Modern Retail Podcast

Hosted ByCale Weissman & Gabi Barkho

The Modern Retail Podcast is a podcast about the retail space, from legacy companies to the buzzy world of DTC startups. Every Thursday, Cale Weissman, editor of Modern Retail, interviews executives about their growth and marketing strategies. And every Saturday Gabi Barkho, senior reporter, sits down with the Modern Retail staff to chat about the latest headlines in the retail world.


All Episodes

The Modern Retail Podcast | The Honey Pot’s Bea Dixon on why ‘better-for-you is the new conventional’

Bea Dixon, founder and CEO of plant-derived feminine care brand The Honey Pot, got the idea for her startup in 2012 when she was suffering from bacterial vaginosis. Inspired...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | Rundown: Dollar Tree sells Family Dollar, GameStop bets on Bitcoin & H&M’s profit plummets

On this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses Dollar Tree’s decision to offload its struggling Family Dollar segment for $1 billion. Meanwhile, GameStop plans to close a “significant...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | Why Perelel is getting into protein after 5 years of supplement growth

When Perelel launched its first prenatal vitamin products in September 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic had upended the startup’s fundraising plan. Co-founder Victoria Thain Gioia said that rather than launch...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | Rundown: Klarna preps for IPO, Edible Brands launches edibles marketplace & an update on Nike’s turnaround plan

On this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff starts off discussing various news from buy-now, pay-later startup Klarna, including the deals with DoorDash and Walmart it struck as it...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | PopSockets is on a quest to position itself as a lifestyle brand

PopSockets is the leader of what its CEO, Jiayu Lin, likes to call the phone grip category. The company is known for small, retractable circles that come in a ...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | Modern Retail Rundown: CVS to open micro-stores, beauty sales slow down & apparel brands warn of a weak Q1

This week’s Modern Retail Rundown kicks off with news of CVS opening mini pharmacies, as part of an overall plan to scale back its large footprint. Elsewhere, the beauty...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | How Crown Affair’s CEO took the brand into Sephora and beyond to capture more of the hair-care market

Hair-care startup Crown Affair has had a big couple of years. After launching in January 2020, Crown Affair entered Sephora in 2022. The brand’s profile has grown as Crown...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | Rundown: Neiman Marcus’s store closure drama, Forever 21’s financial woes and 7-Eleven’s attempt to dodge a takeover

On this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses the drama surrounding a planned Neiman Marcus store closure in downtown Dallas. Elsewhere, reports swirl that Forever 21 is preparing...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | How Dropps got its eco-friendly cleaning products into Target

Cleaning company Dropps hit shelves in Target this week, hoping to capture market share in the competitive category by offering a “greener” alternative. And one of the first ways...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | Rundown: Target partners with Champion and Warby Parker, Starbucks overhauls menu & Americans are doom spending

On this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff discusses news from Target, which announced new partnerships with sportswear brand Champion and eyewear startup Warby Parker. Elsewhere, Starbucks’ latest turnaround...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | How Bumpin’ Blends has successfully scaled within the aisles of Walmart and Costco

When smoothie brand Bumpin’ Blends made its mass retail debut, it landed in the frozen food aisles of more than 3,100 Walmart, Target and Sprouts stores within a few...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | Rundown: Nike teams up with Skims, Celsius acquires Alani Nu & Crocs preps for tariffs

This week’s Modern Retail Rundown kicks off with big news from Nike and Skims. The two companies are creating a new women’s activewear brand called NikeSkims. Next, the staff...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | How Shinola is emphasizing its American design and manufacturing roots

Detroit-based luxury design brand Shinola sells everything from jewelry to bikes to journals. In 2019, it even opened a hotel in downtown Detroit. But the is currently laser-focused on...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | Modern Retail Rundown: Olipop now valued at $1.85B, Poppi’s Super Bowl marketing backlash & January retail layoffs

On this week’s Modern Retail Rundown, the staff kicks off the episode by discussing Olipop’s new $50 million funding round, valuing the brand at $1.85 billion. In other better-for-you...

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The Modern Retail Podcast | How Brooks harnessed the run club boom to generate record-breaking revenue

It’s been a great year for brands that sell shoes and other gear to runners.  Brooks Running, which is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, disclosed earlier this month that...

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