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Artwork for The Voice of Retail

The Voice of Retail

Michael LeBlanc
E-Commerce
Retail
Artificial Intelligence
Leadership
Consumer Behavior
Retail Industry
Sustainability
Customer Experience
AI In Retail
Innovation
Retail Strategy
Leaders Leap
Retail Council Of Canada
Retail Technology
Retail Transformation
Customer Engagement
Digital Transformation
Covid-19
Generative AI
Customer Loyalty

The Voice of Retail is a weekly podcast hosted by retail pioneer, advisor and keynote speaker Michael LeBlanc and is produced in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. Each and every week I interview the most interesting people in and around the retail industry, examining the key issues and strategies on the minds of thought leaders in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. © 2018-2026 M.E. Le... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes549Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusinessMarketing

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Artwork for The Voice of Retail

Latest Episodes

In this episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with one of retail technology's most accomplished leaders: Julie Averill, former Chief Information Officer of Lululemon and REI, and author of the new book Chief Impact Of... more

In this Encore episode of The Voice of Retail, I’m joined by James B. Smith, Founder and CEO of Rare Placement, for a wide-ranging conversation on modern leadership, executive search, and the future of talent in the retail industry.

James brings an ... more

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming retail, but are retailers giving away too much decision-making power to algorithms?

On this episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back retail strategist, educator, speaker and a... more

In this very special live edition of The Voice of Retail podcast — the first live recording in nearly 550 episodes on the main-stage at Retaiul Council of Canada's STORE conference — host Michael LeBlanc takes the stage at Retail Council of Canada's ... more

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Recent Guests

James B. Smith
CEO of Rare Placement
Rare Placement
Episode: Talent, Strategy, and Story Telling: James B. Smith, CEO of Rare Placement, on Finding—and Becoming—the Right Retail Leader (Encore Epiosde)
Julia Freeman
CEO, The Jilly Box
The Jilly Box
Episode: Julia Freeman, CEO of The Jilly Box, David Brownstein, President of Browns Shoes, and Selwyn Crittendon, CEO of IKEA Canada, Live on Stage at STORE 2026
Selwyn Crittendon
CEO, IKEA Canada
IKEA
Episode: Julia Freeman, CEO of The Jilly Box, David Brownstein, President of Browns Shoes, and Selwyn Crittendon, CEO of IKEA Canada, Live on Stage at STORE 2026
David Brownstein
President, Browns Shoes
Browns Shoes
Episode: Julia Freeman, CEO of The Jilly Box, David Brownstein, President of Browns Shoes, and Selwyn Crittendon, CEO of IKEA Canada, Live on Stage at STORE 2026
Matthew Merrilees
CEO North America, Global-e
Global-e
Episode: Going Global in Uncertain Times with Matthew Merrilees , CEO North America, Global-e and Co-Host Jim Okamura from the Global eCommerce Leaders Forum
Jim Okamura
Co-host, GELF community participant
Global eCommerce Leaders Forum (GELF)
Episode: Going Global in Uncertain Times with Matthew Merrilees , CEO North America, Global-e and Co-Host Jim Okamura from the Global eCommerce Leaders Forum
Jackie Swanson
Managing Partner at Gartner Consulting
Gartner
Episode: Retail’s AI Reckoning: Jackie Swanson, Managing Partner at Gartner Consulting on Winning the Agentic Future
Deb Craven
President of Longo's
Longo's
Episode: Deb Craven, President of Longo’s, on 70 Years of Retail Excellence and being named Retail Council of Canada’s Distinguished Retailer of the Year for 2026
Stephen Bailey
Chief Marketing Officer, John Fluevog Shoes
John Fluevog Shoes
Episode: Stephen Bailey, Chief Marketing Officer at John Fluevog Shoes, on Building a Global Cult Retail Brand Through Community, Creativity & Retail Courage

Host

Michael LeBlanc
Host of The Voice of Retail; advisor and keynote speaker with deep involvement in retail industry initiatives.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • Great experience!

    Michael is a great host and creates great interview experiences for his guests! He dives into the content with his guests to bring lots of value to his audience!

    Diverse and consistently great content about all things retail from around the world!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tkdjdl
    Canada2 years ago
  • Consistantly good

    Great content, great host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Foodie in the zone
    Canada2 years ago
  • Michael is a great host

    I thoroughly enjoyed being a guest on Michael’s Voice of Retail podcast and learned a lot from his own experience as we prepared for the episode. Thank you RCC for helping to make this happen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Josser405
    Canada4 years ago
  • Retail rockstars!

    Michael and his incredibly knowledgeable guests shine the brightest of lights on the retail industry and the hardworking people in it! Informative, educational, and engaging are just a few of the words I'd use to describe the time you'll spend with them. Thanks so much for putting out such a robust resource Michael - keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Katie Joy B.
    United States7 years ago
  • Weekly Must

    Michael shares great content, personalities and interesting topical info every week. Great way for anyone in retail to stay on top of current news and more in-depth retail stories. Entertaining and informative. We liked it so much we decided to sponsor.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ted from Stream Commerce
    Canada7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics are consistently valuable for retail professionals.
The show is seen as a robust resource on global retail trends and technology.
Listeners praise the host for deep retail expertise and interview quality.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#65
Canada/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#10
Austria/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts
#91
Austria/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Carl Boutet, Retail Futurist and author of “The Flip: Staying Human in an Algorithmic World,” on his new book, AI, Asia Retail Innovation and the Next Era of Retail
Q: Let's talk about your new book, what's the core purpose and the four forces?
Boutet explains that The Flip consolidates lessons from his earlier books and current AI-driven shifts, focusing on how automation, optimization, contextualization, and immersion are reshaping every touchpoint in retail, from sourcing to loyalty programs, while stressing the need to maintain human judgment and strategic control.
Julia Freeman, CEO of The Jilly Box, David Brownstein, President of Browns Shoes, and Selwyn Crittendon, CEO of IKEA Canada, Live on Stage at STORE 2026
Q: What is IKEA's approach to AI and staff development in stores?
Selwyn and IKEA executives described a governance-first, data-clean approach to AI, focusing on better retailing, operational efficiency, and enabling coworkers to handle higher-value tasks on the sales floor rather than replacing staff; training and data stewardship are prerequisites to AI adoption.
Julia Freeman, CEO of The Jilly Box, David Brownstein, President of Browns Shoes, and Selwyn Crittendon, CEO of IKEA Canada, Live on Stage at STORE 2026
Q: How did The Jilly Box begin, and what has driven its growth?
Julia noted that the box started as a mission to create economic impact for small Canadian brands, leading to rapid growth after launch in 2019, with the business scaling to 20,000 boxes per season and strong donor/community engagement; the strategy centers on trust, community, and a curated selection of small, equity-deserving brands.
Julia Freeman, CEO of The Jilly Box, David Brownstein, President of Browns Shoes, and Selwyn Crittendon, CEO of IKEA Canada, Live on Stage at STORE 2026
Q: Julia, you go first. Tell us about Jilly Box.
Julia Freeman explained that The Jilly Box curates 10 Canadian, often women-owned, equity-deserving brands into a joyful, surprise package that connects consumers with small businesses and supports the Canadian economy; the concept emphasizes community impact, charity (donating back from boxes), and a scalable model that began with Jillian Harris's platform and partnerships. (Timestamp 54393 -> 56513)
Going Global in Uncertain Times with Matthew Merrilees , CEO North America, Global-e and Co-Host Jim Okamura from the Global eCommerce Leaders Forum
Q: What advice would you give brands just starting to go global in today's uncertain environment, especially regarding where to invest first?
Invest in a solid foundation for profitability measurement, align inventory and pricing across markets, and adopt a digital-first approach with a single, scalable global storefront to reduce complexity and enable rapid, profitable international expansion.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Voice of Retail

What is The Voice of Retail about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A business-focused show centered on retail strategy, technology, and leadership. Guests range from senior retailers and brand builders to AI and logistics experts, discussing store transformation, omnichannel experiences, AI-enabled personalization, and industry collaboration. Notable strengths include a consistent emphasis on people-first leadership, practical guidance for handling disruption, and a track record of credible guests who blend hands-on retail operations with strategic vision. The format often blends personal stories with actionable takeaways for retailers, suppliers, and tech providers looking to excel in modern commerce.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Voice of Retail?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Voice of Retail. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Voice of Retail and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Voice of Retail get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Voice of Retail, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Voice of Retail?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Voice of Retail, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Voice of Retail have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Voice of Retail has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Voice of Retail?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Voice of Retail:

1. The Food Professor
2. The Tim Ferriss Show
3. Curse of Politics
4. A Bit of Optimism
5. Front Burner

How many episodes of The Voice of Retail are there?

The Voice of Retail launched 8 years ago and published 549 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Voice of Retail?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Voice of Retail?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Voice of Retail from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Voice of Retail?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Voice of Retail. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Voice of Retail?

Recent guests on The Voice of Retail include:

1. James B. Smith
2. Julia Freeman
3. Selwyn Crittendon
4. David Brownstein
5. Matthew Merrilees
6. Jim Okamura
7. Jackie Swanson
8. Deb Craven

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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