Javier Quiñones, CEO and chief sustainability officer at IKEA U.S., shares his 25-year career journey at the company, what he loves most about his job and how he stays current in the ever-evolving retail industry. We also talk about IKEA’s commitment to sustainability and how it’s good business to be a good business.

(00:00:00) Introductions

(00:01:42) Quiñones’ career journey

(00:05:06) IKEA’s commitment to sustainability

(00:14:46) What Quiñones loves most about his job

(00:20:59) Creating a core IKEA experience across the globe

(00:23:26) Staying current in an ever-evolving industry

The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association.

Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.

Resources:

• ikea.com/us/en

• NRF2025: Retail’s Big Show: nrfbigshow.nrf.com

• Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC

• Become an NRF member and join the world’s largest retail trade association

• Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org

• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy

• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com

Related:

• NRF Foundation Announces The List Of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2025

• Goldman Sachs Chairman & CEO to Speak at Retail’s Big Show

• Creating a circular retail economy

Cory Onell, executive vice president and chief omnichannel sales and Asian emerging markets officer at Kraft Heinz, talks about how his company adapts and innovates omnichannel strategies for different global markets. He also shares his four-pronged leadership approach, his perspective on work-life balance and the advice that shaped his career.

(00:00:00) Introductions

(00:01:46) Cory’s Career Journey

(00:05:06) The Omnichannel Approach In Emerging Markets

(00:09:46) Kraft Heinz’s Online Presence

(00:13:28) The Essential Impact Of The Food Industry

(00:15:27) Cory’s Approach To Leadership

(00:18:15) Finding Work-Life Balance

(00:22:38) Cory’s Career Advice

The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association.

Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.

Resources:

• kraftheinzcompany.com

• Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC

• Become an NRF member and join the world’s largest retail trade association

• Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org

• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy

• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com

Related:

• Top 3 retail trends driving industry transformation in 2024

• A snapshot into the latest retail tech breakthroughs

Produced by Crate Media.

Replay from Retail Gets Real episode 340: Live from Retail’s Big Show in New York City—Caleb Pearson, VP of US customer engagement at McDonald's, talks about his career journey, McDonald's extremely popular app and how McDonald's uses digital strategies to keep customers of all generations coming back.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

In this episode, we’re unpacking emerging retail trends with Cate Trotter of Insider Trends. We explore some of the latest developments shaking up the industry while focusing on hyper convenience and what factors are driving the shift to ultra-fast fulfillment.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As we get ready for the NRF Foundation Honors, we’re speaking with two retail leaders who are co-hosting the event: Macy’s Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette and Former CEO and President of Qurate Retail, Inc. Mike George. We asked each of the co-hosts twenty questions that revealed fascinating details about how they built their careers. Hear the highlights.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Nate Checketts, CEO and Co-Founder of men's activewear brand Rhone, shares how the company is expanding its physical presence and growing its brand while holding onto its core values.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The increase in both the severity and the unpredictable nature of weather has significant ramifications for retailers on multiple fronts, including sales, infrastructure and supply chains. Evan Gold, executive vice president, global partnerships and alliances at business weather intelligence firm Planalytics, shares findings from NRF and Planalytics’ most recent report, “Climate-Proofing Retail.” We’ll also discuss the practical steps individual companies can take to manage the related opportunities and risks.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

After separating the digital business from stores in June 2021, Saks OFF 5TH has invested heavily in creating an unparalleled digital experience for the luxury bargain hunter. In this episode, Saks OFF 5TH President and CEO Paige Thomas shares insights into the digital strategy, leading through difficult times and where the future of retail is headed. 

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

NRF’s Susan Reda shares retail predictions for 2022 as outlined in her annual NRF column. From a return to the store, to digital experiences in the store, to exploring the hype of the metaverse, see what’s in store for 2022. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The National Retail Federation is convening retailers and partners in New York city for its annual convention and expo NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show on Jan. 16-18. NRF’s Jill Dvorak and Eric Olson join to share what attendees can expect to see, hear and do at the event.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Matt Shay, the president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, looks back at retail in 2021 and lessons learned to move the industry forward in 2022.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

We’ve had insights into the pandemic and visions of the future in wide-ranging conversations representing key topics for the industry over the last year. In this episode, we highlight our favorite podcast moments of 2021. With everything from large companies to scrappy startups, it’s the focus on people that makes this industry so rewarding.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Barbra Bukovac, vice chair of consumer markets at PwC, discusses insights from PwC’s recent survey that show the impact of the pandemic on consumers’ trust and their relationships with businesses, including what helps businesses build trust and why engaging with customers regularly is so meaningful.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Nate Checketts, CEO and co-founder of men's activewear brand Rhone, shares how the company is expanding its physical presence and growing its brand while holding onto its values.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Solo Brands is a leading outdoor lifestyle company offering innovative products designed to bring people together and make memories. We talk to Michael McGoohan, chief growth officer at Solo Brands and president of Solo Stove, about his career background spanning multiple industries, his new position at Solo Brands and what growth will look like for the group of outdoor lifestyle brands.   Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Bill Ready, president of commerce at Google, joins the podcast to discuss trending gifts this holiday season and the future of shopping as digital and physical experiences continue to blend.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

David French, NRF’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations, discusses the latest on advocacy campaigns for the industry and connects the dots between Capitol Hill and retail.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

On this episode of “Retail Gets Real,” NRF retail industry experts answer the holiday season’s most-asked questions: the role of Black Friday, shipping concerns, the impact of inflation, labor shortages and who will be spending the most.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The NRF Foundation’s List of People Shaping Retail’s Future is a dynamic group of leaders creating opportunities and sparking innovation. These individuals – leaders at Chewy, CVS, Five Below, McDonalds, and The RealReal – have dedicated their careers to building better lives and stronger communities. They each discuss decisions they made throughout the pandemic and what the future of retail looks like.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The retail industry has been dealing with organized crime for many years, but the topic has gained new attention in the media of late. In this episode, Tony Sheppard, the director of loss prevention solutions at ThinkLP, talks about why we’re hearing so much about these problems right now, how the pandemic has impacted the problem, and how retailers can combat the issue and plan for the future.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The pandemic taught us that new behaviors are always popping up, but we’re still figuring out which ones are here to stay. Jason “Retailgeek” Goldberg is the chief commerce strategy officer at Publicis Group and has been a go-to retail expert for industry leaders for years. He joined Retail Gets Real to talk about what’s happening in retail, technology and how consumers are helping drive innovation. (Originally released June 21, 2021.)

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Oliver Chen, managing director of retail and luxury at Cowen, discusses the challenges and opportunities coming out of the pandemic and how luxury retailers are catering to consumers’ changing values and shopping patterns.

The pandemic has accelerated the future of retail, and that future includes a radically transformed store experience. The world expects instant speed, but they also want convenience and safety. The role of the store has shifted mainly into that of a distribution point, and organizations have had to learn to embrace and execute on this new reality overnight.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The team takes a look back at some of highlights shared by leaders at NRF’s virtual events in 2021, including insights on leading through a crisis from UPS’ Carol Tome, the future of the last mile with the Urban Freight Lab, and Jared Issacman’s lessons from working with SpaceX.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

This year, 65% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween. After a dip in participation last year, that's almost back up to pre-pandemic levels and spending is estimated to reach record highs. NRF’s Head of Consumer Research, Katherine Cullen, breaks down the data around how consumers will be shopping and spending this Halloween.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Tractor Supply Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer Colin Yankee shares how the company is planning for the holidays and beyond amid a tangle of supply chain challenges and the investments the company is making to strengthen its supply chain operations for the future. 

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

The first-ever Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific 2024 successfully wrapped up in Singapore with stellar attendance and a resounding impact on the future of retail. Martine Reardon, senior advisor for retail insights and content creation for NRF, discusses the exciting inaugural event, key insights from the programming, and what she’s looking forward to when NRF hosts an even bigger Big Show APAC next year, June 3-5, 2025.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As we're 18 months into this pandemic, we're taking a moment to reflect on the past year and a half and what it's meant for retail. NRF has a unique perspective from working with hundreds of retailers, big and small, from every sector and in every region.

We've seen how they've responded to this crisis with ingenuity and resiliency. Our guest today is the National Retail Federation’s general counsel and chief administrative officer, Stephanie Martz. We're going to talk to her about how the NRF has worked with retailers throughout this time and the extraordinary ways retailers have come together as an industry to get through unimaginable challenges.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Ariel Kaye, founder and CEO of the home brand Parachute, talks about how her company has grown throughout the pandemic, why they are investing in stores, and what's on the horizon for the home segment as we look toward 2022.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Originally released May 11, 2021: A great pair of jeans never goes out of style. That fact is one of the many reasons why Levi Strauss & Co. has led the way for over a century. Today's guest is Marc Rosen, President of Levi Strauss Americas. We'll talk to Marc about Levi's digital strategy and how the brand is appealing to a whole new generation of consumers.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

For over a decade, NRF has been working with Kantar to compile our top retailer lists. This year's lists are out: The 2021 Top 100 Retailers and our list of the 25 fastest growing US retailers, the Hot 25. Kantar's Rachel Dalton is the director of ecommerce and omnichannel insights at Kantar, the agency that compiles the list. She joins this episode of Retail Gets Real to tell us about who made the lists and what it tells us about today's retail industry.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

It’s back to school season, which means something different to everyone – especially in the world of retail. Katherine Cullen, NRF’s Head of Consumer Research, explores the topic and what it means for retailers as well as parents. 

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

While the retail industry is very competitive, improving diversity across the industry is one area where retail companies are working together, sharing ideas, and learning from one another. We're talking with two leaders from Nordstrom about the company's diversity, inclusion, and belonging strategy. Fanya Chandler is SVP of the Southwest Region and Personal Styling, and Gemma Lionello is Executive Vice President, General Merchandising Manager of Accessories and Beauty. They share the progress they're making in DE&I, and why the strategy is important for the business as a whole.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

Article is an online furniture company that is reimagining the furniture-buying process from design and manufacturing all the way through to delivery. We chatted with co-founder and COO, Andy Prochazka, earlier this summer about the company's journey. Whether you never thought you’d buy furniture online or are thrilled by the idea of it, Article has much to share about how they are impacting the industry.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

With its debut on Target store shelves in the spring, a whole new group of consumers has been introduced to Grove Collaborative this year. We're talking with Grove Collaborative Co-Founder and CEO Stu Landesberg about the evolution of the natural products company, from starting as a direct-to-consumer retailer, to developing new products, to teaming up with one of the biggest retailers in the country. We'll hear from Stu about the efforts to grow the business and help consumers live a more sustainable and planet-friendly lifestyle.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As more of the country gets vaccinated against COVID-19, weddings are starting to fill the calendar once again. Some are even predicting that we're entering a wedding boom. No one has their finger on the pulse of weddings more than our guest today, Jim Marcum, CEO of David's Bridal. We're going to talk about how the company approached digital innovation during the pandemic and the company's focus as more couples gather their friends together, along with their families, to say, “I do.”

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

It’s the time of year for out-of-office notifications. Since it's vacation season, we're going to talk about how to turn off work and recharge. We all know it's important, but this is something a lot of people just don't do very well. It's also something our friends at the NRF Foundation have been asking industry executives about in their 20 questions episodes over the past several months. We’re going to explore some of those answers now to see how different successful people manage to turn off work and take a break.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

It is estimated that by 2028, the global secondhand market will reach $350 billion. ThredUp co-founder and CEO James Reinhart talks about the rising demand for resale, the outlook for the secondhand industry in America and around the world, and his uniquely formed approach to leadership.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

As shopping for secondhand goods becomes increasingly popular, the resale market continues to grow quickly, and more and more retailers are leaning into the trend. Our guest today is Andy Ruben, Founder and CEO of Trove, which enables retailers such as REI, Lululemon, Patagonia, and Levi's to offer what they call “circular shopping.” We'll talk to Andy about the resale market and about how organizations like his are making the retail industry more sustainable.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

While many retail workers were on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, other corporate employees have been working from home for more than a year. We're talking with Organizational and Workforce Transformation Advisory Partner, Elizabeth Yates, and Deals Partner at PwC, Sushil Ahuja, about how retailers can navigate return-to-office plans in their organizations.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

We hear so much about the death of physical retail, but are the reports of retail’s death greatly exaggerated? We’re talking about the future of physical retail with Melissa Gonzalez, CEO of The Lionesque Group, and a principal at MG2. The Lionesque Group specializes in strategy and retail design. We'll find out what trends Melissa is watching as she works with leading retailers across the country to create fresh and engaging customer experiences.

Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.