How did auto allocation, AI, and smart planning help transform Bealls into a true off-price leader? In this episode, Matt sits down with Darrell Gold — Vice President of Merchandise Planning — to unpack the systems, decisions, and mindset shifts that reshaped the company.Darrell explains the early days of manual allocation, the leap to 90% auto allocation, and how tools like ProfitMind are now accelerating decision-making across thousands of classes and stores. Together, they explore how planning became a strategic engine for speed, accuracy, and off-price excellence.They discuss:• How auto allocation increased efficiency and improved store-level accuracy• Why ProfitMind’s AI insights are reshaping the planning process• The partnership between merchants and planners — “the CFOs of the buyers”• The evolution from heavy inventory to fast turns and fresh receipts• The cultural transformation toward openness, listening, and shared leadership• Becoming One Bealls and leveraging scale across planning and buying• Darrell’s personal story, passions, and lifelong devotion to learning and musicThis episode reveals the behind-the-scenes driving forces that helped Bealls move faster, think smarter, and operate as an off-price powerhouse.Interested in a Career at Bealls? – https://www.beallsinc.com/beallsinc/careers Follow Bealls Legacy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bealls-legacy/Episode Timeline:00:00 – Introductions06:34 - How has Technology Changed Planning?10:49 - ProfitMind12:55 - Leveraging AI20:04 - How are Stores Identified & Grouped?22:34 - Becoming One Bealls24:39 - Culture at Bealls32:47 - Practices41:49 - Darrell Gold Outside of Bealls45:18 - Closing#BeallsLegacy #Leadership #PeopleFirst #Culture #PurposeDriven #ListenLearnLead #Teamwork #Inspiration #GrowthMindset #BeallsInc