retail news in context, analysis with attitude

Published on: November 25, 2021

A Note from the Content Guy…

Happy Thanksgiving.  On the off chance that you missed any of the MNB/In Conversation segments that I've posted over the past week or so during the celebration of MorningNewsBeat's 20th anniversary, I'm bringing them all together here, for easy bingeing.  I appreciate all the kind comments that I've received about them, and hope you've found them to be thoughtful, insightful and entertaining.

Enjoy!  Have a great holiday weekend.  I'll see you Monday.

P.S.  There will be more to come.  So stay tuned.

Published on: November 25, 2021

Yael Cosset, the CIO at Kroger, joins us today for this conversation that is part of a series of chats with industry luminaries, timed to MNB's 20th anniversary.  Cosset talks about how Kroger continues to define "essential" in its customer-facing initiatives, and about how the company does a better job talking about its "big swings," and needs to be more effective at communicating about the daily innovations and advances that it makes in making its customers lives better.

If you want to download and listen to this conversation as a podcast, click below.

Published on: November 25, 2021

This morning's entry in our continuing series of conversations keyed to the celebration of MNB's 20th anniversary is with Stephen Smith, president/CEO of LL Bean, in which he talks about his career over the past 20 years from Hannaford in Maine, to various Walmart international divisions, and then back to Maine with one of the world's most iconic brands.  And, Steve talks about how great brands have to understand the fragility of their reputations, as well as lessons learned at LL Bean that would be applicable to the food business.

If you want to download and listen to this conversation as a podcast, click below.

Published on: November 25, 2021

Today, our "MorningNewsBeat @ 20" conversation is with longtime industry executive Judy Spires, who shares lessons from her career and perspectives on having run companies as different as Acme and Balducci's and King's.  And, Judy and KC bond over the passion KC's late father felt for Balducci's tomatoes.

If you'd like to download and listen to this conversation as a podcast, click below:

Published on: November 25, 2021

Today's completely outside-the-lines guest in our continuing series of "MNB @ 20" conversations is Stu Upson, CEO of the USA Pickleball Association.  Not only does Stu talk about the process of growing - and controlling the growth - of the nation's fastest growing participatory sport, but he also draws a through line to his experience there from previous leadership tenures at Major League Baseball Properties, Skip Barber Racing, the US Bowling Congress and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.  

If you want to download and listen to this conversation as a podcast, click below.

Published on: November 25, 2021

The continuing goal of "The Innovation Conversation" is to explore some facet of the fast-changing, technology-driven retail landscape and how it affects businesses and consumers. It is, we think, fertile territory ... and one that Tom Furphy - a former Amazon executive, the originator of Amazon Fresh, and currently CEO and Managing Director of Consumer Equity Partners (CEP), a venture capital and venture development firm in Seattle, WA, that works with many top retailers and manufacturers - is uniquely positioned to address.

Today, Tom and KC offer a selective look back over the past 20 years of innovation.

If you'd like to listen to The Innovation Conversation as an audio podcast, click below.

Published on: November 25, 2021

Today, as part of our series of conversations built around MNB's 20 anniversary - which happens to be today - KC and Michael Sansolo have an extended and (we hope) entertaining chat about the last 20 years, the innovations that have defined the two decades and their work, and answer some of the common questions posed by ther MNB community.

If you want to download and listen to this conversation as a podcast, click below.

Published on: November 25, 2021

The first edition of MNB was posted on November 19, 2001 … the video below is a brief look back at 20 years of MNB … some of the places I've been and, most importantly, just some of the wonderful people I've met along the way.

I offer this with grateful thanks to you - the MNB community - for making it lively and keeping me honest.  To paraphrase the song … I've always gotten by with help from my friends.

Enjoy.