Join the #1 Indie Podcast Network for Retail as we cut through the clutter in retail strategy, innovation & leadership to help you maximize growth for your business. Subscribe to The Retail Razor Show podcast! Stay sharp. Stay human. Stay ahead!
Missed the previous issue?
There’s a moment in every research conversation where the data stops being numbersand starts being a wake‑up call. That moment came early in our discussion with Dave Weinand, Chief Customer Officer at Incisiv, on the latest episode of The Retail Razor: Data Blades podcast when he shared a stat that really surprised us.
The Year Everything Makes Sense and Nothing Makes Sense
If you’ve been feeling like the 2026 economy is gaslighting you, congratulations! You’re paying attention.
GDP is hot.
Consumer confidence is cold.
Inflation is “cooling” but somehow your grocery bill still looks like a ransom note.
And depending on who you ask, the economy is either thriving or one bad headline away from spontaneously combusting.
Welcome to retail in 2026!
Where two opposite truths can be true at the same time and no one blinks anymore.
So for this week’s episode of The Retail Razor Show, we brought in someone who actually enjoys untangling this mess. Someone who doesn’t just study uncertainty, she builds retail growth strategies out of it.
Enter Dr. Rebecca Homkes.
London Business School lecturer. Duke Corporate Executive Education faculty. High‑growth strategy advisor. Author of Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times.
And, as it turns out, a master at explaining why your strategy might be quietly plotting against you.
two opposite truths can be true at the same time and no one blinks anymore.
Why We Needed Rebecca on the Show (and Why You Do Too)
Here’s the thing about 2026:
Retail leaders are being asked to make bold decisions in an environment that feels like a cosmic joke.
Rebecca calls this the “decoupling” — where headline economic indicators look fantastic, but the indicators your customers actually feel are… less fantastic.
She breaks it down in the episode, but here’s the short version:
The job market looks stable, but companies aren’t hiring.
Inflation is “down,” but consumers still feel squeezed.
Tariffs haven’t fully hit yet (yes, that’s still coming if you’ve been watching the news these past few days).
And the middle of the market? It’s evaporating faster than your New Year’s resolutions.
If you’re still building product and commerce for the mythical “everyman consumer,” Rebecca has news for you:
He doesn’t exist anymore.
He has left the group chat. Permanently.
The SRT Loop: Your New Favorite Acronym
Rebecca’s Survive Reset Thrive framework is the kind of thing that sounds simple until you realize you’ve been doing the exact opposite for years.
Most leaders try to “get back on track.”
Rebecca’s point is that the track has moved. Possibly to another country.
Her loop looks like this:
1. Survive
Stabilize. Stop the bleeding. Don’t pretend everything is fine. (And if you watched/listened to our Blade to Greatness episode with Steve Worthy on Leading Through Uncertainty, this may be ringing a bell for you right now.)
2. Reset
Challenge your assumptions. Update your beliefs. (Yes, beliefs. Not data. She explains why.)
3. Thrive
Execute with clarity. Grow with intention. And for the love of retail, stop romanticizing crisis mode. (Again, Rebecca explains why, but you may remember our Blade to Greatness episode with Ron Thurston - Retail Chaos vs Clarity)
Rebecca shares real examples in the episode. Including one involving zoos, government shutdowns, and a CEO who had to split his team into “survive” and “reset” squads because no one could mentally do both.
It’s one of the best leadership stories we’ve ever had on the show.
A Few Teasers From the Episode
Without spoiling the whole conversation, here are a few gems Rebecca drops not he episode:
Value does not mean lower price.
Consumers want their dollar to go further, not necessarily cheaper products. Hopefully, this is where you’re nodding your head in vigorous agreement!
The middle of the market is the danger zone.
You’re either differentiated or you’re in trouble. And if you follow any of the amazing work our friend Steve Dennis publishes, this will resonate deeply with you.
Uncertainty is the best time to grow.
Because during uncertain times, customers are more honest about what they actually value.
Retailers have gotten lazy about experimentation.
Her words, not ours. But… she’s not wrong. You’ll see (if you watch on YouTube, otherwise you’ll hear why.
AI is part of the strategy, not the strategy.
(Yes, we went there. We are a retail podcast after all, just try and name one retail podcast that doesn’t go there!)
And that’s just the first half of the episode!
If You Lead a Retail Business, This Episode Is Your 2026 Survival Kit
Rebecca doesn’t do vague advice.
She doesn’t do “thought leadership theater.”
She gives you the real playbook for navigating a contradictory economy without losing your mind or your margins.
If you want the full breakdown — including her AI‑first checklist and the must‑win battles she believes will define retail winners this year — you’ll want to hear the full conversation.
Listen or watch the full episode here:
What’s Your Take?
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts.
What are your expectations for 2026 given the K-shaped economy we’re in? How do you expect the Fed to react this year? And what will be the impact of tariffs?
Comment on this newsletter or join the conversation on LinkedIn! Your insights may help shape the topics we explore next.
Let’s explore the future of retail together.
Until next time! Stay sharp. Stay human. Stay ahead!
Sincerely,
Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden
Co-hosts of The Retail Razor Show
Thank You for Your Support!
Have you heard of Goodpods yet?
If you haven’t, give it a try as your podcast player and join our podcasting community!
We’re honored to be the #1 Indie Podcast Network for Retail with the only retail podcast in the Top 10 All-time Management charts and the highest ranked retail podcast in the Top 100 Indie Marketing charts on Goodpods!
We hit a new milestone on Goodpods!
Three of our four Retail Razor Podcast Network shows ranked in the top three spots on the Top 6 Management Podcasts chart on February 12, 2026! 🎉🎉🎉
We’re also excited to be a Top 25 Retail Management podcast on Apple Podcasts!
We’d love your support to help us stay at the top with all our shows by giving us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Goodpods, or Spotify.
The Retail Razor Podcast Network
The Retail Razor Show is part of The Retail Razor Podcast Network alongside our other shows:
Please leave us feedback by posting your comments to Notes on Substack, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or Goodpods.
Connect with us on LinkedIn.
Subscribe & watch on YouTube.
Follow us on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit our Retail Razor Podcast Network website!
Bravo. Especially the point that value must not be defined as low price. Ours is a world of commoditized product; differentiation is what we can bring to the product (use knowledge, buy-withs, recipes, service.) Operational definition of great retailing: being defined by shoppers as "high value" when achieving high margins. (And yes, it has and can be done.)