Leadership

New CEO Tapped to Lead Express, Bonobos
February 12, 2025 at 3:50 pm

Greg Scott, best known for his role as CEO of New York & Company, has been named to the chief executive position at Bonobos and Express, effective Feb. 19. PHOENIX, Express and Bonobos' parent company, said Scott will oversee all DTC operations for the two brands, including retail stores and e-commerce. Scott served as CEO…

The Post-Election Climate: How Brands Can Make it Out Unscathed
February 12, 2025 at 12:21 pm

In 2023, beer giant Bud Light partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney for a social media campaign. It didn’t go well. The backlash was immediate and intense, resulting in a boycott and plummeting sales. Bud Light’s sales numbers are still down — as much as 30 percent. Conversely, Nike’s ad campaign, which starred then-San Francisco 49ers…

The New Consumerism: Lessons From the Election
January 22, 2025 at 6:26 pm

As retailers approach 2025, the political season has brought into focus significant opportunities to learn from consumers based on their tendencies exhibited throughout the election cycle and its outcomes. The brands that perform best in 2025 and the following years will make powerful use of four major strategies. Define Your Brand’s Version of Americanism There…

PwC Global Retail Lead Kelly Pedersen Shares His 2025 Retail Industry Outlook
January 21, 2025 at 6:24 pm

While at the 2025 National Retail Federation Big Show, held in New York City from Jan. 12-14, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan sat down with Kelly Pedersen, partner and global retail lead at PwC. In this video interview, Pedersen shares his analysis of the key themes and trends that emerged during the 2024 holiday shopping…

Best Buy CEO Corie Barry Shares Leadership Lessons
January 20, 2025 at 12:07 pm

Corie Barry has worked at Best Buy for 25 years, the last five-plus as its CEO. As you can imagine, she has witnessed a lot of change during that time, both within the organization as well as the larger retail industry. During the National Retail Federation's (NRF) Big Show in New York City last week,…

3 Key Insights From Total Retail's Top 50 Tips of 2024 Report
January 15, 2025 at 4:54 pm

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Marie Albiges and Joe Keenan discuss Total Retail’s recently released Top 50 Tips of 2024 report. This annual report is a curation of the top insights and best practices published across Total Retail’s various content channels in the previous year. This resource offers actionable tips that focus upon…

CEO Calvin McDonald Outlines lululemon's Growth Strategy
January 14, 2025 at 3:36 pm

During a keynote session on Tuesday at the National Retail Federation's Big Show in New York City, lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald addressed the retailer's future plans and goals, among other topics. McDonald was interviewed by CNBC anchor and reporter Sara Eisen. Here are some of the highlights from McDonald's answers. Global Ambitions Core to lululemon's…

Ulta Beauty Names New CEO
January 6, 2025 at 6:36 pm

Ulta Beauty CEO Dave Kimbell is retiring and will be replaced by the retailer’s Chief Operating Officer Kecia Steelman, the company announced Monday. The beauty retailer said in a news release that the leadership changes take effect on Monday. Steelman will also replace Kimbell on the company’s board of directors. Along with announcing the executive…

Keeping Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Authentic and Impactful
November 5, 2024 at 10:03 am

In the years following the pandemic, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) became a top priority for many companies. It was encouraging to see businesses take meaningful steps toward building more inclusive workplaces and marketing strategies. But as economic uncertainties arise, some companies are starting to pull back. It’s disheartening to see organizations like Tesla, Zoom,…

Cindy Solomon, Founder and CEO, Courageous Leadership Institute | Total Retail Tech 2024
November 1, 2024 at 5:04 pm

This video features a keynote from Cindy Solomon, founder and CEO of Courageous Leadership Institute, titled "Why Courageous Leaders Are Driving the Evolution of Tech" from Total Retail Tech 2024 in Charlotte, NC. As a self-confessed “recovering corporate executive,” Cindy’s mission is to radically update the way we think about and practice leadership in order to…