How did auto allocation, AI, and smart planning help transformBealls into a true off-price leader? In this episode, Matt sits down withDarrell Gold — Senior 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 to90% auto allocation, and how tools like ProfitMind are now acceleratingdecision-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-levelaccuracy

• Why ProfitMind’s AI insights are reshaping the planning process

• The partnership between merchants and planners — “the CFOs of thebuyers”

• The evolution from heavy inventory to fast turns and freshreceipts

• The cultural transformation toward openness, listening, andshared leadership

• Becoming One Bealls and leveraging scale across planning andbuying

• Darrell’s personal story, passions, and lifelong devotion tolearning and music

This episode reveals the behind-the-scenes driving forces thathelped Bealls move faster, think smarter, and operate as an off-pricepowerhouse.

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 – Introductions

06:34 - How has Technology Changed Planning?

10:49 - ProfitMind

12:55 - Leveraging AI

20:04 - How are Stores Identified & Grouped?

22:34 - Becoming One Bealls

24:39 - Culturle at Bealls

32:47 - Practices

41:49 - Darrell Gold Outside of Bealls

45:18 - Closing

#BeallsLegacy #Leadership #PeopleFirst #Culture #PurposeDriven#ListenLearnLead #Teamwork #Inspiration #GrowthMindset #BeallsInc