Best George Minakakis Podcasts (2024)

1
Re-Innovating Retail 25:24

1+ y ago25:24

25:24

While the Pandemic Triage is well in the rearview of retail executives, we have been hearing of the need for sharing and discussion around more deep challenges facing the sector. New in 2023, TBOR is tackling the next round of complexities. Here is our first - Re-Innovating Retail. As the retail industry transitions through a high-speed technologic…

1
Retail Careers in Flux in 2022 28:12

3y ago28:12

28:12

Arguably the top buzzword of 2021 is “The Great Resignation”. Catchy as it sounds, it's an incomplete story. Many are leaving, but others are staying and new will come - for the right opportunities. A recent Fast Company piece suggests it is actually “The Great Reprioritization”. It focused on the worker perspective, but reprioritizing and redesign…

1
"Shop Local" - What Does It Really Mean? 24:58

3y ago24:58

24:58

This time of year in particular brings urgent calls to "Shop Local". Individually and collectively, the TBOR Crew has been a vocal supporter of independent retail and foodservice from the earliest days of the pandemic. Yet, as we dove into Ep. 30, we soon realized these two words can mean different things to different people. Is it about buying 'lo…

1
Hard Truths in a Retail Staffing Crisis 24:16

3y ago24:16

24:16

Some fire showed in this 24 min episode. All agree that the retail front of house staffing model for stores is broken. There are quick patches for Holiday 2021, but the underlying issues are not going away. The question is whether the industry can disrupt itself to find the answer. The ongoing campaign against a higher minimum wage suggests it won'…

1
Working Through The Supply Chain Disruption - In-store 22:35

3y ago22:35

22:35

Another shorter segment (22.35 min). The Supply Chain issue has many facets. This episode focuses on what can be done at the store level in face of stock unpredictability and shortfalls. Independents might be hard hit with supply, yet have a real edge here to pivot and reset product experiences. The challenges are exponential for chains. The crew d…

1
The Path to 2022 20:46

3y ago20:46

20:46

As we head into the last quarter of 2021, the crew looks to the retail CEO's path to 2022. Each of us brought our top one or two priorities to the discussion. What must be tackled now, while continuing to solidify foundations for 2023 and beyond. This was a fast moving discussion. Listen as we scan the landscape to establish in real time our curate…

1
Wake Up And Small The Supply Chain (Trailer, 2:29 Min) 2:29

3y ago2:29

2:29

Are #retailers' #supplychains ready for the next Black Swan moment(s)? Listen here for our preview of Episode 26.By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Wake Up And Smell The Supply Chain 51:56

3y ago51:56

51:56

We know Amazon has been buying planes while chip shortages are creating shortages in car rental fleets. Gary notes that 2020/21 backlogs might take a year to catch up given current global capacities. If corona-virus protocols wax and wane through 2023 or beyond, supply chain vulnerability will continue to be the biggest wild card for retailers and …

1
Exploring The Challenge Of 50% Retail Sales Online by 2025 26:38

3+ y ago26:38

26:38

We have heard much about ado about how we have “gained 5 years in 5 weeks”, evolving rapidly through the pandemic. There are pundits claiming soon 50% of retail will flow online. At #thebusinessofretail we love an intriguing hypothesis to test. We take this one head on.By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Exploring The Challenge Of 50% Retail Sales Online by 2025 (Trailer, 1.27 Min) 1:27

3+ y ago1:27

1:27

Gary had come across a push-piece calling for #ecommerce to comprise half of all retail transactions by 2025. "No way!" we thought. Yet, we dissected it to contemplate implications and conditions for this to occur. Here is a sample from Ep 25, which will launch in full in one week..By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Grocer Power Plays Send Ripples (w/ Sylvain Charlebois) 1:02:24

3+ y ago1:02:24

1:02:24

Imagine drive-through meals at every Loblaw's supermarket, with President's Choice on the menu board?. Or retailers taking over the better meal prep kit plays. Will grocers unleash their vision of the future? Or will they just test the waters? Will A.I. be cleaning up in aisle four? If so, will it be about customers, or on cutting costs (and people…

1
Grocer Power Plays (Trailer, 3:33 min) 3:33

3+ y ago3:33

3:33

Canada's Food Professor is back! Dr. Sylvain Charlebois covered Foodservices a few months ago and returns to reveal the big shifts happening in our large grocers that are sending ripples through our Food Retail sector. Here is a sneak peak and a 'tip of the cap' to Sobey's CEO, Michael Medline.By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Sales & Service - The Lost Art of Retail 1:11:13

3+ y ago1:11:13

1:11:13

There ha s been much trumpeting of "customer experience" over the past decade. However, the experiential foundations of the past 100 years are still these: sales and service. Have we forgotten what exceptional sales and service entails? Have productivity efforts gone too far? This is different than having shiny interactive displays in store... this…

1
Sales & Service - The Lost Art of Retail (Trailer, 4:08 min) 4:08

3+ y ago4:08

4:08

Our resident CEO George Minakakis, MBA pushed the crew to revisit a bedrock fundamental of retailing that has been eroding for years: the art of exceptional sales and service. Listen here to a 4 min sneak peak... and subscribe in order to catch the full episode when it drops July 13.By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Scaling Innovative Food Brands (w/ Arlene Dickinson) 54:36

3+ y ago54:36

54:36

In Episode 22 we are joined by Arlene Dickinson - Canadian business leader, investor, author and television personality. General partner of District Ventures Capital and CEO of Venture Communications, she recently launched the Venturepark ecosystem of supports to assist Canadian #food and #wellness #cpg brands. This one will be of broad business in…

1
Scaling Innovative Food Brands (Trailer, 1.28 min) 1:28

3+ y ago1:28

1:28

As we continue this June to explore the opportunities and challenges for new brands to scale, we are delighted to discuss the issues in a food context with one of Canada's most respected business people, resident Dragon on CBC and all-around supporter of ventures: Arlene Dickinson. She joined on the heels of launching Venturepark - what might be th…

1
Implementing Purpose (Trailer, 2:08 min) 2:07

3+ y ago2:07

2:07

This is a sneak peak at Episode 21. If you like it, please download the full discussion.By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Implementing "Purpose", With Purpose (w/ David Labistour) 50:58

3+ y ago50:58

50:58

“Purpose” in business is a daily topic in our newsfeeds. We expect much as shoppers, but are our values and commitments to do right by society and the environment in the way of our desire for what's new in fashion, technology - and the economic means to acquire them? While consumers continue to buy cheap and made-to-fail products, CEOs are under in…

1
The Challenges of Scaling Young Lifestyle Brands (w/ Christine Day) 56:47

3+ y ago56:47

56:47

We have been seeing a surge in new fashion and lifestyle brands even as the bigger players in this subsector seem to struggle. Yet making it through to profitable scale remains elusive for many. The TBOR team are joined by Canadian retail executive Christine Day to explore why this is occurring and to discuss the challenges and common pitfalls foun…

1
How Will Hard-hit Foodservice Come Back? (w/ Sylvain Charlebois) 55:16

3+ y ago55:16

55:16

This time we are unpacking the tumult that has swept through the foodservice sector in Canada. Our dine-in restaurants and bars have borne the brunt of the pandemic, while some formats have thrived. Lots of losses here have been gains for grocery. But what next? The TBOR team is joined by guest Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Sylvain a Canadian researcher …

1
The Great Digital Divide - Are Spending Levels Sustainable? 48:27

3+ y ago48:27

48:27

There is an escalating war of engagement by brands in an overcrowded and noisy consumer marketplace. We can’t compete without digital and we can’t afford to get it wrong. But beyond the hype, are current levels of spend sustainable? Why are so many overemphasizing acquisition over retention?By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Waking Up From The Big Sleep 38:46

3+ y ago38:46

38:46

George and Gary wanted to get real about what might happen to the retail sector whenever we get to a point of full return, no restrictions - and what might be a very serious concern that dampens the mood of at least some the sector. On a lighter note, David wondered why the heck we are calling a potential spending surge "revenge spending" ?!?! "Wak…

1
Retail Real Estate Transformation - Part 2: The Future (w/ Claude Sirois) 47:20

3+ y ago47:20

47:20

The TBOR team invited guest Claude Sirois, the forward-thinking former President of Retail at Canadian Shopping Centre giant Ivanhoe Cambridge, to a two-part discussion. Part 2 takes a look at what the future of “physical” for retailers, developers, and landlords might look like, including tremendous opportunities to collaborate on innovation in re…

1
Retail Real Estate Transformation - Part 1: Trends through COVID (w/ Claude Sirois) 48:02

3+ y ago48:02

48:02

The TBOR team invited guest Claude Sirois, the forward-thinking former President of Retail at Canadian Shopping Centre giant Ivanhoe Cambridge, to a two-part discussion. Part 1 reviews the deep, persistent shifts in the real estate landscape the past few years and the jarring impacts on landlords and tenants triggered by Covid responses. Part 2 in …

1
Retail's Data Literacy Challenge (w/ Bryan Pearson) 49:49

3+ y ago49:49

49:49

Perhaps this should be titled The High Cost of Data Illiteracy in Retail. In fairness, retail is very literate about a narrow range of data: skus and sales. But how many retail leaders have a vision and roadmap behind statements such as "we are a data driven business" or have applied critical thinking to scope out a range of data needs, over time, …

1
Culture Change is at the Heart of Retail's Next Steps (w/ Lale Kesebi) 1:01:17

3+ y ago1:01:17

1:01:17

Lale Kesebi joins the discussion from Hong Kong. Lale is an ex c-suite executive of global distribution giant Li & Fung and has built upon her sterling track record of transformations in her counsel to CEOs in her Human At Work advisory. We delve into the need for substantive change in retail cultures to enable successful transitions for legacy ret…

1
Why Independent Retail Matters 46:39

4y ago46:39

46:39

As we gather stories of the plight of iconic independent stores and restaurants closing for good under pandemic guidelines, we discuss the bigger ripple effects beginning with streetfronts and local communities. Can the damage still be mitigated in 2021?By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Where are the 2021 Predictions? 37:04

4y ago37:04

37:04

It’s the start of 2021 and where are all the futurists? Is it because of COVID chaos? Or is something else changing in how we look to the Future?By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Are Old Frameworks Hampering Retail Transformation? 50:59

4y ago50:59

50:59

What legacy frameworks are holding back retail progress? And what mental models are helpful to disrupted retailers to help them move forward to compelling retailing propositions and be successful in future?By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Reflections On 2020 36:20

4y ago36:20

36:20

The The Business of Retail team reflects back on the year 2020 and discusses key takeaways.By Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Where is Canadian Retail Heading? (w/ Marina Strauss) 1:00:12

4y ago1:00:12

1:00:12

The Business of Retail team invite guest speaker Marina Strauss to discuss where Canadian retail heading. With a deep knowledge of corporate retail and the players in Canada, Marina Strauss is an award winning writer, recently retired from the Globe and Mail and is now the director of the Canadian Journalism Foundation.…

1
Department Stores at a Tipping Point? 43:38

4y ago43:38

43:38

Department Stores have been part of the North American retailing landscape for several generations, however, over the last decade they seemed to have struggled to re-orientate themselves to remain relevant with a compelling proposition in the "Age of Amazon". Is it time for their leadership teams to make some bold moves to succeed? If so, what radi…

1
The Retail World of Work (w/ Jackie Ross) 59:50

4y ago59:50

59:50

In this episode the Team is joined by retail people person, Jackie Ross, to speak on the topic - The World of Work. The world of work in retail has been transitioning pre-pandemic, but during COVID this is becoming perhaps the biggest challenge facing retail execs. For executives and their teams, what will careers, leadership and technical skills l…

1
Introduction to The Business of Retail 0:45

4y ago0:45

0:45

An ongoing C-suite discussion amongst senior experts, focusing on the transformation a pandemic is accelerating throughout the retail ecosystem. The Business of Retail is: George Minakakis, Craig Patterson, David Ian Gray, Gary Newbury, and Christine Cowan. From time to time, notable guests will join in on our exploration of underlying issues and r…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

George Minakakis Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The Business of Retail

Christine Cowan, David Ian Gray, George Minakakis, Gary Newbury, Craig Patterson

1
Re-Innovating Retail 25:24

1
Retail Careers in Flux in 2022 28:12

1
"Shop Local" - What Does It Really Mean? 24:58

1
Hard Truths in a Retail Staffing Crisis 24:16

1
Working Through The Supply Chain Disruption - In-store 22:35

1
The Path to 2022 20:46

1
Wake Up And Small The Supply Chain (Trailer, 2:29 Min) 2:29

1
Wake Up And Smell The Supply Chain 51:56

1
Exploring The Challenge Of 50% Retail Sales Online by 2025 26:38

1
Exploring The Challenge Of 50% Retail Sales Online by 2025 (Trailer, 1.27 Min) 1:27

1
Grocer Power Plays Send Ripples (w/ Sylvain Charlebois) 1:02:24

1
Grocer Power Plays (Trailer, 3:33 min) 3:33

1
Sales & Service - The Lost Art of Retail 1:11:13

1
Sales & Service - The Lost Art of Retail (Trailer, 4:08 min) 4:08

1
Scaling Innovative Food Brands (w/ Arlene Dickinson) 54:36

1
Scaling Innovative Food Brands (Trailer, 1.28 min) 1:28

1
Implementing Purpose (Trailer, 2:08 min) 2:07

1
Implementing "Purpose", With Purpose (w/ David Labistour) 50:58

1
The Challenges of Scaling Young Lifestyle Brands (w/ Christine Day) 56:47

1
How Will Hard-hit Foodservice Come Back? (w/ Sylvain Charlebois) 55:16

1
The Great Digital Divide - Are Spending Levels Sustainable? 48:27

1
Waking Up From The Big Sleep 38:46

1
Retail Real Estate Transformation - Part 2: The Future (w/ Claude Sirois) 47:20

1
Retail Real Estate Transformation - Part 1: Trends through COVID (w/ Claude Sirois) 48:02

1
Retail's Data Literacy Challenge (w/ Bryan Pearson) 49:49

1
Culture Change is at the Heart of Retail's Next Steps (w/ Lale Kesebi) 1:01:17

1
Why Independent Retail Matters 46:39

1
Where are the 2021 Predictions? 37:04

1
Are Old Frameworks Hampering Retail Transformation? 50:59

1
Reflections On 2020 36:20

1
Where is Canadian Retail Heading? (w/ Marina Strauss) 1:00:12

1
Department Stores at a Tipping Point? 43:38

1
The Retail World of Work (w/ Jackie Ross) 59:50

1
Introduction to The Business of Retail 0:45

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