Joining us for our final episode recorded in the Bambuser remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk is deeply experienced retail executive and current CEO of Brooklinen, Billy May. In a wide-ranging discussion of the evolution of DTC, e-commerce and harmonized retail, Billy lays out the essentials to building and growing remarkable retail brands gleaned from his decades long career in senior roles at J. Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, Sur la Table, and more. It's a master class on the keys to modern retail.As usual we open by dissecting the most important news of the week including the expected bankruptcy of Express and the surprising collapse of Foxtrot. We also challenge the bold (some might say "insane") prediction by UBS that 45,000 stores will close in the next five years due to the growth of e-commerce. Mixed news on luxury continues as Hermes wows and most other high-end brands disappoint. We also consider whether the FTC stepping in to challenge the Tapestry and Capri merger make sense before wrapping up with an increasingly murky economic outlook. Check out the podcast version and video recording of the Leaders Leap virtual book launch event.Steve's new book is available at book sellers just about everywhere, from Audible, and on Kindle for only $9.99.Recent episodes featuring World Retail Congress speakers:Remarkably Iconic Retail with Michael Ward, Managing Director, HarrodsRetailing in a Time of Mass Distraction with Andrea Dorigo, Adidas Head of Global RetailRemarkably Creative Commerce with Beth Ann Kaminkow, Global CEO, VMLY&R
About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor, board member, and keynote speaker focused on strategic growth and transformation and the impact of digital disruption. He is the author of the bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption and the all new Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , now available for purchase in the U.S. and available for pre-order at book retailers elsewhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..Don't forget to join Steve's new Linked Group for his new book.Michael LeBlanc  is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada.   Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail,Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the