Enjoy a replay of this beloved episode of The Retail Pilot podcast. In this episode, Ken sits down with Ryan Babenzien, the brilliant mind behind Greats, a renowned footwear brand that has taken the industry by storm. But today, Ryan is here to share his latest venture: Jolie, a groundbreaking showerhead filter brand. Join Ken as he delves into Ryan's entrepreneurial journey, from building a successful sneaker empire to tackling a new frontier in personal care. Discover the inspiration behind Jolie and how Ryan's passion for sustainability and wellness led him to revolutionize the way we exper ..read more

Ken Pilot interviews Sid and Ann Mashburn, Founders of Sid Mashburn and Ann Mashburn, for this episode of The Retail Pilot Podcast. Sid Mashburn grew up in small-town Mississippi but began his design career in New York in the mid-1980s, as J.Crew’s first men’s designer. He designed the brand’s first heritage piece— the Barn Jacket. He was later recruited by Ralph Lauren to join the design team at Polo, and after subsequent stints leading design at Tommy Hilfiger and Lands’ End, it was time to do his own thing. His wife, Ann Mashburn had been on the editorial side of fashion, working in magazin ..read more

Join Host Ken Pilot for an Exclusive Interview with Steve Madden: The Visionary Behind the Iconic Footwear and Accessories Brand Key Highlights: Steve Madden's Early Career Steve Madden's journey in retail began at a shoe store in Cedarhurst, Long Island. By leveraging his connection as Johnny Madden's little brother, he secured a job that marked the start of his illustrious career in the shoe business. Creative Influence in the Shoe Business During the mid-'70s, Steve worked in an era marked by creative trends, especially in men's footwear like platform shoes. Inspired by the store owner who ..read more

Ken Pilot interviews Scott Tannen, Founder and CEO of Boll & Branch on this flight of The Retail Pilot Podcast. Scott Tannen is the CEO and Founder of Boll & Branch, the world’s leading luxury bedding brand, which he founded in 2014 with his wife Missy Tannen.  Boll & Branch was one of the earliest direct-to-consumer brands in the soft home world of bed and bath products, and is the first ever 100% organic Fair Trade Certified™ bedding company. Every product, from their sheets to their down pillows, is made sustainably, with a transparent supply chain, and today Boll & Bra ..read more

Ken Pilot speaks with Ramy Brook Sharp one year later on The Retail Pilot podcast. Ramy is the Founder and CEO of eponymous brand, Ramy Brook. In this conversation, Ken and Ramy discuss the current state of Ramy Brook, a fashion brand, and the strategies they are implementing to grow the business. They talk about the balance between wholesale and e-commerce, successful collaborations, marketing tactics, and the use of technology like AI in the fashion industry. In this part of the conversation, Ramy Brook Sharp discusses the use of AI technology in the fashion industry, the growth and fut ..read more

In this episode first aired May 8, 2023, Ken sits down with Louisa Serene Schneider, Founder and CEO of Rowan, a company that offers safe ear piercings exclusively by licensed nurses. Louisa shares her journey from being a hedge fund analyst to launching Rowan in 2017 and raising over $35 million in venture funding.  Join Ken as he dives into Louisa's journey and learn how she turned her passion for creating a safer ear piercing experience into a successful business venture! Key Takeaways from this interview include: 1.    Unique Business Idea and Inception: Louisa's ..read more

Ken sits down with Hali Borenstein, CEO of Reformation, for this episode of The Retail Pilot - Leaders & Legends. Bio Hali Borenstein is the CEO of sustainable fashion brand Reformation. Hali has been with Reformation since 2014, when she joined the company as Director of Merchandising, and most recently served as President of the company prior becoming CEO. Under Hali’s leadership, Reformation has grown to 1,000 team members, over 40 retail locations and its international business has more than tripled. She has also overseen significant category expansion and product innovation duri ..read more

Ken Pilot conducts his second interview with Chris Burch, Founder of Burch Creative Capital, for this episode of The Retail Pilot. · Diverse Business Ventures: Chris Burch's company, Burch Creative Capital, is actively involved in multiple industries including hotels, real estate development, prefab building, technology, and retail. He highlights an innovative project in Boston where they are constructing low-income housing using prefabricated materials in collaboration with the Public Housing Authority. · Prefab Housing Innovation: A significant project discussed is the construction ..read more

Ken Pilot interviews Danielle Bernstein on this episode of The Retail Pilot podcast. Danielle is a native New Yorker and fashion influencer turned business mogul. She has a dedicated fan base of over 3.3 million followers and counting across her social media platforms. Danielle started her internationally recognized blog in 2010 as a daily dose of outfit inspiration for women everywhere, before growing the platform into an aspirational yet relatable home for all things coveted. Danielle has since launched her brand, Shop WeWoreWhat, a direct to consumer and wholesale business with millions of ..read more

On this flight of The Retail Pilot, Ken Pilot interviews Andrew Blackmon, the co-founder and CEO of The Black Tux. He manages the company's day-to-day operations and leadership team. He is passionate about diligently creating a great team/culture to execute on the company's long term vision of revolutionizing the men's formal industry. He previously worked in technology and marketing. He earned an MBA from HEC Paris and a degree in English from Pepperdine University. Key takeaways from this podcast interview include: 1.    Identifying a Gap in the Market ..read more