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Retail101online

Mark Lack

41 episodes

2 days ago

Send us a text Launch day! Series 3 of RETAIL101online kicks off with the one thing that separates winners from wallpaper: brand differentiation. In this episode I break down what real differentiation is (not logos or limited-time drinks), how to build your Brand Wedge (Promise • Proof • Persistence), and the exact plays convenience stores and small-format retailers can run to stop blending in and start winning. We’ll cover: how to choose a single, memorable promise your team can chant, the p...

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Send us a text Launch day! Series 3 of RETAIL101online kicks off with the one thing that separates winners from wallpaper: brand differentiation. In this episode I break down what real differentiation is (not logos or limited-time drinks), how to build your Brand Wedge (Promise • Proof • Persistence), and the exact plays convenience stores and small-format retailers can run to stop blending in and start winning. We’ll cover: how to choose a single, memorable promise your team can chant, the p...

Show more...

Episodes (20/41)

Retail101online

Brand Differentiation: PROMISE. PROOF. PERSISTENCE

Send us a text Launch day! Series 3 of RETAIL101online kicks off with the one thing that separates winners from wallpaper: brand differentiation. In this episode I break down what real differentiation is (not logos or limited-time drinks), how to build your Brand Wedge (Promise • Proof • Persistence), and the exact plays convenience stores and small-format retailers can run to stop blending in and start winning. We’ll cover: how to choose a single, memorable promise your team can chant, the p...

2 days ago

18 minutes

Retail101online

The Price of Value: Why Consumers Still Pay for What They Believe In | Shikha Jain

Send us a text In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack is joined by Shikha Jain, Lead Partner for Consumer & Retail at Simon-Kucher, one of the world’s leading consultancies in pricing, sales, and marketing. This conversation goes beyond discounts and promotions to explore something far more powerful: value — how customers define it, how brands communicate it, and why it matters more than ever in an era of inflation, margin pressure, and rising consumer expectations. Shikha share...

3 weeks ago

46 minutes

Retail101online

Behind The Counters - What Christmas Is Really Like In Retail

Send us a text 🎄 Christmas in Retail: Real, Tough, and Joyous! 🎄 Ever wondered what Christmas is really like behind the counters, in the stockrooms, and on the shop floor? This special RETAIL101 episode takes you deep into the heart of the holiday season in retail. From chaotic busy days to heartwarming moments with customers, we explore both the challenges and the joys of working through the most festive—and stressful—time of the year. We’ll also look back at the history of Christmas in reta...

3 weeks ago

12 minutes

Retail101online

Inside: Global Sourcing with Ricky Ho from SourceReady

Send us a text In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Ricky Ho — Founder of SourceReady — to explore how AI, data, and global transparency are rewriting the rules of retail sourcing. Ricky breaks down the real friction points facing brands today — from supplier discovery and verification to compliance, diversification, risk management, and the increasing pressure to move faster at lower cost. He explains how SourceReady uses AI trained on customs filings, trade-show i...

4 weeks ago

52 minutes

Retail101online

Bakery Boss Mode - How Store Managers Win With Bakery

Send us a text Running a store bakery without being a baker? You can—if you run the operation. In this episode, Mark Lack breaks down the B.R.E.A.D. framework—Basics & Hygiene, Recipe & Range Quality, Engagement & Communication, Availability & Inventory, Development—so you can spot what matters, lower waste, lift availability, and keep customers coming back for the fresh stuff. You’ll learn how to set smart daypart pars (open, mid-morning, lunch, late afternoon), when an...

1 month ago

16 minutes

Retail101online

Retail Truth Behind The Diary Of A CEO

Send us a text Steven Bartlett’s bestselling book and podcast The Diary of a CEO have captured the world’s attention—but what can retail professionals actually learn from it? In this extended deep-dive episode of Retail101online, recorded just ahead of the Christmas retail rush, we unpack not just the book—but the man, the mindset, and the methods behind one of the most influential business platforms in the world. Join us as we explore: The real story of Steven Bartlett’s rise from dropout to...

1 month ago

16 minutes

Retail101online

Inside Planning: Max Ma from 7thonline: Forecasting, Data & the Future of Retail

Send us a text In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Max Ma — Founder of 7thonline — to break down the real reason retail planning fails, and how AI, better data, and smarter processes are transforming how retailers buy, forecast, and operate. Max shares the original “broken moment” that inspired him to create 7thonline, and why planning is still one of the retail industry’s most misunderstood — and most critical — disciplines. From dirty data and omnichannel d...

1 month ago

1 hour 13 minutes

Retail101online

Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast - Allegedly

Send us a text What does it really mean when we say “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”? In this episode of Retail101online, we go beyond the buzzword and explore whether culture truly trumps strategy—or if it’s just a leadership cliché. We’ll unpack: The origin and meaning of the phraseReal-world retail examples of culture and strategy collidingWhy culture alone isn’t enoughHow to align your strategy with your store culture5 practical tools for retail leaders and managersWhether you’re in...

1 month ago

10 minutes

Retail101online

Buzzword Bingo - Business Phrases That Need To Retire

Send us a text “Let’s circle back and align on a value-led pivot before we move the needle…” If that sentence made you laugh (or cry), this episode is for you. In this week’s Retail101online, we dive headfirst into the wonderful, wobbly world of business jargon. From procurement to performance reviews, LinkedIn humblebrags to boardroom buzzwords — we’re calling out the clichés that should’ve been retired with dial-up internet. We cover phrases like: 🦆 “Getting our ducks in a row” ...

2 months ago

13 minutes

Retail101online

Inside: The One Percent with Luke Doran

Send us a text In this episode of Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Luke Doran, Founder of The One Percent, to explore how mindset, self-awareness, and marginal gains are reshaping what it means to lead in retail today. Luke brings lessons from both elite sport and corporate coaching to the table — revealing how small, consistent changes can deliver extraordinary results. They discuss the psychology behind leadership, resilience under pressure, and the habits that help retail...

2 months ago

53 minutes

Retail101online

Inside Human Capital: What Does It Take to Succeed in Retail?

Send us a text In this BONUS episode of RETAIL101online: Retail Voices, host Mark Lack sits down with Ashutosh Labroo, Chief Human Resources Officer and Founder of SuccessionIQ, to explore how human capital is transforming the future of retail. Ash shares his unique perspective on what it really takes to build and sustain high-performing teams in an industry that never sleeps. From navigating digital transformation and e-commerce disruption to balancing automation with empathy, this episode g...

2 months ago

56 minutes

Retail101online

Hear Me Out - Big vs Best Who Is Winning Right Now In Grocery Retail

Send us a text Title: Big vs. Best: Who Really Wins in Grocery Retail? In this deep-dive episode of Retail101Online, we explore the difference between being the biggest and being the best in global grocery retail. While giants like Walmart dominate by size, we spotlight the five retailers consistently praised for operational brilliance, customer experience, and long-term strategy. 🔍 Featuring: Mercadona: The Spanish powerhouse redefining supplier relationships and private label qualityTrader ...

2 months ago

16 minutes

Retail101online

Leadership Mindset 2.0 Upgrading Your Mind

Send us a text Most retail managers are promoted because they were great at their jobs—not because they were trained to lead. That’s the hard truth behind Leadership Mindset 2.0 by R. Michael Anderson, and it’s exactly why this episode matters. In this episode of Retail101online, we explore how to rewire your mindset to thrive as a retail leader. You’ll discover why mindset matters more than skillset, how Anderson’s 4-phase leadership evolution works in real store life, and why the ARC model ...

3 months ago

12 minutes

Retail101online

Adapt or Expire: What Mice Know That Managers Don’t

Send us a text Episode 28: Who Moved My Cheese? What Retail Managers Must Learn from Change In this episode of Retail101online, Mark Lack explores the timeless business parable Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson and applies its lessons to the fast-paced world of retail. Learn how to spot change, adapt quickly, guide your team through resistance, and avoid the trap of standing still while the industry evolves around you. With practical insights and a dose of reflection, this episode helps...

3 months ago

12 minutes

Retail101online

What Every Store Manager Gets Wrong About Butchery

Send us a text Managing the Butchery (When You're Not a Butcher) Episode 27 of Retail101online takes store managers deep into the world of butchery — without needing to pick up a knife. Host Mark Lack explores how to manage this complex, high-margin department with confidence, even if you're not trained in meat cutting. Learn to challenge shrink, monitor hygiene, measure yield, monitor daily plans, and drive value-add performance. Plus, get 5 practical actions in the "Help Is On The Way...

4 months ago

16 minutes

Retail101online

Eight Lies About Life & Success - The Truth Will Set You Free

Send us a text Episode 26: 8 Lies About Life and Success (And The Truths That Will Set You Free) In this deeply personal episode, Mark Lack unpacks 8 common myths about life and success that hold people back in business and beyond. Inspired by a visual from Victoria Repa, this conversation blends reflection, real-world retail insights, and hard-earned truths to reset your mindset and sharpen your growth. From redefining wealth and embracing imperfection to understanding the power of sel...

4 months ago

15 minutes

Retail101online

Resurrecting Retail - A Post Pandemic Odyssey

Send us a text Episode 25: Resurrecting Retail – The New World of Business After the Pandemic In this milestone episode, host Mark Lack explores the future of retail through the lens of Doug Stephens’ acclaimed book Resurrecting Retail. Learn how the pandemic reshaped consumer expectations, accelerated innovation, and forced an industry-wide reckoning with purpose, technology, and the role of physical stores. We explore key themes from the book, including retail-as-media, the rise of experien...

5 months ago

12 minutes

Retail101online

Mastering Retail The Japanese Way - Tanpin Kanri

Send us a text Mastering Retail the Japanese Way: Tanpin Kanri & the Art of Precision In this insightful episode of Retail101online, we explore Tanpin Kanri, a revolutionary Japanese retail management philosophy that’s changing how stores around the world operate. Originating from Seven-Eleven Japan, Tanpin Kanri—meaning “item-by-item management”—shifts the focus from broad product categories to detailed, real-time analysis of individual items. This precision-based, customer-driven approa...

5 months ago

14 minutes

Retail101online

What Storewars Teaches Us About the Game of Management

Send us a text In Episode 23 of Retail101online, we explore the hidden depths of the world-famous management simulation game Storewars. Discover how this game mirrors the realities of retail leadership — from supply chain decisions to strategic pricing, sustainability, and team dynamics. Whether you’ve played the simulation or not, this episode offers philosophical insights and practical tips for managers at every level. Learn how to apply these game-based lessons to real-li...

6 months ago

12 minutes

Retail101online

Critical Thinking In Retail With Blooms Taxonomy

Send us a text Episode 22: Think Smart – Mastering Critical Thinking in Retail How do you teach frontline retail staff to think like leaders? In this milestone 22nd episode of Retail101online, we dive deep into the power of critical thinking using Bloom’s Taxonomy—a simple but powerful framework to level up how you learn, think, and act on the job. Whether you're a store manager, team leader, or rising star, this episode breaks down six key thinking skills every successful retailer needs—from...

6 months ago

16 minutes