That Makes Cents: A consumer podcast

As we go into our second holiday season during a pandemic, what trends can we expect around holiday retail? Will consumers’ shopping preferences and behavior reflect that of seasons past or most closely resemble last year? Tune in as we break down the findings of Deloitte’s annual holiday retail survey.

Regardless of the industry, to stay competitive today, you’ve got to develop and launch digital products. For that, a great product manager makes all the difference in the process and for the end product. Rick Lockton, SVP of eCommerce at Ashley Furniture; and Anthony Jardim, a principal in Deloitte’s Customer & Marketing practice, join this episode to break down high-impact product management, including where to start, common challenges, and how to overcome them.

Many students are preparing to go back to physical classrooms and campuses this fall. What’s making it onto their shopping lists? What are consumers’ preferences when it comes to product categories, platforms, and formats? Tune in to explore the findings of Deloitte’s back-to-school and -college consumer surveys.

Armed with smart watches, fitness trackers, and even health monitoring rings, consumers are taking charge of their own health management. They are driving not only the trend in the consumer products industry, but also major change in the health care space. Where will this revolution take us? Tune in to hear from Dr. Jeff Wells, CEO and cofounder of Marathon Health, and Leslie Read, principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP and leader of our Health Plans Customer Transformation Solutions.

While at home, many consumers discovered a love for cooking, and in a recent Deloitte survey, said they plan to eat more of their meals at home even after the health crisis is over. What does this trend mean for restaurants, grocery retailers, and the rest of the food industry? How might they have to change the way they’ve done business for years to meet evolving consumer tastes and needs? Featuring sustainable chef Joel Gamoran, host of the hit TV show Scraps, and Deloitte’s Justin Cook.

What enables the tech giants to keep their spots at the top of the industry, and how can other organizations compete? What is the key to getting workforce automation right? How can retailers harness the power of alternative data, AI, and automation to achieve more with less? Alex Kantrowitz, acclaimed tech writer, host of The Big Technology podcast, and author of Always Day One joins this episode, alongside Deloitte’s chief retail innovation officer, Kasey Lobaugh, to break it all down.

The 2020 holiday season was undeniably unique. But just how unique? We analyzed the sales and trends to find out whether there were record shifts in when, where, and how much people shopped—and spent. What kinds of trends and consumer behaviors can we expect to see carried through this year and beyond? Featuring Simon Chafetz and Meghan Cole from Deloitte Digital, Deloitte Consulting LLP.

Thanks for tuning in to season one of That Makes Cents! We’ll be back early next year with new, exciting episodes for season two. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any updates. In the meantime, catch up on previous episodes, share with a friend or colleague, and connect with our host on Twitter @BobbyStephens or @DeloitteCB.

How has COVID-19 changed the way we buy and sell cars? What trends are being accelerated due to new needs for social distancing and other safety measures? What impact does this have on how auto dealerships are structured? And how does this all plug into a future where virtual or contactless sales experiences are likely to become the norm? Tune in to this episode to hear from special guests Brian Benstock, general manager and vice president of the No. 1 certified Honda and Acura dealer in the world (Paragon Honda and Paragon Acura in NY) and Chris Spensley, automotive retail performance coach and leader within Deloitte’s Advisory practice.

This year marks 35 years of Deloitte’s annual holiday survey! To celebrate, we’re taking a trip down memory lane with the leaders who were at the forefront of the retail industry over the past few decades. Former Macy’s executive Peter Sachse, who led the department store in various roles from 1980–2007, shares his learnings and insights alongside a lineup of Deloitte leaders who tracked the trends and advised the retail industry through some of its greatest disruptions to date.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen the element of convenience become more and more important to the customer experience. As consumers demanded quicker and easier options, we’ve watched nearly every retailer adapt, or even reinvent their business models to accommodate. Where will the demand for convenience take us from here? Listen in as Bobby speaks with Art Sebastian, vice president of digital experience for Casey’s General Store and Oliver Page, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP.

In this quick take episode, we break down Deloitte’s latest findings around consumer sentiment, behavior, and spending in the era of COVID-19—particularly as stores begin to reopen and consumers regain some confidence. Steve Rogers, leader of our Consumer Industry Center, shares key takeaways from the ongoing Global State of the Consumer survey, and Jeff Simpson, who heads up the Center for Consumer Insight at Deloitte, highlights observations gleaned from real-time US consumer spending and mobility data.

Is the role of the store in a consumer’s buying journey, forever changed? As more states begin to lift their “safer-at-home” orders and stores begin to reopen, what should retailers be keeping top of mind, from a customer, associate, store, and operational perspective? Hear from Jean-Emmanuel Biondi, Deloitte principal and one of the authors of Deloitte’s “Post-COVID strategies for retailers: Reopening stores” playbook.

In this special edition episode, Deloitte’s managing director for Economics, Dr. Patricia Buckley, walks us through the best and worst possible case scenarios for the coming months. Though the current situation is vastly different from previous financial recessions, what lessons from the past can we apply to help navigate the waters ahead? What changes might we see in consumer spending?

From the dot-com crash to the recession of 2008, history has shown us that times of disruption often accelerate the gap between successful digitally focused companies and those who lack clear direction. Learn more on this episode featuring Steve Salzinger, digital adviser to two prominent private equity firms, and Kevin Rose, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, focused on the consumer products industry.

This episode of our That Makes Cents podcast was recorded before the COVID-19 outbreak, but the conversation around improving supply chain efficiency, understanding consumer expectations around online grocery, and reducing fresh food waste seem even more relevant today. Tune in to hear from this episode’s guests: Mike Balint, Director of fresh flow supply chain at Walmart and Josh Mellinger, co-leader of the Future of Fresh offering at Deloitte.

What should we be considering, as consumers and as businesses, when it comes to personal data and privacy? From GDPR to smart speakers, listen in as Jon Stine, Director of the Open Voice Network, and Rob Goldberg, Cyber risk leader at Deloitte, chat through concerns and more.

On this special edition of That Makes Cents, we do a quick take on what actually went down during the 2019 holiday shopping season—from consumer experience to retailer tactics and trends to infrastructure and more. We also look back at the last decade of extreme disruption in holiday retail to see how far it’s come, and finally, where might we expect it to go from here? Featuring Simon Chafetz, manager, and Meghan Cole, senior consultant from Deloitte.