SPECIAL GUEST:

Yann Mathias, Director of Innovation and Impact at MTArt Agency

Placemaking is an art, and maybe a bit science. In retail, it’s critical. We dive into placemaking with our special guest, Yann Mathias, Director of Innovation and Impact at MTArt Agency. We discuss the intangible parts of retail that are critical including the state of retail design today, the evolution to experience design, being authentic to your brand and creating memories. 

The pandemic has impacted commercial as well as retail real estate, which, in many instances, are connected. Our sense of self is tied to our sense of place. We explore current retail, workplace and urban planning trends with an expert, Paul Bate of Paul Bate Consultancy.

Retail is a driver of our economy. We are joined by a recognized retail pundit and industry expert who is also a contributor to Forbes.com, a professor at Fashion Institute of Technology and Syracuse University, and currently Chief Strategist at The Robin Report, Shelley E. Kohan, for a wide ranging discussion about current retail performance, trends and insights. We recommend you read more of Shelley's analysis here.

Special Guest: Linda Choong

The merchant is a critical part of retail. Determining what products you are presenting and selling to your customer is fundamental to who you are as a retailer. Our special guest, Linda Choong, knows all about this. As the former Chief Merchandising Officer at Design Within Reach and currently a retail and business advisor heading up her own practice, LLC Left+Right LLC. This wide -ranging conversation shares insights into approach, listening to your customer and the importance of balance.

Jeff Fisher and Cristene Gonzelz-Wertz are joined by William Thomas to discuss five things retailers need to do to move out of pandemic, panic, and towards forward momentum. While we have some fun with this, the discussion covers some important topics. 

A retailer seeks to be a cornerstone of the local community even as it fights a legal battle to reduce its tax burden. An online menu is tied to a kitchen without a restaurant.  @Jeff Fisher and @Cristine Gonzalez Wertz go a little dark this week with the help of @Wiliam Thomas. 

Part of our occasional series on favorite devices, digital thinkers Sue Hallen and Leonard Lee share the wonder and "cool" of the Moto brick and wood paneled HiFi.