The Modern Retail Podcast

How Litter Robot is doing TikTok Shop without the deep discounts

The rise of the AI shelf

How Rothy's built a DTC footwear brand with staying power

Sustaining long-term growth for direct-to-consumer brands requires a disciplined, product-led approach that balances digital presence with intentional physical expansion. Rothy’s CEO Dayna Quanbeck highlights that achieving scale involves moving beyond initial viral success by diversifying channels and maintaining rigo...

Where Boll & Branch draws the line on AI-generated advertising

Generative AI serves as a creative thought partner at Boll & Branch, where the technology amplifies brand storytelling rather than replacing human-led strategy. Chief Creative Officer Kristen Deyko emphasizes a "human-first" approach, reserving AI for surreal, fantastical environments—such as products encased in ice or...

Why fragrance is the new key to commanding a premium price tag

The new life cycle of a brand ‘cancellation’

The big business of dorm decor

The pros and cons of taking on private equity

Founder-led brands achieve sustainable growth by prioritizing long-term profitability and community-driven marketing over rapid, debt-fueled expansion. Andrea Faulkner Williams, co-founder of baby care brand Tubby Todd, demonstrates how maintaining a healthy EBITDA and a loyal customer base for years creates a strong f...

How Once Upon a Farm is shaking up the baby aisle with coolers

The cyclospora outbreak is creating a PR headache for food businesses

The ongoing cyclospora outbreak in the United States, particularly affecting lettuce and other fresh produce, has created significant consumer confusion and a crisis of confidence in food safety. Unlike traditional recalls, this parasite resists standard washing and chlorine treatments, complicating public health respo...

Best Buy’s bet on Meta Ray Bans and shop-in-shops

Best Buy is transforming its retail footprint by shifting from transactional sales to experiential hubs, exemplified by the new 30x30 foot Meta Ray-Ban "shop-in-shop" installations. By moving core computing departments to the store center, the company creates flexible space for partner-led activations that prioritize h...

How Bloom Nutrition is expanding internationally

Inside AG1’s product expansion playbook (RERUN)

P.F. Candle Co.’s Made in America strategy (RERUN)

Tariff policies and supply chain volatility present significant operational hurdles for small, domestic manufacturers, forcing businesses to navigate extreme uncertainty. P.F. Candle Co. founders Kristen Pumphrey and Thomas Neuberger illustrate how fluctuating import duties on raw materials like metal and glass necessi...

Listener mailbag: How AI and Substack are changing affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing requires a strategic shift as AI tools and changing consumer behaviors reshape the digital landscape. Authenticity remains the primary driver of successful partnerships, necessitating that creators and publishers maintain genuine alignment with brand values rather than relying on transactional, inve...

Is Prime Day still worth it?

Why the World Cup is a make or break moment for retail this summer

The next era of Pride Month marketing

Pacsun's CEO on how the brand cracked its Gen Z strategy

Hits and misses from Q1 earnings season