The Watson Weekend is sponsored by Rithum because if you’re in commerce, this is the event you can’t miss. Rithum LIVE is happening Sept 25 in New York City and Oct 9 in London—bringing together top brands, retailers, and leaders for a full day on the future of commerce. Learn more at rithum.com/nyc

Hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky begin the show with a review of the news from the past weekend that caught their attention. The headline Hangover highlights Rent the Runway's subscriber growth but declining profits amid competition, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's initiative to cut bureaucracy and return to a startup culture, and varied holiday sales forecasts, with consumers expected to benefit despite retailer margin pressures. YouTube's creator economy is noted for paying out over $100 billion to creators in four years, underscoring the platform's growth and influence.

They then sit down with David Katz, EVP and CMO of Randa Apparel and Accessories, a billion-dollar company managing 35 brands, including Calvin Klein, Levi Strauss, Cole Haan, Dickies, Tommy Hilfiger, Columbia Sportswear, and 30 additional brands.

🔥 KEY TOPICS COVERED:

What percentage of the Randa business is as a licensee to another brand versus its own?

What challenges are retailers facing, and how do they impact brands?

The importance of direct engagement with customers

How Randa uses its “moats, boats, and bridges” framework

The challenges, such as tariff uncertainties, inventory risk, and the impact of public company pressures on retailers

The importance of looking to the future rather than recreating the normal

The conversation underscores the complexity of modern retail, the critical role of leadership and culture in navigating change, and the potential of AI and technology as tools rather than solutions.

Chapters:

Welcome to The Watson Weekend - 00:00

Headline Hangover - 03:47

Introducing David Katz 18:21

Randa Apparel and Accessories business model 21:31

Disruption and technology 23:43

The current environment 27:30

Exceptions prove the rule 33:45

Uncertainty and supply chain 39:52

Leadership and rationalization - 43:01

Customer loyalty 43:36

The tale of Hudson's Bay 46:24

What role does data play in retail 50:54

The impact of AI - 54:36

The Taylor Swift impact 57:00

Strategy in today’s world - 01:02:27

What is the 'moats, boats, and bridges' framework - 01:10:00

The need to look towards the future and not return to the normal - 01:17:45

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