The Voice of Retail

In this special cross-over episode from the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast with my co-host Jim Okamura, we sit down with Jes Crownover, Vice President, e-Commerce & Digital Solutions at Livingston International, a veteran logistics and global trade expert with more than 25 years of experience across UPS, FedEx, and international customs brokerage. Jes joins us to unpack the rapidly changing world of cross-border eCommerce, from tariffs and the end of de minimis to data readiness, supply chain resilience and the growing role of technology and AI in global trade.

In this episode Michael LeBlanc sits down with Trinadha Kandi, Managing Director – Customer & Marketing at Deloitte Digital, to unpack how AI is reshaping personalization in retail. Kandi explains why brands have sometimes confused targeting with true personalization and how AI is accelerating a shift toward real-time, context-driven engagement. The conversation explores agentic commerce, data strategy, and ROI, offering practical insights for retailers navigating digital transformation.

On this special ENCORE episode, Michael welcomes branding visionary and RCC STORE2026 Main-Stage Speaker Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President of SLD, to discuss his latest book "Think Blink: Creating Deep, Lasting Emotional Brand Connections in the Blink of an Eye". We explore how emotion drives consumer decisions, why incremental thinking is dead, and how AI is reshaping brand strategy. Don’t miss the opportunity to see Jean-Pierre in person at STORE2026 on June 3rd, 2026, in Toronto.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, I welcome back Rui Rodrigues, one of Canada’s leading loss prevention experts and an executive advisor to the Retail Council of Canada. We talk about the rise of organized retail crime since he last joined me on the mic in 2021, why violence in stores is increasing, and how online marketplaces have become a distribution channel for stolen goods. Rui also shares how retailers, police and government are working together more than ever to fight back — and what real progress looks like. Don’t miss the chance to hear more from Rui and other experts firsthand at RCC’s Retail Secure conference on March 11 & 12, 2026—register now to be part of the conversation.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, I sit down with my friend and colleague Tara Conway — retail leader, customer experience expert and co-founder of new media property Commerce Rewired. From clienteling innovation in Babies “R” Us to executive leadership at The Source to helping us understand AI-powered inventory planning, Tara breaks down where artificial intelligence is delivering real value — and where it’s just hype. We debate retail media, workforce disruption, leadership in the age of AI, and why remarkable retailers must shed legacy thinking to win in 2026 and beyond.

Kevin Ertell, founder of Mistere Advisory, veteran retail operator joins The Voice of Retail to discuss his new book, The Strategy Trap: Why Companies Fail at Execution and How to Get It Right. Kevin explains why execution—not ideas—is where most strategies break down, and shares practical insights from his career at Tower Records, Nike, and beyond, including his “Six Cs of Execution” framework for building alignment, focus, and momentum.

This week on The Voice of Retail, I’m joined by Jayme Johnson, Partner and Industry Leader, Consumer and Travel & Transportation Industries, IBM Consulting Canada. We unpack the biggest lessons from our New York retail store tour — from immersive flagships like Printemps and Gymshark to specialty concepts like Tecovas — and explore what authenticity and experience really mean in physical retail. Then we dive into IBM’s latest research on agentic commerce and how AI agents will soon be making purchasing decisions for consumers. If you want to understand where retail is heading — both in stores and in AI — this episode is for you.

John Bayliss, Chief Executive Officer of Mastermind Toys, joins The Voice of Retail to discuss specialty retail, omnichannel execution, and the launch of the company’s new franchising model. Bayliss explains how local ownership strengthens community connection while enabling national scale, and why experience, trust, and curated play are core to Mastermind’s strategy. The episode also explores seasonality, AI in retail, and long-term prospects for the toy category.

Recorded live in Vancouver on the RCC Retail West stage, Michael LeBlanc welcomes Mat Povse, President of Best Buy Canada for a deep dive into what’s driving Best Buy’s success today. Povse shares insights on store modernization, omnichannel strategy, Best Buy Express, retail media, AI, and supply-chain innovation. The conversation also explores leadership philosophy, people-first culture, and practical advice for retailers and partners navigating an increasingly complex retail landscape.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, Michael welcomes back Liza Amlani, Chief Merchant and Principal of Retail Strategy Group, to explore the ideas behind her new book on process innovation in fashion retail 'The Material Life: Process Innovation for Retailers and Brands ". Liza explains why materials—not designs—should drive product creation, how silos inside retail organisations erode margin and speed, and where AI, sourcing transparency, and new legislation intersect with merchandising decisions. The discussion reframes the future of retail execution as a materials-first, data-driven discipline.

In this must-listen episode, Eric Morris, Managing Director of Retail at Google Canada, returns for his annual visit with fresh insights from Google’s 2025 Holiday Retail Report. Eric breaks down how AI is reshaping search, discovery, and consumer behaviour, and why this year represents Canada’s first true AI-powered holiday season. He and Michael explore Gen Z’s complex decision journeys, rising visual and conversational search trends, and the strategic moves retailers must make now to win in 2025 and 2026.

On this episode of The Voice of Retail, Michael welcomes Martha McKimm, Co-Founder of Hopson Grace, and Shelley Simpson, Founder of Mud Australia, for a lively conversation about the art and business of modern retail. From building a design-focused brand in a crowded marketplace to the evolution of e-commerce, community-driven stores, and authentic partnerships, they share lessons on staying true to values, scaling creativity with integrity.