The Doing Business in Bentonville Podcast

Doing Business in Bentonville
  • 5.0 (3)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

To create an ecosystem that connects leaders of all kinds – industry, community, student, educational, civic, investment and entrepreneurial – to help overcome Omnichannel Retail barriers through exclusive, insight-rich content.

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep. 131 - AI That Works: Slalom’s Strategy in Action

    AI doesn’t win because it’s shiny; it wins because it shortens the path from data to decision. We sit down with Slalom’s Andrew Fano, Jack Rudelic, Erika Pflueger, and Marco Kilongkilong to dig into how generative AI is transforming retail and consumer goods, from product roadmaps and software delivery to supply chain and customer experience. The conversation starts with culture and outcomes, then moves quickly into the real levels: where to inject AI in existing workflows, how to accelerate time to value, and what it takes to avoid the dreaded proof-of-concept graveyard. Jack breaks down why tapping enterprise data with LLMs speeds answers to employees and customers, improving logistics, HR, and day-to-day operations. Erica shares how teams build higher-fidelity roadmaps and ship faster by using AI to draft requirements, test ideas, and keep priorities moving without adding headcount. Marco leads a candid look at ethics and governance: human accountability, principle-based guardrails, and practical controls for privacy, explainability, and legal risk. Together they outline a simple frame; people, tools, and processes, that turns AI from a demo into dependable, trusted production systems. We also zoom out to the future of work. Expect more citizen developers as the barrier to building falls, and yes, a credible path toward shorter work weeks as drudge work disappears and creativity scales. The throughline is trust: companies that bake governance into AI from day one will move faster, protect customers and employees, and earn the right to scale. If you’re ready to turn AI into real outcomes, not just experiments, this conversation lays out the playbook.  Subscribe, share with a teammate who’s wrestling with AI adoption, and leave a review with your top use case you want us to unpack next.

    37 min

  2. DEC 16

    Ep. 130 - Hire Better, Execute Smarter

    Want a talent strategy that actually moves the numbers? We unpack how to connect mission, vision, and core values to daily execution so your team delivers where it counts: with customers. Drawing on decades inside Walmart and insights from Don Soderquist’s The Walmart Way, we get specific about hiring better than yourself, building a bench for the next role, and protecting mavericks who push boundaries and spark breakthroughs. We walk through the CASH model: customer, associate, shareholder, to reframe strategic choices in the right order. You’ll hear why three sharp priorities beat a bloated to-do list, how to set high expectations without burning people out, and what it takes to share rewards in ways that unlock ownership. From speeding up P&L visibility to simplifying metrics, we show how execution becomes a strategy, not just a phase, and why alignment starts with the leader when teams slip into the fog. This conversation is rich with frontline stories: management by walking around that turns associate ideas into action, handwritten recognition that fuels discretionary effort, and moments of real care that bond teams beyond KPIs. We also spotlight community service as a competitive advantage: showing up locally builds trust, attracts talent, and reinforces brand promise where it matters most. If you lead people or want to, this is a blueprint you can use tomorrow: hire for the next job, cross-pollinate to grow faster, communicate everything, and celebrate the wins.  Subscribe, share with a colleague who hires or runs ops, and leave a review with the one practice you’ll implement this week.

    42 min

  3. DEC 9

    Ep. 129 - Speed, Simplicity, and Sam Walton’s Legacy

    Big results come from simple rules practiced every day. We sit down with longtime Walmart leader Sam Dunn to unpack the principles from Don Soderquist’s "The Walmart Way" and trace how culture, vision, and speed transformed small ideas into system-wide advantages. From the four basic beliefs, respect for the individual, service to the customer, strive for excellence, and act with integrity, to the rituals that made them real, we share firsthand stories that reveal why these weren’t slogans but a decision system used in tough moments. You’ll hear how bold vision stayed grounded in details: a better fixture spotted in a competitor store, a people greeter that lifted service and cut shrink, and an open door moment that saved a driver’s career and strengthened trust. We break down the cadence that powered execution, Friday morning management meetings, fast cross-functional solutions by noon, and field-facing updates the same day, plus the early investment in communication tools that carried clarity to every store. Speed shows up as a quiet superpower: closing the books in three days, acting on facts while rivals were still waiting, and iterating faster than the market could respond. We also talk about the discipline to stick to the basics even while testing new formats, and how leaders can translate these ideas today: get closer to the front line, shorten decision cycles, invest in the right tools, and let shared beliefs guide tradeoffs. It’s a practical playbook for operators, founders, and managers who want a stronger culture and sharper execution without adding complexity. If you’re ready to lead with clarity and move with urgency, this conversation will give you concrete steps and fresh conviction. Enjoy the episode? Follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review. Tell us: which principle will you put to work this week?

    42 min

  4. DEC 2

    Ep. 128 - The Secret to Walmart-Ready Talent

    A talent shortage can stall a thriving market, or it can spark a movement. We sit down with logistics leaders, program directors, founders, recruiters, and graduates to map how Northwest Arkansas built a reliable pipeline of Walmart-ready professionals and a repeatable path from idea to shelf. From warehouse tech that boosts pick efficiency by 40 percent to a curriculum that teaches real Retail Link analysis, this is a playbook for anyone aiming to break into the supplier world. You’ll hear how the Certified Retail Analyst program at NWACC formed through a rare three-way partnership: Walmart provided system access and data, the college delivered accredited instruction, and a supplier steering committee defined the exact skills that drive results in category management, account management, and supply chain. A graduate-turned-director explains how that framework has helped more than a thousand people land roles, while a former school psychologist shares a candid look at reskilling into a sales analyst position at a leading confectionery brand, proof that transferable data skills can power a bold career pivot. Innovation and recruiting round out the story. The founders behind AON Invent and Double Dog Display recount the whiteboard sprint that led to the first swipe-activated prepaid card, what we now know as the gift card, and how they now connect inventors with the manufacturing, engineering, and display support needed to win retail placement. An executive search leader from Cameron Smith and Associates reveals how Bentonville’s dense supplier network fuels hiring for Walmart, Target, Kroger, and more, and why the region’s ecosystem lowers risk for both companies and candidates. If you’re targeting a role in the Walmart supplier community, want to turn a product idea into a retail reality, or need a roadmap to upskill with impact, this conversation delivers practical steps and real outcomes. Follow the show, share with a friend who’s Bentonville-bound, and leave a quick review to tell us what you’re aiming to learn next.

    16 min

  5. NOV 25

    Ep. 127 - How Experiential Marketing Moves Shoppers To Act

    Retail becomes unforgettable when it feels like culture, not just commerce. We sit down with Ryan Hughes of Gratsy to unpack how curated experiences—at home, in the community, and online with creators—turn casual shoppers into true fans. From precision-packed sampling kits to full-blown store takeovers, Ryan shows how a clear objective, smart logistics, and authentic storytelling can move people to try, buy, and share. You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes of a standout activation with Walmart Connect and ESPN, where a lease space just past the registers morphed into a SportsCenter set, a mini sports museum, and a fan meet-and-greet hub. We talk through how that format makes “store as media” real, even when the product isn’t on the shelf, and how moments of pride and play can influence a whole basket. Ryan also breaks down creator strategy: choosing niche experts when precision matters, partnering with big names when reach counts, and always aligning talent to either awareness or action so the content doesn’t feel forced. We dig into the culture that powers it all—accountability, creativity, and honest postmortems—plus the grit it takes to keep events calm on the surface when chaos strikes beneath. The “Bunpocalypse” scramble, the Old El Paso x Takis temperature-extremes stunt from Death Valley to America’s coldest spot, and the complexities of food-and-beverage sampling inside Walmart lease spaces all reveal what it means to scale bespoke experiences without losing freshness. If you care about experiential marketing, retail media, creator partnerships, and the operational muscle that makes big ideas sing, this conversation is your blueprint for building moments people remember and measure. Enjoy the episode? Follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review so more builders can find it.

    28 min

  6. NOV 18

    Ep. 126 - Retail’s Crossroads: AI, Tariffs, And Walmart’s Next Move

    Change moves fast in Bentonville, and this conversation puts you right at the center of it. We connect the dots from Walmart’s early tech shifts—scanning, EDI, and Retail Link—to the next turning point: practical AI that speeds real work, from writing and workflows to design iteration that cuts weeks off development. Along the way, we unpack how tariffs and sourcing strategies are reshaping price points, merchandising, and the mix on the shelf. We sit down with veteran operator and consultant John Reeves and 5G Consulting CEO Brett Dye to explore what selling to Walmart and Sam’s Club really requires today. The insights cut through hype and get tactical: why store newness still sparks discovery, how e‑commerce should amplify—not replace—core merchandising, and where AI already delivers value in supplier teams. Brett shares the story behind 5G—built on deep Walmart DNA and focused on replenishment, e‑commerce, and sales execution—plus grounded advice for entrepreneurs preparing to pitch: know your core customer, nail the financials, and be retail‑ready down to the UPC. Expect a frank look at tariffs’ ripple effects, from upper‑tier price lifts to looming pressure on opening price points. We examine diversification beyond China, the realities of nearshoring, and what it would take for U.S. manufacturing to make a meaningful comeback. Throughout, one theme holds: listening, speed, and adaptability win. With Walmart investing in AI training for associates, supplier fluency will become table stakes—just as Retail Link mastery did a generation ago. If you care about retail strategy, Walmart supplier success, AI in merchandising and design, and smart sourcing under uncertainty, this one’s a must‑listen. Subscribe, share with your team, and drop a review with the biggest change you’re making after listening.

    48 min

  7. NOV 11

    Ep. 125 - Why Omni Retail Is The Future Of Parenting Brands

    What if the secret to national scale is hidden in a story time circle at your first store? We sit down with founder and CEO Monica Royer to unpack how Monica + Andy grew from a neighborhood, experience-led boutique into a parent-trusted brand now selling online and in 1,200 Walmart locations—without sacrificing organic quality or the brand’s soul. Monica walks us through the earliest days: a Lincoln Park shop that doubled as HQ and community center, where music classes and new-parent meetups fueled real product insights. Those hands-on lessons set the tone for everything that followed, from fabric choices and fit to bundles that match the rhythm of early parenthood. When the opportunity to go mass arrived, the team had already sequenced the crucial pieces—sourcing, quality control, and a codified set of brand values—to deliver the same standard at scale. We get candid about the tradeoffs behind the strategy. Monica shares what keeps her up at night, how leading a growing team changes decision-making, and why a great co-founder can be the difference between stalling and moving with conviction. She breaks down omnichannel the practical way: treat DTC as home base, anchor to five core values, and let assortment flex by channel without confusing the customer. Along the way, we explore post-COVID shifts, the risk of playing it safe, and why community is still a better growth engine than ads. If you’re building a consumer brand, this conversation is a field guide to scaling without drift: start close to the customer, make quality non-negotiable, sequence your operations before you widen distribution, and preserve the story that made people care in the first place. Subscribe, share with a founder who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to tell us which insight you’ll use this quarter.

    34 min

  8. NOV 4

    Ep. 124 - Everyday Low Price, Everyday High Tech

    Retail is changing aisle by aisle, and we’re walking through the shift with a front‑row view. We dig into how Walmart moved from years of heavy investment to a true “harvest” phase, where technology finally meets day-to-day usefulness. From electronic shelf labels and RFID to in-store retail media and traffic analytics, we show how the store itself is getting smarter, and how that intelligence translates into better value, faster trips, and clearer choices. We connect the dots between brick-and-mortar strength and e-commerce integration, where curbside and delivery turn every supercenter into a forward-deployed node. That shift demands a packaging revolution: cases and primary packs designed for robots to pick, place, and palletize in both regional fulfillment and microfulfillment. Expect more squared formats, less air, and fewer damages, which improves margins and speeds. Along the way, we highlight Sam’s Club momentum, scan-and-go, a cleaner layout, seasonal impact upfront, and a rising health focus that stretches from small appliances to functional ingredients, while private label evolves beyond opening price point into feature-rich value. Then we look ahead. With a documented price gap supporting the “save money” pillar, the next edge is “live better” through contextual, AI-driven guidance. Imagine a commerce agent that plans around real life, bill cycles, game nights, and family dinners, while honoring EDLP and personal preferences. That’s where the lines blur among shopping, media, and lifestyle, making the experience feel like problem-solving instead of errands. Still, the cultural guardrail matters: avoid hubris, stay humble, and keep decisions anchored to the customer’s mission. If you enjoy thoughtful, on-the-ground analysis of how tech, merchandising, and operations come together, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who geeks out on retail, and leave a quick review to tell us what you want to hear next.

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

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To create an ecosystem that connects leaders of all kinds – industry, community, student, educational, civic, investment and entrepreneurial – to help overcome Omnichannel Retail barriers through exclusive, insight-rich content.

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