Navigating the World of Retail with Angie Bailey and Best In Class Suppliers

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Angie Bailey, the Co-founder and CEO of Best In Class Suppliers, a team of retail experts dedicated to helping businesses navigate the processes and challenges of working with major retailers. Angie also serves on the City of Bentonville Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Community Task Force as well as the Bentonville Library Foundation Board of Directors. Throughout the episode, James and Angie discuss challenges facing the retail industry, how Best In Class Suppliers helps its partners overcome those challenges and Bentonville’s influence on the world of retail.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

(0:52) Introduction to Angie

(3:21) Angie’s Passion for Retail

(6:00) About Best In Class Suppliers

(9:10) Overcoming Challenges

(12:23) COVID’s Impact on the Retail Industry

(17:13) Emerging Retail Trends

(19:41) How Technology Affects Retail

(21:01) Remaining Competitive

(24:03) What’s Next for Best In Class 

(26:18) Bentonville’s Role in Retail

(33:37) Angie’s Work with the DEI Task Force

(40:49) Advice to Young Professionals

(42:48) Closing Questions

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Angie Bailey, 479-657-0671

Best In Class Suppliers

Quotes

“We are the type of people who will work with you from A to Z. We’ll be with you through the good and the bad of working in retail, and we’re very curious. We like to learn new things. We think anything we can learn and share with our company partners will help us be better and help them be better.” - Angie Bailey, (2:00)

“We’re still seeing the effects of what we went through with the pandemic and the shutdown. The supply chain has gotten easier, but it has caused all of us to rethink the way we manage a supply chain.” - Angie Bailey, (14:34)

“The thing that is most important for us to keep central is to know who our customer is and what they need from us…The best thing we can do to help the companies we work for is understand the technology that’s impacting them that they don’t have the time to learn about.” - Angie Bailey, (21:02)

“I do think there’s an increased level of competition here…Competition makes us think outside of our comfort zone, makes us do things or take chances we might not otherwise take. So I think that’s amazing about living in a community like the one we have. I think it affords people the opportunity to better themselves.” - Angie Bailey, (27:18)