Claim OwnershipFuture Shop Podcast with WSL
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© 2025 Future Shop Podcast with WSL
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Our podcast focuses on how shoppers are transforming retail and what you need to do about it. Retail strategist and shopping futurist Wendy Liebmann shares her passionate, unvarnished shopper-centric view of where retail is headed. She interviews experts in retail, marketing, insights, design, education, and more. She and the WSL team regularly share excerpts from WSL’s latest proprietary shopper research about what’s coming next. The Future Shop Podcast is a no-holds-barred view of what shoppers want, what you need to deliver, who’s getting it right, and who’s getting it wrong. And why. In this fast and furious view, you will begin to understand how to anticipate the future that’s emerging right under your nose. WSL Strategic Retail is a leader in shopper insights and retail strategy. It helps clients around the world anticipate change in order to grow in the near and longer-term. It is recognized for its ground-breaking How America Shops® and How the World Shops research. Visit us at: www.wslstrategicretail.com
90 Episodes
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In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Keith Sleight, expert in “shopping understanding”, who most recently lead the Shopper Centre of Excellence at Unilever, about the state of shopper insights and where it’s headed. They discuss: The biggest changes in the shopper research field over the last five yearsHow “connected commerce” has changed how companies need to study shopping behaviorsHow we have more data than ever, but not necessarily more insight -- or contextThe impact of AI on researc...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Diana Melencio, partner at XRC Ventures, an investor in the early-stage intersection of consumer behavior and technology, and its investment approach in the health, beauty, and technology sectors. They discuss: How XRC finds opportunities (one way: scraping the web)The touchpoints of the consumer journey that have become so critical in understanding opportunitiesThe challenges of growth when physical retail is shrinking, where stores will b...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Honaman, Head, Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development at Amazon (AWS) about innovation and what expertise -- technology and people driven -- is required to build a modern company. They discuss: Real life use cases for how AI – and generative AI – is transforming work for retailers and brands, whether it’s product design or writing corporate manuals.How to innovate in the future. Where to go to be inspired. They di...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Joanna Jensen, founder of Child’s Farm, the British multi-award winning, baby and child personal care brand that took leadership of the category from behemoth Johnson’s Baby. They discuss: How to take on the biggest brand and win.Why passion so often leads to disruptive brand and retail innovation.That the spending power of women will drive growth – now and in the future.Why the physical store still matters: it’s the power of social interaction.The imp...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Catherine Magee, co-founder of Playground, the sexual health and wellness brand, about the opportunities and challenges facing this newly emerging area of women’s health. They discuss: How sexual health and wellness is the last frontier of overall health and wellness.That 60 million women in the US suffer from some sexual health or pleasure issue often driven by a life stage change such as pregnancy, peri-menopause or menopause. How social media i...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Honaman, Head of Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development for Amazon Web Services. They preview 2025, and what winning companies are doing – and need to do – to capitalize on the latest technology…and other things. They discuss: The continuing tension around pricing.How AI is quickly becoming ingrained into the everyday business culture; from supply chain to CRM, ecommerce and marketing transformationThe state and future ...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Norm de Greve, Global CMO of General Motors, and former CMO of CVS Health, about transforming industries, retailers and companies, and the role marketing plays. They discuss: How to keep the shopper with you as you manage dramatic changeThe importance of protecting the shopping experience during transformationHow not to become a victim of short-term profitability while investing in changeHow to keep your eye on the product and the experience it deliver...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Jacqueline Windsor, partner in Strategy and Deals for the Consumer Market and UK Head of Retail, PwC, London about the differences and similarities between the UK and US consumer and retail markets, and where to find growth in the coming years. They discuss: Unlocking the power of consumer tribes vs. demographic segments.The role of the store (a clue: it’s no longer a transactional channel alone).How to build a successful omni strategy; how many stores...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to WSL’s president, Candace Corlett about the emerging Gen A population, and other opportunistic shopper segments that can drive much needed retail growth in the near future. They discuss: The size of the Gen A cohort. What makes them unique.Whether Gen A is ready for prime-time shopping or merely influencers. At least for now.Why the 50+ population is the bigger opportunity today – and ripe to drive retail growth. Imm...
In this episode Wendy Liebmann talks to Michael Wysong, CEO of Care Pharmacies about the challenges and opportunities to deliver health care at retail in the future. They discuss: How to deliver more personalized, local health care the way people need and want it in times of great complexity Learning from diverse operators, with unique propositionsUsing technology, including AI, to enhance the relationship with patients How to create intimacy in retail relationships in order to deli...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Debbie Kelly, WSL’s director of insights, about the latest How America Shops® research that reveals how often unrecognized populations shifts can drive traffic and volume growth. They discuss: How marketers need to look beyond traditional demographic stereotypes for growth in the future.Why single-person and multi-generational households provide some of the biggest traffic and volume opportunities now -- and will in the future.How weekly shopping trips...
Wendy Liebmann, WSL’s CEO and Chief Shopper and Justin Honaman, Head of Worldwide Retail & CPG, GTM & Segment Leader for Food & Beverages for Amazon Web Services, continue discussions about emerging technology and the implications for the future of retail. They discuss: The tension points at retail: prices, efficiency and where to invest.AI: is it hype or not? New and different ways to use AI to become more efficientPersonalization and composable commerce, and what that looks lik...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Sri Rajagopalan, co-founder and co-host of The GPG Guys and founder of Think Blue, about the fast-changing dynamics of retail, what’s plaguing board rooms, and what retail leaders needs to address right now. They discuss: Retail’s number one problem post-Covid: driving volumeHow digital influences virtually every purchase Why the role of the in-store end cap is significantly diminished nowThe urgent need for marketers to get away from their ...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Reema Jweied-Guegel, Director, AARP Enterprise Strategy Group about the growing population of caregivers, who they are, the challenges they face, and how retailers and brands can support them. They discuss: WSL’s latest How America Shops® research which indicates that 6/10 Americans take care of someone’s health other than their own, That a growing number of caregivers are Gen Z and younger Millennials.What the caregivers’ lives of perpetual juggl...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Claudia Lloreda, founder and general manager of Blush-Bar, the Latin American beauty specialty retailer about creating a unique beauty experience for Gen Z shoppers. They discuss: How to create a unique beauty retail experience for Gen Z, by challenging the established orderWhy sustaining a clear shopper-led vision – and passion – is so critical to successThe importance of creating an experience that reflects the values and needs of younger shoppers ...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Lindsey Braun, Vice President of Research & Operations at HABRI (the Human Animal Bond Research Institute) about the power of pets to positively impact the health and wellbeing of people – and retail. They discuss: The science behind the pet–human connection and the power pets have to change lives. (It’s real.)How having a pet can improve overall health and wellbeing, including mental health, autism, and medical outcomesWith the ageing of Ame...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann, WSL’s CEO and Chief Shopper talks to Helena Foulkes, current board member of Costco & Harry’s, former president of CVS Pharmacy and CEO and Board Member of the Hudson’s Bay Company, amongst other roles. They discuss: Her reflections on the pandemic: What she has learned about retail, leadership and the future. How and why the power dynamic shifted from manufacturer to retailer to technology -- and now to consumers.The lasting effects of the p...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann, WSL’s CEO and Chief Shopper talks to Mara Sipzener, General Manager of Loyalty at CVS Pharmacy about what’s driving all the recent activity and upgrades to retail loyalty programs. They discuss: What shoppers expect to be loyal todayWhy CVS, Walmart, Target Bath & Body Works, and others have upgraded their programs recentlyHow loyalty programs need to focus on not only delivering affordability (discounts) but also convenience and personalizationHow...
Wendy Liebmann, WSL’s CEO and Chief Shopper and Justin Honaman, Head of Worldwide Retail & CPG, GTM & Segment Leader for Food & Beverages for Amazon Web Services, continue discussions about emerging technology and the implications for the future of retail. They discuss: How quickly companies are integrating generative AI into operating systemsEfficiency plays that are delivering better access to information and images fasterThe intense focus on stores and how new technologi...
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Craig Dubitsky, founder of Happy™ products, about his recent launch of Happy™ Coffee, his partnership with Robert Downey Jr., and how philanthropy is embedded in reinventing the category at retail. They discuss: What it takes to be a serial entrepreneur (a clue: it’s being obsessed with people)How to disrupt massive, CPG categories, including home care, lip care, oral care and now coffeeBuilding a unique business model based on bringing happiness...
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