What Your Shoes Say About You – And Why Brands Need to Pay Attention

In this episode of Branded, Ben Kaplan sits down with Sarah Crockett, CMO of DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse), to discuss the art of reviving a retail giant.

With eight months in the role, Sarah shares her strategy for repositioning DSW, tapping into consumer insights, and creating an emotional connection with customers across generations.

She explores the challenge of bringing back the brand's "heat", navigating multi-channel retail, and adapting to cultural shifts. Plus, she reveals why physical stores remain her #1 marketing channel, the power of storytelling in marketing, and the biggest myth about retail's future.

- What does your shoe choice say about you?

- How do brands stay relevant in a fast-changing world?

- Why does Sarah hate big campaign reveals?

If you care about brand strategy, consumer psychology, or marketing innovation, this episode is a must-listen.