Are Small Stores the Answer to Department Stores Woes?

This week we ask the question: can small stores save department stores? And do they, in fact, need saving? Despite the suggestion that the department stores may be rebounding, it is looking more like a dead-cat bounce. In response to decades long declines, Macy's and Kohl's are placing big bets on rolling out smaller stores as a way to revitalize market share growth. We dig into how we got here, why most departments stores have engaged in timid transformations, where we're going and what needs to happen to make a small store strategy work. We also explore Nordstrom's "Local" format strategy and whether a hub and spoke go-to-market strategy may be the way forward.

But first we open up with the retail news that caught our attention this week, including our take on what to make of last week's monthly retail sales data and a slew of earnings reports. As we heard from Walmart, TJX, Kohl's and others the vexing question is how they got stuck with so much inventory and what Target smart to take a big hit this past quarter. Then we discuss the new buy online pick up on floor initiative from Yeezy at the Gap, before dipping into a Business Insider story (pay wall) on Amazon's reboot of its physical store strategy. We close with a visit to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner as "disruptor brands" largely continue to underwhelm.

Thanks to our presenting sponsor, MarketDial!

GroceryShop discount offer:

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Past podcast episodes of note:

Honey, I Shrunk the Stores

Amazon and the Fault in Their Stores

The Mall is Dead (Long Live the Mall)

Blow It Up? It's Time for The Great Reconfiguration

About Us

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is now available at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.

Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2026 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.