Navigating New Retail Realities

Consistently named a top retail influencer, Carol Spieckerman is a recognized authority on retail and brand strategy. As president of Spieckerman Retail, she helps retailers, brand marketers, agencies and tech companies navigate retail from now to next. Spieckerman regularly contributes to major retail and business media outlets across a broad spectrum of retail topics and trends. On this new retail podcast, Spieckerman Speaks Retail, Spieckerman will be speaking on her Retail Trajectories – themes and calls to action that transcend categories, channels, business models and touch points.

 

We all know that this has been year like no other, yet unprecedented disruption has sparked new thinking and awakened ingenuity. Carol’s guest is uniquely qualified to bring much-needed perspective on lessons learned and best practices going forward. Courtney Hawkins’ passion for retail started early and she has since been responsible for over $1.5 billion in P&L as she served in executive roles with iconic brands like Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic and now, as VP of retail for fashion innovator The RealReal. In this far-ranging interview, Courtney and Carol roll through pivotal developments encompassing bricks and clicks and Courtney shares advice for retailers and brands seeking to secure their place in the new retail era.

In this interview, you’ll learn:

  • How to drive discretionary categories as consumers obsess on essentials
  • Why digitally native brands often have the upper hand
  • How to court consumers without compromising brand integrity
  • Possibilities and pitfalls of loyalty programs and content marketing

Contact information: Courtney Hawkins LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyabhawkins/

Listen to Previous Episodes Right Here!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

radio
Where Experience Meets the Extreme: John F5VHQ at Radio’s Most Isolated Outpost
January 16, 2026

For some operators, Bouvet Island is the final frontier. For John (F5VHQ), it is a challenge that stands apart even after decades of DXpedition experience. A veteran of more than twenty years in the field and Vice President of the Clipperton DX Club, John joins the multinational 3Y0K team with both experience and conviction. Bouvet…

Read More
DX
Pursuing the World’s Rarest DX: Vadym Ivliev, UT6UD, and the Story That Led Him to Bouvet
January 16, 2026

For some operators, Bouvet Island represents the ultimate technical challenge. For Vadym Ivliev (UT6UD), it is something more personal—and more mysterious. From his home in Kyiv—far removed from the ice, storms, and isolation of Bouvet—Vadym has long been drawn to the island not only for its legendary radio silence, but for the stories it inspires….

Read More
GameStop
Inside GameStop’s Meteoric Stock Surge: A Former Executive Reflects on Power, Pivots, and the Price of Winning
January 15, 2026

The meme-stock era may feel like old news, but its aftershocks are still reshaping how leaders think about transformation, risk, and reward. In the wake of unprecedented short squeezes, shuttered storefronts, and sudden wealth creation, executives across retail and tech are still asking what actually happened—and why. Few episodes crystallize those questions better than…

Read More
podcast
The DisruptED Journey with Tim Maitland at MarketScale (Episode Three)
January 15, 2026

Storytelling is changing fast, shaped by new platforms, shifting audiences, and a growing demand for authenticity. What started as traditional podcasting has evolved into community-driven ecosystems built on real voices and lived experience. In this landscape, storytelling isn’t just content—it’s a way to build connection, spark engagement, and drive meaningful change. When done well,…

Read More