Talk Retail to Me

The Parker Avery Group

Join retail and consumer goods industry experts for these casual ”coffee shop” discussions where The Parker Avery Group team shares insights and realistic advice from past industry experiences and the firm’s many consulting projects. Our podcast features occasional guests from the firm’s roster of retail and CPG clients, along with partners and industry colleagues. Get to know the team’s unique culture and why we form long-term relationships with so many of our clients. read less

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Expert Q&A | The New Role of Retail’s Chief Supply Chain Officer

Expert Q&A | The New Role of Retail’s Chief Supply Chain Officer

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, Parker Avery’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Kaufman shares his insights about the changing role of the retail chief supply chain officer. Answering questions from a recent interview with media outlet, Modern Retail, Robert discusses how changes in consumer shopping behaviors, combined with global macroeconomic events and disturbances have added great complexity, challenges, and risks to the retail supply chain. These issues continue to prevent a reliable and consistent flow of goods for even the largest and most sophisticated retailers and have dramatically altered the chief supply chain officer’s role and impact on the company’s success. Robert outlines new characteristics the executive-level supply chain and operations roles must possess to be successful as he addresses questions such as: What is pushing apparel brands into hiring new supply chain leaders or COOs?How have retail inventory planning and supply chain planning changed in recent years?What type of qualities are apparel brands looking for in their new chief supply chain officers?What are some of the major challenges that supply chain officers will face in the coming months? Meet CEO Robert Kaufman: https://parkeravery.com/robert-kaufman/ Read the blog version: https://parkeravery.com/podcast-expert-qa-new-role-of-retails-chief-supply-chain-officer/ Read the article in Modern Retail: https://www.modernretail.co/operations/as-supply-chain-disruption-eases-apparel-brands-are-tapping-new-leaders-to-manage-operations/ Learn about Parker Avery’s supply chain consulting services: https://parkeravery.com/retail-consumer-goods-consulting/supply-chain-services/ Listen to more Talk Retail to Me podcasts: https://parkeravery.com/retail-podcast/ Meet The Parker Avery Group: https://parkeravery.com/about-us/

Episodes

Expert Q&A | The New Role of Retail’s Chief Supply Chain Officer

Expert Q&A | The New Role of Retail’s Chief Supply Chain Officer

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, Parker Avery’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Kaufman shares his insights about the changing role of the retail chief supply chain officer. Answering questions from a recent interview with media outlet, Modern Retail, Robert discusses how changes in consumer shopping behaviors, combined with global macroeconomic events and disturbances have added great complexity, challenges, and risks to the retail supply chain. These issues continue to prevent a reliable and consistent flow of goods for even the largest and most sophisticated retailers and have dramatically altered the chief supply chain officer’s role and impact on the company’s success. Robert outlines new characteristics the executive-level supply chain and operations roles must possess to be successful as he addresses questions such as: What is pushing apparel brands into hiring new supply chain leaders or COOs?How have retail inventory planning and supply chain planning changed in recent years?What type of qualities are apparel brands looking for in their new chief supply chain officers?What are some of the major challenges that supply chain officers will face in the coming months? Meet CEO Robert Kaufman: https://parkeravery.com/robert-kaufman/ Read the blog version: https://parkeravery.com/podcast-expert-qa-new-role-of-retails-chief-supply-chain-officer/ Read the article in Modern Retail: https://www.modernretail.co/operations/as-supply-chain-disruption-eases-apparel-brands-are-tapping-new-leaders-to-manage-operations/ Learn about Parker Avery’s supply chain consulting services: https://parkeravery.com/retail-consumer-goods-consulting/supply-chain-services/ Listen to more Talk Retail to Me podcasts: https://parkeravery.com/retail-podcast/ Meet The Parker Avery Group: https://parkeravery.com/about-us/

Expert Q&A | In-Store Omnichannel Fulfillment

Expert Q&A | In-Store Omnichannel Fulfillment

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, Senior Director and omnichannel expert Rob Oglesby shares his insights into how big box retailers are handling the in-store fulfillment of omnichannel orders. Answering questions from a recent interview with media outlet Modern Retail, Rob outlines the implications, challenges, and risks, even as this capability becomes critical to many retailers’ success. Rob answers the following questions about in-store omnichannel fulfillment: What is the basic idea behind using stores as fulfillment centers?What is pushing this strategy to become popular among big box stores?What are some of the major benefits of in-store omnichannel fulfillment?Why is this strategy particularly popular with big box stores like Walmart, Ulta, and others?Do employees have dual identities as store associates and fulfillment center workers?How can retailers benefit from this type of fulfillment method?What are some of the risks or challenges of this type of strategy?How do you see this trend impacting the retail industry? Read Parker Avery's expert guide to omnichannel order management and fulfillment: https://parkeravery.com/omnichannel-order-management-and-fulfillment/ Meet Rob Oglesby: https://parkeravery.com/rob-oglesby/ Listen to more Talk Retail to Me podcasts: https://parkeravery.com/retail-podcast/ Learn more about The Parker Avery Group: https://parkeravery.com/about-us/

Transformation Happy Hour | Integrated Business Planning

Transformation Happy Hour | Integrated Business Planning

Hosted by retail demand planning experts, Sam Iosevich, Marty Anderson, and Steve Gordon, Parker Avery's recent Talk Retail to Me Transformation Happy Hour covered integrated business planning as a key strategic focus area for leading retailers and consumer brands. The trio outlined key enablers around technology, business process, and organization that help companies unleash collaboration and efficiencies with integrated business planning to help realize meaningful business improvements. During this interactive happy hour, Sam, Marty, and Steve introduced Parker Avery's retail and CPG planning maturity model and answered participants' most pressing questions regarding integrated business planning. Show resources: Insights | The Expert Guide to Integrated Business PlanningDownload | Retail and CPG Planning Maturity ModelDownload | Integrated Business Planning ResourcesParker Avery Blog | Transform Your Retail Enterprise with Advanced AnalyticsParker Avery Blog | How to Overcome the AI Hype and Drive Retail CollaborationCase Study | Unified Demand Signal Drives Global Retailer’s Enterprise AgilityCase Study | Integrated Merchandise Planning Design and Roadmap To learn how Parker Avery helps clients achieve better planning capabilities, please visit our Enterprise Intelligence page or contact us to set up a time to discuss your specific needs.

Business Process Transformation Deep Dive

Business Process Transformation Deep Dive

This episode of Parker Avery's Talk Retail to Me podcast focuses on business process transformation. Featuring two of our retail leaders, Clay Parnell and Deanna Emsley, we take a deep dive into what it means to transform business processes. We cover what areas are focus points for our clients, how Parker Avery helps retailers and consumer brands prioritize and navigate these process transformations, and what success looks like. Moderated by Senior Director, Tricia Gustin, Clay and Deanna discussed the following questions What does business process transformation mean? What might it include?Is every change in the way things are done a “business process transformation”?What is the most common trigger for a process transformation within a business?What processes or functional areas do we see the most opportunities for transformation today?Should retailers think about business process transformation as a short or long-term effort?Is business transformation usually tied to new system implementation or can it be a stand-alone activity?What are the biggest challenges our clients face when transforming their business processes? What are some key success factors when launching a business transformation effort?For more information about Parker Avery's business transformation and retail consulting services, please visit: https://parkeravery.com/retail-consulting/https://parkeravery.com/retail-consumer-goods-consulting/business-transformation/

Transformation Happy Hour | Data Governance and Retail Master Data Management

Transformation Happy Hour | Data Governance and Retail Master Data Management

With technology moving at lightning speed, proper management of master data is critical to fully take advantage of new tech innovations. Yet, many retailers struggle with master data management and overall data governance. Hosted by master data experts and retail veterans, Deanna Emsley, Heidi Csencsits, and Rob Gentry, our June 29 Talk Retail to Me Transformation Happy Hour will dive deep into the most pressing master data challenges Parker Avery's clients and other retailers are facing. Our happy hour hosts provide a brief overview of master data challenges and the implications of not having a planful approach and governance in place. Most of the happy hour is spent answering questions and having an open dialog with participants. Show resources: Download | Data governance scope and definitions infographic Download | Data governance and master data management resourcesParker Avery Blog | Project Planning: Four Considerations for Data ReadinessParker Avery Blog | Make No Mistake: Avoiding Data Governance IssuesCase Study | Master Data Consolidation Enables Core Merch TransformationCase Study | Item Master Assessment and Implementation

Transformation Happy Hour | More On Transformational Leadership

Transformation Happy Hour | More On Transformational Leadership

Back by popular demand! Due to so much interest in our earlier podcast discussion on Transformational Leadership, we hosted an online happy hour focused on the same topic so we could answer your questions in a live format. This fun, interactive event was hosted by Parker Avery OCM experts and retail veterans, Kathi Toll, Marty Anderson, and Carrie Habel who refocused the traditional paradigm of change management to a mindset that instills stronger elements of transformational leadership. Joining from three different states, three timezones, two airports, and one home office, Kathi, Carrie, and Marty discussed how retail leaders can assess and improve their ability to engage their teams to become ambassadors of meaningful transformative change. Materials and links discussed during the show: Change Management Resources (online)OCM and Transformational Leadership Resources (pdf)Change Management AssessmentThe Nordy Pod To learn how Parker Avery helps clients through transformations and navigate change, please see our change management services: https://parkeravery.com/change-management-services/

Retail Hierarchies Deep Dive

Retail Hierarchies Deep Dive

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, Parker Avery consultants and retail veterans Marty Anderson, Deanna Emsley, and Mike Johnson take a deep dive into the world of retail hierarchies. Senior Director of Marketing, Tricia Gustin, hosts the discussion, during which the experts discuss: What are retail hierarchies and what roles are involved?Why they are so often mismanaged or poorly executed?What are best practices when it comes to developing and maintaining retail hierarchies?Where does data governance factor in with hierarchies?What systems support hierarchies and which integrations are important? To learn more about Parker Avery's retail consulting services and our areas of expertise, please visit: https://parkeravery.com/consulting-services/

Allocation and Replenishment Deep Dive

Allocation and Replenishment Deep Dive

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, Parker Avery consultants take a deep dive into allocation and replenishment. Coming off the heels of Shoptalk 2023, where so many people are still reaching for the shiny tech, we are focused on ensuring the basics of retail are securely and optimally in place so those customer-facing innovations work well and deliver a great customer experience. Allocation and replenishment is one area with its share of innovations like integration to AI-driven demand forecasting, but also brings lots of opportunities to increase internal and external efficiencies and result in better inventory management and visibility. Senior Director of Marketing, Tricia Gustin, hosts Parker Avery retail experts Nia McDonald, Mike Johnson, and Dave Seeley. All are senior managers with Parker Avery and have been deep in client work focused on allocation and replenishment. To learn more about Parker Avery's retail consulting services and our areas of expertise, please visit: https://parkeravery.com/consulting-services/

Transformational Leadership

Transformational Leadership

Organizational change management and retail experts Kathi Toll and Carrie Habel discuss transformational leadership and why this competency is critically important. They outline how it differs from change management and specific tactics retailers and brands must take to evolve their organizations and people into transformational leaders. Meet Kathi Toll: https://parkeravery.com/kathi-toll/ Meet Carrie Habel: https://parkeravery.com/carrie-habel/ To learn more about The Parker Avery Group and our range of consulting services for retailers and CPG companies, please visit https://parkeravery.com. For the video version of this episode, visit: https://youtu.be/XibEpX3uuvc

Next-Generation Integrated Business Planning

Next-Generation Integrated Business Planning

In this episode of our Talk Retail to Me podcast, we discuss integrated business planning (IBP) and how Parker Avery approaches this strategic capability that many retailers and consumer brands struggle to effectively grasp because of the traditionally highly siloed nature of planning. This episode features Sam Iosevich, Parker Avery’s Chief Analytics Officer, and Steve Gordon, our Chief Customer Officer. Both Sam and Steve have deep experience with aligning organizations’ planning processes around a unified demand signal. Also joining the conversation is retail veteran and Principal Marty Anderson, who lends an industry-backed perspective from his experience implementing integrated business planning at Belk. The trio of experts outlines changes and challenges companies experience as they attempt to migrate towards more collaborative IBP, and how Parker Avery’s Enterprise Demand Intelligence solution not only easily integrates into our clients’ existing planning systems, but provides data at levels and measurements appropriate to be used by each functional area. To learn more about Parker Avery's retail and demand planning experience, clients, and consulting services, please visit https://parkeravery.com Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Product Development Deep Dive

Product Development Deep Dive

Tricia Gustin, Senior Director of Marketing for The Parker Avery Group is joined by Parker Avery’s CEO, Robert Kaufman, along with Senior Manager John Lawing. The trio takes a deep dive into the product development process and supporting PLM systems. Based on their decades of experience helping Parker Avery clients enhance this key functional area, they also highlight best practices and innovations that retailers and brands should be considering, as well as common pitfalls to avoid. Questions covered include: What is product development and what roles are involved?What key capabilities are the most important? What are the best practices for product development and PLM system implementations?Alternatively, what common mistakes or biggest challenges do you see today? What innovations can improve a company’s product development capabilities? To learn more about Parker Avery's retail and product development experience, clients, and consulting services, please visit https://parkeravery.com Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Mathematics Students Gain Retail Analytics Experience Through Parker Avery Partnership

Mathematics Students Gain Retail Analytics Experience Through Parker Avery Partnership

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, Tricia Gustin is joined by Parker Avery's Chief Analytics Officer Sam Iosevich, along with Senior Analytics Consultant Scott Kirila and Professor Alex Iosevich from the University of Rochester mathematics department. This episode provides an insider’s view of the university’s STEM Tripods 2022 summer research program. The group discusses the "real world" retail industry experience the participating students received, Parker Avery's hands-on involvement, as well as how the program continues to expand. STEM for All is a month-long summer program during which participants from the university and other local colleges, as well as some high schools, work on intensive research projects outlined by billion-dollar, global companies. The Parker Avery Group’s analytics team has been deeply involved in these STEM programs for several years, and the team will continue its partnership with UR in future research programs. To learn more and get involved in this growing program, please use the following links: Parker Avery press release 2022 version of the STEM For All program: https://people.math.rochester.edu/faculty/iosevich/stemforall2022.html Ongoing undergraduate research program: https://people.math.rochester.edu/faculty/iosevich/Fall2021DataScienceUndergradResearch.html Research paper resulting from Tripods/StemForAll2022 (Alex and Scott are co-authors): https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.12079 Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Critical Retail Pricing Capabilities for Inflationary Times

Critical Retail Pricing Capabilities for Inflationary Times

This episode of Talk Retail to Me features Principal Marty Anderson and Senior Manager Dmitry Magas, who are both retail pricing and advanced analytics experts. A few weeks ago, Maria Monteros from Modern Retail interviewed Marty and Dmitry for an article she wrote titled, “Not raising prices is the hot new inflation marketing tactic.” We invite you to sit in on their conversation, where the two experts discuss how different pricing strategies, along with deeply understanding price elasticities of your products, and the use of advanced analytics tools like Parker Avery's are capabilities that set retail leaders far ahead of their competition. Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Achieving Sustainability Maturity in the Retail Supply Chain

Achieving Sustainability Maturity in the Retail Supply Chain

This week, we welcome Mark Burstein who is the EVP, Industry & Market Development for Logility. Logility is a supply-chain-focused solution vendor that is accelerating the digital sustainable supply chain by helping retailers seize new opportunities, sense and respond to changing market dynamics, and more profitably manage their complex global businesses. Mark is also a Contributing Member of the Forbes Technology Council. Joining Mark is Parker Avery Partner Randi Nolan. The two industry experts recently attended the American Apparel and Footwear Association’s Traceability and Sustainability Conference held in beautiful downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In this episode, we discuss their key takeaways from the AAFA conference, as well as why retailers need to start now with a clear roadmap that includes sustainability in the supply chain. They also touch on where other retailers are in their sustainability efforts, as well as critical first steps retailers must take to achieve sustainable supply chain maturity. Learn more about Logility: https://www.logility.com/ Learn more about the AAFA: https://www.aafaglobal.org/ Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Retail Pricing and Promotions Deep Dive

Retail Pricing and Promotions Deep Dive

This week, Parker Avery Principal Marty Anderson along with Senior Managers Heidi Csencsits and Dmitry Magas discuss retail pricing and promotions. The three industry experts expand on their recent core merchandising conversation and take a deep dive into another key retail capability area. Along with host Tricia Gustin, the team covers: What is involved in the effective management of pricing and promotions?What key capabilities are the most important?What common mistakes or challenges do you see? What innovations can improve a company’s capabilities in this area? To learn more about Parker Avery's retail experience, clients, and services, please visit https://parkeravery.com Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Merchandise Financial Planning Deep Dive

Merchandise Financial Planning Deep Dive

In this episode, The Parker Avery Group continues our focus on core retail functions and we cover merchandise financial planning (MFP). Senior Director of Marketing, Tricia Gustin is joined by Senior Managers LouAnn Villasor and Russ Smith, both of whom have deep experience in merchandise financial planning business processes and system implementation across a wide variety of retailers. In this discussion, we focus on MFP challenges, innovations, and key capabilities. To learn more about Parker Avery's retail experience, clients, and services, please visit https://parkeravery.com Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Welcome to The Parker Avery Group Steve Gordon

Welcome to The Parker Avery Group Steve Gordon

This week, Parker Avery’s Chief Analytics Officer and Managing Partner, Sam Iosevich, and Senior Director of Marketing, Tricia Gustin, welcome Steve Gordon into the firm. Steve is an apparel, grocery, and CPG industry veteran with over three decades of experience as a retail industry insider, business development professional, and consultant. He joins The Parker Avery Group as the firm's Chief Customer Officer. Learn about Steve and Sam's long career history together and the key tenets they share about company culture, clients, and teams. Read Steve's press release: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/the-parker-avery-group-expands-firms-executive-team/ Learn more about The Parker Avery Group's consulting and analytics services: https://parkeravery.com/services/ Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Organizational Change Management and DEI Converge

Organizational Change Management and DEI Converge

In this episode, guest Michelle Bogan joins our discussion. Michelle's firm, Equity at Work, provides consulting to companies focused on developing DEI strategies to align business objectives, employee experiences, and company values. Equity at Work also supports company leaders in driving the appropriate changes. This episode also features Kathi Toll and Carrie Habel, who both lead Parker Avery’s Organizational Change Management Academy and OCM projects for the firm's clients, as well as Tricia Gustin, the firm's marketing leader. The discussion focuses on: Michelle's extensive retail backgroundHow and why she started her firm Equity at WorkThe parallels between omnichannel retail and DEI effortsHow organizational change management can support DEI efforts Michelle also provides her advice for companies embarking on or struggling with navigating diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more about Parker Avery's change management services: https://parkeravery.com/change-management-leadership/Learn more about Equity at Work: https://equity-at-work.com/Meet Michelle Bogan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleebogan/Meet Kathi Toll: https://parkeravery.com/pag-team-kathi/Meet Carrie Habel: https://parkeravery.com/pag-team-carrie/Meet Tricia Gustin: https://parkeravery.com/pag-team-tricia/ ----more----Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Core Merchandising Deep Dive

Core Merchandising Deep Dive

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, we kick off a series that will focus on specific business areas across retail and CPG. Over the next few months, we’re going to take a deep dive into all areas of merchandising, planning, supply chain, forecasting, omnichannel, and more. For each of these business areas, Parker Avery's team of experts gets into basics and details, covering questions like: What does this area encompass?What key capabilities are the most important?What retailers or consumer brand companies excel at it?What common mistakes or challenges do you see?What innovations can improve a company’s capabilities in this area?This week we focus on core merchandising, featuring: Marty Anderson, PrincipalHeidi Csencsits, Senior ManagerTricia Gustin, Senior Director of Marketing (and host) To learn more about Parker Avery's retail and CPG experience and our array of consulting services, we invite you to visit: https://parkeravery.com/. Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.

Welcome to The Parker Avery Group Randi Nolan

Welcome to The Parker Avery Group Randi Nolan

This week, Clay Parnell, Parker Avery’s President and Managing Partner, and Tricia Gustin, Senior Director of Marketing, welcome retail industry leader Randi Nolan into the firm. Randi has an extensive list of executive titles across global retail and apparel brands—and her accomplishments are widely recognized throughout the industry. The trio discusses Randi's extensive career in retail, as well as their perspectives on key focus areas for retailers as they navigate 2022 and beyond. To learn more about Parker Avery's team, we invite you to visit: https://parkeravery.com/pag-team/. Featured on the Best 60 Retail Podcasts Introduction music: On My Way by Kevin MacLeod | Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way | License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay.