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Despite some bright spots, retail has had a bumpy road lately, with shifts from malls to online, store closings, bankruptcies, restructurings, liquidations and the like. Yet as Tolstoy might have put it, “Successful retailers are all alike; each distressed retailer is distressed in its own way.”
In this fireside chat, Rob Gorin, managing director at Getzler Henrich & Associates, interviews Max Frumes, the global head of distress and restructuring news at 9Fin, in search of lessons learned for the industry at large and what we might expect going forward. A highly regarded senior journalist, Frumes has been reporting on distress, credit, M & A, leveraged financing, turnarounds and special situations for more than 12 years.
"My prediction is that you're going to see larger retail restructurings happen with very different stakeholders that don't just include credit funds," said Frumes. "They're going to be these multifaceted companies with lots of different arms that could could wind up having a meaningful influence on these large retail restructurings or refinancings going forward."
Watch the fireside chat to learn:

What’s different about the distressed retail category now in 2024, both from a company and creditor vantage point

Some common mistakes that all distressed companies seem to make, and what lessons can be learned

Retail companies that are good models for generating better returns to right the ship

The implications of private Amazon aggregators that are restructuring

What the fashion industry can learn from the Red Lobster loss driver that some say drove the company into bankruptcy.

Future predictions for the distressed retail industry


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It seems as if tech is one of the biggest recurring stories that touches many facets—economies, societies and businesses. In this episode we will discuss why retailers should care about AI and what makes a successful tech-rich organizational environment.
In this fireside chat, Michael Appel, managing director and head of retail practice, Getzler Henrich & Associates, sits down with José P. Chan, assistant professor, technology & innovation at Parsons School of Design to discuss AI’s implications.
Watch the fireside chat to learn:
·      When we say AI, what do we really mean? Is AI a magic bullet for retail problem solving?
·      How retailers should approach AI to improve efficiency and financial results, and what applications should be top of mind
·      How crucial adoption and the human elements are when thinking about AI  
·      The ethical or legal implications of AI when considering the incorporation of AI into a business  
·      Some good use cases of retail companies that have successfully incorporated AI solutions into their business models 
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Well-trained, committed frontline workers are key to a retailer’s success, but that’s proving more and more elusive. With a worker attrition rate of about 60 percent, retailers are essentially replacing more than half their staff every year. That’s a lot of churn.
In this fireside chat, Christine Tutssel, co-founder of Axonify, Michael Appel, managing director and head of retail practice, Getzler Henrich and Associates, and Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio discuss why investment in staff onboarding, training, development, communications and retention must come from the top, and how AI and technology can really make an impact.
Watch the fireside to learn:

Why staff and management turnover is so high today

What Axonify's survey of 300 frontline managers revealed

How technology like Axonify's tool can better foster management and frontline connections to make associates more successful

How managers use the Axonify tool to train front-line employees about retail theft

If retail leaders have the tools and tactics to tap into the business success that frontlines can drive


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How are smart retailers bringing their own customers into the mix as co-collaborators and co-creators? PacSun is a leader in this regard, making sure its brand resonates with Gen Z, and not just in product, but in overall vibe and messaging. Whether this means using its own consumers as models in advertising campaigns or soliciting Gen Z customer and staff input on creative projects, PacSun knows the benefits of inclusivity and community.
In this fireside chat for retail business hub Retail Rx, Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD’s executive editor of strategic content chats with Richard Cox, PacSun’s VP of men’s merchandising and design, and head of global partnerships, about why PacSun strategies like The Collective work so well.
Watch the chat to learn:

What is the PacSun Collective and how it engages with customers

The four pillars PacSun uses for consumer success

How PacSun keeps its finger on the pulse of an ever-shifting culture and arts environment

How numerous arts, music and even Formula 1 collaborations drive interest and build community

How PacSun hits inclusivity notes that resonate

How the retailer stays “forever young” while engaging the next generation of youth


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Are retailers really listening to their customers?
In this fireside chat for business hub Retail Rx, Michael Appel, managing director and head of retail practice for Getzler Henrich & Associates, and Greg Petro, CEO of consumer insight platform First Insight discuss the importance of digital tools to gather voice of customer insights data and apply the analytics to drive sales—wherever the customer is. 
Watch the chat to learn:

Why voice of the consumer (VOC) data is more important than ever

If omnichannel retailers are looking at in-store and online data as more distinct than they should be

How capturing VOC data in real time can help retailers funnel it to the right channels for strategic planning

How First Insight's recently launched interactive mobile app My Insight works

Future predictions for the retail analytics industry


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In response to a challenged and constantly shifting retail market, WWD and Sourcing Journal have joined forces and teamed up with Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC, a Hilco Global Company, to launch “Retail Rx.” This digital content microsite presents news and insights to help executive leaders make better-informed business decisions. Fresh content is posted weekly.
In this fireside chat, Lauren Parker, director, FMG Studios, sits down with Michael Appel, managing director and head of retail practice and Getzler Henrich, to discuss the need for the site and its goal of offering business leaders a competitive edge in an ever-evolving, complex retail marketplace.
Retail Rx includes the podcast “Chat Box,” where industry experts and retail executives explore the state of retail today and tomorrow. “Retail POV” articles present exclusive finance and technology news and business insights from the Getzler Henrich and Hilco Global experts, and “The SKU View” fireside chats feature retail and industry thought leaders and experts. “Mike Drop,” is Michael Appel’s “no-holds-barred” opinion column to industry.
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