Retail101online
Welcome to Retail101online, where timeless wisdom meets modern retail! Join our host, a seasoned veteran with four decades of experience spanning 20 countries and multiple retailers. In a world dominated by automation and technology, essential retail knowledge is often overlooked. Our mission is to revive these forgotten fundamentals and empower both aspiring retailers and curious consumers. From customer service to inventory management, we delve deep into the core principles that form the backbone of successful retail operations. Tune in for insightful discussions, practical tips, and captivating stories from the frontlines of global retail. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a novice enthusiast, Retail101online is your ultimate guide to mastering the art of retail. #RetailBasics #RetailKnowledge #GlobalRetail #RetailOperations #CustomerService #InventoryManagement #RetailInsights #RetailPodcast
Episodes
50 episodes
INSIDE: Why Loyalty Programs Sometimes Fail with Mark Mortimer-Davies
Most loyalty programmes don’t change behaviour.They simply reward what customers were already going to do.In this episode of Retail Voices, I’m joined by Mark Mortimer Davies, CEO GCC at Choithrams and one of the most experienced ...
Inside: The Disney Effect - How Customer Experience Drives Profit in Retail | Vance Morris
Customer experience isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a profit driver.In this episode of Retail Voices, I’m joined by Vance Morris, former Disney leader, entrepreneur, and founder of Chesapeake Service Solutions, to explore how customer expe...
Inside: Stretching What's Possible With Andy Ellwood
Retail transformation isn’t just about technology — it’s about understanding how people actually behave.In this episode of Retail Voices, I’m joined by Andy Ellwood, Founder & CEO of Stretch, to explore the intersection of AI, human ...
Inside: AI and Customer Messaging With RJ Taylor
Retail communication is entering a completely new era.In this episode of Retail Voices, I’m joined by R. J. Taylor, CEO and founder of Backstroke, to explore how AI-powered messaging is transforming the way retailers communicate with cus...
Inside: Story Building and What Actually Works With John Elbing
Most brands think they’re telling great stories.Customers think otherwise.In this episode of Retail Voices, I’m joined by John Elbing, creator of the Storybuilding methodology and Chief Storybuilder Officer at Standpoint,...
Negotiation Secrets Every Retailer Must Know
Negotiation is one of the most critical — and overlooked — skills in retail. From supplier contracts to promotional deals, the way you negotiate can make or break your margins, your relationships, and your reputation.In this episode of <...
Inside: AIM for Better Stores | How Action Item Management Fixes Retail Execution | Jon Dario
Retail doesn’t fail because of bad strategy — it fails because of poor execution.In this episode of Retail Voices, I’m joined by Jon Dario, retail executive, leadership trainer, and founder of Jon Dario Media, to break down...
Persuasion in the Aisles - Cialdini’s 6 Principles for Retail Managers
In this episode of Retail101online, Mark Lack breaks down Dr. Robert Cialdini’s 6 legendary principles of persuasion — and shows how they apply directly to the day-to-day challenges of retail leadership. From motivating your team to influencing...
The End Cap Effect - Why Some Products Perform At The Edges
Unlock one of the most powerful retail secrets hiding in plain sight: the endcap.In this episode of Retail101online, we explore how end-of-aisle displays can dramatically increase sales without changing prices or stock le...
Brand Differentiation: PROMISE. PROOF. PERSISTENCE
Launch day! Series 3 of RETAIL101online kicks off with the one thing that separates winners from wallpaper: brand differentiation. In this episode I break down what real differentiation is (not logos or limited-time drinks), how to build...
The Price of Value: Why Consumers Still Pay for What They Believe In | Shikha Jain
In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack is joined by Shikha Jain, Lead Partner for Consumer & Retail at Simon-Kucher, one of the world’s leading consultancies in pricing, sales, and marketing.This...
Behind The Counters - What Christmas Is Really Like In Retail
🎄 Christmas in Retail: Real, Tough, and Joyous! 🎄Ever wondered what Christmas is really like behind the counters, in the stockrooms, and on the shop floor? This special RETAIL101 episode takes you deep into the heart of t...
Inside: Global Sourcing with Ricky Ho from SourceReady
In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Ricky Ho — Founder of SourceReady — to explore how AI, data, and global transparency are rewriting the rules of retail sourcing.Ricky breaks down the real friction po...
Bakery Boss Mode - How Store Managers Win With Bakery
Running a store bakery without being a baker? You can—if you run the operation. In this episode, Mark Lack breaks down the B.R.E.A.D. framework—Basics & Hygiene, Recipe & Range Quality, Engagement & Comm...
Retail Truth Behind The Diary Of A CEO
Steven Bartlett’s bestselling book and podcast The Diary of a CEO have captured the world’s attention—but what can retail professionals actually learn from it?In this extended deep-div...
Inside Planning: Max Ma from 7thonline: Forecasting, Data & the Future of Retail
In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Max Ma — Founder of 7thonline — to break down the real reason retail planning fails, and how AI, better data, and smarter processes are transforming how retailers buy, for...
Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast - Allegedly
What does it really mean when we say “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”? In this episode of Retail101online, we go beyond the buzzword and explore whether culture truly trumps strategy—or if it’s just a leadership cliché....
Buzzword Bingo - Business Phrases That Need To Retire
“Let’s circle back and align on a value-led pivot before we move the needle…”If that sentence made you laugh (or cry), this episode is for you.In this week’s Retail101online, we dive headfirst into the wonderful, w...
Inside: The One Percent with Luke Doran
In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Luke Doran, Founder of The One Percent, to explore how mindset, self-awareness, and marginal gains are reshaping what it means to lead in retail today...
Inside Human Capital: What Does It Take to Succeed in Retail?
In this BONUS episode of RETAIL101online: Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Ashutosh Labroo, Chief Human Resources Officer and Founder of SuccessionIQ, to explore how human capital is transformi...
Hear Me Out - Big vs Best Who Is Winning Right Now In Grocery Retail
Title: Big vs. Best: Who Really Wins in Grocery Retail?In this deep-dive episode of Retail101Online, we explore the difference between being the biggest and being the best in global grocery retail. Wh...
Leadership Mindset 2.0 Upgrading Your Mind
Most retail managers are promoted because they were great at their jobs—not because they were trained to lead. That’s the hard truth behind Leadership Mindset 2.0 by R. Michael Anderson, and it’s exactly why this episode matters.
Adapt or Expire: What Mice Know That Managers Don’t
Episode 28: Who Moved My Cheese? What Retail Managers Must Learn from ChangeIn this episode of Retail101online, Mark Lack explores the timeless business parable Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson and applies its less...
What Every Store Manager Gets Wrong About Butchery
Managing the Butchery (When You're Not a Butcher)Episode 27 of Retail101online takes store managers deep into the world of butchery — without needing to pick up a knife. Host Mark Lack explores how to manage this compl...
Eight Lies About Life & Success - The Truth Will Set You Free
Episode 26: 8 Lies About Life and Success (And The Truths That Will Set You Free)In this deeply personal episode, Mark Lack unpacks 8 common myths about life and success that hold people back in business and beyond. ...
