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PODCAST

The Voice of Retail

Michael LeBlanc

The Voice of Retail is a weekly podcast hosted by retail pioneer, advisor and keynote speaker Michael LeBlanc and is produced in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. Each and every week I interview the most interesting people in and around the retail industry, examining the key issues and strategies on the minds of thought leaders in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. © 2018-2025 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.

business management

All Episodes

00:32:53

A Retail Success Story 40 Years in the Making: Gary...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/07/05

Meet DUER founder and CEO Gary Lenet. This Vancouver-based brand features performance fabrics beyond denim in bottoms, tops, and outerwear for both men and women. It boasts a global wholesale network of over 1,000 doors, six retail locations in Canada, with one more on the way in Ottawa and the US, and a rapidly expanding North American e-commerce presence. Its vision is to be plastic fibre-free by 2028, and it is a success story 40 years in the making. About MichaelMichael is the president and

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00:23:55

AI Meets Merchandising with Michaela Wessels, CEO &...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/06/28

Meet Michaela Wessels, CEO and co-founder of Style Arcade. Forbes described her innovative AI merchandising solution as the 'first of its kind' for retail, so I wanted to learn more. Michaela shares her industry insights and insights into the AI-powered tool that replaces spreadsheets with intelligent analytics and digital range planning. About MichaelaWith background in finance and over a decade of global retail experience, including formative roles at Truworths, Lacoste and The Iconic as VP of

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00:31:55

A Model for 10x eCommerce Growth with Sabir Semerkant

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/06/21

Meet Sabir Semerkant, an eCommerce consulting guru with 25+ years in e-commerce and over a billion dollars in revenue growth to his credit. Sabir shares insights into his framework, which unlocks 2X-10X growth for any e-commerce business with Product-Market Fit. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has

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00:30:59

Around The World & Back Again: Veteran Retailer James...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/06/14

In a wide-ranging and overdue conversation, I catch up with James Connell, one of the industry's most experienced retail marketing, customer experience, brand and omnichannel executives. We talk about the evolution of customer experience, marketplaces, lessons learned from Asia and abroad, and his local & global consulting work here in Canada About JamesJames has 25+ years of senior leadership experience in developing marketing, ecommerce, and customer experiences with a global lens. The bulk of

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00:23:46

Fashion Meets Purpose with Rob Smith, CEO and Founder...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/06/07

Welcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.My guest on this Encore episode from the summer of 2023 is Rob Smith, veteran retailer and now the CEO and Founder of The Phluid Project, GET Phluid, and The Phluid Phoundation; he has created a brand, combining his profession with his passion and a commitment to social justice. Rob and I first met when he was a guest on the Remarkable Retail podcast during the

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00:31:42

A Masterclass In Retail Returns & Reverse Logistics...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/05/31

In this episode, I tap into John Lee's decades of reverse retail logistics experience. He discusses the importance of a seamless customer returns process, reasons for cart abandonment due to unclear return methods, and strategies using data analytics and personalization to reduce returns. We also explore managing high return rates, innovative solutions for non-restockable items, challenges in store handling of returns, best practices in reverse logistics, and leveraging returns for environmental

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00:37:13

Radical Innovation, Leadership and Winning Every Race...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/05/24

On this episode, I sit down with a colleague from back in my work on the brand side, Craig Baxter, Group President ofTechtronic Industries Canada Inc., part of a global 13 billion dollar powerhouse tool house of brands that includes Milwaukee, Ryobi, andHoover. In a wide-ranging and engaging conversation, Craig talks about radical innovation, retail go-to-market strategy, leadership for growth, and the epic come-from-behind marketplace win for his Milwaukee brand of power tools as the sixth horse in

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00:39:45

Live from SMU in Dallas, Texas, Steve Dennis &...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/05/17

Recorded at the Cox School of Business at SMU in Dallas, Texas, in front of a live studio audience, my guest is my good friend and Remarkable Retail podcast partner Steve Dennis on the occasion of the book launch event for Leaders Leap, his latest book already climbing up the charts as one of the top business books of the year. About SteveSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor, board member, and keynote speaker focused on strategic growth and transformation and the impact of digital disruption. He is

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00:24:46

The Inside Story Behind Ikea Canada's "Second-Hand...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/05/10

My guests on this episode are Tanya Bevington, Head of Communications for IKEA Canada, and Anthony Chelvanathan, Chief Creative Officer at Edelman Canada. They discuss the insights and unique creative partnership behind Ikea Canada's clever and brilliant "Second-Hand Tax (SHT) is Happening" campaign.The brand discovered recently that in Canada, there is a 'harmonized sales tax' (HST) added to sales receipts for resold items, meaning second-hand purchases are taxed twice. Ontario, where

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00:23:55

Decoding The True Cost of Retail Fraud: Insights with...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/05/03

In this episode, we're talking about evolving fraud trends in retail with Kim Sutherland, Vice President of Fraud and Identity from LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Explore strategies for mitigating fraud risks while maintaining a seamless customer experience. Gain insights from their latest True Cost of Fraud study, which revealed the significant financial impact on businesses globally. Discover how enterprises balance investment in fraud prevention with profitability, leveraging technology and data

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00:29:06

Hard-Fought Leadership Lessons from U.S. Navy Seal &...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/04/26

In this leadership-focussed episode, something different, something new. My guest is Taylor Cavanaugh, who takes a big, complicated life and shares insights from his time with the U.S. Navy Seals and the French Foreign Legion (the first American in history to be part of both), emphasizing leadership and resilience. He discusses his public exposure on "Soft White Underbelly," one of my favourite interview shows, and discusses the philosophy of having "no plan B" while stressing adaptability to

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00:28:48

Navigating Transparency in Sustainability Goals with...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/04/19

Meet Alicia Chin, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact at VF Corporation, who discusses activewear brand and retailer icebreaker's open admission of falling short in their 100% plastic-free ambition. We delve into the challenges, the progress made, and how their transparency sets a precedent for retail industry-wide sustainability efforts. Hear about icebreaker's innovative approaches and their pledge to ongoing improvement in this episode that is perfect for the times. About

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00:25:08

A Fresh Take on Retail Leadership with Deb Craven,...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/04/12

Meet Deb Craven, President of Longo's, one of Canada's most popular grocery stores with dozens of locations and more on the way across Southern Ontario. I joined Deb in the Longo's Store Support offices, and we talked about leadership and what it takes to innovate and compete in the crowded Southern Ontario grocery marketplace. Deb also previews her upcoming keynote for Retail Council of Canada's Retail HR conference on April 25th. Learn more and get your tickets today:

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00:35:40

Leadership Lessons from Rose Patten, Chancellor of...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/04/05

Meet Rose Patten, one of Canada's pre-eminent business and strategic thinkers. We talk about her life, stellar career, role as Chancellor of the University of Toronto, and her book, Intentional Leadership, filled with insights on strategy and leadership that you need to hear again, or for the first time, in my interview from spring 2023.In this episode, Meet Rose Patten, O.C., one of Canada's pre-eminent business and strategic thinkers, special advisor to the CEO at BMO, inductee to the Hall of Fame

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00:31:09

Bionic Retail: How to Thrive in an Exponential World...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/03/28

Gary Hawkins is a visionary and retail industry treasure whose deep industry knowledge combines operational experience and technology savvy to provide a unique perspective. Gary joins Michael to discuss his fourth book, coming this April but available for pre-order now, "Bionic Retail: How to Thrive in an Exponential World." About GaryGary Hawkins has been described as a visionary and retail industry treasure, whose deep knowledge of the industry combines with operational experience and technology

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00:33:02

ALL PRIDE, NO EGO: A Queer Executive's Journey to...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/03/22

Jim Fielding's dynamic career has spanned senior leadership roles at top global brands, including Disney, DreamWorks, and Twentieth Century Fox, anchored in experience and an early career at The Gap, Lands' End, and as CEO of Claire's Stores; He joins me in an exclusive interview to talk about this new book ALL PRIDE, NO EGO: A Queer Executive's Journey to Living and Leading Authentically with leadership, retail and life lessons you need to hear. About JimJim Fielding is a partner at Archer Gray and

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00:34:04

Driving Retail Transformation with consultant and...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/03/15

Retail Transformation maven Oliver Banks is back on the podcast live from the U.K., discussing his new book, "Driving Retail Transformation: How to Navigate Disruption and Change." Using a clever set of automotive metaphors, Oliver takes us through his retail transformation steering wheel tool. He takes us to a better place in our journey to becoming a high-performing retailer. About OliverOliver Banks is an expert consultant working with senior leaders to transform retail businesses and

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00:23:00

A View To Rapid Store Expansion with Bill Moir,...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/03/08

Bill Moir, Managing Director and EVP Canada for Specsavers is back on the podcast as this Vancouver-based international retailer celebrates the opening of its 100th store in Canada, including a successful launch in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, with plans for expansion into Manitoba. Together, we unpack the successful business model and marketing strategies that have powered Specsavers rapid growth in Canada, lessons learned, and their winning formula for better eyecare for

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00:32:53

The Past, Present and Future of Retail RFID with...

The Voice of Retail ·

2024/03/01

Meet Marshal Kay, Global Director, Retail Transformation Services for Avery Dennison Smartrac, who takes us through the retail business case for RFID, from supper accurate inventory to Loss Prevention, seamless self-checkout and more, and what it takes to break through with this robust process and technology solution. Avery Dennison's RFID homepageThe video recording of Walmart's presentation at the RFID Journal LIVE conference in May 2023 (including a link to get the slides themselves)Some good

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