Bath and Body Works used to own the mall fragrance space. Now traffic is shrinking, margins are squeezed and a new CEO is blaming the old playbook.

In this episode, we break down what went wrong and whether the turnaround plan has a real shot.

We cover:

• How chasing “adjacent” categories like shampoo and laundry backfired
• Why discounting destroys price integrity in a brand-led business
• The missed opportunity in e-commerce and Amazon resellers
• What Bath and Body Works can learn from Walmart, Target and TJX
• How to think about profit from the core in your own business

If you want to sharpen your operator brain and see how a real consumer brand tries to pull out of a stall, this one is for you.

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 20% off with code BLACKFRIDAY20 until Dec. 10, 2025

Chapters:

• 00:30 Introduction to Bath and Body Worksv
• 06:37 Analyzing Bath and Body Works' Strategy
• 11:40 Challenges in Product Expansion
• 17:32 E-commerce Strategy and Customer Engagement
• 27:34 Future Outlook

Learn more about Executive Presentation and Storytelling Training with Management Consulted

More Market Outsiders:

• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
• Follow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTube

Panera used to dominate fast casual. Now traffic is falling and leadership is scrambling to turn it around.

In this episode, we unpack:

• How cost cutting changed salads, sides, and the in-store experience
• Why menu complexity and pricing confuse customers
• The barbell strategy Panera is betting on for its comeback
• What we’d do differently on pricing, testing, and customer research

A practical breakdown of what happens when spreadsheets win over the customer experience.

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 20% off with code BLACKFRIDAY20 until Dec. 10, 2025

Episode Links

• Panera lost diners by cutting portions and staff. It’s reversing course to win them back (CNBC)
• Jewelry business that implemented updated pricing strategy

Chapters

• 03:16 Personal Experiences with Panera
• 06:11 Panera's Business Challenges
• 08:50 Consumer Trends and Market Forces
• 11:46 Menu Complexity and Customer Experience
• 14:48 Cost-Cutting Measures and Their Impact
• 18:38 The Role of Younger Consumers
• 21:28 Panera's Turnaround Strategy
• 24:05 Operational Challenges and Brand Management
• 27:00 Pricing Strategies and Customer Perception
• 29:56 Lessons from Other Brands
• 32:52 Thoughts on Panera's Future
• 37:13 The Barbell Pricing Strategy
• 37:55 Consumer Sentiment and Market Positioning

Learn more about Executive Presentation and Storytelling Training with Management Consulted

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
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The U.S. stops minting new pennies. Cost savings help, but do second-order effects matter more?

We dig into:

• Why it cost ~4¢ to make 1¢
• $56M savings vs real economic impact
• Rounding rules, cash users, and pricing behavior
• Card mix, tipping culture, and “two-way door” policy

A quick, practical look at what this means for consumers and businesses.

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 20% off with code BLACKFRIDAY20 until Dec. 10, 2025

Chapters:

• 00:31 The End of Penny Minting
• 03:16 Economic Implications of Removing Pennies
• 05:57 Nostalgia and Cultural Impact of the Penny
• 08:30 Regulatory Challenges and Business Adaptation
• 11:36 The Future of Currency and Transaction Trends
• 14:06 Critical Thinking in Business Decisions

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• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
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CoreWeave isn’t OpenAI or Nvidia, but it’s powering both.

We unpack how this lesser-known company became essential to the AI ecosystem, including:

• What CoreWeave actually does and why it matters
• How $55B in backlog signals explosive demand
• Why data centers, not apps, may define the next AI wave
• What an “AI capex bubble” could look like

A fast, insightful breakdown of the infrastructure race behind AI’s biggest players.

Chapters

• 02:57 CoreWeave's Financial Performance and Market Position
• 05:52 Understanding CoreWeave's Role in AI Architecture
• 08:34 Customer Relationships and Demand for AI Infrastructure
• 11:33 Competitive Landscape and Capital Requirements
• 14:10 The Bubble Discussion: AI Market Dynamics
• 17:03 National Security and Data Center Infrastructure
• 20:36 CoreWeave's Business Strategy and Future Outlook

Learn more about Executive Presentation and Storytelling Training with Management Consulted

More Market Outsiders:

• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
• Follow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTube

Retailers plan the lightest holiday hiring since the Great Recession, but spending is still projected to top $1T.

We dig into:

• Why demand smoothing and e-comm shift cut seasonal roles
• How “slower” in-store flow can increase basket size
• What segmentation and channels mean for labor needs
• Why tariff headlines often overstate price impact

Actionable takeaways for leaders on staffing, ops, and margin protection.

Chapters

• 00:30 Holiday Season Retail Trends
• 06:12 E-commerce Impact on Retail Hiring
• 11:51 Customer Experience and Retail Staffing
• 18:42 Understanding Consumer Spending Dynamics

More Market Outsiders:

• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
• Follow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTube

The FAA just announced flight cuts at 40 U.S. airports, all tied to the government shutdown.

In this bonus episode:

• Why air traffic control staffing is reaching a breaking point
• How airlines like Delta and United will decide what to cancel
• What smart leaders do when government policy hits business operations

A quick 15-minute breakdown on policy, pressure, and decision-making when the skies (and D.C.) shut down.

Chapters

• 00:40 Understanding the Government Shutdown
• 03:26 Impact on Airlines and Air Travel
• 06:02 Business Leadership During Crisis
• 07:06 Operational Strategies for Airlines
• 11:35 Customer Relations and Communication

More Market Outsiders:

• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
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Pinterest just had one of its worst trading days ever, and blamed tariffs.

We dig into what’s really behind the drop:

• Why ad revenue might be a Pinterest problem, not a tariff problem
• How user behavior has shifted away from “mood board” culture
• What it would take for Pinterest to stay relevant in an AI-driven shopping world

Plus, Namaan and Jenny Rae debate whether Pinterest’s next move is reinvention or acquisition.

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 20% off with code BLACKFRIDAY20 until Dec. 10, 2025

Chapters

• 03:12 Pinterest's Earnings Report and Ad Revenue Concerns
• 06:25 The Impact of Tariffs on Pinterest's Business Model
• 08:57 Competition from Chatbots and AI in User Engagement
• 11:53 The Future of Pinterest: AI-Powered Shopping Assistant
• 14:54 Challenges of Being an Intermediary in the Age of AI
• 17:47 Potential for Pinterest to Become a Tastemaker

Learn more about Executive Presentation and Storytelling Training with Management Consulted

More Market Outsiders:

• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
• Follow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTube

Namaan and Jenny Rae break down PayPal’s new integration with ChatGPT and what it means for e commerce.

They cover how checkout could live inside AI, who wins and loses across retailers and suppliers, and why PayPal’s first dividend signals a new chapter.

They also map OpenAI’s business model today. Subscriptions. Enterprise licensing. Future transaction fees. Possible ads. What shifts when 800 million people use ChatGPT weekly.

Chapters

• 03:24 The E-commerce Landscape and PayPal's Role
• 06:25 Disruption in Retail and Customer Relationships
• 09:11 PayPal's Business Model and Market Reaction
• 12:15 Implications of PayPal's Dividend Announcement
• 15:05 OpenAI's Business Model and Revenue Streams
• 17:57 Future of E-commerce with ChatGPT
• 21:54 Ethical Considerations and User Trust

Learn more about Executive Presentation and Storytelling Training with Management Consulted

More Market Outsiders:

• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
• Follow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTube