Cutting Through the Retail Technology Clutter with Brendan Witcher, VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester

We welcome Brendan Witcher, Forrestor's VP & Principal Analyst back to the pod to get his always insightful and provocative perspectives on retailer's priorities for 2024. He helps us separate the real from the imagined with a preview of his upcoming report on where retailers are placing their bets for the future. We start with his takes on what makes the "Hype" list, as well as what should be on most retailer's radar screens. Then it's on to the top ten priorities, including hot areas in omni-channel fulfillment, personalization, AI, and guided selling.

As usual we start with our perspectives on the most important news of the week, including WeWork's bankruptcy and how worried we should be about the contagion effect from an ever shakier office market. Then it's on to positive news as Walmart stock hits an all time high on the heels of its big store investment plans. We shift to dissecting earnings from some of the OG's of disruptive DTC as Warby Parker, ThredUp, and TheRealReal report. We concluded with news of Overstock.com's rebranding to Beyond as they also show their CEO the door.

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We've been nominated for the Top Retail Voice Award and can use your help. It's easy to vote for us.

1. Go Here

2. Register to vote

3. Vote for the Remarkable Retail podcast in The Retail Voice Award category.

Brendan's First Podcast Appearance (April 2021)

Remembering BlueStar’s Steve Cuntz

We welcome Brendan Witcher, Forrestor's VP & Principal Analyst back to the pod to get his always insightful and provocative perspectives on retailer's priorities for 2024. He helps us separate the real from the imagined with a preview of his upcoming report on where retailers are placing their bets for the future. We start with his takes on what makes the "Hype" list, as well as what should be on most retailer's radar screens. Then it's on to the top ten priorities, including hot areas in omni-channel fulfillment, personalization, AI, and guided selling.

As usual we start with our perspectives on the most important news of the week, including WeWork's bankruptcy and how worried we should be about the contagion effect from an ever shakier office market. Then it's on to positive news as Walmart stock hits an all time high on the heels of its big store investment plans. We shift to dissecting earnings from some of the OG's of disruptive DTC as Warby Parker, ThredUp, and TheRealReal report. We concluded with news of Overstock.com's rebranding to Beyond as they also show their CEO the door.

**********************************

We've been nominated for the Top Retail Voice Award and can use your help. It's easy to vote for us.

1. Go to https://lnkd.in/g5bGMey5

2. Register to vote

3. Vote for the Remarkable Retail podcast in The Retail Voice Award category.

Brendan's First Podcast Appearance (April 2021)

About Brendan

As VP and Principal Analyst for Forrester Research, Brendan is a leading expert on consumer behavior, market developments, and tech trends in commerce. Considered a notable authority on strategies for achieving digital excellence, he often keynotes industry events and is sought after frequently for commentary by media outlets such as Bloomberg, CNBC, Marketplace, NPR, PBS, The Economist, Time, and The Wall Street Journal.

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor, board member, and keynote speaker focused on strategic growth and transformation and the impact of digital disruption. He is the author of the bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption and the forthcoming Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , which will be published in March 2024 and is now available for pre-order at book retailers everywhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

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 eCommerce Leaders podcast, and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. 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!

Join us at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York June 23rd and 24th with this exclusive discount code for 10% off general admission tickets and FREE retail tickets: Your code is "REMARKABLE" . See you in the Big Apple!

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 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.