Podcasts
Why is Walmart aggressively divesting DTC brands?
Walmart sold Moosejaw, Bonobos, and Eloquii within just a few months, with Bonobos sold for about $235 million less than its acquisition price six years ago. These brands were acquired by Walmart between 2017 and 2018, and are now being divested one by one as the company refocuses on its core business. In this podcast episode, reporters Daphne Howland and Dani James discuss the significance of this shift for Walmart's future strategy.
Behind the Scenes: Uncovering J.C. Penney's Financial Details
Since J.C. Penney was acquired by Simon Property Group and Brookfield in 2022, its financial details have rarely been made public. In this episode of The Backroom podcast, senior reporter Daphne Howland tracks public documents to reveal the department store's actual operating conditions and future prospects.
Behind the Scenes: Insights from the 'MetaBirkin' NFT Ruling on Art and Commerce
In a closely watched trademark lawsuit, a jury ruled that NFT 'MetaBirkin' creator Mason Rothschild infringed on Hermès' trademark claims. This podcast discusses Rothschild's intention to appeal, the boundary between art and commerce, and brands' strategies in the virtual realm.
The Backroom: Where is the DTC industry headed in 2023?
Amid high inflation and tightened capital, DTC brands are shifting from 'growth at all costs' to prioritizing profitability. Retail Dive reporter Dani James and senior reporter Daphne Howland analyze the overall landscape of the DTC industry in 2023, the value of physical stores, and transformation pressures in this podcast episode.
The Backroom: Ringing in the New Year with Doug Stephens
After vaccines alleviated the pandemic, consumers returned to physical stores, but in 2022 retail remains plagued by inflation and supply chain issues. Consumers are prioritizing experiences over goods in discretionary spending. In this year-end conversation on The Backroom podcast, Daphne Howland and Doug Stephens analyze experiential retail, metaverse misconceptions, and a new era for Amazon.
Industry Observation: Retail Outlook for the Holiday Season from a Current Perspective
The 2021 holiday season performed well thanks to government relief and vaccine rollouts, but persistent inflation is squeezing household budgets, dampening discretionary spending in the second half of the year. Rising inventories, cautious consumers, and recession worries are intertwined, bringing many unknowns to the crucial fourth quarter. Senior reporter Daphne Howland and deputy editor Dani James review reports from before Black Friday to explore the industry's direction.
A Wave of Retail Bankruptcies May Be Coming Back: The Backroom Podcast Deep Dive
Against the backdrop of persistently weak consumer spending, bankruptcy risk in the retail industry has significantly intensified. The latest episode of Retail Dive's The Backroom podcast points out that the number of retailers placed on the financial distress watchlist in 2022 has increased substantially compared to last year, reflecting a rapid reversal in industry sentiment. The program delves into how balance sheet disparities, misguided investment decisions, and patterns of prolonged losses push companies to the brink of bankruptcy, and explores the cautionary implications of these cases for the entire industry.
The Backroom: Unique Consumer Behaviors This Holiday Season
In 2022, the retail industry was optimistic due to the easing of the pandemic, but persistent inflation squeezed household budgets, making consumers pragmatic and disloyal. This episode of The Backroom podcast analyzes the impact of this phenomenon on the holiday sales season and mentions a related webinar.
The Backroom: The Embers of Sears
The Sears Holdings bankruptcy proceedings have been delayed for years due to legal disputes with former CEO Eddie Lampert, and a recent $175 million settlement could finally bring the protracted battle to a close. This episode of The Backroom podcast visits one of the last remaining Sears stores in Maryland, observing its bleak state and reviewing the latest developments in the bankruptcy case.
Behind the Scenes: The Green Transformation Challenge in Retail
The retail industry faces growing consumer and policy pressure to address climate change, but actually advancing sustainable transformation is not easy. This podcast episode reviews key issues such as supply chain emissions, the role of investors, union attitudes, and ESG policy conflicts, and includes links to a series of in-depth reports.