Sorry, It’s Discontinued: Celebrating the World of Retail, the Retail Associates Who Keep It Going, and the Stores and Bran

Hilary Nichols, Retail Podcast Storyteller & Retail Associate Champion
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Careers

Welcome to Sorry, It's Discontinued — a podcast about the human side of retail. Hosted by Hilary Nichols, a former luxury beauty manager with more than 25 years of experience in retail, beauty, and fragrance, this show explores the journeys, experiences, and stories that shape retail associates and the communities they serve. Through conversations with retail associates, beauty advisors, fragrance specialists, makeup artists, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and retail professionals, we highlight the paths that led them to their passions, the challenges they've faced, and the lessons they've learned along the way. In solo episodes, Hilary shares honest reflections on the reality of retail from the perspective of retail associates — the good, the bad, the funny, the frustrating, and the unforgettable — while celebrating the brands, products, stores, and history of retail that made the industry special. Whether you're a current retail associate, a former retail associate, or simply someone who loves retail, retail history, retail nostalgia, beauty, fragrance, and customer service, this podcast is a place to connect through shared experiences and stories. 💄 Have a seat, hit follow, and join me as we explore the heart, humor, and humanity of retail. 🎙️ New episodes every Thursday.

  1. 3d ago

    Remember the Mall Food Court? Orange Julius, Pretzels & Pizza

    Remember when a trip to the mall wasn't complete without a stop at the food court? From Orange Julius and Hot Sam Pretzels to Sbarro, Mrs. Fields, and Cinnabon, these places were more than somewhere to grab a bite. They were part of our memories! In this episode of Sorry, It's Discontinued, we're taking a nostalgic trip back to the mall food courts of the '70s, '80s, and '90s. I'll share my childhood memories of Orange Julius at Summit Mall in Ohio, explore the surprising history behind these iconic food court favorites, and celebrate the hardworking associates who made it all happen. Because sometimes it's not just the food we miss. It's the people and memories that came with it. What was your favorite mall food court stop? Research Credit: The Real History of Orange Julius by Rachel Wharton — including the fascinating story behind the famous drink and a recipe to recreate it! 🎙️ Follow Sorry, It's Discontinued wherever you listen to podcasts! 💋Have a discontinued favorite or retail story? Share it with Hilary here! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick rating or review—it really helps our retail family and fellow customers find the show. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @sorryitsdiscontinued. And if you have your own behind-the-counter story, discontinued product heartbreak, or beauty industry confession, send it my way—your story might be featured in a future episode. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned. All stories and opinions shared are personal, reflecting the real-life experiences of those who’ve worked in this industry with heart and hustle. Thank you for being here 💄   the website: www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com Connect with me:   Instagram & TikTok: @sorryitsdiscontinued   Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Want to share your story or suggest a topic?   Visit www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com and scroll to "Tell Me Your Story" New episodes every Thursday #SorryItsDiscontinued #BeautyPodcast #RetailLife

  2. Oct 22

    The Last Skate at Lloyd Center: How Mall Ice Rinks Built Community

    In this episode of Sorry, It’s Discontinued, Hilary shares the beautiful story of Jerry and Tally Leonard, a couple who first skated together at Portland’s Lloyd Center in 1967. Nearly 60 years later, they returned to perform the final skate before the historic rink closed. We’ll explore how ice rinks became part of American malls, including the groundbreaking Lloyd Center rink, Houston’s iconic Galleria rink, Galleria Dallas and Memorial City Mall, where the rink is now preparing to close after more than 20 years. Along the way, we’ll uncover the surprising history of indoor ice, the invention of the Zamboni, and why mall rinks were so effective at creating foot traffic, jobs and community.  When these spaces disappear, what happens to the skaters, coaches, employees, surrounding businesses and relationships built around them? 🎙️ Do you remember an ice rink or another special gathering place inside your local mall? Special Thanks & Sources Special thanks to Tina Shepardson, host of The Lil’ Leaders Podcast: Conversations with Kids, for sharing Jerry and Tally’s story with me: Listen to The Lil’ Leaders Podcast Original reporting: The Washington Post — Casey Parks KATU — Deb Knapp Follow @sorryitsdiscontinued on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. Visit sorryitsdiscontinued.com. 💋Have a discontinued favorite or retail story? Share it with Hilary here! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick rating or review—it really helps our retail family and fellow customers find the show. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @sorryitsdiscontinued. And if you have your own behind-the-counter story, discontinued product heartbreak, or beauty industry confession, send it my way—your story might be featured in a future episode. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned. All stories and opinions shared are personal, reflecting the real-life experiences of those who’ve worked in this industry with heart and hustle. Thank you for being here 💄   the website: www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com Connect with me:   Instagram & TikTok: @sorryitsdiscontinued   Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Want to share your story or suggest a topic?   Visit www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com and scroll to "Tell Me Your Story" New episodes every Thursday #SorryItsDiscontinued #BeautyPodcast #RetailLife

  3. Oct 15

    Retail Work-Life Balance: Employee Happiness, Appreciation & Better Management

    Can happiness, work-life balance, and business success coexist in retail? Absolutely, and there's research to suggest they can! In this episode of Sorry, It's Discontinued, Hilary explores how employee appreciation, supportive management, and simple acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in retail workplaces. From a personal story about being recognized for exceeding a sales goal to the challenges of taking breaks in commission-based retail, we explore what happens when companies invest in their people. Plus, discover the fascinating Gap Stable Scheduling Study, which found a 7% increase in median sales and 5% increase in labor productivity when stores implemented more stable scheduling practices. Because taking care of employees isn't just good for people. It can be good for business! Discontinued Item of the Week: NARS Galapagos Eyeshadow, a beautiful warm chocolate-brown shade with a golden sheen. Missing it? Check out e.l.f. Coffee Bean, a close color match, although slightly cooler. Links & Resources: The Gap Stable Scheduling StudyNARS Galapagos Eyeshadow — Photos & Swatchese.l.f. Coffee Bean Eyeshadow — Comparison & DupesNote: e.l.f. Coffee Bean is a suggested color match; current retail availability has not been confirmed. What will you do for yourself this week? Take 20 minutes, grab a coffee, explore a local shop, or simply enjoy a little time to yourself! Follow @sorryitsdiscontinued on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Because retail was never just a job. It's about people, connection, and community. 💋Have a discontinued favorite or retail story? Share it with Hilary here! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick rating or review—it really helps our retail family and fellow customers find the show. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @sorryitsdiscontinued. And if you have your own behind-the-counter story, discontinued product heartbreak, or beauty industry confession, send it my way—your story might be featured in a future episode. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned. All stories and opinions shared are personal, reflecting the real-life experiences of those who’ve worked in this industry with heart and hustle. Thank you for being here 💄   the website: www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com Connect with me:   Instagram & TikTok: @sorryitsdiscontinued   Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Want to share your story or suggest a topic?   Visit www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com and scroll to "Tell Me Your Story" New episodes every Thursday #SorryItsDiscontinued #BeautyPodcast #RetailLife

  4. Oct 8

    Max Factor: From Hollywood Glamour to Beauty Retail

    Before beauty influencers, celebrity makeup brands, and modern cosmetics counters, there was Max Factor. In this episode of Sorry, It's Discontinued, we're exploring the fascinating story of the immigrant, inventor, and entrepreneur who helped revolutionize Hollywood makeup and shape the beauty industry we know today. From his innovative Color Harmony system and Pan-Cake foundation to his influence on Hollywood glamour and everyday cosmetics, discover how Max Factor helped bring professional makeup techniques to women everywhere. I'm also sharing my personal experience visiting The Hollywood Museum, located inside the historic Max Factor Building, and exploring the story behind Marilyn Monroe's discontinued Max Factor lipstick, preserved by makeup artist Erin Parsons. Explore the history: 💄 Max Factor — Official Website 🎬 The Hollywood Museum 💋 Erin Parsons — YouTube Channel Sorry, It's Discontinued, celebrating retail nostalgia, iconic brands, beauty history, and the people behind the counter. Because retail was never just a job. 💋Have a discontinued favorite or retail story? Share it with Hilary here! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick rating or review—it really helps our retail family and fellow customers find the show. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @sorryitsdiscontinued. And if you have your own behind-the-counter story, discontinued product heartbreak, or beauty industry confession, send it my way—your story might be featured in a future episode. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned. All stories and opinions shared are personal, reflecting the real-life experiences of those who’ve worked in this industry with heart and hustle. Thank you for being here 💄   the website: www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com Connect with me:   Instagram & TikTok: @sorryitsdiscontinued   Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Want to share your story or suggest a topic?   Visit www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com and scroll to "Tell Me Your Story" New episodes every Thursday #SorryItsDiscontinued #BeautyPodcast #RetailLife

  5. Oct 1

    Why Is Getting Water at Work So Complicated? Retail Workers, Hydration & the Water Cooler

    Why can something as basic as getting a drink of water become so complicated when you work in retail? In this episode of Sorry, It’s Discontinued, Hilary explores drinking water at work, hydration for retail employees, workplace culture, and the strange rules some stores have about keeping water bottles behind the counter. From hiding drinks and sneaking sips between customers to walking across an entire store just to refill a bottle, retail associates know how quickly a simple human need can turn into a workplace issue. Hilary also looks at what OSHA says about potable drinking water in the workplace, what employers are generally required to provide, and the difference between technically providing water and making it realistically accessible to employees during a busy shift. But the water cooler is about more than hydration. For generations, break rooms, stockrooms, employee entrances, and water coolers have been places where retail workers connect, decompress, share information, complain about management, check on one another, and build the friendships that often turn coworkers into work family. Because sometimes taking care of retail employees isn't complicated. Sometimes it's clean water, a place to take a breath, and the feeling that someone remembered there is a human being underneath the name tag. What was the water situation like where you worked? Were you allowed to keep a bottle nearby, or did you have to hide it behind the counter? Follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube @sorryitsdiscontinued. Because retail was never just a job. And for this week's discontinued item, we're heading back to the 1990s with Fruitopia, Coca-Cola's colorful fruit drink known for unforgettable flavors like Strawberry Passion Awareness and Kiwiberry Ruckus. Watch a 1996 Fruitopia commercial: Fruitopia Commercial (1996) on YouTube 💋Have a discontinued favorite or retail story? Share it with Hilary here! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick rating or review—it really helps our retail family and fellow customers find the show. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @sorryitsdiscontinued. And if you have your own behind-the-counter story, discontinued product heartbreak, or beauty industry confession, send it my way—your story might be featured in a future episode. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned. All stories and opinions shared are personal, reflecting the real-life experiences of those who’ve worked in this industry with heart and hustle. Thank you for being here 💄   the website: www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com Connect with me:   Instagram & TikTok: @sorryitsdiscontinued   Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Want to share your story or suggest a topic?   Visit www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com and scroll to "Tell Me Your Story" New episodes every Thursday #SorryItsDiscontinued #BeautyPodcast #RetailLife

  6. Sep 24

    Goodbye, Neiman Marcus Downtown Dallas: 112 Years of Retail History, Fashion & Memories

    After 112 years, the historic Downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus is preparing to close its doors next week on September 30, 2026. In this episode of Sorry, It’s Discontinued, I’m saying goodbye to a store that became so much more than a place to shop. We’re looking back at the incredible history inside this building—from Stanley Marcus and the legendary Neiman Marcus Fashion Awards to the extravagant Fortnight celebrations, The Zodiac, Helen Corbitt, famous popovers, monkey bread, and more than a century of retail memories. I also share what it felt like to visit the Downtown Dallas flagship one last time and think about the generations of customers, families and retail associates who have walked through those doors since 1914. And for this week’s discontinued item, I’m doing something a little different: the Downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus itself. Thankfully, Neiman Marcus isn't disappearing. If you want to continue the tradition, visit the NorthPark Center location in Dallas or one of the other longtime Neiman Marcus stores still serving their communities, including Houston. Find your nearest store through the Neiman Marcus Store Directory. And if you're wondering why I'm recording this episode without makeup if you happen to watch it somewhere...I decided to practice what I preach and do something for myself! I treated myself to a facial at Hi Skin. If you're in Houston, look for Jenesha at the Uptown Park location or Tiffany at the Rice Village location. My freshly pampered face is why we're going makeup-free for this one! Most of all, this episode is about something bigger than a department store. The things we buy may disappear, but the memories we make in these places can stay with us forever. Do you have a memory of the Downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus? I would love to hear your story at sorryitsdiscontinued.com or @sorryitsdiscontinued on social media. 🎙️ Sorry, It’s Discontinued — celebrating retail history, nostalgia, the stores and brands we love, and the people who make retail memorable. 💋Have a discontinued favorite or retail story? Share it with Hilary here! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick rating or review—it really helps our retail family and fellow customers find the show. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @sorryitsdiscontinued. And if you have your own behind-the-counter story, discontinued product heartbreak, or beauty industry confession, send it my way—your story might be featured in a future episode. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned. All stories and opinions shared are personal, reflecting the real-life experiences of those who’ve worked in this industry with heart and hustle. Thank you for being here 💄   the website: www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com Connect with me:   Instagram & TikTok: @sorryitsdiscontinued   Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Want to share your story or suggest a topic?   Visit www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com and scroll to "Tell Me Your Story" New episodes every Thursday #SorryItsDiscontinued #BeautyPodcast #RetailLife

  7. Sep 17

    When Friends or Family Take Over a Customer’s Shopping Experience: A Retail Associate’s Perspective

    Have you ever loved something while shopping… until the person standing next to you told you not to? In this episode of Sorry, It’s Discontinued, Hilary talks about one of those retail situations associates know all too well: helping a customer find a fragrance, beauty product, outfit, or item they genuinely love only to watch a boyfriend, husband, mother, friend, or shopping companion completely shut it down. After more than 25 years in retail and luxury beauty, Hilary shares the awkward balancing act associates face when they want to support the person actually shopping without starting an argument with the people shopping alongside them. When is an opinion helpful? When does it become overbearing? And sometimes… when do you just need to let your friend buy the perfume? Plus, this week’s Discontinued Product of the Week has a story worthy of the YSL name: Yves Saint Laurent Champagne, the 1993 fragrance that was forced to change its name after a legal battle with the Champagne wine industry. It later became Yvresse and while the original Champagne version is discontinued, Yvresse still lives on in select markets as part of YSL Beauty’s heritage fragrance collection. Explore YSL Yvresse: https://www.yslbeauty.co.uk/fragrances/fragrances-for-her/yvresse/yvresse/540YSL.html If you’ve ever had someone talk you out of something you loved or you’re a retail associate who has stood behind the counter trying desperately not to say, “Just let her buy it!” this episode is for you. 🎙️ Sorry, It’s Discontinued celebrates the world of retail, the retail associates who keep it going, and the stores and brands we all love. 🌐 Visit the show: sorryitsdiscontinued.com Have a retail memory, favorite discontinued product, store, brand, or shopping story you’d love to share? Visit the website and tell me about it. 💋Have a discontinued favorite or retail story? Share it with Hilary here! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick rating or review—it really helps our retail family and fellow customers find the show. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @sorryitsdiscontinued. And if you have your own behind-the-counter story, discontinued product heartbreak, or beauty industry confession, send it my way—your story might be featured in a future episode. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned. All stories and opinions shared are personal, reflecting the real-life experiences of those who’ve worked in this industry with heart and hustle. Thank you for being here 💄   the website: www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com Connect with me:   Instagram & TikTok: @sorryitsdiscontinued   Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Want to share your story or suggest a topic?   Visit www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com and scroll to "Tell Me Your Story" New episodes every Thursday #SorryItsDiscontinued #BeautyPodcast #RetailLife

  8. Sep 10

    The History of Revlon: How an Iconic Beauty Brand Changed Retail, Beauty & the Memories We Keep

    What is the history of Revlon, and how did one nail enamel company become one of the most iconic beauty brands in the world? In this episode of Sorry, It’s Discontinued, we’re exploring more than 90 years of Revlon history, beauty history and retail history from the brand’s beginnings in 1932 to its influence on lipstick, nail polish, cosmetics, fragrance, fashion and beauty advertising. We’ll look back at iconic moments including Revlon Fire & Ice lipstick, the famous 1952 Fire & Ice campaign featuring Dorian Leigh, groundbreaking Revlon advertising with Naomi Sims, Charlie perfume, Revlon’s global expansion and the discontinued Electric Youth fragrance by Debbie Gibson. But this episode is also about beauty nostalgia and the memories we attach to the products and retail brands we grew up with. For me, Revlon brings me back to my mom. I remember her Revlon nail polish and lipsticks around our house especially that familiar red. Even today, seeing the Revlon name can take me right back to those memories. Because sometimes a lipstick isn't just a lipstick. The beauty products, department stores, drugstores and retail brands we grow up with can become part of our personal history and sometimes one familiar product can bring someone we love right back to us. 💄 EXPLORE REVLON & THE PRODUCTS FROM THIS EPISODE Revlon Official Website https://www.revlon.com/ Revlon Fire & Ice — Learn About the Iconic Lipstick Shade https://www.revlon.com/blogs/makeup/what-your-lipstick-says-about-you Revlon Super Lustrous Nail Enamel https://www.revlon.com/products/revlon-super-lustrous-nail-enamel Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson is discontinued, but Flashback Fragrance created Popstar, a modern fragrance inspired by Electric Youth: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4403130428/popstar-inspired-by-electric-youth-from See the famous 1952 Revlon Fire & Ice advertising campaign featuring Dorian Leigh and photographed by Richard Avedon: https://www.cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/revlon-1945.php Explore Revlon's history and its 1970 Naomi Sims advertising milestone: https://www.revloncorp.com/pages/our-history 🎙️ ABOUT SORRY, IT'S DISCONTINUED Sorry, It’s Discontinued is a podcast about retail history, shopping nostalgia, iconic beauty brands, department stores, discontinued products and the retail associates who keep this world going. If you love retail nostalgia, beauty history, vintage makeup, iconic brands, department store history or the products you grew up with, have a seat and join me. What beauty product or retail brand instantly reminds you of someone you love? New episodes every Thursday. 💋Have a discontinued favorite or retail story? Share it with Hilary here! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Sorry, It’s Discontinued on your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick rating or review—it really helps our retail family and fellow customers find the show. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @sorryitsdiscontinued. And if you have your own behind-the-counter story, discontinued product heartbreak, or beauty industry confession, send it my way—your story might be featured in a future episode. This podcast is independently produced and is not affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned. All stories and opinions shared are personal, reflecting the real-life experiences of those who’ve worked in this industry with heart and hustle. Thank you for being here 💄   the website: www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com Connect with me:   Instagram & TikTok: @sorryitsdiscontinued   Listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Want to share your story or suggest a topic?   Visit www.sorryitsdiscontinued.com and scroll to "Tell Me Your Story" New episodes every Thursday #SorryItsDiscontinued #BeautyPodcast #RetailLife

See All (80)

Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to Sorry, It's Discontinued — a podcast about the human side of retail. Hosted by Hilary Nichols, a former luxury beauty manager with more than 25 years of experience in retail, beauty, and fragrance, this show explores the journeys, experiences, and stories that shape retail associates and the communities they serve. Through conversations with retail associates, beauty advisors, fragrance specialists, makeup artists, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and retail professionals, we highlight the paths that led them to their passions, the challenges they've faced, and the lessons they've learned along the way. In solo episodes, Hilary shares honest reflections on the reality of retail from the perspective of retail associates — the good, the bad, the funny, the frustrating, and the unforgettable — while celebrating the brands, products, stores, and history of retail that made the industry special. Whether you're a current retail associate, a former retail associate, or simply someone who loves retail, retail history, retail nostalgia, beauty, fragrance, and customer service, this podcast is a place to connect through shared experiences and stories. 💄 Have a seat, hit follow, and join me as we explore the heart, humor, and humanity of retail. 🎙️ New episodes every Thursday.

Information