Remarkable Retail
If we had to pick a couple of words to describe the last few years, "volatile" and "uncertain" are very likely to be at the top of anyone's list. What words and themes will define this next year? Chaos? Clarity? Prosperity? Purpose? Will struggling retailers at long last make the bold leaps they must, or edge ever closer to the precipice? Can the promises of innovation be met, taking consumer experiences to new heights?/ 2025 looks to be a year where agility and resilience reign supreme as retailers must navigate a world of accelerating technological change, constrained consumer spending, new political realities, and greater power concentrated among only a handful of large retailers. When more and more change is certain, but the way forward is often less than clear, you need a compass, a map, keen insight and no-nonsense advice. This is Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. I invite you to join me and fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc each week as we make sense of an increasingly volatile and uncertain retail world. The Remarkable Retail podcast is the only podcast hosted by two of the NRF's 2025 Top Retail Voices. In this, our tenth season, we'll continue our award-winning formula by giving our hot takes on the week's most important retail news and by featuring guests who are on the leading edge of what's new and next in commerce today. So be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts so you won't miss an episode. Get ready for a steady stream of lively conversations, inspiring leadership stories, and no BS perspectives. Our tenth season of the Remarkable Retail podcast debuts on Tuesday, January 14th. If you want to surf the waves of change and thrive in 2025, we hope you'll join us. © 2020-2025 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Show episodes
Future-Proofing Retail: Mark Irvin Best Buy's EVP & Chief Supply Chain Officer on Agility, AI & Delivering for Customers
In the latest episode of Remarkable Retail, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis return with a their hot takes on the week's top retail headlines. The duo begins with a macroeconomic update, including political gridlock in the U.S. over the "Big Beautiful Bill," the Fed's inflation outlook, and uncertainty surrounding cons
"The Analysts" Part 2: The Future of Department Stores and Agentic AI with Sucharita Kodali, Neil Saunders & Simeon Siegel
In the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, co-hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc return with Part Two of “The Analysts," which featues three of the retail industry’s most respected thought leaders—Sucharita Kodali (VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester Research), Neil Saunders (Managing Director, GlobalDat
"The Analysts": Sucharita Kodali, Neil Saunders & Simeon Siegel Decode What Really Matters
This landmark episode launches "The Analysts," a periodic new feature segment, bringing together three of retail's most respected thought leaders in a new format . Part One features Sucharita Kodali (Forrester Research), Neil Saunders (GlobalData Retail), and Simeon Siegel (BMO Capital Markets) who cut through industry
In this special edition episode, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis address the unprecedented challenges facing retailers with Steve's "10 Tantalizing Tips for Tumultuous Times." Steve rates current market turbulence at a 9 out of 10, comparing it to COVID-era disruption but noting the added complexity of legal uncertain
Joining us for a fascinating interview is Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, one of the most successful and innovative "disruptor brands" to emerge in the past two decades. Neil shares the brand's origin story, what makes Warby Parker remarkable, why they've aggressively invested in brick-and-morta
The Evolution of Outlet Centers: Stephen Yalof, Tanger's CEO, on Value Retail's Transformation
In this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis begin with a news segment covering recent market developments, notably the "tariff turmoil" between the US and China. They discuss how the US has partially de-escalated its stance, with tariffs dropping from a proposed 145% to 30%,