Jun 09, 2026

The Fuel Powering Costco's Growth, Department Store Drama, & Off-Price Domination

On this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc break down a packed earnings season—and what it reveals about who's winning, who's stalling, and who's running out of road. They size up Macy's, Kohl's, JCPenney, Victoria's Secret, Gap, and Costco, plus the off-price sector's continued surge. Steve brings back retail observations from his trip to Portugal and Spain, while the duo digs into the race to the doorstep, Saks Global's bankruptcy exit, and what mounting geopolitical uncertainty means for retailers worldwide.

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May 26, 2026

People-led, Tech-Powered with Walmart/Sam's Club Chris Nicholas (E), Plus Super Scaler Surge and Where Irony Goes to Die

Sam's Club is "people-led and tech-powered" — and Chris Nicholas, now CEO of Walmart International, explains why that distinction matters. In this encore interview, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc explore AI, membership retail, and frictionless shopping with one of Walmart's most influential leaders. They also break down a blockbuster earnings week — Walmart, Target, TJX, Home Depot, Lowe's — and close on Shein's ironic acquisition of Everlane, rising rates, and the political weight of AI.

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May 19, 2026

Reimagining the Mall with Simon Property Group's Eric Sadi, Plus Why Stores Still Matter and On Keeps Running.

Simon Property Group's Eric Sadi joins Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc to make the case for the modern mall as a "third place"—not a relic, but a reimagined destination pulling billions of visits a year. Plus: inflation's quiet return, standout earnings from On and The RealReal, Amazon's latest AI move, and yet another lazy media narrative about the death of stores. Spoiler: the obituaries are still wrong.

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May 12, 2026

Retail's Great Concentration, Tapestry's Comeback, and the Dumbest Story of the Year

Amazon, Walmart, and Costco aren't just winning—they're pulling away. In episode 301, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc unpack "Retail's Great Concentration": why growth is accruing to a shrinking group of super-scalers, what it means for everyone else, along with the critical difference between buying and shopping. Plus: strong earnings from Tapestry and Warby Parker, the GameStop-eBay bizarro story, Saks Global's restructuring, and what the FIFA World Cup means for retail, dynamic pricing, and possibly world peace.

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May 05, 2026

Episode 300: Pete Nordstrom on Culture, Customer Obsession, and Playing the Long Game

In this milestone 300th episode, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc sit down with Pete Nordstrom for a wide-ranging conversation on 125 years of retail excellence, omnichannel leadership, and what it takes to stay relevant. Plus: inflation, energy prices, consumer confidence, and standout earnings from Amazon, Starbucks, and Wayfair

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Apr 28, 2026

Shut Up and Play the Hits, Walmart's Big Store Bet, DTC Nuance, and CEO Turnover

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc unpack why too many retailers keep playing the hits long after the hits stop working — from Bed Bath & Beyond's coupon addiction to Nike's DTC miscalculation. Plus: conflicting retail sales data, Walmart's big store bet, leadership shakeups at Lululemon and Best Buy, and the coming fight over AI-powered surveillance pricing.

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Apr 21, 2026

The Retail Rumble (Part 2) with Ken Pilot, Steve Dennis, Lauren Livak Gilbert & Sarah Engel

Luxury earnings disappoint as LVMH, Kering, and Hermès report slowing growth — with Middle East sales down 30–50%. March retail sales surprise to the upside. Amazon surpasses Kroger as America's #2 grocer. Allbirds weirdly reinvents itself as an AI compute company. Starbucks doubles down on "couchification." Plus: live from ShopTalk Las Vegas, Retail Rumble Part 2 — department store survival debated, and is AI a job threat or opportunity.

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