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The Retail Razor: Data Blades

The Retail Razor: Data Blades

Written by: Ricardo Belmar | Top Retail Expert
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 Retailers face an endless stream of challenges, but the right data can be the key to unlocking smarter decisions. The Retail Razor: Data Blades cuts through the clutter in retail insights by slicing through complex retail industry research to reveal actionable insights and retail strategies that help retailers optimize customer experiences and business operations. Hosts Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden welcome top retail analysts & industry experts, each bringing a single, impactful data-driven insight based on research. Whether it's consumer behavior, operational efficiency, or tech innovation, every episode breaks down critical findings into clear, practical retail strategies executives can use today. If you’re looking to make informed management, marketing, & operational choices backed by real-world data, this is the retail podcast for you! Stay Sharp. Be Data-driven. Harness AI. Part of the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://bit.ly/RRPNweb Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor BlueSky: https://bit.ly/TRRSbsky Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads Facebook: https://bit.ly/TRRSface© Copyright 2023-2025 All rights reserved. Economics Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Proven Data-Driven Retail Tactics for Higher Average Transaction Value

    Proven Data-Driven Retail Tactics for Higher Average Transaction Value
    Dec 17 2025
    S2:E3 From Service to Sales: How Retailers Can Increase ATV with Gareth Johns Retail store sales teams can no longer rely on delivering reactive service if they want to increase average transaction value. A proactive customer experience driven by passion and data are what’s required. In this episode of The Retail Razor: Data Blades, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome back Gareth Johns, Chief Data Officer at TruRating, for the final installment of a three-part series. This time, the focus is on Average Transaction Value (ATV). A critical retail metric that goes beyond good service to embrace proactive, experience-led selling.Gareth shares actionable data-driven insights on how retailers can:Shift from reactive service to proactive customer experience.Hire and coach staff for passion and communication skills, not just retail experience.Reframe sales KPIs to inspire rather than intimidate.Use real-time data to empower frontline staff and boost ATV.Balance authentic customer interactions with upselling strategies in fashion and footwear.What You’ll Learn:Why ATV is more than just a number, it’s a reflection of customer experience.How coaching beats task management in driving retail performance.Real-world examples of retailers using TruRating data to grow ATV.The role of managers in shaping store culture and sales outcomes.Whether you’re a retail executive, store manager, or innovator, this episode delivers practical data-driven strategies to increase ATV, empower teams, and build a culture of authentic selling.Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utubeGuest Spotlight:Gareth Johns, Chief Data Officer, TruRating - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-johns-7166524/Gareth Johns is an internationally experienced product and data development leader with 20+ years of expertise in using big data and technology to drive business growth for major retailers. He played a key role in scaling dunnhumby, a global leader in customer data science, from a 30-person startup to an international powerhouse in marketing analytics and customer insights for Tier 1 retailers. After leading strategic initiatives across the US and Europe, he went on to Starcount before joining the TruRating team. Gareth is passionate about transforming the way retailers collect and use customer feedback. At TruRating, he’s helping businesses access real-time, transaction-tied consumer data at an unprecedented scale; revolutionizing how retailers measure and improve business performance. More from TruRating on increasing average transaction value:https://trurating.com/events/atv-masterclass/Chapters:(00:00) Preview (00:53) Show Intro(03:23) Welcome Back Gareth Johns, Chief Data Officer, TruRating(04:17) Challenges in Retail Staffing(06:11) Strategies for Increasing ATV(11:23) The Role of Data in Retail(14:36) Coaching for Better Performance(19:17) Show CloseMeet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail data insights:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voice for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a a Top 10 Thought Leader in Retail and AGI, a Top 50 Thought Leader in Management, Careers, and Transformation, and a Top 100 Thought Leader in Agentic AI and Digital Transformation. Thinkers 360 also named him a Top Digital Voice for 2024 and 2025. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation and the Retail Cloud Alliance. He was most recently the partner marketing leader for retail & consumer goods in the Americas at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is the North America Leader for Retail & Consumer Goods at CI&T. She is a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. Once immersed in fashion & supply chain tech, now slaying Franken-stacks & building retail tech. She is also the Founder of Luxlock, a cross-channel customer experience management platform.Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Tech Lore from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.
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    21 mins
  • Is Retail Loyalty Dead? Winning Today’s Savvy Shoppers with Gareth Johns

    Is Retail Loyalty Dead? Winning Today’s Savvy Shoppers with Gareth Johns
    Nov 25 2025
    S2:E2 Retail Loyalty Unveiled: Epic Insights from Gareth Johns and TruRating Retail loyalty is no longer about points and discounts. It’s about experience, personalization, and values. In this episode of The Retail Razor: Data Blades, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome back Gareth Johns, Chief Data Officer at TruRating, to explore the new retail loyalty playbook for retailers. Key Topics Covered:Why retail has one of the lowest customer retention rates across industriesThe myth of “owning” customers vs. being part of their shopping repertoireHow 59% of customers return simply because of friendly serviceThe hidden impact of staff interactions on repeat visits and long-term loyaltyWhy retail loyalty programs must evolve beyond discounts and focus on data-driven personalizationThe growing role of sustainability, ethics, and community values in retail loyalty strategiesReal-world case studies of retailers using TruRating’s real-time feedback tools to uncover friction points and boost retentionWhy focusing on lifetime value (LTV) beats chasing lower customer acquisition costs (CAC) Gareth shares actionable insights from nearly a billion points of retail data analysis, showing how brands can shift from transactional thinking to building authentic, long-term customer relationships.Whether you’re in grocery, fashion, or specialty retail, this episode delivers sharp, actionable insights to help you future proof your retail loyalty strategy.Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utubeGuest Info:Gareth Johns, Chief Strategy Officer, TruRating - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-johns-7166524/Gareth Johns is an internationally experienced product and data development leader with 20+ years of expertise in using big data and technology to drive business growth for major retailers. He played a key role in scaling dunnhumby, a global leader in customer data science, from a 30-person startup to an international powerhouse in marketing analytics and customer insights for Tier 1 retailers. After leading strategic initiatives across the US and Europe, he went on to Starcount before joining the TruRating team. Gareth is passionate about transforming the way retailers collect and use customer feedback. At TruRating, he’s helping businesses access real-time, transaction-tied consumer data at an unprecedented scale; revolutionizing how retailers measure and improve business performance. More from TruRating about building loyalty:https://trurating.com/events/customer-retention-in-retail/Chapters:(00:00) Preview(01:10) Show Intro(04:10) Welcome Gareth Johns(04:24) Challenges in Retail Loyalty(07:14) Importance of Store Staff(10:24) Evolving Loyalty Programs(13:12) Ethics and Sustainability in Loyalty(16:26) Real-Time Feedback and Loyalty(22:21) Final Thoughts and Recommendations(26:11) Show CloseMeet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail data insights:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voice for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a a Top 10 Thought Leader in Retail and AGI, a Top 50 Thought Leader in Management, Careers, and Transformation, and a Top 100 Thought Leader in Agentic AI and Digital Transformation. Thinkers 360 also named him a Top Digital Voice for 2024 and 2025. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation and the Retail Cloud Alliance. He was most recently the partner marketing leader for retail & consumer goods in the Americas at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is the North America Leader for Retail & Consumer Goods at CI&T. She is a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. Once immersed in fashion & supply chain tech, now slaying Franken-stacks & building retail tech. She is also the Founder of Luxlock, a cross-channel customer experience management platform.Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Tech Lore from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.
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    28 mins
  • Boost Retail Conversion: Gareth Johns on Data-Driven Strategies That Drive Sales

    Boost Retail Conversion: Gareth Johns on Data-Driven Strategies That Drive Sales
    Nov 1 2025
    S2:E1 Revolutionize Your Retail Strategy with Data-Driven Conversion Insights Season Two of The Retail Razor: Data Blades opens with a sharp focus on the retail metric that makes or breaks growth: conversion rates. Hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden sit down with Gareth Johns, Chief Data Officer at TruRating, to reveal how real-time shopper feedback and data-driven insights are helping retailers unlock millions in revenue. In this episode, you’ll discover:Why conversion is the biggest untapped retail growth opportunity.The flaws in exit surveys, QR codes, and focus groups.How staff availability and customer expectations directly impact sales.A footwear case study that drove an 8% lift in conversion and unlocked $16.7M in revenue.Practical steps to increase in-store conversion rates and improve customer experience. If you’re a CMO, COO, or CEO looking to optimize retail performance, this episode delivers conversion strategies you can act on today.Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.comSubscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utubeGuest Info:Gareth Johns, Chief Strategy Officer, TruRating - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-johns-7166524/Gareth Johns is an internationally experienced product and data development leader with 20+ years of expertise in using big data and technology to drive business growth for major retailers. He played a key role in scaling dunnhumby, a global leader in customer data science, from a 30-person startup to an international powerhouse in marketing analytics and customer insights for Tier 1 retailers. After leading strategic initiatives across the US and Europe, he went on to Starcount before joining the TruRating team. Gareth is passionate about transforming the way retailers collect and use customer feedback. At TruRating, he’s helping businesses access real-time, transaction-tied consumer data at an unprecedented scale; revolutionizing how retailers measure and improve business performance.More from TruRating about optimizing conversion:https://trurating.com/blog/5-takeaways-from-our-conversion-analysis-masterclassChapters:(00:00) Preview(00:41) Show Intro(03:17) Welcome Gareth Johns, Chief Data Officer, TruRating(03:57) Challenges in Measuring Conversion(08:36) Effective Shopper Feedback Mechanisms(13:54) Case Study: Footwear Brand Conversion Success(18:22) Key Takeaways and Actionable Insights(20:11) How to Learn More(20:53) Show CloseMeet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail data insights:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail & AGI Thought Leader, a Top 50 Management, Transformation, & Careers Thought Leader, a Top 100 Digital Transformation & Agentic AI Thought Leader, and named him one of the Top Voices for 2024 and 2025. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and the Retail Cloud Alliance. He was most recently the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods in the Americas at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and a Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech! Currently, Casey is the North America Leader for Retail & Consumer Goods at CI&T.Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Tech Lore from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.
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    22 mins
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