The average new car now costs over $50,000, with monthly payments nearing $760.

So how did Ford post its best U.S. sales year since 2019?

In this episode of Market Outsiders, Namaan and Jenny Rae break down how Ford defied expectations in 2025 – despite tariffs, high rates, and weakening EV demand.

They cover:

• Why 2025 may have been the first “normal” auto year since COVID
• How financing, hybrids, and product mix drove Ford’s outperformance
• What Ford must change in 2026 as margins shift beyond unit sales

This is a forward-looking strategy conversation on how automakers adapt when cars start behaving more like platforms than products.

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 10% off with code SIMPLIFIED-10

Chapters:

03:05 — 2025 Auto Industry Overview
06:33 — Ford's Unexpected Success
08:56 — Consumer Behavior and Car Buying Trends
13:53 — Analyzing the Automotive Market Trends
16:40 — Consumer Behavior and Financing Strategies
19:51 — The Shift Towards Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
22:46 — Sales Performance and Market Share Insights
25:38 — Future Strategies for Automotive Companies
28:30 — Monetizing Customer Relationships Post-Purchase

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

Cannabis just moved from Schedule I to Schedule III — and the biggest implications have nothing to do with lifestyle or politics.

In this episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what reclassification means for the market: who benefits, who loses, and why cannabis stocks dropped on “good” news.

They unpack the real unlocks behind the headlines — Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, federally funded research, banking access, and why Big Pharma, consumer giants, and even beer companies may now have the edge.

This is a regulatory shock case study: how one policy change reshapes competition, pricing power, supply chains, and long-term winners across healthcare and consumer markets.

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 10% off with code SIMPLIFIED-10

Chapters:

01:05 — What Cannabis Reclassification Actually Changes
03:15 — Schedule I vs Schedule III: Why It Matters
05:45 — Banking, Taxes, and the Industry’s Hidden Constraints
08:20 — Medicare, Medicaid, and the Real Demand Unlock
11:10 — Why Cannabis Stocks Fell on “Good” News
13:30 — Big Pharma, Big Beer, and New Market Entrants
19:40 — Supply Chains, Compliance, and Rising Costs
25:00 — Who Wins, Who Loses, and What Comes Next

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

Thrive Market just became the first major online grocer to drop alcohol completely, and the internet is cheering… but the business case isn’t what it seems.

In this episode, we break down the real reasons behind the move, what the data actually says about drinking trends, and why households, not individuals, tell the true story.

We cover:

• Why “54% of adults drink alcohol” is the wrong metric for retailers
• The hidden logistics + regulatory friction behind alcohol shipping
• How Thrive’s branding strategy earns attention, even if the business case is thin
• The one customer-insight mistake we see companies make again and again

A fascinating look at strategy, consumer behavior, and the storytelling behind business decisions.

Partner Links:

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

Chapters:

• 03:19 Consumer Trends in Alcohol Consumption
• 06:23 Business Model Analysis of Thrive Market
• 09:05 Logistical Challenges in Alcohol Sales
• 12:07 Market Size and Consumer Preferences
• 15:38 Branding and Business Storytelling
• 17:30 How Great Strategists Think Past the Press Release
• 21:00 Households, Not Individuals: Why the 54% Stat Misleads
• 23:30 Takeaways on Strategy, Storytelling & Alcohol’s Future

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

Netflix just shocked Hollywood with a $72B bid for Warner Bros, the biggest media deal of the decade. But behind the headlines is a fight over market share, regulation, and the future of streaming.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why Netflix is suddenly willing to buy instead of build
• How HBO, Warner Bros, and gaming change Netflix’s strategy
• The regulatory risk (and why Trump and Paramount matter)
• Whether this deal can ever pay for itself
• What this means for the future of streaming bundles and pricing

Partner Links:

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

Episode Links:

• Netflix press release
• Netflix set to buy Warner Bros. in deal valued at $83 billion (ABC News)
• Netflix Co-Founder LinkedIn Post

Chapters:

• 01:20 Christmas tree banter and setting the stakes
• 03:05 What Netflix is actually buying from Warner Bros
• 07:00 Why Netflix wants Warner Bros and HBO
• 11:45 Can this $72B deal ever pay off?
• 16:30 Ads, bundles and the future Netflix business model
• 20:50 Antitrust risk, Trump factor and hostile bids
• 24:30 Disney, YouTube and the real competitive set
• 28:10 When M&A stops being rational

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

Best Buy was supposed to be dead. Instead, it just raised its full-year sales and earnings outlook.

In this episode, Jenny Rae and Namaan dig into why Best Buy is outperforming in a “K-shaped” economy, even as everyone keeps blaming the consumer and inflation.

They break down:

• How Best Buy is still winning on laptops, gaming, and smartphones
• Why AI-enabled laptops and new consoles are quietly driving an upgrade cycle
• The role of predictable sale moments (Prime Day, back-to-school, Black Friday)
• What Best Buy is doing in-store vs. online that pure e-commerce players can’t match
• How services and better execution matter more than macro excuses

They also talk about what this says about the American consumer, why sentiment and spending keep telling different stories, and what levers they’d pull if they were running Best Buy for the next five years.

Partner Links:

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

Chapters:

• 02:10 Black Friday: From Chaos Day to 2-Month Season
• 04:45 Best Buy’s Unexpected Earnings Beat
• 07:20 What’s Actually Selling: Phones, Laptops, Gaming, AI Devices
• 10:05 Why Best Buy Wins In-Store (When It Shouldn’t)
• 13:00 Digital Channel Strength: Website, Pick-Up, Inventory, UX
• 15:40 The Consumer Is Fine (Again): Spending vs Sentiment
• 18:25 Best Buy’s Revenue Declines & Store Footprint Questions
• 21:05 Margin Breakdown & Where Best Buy Really Makes Money
• 24:10 The Future: Services, Smaller Stores, and Growth Levers

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

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

More Market Outsiders:

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

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

More Market Outsiders:

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