Shows / The Backroom with Retail Dive
Episodes
The Backroom with Retail DiveDynamic pricing & the anxious consumer
Consumers are zeroed in on price heading into the holiday season now more than ever, and Walmart is taking the heat.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
A status check on Target’s turnaround progress
About a year since Michael Fiddelke was tapped to take over the CEO post, the retailer has been making headway on its recovery with sales and traffic growth.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
A sit-down with Ron Johnson
The retail veteran shares his journey with Apple, the short stint with J.C. Penney and more ahead of the release of his memoir, “Shop Different."
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
How long can the consumer hang on?
Discretionary retail sales have been surprisingly strong so far this year. The team discusses the reasons why and what that might mean for the rest of 2026.
The Backroom with Retail DiveThe weight-loss era is not just about selling clothes
Liza Amlani, principal at Retail Strategy Group, joins us to discuss how retailers and brands can successfully grapple with what she calls “fit volatility.”
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
What’s really happening at Lululemon?
The team breaks down what's behind the pushback against the incoming CEO, founder Chip Wilson’s battle with the board and more.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Redefining Pacsun
Brieane Olson talks about her book, “Co-created,” and her work as a merchant and now CEO in redefining the retailer for a new generation.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Consumer resilience in trying times
Katie Thomas, lead of the Kearney Consumer Institute, joins The Backroom to discuss consumer sentiment, economic pressures and more.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Walmart and Target are not the same
The team discusses how different the companies are, despite ushering in new executive leadership at the same time.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Saks Global and the bankruptcy that everyone saw coming
The team chats about their recent visits to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Manhattan flagship and brings in Debtwire analysts to discuss the retailer’s Chapter 11 process.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Contemplating retail in 2026 with Doug Stephens
The retail strategy adviser talks about trust in the age of emerging AI and the industry’s potential in shaping our society.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Tariffs tee up unique holiday season for retail
Retail Dive’s reporters touch base with Supply Chain Dive to examine how shifts in U.S. tariff rates have affected the industry ahead of its most important…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Halloween casts a spell over retail
The creepy, crawly event has grown into a months-long celebration and a $13 billion business. But is it a harbinger for the holidays?
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
How the holidays are different this year
Heading into the season, shoppers and retailers alike are getting squeezed by tariffs and mounting economic uncertainty.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Bankruptcy court is in session
Debtwire’s global head of legal, Sarah Foss, joins Retail Dive Senior Reporter Daphne Howland for a discussion of retailer bankruptcies – in 2025 and beyond.
The Backroom with Retail DiveWhat’s next for Target?
Join Retail Dive reporters Daphne Howland and Dani James for a discussion about the mass retailer’s unique history, the ups and downs of its differentiation…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Saks Global, Amazon and the state of luxury
Fashion Dive Senior Editor Lara Ewen joins to talk about the latest tie-up between the department store conglomerate and the e-commerce giant.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Breaking down Dick's Sporting Goods deal to acquire Foot Locker
Senior Editor Cara Salpini joins The Backroom to discuss what this deal could mean for the athletics retailers and the sector more broadly.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Talking tariffs with Supply Chain Dive
Trade policy is ever-evolving, and hitting the retail industry especially hard. Philip Neuffer, senior editor at our sister publication, talks about covering…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Talking wholesale with Liza Amlani
The longtime merchant discusses the myths and rewards of a channel that is getting renewed appreciation in the industry.
The Backroom with Retail DiveFoes of a Minimum Wage Guard
Playwright Ken Harris talks about how his experiences in retail loss prevention informed his award-wining solo play, and gives his unique perspective on shrink…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
A new retail apocalypse?
The team talks about a recent report that U.S. retailers are set to shutter many more stores than they plan to open in 2025, and what that really means.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Doug Stephens looks to 2025 and beyond
The retail and brand expert discusses the hype around AI, how marketers can preserve human creativity and his optimism about the future.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Amazon Haul and the state of retail: Checking in with Rick Watson
Join Retail Dive Senior Report Daphne Howland and Rick Watson, founder and CEO of RMW Commerce, as they unpack recent retail stories including Amazon’s answer…
The Backroom with Retail DiveRetailers creepin' it real
Halloween will drive $11.6 billion in spending this year. Plus, it’s fun!
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The state of the art of couponing
The team discusses a recent deep dive into a very online movement, led by deal-hunting influencers, and what it means for consumers and retailers alike.
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Under Armour’s past — and future — under Kevin Plank
The executive earlier this year returned to the athletics brand he founded nearly 30 years ago. What does that mean for the company?
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All of a sudden, a lot is happening at department stores
The team discusses a barrage of news from several players in a retail space that has been written off many times.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
What’s going on with Amazon Fashion?
The podcast welcomes Fashion Dive to discuss what the e-commerce giant’s approach to apparel means for brands and consumers, and what could be different.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Lee Peterson and the hard truth about retail stores
E-commerce keeps growing because it’s easier to shop online. To survive, brick and mortar needs a good reason, too.
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What’s happening at Macy’s
Under a new CEO, the iconic department store is fielding a $6.6 billion takeover offer, closing another 150 stores and fighting to stay relevant.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Why it’s so hard for retailers to do the right thing
Businesses face new ethical questions and must act with more transparency in what corporate integrity expert Alison Taylor calls an increasingly turbulent…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
The story behind our stories on shrink and theft
When the National Retail Federation retracted a theft claim following our coverage of its special report on crime, the news went viral. Here's what it took to…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
What’s in store for DTC in 2024?
2023 was rough for many companies. Ahead, the sector could see more bankruptcies and C-suite shakeups as brands continue to grapple with profitability.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Doug Stephens’ retail predictions for 2024
The retail and branding expert discusses the state of the consumer, the habits companies should leave behind in 2023 and what lies ahead in the new year.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
What’s the deal with EBITDA?
The earnings metric is widely used despite critics. But how does its usage vary across brands, and how much leeway do companies have with it?
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
How the 2023 holiday season is shaping up
With the first sales events of the season already come and gone, the team looks at the clues of how it will go this year.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Marisa Meltzer and the creation of Glossier
A journalist’s new book "Glossy" makes waves as it pulls back the curtain on Glossier founder Emily Weiss and the beauty brand that changed the industry.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
A look back on the first half of 2023 for DTC brands
The team talks about the latest second-quarter results from brands as the holidays quickly approach.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Jason Del Rey and ‘Winner Sells All’
One of the most prolific journalists covering the retail industry leverages his deep sourcing and lively writing style for an in-depth book about Amazon versus…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Target’s silent Pride Month
The team talks about the realities of the backlash, including who is fomenting it and how other retailers’ Pride campaigns stack up.
The Backroom with Retail DiveHow the consumer is doing so far this year
Discretionary goods are a low priority amid an uncertain economy and a desire to spend on experiences, but retailers are holding their own. What about the rest…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Why is Walmart selling off so many DTC brands?
The retailer bought, and sold off, several digital natives including Bonobos and Eloquii. The team discusses what this signals about the company's game plan.
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The Backroom: Unearthing financial details about J.C. Penney
The team talks about the treasure trove of information on the department store’s financial health, found thanks to a tip from one of its new owners.
The Backroom with Retail DiveWhat the ‘MetaBirkin’ NFT verdict means for art and commerce
The team chats about how Hermès' legal win impacts retail at large, and why Mason Rothschild plans to appeal.
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What's Going On With DTC This Year?
The team introduces new co-host Dani James and talks about emerging changes in the DTC space and the ongoing importance of brick and mortar.
The Backroom with Retail DiveUshering in the new year with Doug Stephens
What retailers should know about the realities of the metaverse and more futuristic observations from the retail prophet.
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What holiday looks like from here
The team sits down to discuss what recent events suggest about this year's unpredictable shopping season.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Retail bankruptcies are poised for a comeback
What can we learn about the industry as a whole by looking at its weakest players?
The Backroom with Retail DiveThe Idiosyncrasies Of This Year’s Holiday Consumer
Retailers are taking on a new challenge likely to define the 2022 season: inflation.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
The remains of Sears
Backroom co-host Ben Unglesbee discusses his recent trip to one of the few remaining Sears stores in the country.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Planet Retail
Retailers know they have an important role in addressing climate change. But navigating sustainability is riddled with challenges.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Bankrupt Enjoy Technology Set Out To Disrupt Retail. But It Got Disrupted Instead.
Led by former J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, the “commerce-at-home” company has suffered from constrained supply and high costs. Note: This conversation was…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
What Walmart And Target Told Us About Retail In 2022
Rising food and gas prices are causing consumers to pull back on discretionary spending. That hurt retailers in the first quarter.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
What's Going On With Amazon?
The e-commerce giant is grappling with many challenges, including union efforts and its Prime delivery promises.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
The World According To AlixPartners' Joel Bines
The consultant has spent decades working in and for the retail industry. We sat down with him this past February to get his take on where the industry is…
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Kohl's versus Wall Street
Activist investors have pressured the retailer to divest assets and potentially even sell itself. Retail Dive reporters discuss the implications of such moves.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
The Surprising Importance Of The Retail Middleman, With BMO Capital Markets’ Simeon Siegel
The last two decades of retail disruption was supposed to mean the death of wholesale. But recent research shows that brands should think twice about that.
- The Backroom with Retail Dive
Our traditional interview with the retail prophet, Doug Stephens
While the pandemic isn't over, 2021 seemed to show that physical locations remain important to retail. But each store must have something to offer, Doug…
The Backroom with Retail DiveAnother Disruptive Holiday Season
Vaccines have changed the shopping landscape this year, as have supply chain bottlenecks. Retail Dive reporters look at how the season is playing out.