Shows
The Voice of RetailSpecial Feature: Competition Bureau Canada and Price-Fixing, Collusion and Cartel Behaviour InvestigationsWelcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Meet Mark Aylward, Senior Competition Law Officer at Competition Bureau Canada, with the second of a series of four episodes created to help us understand the laws governing and protecting retailers. If you want to learn more about the Competition Bureau and how it operates, tune into the first episode of the series to learn all about it. In this episode, Mark takes us through the law and perspectives around price-fixing, c...2022-10-2622 min
The Voice of RetailSpecial Feature: Competition Bureau Canada and Deceptive Marketing PracticesWelcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Meet Nicola Pfeifer, Senior Competition Law Officer, Cartels and Deceptive Marketing Practices from Competition Bureau Canada, with the first of a series of four episodes between now and the end of the year created for retailers to help them understand the laws governing and protecting retailers. In this episode, Nicola gives us an overview of Competition Bureau Canada that will provide the foundation for the series and then dives into her particular area o...2022-10-1739 min
The Voice of RetailÉric Champagne, CIO for Boutique La vie en Rose, and Olivier Roy, co-founder and CEO of Leav talk mobile self-checkoutWelcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode, meet Éric Champagne, CIO for Boutique La vie en Rose, and Olivier Roy, co-founder and CEO of Leav join the podcast together to share insights around the tradecraft of retail technology innovation and implementing frictionless in-store self-checkout solutions.Thanks for tuning into this special episode of The Voice of Retail. If you haven’t already, be sure and click subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so new episodes will...2022-09-3032 min
The Voice of RetailLauren Fernandes, Global Director, Thought Leadership for Nielsen IQ, and their 2022 Brand Balancing Act ReportWelcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode, meet Lauren Fernandes, Global Director, Thought Leadership for Nielsen IQ, joins the podcast to share the powerful insights for retailers and brand owners from their 2022 Brand Balancing Act, the global implications, and lessons for retailers in Canada.Thanks for tuning into this special episode of The Voice of Retail. If you haven’t already, be sure and click subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so new episodes will lan...2022-09-2333 min
The Voice of RetailFuture Consumers in the Quasi-Post-Pandemic Retail World: Kristina Rogers, EY Global Consumer LeaderWelcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Kristina Rogers, Global Consumer Industries Leader, Retail for EY, is back on the podcast with an update from their Future Consumer Index looking at the quasi-post-COVID, inflation battered but more resilient and agile customer retailers face for the back half of 2022 and beyond.Thanks for tuning into this special episode of The Voice of Retail. If you haven’t already, be sure and click subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so new...2022-09-0235 min
The Voice of RetailRaj Grover, CEO, High Tide on Cannabis Retail Consolidation, Growth and AccelerationWelcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Raj Grover, CEO at High Tide, is not only Canada's biggest non-franchised cannabis retailer but also one of the world's savviest consumer focussed operators in the entire industry. Raj returns to the podcast, and we catch up on two-plus years of consolidation, growth and acceleration in Canada and beyond.Thanks for tuning into this special episode of The Voice of Retail. If you haven’t already, be sure and click subscribe on...2022-08-2632 min
The Voice of RetailUnprecedented: Part 2 with Michael Medline, CEO, SobeysWelcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Unprecedented is a remarkable collection of exclusive, first-person stories on leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic from 29 chief executives at iconic Canadian companies.In this second and final part of a two-part series, I speak with the one and only Michael Medline, CEO of Sobeys, one of the retail leaders contributing to this necessary book for our times and the times ahead.I take Michael back to the very early...2022-05-2032 min
The Voice of RetailSocial Media Masterclass with Groupe Dynamite's Michael Regina & SnapWelcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.It was already happening before the pandemic. And Snap, COVID accelerated its adoption almost overnight. Mastering social media is more than another tool of the marketing toolkit in retail. It's table-stakes. On this episode of The Voice of Retail, I'm joined by Sr. Paid Media Specialist at Groupe Dynamite Michael Regina and Snap's Retail Vertical Lead Matt Bolivar, who take us through both the evolution of social media in...2021-11-1926 min
The Voice of RetailDelivering the Future: Canada PostWelcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.The Great Acceleration of eCommerce brought on by the pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented influx in deliveries. For Canada Post, every day of the last eighteen months has felt like Christmas.In this episode of The Voice of Retail, I am thrilled to chat with Canada Post’s Director of eCommerce, Steve Eggers. After debriefing on how the pandemic has brought on challenges and opportunities for the Crow...2021-11-0532 min
The Voice of RetailThe Power of Customer-Based Valuation with special guest Daniel McCarthy from Remarkable Retail #podcast Season ThreeWelcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.On this special episode I am thrilled to be sharing an excerpt from the most popular Remarkable Retail podcast of our third season, where my podcast partner & best selling author Steve Denis and I interview Daniel McCarthy, professor of marketing at Emory's Goizueta Business School, co-founder of Theta Equity Partners and pioneering thought leader on customer-based corporate valuation. It's a fast-paced MasterClass on how the cost of acquisition, retention rates an...2021-09-2730 min
The Voice of RetailThe Hybridization of Retail from the Remarkable Retail podcast with Steve DennisWelcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.On this special episode I am thrilled to be sharing a full episode from Season Three of my Remarkable Retail podcast, a discussion with my podcast partner, Steve Dennis. Steve is an advisor, keynote speaker and author of the best selling Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption.I launched the Remarkable Retail podcast in 2020, and we just kicked off Season Three, which also...2021-08-0648 min
The Voice of RetailA look inside stores post COVID- and how to get thereWelcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. With vaccination rates steadily on the rise, retailers are now facing the reality of business after lockdowns. So, what’s going to be different?Today, I dive into brick and mortar retail trends with Steve Hart, the founder and CEO of the retail architecture and planning firm DedON.With projects all over the world, this North American-based company specializes in designing and optimizing retail space...2021-06-1429 min
The Voice of RetailRetail Isn't Dead. Boring Retail Is.Welcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode, I’m in Dallas, Texas welcoming back to the podcast top retail strategist, best selling author and my Remarkable Retail podcast co-host Steve Dennis! We're back on the mic together talking about the launch of the 2nd edition of his best selling book Remarkable Retail, and we cover a lot of ground reviewing the core principles of the first book, what has changed in the second edition writt...2021-04-0937 min
The Voice of RetailDoing Agile Right | Darrell RigbyWelcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode, I meet the veteran retail consultant and business system guru Darrell Rigby,Partner and Director at Bain & Company and talk about his new book “Doing Agile Right.” We explore decades of experience advising C-level executives on making their organizations nimble and responsive, getting his take on retail in the COVID era, and the lessons retailers can and should take away from their experiences.Suppor...2021-01-0135 min
The Voice of RetailAward-winning actor Colm Feore on leadership, resilience and learning how to show up on the Zoom stageWelcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and with the support of omNovos Canada’s digital customer engagement company. ‘Tis the season for giving and omNovos can help you give your customers the gift of a personalized experience in 2021. Find out how you can Get Personal and Grow Sales with omNovos at www.realcustomerengagement.comIn this episode I talk leadership, resilience and learning how to show up on the Zoom stage with award-winning actor Colm Feore in this...2020-12-2446 min
The Voice of RetailRetail leader and author April Sabral on her new book "The Positive Effect" and retailer JP Adamo launches Dimes CannabisThis podcast is intended for listeners 18+Welcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and with the support of omNovos Canada’s digital customer engagement company. ‘Tis the season for giving and omNovos can help you give your customers the gift of a personalized experience in 2021. Find out how you can Get Personal and Grow Sales with omNovos at www.realcustomerengagement.comIn this episode I welcome back to the podcast retail leader April Sabral on the laun...2020-12-1847 min
The Voice of RetailSamir Kulkarni, CEO of Showcase and veteran retail CIO Gary Davenport talk innovation, supply chain and mastering the trends for enterprise successWelcome to the The Voice of Retail , I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and with the support of omNovos, Canada’s digital customer engagement company. omNovos make Personalization EASY by helping you engage the right customer, with the right content, at the right time. Find out how you can get started quickly and affordably so you can focus on doing what matters most--driving revenue and margin growth at www.realcustomerengagement.comThis episode is also supported by riwi, real-time interactive world-wide intelligence, visit www.r...2020-11-2746 min
The Voice of RetailAnnual Black Friday episode with special guests Nicola Kilner, CEO Deciem plus a panel debate with retail strategist Steve Dennis and retail CMOs Karen Stirling and Anne DonohoeWelcome to the The Voice of Retail special Black Friday bonus episode, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and with the support of omNovos, Canada’s digital customer engagement company. omNovos make Personalization EASY by helping you engage the right customer, with the right content, at the right time. Find out how you can get started quickly and affordably so you can focus on doing what matters most--driving revenue and margin growth at www.realcustomerengagement.comThis episode is also supported by riwi, real...2020-11-2543 min
The Voice of RetailPaige Thomas, President & CEO Saks OFF 5TH talks retail strategy plus Ron Thurston, VP of Stores at INTERMIX and author of the new bestseller, Retail PrideWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and with the support of omNovos, Canada’s digital customer engagement company. omNovos make Personalization EASY by helping you engage the right customer, with the right content, at the right time. Find out how you can get started quickly and affordably so you can focus on doing what matters most--driving revenue and margin growth at www.realcustomerengagement.comIn this episode I’m in the Big Apple, New York City first w...2020-11-131h 00
Remarkable RetailDigitally EnabledThis episode we begin the journey to remarkable by digging into Essential #1 in Steve's "8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail" framework. And we've gone global with a great panel of joining us from New York City, Montreal and London.Our panel of experts, includes UNTUCKit CIO/CDO Lockie Andrews, digital strategist extraordinaire Carl Boutet and retail transformation consultant Oliver Banks.We unpack the profound shift towards digitally-driven customer journeys during the past decade and the great acceleration brought about by the COVID crisis. We also discuss how to strike the right balance between the analog, more human...2020-11-1038 min
Remarkable RetailChoose Remarkable"The problem is, you think you have time."- Carlos Castaneda, Journey to IxtlanAs we transition to the second part of our inaugural season, we take a brief look back at the core principles behind why even very good is not good enough any more and why we must choose remarkable. As the pace of digital disruption accelerates, consumers are faced with a plethora of choices, creating ever more pressure for retailers to be the compelling, intensely customer relevant signal amid all the noise.We also delve into four key questions companies...2020-11-0336 minRemarkable RetailChallengers of the Status Quo with Coresight Research's CEO & Founder Deborah Weinswig"How did you go bankrupt?" Bill asked."Two ways," Mike said. "Gradually, then suddenly."- Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also ArisesWhy do so many companies defend the status quo even when it becomes increasingly obvious that their business model is losing customer relevance and remarkability? Why do others think they can cost cut and store close their way to prosperity? In this episode we look at the roots causes of how and why retailers sink into irrelevance and risk a mass extinction event. Then we flip these questions on their head...2020-10-2738 minRemarkable RetailThe Future Will Not Be Evenly Distributed with Publicis' Chief Commerce Strategy Officer Jason "Retail Geek" GoldbergWilliam Gibson, the great American-Canadian speculative fiction author, once said: "The future is already here, it's just not very evenly distributed." This episode features a deep dive into several key concepts to navigate the COVID economy and execute the journey to remarkable. First and foremost is the idea that much of the disruption that will determine future winners and losers is already in play, though we may yet see it or fully appreciate its importance. Second, we must be careful not to fall into the trap of managing by averages or becoming overly obsessed with more t...2020-10-2043 min
The Voice of RetailMoose Knuckles Canada CEOs Noah Stern and Ayal Twik on creating global retail and brand momentum, and Snapchat GM Matt McGowanWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada, and this episode supported by Snapchat Canada.In this episode I’m in Montreal to meet the co-founders and CEOs of international phenom Moose Knuckles Canada, Noah Stern and Ayal Twik.I talk with both CEOs as they share their vision around their fashion forward brand of outerwear that is polar opposite of the rest of the luxury brands and we hear their take on being successful in retail...2020-10-1651 minRemarkable RetailThe Collapse of the Middle with Deloitte Consulting's Kasey LobaughIn this episode we delve into a topic that sits at the core of the need to be remarkable: the on-going bifurcation of the retail market.For more than a decade success has largely been found at either end of the spectrum. At one end, brands that offered incredible value and convenience have been gobbling up market share and opening hundreds of stores, even in the face of the so-called "retail apocalypse." At the other end of the continuum, many higher-end stores and well-honed specialty concepts have similarly enjoyed expanding sales, profits and, in many cases, store...2020-10-1343 min
The Voice of RetailLarry Rosen, CEO of Harry Rosen and top executive coach Jane Gaynor help me Set The Tone, and Eric Morris GM Google Canada reveals Canadian shopping patterns in advance of HolidayWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this special episode I’m helping retailer Harry Rosen Set The Tone with a new online webinar series which invites Canadian thought leaders and role models to chat about current events, their passions and how they set the tone for their personal and professional lives. In this first episode of the series Larry Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Harry Rosen, and top executive coach Jane Gaynor are introduced by series...2020-10-091h 01Remarkable RetailThe End of Scarcity with best-selling author Seth GodinIn this episode we talk about the end of scarcity that previously characterized much of retail's evolution. As we entered the 21st century, some 98% of all retail was done in brick & mortar locations where access, product choice and the information about what product and services would best meet our needs--and the price we should pay-- was highly constrained. Now e-commerce and the ubiquity of smart devices has created an anytime, anywhere, anyway landscape and a world of abundant choice, where even very good is no longer good enough.Then we interview with the one and only Seth...2020-10-0647 min
The Voice of RetailJerry McGlynn, CIO, Specialized (formerly) and Adam Coyle, CEO, Digital River sneak-peak panel preview episode of their Oktoberfest Keynote Fireside: “Digital Takes Center Stage: How to Scale Global Gracefully in the Age of COVID”Welcome to a special bonus episode of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode we meet Jerry McGlynn, CIO, Specialized (formerly) and Adam Coyle, CEO, Digital River who In this sneak-peak panel preview episode of their closing Keynote Fireside: “Digital Takes Center Stage: How to Scale Global Gracefully in the Age of COVID” give a sense of the fantastic discussion to happen October 1, 2020 at Oktoberfest with their “two starts and one stop” advice for retailers and brands on their digi...2020-09-3019 minRemarkable RetailA World Turned Upside Down with Forrester Research's Sucharita KodaliIn our inaugural episode we explain what Season 1 is about and the structure of the podcast. We talk about why Steve wrote his book, the underlying concepts of ""Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Digital Disruption" and his "8 Essentials" framework. We unpack the idea that "shift happens", dissect the Black Swan event that is the global pandemic and delve into whether Steve would have changed anything in this book given it was completed just a few months before the COVID-19 crisis. Next Sucharita Kodali Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research joins us for...2020-09-2954 min
The Voice of RetailAlexandre Guimond, Co-CEO of Altitude Sports and Steffen Schenk, President / COO at mīhī cannabis talk about their relentless focus on customer experience as the winning formula for modern retailWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and with the support of omNovos, Canada’s digital customer engagement company. omNovos makes Personalization EASY by helping you connect with your customers, connect with your data, and connect with your systems. Learn HOW at www.realcustomerengagement.com.On this episode I travel to Montreal to meet Alexandre Guimond, Co-CEO of Altitude Sports a now pure-play eCommerce retailer focussed on curating high-quality, durable goods for outdoor adventures and urban pursuits. We tal...2020-09-251h 07The Voice of RetailTracy Hermans Director of eCommerce from L-Space by Monica Wise and Casey Gee Sr. International Manscaped give us a preview of their upcoming Oktoberfest Executive Leaders PanelWelcome to a special bonus episode of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode we meet Tracy Hermans, Director of Ecommerce, L-Space by Monica Wise and Casey Gee, Sr. International Business Manager, MANSCAPEDBoth from the Oktoberfest Executive Leaders Keynote Panel: How Bold Guesses and “Happy Accidents” Help Digital and Wholesale Teams Work as One Team”. (Register here:http://bit.ly/gelfokto)In this sneak-peak panel preview episode you’ll learn about Tracy and Casey’s b...2020-09-2320 min
The Voice of RetailJean Louis Bellemare, President of Farm Boy and David Ian Gray, retail strategist talk about the state of modern retail, and the strategic and tactical decisions retailers need to make now to survive the COVID-19 eraWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and with the support of omNovos, Canada’s digital customer engagement company. omNovos makes Personalization EASY by helping you connect with your customers, connect with your data, and connect with your systems. Learn HOW at www.realcustomerengagement.com.On this episode I’m in Ottawa to meet Jean Louis Bellemare, President and General Manager of Farm Boy Company and 2020 Golden Pencil recipient. We talk about the rich history of Farm Boy, the...2020-09-181h 05
The Voice of RetailClaire Santamaria, Vice President Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Bill Bass, CMO Full Beauty Brands each share insights and lessons learned from decades of experience in retail and eCommerceWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and with the support of omNovos, Canada’s digital customer engagement company. omNovos makes Personalization EASY by helping you connect with your customers, connect with your data, and connect with your systems. Learn HOW at www.realcustomerengagement.com.On this episode I catch up with Claire Santamaria, Vice President, Yorkdale Shopping Centre and talk about how Canada's most productive shopping mall is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and looking ahead to th...2020-09-1158 min
The Voice of RetailRaj Grover, CEO High Tide and Drummond Munro Chief Brand Officer at Superette talk retail operations in the COVID era, the benefits of scale and each share exciting newsWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.On this episode we’re off to Calgary to catch up with Raj Grover, Founder & CEO of High Tide right after the announcement of the merger with Meta creating the largest cannabis retailer in Canada at 63 store. We talk about what it takes to run a cannabis retail network in the COVID era and still hit your gross margin and operating cost targets, the benefits of size and scale and what...2020-09-0447 min
The Voice of RetailKevin Graff, President Graff Retail and Andrew Siegwart, President Blue Mountain Village Association talk sales floor training for the COVID era and organizational transformationWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada, and with the support of Astound Commerce."Modern commerce is complex and leaders need to look beyond web and marketing tech to understand the complete customer experience. The Astound Commerce Maturity Assessment lets you self-evaluate the state of your business against modern commerce demands. Visit astoundcommerce.commaturity "On this episode I welcome back to the podcast the one and only Kevin Graff, President of Graff Retail. For decades a key adviso...2020-08-2158 min
The Voice of RetailSarah Jordan, CEO Mastermind Toys on taking this innovative retailer to the next level, and Jason Goldberg CCSO at Publicis talks mastering eCommerce in the COVID-19 eraWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada, and with the support of Astound Commerce."Modern commerce is complex and leaders need to look beyond web and marketing tech to understand the complete customer experience. The Astound Commerce Maturity Assessment lets you self-evaluate the state of your business against modern commerce demands. Visit astoundcommerce.com/maturity "On this episode we meet Sarah Jordan, CEO of Mastermind Toys. We talk about her arrival to this innovative retailer in early Jan...2020-08-141h 08The Voice of RetailDavid Bolotsky, Founder & CEO UncommonGoods shares his philosophy and retail strategies from 20+ years in eCommerce plus Bruce Winder, retail strategist and authorWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.On this episode we meet a long time friend and colleague David Bolotsky, Founder & CEO, UncommonGoods. For twenty plus years David has been a leader this innovative, category defining eCommerce website through the dot com boom, bust, echo and now shares his origin story with us, and the fundamental underlying philosophy and business strategies that have created long term sustainable growth.Next retailer, consultant, media retail pundit and now...2020-08-0753 min
The Voice of RetailKen Keelor, CEO of Calgary Co-op and Ian Madell, President Level5 Strategy share their perspectives on brand, retail strategy and the changing consumer in the COVID-19 eraWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.On this episode we meet Ken Keelor, CEO of one of the biggest cooperative grocers in North America, Calgary Co-op. We start by tracing back and discovering the origins of where Ken gets his obvious enthusiasm for retail and the consumer, and the genesis of his strategic thinking around the Calgary Co-op brand and diversified business. We then talk about the huge changes to the business both pre-covid with their chan...2020-07-3159 min
The Voice of RetailAndrew Tepperman, President of Tepperman's and Matthew Dixon, WSJ best selling author and Chief Product Officer of Tethr, share insights on winning strategies for retail, customer service and loyaltyWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and This episode is brought to you by omNovos, Canada’s Retail Customer Engagement Solutions Provider. Combine all of your customer data into a single view to create real-time, personalized connections with your customers in our new contactless world. Learn more at www.realcustomerengagement.com.On this episode we meet Andrew Tepperman, President of Tepperman’s who takes us through the long, rich history of this Ontario based furniture retailer and how...2020-07-241h 00
The Voice of RetailJoe Megibow, CEO of Purple and Ken Cassar of CassarCo Strategy each give us a sneak peak into their keynote presentations on digital retail strategy and U.S. online consumer behaviour during the COVID crisisWelcome to the The Voice of Retail special CommerceNext Bonus episode part 2, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of CanadaOn this episode I talk with Joe Megibow, CEO of innovative mattress brand and manufacturer Purple. With decades of senior level dot com experience with the likes of Expedia and American Eagle behind him, Joe is helping Purple break through the huge sleep category.Next veteran retail and consumer analyst Ken Cassar, Principal of CassarCo Strategy and Analytic Consultants. Ken takes us throu...2020-07-2331 min
The Voice of RetailEleanor Lynch, President Kiaro & James Jesty, President Friendly Stranger explore the always dynamic and evolving retail cannabis market from the West Coast to OntarioWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of CanadaOn this episode we head west to Vancouver and then back again to Toronto to meet two great retail cannabis operators innovating, growing their brand and retail footprint.Building and leading a team that are Cannabis enthusiast first, retailers second and 100% dedicated to their community and customer satisfaction Eleanor Lynch, President Of Operations at Kiaro is back on the podcast as we catch up on their latest retail st...2020-07-1755 minThe Voice of RetailGet ready for CommerceNext featuring Rob Schmults, Laura Joukovski and founders Scott Silverman & Veronika SonsevWelcome to the The Voice of Retail special CommerceNext Bonus episode, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of CanadaOn this episode I talk to CommerceNext founders Scott Silverman and Veronika Sonsev talk about the Genesis of the CommerceNext thought leadership event and community, its overarching objectives and about the Virtual Summit July 28/29.Next Rob Schmults, Executive Board, Midocean Partners and Laura Joukovski, President, Global Fashion Brands, Techstyle Fashion Group both return to the podcast and give me "two starts" and one "stop" pie...2020-07-1540 min
The Voice of RetailStockX Co-Founder Josh Luber & Ashley Merrill, CEO/Founder of Lunya share their retail origin stories behind the intersection of passion and profit, positioning their innovative online sites for the COVID era and beyondWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of CanadaOn this episode we’re in the motor city, Detroit, to talk with innovative online retailer and sneaker marketplace StockX co-founder Josh Luber. We talk about the intersection of passion and profit, how StockX innovative formula drives authenticity and credibility into the collectible re-sell market, and how a perfect price transparency model based on the stock market is driving record sales even in the face of the covid crisis. Last, we expl...2020-07-1052 min
The Voice of RetailTal Zvi Nathanel, CEO of Showfields and Dan Pink, NYT best selling author share their insights on retail experience, working and adapting in the COVID-19 eraWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of CanadaOn this episode Tal Zvi Nathanel, CEO of Showfields in New York City returns to the podcast to catch us up on how the thinking that created “the most interesting store in the world” and certainly the retail concept that had attendees and pundits at January’s NRF Big Show buzzing has adapted to the COVID-19 crisis. We talk about the key foundational principles that helped them navigate the early weeks of...2020-07-0355 min
The Voice of RetailSimon Rodrigue, Chief Digital Officer for Staples on modern eCommerce, and Andrew Resnick on key retail operational strategies at storefront creating an amazing digital experienceWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of CanadaOn this episode we help celebrate a great milestone and anniversary with Simon Rodrigue, Chief Digital Officer of Staples Canada. We look a the brand and mission transformation of Staples just over a year ago, and Simon talks about the team and technology stack assembled to re-platform and re-imagine the online and digital presence of one of Canada’s top eCommerce sites.Next Andrew Resnick, veteran retail operator joins...2020-06-2658 min
The Voice of RetailNicola Kilner, CEO of beauty brand/retailer Deciem (The Abnormal Beauty Company) is joined by Byran Pearson, former CEO Loyalty One/Airmiles on "Jump Ball" customer strategiesWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and this episode is brought to you by omNovos - Canada’s Retail Customer Engagement Solutions Provider. Join me next week for an insightful interview with omNovos where we will discuss just how COVID-19 may have given retailers a bit of a gift. Turning contactless shopping into brand loyalty. Learn more at www.realcustomerengagement.comOn this episode recorded live from London England Nicola Kilner CEO of Deciem - the umbrella...2020-06-1254 min
The Voice of RetailMichael Schneider, Managing Director of Bunnings, Australia/New Zealand's leading big box home improvement retailer, plus Amar Singh, Principal Analyst at Kantar ConsultingWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.On this episode we’re going global - all the way to Melbourne Australia for an exclusive interview with Michael Schneider, Managing Director of Bunnings, one of the leading big box home improvement retailers in the world. If you don’t know Bunnings, they are a $13billion retailer with 377 trading locations employing over 44,000 team members. We talk about the one-two punch of the Australia wild fires and COVID-19, and how the bus...2020-06-0558 min
The Voice of RetailDiana Dimitian, VP, Managing Director South Europe at Levi Strauss & Co, Amanda Nichols Sr Manager, Industry Marketing from Kronos and Alexandra Zatarain, Co-Founder at Eight SleepWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada, and this episode features an interview with our sponsor Kronos who believes that great businesses are powered by great people.On this episode we are going to learn about two great retail businesses, Levi Strauss and Eight Sleep. First up on this episode live from Paris Diana Dimitian, Vice President and Managing Director South Europe at Levi Strauss & Co. talks about the strength of the brand and operating DTC and sto...2020-05-291h 00The Voice of RetailMichael Graydon, CEO FCPC on the early successes and long term challenges of the COVID-19 era, and Jane Gaynor, founder of Gain Your Edge Coaching on managing during challenging timesWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up on this episode an exclusive interview with Michael Graydon, CEO at Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) the national industry association in Canada representing the food, beverage and consumer products industry. We talk about how brands reacted to the shockwave of demand for food and household products, how retailers and their vendor partners came together to keep Canadians fed and take care of their new and essential needs, and...2020-05-1545 min
The Voice of RetailNadia Vattovaz, EVP Fire & Flower talks about taking on COVID-19 with her retail 2.0 company, Forrester VP Sucharita Kodali on how retailers can survive and thrive, and elite soccer player turned DTC retailer Rachael Rapinoe on launching her CBD brand, MendiWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up on this episode retail veteran Nadia Vattovaz, CFO & EVP Operations at Fire & Flower talks about operating across Canada during COVID-19 powered by their purpose built, retail 2.0 company, allowing them to roll out curb side and home delivery in lightening speed with fantastic results with awesome consumer experience thanks to the power of their peopleNext up Forrester Research Vice President & top retail analyst Sucharita Kodali is back...2020-05-0858 min
The Voice of RetailRoger Martin, top global strategist, Professor Emeritus and author on how retailers can survive COVID-19 and his new book "When More Is Not Better"Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by omNovos – Canada’s Retail Customer Engagement Solutions provider, combining data, software, and services to help retailers create and deliver real-time personalized content in your customers’ moments of truth.In this special feature episode a full length interview with one of the sharpest minds in corporate strategy in the world - Roger Martin is my special guest. One of the original founders of Monitor Company, transformative Dean of now the gl...2020-05-0154 minThe Voice of RetailGeorge Soleas, President & CEO of the LCBO shares their journey to modernization and navigating the COVID-19 crisis, and Canadian Master Sommelier Jennifer Huether on top wine trendsWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this special episode an exclusive interview with the President and CEO of one of the largest wine and alcohol retailers in the world right in my back yard, George Soleas of Ontario’s LCBO. In a two part interview, the first part one recored in mid March in LCBO’s Toronto boardroom pre-COVID-19, the second part recorded online during the peak of the crisis, George shares the ins and outs of...2020-04-2455 minThe Voice of RetailLive from New York Lockie Andrews, CIO and CDO for retailer UNTUCKit on moving fast and operating during the COVID-19 crisis, and Steve Buors, CEO of Reshift Media on COVID consumer social media trends and opportunitiesWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Live from New York at the epicentre of technology and the COVID crisis, Lockie Andrews, CIO and Chief Digital Officer for retailer UNTUCKit is my special guest. We talk about the history of this fast growing apparel retailer, starting online then with a single store in Soho with now 85 locations in the U.S, Canada and the U.K. Lockie describes operating during the COVID crisis and how as a ventu...2020-04-1749 minThe Voice of RetailDuncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Office for RBI (Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes) talks about managing the pace of change, and Carl Boutet, retail strategist reflects on his visit to China and Covid-19 action scenariosWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode I kick off with an interview with Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Officer for Restaurant Brands International, better known as Tim Hortons, Burger King and Popeyes. Recorded live in a busy media room at the Restaurant Canada trade show in Toronto early March, Duncan takes us through the strategy and culture driving 27,000 restaurants in 110 countries with a new restaurant opening every seven hours and how to figure out the...2020-04-1052 minThe Voice of RetailUnderstanding the impact and implications of COVID-19 with Diane Brisebois, President & CEO of Retail Council of Canada, Frank Lavin, Chairman and Founder of Export Now from Singapore, and Marc Fortin, President of RCC-CCCD QuebecWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode I’m starting to address the COVID-19 crisis and it’s impact on the retail industry with a mix of episodes interviewing retail advocates, thought leaders, strategists and retailers themselves as we all work together to get our arms around this shock to world.First up Diane Brisebois, President & CEO of Retail Council of Canada is my special guest. After 25 years serving the retail community in Cana...2020-04-0353 min
The Voice of RetailThe focus is on retail cannabis in Canada with Steven Fry President & Co-Founder of Sessions Cannabis in Toronto and Corey Gillon CEO of Vancouver based national retailer Choom Cannabis CompanyWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. This episode is intended for listeners 21 plus.In this episode, recorded early March we touch base with two great Canadian cannabis retailers and explore their retail concept, merchandising strategies and business experienceFirst up Steven Fry, President and Co-Founder of Session Cannabis recorded live at his newest location in the east end of Toronto. We talk about his indoctrination into the industry as an Ontario lottery winner, early part...2020-03-2755 minThe Voice of RetailFood professor Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Food Futurologist Dr. Morgaine Gaye and a peak into the future of retail cannabis beverages with Terry Donnelly from the Hill St. Beverage CompanyWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode, recorded live in early March backstage the Restaurants Canada trade show in Toronto, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University returns to the podcast as my special guest. We talk pre-COVID-19 macro trends around dining out, meal kits, his Zamboni theory of retail cannabis and this big picture perspective on plant based proteins, the environment and its impact on food decision and what driv...2020-03-2047 minThe Voice of RetailExclusive interviews with Mimi Lam, Co-Founder & CEO of cannabis retailer Superette and Bruce Linton, Founder & Former CEO of cannabis giant Canopy Growth CorporationWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode I visit with Mimi Lam, CEO and co-founder of cannabis retailer Superette in her soon-to-be opened Toronto store. We explore their award winning brand and retail concept, lessons learned from a fast-paced first year with their store in Ottawa, and what lies ahead for this innovative retailer.Next, the one and only Bruce Linton, Founder and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Canopy Growth Cor...2020-03-1348 minThe Voice of RetailLisa Hutcheson, Managing Partner of J.C. Williams on four retail mega trends for 2020, and RCC SVP Public Affairs Karl Littler on the new NAFTA timeline and De Minimis win for retailersWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode Lisa Hutcheson, Managing Partner of J.C. Williams Group joins us to talk about her rich, decades long background in retail and the retail mega trends brought together in the annual Ebeltoft Groups’s Global Retail Trends and Innovations report, for the past decade or so one of my favourite reads of the year. We talk about the 2020 report, the four key trends that pull together the retai...2020-03-0653 minThe Voice of RetailGillian Stein CEO of Henry's, Canada's largest independent photographic/digital retailer and certified professional coach Natalie Dumond talks courageous cultures and brave leadershipWelcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this episode I welcome Gillian Stein, CEO of Henry’s, a family-owned and -operated business, that first opened its doors in 1909 and is now Canada's largest independent photographic and digital retailer. Gillian takes us through the evolution of the retail brand, the ying and yang of being a mid-sized retailer, and the importance of staying true to your values.Next, Natalie Dumond, certified professional coach and certified Dare t...2020-02-2849 min
The Voice of RetailJoe Jackman backstage at the AGO in Toronto on his new book "The Reinventionist Mindset" and veteran eCommerce executive Rob Schmults interviewed on the streets of New York City during #NRF2020Welcome to the The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up in this episode recorded live backstage in Toronto at the Art Gallery of Ontario before the launch of his brand new book THE REINVENTIONIST MINDSET: LEARNING TO LOVE CHANGE, AND THE HUMAN HOW OF DOING IT BRILLIANTLY (https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8946794/type/dlg/https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-reinventionist-mindset-learning-to/9781989025925-item.html?ikwid=joe+jackman&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0)the one and only Joe Jackman is m...2020-02-1452 minThe Voice of RetailLaura Joukovski, TechStyle Fashion Group President talks working with celebrities like Kate Hudson and Rihanna, Canadian supermodel/influencer Coco Rocha, and Manolo Almagro from Q Division talks retail tech, all live from NRF in New YorkWelcome to the third in a series of special NRF Big Show episodes of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up in this episode recorded live backstage in New York City at the NRF Big Show TechStyle Fashion Group President, Global Fashion Brands Laura Joukovski is my guest. Reflecting on her work overseeing JustFab, ShoeDazzle & FabKids and working with celebrities like Kate Hudson and Rihanna, we talk about the nature of celebrity based brands, working with global influencer, and...2020-02-0751 min
The Voice of Retail"The most interesting store in world", Showfield's CEO Tal Zvi Nathanel plus Forrester VP Sucharita Kodali on the future of retail Live from the NRF podcasting studio at the Big Show in New YorkWelcome to another in a series of special NRF Big Show episodes of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up in this episode recorded live from New York City at the NRF Big Show in the NRF podcasting studio I’m joined by Tal Zvi Nathanel, the CEO of “the most interesting store in the world” Showfields. We delve into his origin story beginning in Israel, moving to New York, opening what was for sure the most talked about reta...2020-01-3151 minThe Voice of RetailLive from the NRF Big Show in New York, Giant Tiger President & COO Paul Wood plus retail strategist and author Steve Dennis talks remarkable retailWelcome to the first of a series of special NRF Big Show episodes of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up in this episode recorded live from New York City at the NRF Big Show in the NRF podcasting studio Giant Tiger President and COO Paul Wood joins me and we learn all about this fast growing Canadian retailer based in my hometown of Ottawa, how their business structure keeps them wired directly into the market, how retail CE...2020-01-2445 minThe Voice of RetailRecorded in front of a live audience Retail Insider's Craig Patterson talks Canadian Shopping Centre Report and Engagement Agents Sean Snyder talks effective mall marketingWelcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Engagement Agents, Engagement Agents makes it easy for retailers to engage their shopping centers’ marketing channels, in order to promptly drive a Return on Engagement!First up in this episode recorded in front of a live audience from the main stage at RCC's Brick & Mortar forum, Retail Insider and author of the Canadian Shopping Centre 2019 report Craig Patterson and I talk about the genesis of his passion for...2020-01-1754 minThe Voice of RetailCanadian eCommerce leader Tanbir Grover interview part 2, and Andy Palalas, CRO for HighTide talks about the importance to merchants of Retail Cannabis 2.0Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of CanadaFirst up in this episode part two of my interview with Canadian eCommerce leader Tanbir Grover. We continue our conversation talking about digital marketing, the reality of ROAS & transcending metrics, team building and the strategy of understanding the essence of a minimal viable product - and breaks big career news.Next, from Tanbir 2.0 to Cannabis 2.0! Andy Palalas joins me again from High Tide and Canna Cabana to bring us up to s...2020-01-1044 minThe Voice of RetailCanadian eCommerce leader Tanbir Grover talks culture and insights plus veteran retail store operations and people leader April Sabral on how retailers can win in 2020Welcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of CanadaFirst up in this episode Tanbir Grover joins me for the first of a two part interview, reflecting on his twelve years at the forefront of digital retail and eCommerce in Canada, working for retail brands including Sears Canada, Hudson’s Bay and Lowe’s Canada. We talk corporate culture, the history of Canadian eCommerce and the state of online retail today and how we got here from there and where we’re go...2020-01-0347 minThe Voice of RetailRetail strategist David Ian Gray talks Black Friday performance, Canadian farmer-advocate Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, and Michel Sirios President of BlueStar Canada unpacks the retail technology ecosystemWelcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up in this episode I catch up with David Ian Gray, founder and strategist behind retail consultancy DIG 360; we touch base on his ongoing and recent research into consumer behaviour in partnership with Leger into Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day - consumer shopping results.Next Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, a farmer-advocate spokesperson joins me again on the podcast after our session together in Ottawa at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Mar...2019-12-201h 01The Voice of RetailCatie Riordan from Enterprise Ireland and a Irish Retail Tech Summit with Chris Parsons from Home Hardware, Scott Adel from Mckesson, Michelle Read-Kulig from Pizza Pizza and digital pioneer Shelly NandkeolyarWelcome to a special Irish Retail Tech episode of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Recorded live in Dublin and then Waterford Ireland, first up is an interview with Catie Riordan, Vice President of Consumer Retail & Retail Technology for Enterprise Ireland. We talk about her work in the U.S. , the connection to retail and their long-standing QVC partnership, the wonders of St. Patrick’s Day, and finally the Showcase Ireland buying show that connects retailers from around the worl...2019-12-181h 06The Voice of RetailLisa Bigioni owner of Choom Cannabis Niagara, Claire Santamaria VP of retail phenomena Yorkdale and Angela Kapp from CBD marketplace TruPotencyWelcome to The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up recorded live in the Environics Analytics podcasting studio at RCC’s Retail Cannabis forum in Toronto I meet Lisa Bigioni, an Ontario retail cannabis lottery winner and co-owner of Choom Cannabis in Niagara. We talk about the experience around winning the lottery, the process of picking a partner and opening up a cannabis retail store under incredibly tight deadlines.Next recorded live at the Retail Council of Canada...2019-12-1344 minThe Voice of RetailThe Black Friday episode featuring a lively panel debate on the merits of Black Friday-Cyber Monday with veteran retail reporter Marina Strauss, retail marketer Patrick Dickinson, and Ryerson Professor Mark LeeWelcome to a special Black Friday edition of The Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Recorded early November in front of a live audience at The Ted Rogers School of Retail Managment at Ryerson University’s 12th annual retail week, I’m joined by an esteemed panel of retail experts and veterans to discuss a bit of retail history, the state of the retail nation and the competing narratives and industry debate around the Black Friday retail holiday event.Acco...2019-11-2948 minThe Voice of RetailSerial retail innovator and now CEO of iStore Joel Teitelbaum plus Charles de Brabant, Executive Director, Bensadoun School of Retail Management at McGill UniversityWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of November 18, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this weeks episode I’m on the trade show floor of RCC’s DTLQC conference in Montreal talking with local key retailers and retail industry players based in Quebec.First of all serial retail innovator and now CEO of iStore Joel Teitelbaum is my guest. Joel shares the details behind his rich retail background and reflects on his experience starting at Dylex and La Sen...2019-11-2250 minThe Voice of RetailRetail Flyer Forum special edition featuring veteran retail marketer Patrick Dickinson in conversation on the main stage and Jerry Kennelly CEO of Tweak recorded live from DublinWelcome to a very special Retail Flyer Forum edition of the Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Recorded live on the main stage at the Carlu in Toronto during RCC’s annual Retail Flyer forum, my one to one interview with the one and only Patrick Dickinson, retail consultant and veteran retail marketer most recently with Hudson’s Bay. We talk about how and why the retail flyer, in both paper and digital, is such a resilient media and significant element...2019-11-1240 minThe Voice of RetailManaging the Black Friday eCommerce Peak with SCI President & CEO Chris Galindo and live panel discussion with retailers Franco Schiavone from Designer Brands and Stephanie Barrington at Well.caWelcome to a special Black Friday-Cyber Monday planning for peak eCommerce edition of the Voice of Retail, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.First up in this special edition we set the stage with an exclusive interview with a supply chain veteran on the front lines of delivering on the promise of Black Friday - SCI’s President & CEO Chris Galindo. Chris provides us with incredible insights into the logistics of eCommerce from a warehouse and distribution perspective, trends from the front lines and advi...2019-11-0550 minThe Voice of RetailForrester VP & Principal Analyst Sucharita Kodali talks winner and losers, and CX guru Andrew Cherwenka dishes on best practices and pitfallsWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of October 28, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this weeks episode we check in with two highly respected retail industry analysts to take the pulse of online retail and retail experience.First a feature interview with Forrester VP and Principal Analyst Sucharita Kodali. One of the most respected analysts in the North American eCommerce space, we talk about the big trends and powerful business models that are increasingly separating the winners fro...2019-11-0147 minThe Voice of RetailExclusive interviews with Ron Johnson, CEO of Enjoy & the visionary behind Apple Retail and Ron Tite, marketing guru, author and comedian on his latest book "Think. Do. Say"Welcome to the Voice of Retail I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this weeks episode back-to-back exclusive interviews with retail and marketing visionaries.First an exclusive interview with Ron Johnson, veteran retailer credited with taking the vision of Steve Jobs and crafting Apple retail into the behemoth it is today, then taking over J.C. Penny and launching a bold experiment in mass merchant retailing and now CEO of Enjoy. Recorded live from his offices in California, I connect with Ron...2019-10-2549 minThe Voice of RetailThird generation butcher, bespoke grocer and entrepreneur Stephen Alexander, president of Cumbrae's grocery in Toronto, plus Philippe Cantin talks retail sustainability from MontrealWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of October 7, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and brought to you by Atomic Reach. Atomic Reach offers Atomic AI, the world's leading Smart Content Platform. By optimizing product descriptions and marketing content to match shopper's reading and emotional preferences, we deliver sales conversion improvement and personalization at scale.In this week’s episode just in time for Thanksgiving - an exclusive interview with 3rd generation butcher, bespoke grocer and entrepreneur Stephen Alexander president of C...2019-10-1143 minThe Voice of RetailExclusive interview with CBC Dragon and veteran entrepreneur Vince Guzzo from Montreal, and RCC B.C. Director of Government Relations Greg Wilson in VancouverWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of September 30, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this week’s episode an exclusive interview with Vince Guzzo, Montreal-based CBC Dragon, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In a fun and wide ranging interview we talk about the retail and consumer environment in Quebec, his experiences during the taping of his second season of Dragons Den, how the deals he’s seeing this year are different, how he determines whether he is "In" or "Out" (and with who...2019-10-0449 minThe Voice of RetailAuthor Jeremy Miller on his latest book "Brand New Name" & from GELF NYC via L.A Nisha Oza head of brand partnerships for Chinese LaundryWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of September 23rd, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. This episode is dedicated to John C. Williams a retail legend, advocate, friend and mentor to many who left us September 21, 2019.In this week’s episode an exclusive interview with keynote speaker and author Jeremy Miller on his new book “Brand New Name” - “A proven step-by-step process to create an unforgettable brand name “ We talk about the inspiration for the book, the challenges it helps solve an...2019-09-2759 minThe Voice of RetailIndochino President & CEO Drew Green on managing spectacular growth, and Patrick Dickinson ex. from Hudsons's Bay on retail brand marketingWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of September 16, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this week’s episode I’m on the road, recording interviews from the Bahamas where I was a keynote speaker at Bluestar’s Vartech conference, and now recording live at the Global eCommerce Leaders Forum in New York in the Purolator podcasting studio.For this episode I reach out all the way out to Vancouver and chat with retailer Indochino CEO Drew Green. We catch...2019-09-2038 minThe Voice of RetailVeteran retailer and VP at Retail Council of Canada Sonny Brar talks LP trends & Retail Secure, and Lift & Co's VP Data Sean Copeland takes us through their new retail cannabis 2.0 researchWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of September 9, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.In this weeks episode I get up close and personal with the one and only Sonny Brar, a veteran retailer who now is Vice President of Member Relations and education at Retail Council of Canada. We focus on conversation on retail loss prevention - top trends, what Sonny is hearing around the table at the loss prevention advisory council, and what is on deck for Retail Se...2019-09-1345 minThe Voice of RetailMJBizCon International Cannabis conference edition featuring Cannabis NB GM Lara Wood, Inner Spirit Holdings/Spirit Leaf Cannabis President & CEO Darren Bondar, and Kay Tamillow, Director of research for Brightfield Group on the CBD market & consumer insightWelcome to the Voice of Retail special MJBizCon International Cannabis conference edition, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
Held in Toronto in September 2019, the MJBizCon International brought together 2,500 Global Cannabis Executives To Learn, Grow & Connect. I took the opportunity to set up shop in their podcasting studio and interview three of the most interesting and influential participants starting off with Lara Wood, General Manager of Cannabis NB (my dad’s home province, New Brunswick). This is Lara’s third time on The Voice of Ret...2019-09-1042 min
The Voice of RetailDigital rock star, global keynote speaker and agency pioneer Mitch Joel helps us Decode the Future, and Vice President Marketing/eCommerce for The Kersheh Group Johnny Russo talks culture, personalization and retail techWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of September 2, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
He's been called the “rock star of digital media”, by Strategy Magazine and “the real deal” by Seth Godin…veteran podcaster, best selling author of two groundbreaking books and global keynote speaker Mitch Joel is my very special guest. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mitch for almost two decades, but we catch up after almost five years surrounded by images of the 50th anniv...2019-09-0656 minThe Voice of RetailPurolator President & CEO John Ferguson's ONE BILLION DOLLAR plan and Clearly CEO Arnaud Bussieres from Vancouver talks about this innovative retailer's vision for the futureWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of August 26, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
He's leading the Canadian package delivery and eCommerce shipping industry with a ONE BILLION DOLLAR investment...hear all about capacity being created in Canada’s shipping infrastructure, the enhanced capabilities that deliver competitive advantage to their customers all from Purolator Inc. President & CEO John Ferguson in my exclusive interview!
Next I connect with Arnaud Bussieres, the CEO of retailer Clearly. Started in Vancouver in 2000 as a...2019-08-3052 minThe Voice of RetailHead of Retail for Google Canada Eric Morris helps me search for retail innovation, and RCC Atlantic Director Jim Cormier from Halifax on what retailers need to knowWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of August 12, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
My guest was Google employee No. 2 in Canada, one of the first 500 in the entire company - Eric Morris, Head of Retail for Google joins me for an exclusive live and interactive interview where we search for answers to the state of retail, how consumers are interacting online, and what’s next for retailers from the Google Tickle-Trunk.
Next we head to the East Coas...2019-08-1653 minThe Voice of RetailForrester Vice President & Principal Analyst Rick Parrish on the new 2019 Canadian CX Index report, and CX guru Tara O'DohertyWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of August 5, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
The feature spotlight for this episode is CX, Customer Experience. We kick it off with an exclusive interview with Rick Parrish, Vice President and Principal Analyst from Forrester who joins me to discuss his latest Canadian CX Index report. This report, covering 161 brands across 14 industries including retail with Forrester talk to over 62,000 Canadian consumers.
Next I’m joined by Customer Experience guru Tara O’Dohert...2019-08-0957 minThe Voice of RetailSpecial Guest Co-Host Dave Rodgerson + round-table interview from the Purolator Podcasting Studio with Q Division's Manolo Almagro, Ben Gauthier and Stratacache's Michael ArnettWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of July 29, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc,
[and I’m Dave Rodgerson, guest host for this episode]
and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. So it’s the hazy, crazy days of summer and what better time to invite friends and colleagues from the retail industry to join me on The Voice of Retail and share perspectives about the retail news of the week!
[Well thanks Mike for the invite, looking forward to delving into Retail This W...2019-08-0258 minThe Voice of RetailWe put the farmer back into the Farm-to-Fork retail conversation with Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel from Saskatchewan, retailer Bob Ianson from Heritage Linens in Victoria and RCC's John Graham covers retail in the Prairie provinces.Welcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of July 22nd, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
In this episode we head to Western Canada for three different perspectives in and around the retail industry.
First we put the farmer back in the “Farm to Fork” retail conversation with an exclusive interview featuring Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, a farmer from Mossbank, Saskatchewan. We talk Ag-tech and how farmers can and should become a bigger part of the food conversation.
Next record...2019-07-2657 minThe Voice of RetailLive & Interactive with MainStage keynote and Forbes contributing writer Steve Dennis together with Retail Strategist Carl Boutet, plus Retail Hall of Fame member John TorellaWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of July 8, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
In this episode, the “thee amigos”; myself, #STORE2019 main-stage keynote speaker and Forbes contributing writer Steve Dennis and retail strategist Carl Boutet mix it up in the Purolator Podcasting Studio after the Excellence in Retail gala awards. We talk tech, north-south retail, the collapse of the middle, bifurcation, success at the high-end, the world’s slowest liquidation sale, the customer trapeze, and retail success stories.
Then a...2019-07-1248 minThe Voice of RetailInterview live from the main stage at RCC's #STORE2019 with Walter Robb, former Co-CEO of Whole Foods, and Michele Sexsmith, Senior Vice President of Environics Analytics talks state-of-the-art tools for retail store location selectionWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of July 1, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
In this episode…live from the main stage at RCC’s #STORE2019 conference my exclusive interview with Walter Robb, former co-CEO of Whole Foods. We chat about the nature of consumers on both sides of the border, the zen of Amazon then, now and in the future, the current state of grocery retail across North America and trends for the future.
Then a return visit...2019-07-0554 minThe Voice of RetailSTORE2019 Special Edition No. 2 featuring Forbes contributor and main-stage keynote Steve Dennis, Cannabis NB General Manager Lara Wood and Purolator's Laurie Weston on the Mobile Quick StopWelcome to our second special STORE 2019 edition of The Voice of Retail podcast I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada, and sponsored by Purolator, Canada's Shipping Company for courier and freight, learn more at www.purolator.com
Retail Council of Canada’s STORE conference is the biggest retail conference of the year in Canada and for 2019 In partnership with with my friends at Purolator we built the Purolator Podcasting Studio and set out to interview some of the most interesting people in retail hosting reta...2019-06-0546 minThe Voice of RetailFeature interviews with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois talking Canada's new food guide and RCC's SVP Public Affairs Karl Littler on the new NAFTA, Sustainability and other key national issues for retailersWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of May 27th 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Purolator, Canada's Shipping Company for courier and freight, learn more at www.purolator.com
In this episode part two of my interview with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University as we discuss Canada’s new food guide, the rise of plant-based meat alternatives for “flexitarians” and the state of grocery eCommerce.
Next, part two of my interv...2019-05-3146 minThe Voice of RetailSpecial interview with retailer Sinéad Clarke at her Irish Design House, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and I talk cannabis edibles, and RCC's Karl Littler talks tradecraft and NAFTAWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of May 20th 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Purolator, Canada's Shipping Company for courier and freight, learn more at www.purolator.com
In this episode a feature interview with retailer Sinéad Clarke at her wonderful store the Irish Design House in Toronto. We talk about the journey that brought her to Canada and the passion she brings to her business.
Next, an interview with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois Seni...2019-05-2452 minThe Voice of RetailSpecial Retail Marketing Conference edition featuring Trinh Tham from Sobeys, Jonathan Cavaliere and Shannae Ingleton SmithWelcome to the Voice of Retail special Retail Marketing Conference edition, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this special edition podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
Recorded live in Toronto April 18th 2019 at Retail Council of Canada’s annual Retail Marketing conference, this special edition podcast features two of my on-stage interviews plus insights from attendees.
First I chat with two of Canada’s top influencers, Jonathan Cavilier and Shannae Ingleton . They discuss their tradecraft, experiences working with brands and advice for retailers on how to work with key in...2019-04-2459 minThe Voice of RetailExclusive interview with Canadian retailer Knix CMO Danielle Brown, Stocard Managing Director Jesse Michael and RCC's Kalie Belanger on Canadian Independent Bookstore DayWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of April 7 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Stream Commerce, North America’s fastest growing Shopify plus agency, learn more at www.StreamCommerce.com
In this episode an exclusive interview with Danielle Brown, freshly minted CMO for award winning Canadian DTC retailer www.Knix.ca
Next, we meet up Jesse Michael from Stocard and talk about their innovative solution for managing loyalty programs from the palm of consumers hands that...2019-04-1250 minThe Voice of RetailExclusive interview with Peter Housley from Indochino, Lauren Freedman (part 2) and retail CX and now Vancouverite Andrew CherwenkaWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of April 1, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Stream Commerce, North America’s fastest growing Shopify plus agency, learn more at Stream Commerce dot com.
In this episode an exclusive interview with Peter Housley, Chief Revenue Officer for Vancouver based Indochino talking about performance marketing, the simple genius of the showroom and managing a team through a hyper-growth cycle.
Next part two of my interview with eCommerce merchandising veteran Laur...2019-04-0552 minThe Voice of RetailExclusive interview with Andy Palalas of High Tide talking cannabis retail, catching up with Lauren Freedmen on eCommerce merchandising trends (part 1)Welcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of March 25, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Stream Commerce, North America’s fastest growing Shopify plus agency, learn more at Stream Commerce dot com.
In this episode an exclusive interview with Andy Palalas, Chief Revenue Officer of High Tide talking about their family of retail stores, and particularly their CannaCabana retail cannabis store as it grows in Alberta and the eve of expansion to an open Ontario market.
Next...2019-03-2944 minThe Voice of RetailSpecial Retail Council of Canada Retail Cannabis Forum Edition: Rethinking Traditional In-store Experience panel discussionWelcome to the Voice of Retail special Retail Cannabis Forum Store edition, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this special edition podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.
Recorded live in Toronto March 26 at RCC’s first ever Retail Cannabis forum I moderated the Rethinking Traditional In-store Experience panel.
According to Environics Analytics CannabisInsights, powered by Vividata, 29% of Canadians 19 and older have consumed cannabis, 41% of Canadians under the age 35 have consumed cannabis.
Canada currently has 206 bricks and mortar retail cannabis locations, in all Provinces and Territories except for...2019-03-2637 minThe Voice of RetailAndrew Siegwart talks Chinese tourism, award winning eCommerce retailer Kristy Wieber reveals her pivot of Rent Frock RepeatWelcome to the Voice of Retail for the week of March 18, 2019 I’m your host Michael LeBlanc and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada and sponsored by Stream Commerce, North America’s fastest growing Shopify Plus agency, learn more at www.streamcommerce.com
In this episode part two of my interview with Blue Mountain Village Association President Andrew Siegwart chatting about Chinese tourism and the best ways for retailers to maximize the visitor opportunity, plus an exclusive interview with Rent Frock Repeat Co-Founder & President Kristy Wieber with breaking news on her...2019-03-2242 minThe Voice of RetailRetail HR trends, main-street retailers collaborating, Sobeys Farm Boy urban strategy + Hudson Yards opens in NYCTwo back-to-back great interviews in this week's edition! First up, Sonny Brar, MC and session moderator for Retail Council of Canada's upcoming Retail HR Forum on April 17 (http://rcchrconference.ca/ ) joins us to talk about Retail HR trends and give us a sneak peak into the great sessions planned for the event.
Next, we catch up with RCC alumni Andrew Siegwart who joins us for the first of a two-part interview chatting about his (not so new) gig at Blue Mountain Village Association, working with local main-street retailers, the essence of collaboration, and the importance of the...2019-03-1541 min