Retail Razor

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2D AGO

Decoding the Hidden Truths Behind Amazon Prime Day with Meghan Barden

S5:E8 Prime Day Unveiled: Trends, Sales, and What Lies Ahead for Retail Amazon Prime Day 2025 may be over, but its ripple effects are just beginning. In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden sit down with Meghan Barden, Director of Global Retail Media at Rithum, to unpack the surprising data and shopper behaviors that emerged — and what they mean for retail and ecommerce leaders heading into the holiday shopping season. You’ll discover: • 📊 Prime Day outcomes that matter — from sales spikes to category standouts, and how they compare to past years • 🛍 Why the timing right after July 4th may have shifted discretionary spending patterns • 💡 Meghan’s expert take on how retailers can turn Prime Day insights into Q4 wins • 🔮 The strategic moves brands should make now to capture Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond Whether you’re a retail strategist, ecommerce operator, or simply fascinated by the biggest shopping events of the year, this conversation delivers actionable insights to help you outpace the competition. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube About our Guest Meghan Barden - https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-barden/ Rithum - https://www.rithum.com Meghan Barden is an accomplished retail media strategist with over 20 years of experience in marketing and client services in both retailer, brand and agency environments. Currently serving as the Director of Global Retail Media at Rithum, she leads the company's efforts in helping brands and retailers leverage first-party data to create personalized and impactful retail media campaigns. Her expertise spans various facets of retail media, including strategy development, media planning, and campaign optimization. For more Amazon Prime Day analysis by Rithum, access the full report → https://explore.rithum.com/prime-day-guide-cont/prime-day-lessons-for-peak-shopping-season 00:00 Previews 01:01 Show Intro 10:09 Welcome Meghan Barden 10:17 Overview of Prime Day and Rithum's Role 12:20 Prime Day Anomalies and Trends 16:15 Generational Shopping Behaviors 19:20 Impact of Gen Z on Retail Strategies 24:54 AI and Authenticity in Retail 31:51 Preparing for Future Retail Events 37:59 Final Thoughts 39:11 Show Close Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech! Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

2d ago

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40 min
JUL 3

Breaking Barriers: Retail Women in Tech, with Shannon Flanagan

S5:E4 Empowering Women in Retail Tech: A New Era of Leadership In Season Five, Episode Four of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden engage in a captivating conversation with Shannon Flanagan, a seasoned retail leader and founder of Retail Women in Tech (RWIT). Shannon shares her journey from folding jeans at 18 to leading billion-dollar business transformations and emphasizes the importance of embracing change and innovation in retail. The episode underscores the critical role of diversity and inclusion in driving the industry forward, touching on the challenges and opportunities for women in tech and retail. Shannon discusses her vision for RWIT, a community aimed at fostering connections, mentorship, and leadership among women and allies in the retail tech space. With insights on change management, the impact of AI in retail, and the power of allyship, this episode offers valuable perspectives for retail professionals and tech enthusiasts alike. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube About our Guest Shannon Flanagan, founder of Retail Women in Tech, https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-e-flanagan/ - Retail Women in Tech, https://retailwomenintech.org Shannon Flanagan caught the retail bug at 18 and never looked back. A retail strategist, AI enthusiast, and career change practitioner, she brings a 360-degree perspective on retail transformation—from product creation to customer experience—shaped by her work with hyper-growth startups to Fortune 500 retailers, consulting firms and tech companies. As a strategic partner and top industry voice, she collaborates with RETHINK Retail, RetailWire and the RetailAICouncil to drive conversations that shape the future of the industry. As the founder of Retail Women in Tech, Shannon has built a global community dedicated to creating life-changing connections for women and allies who share a passion for retail and technology. As social as retail is, there are surprisingly very few communities representing every facet of the industry. Shannon is on a mission to change that—stay tuned for more to come! 00:00 Preview 00:51 Show Intro 05:26 Welcome Shannon Flanagan 06:14 Shannon's Retail Journey Begins 08:47 Insights on Change Management 10:21 The Importance of Diverse Perspectives 15:03 Challenges in Hiring for Innovation 24:00 The Birth of Retail Women in Tech (RWIT) 34:42 Addressing the Leadership Gap 38:39 The Challenge of Asking for Help 40:36 The Harsh Reality for Female Founders 45:08 The Importance of Allies 49:01 Building a Supportive Community 59:32 The Future of Retail Women in Tech 01:06:22 Final Thoughts and Call to Action 01:08:53 Show Close Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech! Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Jul 3

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1h 10m
AUG 13

Inside RetailClub: Building the AI-First Future of Retail Community with Krystina Gustafson

S5:E7 Unplugged and Unscripted: Retail Club's AI-First Event Revolution w/ Krystina Gustafson What happens when you blend cutting-edge innovation, authentic community, and the brightest minds in retail? You get RetailClub—the AI-first retail event redefining how industry leaders connect, collaborate, and shape the future. In this episode of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden sit down with Krystina Gustafson, co-founder and Chief Content Officer at Retail Club and one of the visionary forces behind RetailClub. Krystina shares the inspiration behind this exclusive retail conference, how it fosters meaningful connections among AI changemakers, and why RetailClub is more than just another event—it’s a movement. 💡 What You’ll Learn: Why RetailClub is unlike any other retail event you’ve attendedHow the power of retail community is driving innovation and collaborationThe role of AI in retail and how it’s shaping the conversations at RetailClubBehind-the-scenes insights from Krystina on curating impactful content and experiences Whether you’re a retail executive, tech innovator, or curious observer of industry trends, this episode delivers a front-row seat to the future of AI in retail! Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube About our Guest Krystina Gustafson, co-founder & Chief Content Officer, RetailClub - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystina-gustafson-908a5a14/ Register for RetailClub’s AI Deep Dive Retreat - https://www.retailclub.com Krystina is a co-founder and the chief content officer at RetailClub, a new retreats business from the founders of Shoptalk. RetailClub is building retail’s first AI-native community, bringing together 500 AI champions and changemakers for their inaugural AI Deepdive Retreat, taking place Sept 14-17, 2025 in Huntington Beach, CA. Prior to RetailClub, she was the senior vice president of content at Shoptalk and Groceryshop, the leading conferences in the retail, grocery and consumer packaged goods industries. She led the team that shaped the retail and ecommerce industry narratives across its four annual events – Shoptalk, Shoptalk Europe, Shoptalk Fall and Groceryshop – including agenda development and speaker selection. Krystina joined Shoptalk in 2017, after spending four years as a retail reporter and content editor at CNBC.com. Prior to CNBC, Krystina was a web editor at Women's Wear Daily, the trade publication for the fashion industry.She has interviewed prominent business figures from retail and beyond, including the CEOs of Target, Sam’s Club, The Honest Company and Warby Parker, Dreamworks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, and “Shark Tank” shark Kevin O’Leary. 00:00 Previews 01:04 Show Intro 08:44 Welcome Krystina and the Importance of AI! 09:56 Introducing Retail Club and AI Deep Dive Retreat 12:03 Event Structure and Unique Approach 14:07 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Adoption 17:56 The Future of AI in Retail & Event Experiences 22:46 Data Readiness and Tech Maturity 27:04 Agentic AI's Impact on Retail Operations 36:36 Event Details and Future Thoughts 41:26 Show Close Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech! Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Aug 13

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43 min
11/11/2024

Mastering Intrinsic Motivation in Retail: Insights from Jeffrey P. McNulty

S1:E1 The Ultimate Guide to Intrinsic Motivation in Retail Leadership with Jeffrey P. McNulty Welcome to our new Retail Razor podcast series - Blade to Greatness! Each episode we hear from a retail industry leader who shares their sharp insights and cuts of wisdom on how to excel and grow as a retail leader by mastering essential “must have” skills and qualities. In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden explore the critical skill of tapping into employee intrinsic motivation with Jeffrey P. McNulty, founder of New Retail Ethos and a seasoned retail executive with extensive experience across major retailers and a deep understanding of retail leadership and motivation. Jeffrey shares insightful advice on driving employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction by focusing on intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation. Additionally, Jeffrey offers a special discount for his Ultimate Retail Course to listeners, underscoring his commitment to spreading retail excellence. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube Meet your hosts:: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech! Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

11/11/2024

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10 min
12/06/2024

From Frontline to C-Suite: Effective Communication Strategies with Ron Thurston

S1:E9 Bridging the Gap: Communication from Floor to Corporate with. Ron Thurston In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden speak with Ron Thurston, co-founder of Ossy and author of 'Retail Pride'. Thurston shares his wisdom on essential skills for retail executives and discusses empathetic communication between corporate and store teams. He emphasizes the three pillars of success: empathy, curiosity, and focus. By understanding and addressing the concerns of frontline workers, retail leaders can build trust and foster a collaborative environment. Thurston also highlights the impact of the hiring process on employee satisfaction and the importance of recognizing the distinct roles within a retail organization. Join the conversation as Thurston shares strategies to enhance the retail experience from recruitment to customer interaction. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube Meet your hosts: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech! Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

12/06/2024

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20 min
12/04/2024

The Negativity Detox - Retail Leadership with April Sabral

S1:E8 Cutting Out Negativity - Insights from April Sabral In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome April Sabral, founder of retailu.ca and author of 'The Positive Effect' and 'Incurable Positivity.' April shares her insights on the importance of maintaining a positive outlook in retail leadership. She discusses how to deal with negative news and conversations, emphasizing the importance of not getting enrolled in negativity and instead fostering productive and positive discussions. April provides practical advice for retail leaders on how to inspire their teams and achieve success even in challenging environments. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube Meet your hosts:: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech! Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

12/04/2024

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9 min
11/18/2024

Revolutionizing Retail Hiring: Insights from Ron Thurston

S1:E4 How to Hire the Right Person in Retail with Ron Thurston Join hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden on the fourth episode of the Retail Razor: Blade to Greatness. This episode features a discussion with retail industry expert Ron Thurston, co-founder of Ossy and author of 'Retail Pride.' Ron shares his insights on transforming retail hiring processes to better connect highly qualified and engaged candidates with retail brands. He discusses the need for a human-centric approach in hiring frontline retail workers, emphasizing the importance of emotional empathy, curiosity, and culture fit. Tune in to learn how to reframe your job search strategies and improve recruitment outcomes in the retail industry! Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube Meet your hosts:: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech! Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

11/18/2024

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10 min
JUL 25

Inside Naturepedic: A Conversation with Arin Schultz on Innovation & Sustainability

S5:E5 Leading with Values: How Naturepedic Builds a Better Brand, with Arin Schultz What does it take to lead growth at the forefront of a movement for safer, healthier sleep? In this episode of The Retail Razor Show, we sit down with Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer at Naturepedic, a pioneering brand in certified organic mattresses and bedding. With over eleven years in the organic sleep industry, Arin shares how he’s helped Naturepedic expand its market share, launch innovative products, and build a trusted brand committed to health, sustainability, and safety. We talk about the evolution of the organic mattress category, how purpose-driven growth strategies translate to retail success, and the balancing act of leading multiple departments—sales, marketing, retail, R&D, and more. Whether you're in retail, health-conscious consumer products, or looking to build a values-based, mission-led brand, this episode delivers sharp insights from one of the industry’s most committed and capable leaders! Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube About our Guest Arin Schultz is Chief Growth Officer at Naturepedic, the leading organic mattress brand. As the lead on all Naturepedic marketing efforts, Arin develops and implements strategies that support the company’s business growth, customer retention, product innovation, consumer education initiatives and sustainability goals. Working for the certified organic, non-toxic mattress pioneer opened Arin’s eyes to the dangers of harmful chemicals and their pervasive presence in households across the globe. This knowledge has added a deeper purpose to his relentless push to help transform the brand’s vision into reality. A father of four and an empathetic listener, Arin’s success at Naturepedic is centered on his authentic understanding of the Naturepedic customer and his genuine desire to help families make the safest, healthiest sleep choices. 00:00 Preview 01:45 Show Intro 07:21 Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer, Naturepedic - The Mission 08:43 The Founding Story of Naturepedic 12:09 Challenges and Growth in the Mattress Industry 17:13 Retail Expansion and Customer Engagement 19:30 Product Innovation and Sustainability 23:10 Industry Environmental Impact and Continuous Product Improvement 35:20 Customer Experience and Meeting Their Needs 38:21 Replacing Your Mattress & Customer Service Excellence 43:20 Sourcing and Tariffs Impact 49:53 Embracing AI in Marketing and Operations 56:28 Advice for Growing a Values-Based Brand 59:23 Final Thoughts 01:00:38 Show Close Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech! Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Jul 25

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1h 2m
AUG 6

Beyond the Haul: How SHEIN is Rewriting Retail’s Marketplace Rulebook, with George Chang

S5:E6 SHEIN’s Marketplace Evolution - A Conversation with George Chang, GM & Head of SHEIN Marketplace 🎙️What does modern marketplace success look like in the U.S? SHEIN is rewriting the rules — and George Chang, GM of SHEIN Marketplace and key member of the senior leadership team at SHEIN, is leading the charge with his energetic & visionary leadership style. In this episode of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden dive deep with George to uncover how SHEIN is building a curated, invitation-only marketplace designed for Gen Z and Millennial consumers. From fashion and beauty to lifestyle and social commerce, SHEIN’s ecosystem is built for discovery, agility, and growth. 💡 Key topics in this episode: • How SHEIN uses data insights to drive personalization and loyalty• Why seller partnerships and social commerce are central to SHEIN’s strategy• The evolution of customer acquisition post-2020• George Chang’s journey from Rakuten, Mirakl, and Newegg to SHEIN• What makes SHEIN’s marketplace model different from Amazon, Temu, and others• The future of retail and digital marketplaces 📈 Whether you’re a seller, strategist, or retail innovator, this episode delivers actionable insights into the next frontier of ecommerce! Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube About our Guest George Chang, GM & Head of SHEIN Marketplace. https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-chang-usc/ SHEIN Marketplace: https://seller-us.shein.com/homepage Prospective Sellers: https://seller-us.shein.com/get-started-shein-marketplace To learn more about SHEIN: https://www.sheingroup.com/ George is an Ecommerce and Marketplace veteran with Senior leadership roles at Rakuten, Newegg, Sears, Mirakl, VTEX, Spreetail, and Cymax Group. He is currently part of the leadership team at SHEIN U.S. and is leading the 3rd Party Marketplace business at SHEIN. He has a unique 360 degree perspective on Ecommerce Marketplaces having operated, licensed, consulted and sold on multiple marketplaces. Chapters 00:00 Preview 01:10 Show Intro 05:40 Welcome George Chang, GM SHEIN Marketplace 06:59 What Sets Shein Apart 08:55 Shein's Marketplace Strategy 11:50 Customer and Seller Experience 16:58 Expanding Beyond Fashion 20:16 Evolving with the Customer 22:06 Diverse Seller Community 24:03 Understanding Gen Z and Millennials in E-commerce 26:49 The Rise of Social Commerce and Live Shopping 30:08 Driving Customer Loyalty through Engagement 33:06 Sustainability Initiatives and Mindful Purchasing 35:15 Future of Marketplaces and Hyper-Personalization 38:08 Final Thoughts 39:36 Show Close Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech! Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Aug 6

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41 min
JUL 14

Leading with Positivity: April Sabral's Retail Revolution

S1E1- Transforming Retail: April Sabral on Mindset and AI Welcome to the first episode of The Retail Razor: Retail Transformers podcast! Hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden dive into candid conversations with top innovators, change-makers, and disruptors in the retail industry. In this episode, they welcome April Sabral, a renowned leadership and mindset expert, who shares insights on the power of purpose-driven leadership, building deeper connections, and fostering a positive mindset within teams. The conversation dives deep into embracing AI in retail, building emotional resilience, and fostering a positive workplace culture. April shares insights from her upcoming book, 'Positive Accountability,' and her latest venture, Ask April AI, a coaching and training platform aimed at transforming leadership in retail, hospitality, and service industries. Whether you're passionate about innovation, leadership, or the future of commerce, this episode offers insights into leading with positivity, mindset, and AI to transform retail. Don't miss out on learning actionable strategies to enhance your leadership skills from one of the industry's most inspiring and transformational leaders! Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://bit.ly/RRPNweb Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube Guest info: April Sabral - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilsabral/ April Sabral is a leadership and mindset expert, bestselling author, and founder of Ask April AI, an AI-powered coaching and training platform designed to support retail, hospitality, and service-based business owners. With over 30 years of experience leading teams at iconic global brands such as Starbucks, Gap, Banana Republic, and DAVIDsTEA, April has trained thousands of managers to become confident, people-focused leaders. Her proven leadership system, The Positive Effect, has been embraced by top brands including Jimmy Choo, Tory Burch, Sunglass Hut, Victoria’s Secret, and Psycho Bunny. Her bestselling book by the same name was named a Top Global Retail Book by the National Retail Federation in 2025 and is featured in the Forbes Leadership Library. April has the only coaching certification in the retail industry that certifies leaders and coaches to train and license her proven methods, which is launching this fall. April is also the Executive Director of the Design District Chamber of Commerce in Miami, where she combines her passion for retail with community leadership. She has been named a Rethink Retail Top Global Retail Expert for three consecutive years (2022–2025) and is on a mission to positively impact one million leaders worldwide through practical business tools and mindset transformation. Learn more at www.AskApril.ai. & www.aprilsabral.com Chapters: (00:00:00) Preview (00:00:53) Show Intro (00:09:12) Retail Transformer - April Sabral (00:10:41) Shifts in Retail Leadership (00:12:12) Importance of Positive Mindset (00:14:38) Training and Development Strategies (00:23:54) AI in Retail: Embracing the Future (00:37:23) Ask April AI: Revolutionizing Leadership Development (00:41:41) The Role of AI in Retail Training (00:46:40) Building Technology as a Non-Tech Founder (00:53:30) Mindset Training in Leadership Development (00:58:32) Positive Accountability Framework (01:02:29) Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects (01:04:02) Show Close Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech: Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail, Top 50 Management, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft. Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. Once immersed in fashion & supply chain tech, now slaying Franken-stacks & building retail tech! Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Tropikool, from the album Future Beats 2, plus Virtual Apology and New Styles, from the album Shimmer Pop, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Jul 14

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1h 5m

Cutting through the clutter to bring you sharp insights on commerce technology, retail operations, & executive leadership! 🚀 Focused on the intersection of AI, retail media, and the human connection in retail, each show examines the impact of tech across commerce channels and what this means for consumer & retail employee experiences alike. Podcasts feature industry experts and retail leaders who share their expertise and experiences to help you build your retail strategy without losing what matters most in retail - the human connection! We help you cut through the clutter on your path to retail greatness: 🚀+ ❇️ The Retail Razor Show is a business management & marketing strategy podcast exploring the transformative power of AI, retail media, & the human connection in retail. ❇️ Tune in to Blade to Greatness to level up your retail career with the key leadership skills you need from industry experts & retail leaders. ❇️ Subscribe to Data Blades to understand the latest operations & customer experience insights from industry analysts & experts based on research data. ❇️ Retail Transformers brings you candid conversations with the visionaries shaping the future of commerce. If you're passionate about innovation & leadership, Retail Transformers is for you. Hosted by Top Retail Experts, NRF Top Retail Voices, and Thinkers 360 industry thought leaders, Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden. 🎯 Subscribe now to stay sharp & level up your retail game!

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