Episodes

  • Future of Retail Recruitment: An Interview with OSSY Founder Ron Thurston

    Future of Retail Recruitment: An Interview with OSSY Founder Ron Thurston
    Jun 28 2024

    S4:E3 Revolutionizing Retail Hiring: A Conversation with Ron Thurston


    In this episode of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome back Ron Thurston, founder of OSSY, and author of 'Retail Pride’, to discuss the company's innovative approach to transforming the retail hiring process. Focusing on the integration of AI and the human touch, Ron shares insights into how OSSY is addressing common retail recruitment challenges, such as speed to hire, candidate experience, and the importance of clear career paths. The discussion highlights the broader implications for the retail industry and the immense value of creating supportive and accountable hiring practices. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in retail and retail hiring.


    00:00 Show Intro

    02:35 Revolutionizing Retail Recruitment with Ron Thurston and OSSY

    04:07 Ron Thurston's Journey and OSSY's Mission

    08:58 Challenges and Innovations in Retail Hiring

    22:01 Best Practices for Retail Hiring and Career Development

    27:23 The Influence of People on Your Success

    28:02 Accidental Careers in Retail

    28:58 The Importance of Mentorship and Leadership

    30:41 Preparing for the Holiday Season

    37:02 The Role of AI in Retail Hiring

    42:21 Building a Retail Community

    46:38 How to Get Started with OSSY

    47:51 Show Close


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


    The Retail Razor Show

    Follow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpods

    Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Follow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShow

    Retail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPod


    Host → Ricardo Belmar

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey
    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • The Future of Commerce is Unified Commerce, with Giri Agarwal of Incisiv

    The Future of Commerce is Unified Commerce, with Giri Agarwal of Incisiv
    May 28 2024

    S4:E2 The Evolution from Omnichannel to Unified Commerce with Giri Agarwal


    In this episode of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden discuss the shift from omnichannel to unified commerce in the retail industry. Special guest Giri Agarwal, Chief Strategy Officer at Incisiv, joins to share insights on how unified commerce is transforming customer experiences and driving revenue growth. They explore the concept of unified commerce, the integration of AI, and the challenges retailers face in adopting this approach. Key highlights include the importance of customer identification, empowering frontline staff, and rethinking store experiences. Giri also addresses the financial implications, generational differences in consumer behaviors, and the need for a cultural shift towards unified commerce. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on why now is the critical moment for retailers to embrace this change.


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


    The Retail Razor Show

    Follow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpods

    Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Follow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShow

    Retail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPod


    Host → Ricardo Belmar,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey
    Show more Show less
    46 mins
  • Top 10 Predictions for Retail in 2024 with Ben Miller, ShopTalk

    Top 10 Predictions for Retail in 2024 with Ben Miller, ShopTalk
    Mar 19 2024

    S4:E1 – Top 10 Predictions for Retail in 2024 with Ben Miller, ShopTalk


    In this episode of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden kick off season 4 by discussing their top 10 predictions for the retail industry in 2024. Amid personal anecdotes and a tribute to Ricardo's late father, the episode dives deep into the future of retail alongside guest Ben Miller, VP of Original Content and Strategy at Shoptalk & Groceryshop. Key predictions include the Temu-fication of retail, the evolution of Retail Media Networks (RMNs) and their impact on digitizing physical stores, the integration with streaming and social commerce platforms, and the re-emergence of heritage brands leveraging digital commerce. The conversation also touches on the increasing consumer expectations around sustainability versus the temptation of low-cost options like Temu, the potential of AI in enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency, and the death of the term 'Omnichannel' in favor of 'Unified Commerce' to better represent seamless retail experiences. The episode concludes with a look forward to the Shoptalk event and the importance of staying ahead in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


    The Retail Razor Show

    Follow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpods

    Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Follow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShow

    Retail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPod


    Host → Ricardo Belmar,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey
    Show more Show less
    53 mins
  • Season 4 Trailer - Unlocking Retail with AI, Humans, and Media

    Season 4 Trailer - Unlocking Retail with AI, Humans, and Media
    Feb 12 2024

    In Season Four of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden explore the theme of Unlocking Retail with the Integration of AI, Humans, and Media. This involves discussing how artificial intelligence, human interaction, and innovative retail media are transforming the industry. Topics will include optimizing inventory, pricing, merchandising for online and offline channels with AI, enhancing customer service, connecting brands with consumers through engaging content, creating strong communities and increasing loyalty. The show will also discuss human centered design and the crafting of memorable retail experiences. Moreover, two of its mini-series from last season, Blade to Greatness and Data Blades, will be transformed into their own podcasts. Ricardo and Casey remind everyone that this season has more surprises in store for listeners!


    And we can’t thank our Goodpods listeners enough! We love your support! Please continue giving us those 5-star ratings and send us your comments. Your support allow sus to hit the top of the charts for Indie Management and Indie Marketing podcasts!


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    The Retail Razor Show

    Follow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpods

    Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Follow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShow

    Retail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPod


    Host → Ricardo Belmar,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey
    Show more Show less
    5 mins
  • S3E19 – The Razor’s Edge – Season 3 Recap and Predictions Check-In

    S3E19 – The Razor’s Edge – Season 3 Recap and Predictions Check-In
    Feb 5 2024

    In the season three finale of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden provide a detailed recap of their journey throughout the season, discussing their top ten predictions for 2023 and evaluating their accuracy – did they nail it or miss the mark? The hosts touch upon diverse topics including private label domination, the evolution of retail media networks, investment in returns management, and the growth of store automation, among others. They also highlight a few memorable moments and important insights from their guests throughout the season. The episode concludes with a lively discussion on their expectations for retail and technology in 2024, teasing the audience with a glimpse of what's to come in season four.


    WOW! As we march into a new year on the show, we’re honored and humbled to have hit the top of the charts on the Goodpodspodcast platform on multiple episodes!


    We can’t thank our Goodpods listeners enough! We love your support! Please continue giving us those 5-star ratings and send us your comments!


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


    The Retail Razor Show

    Follow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpods

    Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Follow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShow

    Retail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPod


    Host → Ricardo Belmar,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey
    Show more Show less
    38 mins
  • S3E18 – Focusing on Customer Experience with Retail Transformer – Nadina Guglielmetti, Chief Customer Officer, The Vitamin Shoppe

    S3E18 – Focusing on Customer Experience with Retail Transformer – Nadina Guglielmetti, Chief Customer Officer, The Vitamin Shoppe
    Dec 31 2023
    As we approach the end of Season 3 of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden engage in a rich dialogue with The Vitamin Shoppe’s Chief Customer Officer, Nadina Guglielmetti. They explore how customer behavior insights guide business decisions, the interplay between acquiring new customers and nurturing existing ones, and the evolution of customer experience amidst changing health trends. Nadina also details the role of The Vitamin Shoppe’s in-store health enthusiasts in enhancing customer engagement and trust, and their careful approach towards leveraging AI and 'headless commerce' platforms to enhance efficiency and personalization. In this final Retail Transformer episode of the season, you’ll learn why Nadina is truly more than meets the eye!We also bring you the final episode in Season 1 of our "Blade to Greatness" mini-series. This episode features an insightful conversation with retail expert, Ron Thurston, co-founder of Ossy, author of Retail Pride, the Guide to Celebrating Your Accidental Career, host of the Retail in America nationwide tour and podcast, speaker, advisor, board member, and former retail operations leader at numerous famous retail brands. Ron shares his three pillars of success in retail and life- empathy, curiosity, and focus. He illuminates strategies to bridge the communication gap between corporate offices and stores, emphasizing the importance of empathy in grasping the pressures faced by in-store teams, the power of curiosity to understand their needs and experiences, and the role of focus in dealing with the information obtained. Ron also emphasizes the importance of maintaining transparency and dialogue with retail employees from the recruitment stage, thus enhancing their sense of belonging and commitment.NEWS! We are thrilled to report that our fans support propelled us as a finalist in The Retail Voice Award for the Vendors In Partnership award gala at NRF 2024! You’re votes made a difference and we’re honored to be one of 3 finalists for this prestigious award!WOW! As we march into our 3rd year on the show, we’re honored and humbled to have hit the top of the charts on the Goodpodspodcast platform!#1 in the Top 100 Indie Management Weekly chart#3 in the Top 100 Indie Management Monthly chart#3 in the Top 100 Indie Marketing Weekly chart#5 in the Top 100 Marketing Weekly chart#6 in the Top 100 Marketing Monthly chartWe can’t thank our Goodpods listeners enough! We love your support! Please continue giving us those 5-star ratings and send us your comments!Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer for 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, and RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer for 2023. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, E-Motive, and Swag, Tag & Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.The Retail Razor ShowFollow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpodsFollow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinstaFollow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreadsFollow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazorConnect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazorSubscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTubeSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShowRetail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPodHost → Ricardo Belmar,Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmarConnect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmarCo-host → Casey Golden,Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCaseyConnect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey
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    51 mins
  • S3E17 – #NRFforBeginners with Andrew Laudato, Taylor’s Version

    S3E17 – #NRFforBeginners with Andrew Laudato, Taylor’s Version
    Dec 13 2023
    In this episode of Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden talk about preparing for NRF 2024, celebrate being a finalist in the Vendors in Partnership gala for The Retail Voice Award, and bring the latest episode of Blade to Greatness, all in under an hour!They host a special “Taylor’s Version” replay of a prior interview with Andy Laudato, COO of The Vitamin Shoppe, sharing his comprehensive guide for maximizing your attendance at the NRF Big Show. Andy returns to the show for a new discussion of his anticipation for the combined NRF and supply chain shows, and the buzz surrounding AI, plus expectations for a great RetailROI Super Saturday event. In the latest episode of the ‘Blade to Greatness’ segment, April Sabral, founder of retailu and The Positivity Company, returns to share her insights on leadership and how to counteract negativity in the retail industry She explains why retail leaders need to stop enrolling in negativity and reinforce a positive attitude with their teams. After listening to this episode, you, too, will be ready for #NRF2024 in January in New York City!NEWS! We are thrilled to report that our fans support propelled us as a finalist in The Retail Voice Award for the Vendors In Partnership award gala at NRF 2024! You’re votes made a difference and we’re honored to be one of 3 finalists for this prestigious award!WOW! As we march into our 3rd year on the show, we’re honored and humbled to have hit the top of the charts on the Goodpodspodcast platform!#1 in the Top 100 Indie Management Monthly chart#2 in the Top 100 Indie Management Weekly chart#2 in the Top 100 Indie Marketing Weekly chart#3 in the Top 100 Marketing Weekly chart#4 in the Top 100 Marketing Monthly chartWe can’t thank our Goodpods listeners enough! We love your support! Please continue giving us those 5-star ratings and send us your comments!Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer for 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, and RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer for 2023. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, E-Motive, and Swag, Tag & Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.The Retail Razor ShowFollow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpodsFollow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinstaFollow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreadsFollow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazorConnect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazorSubscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTubeSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShowRetail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPodHost → Ricardo Belmar,Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmarConnect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmarCo-host → Casey Golden,Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCaseyConnect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey
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    54 mins
  • S3E16 – I Am A RetailROI Champion, Taylor’s Version

    S3E16 – I Am A RetailROI Champion, Taylor’s Version
    Dec 5 2023
    In this episode of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden discuss their partnership with Retail ROI. The episode is dedicated to how the retail industry can make a difference in the lives of children in need around the world. Highlights of the episode include discussions with Greg Buzek, president of IHL Group and Vicki Cantrell, CEO of Vendors in Partnership, detailing the history of RetailROI, a unique charity supported by the retail industry. Together they discuss different initiatives that have been undertaken by Retail ROI, including providing technology resources to children in Liberia during the Ebola crisis and supporting schools lacking necessary utilities for education. Greg and Vicki share highlights of the upcoming Super Saturday event during NRF in January including the special guest keynote! Join us to learn how everyone can make a difference for so many children by supporting this amazing organization! Retailers that attend Super Saturday help bring clean water to 100 children just by showing up! Learn more about RetailROI and the Super Sturday event, including how to register at RetailROI.org! WOW! As we zoom past our 2-year anniversary on the show, we’re honored and humbled to have hit the top of the charts on the Goodpods podcast platform!We can’t thank our Goodpods listeners enough! We love your support! Please continue giving us those 5-star ratings and send us your comments!Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer for 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, and RETHINK Retail Top Retail Influencer for 2023. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked and E-Motive, from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.The Retail Razor ShowFollow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpodsFollow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinstaFollow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreadsFollow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazorConnect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazorSubscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTubeSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShowRetail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPodHost → Ricardo Belmar,Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmarConnect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmarCo-host → Casey Golden,Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCaseyConnect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey
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    1 hr and 12 mins