The Glossy Podcast

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Pete Nordstrom on loyalty: 'Being helpful and kind to customers pays off' Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

Pete Nordstrom, a fourth-generation member of the Nordstrom family, currently serves as the retailer's president and chief brand officer.

Nordstrom got in his start at the company working in the shoe department and worked his way up from there. According to hIm, the experience he gained from directly working with customers still helps him succeed in his role today. "[Working in the shoe department] is a very high-touch proposition that requires a level of commitment and service," he said on the latest Glossy Podcast. "The humility you learn from that is also helpful."

Aside from his executive responsibilities, Nordstrom also hosts The Nordy Pod, a podcast launched in February that gives Nordstrom fans an insider's perspective on all things Nordstrom, retail and fashion.

This week, Nordstrom sat down with Glossy editor-in-chief Jill Manoff to discuss how Nordstrom prepared for the holiday season, and how the company takes a unique approach to customer service, innovation and operations.

Week in Review: Fast fashion stays winning, what's driving luxury, Gucci's first show without Michele Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.

This week, fast fashion companies Zara and Shein posted big earnings, even though the downsides of fast fashion are known. Elsewhere, young adults are fueling luxury’s growth in the U.S. and the U.K. And Gucci will debut its first show without Alessandro Michele — or any creative director at all — in February.

Lyst CEO Emma McFerran: 'Luxury and premium' fashion sales remain on the rise Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

If you're an avid fashion shopper, chances are you've heard of Lyst. The 12-year-old shopping app has the largest assortment of premium and luxury fashion online in one place, according to Emma McFerran, the company's newly-appointed CEO. McFerran joined the company in 2014 and has risen through the ranks to her most recent position, which was officially announced in July.

In her new role, McFerran is dedicated to fine-tuning Lyst's app to strengthen the user experience. "Our members are our most powerful cohorts. ... We use data and technology [from the app] to drive recommendations, which are personal to [consumers]. The more we learn about you, the better the offerings become," McFerran said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast.

In May 2021, the company announced a "pre-IPO" funding round of $85 million. As Lyst focuses on scaling its business under McFerran's leadership, eventually going public and broadening its offerings and brand partnerships will remain top priorities.

Week in Review: Stitch Fix earnings, Jordan's new flagship and the future of resale Dec 09, 2022

Show notes

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.

This week, Stitch Fix reported below-expected revenues, possibly indicating a flaw in its recommendation-based business model. Elsewhere, Jordan Brand is getting its first flagship as Nike tests letting the sub-brand stand on its own, and new funding in the brand-owned resale world signals a changing secondhand landscape.

Fabio Barreto on leading Farm Rio's international growth mid-pandemic Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

According to Fabio Barreto, global CEO of Brazil-based Farm Rio, its tropical, eye-catching designs, along with its prioritization of digital and its unique brand story, have fueled the fashion brand's popularity since its launch in the ’90s.

To Barreto's point, Farm Rio's ability to connect with a younger audience through digital channels singlehandedly helped the brand stay afloat during the height of the pandemic, when customers couldn't access its physical retail locations.

"[Ours is] a unique brand. It's a new story, it's a different story, and it's a very strong story. We know a lot of what we are and what we're not and the lifestyle we care about," Barreto said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast. "[Our ability to tell] that story in such a strong way, with sophisticated messaging, assets, imagery and visual merchandising, is something that [resonates] with the customer."

Since Farm Rio's inception, it has opened over 90 stores in Brazil alone. And it recently forayed into international markets. In 2019, it opened three stores in the U.S., including in New York and Miami. And in June, it opened its first permanent location in L.A., following a slew of pop-ups. Farm Rio also has a store in Paris.

Week in Review: H&M layoffs, Savage x Fenty lawsuit and the Balenciaga controversy Dec 02, 2022

Show notes

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.

This week, layoffs hit H&M as the company sees rising costs, and Savage x Fenty settled aconsumer protection lawsuit centered on misleading its members about payments. Also, a deep dive into the Balenciaga controversy and what it means for the future of the brand.

Scanlan Theodore's Melinda Robertson on preparing for an 'inevitable' recession Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

When Melinda Roberston moved to the U.S. to work on Wall Street in 2012, she didn't expect to receive high praise for her wardrobe. Unlike her American counterparts, Robertson almost exclusively wore Australian fashion brand Scanlan Theodore, which specializes in workwear for women. To her surprise, however, Scanlan Theodore's chic aesthetic was a hit, and it led Robertson and her business partner, Sarah Blank, to approach Gary Theodore, the brand's founder, with a pitch: to launch the company in the U.S.

"[Scanlan Theodore Americas] was very much born out of [my and Sarah's] personal need and the feedback we were receiving [from female bankers]," Robertson said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. "One of the trickiest things [when launching in a new country] is knowing whether the product will translate. First: Is it going to translate internationally? We felt confident on that front, because all these women [on Wall Street] were so excited about our suits. Then, once you're [in the U.S.], the question is: How is it going to translate in other states? We felt confident on one front, so we did it."

Two years after pitching the idea to Theodore, the trio became business partners on the U.S. business in 2017. Now, as co-CEO of Scanlan Theodore Americas, Robertson is responsible for growing the brand's presence in the American market. Currently, the company has two boutiques in New York City, plus stores in Long Island, N.Y., Miami and Dallas. A location in Washington, D.C. is set to open June 2023.

"We've had to be patient," Robertson said. "We've secured the locations we wanted, and now we're focused on building the brand."

Malone Souliers' Mary Alice Malone: 'It's important to move, adjust and take opportunities' Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

For Mary Alice Malone's luxury footwear brand, Malone Souliers, making shoes the "hard way" is what has set the company apart since its inception in 2014.

Launched in London, Malone Souliers has become a sought-after brand due to its extremely high level of craftsmanship. Malone got her experience as a shoemaker at the famous Cordwainers shoemaking school in East London. After graduating, she began her journey of building a footwear company that has since evolved into a premium brand.

Though Malone Souliers does sell an assortment of footwear, including sneakers and flats, its signature style is a high heel named Maureen. When Malone created the now-bestselling shoe in 2015, she knew the intentional design and engineering would win over consumers. After some hesitation from buyers due to the unique silhouette, Maureen debuted as part of Malone Souliers' spring-summer 2015 collection and became a hero product.

"Creating the Maureen was a feat of engineering. It is a really supportive shoe, and it's beautiful," Malone said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast. "Trying to get people to buy Maureen took a bit of convincing, at first. But then she had her arrival moment, and it's never been the same."

Now that Malone Souliers has established itself in the industry, its founder is looking at the bigger picture. Aside from building up the brand's e-commerce site, she recently expanded it to new product categories and new international markets. "I think of [Malone Soulier] as a lightweight boxer. ... It's important to be able to move, adjust and take an opportunity where you see it," Malone said.

Week in Review: COP27, Nike's Web3 launch, lowered holiday spending Nov 18, 2022

Show notes

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and U.K. reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week.

This week, COP27 revealed the dire need for more urgent action from the fashion industry to reduce emissions. Amid brands' lofty promises, greenwashing is still common and many big brands are raising, rather than reducing, their emissions. Also, Nike launched its big web3 project, called .Swoosh, and retailers in the U.S. and U.K. are preparing for lowered holiday spending.

Jennifer Meyer: 'I would not have my business' without retail partners Nov 16, 2022

Show notes

In 2005, Jennifer Meyer decided to take a leap and bet on herself. Though Meyer had no previous experience in design, her dream was to become a jewelry designer. With support from her family, she learned how to create jewelry and eventually launched a company.

"I wanted to design pieces that I wanted to wear and that I knew my friends wanted to wear," Meyers said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast. "I wanted classic, beautiful, everyday pieces that would be in your jewelry box forever and that you could layer or keep on, and that you could live in."

Fast forward, and Meyer is now the founder of her 17-year-old namesake jewelry line, which has since expanded into new categories, including fragrance. And she collaborated with Canadian luxury outerwear brand Moose Knuckles to create an 18-piece collection, in 2021. In Oct. 2018, Meyer opened her brand's first physical retail location in L.A.'s Palisades Village shopping center.

In terms of next steps, the core of Meyer's company will always be fine jewelry design, but she is looking forward to further expanding into fragrance and exploring the home category. "We'll see where that all takes me," she added.

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