Shows
The Modern Hotelier#167: Boosting Revenue with Smarter Pricing | with Bobby MarhamatWhat do tequila, ghost peppers, and hotel pricing have in common?In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Bobby Marhamat, the CEO of TakeUp.ai.The conversation covers Bobby's background, including his upbringing in Nebraska and California, his education at San Jose State, and his career progression in sales and tech. Bobby shares insights about his passion for hot peppers and hot sauces, and his COVID-era venture into starting a tequila company.The episode concludes with a detailed demonstration of TakeUp's web-based platform, and its features designed to enhance...2025-06-2412 min
Brick & Mortar RebornWing It On!’s Matt Ensero on Finding Success Through Patience and PeopleOn today’s episode of the Brick and Mortar Reborn podcast, Bobby speaks with Matt Ensero, President and Founder of Wing It On!, a fast casual concept focusing on serving authentic buffalo wings for takeout or dine-in. They discuss Matt's journey from pivoting from a career in finance and sales to bootstrapping a "wing joint for wing nuts" — and why slow, patient growth was the key to Wing It On!'s success. They also discuss how Wing It On! leverages technology to enhance the customer experience and improve order accuracy, how to hire the best operators for your business, and...2023-05-1720 minBrick & Mortar RebornUsing Technology to Bridge the Gap between In-Store and Online Retail with Showfields CEO Tal Zvi NathanelIn this episode of the Retail Experience Show, Tal Zvi Nathanel, CEO and co-founder of Showfields, joins Bobby to discuss the vital role of experiential retail in today's landscape. Tal shares his perspectives on the importance of creating memorable experiences that engage customers' senses, offer inspiration, and provide validation. He delves into how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift in customer expectations and the need for retailers to understand their target audience to create tailored experiences. Additionally, Tal explores the potential of technology in retail to enhance customer experiences, provide valuable insights for brands, and bridge the gap between...2023-05-0427 minBrick & Mortar RebornGetting the Scoop on Successful Franchising Operations with Chill-N’s David LeonardoOn today’s episode of the Brick and Mortar Reborn podcast, Bobby speaks with David Leonardo, CEO of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream, a shop serving up fresh, made-to-order ice cream. They discuss Chill-N's unique way of creating ice cream, and how they've automated steps to increase throughput to meet customer demand. They also discuss what makes a successful franchisee, how not to fall into the trap of believing a first profitable store means more profitable stores, how franchisees can instill great customer service in their employees, and how great teams create success.
Topics discussed:
The...2023-05-0421 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 95: Andrew PudalovIn this episode, our host Bobby Marahmat speaks with Andrew Pudalov, Founder and CEO of Rush Bowls, a healthy quick serve restaurant with more than 40 locations across the US with plans to add 20 more new locations in 2023.
Topics discussed:
How the 9/11 terrorist attacks prompted Andrew to leave behind his career in finance.
The inspiration behind Rush Bowls.
How to decide if you should franchise your business.
The key to Rush Bowls rapid growth.
How Rush Bowls creates memorable in-location experiences across locations in many different cities and states.
Andrew’s top pieces of advice for opera...2023-04-2718 min
Non-Technical97. Bobby Marhamat (CEO, Raydiant) runs a good lawn, okay folks???This week, Alexis gets non-technical with Bobby Marhamat, CEO of Raydiant. They talk about being CEO of the football team, Al Pacino’s stunt double, tequila ghosts, the filler of sushi (!), “being” money, and RACOONS!!!!You can find Bobby on Twitter at https://twitter.com//bobbymarhamat. You can find Alexis at twitter.com/yayalexisgay, instagram.com/yayalexisgay, tiktok.com/@yayalexisgay or sign up for her email list at bit.ly/hellofromalexis.Find Non-Technical at twitter.com/NonTechnicalPod, instagram.com/nontechnicalpod, or tiktok.com/@nontechnicalpod.This episode is brought to you by Async, the first...2023-02-0138 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 94: Nadina GuglielmettiIn today’s podcast, Bobby is joined by Nadina Guglielmetti, Vice President, General Manager, Marketing at The Vitamin Shoppe, a popular specialty vitamin and supplement retailer.
Nadina shares how her team at the Vitamin Shoppe makes use of a process that allows them to democratize work and enables them to plan and strategize with consistency across all channels whether it be for brand launches, promotions, or brand messaging. She highlights the importance of leveraging data and technology and of having a solid understanding of both the online and offline world in building better customer relationships.
...2022-12-2822 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 93: Jenna Flateman PosnerJenna Flateman Posner is the Chief Digital Officer for SNIPES, one of the fastest growing sneaker and streetwear retail platforms in Europe and the US. Jenna is a seasoned retail industry professional having worked as a retail technologist and digital retailer for an impressive lineup of innovative tech startups like Radius8 (Fiserve), Clutch, Curalate (Bazaarevoice) and Levelup (GrubHub).
In this episode, Jenna gives us an overview on her current role at SNIPES, and shares some tips on how she supports all channels of the business by prioritizing customer experience, cultivating a strong partnership with vendors, an...2022-12-1418 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 92: Tal Zvi NathanelTal Zvi Nathanel is the CEO & Co-Founder of SHOWFIELD, a multi-brand department store environment built for today’s customers and tomorrow’s brands. With a background in technology and event experiences, and inspired by the power of physical stores to stimulate all of our senses, Tal is driving democratization in the retail sector by bringing new brands and new customers together in shared spaces. SHOWFIELD’s unique ‘C-Commerce’ approach pushes them to constantly innovate, asking critical questions about what a customer journey really looks like today, and how they can always keep relevant.
Topics discussed:
Why exclusivity...2022-11-2827 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 91: Barruch Ben-ZekryBarruch Ben-Zekry is the Founder and CEO of Out&Back, a managed marketplace for outdoor gear leveling up the peer-to-peer resale experience. He joins the show to talk about why re-commerce has so much potential in the outdoors market, how building partnerships with brick-and-mortar stores helps drive growth in a largely digital industry, and why customer experience is central to sustainable growth.
Topics discussed:
Barruch’s background in the apparel industry and how he came to found Out&Back
How Out&Back found a niche in the outdoor gear re-commerce market
The need for managed marketplaces ad...2022-10-2620 min
RETHINK RETAILCreating Memorable In-Store Experiences With Digital Technology | Ryan Taylor and Bobby MarhamatDigital transformation is impacting all of us in the retail industry, and brick-and-mortar is no exception. The in-store experience itself is now called to change in a way perhaps more radical and extensive than any time in modern history.
In this episode host Gabriella Bock explores how to create memorable in-store experiences through digital innovation with guests Ryan Taylor and Bobby Marhamat.
Ryan is Head of Retail Product Marketing at T-Mobile. He has over 20 years of experience in retail management at the store, district, territory, and geographic levels, implementing high-level changes to drive successful businesses within those sectors, leveraging analytics...2022-09-0741 min
The Thoughtful Entrepreneur1301 - Personalize In-Store Experiences Across Every Screens with Raydiant's Bobby MarhamatOn today's episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, we are so excited to speak with the CEO of Raydiant, Bobby Marhamat! Bobby Marhamat has spent 20+ years learning from the brightest minds in business. His company Raydiant is an experience platform. From signage to menu boards to kiosks and managing employee experience. Raydiant uses modules that tie into point of sale and helps companies on the employee experience side including communication, engagement, and keeping the employees really excited about the brand. It is a platform that helps companies manage, excite, and inform people into their brand. Don’t forget to listen to...2022-08-2915 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 90: Craig PattersonCraig Patterson is the Editor-in-Chief of the leading Canadian retail industry news magazine, Retail Insider. He joins the show to discuss how retail has changed in the last few years, why online shopping still has value in a post-covid world, and his take on the future of retail.
Topics discussed:
Craig’s background and why he started Retail Insider
What Retail Insider does and does not cover
The current biggest stories at Retail Insider
Changes to the retail space in the past few years
The value of selling experience as a retailer
Resources that will help...2022-08-1824 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 89: Marshall KayMarshall Kay is the founder of RFID Sherpas and a retail entrepreneurial consultant. In this episode, we dive into the technology of RFID technology, and how it can help retail brands in their stores. RFID creates smart lables that will help stores collect and manage more data about the movement of their inventories. This technology is inexpensive to implement and it will fundamentally improve the running of your store.
Topics discussed:
What is RFID Sherpas and how does it assist retail entrepreneurs?
Why you want to use RFIDs in your store
How Marshall discovered RFI...2022-08-1226 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 88: Ron ThurstonRon Thurston is the host of the Retail in America Podcast. He spent many years working on the front lines of retail, and then he wrote his book, Retail Pride, to celebrate his career journey. On his book tour, he also meets front line retail workers around the country and documents his adventures on his podcast. On the show today, we talk about what it’s like to work on the front lines of retail in 2022. Ron shares everything retail businesses need to know about supporting the workers on the front lines.
Topics discussed:
Abou...2022-08-0525 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 87: April SabralApril Sabral is the founder and CEO of retailu, an online, on-demand leadership development platform for retail professionals. She is also the author of The Positive Effect, where she details her journey working in retail. In the episode today, we talk about the biggest lessons April has to share about leadership in the retail industry, including her ACT model that she uses to teach retail professionals how to build strong teams.
Topics discussed:
April’s background and about retailu
About April’s book, the Positive Effect
The ACT model and how it helps you build a strong...2022-07-2821 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 86: Mina FaderMina Fader is the Managing Director of Wharton’s Baker Retailing Center at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, Mina discusses the present and future state of retail. She breaks down the fate of the brick and mortar space in the digital, post-COVID world, and you might be surprised to hear her take on where retail is heading in the future.
Topics discussed:
About Mina and how her career in retail developed
About the Wharton Baker Retailing Center
How you can learn from the Wharton Baker Retailing Center
Some of the most compelling research in the re...2022-07-2118 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 85: Hitha HerzogHitha is the Chief Research Officer at H Squared Research LLC, a consumer spending columnist at US News and World Report, and the author of the book “Black Market Billions: How Organized Retail Crimes Fund Terrorists.” She is a self-proclaimed futurist related to all things retail, and in this episode, she discusses some of the trends that we should be looking for in the retail space.
Topics discussed:
What’s exciting right now in the retail industry
What contributes to businesses’ success and failure in the retail space
A description of the modern consumer and key beha...2022-07-1321 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 84: Katherine CullenWhat is the NRF (National Retail Federation) and what do they do? Today’s guest, Katherine Cullen, is the senior director of industry and consumer insights for the National Retail Federation’s research team. That means that she leads NRF’s research on consumer spending and emerging retail trends. What does that information tell us about retail today?
Listen to today’s interview to learn more about it. You’ll hear what Katherine has to say about her own journey to the NRF, why in-location experiences remain so important, and what she has to share about Generation Z’s shoppi...2022-06-1124 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 83: Doron FriedmanOver recent years, there have been many changes in what people expect from retailers. People want to shop locally, but they also want the convenience afforded to them by big retailers. SpotOn helps smaller retailers achieve that. Today, you’ll hear from Doron Friedman, co-founder of SpotOn.
Listen to the episode to hear more about Doron and SpotOn, and how SpotOn helps businesses. Learn how SpotOn’s clients use the service, how it helps them cope with changing trends and challenges, and why small businesses should be thinking about using alternative types of payment.
TOP...2022-04-2722 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 82: Pervez PirHas the definition or expectation of convenience changed over time? The people who might best know the answer to this are people in the convenience store business – people like today’s guest.
Pervez Pir is the President of Retail at Loop Neighborhood Marketplace, and he has an important perspective on the value of convenience and convenience stores in the lives of the people who use those stores. Listen to the episode to hear what Pervez has to say about Loop’s retail strategies, what trends have changed in recent years, and what’s most important to creating the Loop...2022-04-1320 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 81: Tommy YionoulisWhen you’re a business operator, how can you make sure you’re on track, gather the information you need, and keep up with what your team needs and what they’re doing? The answer is good operations management. And that’s what today’s guest’s business does – operations management and analytics.
Tommy Yionoulis is the founder of OpsAnalitica. Previously he worked in restaurants and also did a stint as a stand-up comedian. Listen to today’s episode to hear what Tommy has to say about why he founded OpsAnalitica, what benefits businesses see from Tommy’s platform, and ho...2022-03-3032 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 80: Dan GoldmanRetail has undergone a lot of changes over the past few years. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Dan Goldman, strategic consumer and retail industry executive who explains what’s changed for the retail industry during the pandemic, the importance of focusing on creating closer relationships with customers and appealing to their motivations, and what Dan foresees for the future of retail.
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
✔ Dan’s career and how he got in the clothing industry
✔ Fun things Dan does in his current role
✔ How things have changed for ret...2022-03-2324 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 79: Lance GraulichYou can’t think about brick-and-mortar retail without considering franchises. Is a franchise right for you? Will a specific franchise work in your region of the US? How much work does it take to maintain a franchise? These are some of the important questions that a person must consider when thinking about franchising.
In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Lance Graulich, founder and CEO of ION Franchising. Listen to the episode to hear what Lance has to say about assessing whether a potential franchisee is ready, which industries are fun, challenging, or lucrative, and common mistak...2022-03-1623 min
The Founders Live Podcast167 - Bobby Marhamat of Raydiant: Digging the Foundations of Product Market FitNick Hughes is joined by Bobby Marhamat, CEO of Raydiant from San Francisco. Bobby is the co-founder and CEO of Raydiant — a brick and mortar technology startup that helps brands manage and deliver experiences at their physical locations. To date the company has raised over $20M from investors such as 8VC, Atomic, and actor Mark Walhberg. As the episode starts, Nick and Bobby jump into the discussion around his background and why he chose entrepreneurship. We hear about his early experience and lessons of scaling with Revel systems, a high growth startup he had the opportunity to wo...2022-03-1044 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 78: Jamie RichardsonWhite Castle isn’t as big as some other hamburger chains, but it is the oldest chain in the United States, and it remains family-owned even after 100 years, which is a big feat. In today’s episode, you’ll learn more about White Castle and why it remains a success so long after its initial appearance.
Jamie Richardson is the Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations at White Castle. Over the years, he’s also worked as a Regional Marketing Supervisor, Director of Marketing, and the VP of Public Relations, so he knows a lot about the comp...2022-03-0920 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 77: Matt AlexanderWhat is different about selling your brand in a multi-brand, brick and mortar store? Is this a good idea for a direct-to-consumer brand that wants to add a brick and mortar option for customers? How does it work?
Today’s guest is Matt Alexander, the co-founder and CEO of Neighborhood Goods, a department store that sells a variety of different brands that fit the store’s guidelines and meet their customers’ needs. In today’s episode, you’ll learn about what led Matt to create a department store and how it works for brands.
Listen in to hear...2022-03-0227 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 76: Josh BaylinHow do robotics function in the retail world now, and how will they play into retail settings in the future? Today’s guest is working in the cutting edge of autonomous robotics and will explain a lot of the thinking around robotics in the retail space.
Josh Baylin is the Vice President of Product and Marketing at Brain Corp, a company that makes software that transforms manual machines into robots. Listen to the episode as he discusses how customers utilize Brain Corp products and who those customers are, what the use cases for Brain Corp’s products are...2022-02-2023 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 75: Tracey BissettHaving a great idea for a business doesn’t necessarily mean you understand how to best manage your money, make a financial plan, or handle cash flow. So where does an entrepreneur turn when they need to learn how to manage the financial end of their business responsibly?
They can turn to someone like today’s guest, Tracey Bissett. Tracey provides her clients with coaching. She prefers to frame it as teaching them how to become financially fit, rather than focusing on financial literacy. She helps her clients succeed by making sure that they understand how to mana...2022-02-0222 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 74: Devon Mychal & Vikas BhambriIs the Great Resignation just a buzzword, or is it real? Either way, employees are quitting their jobs and looking for new roles. And research shows that workers who are engaged in their work and workplace can actually be more likely to outperform competitors. It’s time to start rethinking employee management and come up with new strategies for improving the employee experience.
Here to talk about this subject today is Vikas Bhambri, SVP, Sales & CX at Kustomer and Devon Mychal, Director of Product Marketing at Talkdesk. In their conversation today, they’ll be exploring ways for comp...2022-01-1944 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 73: Kelly CookNo matter what’s going on in the world, people will still fall in love and want to get married. For that reason, businesses like David’s Bridal are always going to be important, in the midst of COVID or during any other time.
In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Kelly Cook, EVP and Chief Marketing and IT Officer for David’s Bridal. Listen in to hear what she has to say about how she ended up at David’s bridal, what changes she’s seen in the behavior of consumers who are using David’s bridal, and wh...2022-01-0527 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 72: Pat EganSee’s Candies is a retailer that hardly needs an introduction, because it’s so widely known. And what could be better than working for a popular candy manufacturer and retailer? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Pat Egan, the CEO of See’s Candies. Listen in to learn about what brought Pat to the brand from the energy field, how to keep employees happy and providing great experiences for customers, and how to balance innovation with the essence of an established, historic brand.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Pat’s background...2021-11-2428 min
Spark PlugBobby Marhamat, RaydiantBobby Marhamat is the CEO of Raydiant, an innovative platform that delivers a personalized and unique in-store experience for retail customers. He is a Forbes Development Contributor writer on topics around sales strategy and management, operations management, and sales and marketing. Bobby discusses Raydiant's new State of Consumer Behavior Report 2021 with Spark Plug. Thanks for listening to Spark Plug -- find all our episodes at Sparkplug.audioSpark Plug is brought to you by SnowShoe.io, the leading provider of SparkLoyalty -- the leading retail loyalty and c...2021-11-1226 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 71: Samuel MuellerWhat is driving the demand for self-service technologies inside store locations? That’s one of the things that you’ll hear about in today’s episode. Joining the podcast today is Samuel Mueller of Scandit, a company that provides technology that facilitates better communication between retailers and consumers. Listen to the episode to hear what Samuel has to say about how he began Scandit, what changes he’s seen in consumer behavior, and what he sees in the future of the retail industry.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ What Scandit is all about
✔ What led Samue...2021-11-1027 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 70: Michael MohammedWhat do you need to think about when establishing a franchise business model? What’s attractive about fast-casual restaurants? These are some of the questions that Michael Mohammed will address in today’s show. Michael is the CEO of Chronic Tacos, a restaurant that focuses on food authenticity and a flavor experience. Check out the episode to learn what Michael thinks about the experience customers get in Chronic Taco locations, what the keys are to building a brand, and how to know what customers are demanding.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ The Chronic T...2021-10-2721 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 69: Mariam RezaHow can brands continue having a conversation with their consumers through multiple channels? Today’s guest is Mariam Reza, and she explains the value and details of conversational AI. Listen to her interview to hear what Mariam has to say about the company she works for, LivePerson, how they enable brands to better reach out to their customers, and what the demand is for a conversational AI experience.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Mariam’s career path
✔ How Mariam started out with LivePerson
✔ What LivePerson is all about
✔ How LivePerson ena...2021-09-2931 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 68: Hemant ChavanHow can you build an online shopping type of experience in a brick and mortar retail space? That’s one of the things that today’s guest will be talking about. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Hemant Chavan of Brik and Clik, an idea that’s meant to unite the online and offline shopping worlds. Listen in to hear what Hemant has to say about how his clients use the product he offers, what today’s top value drivers are, and what technologies Hemant is excited about.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
2021-09-1527 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 67: Neha SinghThings are possible in a virtual experience that may not be possible in a physical store. To talk more about what’s happening virtually and what’s possible, Neha Singh of Obsess joins the podcast to talk about the technology her company offers and how the brands who use her technology create experiences for customers. Listen in to learn about use cases for Obsess’s software, how brands think about creating immersive experiences, and what separates virtual experiences from online stores.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Neha’s background
✔ What got Neha excited a...2021-08-2524 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 66: Nick DelyaniRetailers know that things can change fast, so getting real-time data can make a big difference in allowing them to make the decisions they need to make to provide customers with a great experience. That’s what Nick Delyani’s business, Xovis, provides to retail clients – real-time information that can help ensure they make informed decisions. Listen to today’s conversation to learn more about what Xovis does, what Nick has seen change in retail over the last 18 months, and the benefits of real-time data over historical data.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ What Ni...2021-08-1819 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 65: Matt MatrosWhy do you have to either go big or go small when launching a food product? What’s the most important thing you can do when you’re looking for a new retail location to expand to? Today’s guest will explain his thoughts on these topics and more. Listen to today’s episode of Matt Matros with Shopflix. You’ll learn what Shopflix does, what goes into a product launch, and how to know when it’s time to expand.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Matt’s background
✔ What goes into getting a produc...2021-08-1130 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 64: Allison AuclairRunning an omnichannel business involves a lot of different moving parts for your online and offline locations, but how do you connect all those moving parts to provide your customers with the most seamless experience? Today’s guest says that’s one of the biggest challenges her customers face. Allison Auclair is the Vice President of Product Management at Oracle NetSuite. In today’s episode, she discusses how customers use NetSuite, why creating a great customer experience is so important, and how to win customers in an omnichannel world. Listen to the episode to hear what she has to say ab...2021-08-0429 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 63: Pamela ErlichmanOnline experiences became more important for brands during the pandemic, which has led to a lot of creativity when it comes to services like Jebbit. But how does that translate to in-store shopping? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Pamela Erlichman, Chief Marketing Officer at Jebbit. She discusses how Jebbit technology works and how customers use it, what declared data is and how it’s used, and how Jebbit can be used in-store as well as online.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ What Pamela does at Jebbit
✔ How to interact with...2021-07-2825 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 62: Andre HordagodaThe demand for digital, remote shopping services has only grown since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The company co-founded by today’s guest has been around for years, but you can understand how they would have picked up in usage since early last year. Andre Hordagoda cofounded Go Instore, a service that allows consumers to use video to talk to sales personnel and shop, giving them an in-store experience but from their homes. Listen in to today’s interview to learn more about Andre, how his company’s technology works, and what drives customers to make purchases.
2021-07-2127 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 61: Peter TonstadIt’s not always obvious how a shopping center or mall can engage consumers and pull in foot traffic, but today’s client has ideas. Peter Tonstad is the CEO of Placewise, a company that works with malls and other types of shopping centers to attract customers, benefit tenants, and bridge online and offline gaps. Listen in to hear what Peter has to say about what should be done differently post-pandemic, how malls can successfully engage shoppers, and what smaller strip centers can do to build foot traffic.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Ho...2021-07-1426 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 60: Oscar SachsWhat does online shopping really have to do with driving customers into the store? What if you learned that in-store experiences often start outside the store and that some of the best in-store experiences start online? That’s what today’s guest will be talking about.
Oscar Sachs is the Co-Founder and CEO of Salesfloor. Listen to his interview to learn how the platform works, how store associates can use the platform even with in-store customers, and how virtual shopping can be used to drive more consumers in-store.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episod...2021-07-0727 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 59: Chris KaighnFashion retailers have been through a difficult period, but at this point, their customers miss them as much as they miss their customers. Chris Kaighn is the Senior Vice President – Boutiques, Real Estate, and Strategic Partnerships at Francesca’s. Listen in to hear what she has to say about changes she’s seen in the landscape during her time in this role, the top demands of her customers, and what to look for in associates.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Chris’s background and current role
✔ Who Chris serves in her role at France...2021-06-3027 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 58: Jim DonnellyWhat is hyper-wellness? How do you blend medical services with non-medical services, while meeting all of the regulations and requirements involved? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Jim Donnelly of Restore Hyper Wellness and Cryotherapy. Listen in to hear what Jim has to say about how he knew when to scale, what makes his services unique, and what makes people say “wow” when using his services.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Jim’s background and how he got started with Restore
✔ Important lessons Jim learned through marketing and how they helped him...2021-06-2334 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 57: Brian MalkersonYou’re already familiar with SMS messages, but you may not be familiar with their power as a marketing channel. Today’s guest works for a company that harnesses that power and uses it to drive consumers into their customers’ retail location. Listen in to today’s interview with Brian Malkerson, Chief Revenue Officer at Attentive. Today, Brian discusses what it was like building Attentive, how customers work with a company like Attentive, and how people on the consumer end interact with the Attentive platform.”
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Brian’s background
✔...2021-06-1626 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 56: John OrrHow important is workforce management and what tools do employers use to do it? Listen in to today’s interview with John Orr, the SVP Retail at Ceridian. In today’s episode, he talks about the customer use cases for Ceridian’s services, the challenges that brick-and-mortar spaces are currently facing, and how customers are thinking about employee treatment, retention, and workforce management since the pandemic.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ John’s background
✔ What Ceridian does
✔ Customer use cases for Ceridian’s services
✔Why customers come back to Ceridian
✔ Chall...2021-06-0928 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 55: Alper AydemirFootwear can fit better and feel better, and Volumental is proving it. Today’s episode features Alper Aydemir, the CEO and co-founder of Volumental. Listen in to hear more about what Volumental does and what the role of Volumental and similar technology is in the future of retail. In today’s episode, Alper discusses what his typical clients are like, how the company’s tech works with the client, and what technology retailers should be thinking about for the future.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Alper’s history with Volumental
✔ Why Alper started...2021-06-0223 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 54: Tony DrocktonWhat differentiates a luxury brand from other types of brands, and what do luxury brands need to do in order to drive value and keep on thriving, even during an event like a pandemic? That’s what you’ll hear about today from Tony Drockton, Founder and Chief Cheerleader at Hammitt, a company that sells luxury purses and bags. Listen in to hear what Tony has to say about value drivers, customer experiences, and what wholesale brands should be doing if they want to transition to selling directly to the customer.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Epis...2021-05-2629 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 53: Kate PaynterResale has many differences from other types of retail. What gets the retail customer in the store? What keeps them coming back? And with their business model, how seriously may they be affected by an event like a pandemic? That’s what you’ll hear today from Kate Paynter, a franchise owner who had to close all of her stores for eight weeks at the beginning of COVID. Hear how they operated, how they survived the shutdown, and how they came back in today’s episode.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Kate’s trajectory...2021-05-1923 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 52: Jared MargolisBuying shoes can be a treat if you have the right shoe-buying experience. Today’s guest, Jared Margolis of Payless, wants to bring a clean, attractive, omnichannel experience to the shoppers that come to Payless, both in the US and internationally. Listen in to hear what Jared has to say about why he joined payless, what he thinks is important when it comes to omnichannel, and what kind of changes his company is making to the in-store experience.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Jared’s background
✔ Why Jared joined Payless
✔ How Jared ap...2021-05-1220 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 51: Jeremy GoldmanEven if a value-driver seems obvious, businesses might still miss it. Today’s guest mentions a few seemingly obvious things, like providing basic needs and understanding the consumer, that some brands still struggle to get right. Jeremy Goldman is a Principal Analyst at Insider Intelligence, and in today’s episode, he discusses value-drivers he’s seen over the past few years, frameworks for building a memorable brick-and-mortar experience, and how to encourage people to come back to the location to shop.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Jeremy’s career
✔ What Insider Intelligence i...2021-05-0525 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 50: Dustin JonesWhat is digitization and why is it so important right now? That’s one of the subjects that today’s guest talks about. Dustin Jones is the founder and CEO of the Unified Commerce Group, and he joins the podcast today to give his perspective on brick-and-mortar retail as a buyer. Listen in to hear what Dustin has to say about his acquisition of Frank and Oak, how to define a next-generation retail brand, and how to scale globally.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Dustin’s background
✔ What enticed Dustin to acquire Fran...2021-04-2833 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 49: Bart WaldeckPost-pandemic, is a location still as important as it used to be in retail real estate? And how can a retailer get the location that they need in order to make their venture a success? Today’s episode features an interview with Bart Waldeck of Tango Analytics. He discusses what Tango does and the types of clients they attract, how their software can help clients, and what the role of the brick-and-mortar store is going forward.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ What Tango does
✔ The types of clients that use Tango
✔ Ho...2021-04-2127 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 48: Paul HedrickWestern is an interesting niche for a brand. It is a niche, but it is also a niche that a large part of the population participates in, so there’s a lot of opportunities there. Today’s guest is Paul Hedrick, founder of Tecovas, a Western brand. Listen in to the episode to hear Paul talk about what his brand is all about, how he grew his physical locations quickly, and how to make an accessible luxury product.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ How Paul founded Tecovas
✔ What the Tecovas brand is all abo...2021-04-1429 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 47: John FedermanIf you aren’t too familiar with it, you might think that appointment-based shopping only recently blossomed because of the pandemic, but today’s guest says that appointment-based shopping had proved itself long before the emergence of COVID-19.
Listen in to today’s episode to hear John Federman, CEO of JRNI, a company that helps retailers create and change their customer’s experience with appointment-based services. John discusses what his customers are looking for, why in-person experiences are so important, and why smaller retailers might have an advantage right now.
Topics Discussed in Today’s...2021-04-0721 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 46: Gabriella SantanielloHow has the pandemic affected the investors that retail stores need? Today’s guest works with retail investors and has insight into the issue. Gabriella Santaniello is the Founder and CEO of A Line Partners, a retail research firm. Gabriella is a retail industry expert herself with years of experience in the field. Listen in to today’s episode to hear more about A Line Partners and what they do and to find out what Gabriella thinks about changes due to COVID, how retailers could improve in-store experiences and what trends she’s seeing in 2021.
Topics...2021-03-3129 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 45: Marina SatoafaigaWhat’s it like to try to run a mall during the height of the COVID pandemic and lockdowns? Today’s guest knows. Marina Satoafaiga is the Marketing and Business Development Manager at The Shops at Montebello and she has a lot to say about how the community around the Shops at Montebello was affected by the pandemic and the changes since, and how the changes in the community affected retailers.
Listen to Marina talk about how to connect and engage with shoppers during a pandemic, interactions that are coming back now that restrictions are easing, and cons...2021-03-2426 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 44: Angela GearhartA bed is a really personal purchase. It’s something that you touch and feel every day. So how do bed sales work when people don’t want to go to the store? Today’s guest is Angela Gearhart, the Vice President of brand experience at Sleep Number. Listen to today’s interview to hear about what Angela’s thinking about innovation now, how consumer behavior and purchasing decisions have changed, and what changes Sleep Number has made in the store experience due to COVID.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Angela’s background and r...2021-03-1723 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 43: Eric KuhnHow has the pandemic affected design problems for brands? Today’s guest, associate design practice, and retail market leader at Bergmeyer, Eric Kuhn, can explain. Listen to today’s episode to hear Eric talk about his role at Bergmeyer, how the design process at his company changed when COVID hit, and how retailers can better manage crowds in a COVID and post-COVID world from a design perspective.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Eric’s role in his company
✔ What Bergmeyer does
✔ The types of clients Eric works with
✔ How the design proce...2021-03-1021 minBrick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 42: Grace GanHow are e-commerce and in-store experience complementary, and how has the pandemic affected that, both for brick and mortar-heavy brands and e-commerce-heavy brands? Today’s guest, Senior Director of Consulting and Retail Expert for The Sound, Grace Gan, has some ideas about the subject. Listen to today’s episode to hear what Grace has to say about the problems her company solves for brands, how COVID has altered their priorities, and what changes she expects to see in the future.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ What Grace does at The Sound
✔ Problems t...2021-03-0327 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 41: Mike ProvanceLiquor stores aren’t one of the things that most people think of when they think of shopping online – including liquor store retailers themselves! At least, that was true until the pandemic. With recent events in mind, liquor stores, like everything else, really need an online presence. And today’s guest is ahead of his time as the head of a company that’s been helping liquor retailers gather and use data for several years now. Listen in to hear Mike Provance, founder and president of 3×3, discuss how brands and liquor retailers use his services, what omnichannel means for liquor re...2021-02-2421 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 40: Chuck SteelmanIf you’re wondering how to combine your online and brick-and-mortar store experiences, are you asking the right questions? Or should you be thinking about how to ensure that your brick-and-mortar locations have something to offer that just can’t be had online?
Today’s guest is Chuck Steelman of Trademark Property Company. Listen in to hear about how his company uses technology to communicate with customers, what he’s seeing changed and overcome since the pandemic, and what guidance he would give to retailers.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Chuck’s care...2021-02-1735 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 39: Bilal SoyluWhat rules have changed since the start of the pandemic, and how are retailers addressing the current situation while also keeping their eyes on future goals? Today’s guest is Bilal Soylu, the founder of the company XcooBee. Listen in to hear Bilal explain what his company does and how his clients use the information they get from XcooBee. You’ll hear what Bilal has to say about the use cases for his services, the goals that retailers set for themselves, and what Bilal sees happening in the future.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
...2021-02-1025 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 38: Keith FixData about what’s happening with a brand or in a retail store is always useful. And if retailers didn’t understand how important real time information was before the pandemic, they certainly do now. Today’s guest founded a business meant to help retailers and brands gather and use real-time shopper data. Keith is the CEO and Founder of Retail Aware. Listen in to today’s episode to hear what Keith has to say about the problem that his business solves, what decisions clients make with the data he provides, and what’s changed since the pandemic began.
2021-02-0323 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 37: Dusty BatsellReal estate is an important factor for brick and mortar retail businesses – they can’t do their work without it. Today’s guest is the EVP of real estate at Baceline investments in Colorado. Listen in to hear Dusty talk about the local industry and how it’s influenced by retail right now, the marketing program that tenants of Dusty’s company use, and marketing advice for brick and mortar businesses struggling in the pandemic.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Dusty’s role at Baceline Investments
✔ What got Dusty involved with Baceline
✔ Wha...2021-01-2731 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 36: Magdy KotbWhat do your clothes say to the world, and why is important to know that? Today’s guest has answers. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Magdy Kotb of The Clothing Coach in San Francisco. Magdy grew up in the suit business and takes the role of a clothier seriously. In today’s episode, you’ll hear what Magdy has to say about his career trajectory, how COVID has affected his business, and how Magdy finds clients.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Magdy’s company and how he got started
✔ A typical...2021-01-2022 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 35: Amish ToliaToday’s guest has a lot to say about how brands can accelerate and grow, even during a pandemic. Amish Tolia is the Founder and co-CEO of Leap, a company that works with a variety of different brands. This gives Amish a ringside seat to how brands and customers are changing and adapting to the current circumstances and where they might go in the future. Listen in to hear what Amish has to say about why he’s seen acceleration during the pandemic, what changes he’s seen in customer behavior, and how his company helps other brands grow.
...2021-01-1328 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 34: Tim KaneWhat do retailers need to do to successfully blend their online and offline experiences? How will mobile solutions factor into the retail stores of the future? Today’s guest is Tim Kane, retail solutions consultant at Zebra Technologies, and he joins the podcast today to discuss the changes that are happening in the retail space. Listen in to hear what Tim has to say about changes that retailers should make as customers come back to stores post-pandemic, how retailers make decisions about brick and mortar solutions, and how retailers can best utilize labor.
Topics Discussed in...2021-01-0622 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 33: Hugh HolmanGrocery shopping is vital to consumers even when other types of retail aren’t as vital, such as during a pandemic. Today’s guest works with a number of retail brands that are found in grocery stores. Hugh Holman is the CEO of Observa, a company that delivers in-store analytics in real-time to optimize the supply chain as well as the shopper experience. Listen in to hear what Hugh has to say about how Observa works, what long and short-term changes Hugh has seen in shopper behavior, and what his findings say about how brands position themselves and engage with...2020-12-3023 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 32: MJ MunsellDesigning a brand is difficult enough, and in today’s environment, many retailers are trying to find ways to combine their offline and online brands to create one seamless experience. Today’s guest is hear to talk about that. M.J. Munsell is the Chief Creative Officer at MG2, a global architecture, design, strategy, and branding studio. Listen in to hear M.J. discuss her role at MG2, the creative process of building a brand process, and what retailers should be doing in preparation for the holiday season.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:
✔ Wh...2020-12-2326 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 31: Ethan ChernofskyIf you’re in retail, you know how important it is to have the right data. Today’s guest is in the business of collecting and finding use cases for data. Ethan Chernofsky is the VP of Marketing for Placer.ai, a location analytics company. In today’s episode, Ethan explains in detail what his company does and how retailers use the data that Placer works with. Listen in to hear what Ethan has to say about use cases for Placer’s services, how use cases have changed during the pandemic, and what retail should do and not do to creat...2020-12-1625 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 30: Scott WilliamsDuring a pandemic, you find out what businesses are truly essential. It’s perhaps not surprising that the businesses that power everything from medical devices to cars to household electronics are very much essential during such a complicated time. Today’s guest is Scott Williams, the CEO of Batteries Plus. Listen to the episode to find out what Scott has to say about the biggest changes to his business, how those changes varied from state to state, and what retailers should be doing as the pandemic comes to an end.
Topics Discussed in Today’s Episod...2020-12-0926 min
Brick & Mortar RebornPODCAST 29: Sandra DuffIf you’re looking for a way to present your brand to the world in a new and different way, today’s guest may be able to help. Sandra Duff is the Senior Vice President of Strategy Activation & Operations at Jackman Reinvents, and she joins the podcast today to talk about her expertise in brands, consumers, and how the retail space is changing. Listen in to hear what Sandra has to say about what her workday looks like, what changes Sandra has seen in consumer behavior, and what approaches Jackman takes to help their customers.
Topi...2020-12-0223 min