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PODCAST

The Retail Perch

Shekar Raman Gary Hawkins

The Retail Perch podcast is hosted by the powerful duo Shekar Raman, CEO of Birdzi and Gary Hawkins, CEO of Center for Advancing Retail & Technology (CART). We are happy to report that we have made the "Top 15 Grocery Industry Podcasts to Follow in 2021" by Feedspot. The list can be found here: https://blog.feedspot.com/grocery_industry_podcasts/This podcast aims to provide a fresh perspective and framework for how you view your everyday grocery trips. Whether you're a retailer,

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All Episodes

36:12

127. Defining Reality for Your Team with Steve Worthy

The Retail Perch ·

2025/12/23

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman sits down with Steve Worthy, Managing Director and North America Head of Growth at Competitor IQ, and CEO of Worthy Retail Global. With more than 27 years in retail, Steve brings a deep leadership perspective shaped by decades of industry experience.They discuss the importance of clear communication, defining reality for your team, and how retail leaders can navigate the ongoing AI shift. Steve shares practical guidance on leading through change and

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45:30

Where Data Meets Retail Innovation with Zoher Karu

The Retail Perch ·

2025/12/09

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman is joined by Zoher Karu to discuss data, analytics, and what it takes to make information truly actionable. Zoher shares his journey from earning a PhD in Electrical Engineering at MIT to building a career focused on customer data and enterprise wide analytics, including his role as VP and Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Blue Shield of California. They explore how companies with growing data sets can approach leveraging them effectively, and

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26:11

125. Behind Today’s Retail Shift: SNAP, Marketing,...

The Retail Perch ·

2025/11/18

In this episode of The Retail Perch, hosts Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins take a closer look at some of the shifts shaping today’s retail environment. They talk about SNAP funding changes and what they could mean for retailers, how marketing can move beyond coupons and traditional loyalty programs, how merchandising and marketing can work more closely together, and the future of retail media networks. Together they offer a grounded look at where retail is now and where it may be headed next.

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56:07

124. Peter Bond: The Power of Connection in Retail

The Retail Perch ·

2025/11/04

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins are joined by Peter Bond, Co-Host of The CPG Guys and Head of Industry and Client Engagement at Flywheel. Peter discusses the role of the podcast community in building meaningful connections across retail and CPG, how shopper expectations have evolved and what that means for brands and retailers today, and his work with co-host Sri Rajagopalan contributing to Cornell Tech’s Retail Media Strategy program. The conversation blends

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52:04

123. The Human Journey of Retail and AI with Dave...

The Retail Perch ·

2025/10/21

In this episode of Retail Perch, Dave Finnegan, Chief Connection Officer at Black Finn and Ambassador to the CMO and Digital Councils at the National Retail Federation, joins Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins to discuss how AI and anthropology come together to shape the future of retail through empathy, innovation, and human connection.

en-US

37:39

122. Healthy Choices, Smarter Shopping: Galen...

The Retail Perch ·

2025/10/07

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins are joined by Galen Karlan-Mason, Founder & CEO of GreenChoice.Galen reflects on his journey from grad school, where he struggled with grocery shopping, nutrition labels, and shopping in line with his environmental values, to creating GreenChoice. Born from those challenges, GreenChoice is a platform designed to make healthier and more sustainable shopping easier. The discussion explores his path as a founder, the inspiration

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38:17

121. AI in Retail: Risks, Realities, and the Future...

The Retail Perch ·

2025/09/16

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Gary Hawkins and guest co-host Courtney Adams welcome Lee Gaul, AI Expert at Long Horizon AI, for a candid conversation about artificial intelligence.Lee brings a cautionary perspective, looking beyond the hype to explore both the opportunities and the risks of AI. He discusses its manipulative and subconscious effects, addresses common concerns about an “AI takeover,” and shares how businesses can engage with AI responsibly to drive innovation while mitigating

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43:31

120. Virginia Marsh on The Power of Data in Retail

The Retail Perch ·

2025/09/02

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins are joined by Virginia Marsh, Head of Data, Agency & Platforms at Fluent Inc. Virginia’s career began loading trucks in Puerto Rico and took a pivotal turn when she taught herself to code on a Commodore computer. That early curiosity grew into a passion for data that now shapes how she helps retailers make smarter decisions. She shares her perspective on when data is relevant and when it is not, offering practical insights on how

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39:32

119. The Return of Ron Bonacci: Making Data...

The Retail Perch ·

2025/08/19

In this episode of Retail Perch, we welcome back Ron Bonacci, who shares his journey from grocery bagger to marketing expert in retail. Ron reflects on his longtime friendship with the hosts, talks about the evolving role of CPGs, and offers insights from his time at Kroger on how to make data truly actionable. He also explores the growing impact of Retail Media Networks, bringing together both personal stories and practical perspectives that highlight the future of retail.

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38:40

118. Retail Runs on Connectivity: Katie Riddle

The Retail Perch ·

2025/08/05

This week on The Retail Perch, Gary and Shekar sit down with Katie Riddle, Global Strategy Lead at Verizon, to discuss the often overlooked backbone of modern retail: connectivity. From in-store WiFi and device performance to enabling real time innovation, Katie shares how network infrastructure directly impacts both shopper experience and associate efficiency. As expectations rise and tech driven services become the norm, retailers can no longer afford to treat connectivity as an afterthought

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41:30

117. Retail Media Gets Real: Steve Dietch

The Retail Perch ·

2025/07/22

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Gary and Shekar welcome Steven Dietch, Chief Revenue Officer at Bridg, for a timely conversation on how retail media is reshaping the industry. From his early days in computer science to IBM Sweden and now leading strategy at Bridg, Steve shares how platforms like Bridg and Rippl are helping retailers turn shopper data into powerful engagement. The three dive into the opportunities and challenges facing regional players, the role of AI and third-party data, and

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45:56

116. From Layout to Loyalty: Retail Design with Flora...

The Retail Perch ·

2025/07/08

This week on The Retail Perch, Shekar and Gary sit down with Flora Delaney, a veteran retail and CPG executive, consultant, and author of Retail: The Second-Oldest Profession.With over 25 years of experience, Flora shares how smart space planning, strategic category management, and AI-driven insights transform today’s in-store experience.Join us as we explore her patented Intelligent Dashboard for Pricing and Promotion, the Earned Space Model for space optimization, and why balancing national and

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44:59

115. Interview with Barry Collier of DRINKS

The Retail Perch ·

2025/04/25

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Gary and Shekar chat with Barry Collier. He's the co-founder of DRINKS, a leading e-commerce platform for alcohol retailers and producers. Barry shares how he went from Neopets to launching a DTC wine business, and how DRINKS has since expanded its platform and partnered with Kroger. They dive into alcohol compliance, digital retail, data, and much more.

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45:39

114. Interview with Neil Twa of Voltage Holdings, LLC

The Retail Perch ·

2025/02/03

Don't miss this week’s episode, featuring Neil Twa, the CEO of Voltage Holdings, LLC. As co-author of Almost Automated Income with FBA, Neil specializes in launching, operating, and acquiring e-commerce brands, particularly within the Amazon FBA space. In this conversation with Shekar and Gary, he shares his journey from almost studying music theory to uncovering his passion for e-commerce—and much more.

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42:36

113. Interview with Todd Maute of CBX

The Retail Perch ·

2025/01/27

This week on The Retail Perch, Shekar and Gary welcome Todd Maute, who is a parter at CBX. With many years of branding expertise, Todd shares his journey from advertising to transforming private labels into high-quality, innovative brands. They discuss the evolution of private label perception, the role of retailers like Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, and more.

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41:39

112. Interview with David Milstein of SellCord

The Retail Perch ·

2024/12/02

This week on The Retail Perch, Shekar and Gary are thrilled to chat with David Milstein, the co-founder and CEO of SellCord, a service agency dedicated to simplifying the process of selling on Walmart’s marketplace. David shares his unique journey and insights into navigating Walmart’s ecosystem, from his beginnings in IT to helping clients with product placement. The trio discusses his entrepreneurial path, challenges that sellers face, strategies for thriving in the competitive retail landscape,

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45:36

111. Interview with Mykhailo Maksymenko of CustomerTimes

The Retail Perch ·

2024/11/19

In this week’s episode, Shekar and Gary are joined by special guest Mykhailo Maksymenko, Vice President and Salesforce Practice Head at CustomerTimes Corp, a leader in CRM and digital transformation. Mykhailo shares insights into his role as a product-to-market expert, exploring topics such as crafting emotional connections with buyers, the power of synthetic data, cocktails, and much more.

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48:33

110. Interview with Kevin Coupe of MorningNewsBeat

The Retail Perch ·

2024/08/12

This week on The Retail Perch, Shekar and Gary are excited to welcome an intelligent and humorous guest, Kevin Coupe, the founder of Morning News Beat—a news platform that provides the latest updates and insights in the retail industry. As Kevin shares his journey from starting out as a news reporter, the trio dives into discussions on retailers' reactions to AI, the shifting dynamics of advertising, Amazon, and much more.

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44:16

109. Interview with Kausambi Manjita of Mason

The Retail Perch ·

2024/06/21

This week on the Retail Perch, Shekar and Gary are thrilled to host Kausambi Manjita, who divides her time between Bangalore and Toronto. She is the Co-founder of Mason, a provider of AI-powered customer service solutions. They discuss a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and customer experience, geographic consumer behavior, generative AI, and much more.

en-US

43:52

108. Interview with Nirit Cohen of WorkFutures

The Retail Perch ·

2024/06/03

On this week's episode of the Retail Perch, Gary and Shekar are joined by Nirit Cohen, all the way from Israel. Nirit is an HR specialist and founder of WorkFutures. The three of them engage in a dynamic discussion with the about the future of the workforce, exploring topics such as evolving flexibility for employees and much more.

en-US

127 results

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