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# Ep. 171 - Merchandising Tactics: Executing the Store of the Future
- URL: https://www.dbbnwa.com/merchandising-tactics-executing-the-store-of-the-future/
- Published: 2026-11-03T13:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T14:49:05.000Z
- Description: Smurfit Westrock’s Leon Nicholas explains how retailers must merchandise for a K shaped economy, balancing premium challenger brands with opening price points while private labels claim prime space in new Northwest Arkansas formats.
- Author: Andy Wilson
- Tags: The DBB Podcast, Podcasts, Videos, Merchandising, Category Analysis, Marketing

Retailers catering strictly to the middle class are losing ground fast. Smurfit Westrock VP of Insights Leon Nicholas explains how to merchandise for a divided consumer base.

Walking the newest Northwest Arkansas retail formats reveals a distinct strategy shift. Big-box stores now demand a dual approach to capture the K-shaped economy, balancing high-end challenger brands alongside aggressive opening price points. We unpack the operational demands of side-counter modulars and how private labels are claiming prime real estate to co-market within the retailer's ecosystem.

For consumer goods operators fighting for shelf space, this walkthrough provides exact tactics to maintain brand visibility. Subscribe and share this episode with a category manager navigating changing modulars. Which department's visual upgrade has forced the biggest change in your packaging strategy?

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