way.  Ulta Beauty’s mission is to bring joy to millions of people, so they developed The Joy Project and enlisted the help of motivational speaker and podcast host Mel Robbins to empower customers and their workforce of 53,000 to embrace and experience joy.  Join Shelley and Michelle Crossan-Matos, Chief Marketing Officer of Ulta Beauty as they ..read more

As the world’s number-one PC manufacturer, Lenovo’s mission is to deliver smarter technology for everyone. The company journey has transformed from a wholesale business to a DTC model supported by rich data and analytics delivering world-class experiences for its users. How did they do it? Join Shelley and Jennifer Downes, Lenovo’s CMO of Global eCommerce, as they discuss how attracting repeat customers for a business based on infrequent purchases requires innovative thinking. The new Lenovo customer-centric approach has resulted in a 28 percent increase in digital orders. Listen and learn! F ..read more

Data rules in the ecommerce digital world but is more challenging to collect in the physical world. But tracking millions of pieces of merchandise across your store floors so your customers and staff can find any product in real-time is now a reality. Unified commerce is here.  Join Shelley E. Kohan and special guest Ronit Eliav, Chief Marketing Officer of Nexite as they discuss how virtual apparel tracking maps with real-time data lets your merchandise seamlessly tell you their entire life story -- from the factory floor to their final destination in the customers’ closet.  The wi ..read more

What does it take to turn around an iconic brand that started with humble beginnings? Creating a new vision may not be the best road to take and reinvigorating a brand may not be enough.  The traditional checklist is outdated: cutting costs to profitability and relying solely on operational efficiency to drive performance. While new leadership can create a new vision, who’s the right fit?  Join Robin and Shelley as they deconstruct three iconic brands operating with bold new strategies. Competition is fierce, product is king, and consumer affinity is key. Who will be the winners an ..read more

There was a time in retail when the route to the C-suite was from the sales floor, and future leadership was carefully groomed at companies like Lord & Taylor, Abraham & Strauss, and Macy’s.  With many companies downsizing and eliminating training programs, plus integrating more technology, future retail CEOs may come from unexpected places.  Pepsi has become the poster child for launching retail CEOs:  Brian Cornell of Target, Lauran Hobart of Dick’s Sporting Goods, Vivek Sankaran of Albertsons, and Mary Dillon of Foot Locker. Can retailers steal a page from Pepsi’s p ..read more

There was a time in retail when the route to the C-suite was from the sales floor, and future leadership was carefully groomed at companies like Lord & Taylor, Abraham & Strauss, and Macy’s.  With many companies downsizing and eliminating training programs, plus integrating more technology, future retail CEOs may come from unexpected places.  Pepsi has become the poster child for launching retail CEOs:  Brian Cornell of Target, Lauren Hobart of Dick’s Sporting Goods, Vivek Sankaran of Albertsons, and Mary Dillon of Foot Locker. Can retailers steal a page from Pepsi’s p ..read more

Nordstrom’s core mission is to make customers feel good and look their best. And the retailer is legendary for listening to the customer and delivering customer service that “is not defined by us based on our legacy practices. It’s defined by customers. The customer is still the best filter we have for every business decision we make," according to Pete Nordstrom. Two industry giants, Bob Spector, and Paco Underhill, join Robin and Shelley as they discuss how Nordstrom’s culture that is focused on the customer experience has been maintained over the course of 123 years … and counting. They di ..read more

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 Kevin Plank rejoining the brand he created (think how entrepreneurs need professional and disciplined le ..read more

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 support and solidarity to outdoor businesses that are BIPOC owned and led. REI is making a difference a ..read more