Retail OCD

A weekly dive with the operators, innovators and leaders shaping retail, decoded through the real world impact on retail's bottom line, frontline teams, and the consumers we serve.

Retail OCD is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 20 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Retail OCD, a business show with 20 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #22

  Cutting Through The Bull Shit: Hard Truths on Retail Hiring and Marketing

  Aug 12, 202656 minS1

  Companies have more data and technology than ever, so why do they get marketing so wrong so often? In this episode of Retail OCD, one of the top fractional CMO's in the country, Bruce Millard (Empire Today, Big Lots, Safelite) and top e-commerce recruiter Harry Joiner break down what actually separates winning marketers and leaders from the rest. Topics include: the hidden job opening most CEOs miss when hiring a CMO, why your FAQ page is lying to your customers, the 80/20 math behind customer loyalty, and Warren Buffett's litmus test for spotting A-players. Bruce also previews his new book, Cutting Through the Bullshit: A Marketing Leader's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Chaos.

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  Episode #20

  Winning New Retail Markets: China, U.S. And Beyond

  Jul 29, 202650 minS1

  Expanding into new markets has never been more tempting—or more dangerous. In this episode of Retail OCD , international growth experts Renee Hartman and Marcus Wang reveal why most brands don't fail because of tariffs or competition—they fail because they underestimate culture, overestimate their own brand, and assume what worked at home will work everywhere. From Under Armour's explosive growth in China to the surprising reasons brands stumble abroad, this conversation is packed with practical lessons for any retailer considering global expansion—or wondering why the U.S. remains the world's most coveted retail market.

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  Episode #19

  The Future of Self Checkout: How AI is Rebuilding Retail's Last Touchpoint

  Jul 19, 202656 minS1

  Self-checkout was meant to make shopping faster and easier. Instead, it became one of retail's most controversial technologies. Rising shrink, frustrated shoppers and new regulations have forced retailers to rethink everything they planned. But beneath the headlines, a transformation is underway. AI, computer vision, RFID, biometrics, and newer technologies are hinting at what checkout will look like over the next decade, and the future may have surprisingly little to do with the checkout machine itself. Our guest, John Goodwin, Product Manager with Fujitsu, one of the early patent holders for RFID self-checkout, joins us to share first hand the full arc of why self checkout has struggled, and where it's heading. Not where I expected!

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  Episode #18

  What Retail Can Learn From Sports

  Jul 12, 202644 minS1

  Sports has become retail's greatest masterclass in building loyalty, urgency, and emotional connection. In this episode of Retail OCD, we explore what retailers can learn from the business of sports. From fan culture and storytelling to premium merchandising, athlete brands, creator leagues, and the rise of sports, this is one of retail's fastest-growing sectors. If retailers want customers who buy with passion instead of convenience, this conversation offers a blueprint worth studying. And Go Knicks !! (and Arsenal... and Leafs!)

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  Episode #17

  The Future of Luxury Retail

  Jun 28, 20261h 1mS1

  Luxury is no longer defined by exclusivity alone. Today, consumers are redefining what luxury means as AI transforms product discovery, high-quality dupes challenge traditional status symbols, and experiences increasingly outweigh possessions. In this episode, we explore how the luxury retail industry is adapting, which brands are successfully creating lasting value beyond price and prestige, and what it will take for luxury to remain truly desirable in the years ahead. With Special Guests: Marie Driscoll, President of the Retail Marketing Society and 2026 Voice of NRF, and Anna Karin Loureiro , Founder of Ore & Matter, Ex CMO of Alexander Wang and past VP Global Strategy Calvin Klein

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