Retail Gets Real
Retail impacts everyone, everywhere, every day. Join the National Retail Federation for authentic, insightful conversations with the industry's most interesting people. Hear retail executives, industry experts, entrepreneurs and influencers discuss trends, their career stories and the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
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412. How Brieane Olson is shaping the future of youth retail at PacSun
<p>Brieane Olson has spent nearly two decades helping reshape PacSun. She joins Retail Gets Real to share what it takes to evolve a legacy retail brand without losing sight of the customer. With a retail career that began at age 15, her foundation in fashion still shapes how she leads today. The connection point between product and consumer remains an energizing part of her career journey, and influences how she leads people, sets strategy and guides the business through constant change. </p><p></p><p>(00:00:00) Olson’s path to CEO</p><p>(00:07:40) PacSun’s evolution from retailer to brand</p><p>(0...
411. Redefining JCPenney for today’s customer
<p>Retail is evolving at an incredible pace, but at its core, it still comes down to people. Michelle Wlazlo, brand CEO of JCPenney, joins Retail Gets Real to share her grounded and optimistic perspective on where the industry is headed and why the fundamentals of serving customers remain as important as ever.</p><p>(00:00:00) A retail career shaped by customers</p><p>(00:06:44) Why physical stores aren’t going anywhere</p><p>(00:09:02) Reintroducing JCPenney to a new generation of customers</p><p>(00:15:52) The forces reshaping retail right now</p><p>(00:17:52) Career advice that changes how you lead and grow</p><p>...
410. Inside the art of experiential retail at Hershey’s
<p>Retail stores remain powerful spaces for storytelling, connection and cultural relevance. José Raul Padron, design lead for the Hershey Experience at The Hershey Company, joins this episode of Retail Gets Real to share how thoughtful retail design transforms everyday shopping into memorable experiences. From immersive brand homes to viral product moments, he says physical retail continues to evolve in a digital-first world.</p><p>(00:00:00) From chocolate legacy to retail design leadership</p><p>(00:06:04) Why physical retail still matters in a digital world</p><p>(00:11:17) Building immersive retail moments that capture culture</p><p>(00:14:07) Where creative inspiration for retail design c...
409. Inside REI’s strategy for trust, community, and growth
<p>Leadership in retail today requires balancing innovation, culture and purpose. Mary Beth Laughton, president and CEO of REI Co-op, joins this episode of Retail Gets Real to share lessons from a career spanning some of the most influential brands in retail and explain how she is guiding REI into its next chapter. She discusses her career journey, the role of mentorship and how the co-op is evolving its strategy while staying rooted in its mission and values.</p><p>(00:00:00) From consulting to leading iconic retail brands</p><p>(00:05:51) Leveraging REI’s unique strengths for growth</p><p>(00:07:37) Navigating culture at...
408. How Coach puts the consumer at the center of brand growth
<p>At a time when retail is being reshaped by technology, generational shifts and changing expectations around authenticity, understanding the consumer has never been more critical. Jennifer Yue, senior vice president of strategy and consumer insights at Coach and Tapestry, joins this episode of Retail Gets Real to share how deep listening and human-centered insight are driving growth at one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands.</p><p>(00:00:00) From investment banking to consumer insight leadership</p><p>(00:04:26) Why growth starts with the people who are not buying</p><p>(00:08:40) Turning human insight into a competitive advantage</p><p>(00:15:02) Wh...
407. Inside Sweetwater’s people-first approach to retail innovation
<p>As retail continues to evolve at the intersection of technology and human connection, Jason Johnson, CIO of Sweetwater Sound, offers a compelling perspective on what it means to lead with both innovation and heart. On this episode of “Retail Gets Real,” Johnson discusses how Sweetwater has grown into one of the most distinctive retailers in the industry by treating technology not as a back-office function, but as a core driver of growth — especially with its team of more than 700 commissioned sales engineers building off the founder’s core mission of deeply personal service</p><p>(00:00:00) Inside Sweetwater’s rock ‘n’ roll reta...
406. The rise of smart retail merchandising
<p>Technology is reshaping the in-store experience, and Jake Neiman is helping retailers bring digital innovation into the physical world. The co-founder and CEO of BIG Digital joins Retail Gets Real to discuss how immersive kiosks, smart merchandising solutions, AI-powered interfaces and next-generation ePaper displays are transforming how customers engage with brands inside stores.</p><p>(00:00:00) Powering live events with interactive kiosks</p><p>(00:04:38) Building BIG Digital during a global shutdown</p><p>(00:07:04) Bringing immersive technology onto the sales floor</p><p>(00:11:26) What limits retailers from adopting new tech</p><p>(00:12:56) What’s next for digital retail innovation</p><p>(00:17:34) Th...
405. The cultural forces shaping tomorrow’s consumer
<p>Cassandra Napoli, head of marketing, events and culture forecasting at WGSN, returns to Retail Gets Real to explore what is changing in culture, technology and consumer behavior. Recorded live from NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in New York City, she discusses the evolving nature of human connection and what retailers can do to future-proof their businesses in a world shaped by uncertainty, fragmented identities and competing demands for attention.</p><p>(00:00:00) When disruption reshapes the future overnight</p><p>(00:04:25) How uncertainty is shaping the next consumer generation</p><p>(00:07:35) Loneliness, community and the return of shared experiences</p><p>(00:12:07) Wh...
How Taco Bell uses digital innovation to highlight human connection
<p>Known for its bold brand, devoted fans and culture of innovation, Taco Bell continues to push the boundaries of what modern retail can be, blending human connection with digital transformation to create memorable experiences for both consumers and team members. Dane Mathews, global chief digital and technology officer at Taco Bell joins guest host David French of NRF for this wide-ranging conversation on innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of technology in retail, recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in New York City.</p><p>(00:00:00) From fandom to digital transformation</p><p>(00:05:05) Turning loyalty into human connection</p>...
403. Building a people-first culture in modern retail with Ulta Beauty
<p>Retail is an industry built on people, emotion and constant reinvention, and few leaders embody that reality more fully than Ulta Beauty President and CEO Kecia Steelman. In this episode of Retail Gets Real recorded live from NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in New York City, Steelman explores her remarkable career journey, leadership philosophy and how she’s guiding the nation’s largest specialty beauty retailer through one of the most transformative moments in retail history.</p><p>(00:00:00) From the sales floor to the CEO seat</p><p>(00:05:48) How retail creates opportunity at every level</p><p>(00:09:14) Why beauty retail...
