EP101: How to Build a Brand with Purpose, one Retailer at a Time with April Showers

EP101: How to Build a Brand with Purpose, one Retailer at a Time with April Showers

Author: WSL Strategic Retail October 29, 2025 Duration: 34:07
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann sits down with April Showers, the founder of Afro Unicorn®, a brand born from purpose, community, and the need for representation. They discuss how April’s personal passion and smart retail partnerships brought her vision to life. Highlights: How Afro Unicorn grew from T-shirts to Walmart shelves and national recognitionWhy purpose and community are central to building modern brands at retailThe role of retail partners like Walmart and CVS in nurturing ne...

Ever feel like the retail world is spinning faster than a checkout carousel? Future Shop Podcast with WSL cuts through the noise, offering a grounded yet forward-looking conversation about the forces reshaping how we buy and sell. Hosted by retail strategist and shopping futurist Wendy Liebmann of WSL Strategic Retail, this series provides a passionate, unvarnished view that always starts with the shopper's perspective. Each episode delves into the practical realities and emerging trends that business leaders need to understand, moving beyond theory to actionable insight. You’ll hear Wendy in conversation with a diverse range of voices-from experts in marketing and design to those in insights and education-who all contribute to the evolving retail landscape. Crucially, the WSL team regularly brings exclusive data to the table, sharing findings from their latest proprietary shopper research that highlight what's coming next. This isn't about vague predictions; it's about understanding the tangible shifts in consumer behavior that are actively transforming retail. Tuning into this podcast feels like getting a direct briefing from the front lines, equipping you with a deeper sense of where we're headed and why. For anyone invested in the business of retail, it serves as an essential audio companion for navigating the future, one informed conversation at a time.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Future Shop Podcast with WSL
Podcast Episodes
EP66: 2024: Caution!  Retail Curves Ahead with Candace Corlett, WSL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:57
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to WSL’s president Candace Corlett about the latest How America Shops® research that reveals how Americans are feeling (not happy), and what that means for 2024 and beyond (challengi…
EP61: How to Build a Modern Shopper Experience with Justin Lafoe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:39
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to Justin Lafoe, most recently Executive Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising for Trader Joe’s and, prior to that, SVP of Merchandising & Retail, Disney Parks, Experience &…
EP60: Retail Leaders Define 6 Critical Trends for 2024-2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:15
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to six industry leaders about key trends that will impact retail in 2024-2025. Listen to: Susan Lang, CEO, XIL HealthMichael Clinton, CEO & Founder, ROARForwardParbinder Dhariwal, VP…
EP59: The Paradox of the New Shopping World with Candace Corlett, WSL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:22
In this episode, Wendy Liebmann talks to WSL’s president Candace Corlett about the latest How America Shops® research that addresses the foundational changes in shopper sentiment and behavior as a result of five years of…