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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.
TOP EPISODES
Oct 24, 2023
The Remarkable House of Brands That Is LVMH with Anish Melwani, Chairman & CEO, North America
Our guest this week is Anish Melwani, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, North America. LVMH is the home to 75 distinguished Houses rooted in six different sectors and includes some of the most iconic global luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Tiffany, Bulgari, Sephora, and many more. We explore the differences between LVMH's North American business and the rest of the world, along with understanding the connective tissue and values that run through all the brands.
May 23, 2023
What We (Still) Get Wrong About Physical Retail--And Why It Matters
This week we go guest free to tackle some of the more pernicious misperceptions, missteps, and false narratives that continue to get in the way of retailers' making the strategic progress they so urgently need. As the Covid sales bump disappears and consumer demand wanes we will--as Warren Buffet famously said--"get to see who's been swimming naked." Without aggressive action retailers stuck in the unremarkable middle will soon face a harsh reckoning.
Apr 11, 2023
Going Global with Judith McKenna, President & CEO, Walmart International
Joining us for the first of several episodes recorded at the Wizeline remote podcast studio/beach cabana at Mandalay Bay during Shoptalk is Judith McKenna, who heads up Walmart International. We touch on Judith's journey across the pond to lead Walmart's $100 billion plus division, which operates across 19 countries, before jumping into the challenges and opportunities of executing the Walmart brand promise and purpose while staying attuned to diverse market needs ("strong local businesses powered by Walmart").
PAST EPISODES
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.
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
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.
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.
Apr 14, 2026
Live from Shoptalk: Retail Rumble (Part 1) with Neil Saunders, R.J. Hottovy, Rachel Tipograph, Kiri Masters & Anne Mezzenga
Recorded live at Las Vegas, Part 1 of the inaugural Retail Rumble features Rumblers Neil Saunders, R.J. Hottovy, Rachel Tipograph, and Kiri Masters debating the future of eCommerce growth and retail media's impact on customer experience, plus Michael and Anne Mezzenga serve as referees. In the news segment we break down Levi's strong DTC performance, Saks Global's restructuring, Wayfair's brick-and-mortar push, softening mall traffic, early inflation signals, and Tecovas' masterclass in sponsorship and content-driven momentum.
Apr 07, 2026
Stitch Fix CEO Matt Baer, Nike's Identify Crisis, Grocery's Looming Collapse of the Middle, and Pets.Com: The Sequel
Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc unpack a turbulent retail week—from Allbirds' collapse and Bed Bath & Beyond's unlikely comeback to Nike's struggles and intensifying grocery wars. Then they're joined live from Shoptalk by Matt Baer, CEO of Stitch Fix, who reveals how AI and human stylists combine to deliver true personalization and drive a remarkable turnaround.
Mar 31, 2026
Is AI Retail's New Front Door? with Bret Taylor (OpenAI Board Chair & Sierra CEO) and Guest Co-Host Neil Saunders
Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc are joined by guest co-host Neil Saunders, Managing Director , GlobalData, to unpack the passing of David Simon, Saks’ strategy shift, NRF’s “toppy” 2026 forecast, and the escalating delivery wars. Then, live from the ShopTalk 2026 stage, Steve chats with Bret Taylor, OpenAI Board Chair and Co-Founder & CEO of Sierra, as he explains how AI agents are transforming retail into a conversational, always-on customer experience.
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