Tell Me Something Good About Retail
by Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doc
Conversations with retailers and their suppliers that shine a light on the most positive aspects of retail. Get tips about competing in brick and mortar retail, resources for retail sales training, retail-specific marketing advice, ways to make your retail operations run more smoothly, and much more. New episodes release every week!
Episodes
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Stop Wasting Your Store Traffic
Bob Phibbs talks with Mark Ryski, founder and CEO of HeadCount Corporation and author of Store Traffic Is a Gift, about one of retail’s most consequential measurement mistakes: confusing sales results with store performance. Ryski argues that retailers need to separate traffic, conversion rate…
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Sometimes We Buy Proof
In this deeply personal solo episode, Bob Phibbs tells the story of his mother’s old Kohler & Campbell piano-a possession worth perhaps $100 at an estate sale, but carrying a lifetime of meaning. Through memories of Depression-era thrift, S&H Green Stamps, his mother earning a master’s degree at...
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When Low Prices Backfire
Retail futurist Doug Stephens is the founder of Retail Prophet and author of The Future of Competitive Advantage. The conversation explores a bigger question: what happens to business when the social systems it depends on begin to fail? Doug argues that democracy, capitalism, education, and…
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Losing the Job, Keeping the Purpose
Brian Travilla with OffScript returns to discuss his evolution from retail leader to Amazon executive—and what happened when that chapter abruptly ended. In this episode, Brian shares: His transition from traditional retail (Petco) to Amazon’s logistics ecosystem Building and leading teams...
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Russ Flips Whips on Turning Views Into Sales
This episode explores how social media is changing the way people choose where to buy long before they ever walk into a store. Bob talks with Russell Richardson, better known as Russ Flips Whips, about his path from washing cars at 15 to becoming a top automotive sales creator and trainer. The...
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How Lockwood Built Retail Magic
How do independent retailers build stores customers love while avoiding the trap of looking like every other shop? In this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail, Bob Phibbs talks with Lockwood founder Mackenzi Farquer and Rachel Thomas from Faire, the global wholesale marketplace...
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Community Beats Cheap Every Time Episode: 140
John Robison didn't follow a traditional path. After engineering sound effects for Kiss and designing early video games, he built a thriving luxury automotive service business by rejecting the dealership playbook. In this episode, John explains why leasing models create service nightmares, how…
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Scaling Resale with Franchising
Fast facts & context System size: 270+ stores; 50 more in development Annual sales: “well over a quarter-billion” Category tailwind: US secondhand market ~$45B (2023) → projected ~$73B (2028) Sustainability: Americans landfill 11M+ tons of textiles yearly (~80 lbs per person) Merch mix: 90%+…
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From Wiener Hats To Wisdom
In this episode, celebrated meeting design expert and corporate trainer Brian Walter joins the show to share his journey from retail beginnings to becoming a nationally recognized speaker and CEO of Extreme Meetings. Brian reveals the lessons learned from the sales floor, the art of customer...
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From Flat Sales to Record Breaking
When June sales went flat at her luxury women's store, Rebecca Weirda didn't make excuses. She rolled up her sleeves, had tough conversations with every team member, and turned a double-digit decline into a 42% sales increase the following month. In this episode, discover how the owner of Leigh's...
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Retail’s Secret? Greeting Cards
💬 Guest: Patrick McCullough, President of Hallmark Business Connections 📅 Run Time: 35:15 🔗 Website: https://www.hallmarkbusiness.com ✉️ Episode Summary: In this episode, Bob chats with Patrick McCullough, President of Hallmark Business Connections, about how retailers can tap into the...
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Finding Ways to Say Yes Always
Episode Overview Five conversations with retail entrepreneurs and experts who've built successful businesses by focusing on customer relationships, finding creative solutions, and staying true to their mission. From lumber liquidation to rum cakes, these stories reveal the fundamentals that drive...
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Only 5% of Retailers Are Leaders—How to Fix That
In this episode, Ann Ruckstuhl, SVP and CMO at Manhattan Associates, to unpack the hard truths and high hopes revealed in the 2025 Unified Commerce Benchmark. Ann brings her decades of experience—from the sales floor at Burdines to Silicon Valley startups and global tech leadership—to expose the...
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Wisdom Behind the Windows: The Greatest Challenge in Retail is Merging Technology with Human Touch
In this podcast episode, host Bob Phibbs, known as the Retail Doctor, discusses the evolving landscape of retail technology and the importance of human connection with guests Nikki Baird, Shep Hyken, Ethan Chernofsky, Lauren McGuire, Dax DaSilva and Dan Hodges. Podcast highlights include the...
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Wisdom Behind the Windows: Unlocking the Secrets to Employee Development and Customer Loyalty in Retail
In this episode of "Tell Me Something Good About Retail," hosted by Bob Phibbs, retail leaders discuss strategies for enhancing customer engagement, employee development, and adapting to change. Mark Fletcher, CEO of News Express, emphasizes experiential retail by creating community spaces in...
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Wisdom Behind the Windows: How Can Retailers Build Stronger Connections with Their Customers?
In this episode of "Tell Me Something Good About Retail," Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor, explores the importance of human connection in retail with various guests. Patrick Burke, CEO of a men's clothing store in Ireland, discusses winning a retail excellence award and the value of customer...
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Wisdom Behind the Windows: How Can Retailers Foster Genuine Human Connections in a Digital Age?
In this episode of "Tell Me Something Good About Retail," hosted by Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor, the focus is on the importance of human connection in retail. Bob introduces various guests who share their insights on creating meaningful customer experiences. Martin Lindstrom discusses the…
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Building Community Through Comics
Guest: Paul Landry, Co-owner of Crossover Comics (Montreal) Location: 3560 Notre Dame West, Montreal (St. Henry neighborhood) Key Discussion Points: - Store founded in 2012 by high school friends combining library technology, retail, and comic shop experience - Mission to change comic store...
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The Unexpected Marriage of Luxury Retail and Dining
In this episode of "Tell Me Something Good About Retail," host Bob Phibbs, the "Retail Doctor," converses with Charlie Koniver, principal at Odyssey Retail Advisors. They discuss the evolution of luxury retail, emphasizing the need for a human connection and collaborative strategies between...
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Battling Retail Burnout and Boosting Sales
In this episode of "Tell Me Something Good About Retail," host Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor, and Carol Leaman discuss the post-pandemic retail landscape, emphasizing the critical role of frontline workers. Carol highlights challenges in hiring and training, revealing that 61% of frontline…
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Ecom Secrets To Grow Your Sales
Josh Orr, the founder of Capital Commerce and host of the Retail Initiative Podcast, is one of the leading voices in eCommerce today. He specializes in helping brick and mortar retailers gain traction in their online sales. With his team, he’s helped hundreds of retailers create thriving and...
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Teen Trainee to Retail Innovator: An Inspiring Path
In this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail, host Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor, and Nicole Leinbach, founder of Retail Minded, delve into their extensive retail experiences. They discuss evolving consumer behaviors, the critical role of community collaboration for small businesses…
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What Went Wrong At Ted Baker?
Chris was involved from the very beginning of Ted Baker in 1988 and headed up the Retail Team for over 30 years as the company's Global Retail Director. During this time, Chris was responsible for many aspects of Ted's unique retail style and is considered one of the leading lights of the drive…
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From Basement Beanbags to Beloved Brand: Lovesac's Entrepreneurial Saga
Shawn D. Nelson is the author of Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story. He is the founder and CEO of the Lovesac Company, which designs, manufactures, and sells such furniture as modular couches and bean bag chairs. Nelson holds a BA in Mandarin Chinese...
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Behind the Magic: Disney Retail Secrets with Jim Fielding
Jim Fielding is a respected retail and media industry veteran whose expertise combines storytelling, product innovation, merchandising, and consumer experiences. Jim currently serves as a partner at Archer Gray, an independent media company, and president of its Co-Lab Division. Having led…
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Smart Customers, Stupid Companies: Revolutionizing Retail Experience
Michael Hinshaw is the founder and president of customer experience consultancy McorpCX and has been recognized on over a dozen "Top Global CX Influencers" lists. He's also co-author of the best-selling book Smart Customers, Stupid Companies: Why Only Intelligent Companies Will Thrive and How to…
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Retail Podcast 1002: Michael Hinshaw Smart Customers, Stupid Companies
Bob Phibbs interviewed Michael Hinshaw, author, and president of MCorpCX, about balancing corporate amnesia with relevant customer personalization - and more - on this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail.
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Differentiate or Die: Standing Out in Retail
Robert Grimmett is a visionary creative leader with over 20 years of experience shaping the retail landscape. Renowned for his work with iconic global brands, he's an award-winning entrepreneur and designer. As a thought leader, Robert frequently shares insights at industry conferences and in...
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Cool Ways Retailers Use AI
Jon Nordmark is co-founder and CEO of Iterate.ai launched in 2013. With an $82,000 marketing budget and no salespeople, Iterate's revenues grew profitably by 543% to more than $10 million over the past five years, landing it on Delloite's 2021 Fast 500 list. 85% of Iterate's 102-person team is...
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It's All In The Data Collection
Renee is the Co-Author of best-selling book Next Generation Retail: How to Use Technology to Innovate for the Future which takes a deep dive into the technologies impacting retail and e-commerce today, including AI, retail media, social commerce, Web3, sustainability, supply chain, loyalty and...
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How to Overcome Theft
CEO and Founder Nolan Wheeler comes from retail loss prevention and store operations with hypermarket, grocery, big box, electronics, and more. Fatigued with the lack of solutions for FLW (frontline worker) and store operations, having watched 25 years of solutions being provided for online...
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When Pennies Matter
Robert M. Schindler is Professor of Marketing at Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey. He has researched consumer perception, attitude, and motivation. His papers have appeared in publications such as the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Retailing…
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Disarming Unruly Customers
Christine Miles is the founder and CEO of EQuipt, an award- winning author, professional keynote speaker, consultant, executive coach, thought leader, entrepreneur, and world- renowned expert in the field of listening differently.
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Invigorating the dignity and loyalty of the frontline
In essence store management is trying to solve the problem of increasing the dignity of working in a physical store. Instead of taking steps to distance customers from employees, Sparkplug helps retailers reward employees for doing the job of making more sales - not just moving merchandise or...
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Bringing a Spark of Joy to Stores
Colleen Wilson is a retail executive with over two decades of management experience and an established record for driving strategies to increase customer engagement and drive operational and service excellence. In her current role as SVP of Retail and Wholesale at Kendra Scott, Colleen leads the...
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Hear It From The CPAS
So many retailers buy what they like instead of buying what they need. Discover the four questions to ask yourself before purchasing anything as well as tips for how to get rid of slow moving merchandise and how buying has changed since the pandemic.
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Janel Anderson: Banishing Difficult Conversations
Dr. Janel Anderson is the founder of Working Conversations and a voracious researcher, author, and podcaster. During her conversation with Bob, Dr. Anderson shared insights about her experience of re-engineering dishes from her favorite restaurant. She stated that it was a trial and error…
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Shep Hyken: Getting Customers To Return
Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert and the Chief Amazement Officer of Shepard Presentations. He is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eight books and has been inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement in…
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Kimberly McGlonn: Fashion as Catalyst for DEI Dialogues
Dr. Kimberly McGlonn is an advocate for justice & environmentalism, an advocacy that informs her approach to leadership in the fashion industry. As Founder & CEO of the manufacturing start-up Grant Blvd®, she oversees the brand's creative direction and growth strategy. Grant Blvd’s mission is to...
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Follow The Results: YouTube Ninja Nate Woodbury
Nate Woodbury is a popular YouTuber who creates videos about entrepreneurship and digital marketing. He started his channel in 2016 and has since amassed a large following of over 300,000 subscribers. Nate's videos are informative and easy to understand, making them perfect for beginners who are...
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Clint Pulver: The Undercover Millennial Shares Retail Stories
From ten years old Clint Pulver knew he had been given a moment. He shares that revelation and how it has informed everything he has done as a speaker, motivator, and performer. Having performed over 1100 undercover interviews with employees in all walks of life, he has culled his learning in to...
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Emmanuel Probst: Global Lead, Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos
We need products that make an impact on us and the world we live in. But how to understand a roadmap for changing your brand? Tiffany’s has done a great job of moving out of the “Breakfast at Tiffanys” lore of Audrey Hepburn who fewer and fewer customers even know about. Brand strategy and...
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Deanna Wallin: Retail Doesn't Have Time For Disaster
Deanna Wallin, a former nurse turned skincare pioneer, founded Naples Soap Company out of her passion for assisting individuals suffering from chronic skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis. A Southwest Florida native, Wallin earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Barry University. She...
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Naomi Wheeless: Divising a Seamless Retail Strategy
Naomi Wheeless is the Global Head of Customer Success at Square, a company whose mission is to enable economic empowerment for all. In this position, she leads a team of nearly two thousand associates in 10 countries, each focused on creating stellar customer experiences by marrying technological...
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Dan Hodges: Innovation Comes From Store Tours
Dan Hodges is the CEO of Consumers in Motion (CIM Tours) that provides a service which assesses your company’s place in today’s marketplace. We identify opportunities for innovation, performance improvement and revenue growth. Retail Store Tours ( A CIM Company) offers customized, highly...
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Matt Lafone: The Store As Community Builder
Matt Lafone is the president and general manager of The Athlete's Foot (TAF) North, South and Central America. Lafone joined The Athlete’s Foot with strong experience across branding, retail, merchandising, marketing and franchising. The Athlete’s Foot launched StAART, the Strategic African...
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Serge Khalimsky: The Mall is alive and well
Serge Khalimsky serves as the Senior General Manager of Westfield Old Orchard. In this role, Serge is responsible for delivering Old Orchard’s long-term revenue growth for parent company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), in addition to leading the asset’s day-to-day business operations, managing...
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Elizabeth Herbst-Brady: Keep your customer at the center
Elizabeth Herbst-Brady is currently Head of Global Revenue & Client Solutions at Yahoo.
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Bruce Winder: Trends in Retail
Bruce Winder a Toronto-based retail analyst, business instructor and author of the book, Retail Before, During & After COVID-19.
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Steve Cook: Over-communicating to keep trust with your customers
Steve Cook, business owner of Cook Feed and Outdoor and podcast host of The Better Business Podcast.
About this show
Conversations with retailers and their suppliers that shine a light on the most positive aspects of retail. Get tips about competing in brick and mortar retail, resources for retail sales training, retail-specific marketing advice, ways to make your retail operations run more smoothly, and much more. New episodes release every week!
Hosted by
Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doc