The Modern Retail Podcast
The Modern Retail Podcast is a podcast about all the ways the retail industry is changing and modernizing. Every Saturday, senior reporters Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels break down the latest retail headlines and interview executives about what it takes to keep up in today’s retail landscape, diving deep into growth strategies, brand autopsies, economic changes and more
Episodes
December 20, 2025 • 42 mins
On this week's Modern Retail Podcast, hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels are joined by reporter Mitchell Parton to discuss the themes and trends that dominated retail in 2025. The year certainly didn't play out the way that many in the retail industry were initially expecting, as tariffs upended many companies' carefully laid plans for the year.
Still, there were pockets of hope. Even though there weren't as many IPOs this ...
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December 13, 2025 • 44 mins
This week's episode of the Modern Retail Podcast kicks off with a discussion between co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels about PepsiCo's announcement that it will be trimming its portfolio and cutting back prices as part of a new agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management. They also unpack the opportunities the conglomerate faces as it plans more innovation in the better-for-space, whether that's removi...
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December 6, 2025 • 64 mins
On this week’s Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporters Melissa Daniels and Gabriela Barkho kick things off with a look at the record-setting use of buy now, pay later payments over Black Friday weekend. The duo also gets into the holiday spirit by talking about the widespread impact of seasonal flavors. This year’s big trend? All things cranberry.
Later on in the episode (23:41), Barkho sits down with Kelly Landrieu, principal pla...
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November 29, 2025 • 45 mins
Cyber Week is here and the Modern Retail Podcast is breaking down the biggest shopping and trends to watch during this all-important shopping period.
This week, Modern Retail senior reporter Gabriela Barkho is joined by staff from our sister site, Glossy, including senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and Glossy West Coast correspondent Lexy Lebsack. Now that the sales week has officially begun, the trio discusses a number of bran...
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November 22, 2025 • 48 mins
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels dive into all the brand moments Barkho saw on a recent trip to BravoCon in Las Vegas. The event had a record number of shoppable activations, ranging from Wayfair studios to special-edition Reebok sneakers. Then they analyze the latest earnings from TJX, which showed net sales of $15.1 billion. That marked a 7% increase from a year ago, boosted by ...
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November 8, 2025 • 54 mins
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Julia Waldow kicked things off by discussing Amazon’s plan for a new Whole Foods store concept. The new layout, currently being tested in select locations, will allow shoppers to purchase more mainstream brands like Pepsi and Chips Ahoy while they do their Whole Foods shopping. The team also broke down the growing popularity of Advent calendars and why every brand...
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November 1, 2025 • 47 mins
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels unpack the news that Amazon is laying off about 14,000 people from its corporate workforce. They discuss what this says about how corporate America is responding to economic circumstances as well as the role of AI in reshaping workflows. Next, they talk through Lululemon's NFL collaboration and what it reveals about the athleisure giant's attempts ...
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October 25, 2025 • 47 mins
On this week's episode, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels get into the news of Quince dodging claims from Ugg's parent Deckers Brand that it unlawfully copied two of its best-selling styles. Next, they discuss the announcement from cosmetics company E.l.f that it will be offering live shopping on streaming service Twitch, and what that says about the potential resurgence of streaming in social commerce.
Then during the ...
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October 18, 2025 • 49 mins
On this week's episode of The Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels discuss Mammoth Brands' acquisition of Coterie, a luxury diaper brand that's had a fast-growing subscription business since 2021. While the terms of the deal are undisclosed, it's a big move for Mammoth whose portfolio up until now has included adult body care and grooming brands like Harry's, Flamingo and Lume.
Then they unpack the n...
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October 11, 2025 • 55 mins
This week on The Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels unpack how Amazon’s latest Prime Day reflected shifting shopper priorities, and what the end of Rite Aid indicates about the pharmacy industry’s future. Then (20:50), they’re joined by Bacardi’s Alex Tomlin and Southern Glazer’s Zach Poelma to explore how Gen Z’s health- and budget-conscious habits are transforming the alcohol category — from the r...
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On this week's Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels discuss the rollout of ChatGPT's new Instant Checkout feature that will initially support single-item purchases from Etsy sellers, and how brands are increasingly looking at third-party AI tools as a sales channel. Then they chat about Walmart's announcement that it's removing more artificial dyes and additives from its private label food products am...
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September 27, 2025 • 35 mins
On this week's episode of the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels go deep on the much-hyped NikeSkims launch. They discuss the look and vibe of the collections that debuted this week and where it might find a white space in the athleisure market.
Then on the featured segment (16:06), Daniels speaks with Modern Retail reporter Mitchell Parton to unpack craft retailer Michaels' new store layouts as it...
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September 20, 2025 • 44 mins
On this week's Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporter Melissa Daniels is joined by executive editor Anna Hensel. First they discuss Affirm's new rollout with Apple Pay to provide its buy now, pay later services in store (1:09). Then they unpack the trend of paper coupons making a comeback in some retail environments, with Kroger announcing it has been bringing back paper coupons to help appeal to value-mined shoppers or those who a...
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September 13, 2025 • 54 mins
On this episode of the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriella Barkho and Melissa Daniels break down Dick's Sporting Goods’ $2.4 billion acquisition of Foot Locker. They also discuss the debut of the Girl Scouts’ newest cookie, the Exploremores, and how the organization has evolved from door-to-door sales to SMS-powered marketing.
For this week’s featured segment, Daniels sits down with AG1 CEO Kat Cole. The green supplement gia...
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September 6, 2025 • 43 mins
This week's Modern Retail Podcast kicks off with co-hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels discussing the Kraft Heinz breakup. The split was announced 10 years after a merger between the corporate giants and reflects a broader trend among mega-conglomerates that are splitting or dividing up their portfolios due to changing consumer behaviors. Then they discuss Starbucks' health-conscious play with a new protein-packed cold foam to l...
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August 30, 2025 • 45 mins
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels get into the news of President Donald Trump signaling the potential for higher tariffs on the furniture sector, and what it means for companies in the space. Then they get into the trend of travelers deciding to go to Europe for luxury shopping sprees in order to scoop up designer goods without any tariff-related cost increases.
Then for this week's f...
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This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels get into the big news of Target CEO Brian Cornell stepping down. Cornell will move over to be executive chair of the board, and be replaced by Target vet Michael Fiddelke.
On this week’s rundown, the team also discusses the latest investment Amazon is making in its grocery business as it evolves. The company announced free same-day delivery service fo...
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August 16, 2025 • 44 mins
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels get into the news of how On running shoes led the pack of footwear earnings with a 32% year-over-year sales increase. Then they get into all things Summerween, as the trend of spooky decor in the summer starts to bleed into actual Halloween sale season.
Then for the featured segment (19:05), Barkho and Daniels get into why natural grocer Sprouts is be...
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This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporters Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels chat about Ikea's new pilot partnership with Best Buy, and why the first-ever partnership with a a third party retailer could become a meaningful new acquisition channel. And they unpack how tween mall staple Claire's wound up filing for Chapter 11 for the second time in seven years -- and why they may be not be the last legacy retailer to ...
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August 2, 2025 • 52 mins
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, reporter Julia Waldow joins co-host Melissa Daniels to unpack how brands are reacting to the shifting landscape of U.S. trade deals following the August 1 expiration deadline. They also dive into the backlash and cultural critiques around American Eagle’s ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney.
Later in the episode (21:30), Daniels sits down with Sarah O’Leary, CEO of femtech brand Willow Inno...
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