In episode 282 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Maggie Dawkins, vice president of merchandising, design, planning, and production at FabKids, the largest membership-based children's apparel and shoes brand. Listen in as Dawkins discusses the history of the brand and her role with the company, how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted FabKids, and…
Joe Keenan
Teen apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) outlined plans to close hundreds of stores in the coming years, while it looks to grow it lingerie and activewear brand Aerie to a $2 billion business. Chief Financial Officer Mike Mathias said during a virtual meeting with investors that AEO, which has about 880 stores, is looking to…
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) today announced the launch of its sister community, Women Leading Travel & Hospitality, a membership-based association that connects executive women across all sectors of the travel and hospitality industry. Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s mission is to inspire and empower women leaders by providing unparalleled resources,…
In episode 281 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Stacey Helbig, vice president of solution strategy, and Brian Coupland, senior vice president of merchandising at Staples. Listen in as Helbig and Coupland discuss the Staples Connect Breakthrough Project, the inspiration behind the initiative, and the criteria being used to evaluate new product ideas during the…
Apparel retailer Christopher & Banks, which caters to women over 40, is the latest clothing chain to file for bankruptcy protection amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Minneapolis-based company announced Thursday it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Christopher & Banks said in a press release it "expects to close a significant portion, if not all, of its brick-and-mortar stores." Hours after the bankruptcy…
In episode 280 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Bradford Manning and Bryan Manning, co-founders of Two Blind Brothers, ultra-soft designer clothing funding blindness research. Listen in as Bradford and Bryan discuss the brand story and why they founded Two Blind Brothers, their lack of prior retail experience, and the charitable aspect of…
Wayfair, the furniture and home goods e-commerce business, said yesterday that all of its U.S. employees would be paid at least $15 an hour. The increase, which went into effect on Jan. 3, applies to full-time, part-time and seasonal workers at the company. More than 40 percent of Wayfair’s hourly employees working across its U.S.…
In episode 279 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Phillip Raub, CEO of Model No., the first custom furniture brand that operates at the intersection of technology, design and sustainability. Listen in as Raub discusses his professional background, the ethos of the Model No. brand, and why he was drawn to join the…
This year has been unlike any other in recent memory. The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on people's lives across the globe, challenging businesses in all industries, including retail. As retailers and brands look to survive 2020 and return to growth in 2021, they're going to need some help. With that in mind, Total Retail…
In episode 278 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Shane Pittson, vice president of growth and marketing at quip, the modern oral health company. Listen in as Pittson discusses the growth of the startup brand, his professional background and role at quip, and when and why the company expanded into wholesale and brick-and-mortar retail.…
Walmart announced it will host a one-hour livestream this Friday on TikTok, where users can can shop for the retailer's fashion items featured by TikTok creators without having to leave the app. Once the event is over, users will still be able to shop the items featured by visiting Walmart’s TikTok page to shop. It’s the first…
Best Bath & Beyond (BB&B) said earlier this week that it will sell Cost Plus World Market as it aims to stabilize sales and focus on its core business. The home goods retailer announced that it’s struck an agreement with Los Angeles-based private equity firm, Kingswood Capital Management, which will buy Cost Plus World Market. The…
In episode 277 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Trish Patton, vice president of human resources at The Body Shop, a global beauty brand and a certified B Corp™ offering high-quality, naturally inspired skincare, body care, hair care and makeup produced ethically and sustainably. Listen in as Patton discusses The Body Shop's Open Hiring…
Best Buy is bolstering its delivery options with just a few weeks left in the holiday shopping season. The Richfield, Minnesota-based retailer has for years used its stores as de facto warehouses for its e-commerce business; it's one of the ways Best Buy has held its ground against rivals like Amazon.com. Now it's taking the…
Brick-and-mortar retailers have been especially challenged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to provide safe and frictionless in-store experiences for shoppers. In this video, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews John Goss, senior vice president and president of Sally Beauty Supply, to find out what the retailer has done to create a safe, enjoyable in-store shopping experience for its customers…
