The Backroom with Retail Dive
The Backroom with Retail Dive is a podcast from Retail Dive, a publication covering the retail industry. The show discusses the latest news, trends, and insights affecting retailers, with interviews and commentary. It offers an in-depth look at topics such as e-commerce, supply chain, and consumer behavior. The podcast is produced by the Retail Dive editorial team.
Episodes
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.
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."
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 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.”
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.
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.
Consumer resilience in trying times
Katie Thomas, lead of the Kearney Consumer Institute, joins The Backroom to discuss consumer sentiment, economic pressures and more.
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.
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.
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.
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 quarter.
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?
How the holidays are different this year
Heading into the season, shoppers and retailers alike are getting squeezed by tariffs and mounting economic uncertainty.
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.
What’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, and where it may be headed.
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.
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.
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 issue and where things stand today.
Talking wholesale with Liza Amlani
The longtime merchant discusses the myths and rewards of a channel that is getting renewed appreciation in the industry.
Foes 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 and theft.
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.
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.
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 to Temu, Walmart’s progress and Target’s struggles.
Retailers creepin' it real
Halloween will drive $11.6 billion in spending this year. Plus, it’s fun!
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 world.
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 get the story.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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 Walmart.
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.
How 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 of 2023?
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.
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.
What 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.
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.
Ushering 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.
What holiday looks like from here
The team sits down to discuss what recent events suggest about this year's unpredictable shopping season.
Retail bankruptcies are poised for a comeback
What can we learn about the industry as a whole by looking at its weakest players?
The Idiosyncrasies Of This Year’s Holiday Consumer
Retailers are taking on a new challenge likely to define the 2022 season: inflation.
The remains of Sears
Backroom co-host Ben Unglesbee discusses his recent trip to one of the few remaining Sears stores in the country.
Planet Retail
Retailers know they have an important role in addressing climate change. But navigating sustainability is riddled with challenges.
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 recorded prior to Enjoy Technology's June 30 bankruptcy filing.
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.
What's Going On With Amazon?
The e-commerce giant is grappling with many challenges, including union efforts and its Prime delivery promises.
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 headed.
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 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.
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 Stephens tells Retail Dive's Daphne Howland.
Another 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.
Why is the idea of splitting off e-commerce so popular all of a sudden?
Senior Reporters Daphne Howland and Ben Unglesbee discuss why Wall Street likes it, why others don't and how Sears' decline serves as a cautionary tale.
What do changes at Stitch Fix say about e-commerce?
Senior Reporters Ben Unglesbee and Daphne Howland talk about turmoil at the apparel e-retailer, DTC companies and online sales in general.
Delta's looming impact on retail
On this episode, Retail Dive's Daphne Howland and Ben Unglesbee discuss the implications of the new variant on the industry.
When Reebok was on top of the world
Retail Dive’s senior editor discusses the past and alternate histories of the brand that once topped even Nike.
Reebok was meant to be a 'Nike killer.' How the brand lost its No. 1 spot
In the '80s, Reebok was the top sports brand for a time. Now it's dwarfed by Nike and Adidas. We take a look at the history of the brand, through the lens of the people who were there.
In e-commerce, it's growth versus profits
In 2020, digital operations probably saved a lot of retailers when consumers were unable or unwilling to visit stores. But how sustainable is online retail in the long run?
A former Blockbuster insider chronicles its many blunders
If you think Blockbuster is merely a story about technology, take a second look. Former franchisee Alan Payne discusses its long-deteriorating operations.
Just how competitive are retail markets?
A talk with author and antitrust expert Sally Hubbard about what shifts in competition policy and enforcement could mean for the retail industry writ large.
How a $15 minimum wage could impact retail
At the federal level, the minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009 at $7.25 an hour. The team discusses what an increase could mean for the industry.
Amazon enters a new phase
The Retail Dive team talks about how retailers have paved their own way, as Jeff Bezos prepares to hand over the CEO reins at the e-commerce giant.
Family Video, GameStop and the precarious lives of media stores
A look at what went wrong for the last video chain as well as the fates of other retailers of cultural products.
BONUS: What the pandemic means for the future of retail
A follow-up discussion with retail prophet Doug Stephens, who has been mulling the disease outbreak's implications for a forthcoming book.
What Black Friday tells us about retail in 2021
The shopping holiday was defined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its defining trends and repercussions will likely follow the industry into the next year.
J.C. Penney's slow ride through bankruptcy
The department store's deal to sell itself to landlords Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management is in its final stages. But its struggles are far from over.
How retailers are navigating holiday 2020
As the season kickstarts earlier than ever, the industry braces for a fourth quarter plagued by uncertainty.
Walmart+ vs. Amazon Prime
Why did Walmart launch a membership service, and how can it compete with Amazon Prime? Senior Reporters Daphne Howland and Ben Unglesbee break it down.
Malls buy their tenants
Mall owners are snapping up distressed retailers as years of operational pressures and a pandemic combine to take down anchors and their neighbors.
When retailers issue mask requirements
Without federal face mask guidelines, retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy have had to introduce their own measures.
Tracking retail sales numbers in a pandemic
In this episode, the team talks about how Retail Dive reports monthly sales numbers from the Commerce Department and what those figures signal about the industry's future.
How the coronavirus sped up retail bankruptcies
On this episode of the podcast, senior reporters Daphne Howland and Ben Unglesbee discuss how the pandemic pushed distressed retailers to file.
Retail responds to the coronavirus
On this episode of the podcast, the team spoke with special guest Jeff Wells of Grocery Dive, to discuss how the global pandemic is changing all sectors of the industry.
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