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Remarkable Retail Podcast

Remarkable Retail Podcast

By: Michael LeBlanc Steve Dennis
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About this listen

 I'm Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and host of the industry leading Remarkable Retail podcast, along with fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc. Discover why C-suite executives from Amazon, Walmart, Ikea, Tractor Supply, Vuori and dozens more - choose to share their growth stories on the only retail podcast hosted by two of the NRF's top voices for 2025 and 2026. With AI reshaping just about everything, when making sense of competing narratives has never been more challenging, and when so many brands face an existential choice between becoming remarkable or risking irrelevance, Michael and I are here to give you the no-BS perspectives you need to aim higher, move faster, and take the bold actions you must. Our new season debuts January 13th, 2026, so be sure to follow the Remarkable Retail podcast on all the major platforms and on YouTube. © 2020-2026 Steve Dennis. All Rights Reserved.2020-2026 Steve Dennis. All Rights Reserved. Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Amazon's and Saks' Retail Reset, Plus Live from the Big Show: NRF Top Voices Billy May and David J. Katz

    Amazon's and Saks' Retail Reset, Plus Live from the Big Show: NRF Top Voices Billy May and David J. Katz
    Feb 3 2026

    The episode opens with a sweeping look at the biggest retail stories shaping January. Amazon dominates the headlines again, this time with the closure of all Amazon Fresh grocery and Go stores and a renewed reliance on Whole Foods and online grocery. At the same time, Amazon is laying off tens of thousands of employees, part of a broader wave of cuts across retail and adjacent industries, including UPS, Home Depot, and Nike. The hosts explore whether this is a post-pandemic correction, an AI-driven efficiency shift, or an early signal of bigger structural change.

    The news turns to Saks Global's bankruptcy, in which most Saks off-price stores will be shut down. This is expected to benefit rivals like Nordstrom Rack and Bloomingdale’s Outlet. Earnings signals offer a mixed outlook: LVMH posts weaker results, reinforcing concerns that luxury’s recovery will be uneven, while Starbucks shows early signs of traction with traffic growth and the return of tiered loyalty rewards.

    The second half features an energetic, insight-rich discussion with fellow NRF Top Voices Billy May, Brooklinen's CEO, and David J Katz, EVP and CMO, Randa Apparel, recorded live in the Narvar podcasting studio on the NRF Big Show show floor in New York. Together, they explore how consumer behavior is changing, why value is now deeply contextual, and how trust has become the most fragile currency in retail. They discuss pricing strategy in an era of tariffs, geopolitical risk, and algorithmic pricing, warning that transparency and clarity matter more than ever.

    The group dives into AI reality—what’s working, what’s hype, and why AI should be treated as a power tool, not a decision-maker. They examine leadership in the post-COVID era, arguing that execution, speed, and disciplined focus now define winning organizations. Don’t miss these rapid-fire takes on rising retailers and the future of the department store—listen now and join the conversation to stay ahead in retail’s next chapter.

    The conversation then shifts to the week’s remarkable stories. highlighting the staggering scale of AI investment, including Anthropic’s rumored $350 billion valuation and Amazon’s possible $50 billion stake in OpenAI. Michael reflects on growing wealth concentration in the U.S. and many developed countries, noting the economic and social implications. Looking around the corner, Steve unpacks TikTok’s shifting algorithms, political influence concerns, and TikTok Shop’s move to force sellers into its proprietary logistics network—changes that could reshape social commerce.

    About Us

    Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.


    Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

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    56 mins
  • 2026 Provocative Predictions for Retail's Future

    2026 Provocative Predictions for Retail's Future
    Jan 27 2026
    Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc kick off their annual predictions episode with a fast-moving review of the retail news of the week. They begin with the long-delayed U.S. TikTok deal finally reaching resolution, noting how deeply TikTok now influences product discovery, cultural trends, and transactional commerce through TikTok Shops. While the platform remains critical for retailers, both hosts raise concerns around privacy, political influence, and how algorithmic control may evolve under new ownership.The conversation then turns to tariff volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, highlighting how unpredictable trade policy continues to make planning difficult for retailers. Steve points out that Amazon is already seeing tariff-driven price increases creep into both its first-party and marketplace businesses, reinforcing how global policy decisions are now flowing directly into consumer pricing. They also discuss Gap’s creation of a Chief Entertainment Officer role, using it as a signal that retailers are increasingly seeking growth through media, licensing, and brand-driven content ecosystems rather than traditional merchandising alone.From there, Steve delivers his provacative 2026 retail predictions. He argues that the “Great Concentration” will continue, with Amazon, Walmart, and Costco capturing a disproportionate share of both sales growth and profits. This concentration fuels a powerful investment flywheel that makes it increasingly difficult for mid-tier retailers to compete. He predicts a mixed year for major turnarounds, with some traction at Gap and Nike, limited progress at Macy’s, and deeper structural challenges for Target.AI emerges as one of the most consequential themes, with Steve describing 2026 as a truly “agentic” year. Search, shopping, and discovery are rapidly shifting toward AI-driven experiences, creating massive innovation but also high risk of disintermediation for brands that fail to adapt. Physical stores, he argues, will matter more for experiential brands and less for undifferentiated ones, accelerating the bifurcation between meaningful store concepts and those that lack a clear role.Steve also predicts intensifying competition in last-mile delivery, as Amazon and Walmart push same-day and narrow delivery windows even further, especially in grocery and essentials. Luxury faces an uneven future, with Saks Global likely emerging from bankruptcy smaller and fragile, and growth concentrated among a few elite brands. Resale, however, finally appears poised for breakout momentum, driven by affordability pressures and improving business models across the sector. Wellness and longevity become a new growth frontier, extending far beyond groceries into subscriptions, services, and lifestyle ecosystems.The episode closes with their “remarkable” stories of the week and a look around the corner, led by Lululemon’s latest product misstep involving see-through apparel and a tone-deaf customer response. Michael highlights the promotion of former guest Chris Nicholas to lead Walmart International, while Steve flags growing bond-market volatility as a key macro signal to watch. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has ...
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    53 mins
  • AI Gets Pragmatic, Saks Hits the Wall, and Away CEO Jessica Schinazi Talks DTC Reinvention

    AI Gets Pragmatic, Saks Hits the Wall, and Away CEO Jessica Schinazi Talks DTC Reinvention
    Jan 20 2026
    Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc kick off this episode with a sharp breakdown of the retail news that mattered this past week. AI dominates the conversation—not as hype, but as a clear shift from experimentation to real-world implementation. Steve shares observations from the show floor, noting how retailers are racing to modernize product data, digital infrastructure, and site experiences to better capture the growing wave of AI-driven and agent-led shopping traffic.The conversation then turns to one of the most consequential stories in retail: the Saks Global bankruptcy. Steve provides deep context on the failed Saks–Neiman Marcus merger, the leadership shake-up, Amazon’s unexpected equity exposure, and the cascading impact on vendors—particularly smaller brands that may never be made whole. Early earnings and sales signals round out the news segment, with standout performances from Costco, American Eagle, and Five Below reinforcing a widening gap between retail’s winners and laggards. The hosts also discuss Walmart’s renewed push into drone delivery and the accelerating ripple effects of GLP-1 drugs, especially as pill-based options expand access and potentially reshape apparel and discretionary spending.From there, Steve and Michael are joined by Jessica Schinazi, CEO of Away for an engaging interview recorded live in the Narvar remote podcast studio on the floor at the NRF Big Show Jessica reflects on her journey from LVMH, Amazon, and Dyson to leading one of the original digitally native vertical brands as it approaches its tenth anniversary. She shares why Away’s emotional connection with customers—paired with uncompromising product quality—has allowed the brand to endure while many early DTC peers have struggled.Jessica explains Away’s evolution into what she describes as a “DTC-smart” model: maintaining direct customer relationships while strategically expanding through wholesale partners such as Nordstrom, Amazon, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Each channel plays a distinct role, from immersive storytelling in owned stores to trust-building through reviews and scale on marketplaces. The discussion also explores leadership in the AI era, with Jessica emphasizing resilience, curiosity, and the importance of using AI as a tool to elevate human work—not replace it.In the closing segments, the hosts revisits new details emerging from the Saks Global bankruptcy, and share what's on their radar screen, exploring labor market signals and leadership changes at Kendra Scott, the fast-growing jewelry brand. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.
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    54 mins
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