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  • Unlocking Human Pride: Thriving in the Age of AI
    2025/05/14
    S5:E3 From Retail Pride to Human Pride: Navigating Leadership and Connection with Ron ThurstonIn this episode, Ron Thurston returns to discuss his new book 'Human Pride' and its themes of optimizing human potential in a world increasing its reliance on technology and AI. The conversation takes us through Ron’s extensive experience leading major retail brands, his journey from publishing his first book 'Retail Pride' to 'Human Pride', and the crucial balance between human connection and technological efficiency. We explore various aspects of leadership, including the importance of empathy, curiosity, and the significant role of human connection in the workplace. Ron emphasizes the need for self-reflection, understanding core values, and maintaining strong interpersonal relationships despite technological advancements. Rejecting 'hustle culture' in favor of fostering meaningful connections and optimizing individual strengths, Ron highlights the need for human-centric approaches to recruitment, leadership, and career development via examples and insights from his own career. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with practical insights and inspirational stories that underscore the power of pride and human potential in the workplace!About Ron Thurston:Author, “Human Pride: Optimizing Your Potential In A Digital Job Market”Ron Thurston is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and bold voice in the movement to reimagine leadership in a world transformed by technology. His new book, HUMAN PRIDE: Optimizing Your Human Potential in a Digital Job Market (May 2025), delivers a powerful roadmap for standing out, staying relevant, and thriving in the future of work. With over 30 years of executive experience leading teams at iconic brands like Apple, Gap, West Elm, Tory Burch, Bonobos, and Saint Laurent, Ron knows how to build winning cultures that drive performance. His first book, *RETAIL PRIDE (*2020) became a career-defining guide for thousands of industry professionals, helping them reclaim confidence and purpose in their work.As the creator and host of the Retail in America tour and podcast, Ron spent over a year traveling across 30 states in an Airstream to spotlight the real stories and remarkable people shaping retail’s future. Today, he serves on multiple retail tech supplier advisory boards, helping brands integrate AI and digital tools without losing sight of what matters most: people. A sought-after keynote speaker, Ron brings energy, insight, and inspiration to global conferences, C-suite offsites, and corporate events. His message resonates across industries: your greatest competitive advantage is human.Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube00:00 The SKUpe Newsletter00:34 Show Intro06:51 Welcome Back, Ron Thurston!07:43 Discussing Ron's New Book: Human Pride08:46 The Importance of Human Connection in Retail10:24 Optimizing Human Potential in a Tech-Driven World15:37 Defining and Standing by Non-Negotiables in Job Search22:54 The Role of Empathy and Curiosity in Leadership26:48 Challenges in Modern Hiring Practices35:11 The Future of Work: Balancing Technology and Human Connection38:15 Career Longevity and Brand Affinity in Retail41:56 Navigating the Fast-Paced Industry43:36 Adapting to Office Culture44:39 Broadening Job Search Perspectives47:40 Leadership with Empathy and Emotional Intelligence, But Without Titles51:21 The Future of Work and Technology59:11 Balancing Technology and Human Connection01:05:26 Final Thoughts and Takeaways01:09:58 Show CloseMeet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2023 and 2024, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.
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    1 時間 11 分
  • The New Playbook for Digital Marketing
    2025/04/24
    S5:E2 Influencers, Gen Z, & Beyond Social Commerce: Lessons from AliExpress with Chris CarlWelcome to the second episode of Season 5 of the Retail Razor Show! Join hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden as they dive into the fresh tactics and cutting-edge strategies that are driving the future of retail and e-commerce with Gen Z. In this episode, they are joined by Chris Carl, the US Head of Marketing for AliExpress (Alibaba Group), to discuss ‘the new playbook for digital marketing’ fresh from his insightful session on marketing to Gen Z at eTail West!Discover how AliExpress is capturing Gen Z's attention, building a robust social media presence, leveraging influencers like David Beckham, and exploring the future of cross-border shopping with a full-funnel marketing strategy. Chris shares the impressive growth metrics (500% increase in social media following, for example) and innovative campaigns that have set AliExpress apart - think social commerce, live shopping, Gen AI, and TikTok Shops. Plus, new enticing innovations in logistics to help onboard more US-based sellers to the AliExpress marketplace. Whether you're a product junkie, retail leader, or commerce technologist, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss!About Chris Carl:Chris Carl is a strategy, operations, and marketing executive with a proven track record in retail, beauty, spirits, lifestyle, hospitality, and luxury goods. As the first US Head of Marketing for AliExpress, Chris focuses on making online shopping more engaging and affordable. Since May 2023, Chris has increased order volume by 60%, increased brand share of voice by 75%, expanded headcount by 400%, boosted social media following by 500%, and doubled brand awareness.Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube00:00 Show Intro03:04 Introducing Christopher Carl from AliExpress & His Background05:43 Conversation with Chris Carl, Head of US Marketing for AliExpress08:52 Cracking the Code with Gen Z16:00 AliExpress's Social Media and Influencer Strategy21:22 Leveraging Social Media for Brand Growth23:30 Navigating the Shifting Digital Marketing Landscape25:46 The Future of Social Commerce and Live Shopping28:17 The Importance of Brand Personality and Humor31:50 AliExpress: A Unique Business Model35:09 Expanding AliExpress's US Presence38:45 The Future of Cross-Border E-Commerce42:20 Show CloseMeet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2023 and 2024, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.
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    43 分
  • Transforming Retail Media into a Growth Engine
    2025/04/10

    S5:E1 Unleashing Retail Media's Potential: A Conversation with Drew Cashmore


    Welcome to Season 5 of the Retail Razor Show! In our premiere episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden dive deep into retail media with special guest Drew Cashmore, Chief Strategy Officer at Vantage and a pioneer in the retail media space, with a background scaling Walmart Connect to a $2 billion business. Drew shares his insights on the evolution of retail media, the driving forces behind its rapid growth, and the challenges retailers face in scaling their media networks. Drew also discusses the importance of workflow automation, the use of first-party data, and the balance between digital and in-store media. We highlight the necessity for retailers to invest in their media capabilities to stay competitive and speculate on the future direction of retail media. We also touch on the complexities of managing multiple media platforms and the potential for consolidation within the industry.


    Packed with valuable insights, don't miss out on this must-listen episode for product junkies, commerce technologists, retail leaders, and everyone in retail tech! Plus, learn about the Retail Razor Podcast Network's exciting new shows!


    About Drew Cashmore:

    Drew is a retail media strategist and thought leader with a background in building, commercializing and scaling new business models in the retail sector across the globe. Heading up strategy for Vantage - the platform that powers self-serve and managed-service for The Home Depot among other retailers - Drew is helping to architect the next generation of unified retail media technologies. He was an original architect of and former executive at Walmart Connect in the U.S. and Canada, helping to scale the retail media business to $2BN and beyond. In addition, Drew was a founding member of Walmart eCommerce and the CMO of SoftBank-backed Live Shopping platform, Firework.


    Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube


    00:00 Show Intro

    07:38 Unleashing Retail Media's Potential: A Conversation with Drew Cashmore

    08:43 Drew's Background in Retail Media

    10:28 The Evolution and Challenges of Retail Media

    14:18 ROI and Measurement in Retail Media

    18:34 The Future of Retail Media

    26:41 First-Party Data and Consumer Privacy

    34:47 In-Store Media and Workflow Automation

    47:21 Retail Media is a Different Business Model

    50:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    51:05 Show Close


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2023 and 2024, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.


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    53 分
  • Season 5 Trailer - Retail Revolution: AI, Media, and Human Connection
    2025/03/12

    S5 Trailer - Retail's Next Chapter: AI and Media Meet Humanity


    Join hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden in Season Five of The Retail Razor Show as they explore the intersection of AI, media, and human connection in retail. This season will examine the power of AI-powered personalization, retail media evolution, and the role of in-store associates in enhancing customer experiences. Key discussions will include how AI makes retailers more resilient, the impact of media on commerce, and the next wave of retail tech innovation. Tune in to understand how technology transforms shopping, selling, and scaling while emphasizing that retail's core is human connection. Subscribe and follow for sharp insights and expert opinions so you don't miss out on unlocking new opportunities in retail!


    Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


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    4 分
  • Cutting Through the Clutter: Retail Razor's Season Four Finale
    2025/01/31

    S4:E10 On the Razor's Edge: The Season Four Final Cut


    In the season four grand finale of the Retail Razor Show, guest host J.P. Kamel, managing director of RFID Sherpas, takes over to interview our regular hosts, Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden. This episode first reviews the top 10 retail predictions the team had for 2024, evaluating which ones hit the mark and which ones were a total miss! Then the discussion spans a range of topics from throughout Season 4 including the rise of retail media, the evolution from omni-channel to unified commerce, and the transformative potential of AI in retail. Key takeaways include the importance of unified commerce strategies, the necessity for retail media, and the enduring need for human connection in the retail experience. The episode also reflects on memorable moments from the season, the future of department stores, and evolving career paths in retail. Both insightful and entertaining, this grand finale offers an in-depth look into the current and future trends shaping the retail industry, and gives you a behind the scenes view of how our two hosts think about retail and the show!


    Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube


    00:00 Show Intro

    02:52 2024 Top 10 Check-in

    03:03 Prediction No 1

    05:00 Prediction No 2

    06:31 Prediction No 3

    10:31 Prediction No 4

    12:45 Prediction No 5

    16:33 Prediction No 6

    18:43 Prediction No 7

    21:19 Prediction No 8

    23:12 Prediction No 9

    30:41 Prediction No 10

    33:13 Season 4 Recap

    33:43 Favorite Moment

    35:34 Most Surprising Moment

    38:07 The Big Retail Avengers Reunion Episode

    45:04 Smart Fitting Rooms

    48:39 Unified Commerce & Everything Shoppable

    52:39 Immersive Commerce & Livestreaming

    59:47 Retail Media 3.0

    01:02:08 Responsible AI

    01:08:56 Retail Career Paths

    01:15:21 Generative AI Transformation

    01:17:43 Relay Race vs Rugby Approach

    01:21:48 Data-Driven Decision Making

    01:22:36 Key Takeaways from Season 4

    01:24:56 Any hints for Season 5 and beyond?

    01:28:33 Show Close


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

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    1 時間 29 分
  • Reimagining Department Stores: Nostalgia Meets Innovation
    2024/12/31

    S4:E9 Department Stores 2.0: Building Experiences for Tomorrow


    In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden bring back the original Retail Avengers team for a highly anticipated reunion. What discussion could bring the team back together again? The current struggles and future opportunity for department stores! Welcome back Jeff Roster, Shish Shridhar, and Brandon Rael to explore why these once-iconic shopping destinations have lost their appeal and what innovations can bring them back into relevance. Key themes include the use of AI, retail media, and enhancing the human connection in shopping. The team covers detailed insights such as the need for improved customer data usage, creating engaging in-store experiences, and leveraging technology to empower store staff. The conversation also touches on successful strategies from other retailers like Target and the importance of loyalty and community in retaining customers. If you’re wondering how (or if) department stores can return to relevance with consumers, this is a can’t miss discussion full of insights and recommendations!


    Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube


    00:00 Show Introduction

    04:28 Retail Avengers Reunion - The Future of Department Stores

    06:36 The Decline of Department Stores

    14:01 Challenges and Opportunities

    18:23 Future Strategies and Innovations

    32:39 The Decline of Department Stores

    33:52 The Marketplace Model for Department Stores

    38:10 The Role of Technology in Retail 4

    3:14 Creating Human Connections in Retail

    46:38 The Future of Retail Experiences

    55:37 Leveraging Technology for Better Retail

    01:01:42 The Role of Department Stores in Modern Retail

    01:03:57 The Balance Between Technology and Human Interaction

    01:07:01 Show Close


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2023 and 2024, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.


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    1 時間 8 分
  • Unlocking Retail: AI, Ethics, and the Future of Commerce
    2024/12/18

    S4:E8 Navigating Responsible AI in Retail: Trust in a Digital World


    In this episode of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden dive deep into the ethical implications of AI and commerce technology in the retail industry. They reflect on past discussions about AI innovations and the necessity of critical groundwork before deploying new technologies. They cover the balance between leveraging synthetic media for marketing and maintaining brand trust, highlighting examples like Levi's virtual AI models. The conversation touches on the potential of generative AI, virtual influencers, and the risk of losing authenticity. They stress the importance of building an ethical framework for technology initiatives and the long-standing questions of deception in advertising, emphasizing transparency and responsible AI use. Ricardo and Casey also explore how brands can balance cost-saving measures with realistic, authentic representations and the impact of these decisions on sustainability and customer trust.


    Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube


    00:00 Show Intro

    00:43 Reflecting on Past Discussions

    01:27 The Role of AI in Retail

    02:49 Ethical Considerations in AI

    03:50 Building Brand Trust

    04:52 Listener Engagement and Feedback

    06:31 AI and Virtual Influencers

    07:07 The Future of Influencer Marketing

    10:51 Cost and Authenticity in AI Marketing

    11:45 Engineered Influencers

    15:57 Transparency in AI Content

    17:35 Aspirational vs. Unrealistic Marketing

    22:10 The Evolution of Body Diversity in Fashion

    23:36 Balancing Real and Virtual Models

    25:44 Ethical Implications of AI in Fashion

    29:35 Sustainability and AI in the Fashion Industry

    30:48 The Impact of AI on Marketing and Operations

    33:02 Navigating Ethical AI Deployment

    36:52 The Future of AI in Retail and Fashion

    42:20 Final Thoughts and Call to Action


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2023 and 2024, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.


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    44 分
  • Converting Customer Insights to Action Through Smart Fitting Rooms
    2024/11/27

    S4:E7 How Smart Fitting Rooms’ Data Insights Transform Store Operations & Shopper Conversion


    Hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden dive into the transformative potential of smart fitting rooms in the fashion and apparel industry. Joined by Matthew Cyr, founder and CEO of Crave Retail, the discussion explores how digital fitting rooms enhance customer experience, boost conversion rates, and provide invaluable analytics that can revolutionize store operations and merchandising strategies. The episode emphasizes the importance of integrating technology with personalized service to create a seamless and satisfying shopping experience. Discover how retailers can leverage smart fitting rooms to gain deeper insights into customer behavior, optimize in-store performance, and ultimately drive revenue.


    About Matthew Cyr & Crave Retail:

    Matthew is a seasoned and three-time founder, CEO and co-founder of Crave Retail. Starting back with Abercrombie and Fitch and Skechers, he developed the commit to convert program that led Skechers expansion across southeast Asia, opening over 250 stores and optimizing in store experiences. Matthew has earned a 40 under 40 recognition from Retail Touch Points.


    Crave Retail helps retailers elevate their stores by giving shoppers the best-in-class digital fitting room experience. Crave's proprietary fitting room technology and touchless experiences allow retailers to meet each customer's unique needs, access real-time insights into all customer activity, increase conversion, and improve customer satisfaction..


    Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube


    00:00 Show Intro

    03:31 Converting Customer Insights to Action Through Smart Fitting Rooms

    06:40 Challenges and Benefits of Smart Fitting Rooms

    10:37 Customer Journey: Enhancing the Fitting Room Experience

    18:16 Impact on Retail Operations and Return Rates

    20:36 Leveraging Data for Retail Success

    23:55 Implementing Smart Fitting Room Technology

    26:56 Importance of Executive Leadership in Retail Strategy

    28:28 Engaging Store Operations for Smart Fitting Rooms

    30:15 Understanding Store Performance Metrics

    32:47 Leveraging Fitting Room Data for Business Insights

    38:03 Enhancing Customer Experience with AI and Technology

    47:43 Future of Smart Fitting Rooms in Retail

    54:39 Show Close


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2023 and 2024, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


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    56 分