Retail Gets Real

397. What’s driving holiday shopping in 2025

As the winter season approaches, families across the country are stepping into the holidays with renewed enthusiasm — and retailers are preparing for one of the most meaningful shopping periods of the year. In this episode of Retail Gets Real, NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen breaks down the latest holiday data, uncovers shopping trends and shares the heartfelt traditions that define how Americans celebrate this time of year. From spending forecasts and toy trends to the influence of technology and the enduring magic of in-store discovery, this episode offers insights into what consumers value most — and why the holidays remain essential to so many. (00:00:00) Holiday kickoff and early shopping myths (00:07:38) What kids really want—and what toys are trending for 2025 (00:11:35) Where holiday gift inspiration really comes from (00:16:41) The songs, foods, and flavors that define the holidays (00:19:58) The traditions that make the holidays meaningful 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: • Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC [https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/?utm_source=NRF.com&utm_medium=Home_CTA&utm_term=Save%2B300&utm_content=MK_AN25_nrfcom_RegDL_092424&utm_campaign=MK_AN25] • Become an NRF member [https://nrf.com/membership/nrf-membership] and join the world’s largest retail trade association • Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org [https://nrffoundation.org] • Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy [https://nrf.com/advocacy] • Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com [https://retailgetsreal.com] Related: • 369: How Butterball builds Thanksgiving traditions with customers [https://nrf.com/blog/how-butterball-builds-thanksgiving-traditions-with-customers] • 394: Halloween trends: What’s driving record spending [https://nrf.com/podcast/halloween-trends-whats-driving-record-spending]

396. How iHerb is leading the trillion-dollar wellness market

The wellness movement has gone global — and few companies embody that expansion better than iHerb. CEO Emun Zabihi explores how they’re transforming the way consumers access supplements and natural products worldwide. From humble beginnings in a Pasadena apartment to serving millions of customers in 180 countries, iHerb’s journey is a story of innovation, accessibility, and trust in an increasingly crowded marketplace.  (00:00:00) The rise of the trillion-dollar wellness economy (00:08:57) Trends shaping the supplement industry (00:13:25) Global reach and the fight against counterfeits (00:18:35) The future of wellness and lessons in leadership 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: • Website: iherb.com [https://www.iherb.com/] • Emun Zabihi on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emun-zabihi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emun-zabihi/] • Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC [https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/?utm_source=NRF.com&utm_medium=Home_CTA&utm_term=Save%2B300&utm_content=MK_AN25_nrfcom_RegDL_092424&utm_campaign=MK_AN25] • Become an NRF member [https://nrf.com/membership/nrf-membership] and join the world’s largest retail trade association • Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org [https://nrffoundation.org/] • Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy [https://nrf.com/advocacy] • Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com [https://retailgetsreal.com/] Related: • 389: Purpose-driven retail: Stories of impact from leading brands [https://nrf.com/podcast/purpose-driven-retail-stories-of-impact-from-leading-brands]

395. Adapting to the rise of AI shoppers

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every corner of the retail landscape, and a new wave of agentic AI shoppers is changing how brands must think about data, experience and customer connection. Debra Langley, partner at CAPTIS Ventures, and Greg Merrill, president at Futura Fragua unpack the rapid rise of AI shopping agents and what this evolution means for the future of retail. (00:00:00) A new era of retail innovation (00:05:02) The rise of AI shopping agents (00:10:08) Explaining AI shoppers to traditional retailers (00:17:06) The promise and peril of AI (00:20:00) Why human experience still matters 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: • CAPTIS Ventures [https://www.linkedin.com/company/captis-ventures/] • Futura Fragua [https://www.linkedin.com/company/futurafragua/] • Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC [https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/?utm_source=NRF.com&utm_medium=Home_CTA&utm_term=Save%2B300&utm_content=MK_AN25_nrfcom_RegDL_092424&utm_campaign=MK_AN25] • Become an NRF member [https://nrf.com/membership/nrf-membership] and join the world’s largest retail trade association • Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org [https://nrffoundation.org/] • Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy [https://nrf.com/advocacy] • Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com [https://retailgetsreal.com/] Related: • 381: The innovators driving the future of retail [https://nrf.com/podcast/the-innovators-driving-the-future-of-retail] • 364: How BJ’s Wholesale Club leverages AI to serve its customers [https://nrf.com/blog/how-bjs-wholesale-club-leverages-ai-serve-its-customers]

394. How consumers are redefining Halloween

Halloween isn’t just a holiday — it’s a full-fledged season of fun, community and record-breaking retail activity. Today we’re joined by Katherine Cullen, vice president of industry and consumer insights at the National Retail Federation, to unpack how consumers are celebrating Halloween this year and why this festive tradition continues to grow in cultural and economic significance. (00:00:00) Turning homes into haunted experiences (00:05:59) From one night to an entire season (00:08:59) What consumers are buying this Halloween (00:11:25) Costumes that define the season (00:14:57) Why Halloween matters more than ever 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: • Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC [https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/?utm_source=NRF.com&utm_medium=Home_CTA&utm_term=Save%2B300&utm_content=MK_AN25_nrfcom_RegDL_092424&utm_campaign=MK_AN25] • Become an NRF member [https://nrf.com/membership/nrf-membership] and join the world’s largest retail trade association • Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org [https://nrffoundation.org/] • Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy [https://nrf.com/advocacy] • Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com [https://retailgetsreal.com/] Related: • 369: How Butterball builds Thanksgiving traditions with customers [https://nrf.com/blog/how-butterball-builds-thanksgiving-traditions-with-customers] • 365: Halloween spending tricks, treats and trends [https://nrf.com/blog/halloween-spending-tricks-treats-and-trends]

393. How Bealls is shaping the next era of value shopping

Matt Beall, Chairman and CEO of Bealls Inc., reflects on 110 years of family legacy, cultural evolution, and the future of off-price retail. As a fourth-generation leader, Matt offers a rare look inside the company’s long-standing commitment to both financial discipline and human-centered leadership — and how those values are shaping its future. (00:00:00) Early memories and family pressure (00:05:27) Seeing the store through the customer’s eyes (00:08:05) The power of the off-price model (00:14:25) Leading for people, not legacy (00:16:31) The future of retail 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: • Website: beallsinc.com [https://www.beallsinc.com/] • Matt Beall on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mattbeallceo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbeallceo/] • Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC [https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/?utm_source=NRF.com&utm_medium=Home_CTA&utm_term=Save%2B300&utm_content=MK_AN25_nrfcom_RegDL_092424&utm_campaign=MK_AN25] • Become an NRF member [https://nrf.com/membership/nrf-membership] and join the world’s largest retail trade association • Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org [https://nrffoundation.org/] • Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy [https://nrf.com/advocacy] • Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com [https://retailgetsreal.com/] Related: • 392: How Warby Parker is redefining retail and customer experience [https://nrf.com/podcast/how-warby-parker-is-redefining-retail-and-customer-experience] • 376: How Target’s consumer-first strategy drives success [https://nrf.com/blog/how-targets-consumer-first-strategy-drives-success]