January 29, 2019
The select group of business leaders will offer their insights on retailing and related topics
By Joanne Friedrick, Contributing Editor

NEW YORK—A podcast designed to help executives navigate the changing retail landscape was launched by the Retail Influencer Network—a group of industry leaders with decades of experience.

Making its debut with commentary by National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay and influencer Stacey Widlitz on topics ranging from tariffs to Twitter wars, the podcast, “Retales From the Frontline,” is hosted by Matt Rubel, a former chairman and CEO and an investor and board member of leading retailers and global brands. The podcast series provides Retail Influencer Network members with a platform to share their unique insights. Future episodes will feature entrepreneurs who are building transformative new formats, executives who are bringing brand storytelling to life and how to engage millennial shoppers, among other topics.

“Our Retail Influencer Network’s podcast has a unique perspective that you can’t find anywhere else in the industry; it’s sort of like being invited as a special guest to an intimate CEO dinner,” said Stacy Berns, president of Berns Communications Group, which launched and manages the Retail Influencer Network.

The Retail Influencer Network is a select group of the business leaders and industry voices. In addition to Shay and Widlitz, the group of about 20 includes former Saks Fifth Avenue CEO Stephen Sadove; Coresight Research CEO and global retail analyst Deborah Weinswig; and Keval Desai, partner at InterWest Partners and early-stage technology investor; and Melissa Gonzalez, founder of The Lionesque Group.

The network helps retailers and brands apply nontraditional strategies to traditional retail to successfully navigate a market where digital commerce, physical stores and experiential retail are rapidly converging. “Retales From the Frontline” is available on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher and through all other podcast providers.