Raydiant CEO Bobby Marhamat Provides Industry Perspective in New Podcast

As cliché as the phrase “uncertain times” has become recently, the year 2020 is undoubtedly a time of great change for brick-and-mortar businesses. Between the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the steady increase in e-commerce, businesses that utilize physical locations as all or part of their business model are facing unprecedented challenges.

As a refreshing alternative from the confusion and panic, Raydiant is launching a new podcast called “Brick and Mortar Reborn” on Thursday, May 28th. Hosted by CEO Bobby Marhamat, this weekly show is aimed at providing fresh perspective and insight from experts and industry veterans on what the future holds for brick-and-mortars, including how to adapt as needed to create a shopping experience that is always engaging and always relevant.

A Practical Perspective

With more than 20 years of experience, Raydiant’s Marhamat is a fierce advocate of in-person commerce. So passionate is his conviction that he recently penned a column for Forbes about the need for retailers to adapt, not panic, when it comes to keeping shoppers happy. In that same spirit, rather than lament the challenges retailers and others face, “Brick and Mortar Reborn” looks to provide a useful perspective on how businesses can move forward.

Some of Marhamat’s thoughts that you can expect to hear on the podcast include the exaggerated claim that retail is dead—Marhamat disagrees, saying it’s not dead, it’s just changing. And savvy business owners must change with it to survive—and thrive. Both in his Forbes column and the podcast, you can also expect to hear Marhamat’s views (born from over 20 years’ of business experience across industries) on how shoppers still want the in-store experience, why your customer reps are your secret weapon, and how to incentivize loyal customers and attract new ones.

Expert Guests

“Brick and Mortar Reborn” also features contributions in the form of business advice and industry insights from other top experts. Each episode, Marhamat will be interviewing a new guest who is an expert in their specific field, bringing their unique perspective to the discussion. Experts from all industries—from retailers and small business owners to restaurateurs and best-selling authors—will weigh in on where their industry is headed—and tips on staying at the forefront of that industry.

As part of the first batch of episodes, Marhamat is joined by Melissa Gonzalez. Gonzalez is an author and founder of The Lionesque Group, an award-winning firm of experiential retail strategists and pop-up architects. She is also a go-to retail expert and has been featured in top publications like Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and Business Insider.

Another of our first podcast episodes features Shep Hyken. a customer service and CX expert. He is also a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Hyken is also a prolific keynote speaker and has been asked to share his expertise around the world, and by top brands like Disney and Lexus.

We also welcome, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman of World Retail Congress, as guest on another early podcast episode. McGarrigle has over 30 years’ experience working in the international retail sector as a journalist, editor, and publisher. He also helped launch leading UK trade publication Retail Week.

Looking Ahead

While the world at large faces serious challenges, business owners and industry professionals can look to “Brick and Mortar Reborn” for calm, informative discussions about the issues that affect their businesses the most. Topics for discussion will include how to pivot your business to match the changing shopping experience, how to create an in-store experience that is both safe in the current climate, yet still engaging and entertaining. As Marhamat said in his Forbes column, “Businesses have always found ways to innovate, adapt, and thrive in the face of changes and difficulties. Our goal is to explore possible ways in which companies can do the same right now.”

Yes, “The Future of Brick and Mortar” is an arrow for your quiver, an insight into the expert minds at the forefront of a changing economy that, while changing, still retains its basic tenets. Listen for insider tips and info to help you stay agile and ahead of the competition. As Marhamat says, “Brick-and-mortar commerce [is] not going away. The key, for industry professionals, is to figure out where it is going and try to get there first.”

The first 3 episodes of “Brick and Mortar Reborn” launch Thursday, May 28th. Find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts or visit www.brickandmortarreborn.com