Future Shop Podcast with WSL
Our podcast focuses on how shoppers are transforming retail and what you need to do about it. Retail strategist and shopping futurist Wendy Liebmann shares her passionate, unvarnished shopper-centric view of where retail is headed. She interviews experts in retail, marketing, insights, design, education, and more. She and the WSL team regularly share excerpts from WSL’s latest proprietary shopper research about what’s coming next. The Future Shop Podcast is a no-holds-barred view of what shoppers want, what you need to deliver, who’s getting it right, and who’s getting it wrong. And why. In this fast and furious view, you will begin to understand how to anticipate the future that’s emerging right under your nose. WSL Strategic Retail is a leader in shopper insights and retail strategy. It helps clients around the world anticipate change in order to grow in the near and longer-term. It is recognized for its ground-breaking How America Shops® and How the World Shops research. Visit us at: www.wslstrategicretail.com
Episodes
108 episodes
EP108: How to Reach the New Frontiers of Beauty & Wellness with Ali Kole
In this episode of Future Shop, Wendy Liebmann sits down with retail powerhouse Ali Kole to dissect the “accelerated evolution” of the beauty and wellness industry. Drawing on her extensive background at McKinsey, Amazon,...
EP107: Beyond the Screen: Why Humanity is Retail’s Secret Weapon in 2026 with Wendy Liebmann and Guests
As we transition into 2026, the retail landscape is being reshaped by two powerful, seemingly opposite forces: the rapid ascent of autonomous AI and a growing hunger for authentic human connection. In this special year-in-review, Wendy Liebm...
EP106: The Future of Beauty: K-Beauty, Viral Fragrances, and the TikTok Effect
This podcast episode of Future Shop features WSL’s Wendy Liebmann and Elia Auchane as they recap their recent trip to Cosmoprof North America in Miami. Together, they explore the shifting landscape of the beauty industry, question...
EP105: TikTok Shop, Agentic AI, and the Future of Retail Trust with Kelsie Johnston
Join host Wendy Liebmann as she sits down with Kelsie Johnston, a retail strategist with a career spanning Macy’s, Walmart, Coty, and most recently, TikTok. In this episode of Future Shop, Kelsie breaks down the seismic shift from t...
EP104: Retail’s Next Act: Human Connection in an AI World with Christi Geary
In this episode of Future Shop, Wendy Liebmann sits down with Christi Geary, EVP at Advantage Marketing Partners, to explore the evolving landscape of retail and the enduring power of the human connection. They dive into the interse...
EP103: Agentic AI vs. Human Connection: The Future of Retail Explained with Andy Murray
In this episode of Future Shop, Wendy Liebmann sits down with retail veteran Andy Murray to dissect the conflicting forces impacting the modern shopper. From the bifurcated "K-shaped" economy to the rise of "vibe shopping" among Gen Z, A...
EP102: The Agentic AI Revolution: What Companies Need to Know for 2026 with Justin Honaman
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann and Justin Honaman (Amazon Web Services) dive into the chaotic yet exciting world of retail and technology as 2025 wraps up. From AI’s real-world impact on commerce to the rise of “agentic AI,” they explore wh...
EP101: How to Build a Brand with Purpose, one Retailer at a Time with April Showers
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann sits down with April Showers, the founder of Afro Unicorn®, a brand born from purpose, community, and the need for representation. They discuss how April’s personal passion and smart retail pa...
EP100: How America Shops® in Chaos. What’s Worth It Now?
In this milestone episode, Wendy Liebmann celebrates 100 episodes of Future Shop with WSL’s newest Director of Research & Insights, Rich Kaminski. Together, they unpack the latest How America Shops® in Chaos study — rev...
EP99: The Future of Category Management with Gina Zilleox, Glanbia Performance Nutrition
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Gina Zilleox, Senior Director Category Management, Glanbia Performance Nutrition about the need to make dramatic assumptions about the competitive landscape in order to thrive in the future. ...
EP98: AI, Pricing, Supply Chain, Loyalty and First Thoughts on 2026 with Justin Honaman, AWS
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to regular guest Justin Honaman, Global Head, Restaurants, Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development at Amazon Web Services, about what’s now – and next – as technology transforms retail and consumer...
EP97: Influencing the Future of Retail, with Kenvue, Kroger and InMarket
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Amanda Coussoule, Chief Customer Officer at Kenvue, Marla Fielder, Health & Wellness Leader at Kroger and Sharon Glass, Global VP, OTC & Pharma at InMarket, about ho...
EP96: Beauty Everywhere: Connecting Brands, Retail and Consumers with Liza Rapay
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Liza Rapay, Vice President, Head of Cosmoprof North America, and Founder of Beauty New York, about the importance of bringing industry, innovators and consumers together to grow the beauty business in ch...
EP95: Driving Retail Innovation -- Retail Safari®-ing with NielsenIQ
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Anna Mayo, NielsenIQ VP Beauty Vertical, and WSL Strategic Retail’s Elia Auchane and Katie Hornsby about the importance of collaboration to drive innovation at retail.They discuss:
EP94: Transforming Health Care Retail into a Temple of Care with Fiona Sartoretto Verna
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Fiona Sartoretto Verna, retail architect and co-leader of the company Sartoretto Verna™, founded by her grandfather to reshape the global pharmacy landscape. Today, the company has designed pharmac...
EP93: Generative AI, Tariffs, and Flexible Leadership with Justin Honaman, AWS
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Honaman, Head of Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development at Amazon Web Services, about the impact of the latest technologies transforming business. They disc...
EP92: How Retail Can Bring Accessible Health Care to Communities Everyday with Kevin Host, Walmart
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Kevin Host, SVP Health & Wellness Pharmacy at Walmart about how the retailer is bringing accessible health care to communities across the US, every day and in times of crisis. They...
EP91: How To Grow a Specialty Retail Business in Chaotic Times with Anna Harman, Studs
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Anna Harman, CEO and co-founder of Studs, the specialty ear piercing and earring retailer, with 33+ stores and e-commerce site, founded in 2019 just in time for Covid. They discuss:<...
EP90: The Next Revolution in Shopper Insights with Keith Sleight
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Keith Sleight, expert in “shopping understanding”, who most recently lead the Shopper Centre of Excellence at Unilever, about the state of shopper insights and where it’s headed.They discus...
EP89: Investing in the Future of Retail – Where, Why, How with Diana Melencio
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Diana Melencio, partner at XRC Ventures, an investor in the early-stage intersection of consumer behavior and technology, and its investment approach in the health, beauty, and technology sectors....
EP88: AI Transforms Innovation…In Real Time. Right Now. With Justin Honaman, AWS
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Honaman, Head, Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development at Amazon (AWS) about innovation and what expertise -- technology and people driven -- is required to build a modern
EP87: The Future of Brands, Retail, Innovation, and Work with Joanna Jensen, Child's Farm
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Joanna Jensen, founder of Child’s Farm, the British multi-award winning, baby and child personal care brand that took leadership of the category from behemoth Johnson’s Baby.They discuss:<...
EP86: Women’s Wellness – Opportunities, Challenges and What’s Next with Catherine Magee, Playground
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Catherine Magee, co-founder of Playground, the sexual health and wellness brand, about the opportunities and challenges facing this newly emerging area of women’s health.They discuss:H...
EP85: A Preview of 2025. AI, Tech, Culture and More, with Justin Honaman, AWS
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Honaman, Head of Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development for Amazon Web Services. They preview 2025, and what winning companies are doing – and need to do – ...
EP84: Transforming Retail with Norm de Greve, General Motors
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Norm de Greve, Global CMO of General Motors, and former CMO of CVS Health, about transforming industries, retailers and companies, and the role marketing plays.They discuss:How ...
