This episode gives quick, practical retail tips for selling to male holiday shoppers — especially last-minute buyers on Christmas Eve. Learn how to prepare your store, engage without overwhelming, offer visible high-impact gift options, and make returns and decisions easy so men can buy confidently.

It covers what to show (big, bright, or cool), what to avoid (asking budget or following too closely), and simple tactics like playful signage, checking in without hovering, and suggesting wrapped alternatives instead of gift cards to boost holiday sales.

And yes, this is an AI generated version of my recent blog. Would love to hear your thoughts. info@retaildoc.com

WBBM Noon Business Hour interviews Bob Phibbs, CEO of The Retail Doctor, about how Black Friday has transformed — from month-long online deals and softer store traffic to younger shoppers treating it as a social event. He explains why in-store experiences and human connections still drive most sales and what retailers must do to win holiday shoppers.

The conversation also touches on tighter budgets, shifting promotions, and why retail stories often mask steady annual sales gains despite noisy headlines about declining foot traffic.

Podcast Description:

Some of us aren't looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. Not the travel or the cooking. It's sitting across from people we love who now say things that used to live on the fringe like they're obvious facts.

In this episode, I talk about how we got here. The stories we inherited that taught us "us versus them." How pop culture used to warn us about ignorance instead of celebrating it. And what happened when the guardrails broke.

Most importantly, I share what to say when Uncle John starts talking. You don't have to call him a liar. You don't have to start a fight. But you can break the spell with one simple phrase.

I also talk about my father, a social justice minister who stood up for truth but wrote off family members who didn't think his way. He died without much of that support. I learned from him to stand up, but I also learned the cost of writing people off entirely.

This connects to retail because retail is the great normalizer. It teaches patience, curiosity, and connection. You cannot succeed in retail if you think other people are the enemy.

One phrase can remind your table that nuance exists, that facts matter, and that humanity is still the majority. Listen in for how to stay in the conversation even when it's hard.