Retail Innovation Archives - WSL Strategic Retail

The Agentic AI Revolution: What Companies Need to Know for 2026 | EP98

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 what’s truly changing the business—and what’s just hype. They also touch on talent, innovation, loyalty, ... Read more

How to Build a Brand with Purpose, one Retailer at a Time with April Showers | EP101

In this episode: 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 partnerships brought her vision to life. Episode highlights: How Afro Unicorn grew from T-shirts to Walmart shelves ... Read more

The Future of Category Management with Gina Zilleox, Glanbia Performance Nutrition | EP99

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. Episode Highlights: Whether or not category management, as we know it, is dead. How essential it is to broaden the perspective ... Read more

Beauty Everywhere: Connecting Brands, Retail and Consumers with Liza Rapay | EP96

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 chaotic times. Episode Highlights: The importance of connecting the industry in-person to build relationships, and drive innovation, ... Read more

Driving Retail Innovation — Retail Safari®-ing with NielsenIQ | EP95

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. Episode Highlights: In challenging retail times, how critical it is to inspire new thinking The power of bringing different companies and different disciplines ... Read more

Transforming Health Care Retail into a Temple of Care with Fiona Sartoretto Verna | EP94

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 pharmacies in over 48 countries, including the US. Episode Highlights: How her family company was founded to create a “temple of ... Read more

How Retail Can Bring Accessible Health Care to Communities Everyday with Kevin Host | EP92

In this episode: Wendy Liebmann talks to Kevin Host, SVP Health & Wellness Pharmacy at Walmart about how the retailer brings accessible health care to communities across the US, every day and in times of crisis. They discuss: The ongoing challenges to delivering easy to access pharmacy and medical care in the US How Walmart ... Read more

How To Grow a Specialty Retail Business in Chaotic Times with Anna Harman | EP91

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: Going from corporate law to Walmart innovation lab to opening Studs. Creating a unique brand ecosystem through quality ... Read more

The Next Revolution in Shopper Insights with Keith Sleight | EP90

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 discuss: The biggest changes in the shopper research field over the last five years How “connected commerce” has changed how ... Read more

The Future of Brands, Retail, Innovation, and Work with Joanna Jensen | EP87

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: How to take on the biggest brand and win. Why passion so often leads to disruptive brand and retail innovation. ... Read more