1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Bloomberg is now on your dashboard with Apple CarPlay and 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: Android Auto. It gives you access to every Bloomberg podcast, 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: live audio feeds from Bloomberg Radio, print stories from Bloomberg 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: News in audio form, and the latest headlines of the 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: click of a button with Bloomberg News. Now it's free 6 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: with the latest version of the Bloomberg Business App. That's 7 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg Business App. Get it on your phone in 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Just download 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: the app, connect your phone to your car and get started. 10 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: And it's all presented by our sponsor, Interactive Brokers. 11 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Bloomberg Markets Podcast. I'm Paul Sweeney, alongside 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 2: my co host Matt Miller. 13 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 1: Every business day we bring you interviews from CEOs, market pros, 14 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: and Bloomberg experts, along with essential market moven News. 15 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 2: Find the Bloomberg Markets Podcast called Apple Podcasts or wherever 16 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: you listen to podcasts, and at Bloomberg dot com slash podcast. 17 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: All right, let's get a sense here of kind of 18 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: how this is playing out terms of retail sales holiday shopping. 19 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 2: I'd tell you my train was pretty full today with people. 20 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: They were not coming into work. I think they were 21 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 2: coming into shop a great Let's check in with Julie 22 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: Van Allen. She's a chief revenue officer Rocketent. Julie, thanks 23 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 2: so much for joining us here on Zoom. Here, you 24 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 2: guys see kind of retail sales at the store level 25 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 2: and you kind of aggregated it up to kind of 26 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 2: some big macro call here. How do you think the 27 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,759 Speaker 2: holiday shopping season is going to unwind this year because 28 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 2: there's probably there's some stress on the consumer out there. 29 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I got to tell you, guys, I am 30 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 3: so excited with what I woke up to see today. 31 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 3: From a trend standpoint on our site, what we're seeing 32 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 3: is that this is I think the technical term has 33 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 3: to be just a thoroughly bonkers year in terms of 34 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 3: retailers and brands competing for consumer dollars in the term 35 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 3: in the form of promotions on their own sites and 36 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 3: then layering on cash back and other incentives and on 37 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 3: the consumer front. Ready this morning, we'll see a significant 38 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 3: increase in shopping trips year over year. 39 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 4: Hey, Julie, just remind the world what Racketin does and 40 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 4: how you guys, cause you've got a bunch of stores 41 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 4: you log on write consumers and then get deals. Those 42 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 4: stores pay you right for sending them shoppers. Just remind 43 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:19,519 Speaker 4: us and remind us how big your network is in 44 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 4: terms of members. 45 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, we have seventeen million shoppers shopping on the Racketen 46 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:30,519 Speaker 3: site with about four thousand partner stores. So those retailers 47 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 3: and brands join racketin to attract the shoppers that are 48 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 3: excited and rewarded to shop through Racketin's platform to get 49 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 3: cash back on the stores that they love so much. 50 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 4: So one of the things I wonder when I'm talking 51 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 4: retail is, what do you compare what you're seeing today 52 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 4: with Is it going back to twenty nineteen pre pandemic 53 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 4: or is it from the peak kind of coming off 54 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 4: the pandemic. Give us some perspective so that we get 55 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 4: a real idea of how healthy the consumer is or 56 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 4: there or not. Retailers are feeling some pain because they're 57 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 4: offering higher incentives than they were before. 58 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,839 Speaker 3: It's a great question, and I think it comes down 59 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 3: to it being a very different year this year than 60 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 3: it has been for the last two because from a 61 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 3: consumer standpoint, coming out of COVID, there were a lot 62 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 3: of people who saved up dollars right So for the 63 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 3: last couple of years, there was a push a pull 64 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 3: forward of the holiday shopping season, where consumers were shopping 65 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 3: starting in October for gifting and retailers met them where 66 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 3: they were, and there was a spread of the amount 67 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 3: of offers that were in market and discounts throughout the year. 68 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 3: This year is a very different year because retailers knew 69 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 3: that consumers had been patiently waiting given the different economic 70 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 3: conditions coming into this year. So it's very very consolidated 71 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 3: around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and essentially really the next 72 00:03:55,880 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 3: five days. So yeah, I mean, it's just a very 73 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 3: different look and feel this year. That said, I think 74 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 3: brands are always cognizant about profitability, and so while we 75 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 3: know that we need to compete for the consumer dollars, 76 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 3: especially in a year like this year, so everyone's going 77 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 3: to be super promotional right now, the smart brands think 78 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,559 Speaker 3: about how to pivot and change that up a little 79 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 3: bit as we get into December. 80 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 2: Hey, Julie, is there any kind of go to category 81 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: here or gift that is going to drive this year's 82 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 2: or's something along electronics front? 83 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 5: What are people buying? 84 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 6: You're buying platform ugs, aren't you buying. 85 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 5: Of course, right, that's the new thing. Sorry, I love 86 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,359 Speaker 5: an UG, that's what I want. 87 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, So, I mean right now we have over eight 88 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,479 Speaker 3: hundred brands on our site offering twelve percent cash back 89 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 3: on top of the amazing deals they're already offering. And 90 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 3: I can tell you from categories that we're already seeing 91 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:59,239 Speaker 3: growth coming out of department stores. Is one, health and beauty. 92 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 3: Big marketplaces, so think like Walmart and Target. And I 93 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 3: think what you can tie that to is that the 94 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 3: consumer isn't just looking for discretionary gifting spend, it's also 95 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 3: how to get the best deals on essentials. Footwear to 96 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 3: the ugs is up, and then poor retailers in the 97 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 3: luxury space even versus yesterday, up pretty significantly, which shows 98 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 3: you what we I think already knew, which is that 99 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 3: consumers are waiting to make those big discretionary buys for 100 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: when they know the discounts and the incentives will be highest. 101 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 3: And then, probably most interestingly, the unconventional category of travel 102 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 3: is up high, which again high price point consumers waiting 103 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 3: for those deals. 104 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 6: It feels like we're all waiting for discounts more now. 105 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, again, Paul, I think we've been trained that way. 106 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 4: Yeah, but it felt like the retailer companies were in 107 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 4: the driver's seat, Julie for a while. And it feels 108 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 4: like it's been reversing because it feels like consumers are 109 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 4: more and more pinch We had a great story about 110 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 4: even those making like one hundred thousand dollars out, they're 111 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 4: kind of trading down and being a lot more cautious 112 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 4: when it comes to shopping. And I feel like so 113 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 4: many retailers have come out right, Walmart and among them, 114 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 4: but even you know, I feel like some higher end 115 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 4: have run into some trouble here. So it does feel 116 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 4: like increasingly all consumers are feeling a bit pinched, certainly. 117 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 3: I mean core inflation, student loan debt, repayments, I mean, 118 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 3: there's something affects everybody, right, and it just drives concerns. 119 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 3: This year was definitely a year that we knew that 120 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 3: consumers were holding on to their dollars. It's definitely different 121 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 3: than the last couple of years. But that said, you know, 122 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 3: it's not sustainable for retailers and brands to be this 123 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 3: promotional all year. That's why we have the partners that 124 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 3: we do, because things like cash back can be a 125 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 3: great incentive for brands to help create rewards for shoppers 126 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 3: to even pay full price as we exit this highly 127 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 3: promotional period. 128 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: Hey, Julie, when I ack my five hours of radio today, 129 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 2: I will walk to Penn Station and I won't be 130 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 2: on Fifth Avenue. I walk down Madison Avenue and I 131 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: pass a lot of I pass by, I don't go in. 132 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 2: I pass by a lot of luxury brand stores. How's 133 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: luxury these days? 134 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 3: Luxury is a really interesting category, and like I said, 135 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 3: we see that up today. But I think once you 136 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 3: dig a little bit deeper into the luxury shopper, the 137 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 3: core luxury high end shoppers are not the ones that 138 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 3: are driving growth right now from what we see. It's 139 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 3: not to say that they won't come back and spend, 140 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 3: but a lot of those super high end handbags are 141 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 3: a little bit more expensive this year than they used 142 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 3: to be. And I think what you see is a 143 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 3: more aspirational shopper looking at buying or making these purchases 144 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 3: that are an investment for them. So a younger, more 145 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 3: aspirational shopper, which really creates an interesting pathway for these 146 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 3: brands to welcome new and exciting shoppers to their brands 147 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 3: buying the high end goods, but they're also carving off 148 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 3: parts of their businesses like beauty to be more discount driven, 149 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 3: to be more promotional in terms of price points, in 150 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 3: order to usher the new shoppers their way. 151 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 4: So, Julie, too early to kind of come out and say, right, 152 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 4: this is going to be the winner for this holiday 153 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 4: shopping season, because it sounds like from what you say, 154 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 4: we're going to get a good feel of consumer shopping 155 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 4: in the next week or so, and then it might 156 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 4: trail off a little bit. So thirty seconds, who do 157 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 4: you think is going to be the winner? 158 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 3: I mean, everyone's going to be the winner if they 159 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:43,719 Speaker 3: know how to pivot. I think that's at the end 160 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 3: of the day, We're going to see a tremendous amount 161 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 3: of shopping happening over the next couple of days. But 162 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 3: then what happens after that? Are there inventory gluts that 163 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 3: need to be offloaded through incentives? Do we need to 164 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 3: incentivize folks to get in store through buy online, pickup 165 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 3: in store. It's all about reaction. 166 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 2: Hi, Julie, thank you so much for joining us. Juli 167 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 2: Van Allen, she's a chief revenue officer Racketon. 168 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 7: You're listening to the team. Ken's her live program Bloomberg 169 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 7: Markets weekdays at ten am Eastern on Bloomberg dot Com, 170 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 7: the iHeartRadio app, and the Bloomberg Business App, or listen 171 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 7: on demand wherever you get your podcasts. 172 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 4: Paul, you know, we talk so much about people continuing 173 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 4: to spend on experiences rather than buy stuff, and I 174 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 4: feel like our next guest has a great window into 175 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 4: all of that. So Dexol Live it's the hospitality partner 176 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 4: to Global Venues. They've had a lot going on this year, 177 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 4: everything from hosting the Formula one Miami Grand Prix at 178 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 4: hard Rocks Stadium, the twenty twenty three MLB All Star 179 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 4: Game at Seattle's t Mobile Park, to events at convention centers, 180 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 4: cultural attractions, and airport lounge business, which if you've been 181 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 4: to an airport lounge, they are packed. 182 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 5: Yep, they are all right. 183 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 4: So let's get to it with us. As Blinda Oakley CEO, 184 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 4: it's Adexhi Live joining us on zoom on this Friday. 185 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 4: Great to have you here, Belinda. You know, your first 186 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 4: year on the job, what's that been like? 187 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 8: Oh hi everyone, Hi Carol, high Poul and happy Thanksgiving. 188 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 8: You know, the first year has been a whirlwind, but 189 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 8: what a great time to be in the live events business. 190 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 8: I think, as you mentioned, the focus on experience continues 191 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 8: to lead people back to those packed environments, those environments 192 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 8: where you can do something a little different than how 193 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 8: we used to spend our time. And to be in 194 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 8: a birthseye seat for that is a true gift in 195 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 8: an honor. 196 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 2: So Blinda, I'm completely ignorant of your company, and you're 197 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 2: part of the hospitality business. 198 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 5: When I walk into a stadium. 199 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 2: I don't know get beer, I just get my peerer, 200 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 2: and I just assume they're employees of the team or 201 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 2: of the I don't know what's you guys have four 202 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:48,199 Speaker 2: hundred thousand employees at fifty sites all over the world. 203 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 2: Just amazing. Can you tell us about kind of coming 204 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 2: out of the pandemic. What are you seeing in your business, 205 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 2: because again, it seems like everybody just wants to get 206 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 2: out and they've been getting out over the past couple 207 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 2: of years and going to big events and maybe you know, 208 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 2: ticking off bucket list items. 209 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 5: What have you seen in your business? 210 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, look, you've said a few things there that I'll 211 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 6: jump on. 212 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 8: I think first and foremost, if you're going to a 213 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 8: game and you're getting your beer and your hot dog 214 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 8: and back to your seat, then that's what's supposed to happen. Yeah, 215 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 8: I think you shouldn't spend too much time thinking about 216 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 8: the magic behind the scenes that makes it all happen. 217 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 8: But as you mentioned, we are fortunate. We have about 218 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 8: twenty thousand associates just in the sports and leisure division 219 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 8: across about one hundred and fifty venues just here in 220 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 8: the US and Canada, and it takes a lot to 221 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 8: make that magic happen, and in a way that as 222 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 8: a fan, you get to focus on what you're. 223 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 6: There to experience, and that food. 224 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 8: And beverage just is an augmentation to a great service experience. 225 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 8: But I think first and foremost, as you mentioned, the 226 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 8: hospitality industry has changed greatly. Obviously through the pandemic we 227 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 8: see we see a real shift in who is working 228 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 8: in hospitality. 229 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 6: Obviously, with the unemployment rate. 230 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 8: Getting back to a lower level, the labor market is 231 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 8: still tight and finding those folks who who have a 232 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 8: love of being a part of live events is a 233 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 8: different challenge than. 234 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,079 Speaker 6: What we're facing before COVID. I think in. 235 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 8: Terms of what we're seeing from consumers. It's fascinating. Whether 236 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,559 Speaker 8: it's the pitch clock changes in MLB, whether it's the 237 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 8: introduction of autonomous experiences where you can get your beer 238 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:26,599 Speaker 8: and your hot dog and sometimes not even speak to 239 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 8: an individual. We are seeing the consumers still want to 240 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:31,599 Speaker 8: be back in those big live environments. 241 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 6: They want to actually spend more when they're there. 242 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 8: They want to get out of their seat more often 243 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,079 Speaker 8: because they trust that they can get back to their 244 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 8: seat and not miss. 245 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 6: A moment of the game. 246 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 8: So certainly, I think we've seen all the trends of 247 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 8: pre pandemic in terms of consumers wanting things faster, wanting 248 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 8: to elevate their experience. 249 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 6: We're just seeing it all moving at a more rapid pace. 250 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 4: Well, And I'm curious about the labor components side of it, 251 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 4: because you say it's still tight, although we're starting to 252 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 4: see some signs of maybe a little bit softening. But 253 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 4: I agree it's still a tight labor market. I increasingly 254 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 4: on the retail. 255 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 6: Side, if I'm shopping. 256 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 4: More and more often, checking myself out, even taking off 257 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 4: security tabs, what are you guys doing? Are you increasingly 258 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 4: more pressure to automate things in your industry because you 259 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 4: can't find those workers. 260 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 6: Look, it's funny. 261 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,839 Speaker 8: I think there was a lot of fear, certainly a 262 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:26,199 Speaker 8: few years ago, that automizing the retail experience or the 263 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 8: consumer experience was going. 264 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 6: To take hospitality jobs away. 265 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 8: But what's interesting is we are seeing we've got the 266 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 8: same number of individuals employed. If it takes somewhere like 267 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 8: the Mariners T Mobile Stadium in Seattle. We have four 268 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 8: autonomous retail environments by Amazon just walk out, we have 269 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 8: no we have the same number of. 270 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 6: Employees because what people has shifted. 271 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 8: I think while you're checking yourself out, the expectations of 272 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,439 Speaker 8: the level of service and hospitality in greeting, in going 273 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 8: that little bit above and beyond to make sure you've 274 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 8: had a great day, I think that that need has elevated. 275 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 8: So we're seeing the type of labor need change. I 276 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 8: think the days of you know, going through the checkout 277 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 8: and not having any kind of interaction are well and 278 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 8: truly over. 279 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:14,719 Speaker 6: That's what autonomous is for. 280 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 8: But the spirit of service and hospitality that is still 281 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 8: high demand and highly sought after in an employee base. 282 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 2: Hey, well, lin, it just seems I'm not sure if 283 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 2: it's just in the US, but certainly in the US 284 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 2: it seems to be an arms race for these stadiums. 285 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 2: The bigger and more luxurious and have more services, and 286 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 2: it's not just the beer and a hot dog anymore. 287 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: You can get all kinds of stuff there. 288 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 6: How do you beating caviare exactly? 289 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 5: How do you how do you keep up? Who kind 290 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 5: of drives that? Is that you guys driving it? 291 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 2: Or is that the owner of a franchise saying I 292 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 2: need more, I need better. 293 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 8: M Well, I think every owner of every franchise is 294 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 8: saying I need more, I need better, because we're all 295 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 8: fighting for the same share of mind. I think now 296 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 8: that that's a really healthy level of I think it's 297 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 8: a healthy paranoia to make sure that you are always 298 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 8: trying to elevate, stay on top. We're very fortunate we 299 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 8: have talented teams of chefs and operators in our venues. 300 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 8: We also get the benefits, especially doing some of these 301 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 8: really high end clubs and restaurants, which, of course as 302 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 8: the as the experience is elevated from hot dogs and 303 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 8: burgers to as you mentioned, champagne and caviat and all 304 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 8: the rest of the local favorites. 305 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 6: We do work with a lot of restaurant tour partners. 306 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 8: So I think ultimately who drives that constant pushing of 307 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 8: the envelope is the fan you look at, whether it's 308 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 8: the food Network, today's consumer is just so they have 309 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 8: such a higher expectation of what wows. So you have 310 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 8: to be constantly going a little bit outside of the norm. 311 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 8: Whether that is you know, again you're still going to 312 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 8: get your traditional favorites, but whether it's sweet Tea fried 313 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 8: Chicken in Indianapolis or Jambalaya in New Orleans, you know 314 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 8: you have to bring that local flavor in. But the 315 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 8: one thing I would say is what we have to 316 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 8: be careful about as we can continue to elevate and 317 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 8: expand the experience is the heart of consumers coming to 318 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 8: these events is not based on elevation. Is it is 319 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 8: the experience we all remember growing up. So having those 320 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 8: game day favorites, having them affordable for everyone to keep 321 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 8: bringing their kids and their grandkids to these experiences, you know, 322 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 8: it just means we have more tears. I would say, 323 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 8: of what you can experience. If you want a high 324 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 8: end experience, you got it. If you want to come 325 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 8: for a beer and a hot dog, it won't break 326 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 8: the bank. You got that, Hey, thirty seconds. 327 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 4: So you've got to feel inflationary pressures, whether it's on 328 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 4: wages or food costs. I mean you are construction costs? 329 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 5: How much? 330 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 6: How difficult is that? And again just about thirty seconds. 331 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 6: Yeah absolutely, I mean you've hit it. 332 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 8: Concrete is still through the roof, but truckings have obviously 333 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 8: been mitigated. 334 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 6: You know, inflation. We are certainly in deflation. 335 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 8: So I think in terms of what have we done, 336 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 8: we have learned to be much better at working in. 337 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 6: This environment menu engineering. 338 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 8: We have a twenty billion dollar purchasing network as an organization, 339 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 8: so we get to take advantage of that scale. 340 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 6: But I think this inflationary environment, it's going to keep 341 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 6: switching where the pressure is. But our job and so 342 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 6: Live's job is to be better than the best at that. 343 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 6: And thanks to us yall, we're able. 344 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 4: To looking forward to experiencing some events, certainly in the 345 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 4: New York. Blinda Oerkley, CEO is SADEXO Live. Thank you 346 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 4: so much, really appreciate it. 347 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 7: You're listening to the tape cats Are Live program Bloomberg 348 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 7: Markets weekdays at ten am Eastern on Bloomberg Radio. The 349 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 7: tune in app, Bloomberg dot Com and the Bloomberg Business app. 350 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 7: You can also listen live on Amazon Alexa from our 351 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 7: flagship New York station Just say Alexa playing Bloomberg eleven thirty. 352 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, we get into the you said, another huge sports 353 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 5: weekend here. 354 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:52,360 Speaker 2: We've got college football, NFL, professional basketball, means a little bit. 355 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 5: Everything's coming together. 356 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 2: And one of the biggest areas of sports in this 357 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 2: country over the last several years has been sportsmbling, and 358 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 2: the amount of money that is now being wagered is 359 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 2: just extraordinary. Seems like all of the leagues, after decades 360 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 2: and decades of trying to keep sports betting out of 361 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 2: their business, are now opening arms and welcoming them in. 362 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 2: One of the players there is Charles Gillespie. He's the 363 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 2: CEO of Gambling dot Com. Unfortunately he's also graduated in 364 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 2: the University of North Carolina, so that's a check mark 365 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 2: against him. To crowd exactly, Hey, Charles, talk to us 366 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 2: about just how your business has evolved over the last 367 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 2: three or four years. It's just almost night and day. 368 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 9: It really is. 369 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,160 Speaker 10: You know, as many of the listeners will know, the 370 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 10: Supreme Court decision in twenty eighteen really upended the world 371 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 10: of sports betting in the United States. We've been running 372 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 10: this business for going on twenty years, but mainly in Europe, 373 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 10: in the UK, Ireland and a number of other European markets, 374 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 10: and we had to turn the whole ship around and 375 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 10: pointed at the United States. In twenty eighteen nineteen, we 376 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 10: had just a couple of million dollars in revenue in 377 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:08,239 Speaker 10: North America. And this year we'll have our guidances to 378 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 10: exceed one hundred million in revenue for the whole group, 379 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 10: and we expect an absolute majority of that to come 380 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 10: from North America. So, you know, it's completely transformed our business, 381 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 10: and the US is now the center at gravity for 382 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 10: the global online gambling industry. 383 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 4: You know, we talked earlier about people want to experience thing, 384 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 4: but people do also want to gamble increasingly. Hey, tell 385 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 4: us about your business, because from what I understand, I 386 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 4: just want to understand exactly what the business model is. 387 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 4: I mean, you guys are provider digital marketing services for 388 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 4: the online gambling industry. What exactly does that mean laid 389 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 4: out for us all? 390 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 10: So we do the same thing for online sports betting 391 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 10: and online casinos that essentially like a hotels dot Com 392 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 10: does for an online hotel. You know, if you're going 393 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 10: to travel to Paris, you're not going to go to 394 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 10: ten different Parisian hotel websites to find a tell You're 395 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 10: going to go to a website that has all that 396 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 10: information in one place. So, for example, if you want 397 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 10: to bet on sports in New York, there's a variety 398 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 10: of different options. They have different strengths, they have different 399 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 10: bonus offers, they have different levels of customer support, et cetera, 400 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 10: et cetera. So you come to a website like gambling 401 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 10: dot Com, but we we run over fifty websites. We've 402 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:29,439 Speaker 10: also got Bookies dot Com, casinos dot Com, and a 403 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,360 Speaker 10: number of others, and there we will show you all 404 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 10: the information that would be relevant to you as a 405 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 10: sports vetter or online casino customer and help you make 406 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 10: the best decision for you in terms of where to play. 407 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 10: So then people would leave one of our websites, they'll 408 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 10: go to the online gambling operator's website and there are 409 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 10: our clients, and they pay us on a performance basis 410 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 10: for the number of new depositing customers that we can 411 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 10: send to them from our portfolio of websites. 412 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 2: You know, I never thought I'd see this, Charles, but 413 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 2: Mickey Mouse is now in the sports betting business. Espn 414 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 2: bet just launched here. What does that mean for the 415 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 2: industry and what does it mean for you guys. 416 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 10: Up until they launched, you know, I think it was 417 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 10: a lot of wait and see and speculation about whether 418 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 10: or not this was going to be as big of 419 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 10: a deal as everyone's making it out to be. 420 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 9: And since they have launched and. 421 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 10: They are a client of ours, we are helping them 422 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:40,199 Speaker 10: acquire customers. The initial numbers have been spectacular, unlike anything 423 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 10: we've ever seen before. So what's clear to us at 424 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 10: this point is that espn bet will will no doubt 425 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 10: be able to acquire customers. And the next question is 426 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,399 Speaker 10: will they be able to retain those customers. Will they 427 00:21:55,400 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 10: stick around, will they like the products? Will they get 428 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 10: the right sort of CRM engagement to make sure that 429 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,679 Speaker 10: they're not just there to kick the tires once, but 430 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 10: that they actually become long term customers. And if they 431 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 10: do that, they will be a major force to be 432 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 10: reckoned with in the United States. 433 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 4: I'm thinking if I was a gambling AI chatbot, I 434 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 4: would want to be linked in to you because you 435 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 4: probably have a lot of data and information on gambling trends. 436 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,359 Speaker 4: Give me an idea first of all, of like, what 437 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 4: is it that people really really want to bet on? 438 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 4: Where's the most activity seemingly happening or at least the 439 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 4: inquiries based on what you guys are seeing. Give me 440 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 4: an idea, and I'm curious too, take it to the 441 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 4: next level generative AI. 442 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 6: How it plays into your business. 443 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 10: Yeah, well, people bet on the biggest sports in America. Obviously, 444 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 10: you know, it's NFL and it's NBA. For an NFL event, 445 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,239 Speaker 10: you'll get more, you know, betting on the match than 446 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 10: you would on anything else. But you know, there's a 447 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 10: lot more NBA games and there's a lot more MLB 448 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 10: games than there are NFL games, So in aggregate that 449 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 10: can that can total to more than than NFL. But 450 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 10: you know, for on a kind of per match event, 451 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 10: you'll see the most handle on that. Generative AI for 452 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 10: us has been fantastic. You know, we've used it internally 453 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:15,159 Speaker 10: to streamline a lot of our internal process in terms 454 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 10: of producing content. You know, we employ hundreds of people, 455 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 10: uh internally and and and you know hundreds more externally 456 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 10: to make sure that we have the best content on 457 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 10: the Internet when it comes to anything related to gambling. 458 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 10: You know, we produce an enormous amount of original content, 459 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 10: but uh, you know, the the generative AI can be 460 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 10: helpful at the margins to to you know, buff and 461 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 10: polish and check things in addition to what we do 462 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 10: with our editors. But on the development side, in terms 463 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,919 Speaker 10: of just making software, it's also been hugely helpful. You know, 464 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 10: a developer with these co pilot tools now is in 465 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 10: order of magnitude, more productive than they were previously. And 466 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 10: and you know that has all sorts of implications and 467 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 10: it'll allows us to be more ambitious in terms of 468 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 10: the features and development plans that we can take on. 469 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 5: Hey, Charles, thank you very much for joining us. Really 470 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 5: appreciate it. 471 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 2: Charles Gillespie, CEO of gambling dot com. That is a 472 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:19,679 Speaker 2: Nastak traded company, Gambas and boy is there and you 473 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,719 Speaker 2: can check that out. And I'm just shocked at how 474 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 2: quickly this sports betting has just exploded. Maybe you shouldn't 475 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:27,479 Speaker 2: have been, because it's always been an active, you know, 476 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: underground kind of. 477 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 5: Business with absolutely huge numbers. 478 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 2: But you're seeing all these leagues that publicly publicly said, oh, 479 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 2: will never associate ourselves with this sort kind. 480 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 6: Of find it talking a little bit. 481 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 4: I don't knows a little bit. Yeah, kind of interesting 482 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 4: to just see it. I should put out that that stock, 483 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 4: by the way, saying about twenty percent. When it reported 484 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 4: earnings in November sixteenth, they put out their full year guidance. 485 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 4: They affirmed it, but I think analysts think it might 486 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 4: be on the low end, so maybe people looking for more. 487 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 7: You're listening to the tape catch a live program Bloomberg 488 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 7: Markets weekdays at ten am on Bloomberg Radio, the tune 489 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 7: in app, Bloomberg dot Com, and the Bloomberg Business app. 490 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 7: You can also listen live on Amazon Alexa from our 491 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 7: flagship New York station, Just say Alexa play Bloomberg eleven thirty. 492 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 6: We're going to stick with the retail sector. 493 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 4: I'm looking at our blog, our live blog that's on 494 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 4: the Bloomberg terminal. 495 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 5: In person. 496 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 4: Black Friday shopping appears relatively muted this year. Online shopping up, 497 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 4: with many sales starting days or weeks ago, Consumers looking 498 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,640 Speaker 4: for deals as they grapple with elevated inflation. So that's 499 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 4: kind of our backdrop as we head to Tom mcgeeh 500 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 4: CEO on president at ICSC. It's the industry group that, 501 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 4: as its website reminds, US, represents marketplaces and spaces where 502 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 4: people shop, dyne, workplay, and gather. 503 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 6: So they do it all. 504 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 4: So think shopping centers and malls and mixed use centers 505 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 4: and street level storefronts. Tom is on Zoom from Los Angeles. Hey, Tom, 506 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 4: Great to be talking with you again. I'm here with 507 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 4: Paul Sweeney. 508 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 5: What are you hearing? 509 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 11: Yeah? 510 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 5: What are you happy? 511 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 4: Thanksgiving? Happy holidays? What are you hearing as you do 512 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 4: channel checks about what's going on in these mixed use 513 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 4: spaces and at malls and shopping centers. 514 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 9: I expect this to be a strong Thanksgiving weekend. 515 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 11: The you know, our expectations will be one hundred and 516 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 11: thirty billion dollars spent this weekend. 517 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:16,640 Speaker 9: That's about four percent more than last year. 518 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 11: You know, consumers continue to be concerned around inflation. 519 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 9: I was listening to your conversation with Charlie. 520 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 11: I think he's very reflective of consumer mindset one in 521 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 11: focusing upon food and beverage and experiences. I mean that 522 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 11: that will be up over the holiday season almost eight percent, 523 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 11: seven point six percent. But looking at discounts this There's 524 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 11: going to be a lot of promotions this weekend, and 525 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 11: I think that will drive a lot of traffic, both 526 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 11: in person and online. People with the concern, you know, 527 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 11: with the concern, with the concern around pricing and inflation, 528 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,680 Speaker 11: you know, retailers are going to lean in. This will 529 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 11: be a heavy promotion year. As a consumers are price sensitive. 530 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 2: Hey exactly, Hey, Tom, I know you guys se do 531 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 2: a big survey here about what people are going to 532 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 2: be doing over this Thanksgiving weekend and the holidays. Are 533 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 2: people going to be going to stores? I mean people 534 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 2: still do that or is it just point and click now? 535 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 9: People, of course people go to stores. 536 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 11: If people want to go to stores, the communities would 537 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 11: not flourish around the country. So we represent everything, as 538 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 11: Carol's introduction suggested, street retail in every neighborhood across the 539 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 11: United States to large regional malls. 540 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 9: And so people will go on shopping. 541 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 11: Ninety percent of consumers will hit a store over this 542 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 11: holiday season. I think discount department stores will clearly be 543 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:48,119 Speaker 11: the biggest winners over the holiday because of the concern 544 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 11: around pricing. We've seen that trend over the course of 545 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:54,919 Speaker 11: the year, and gift cards will be you know, highly 546 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 11: highly sought after. You know, the big tread and retail, 547 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 11: as we've talked about the past, is the integration between 548 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,359 Speaker 11: the physical and digital world. So you will retailers are 549 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 11: somewhat agnostic as to where you buy the product, you 550 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 11: where you initiate the transaction. They would, however, prefer you 551 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 11: go to the store to pick it up. That's the 552 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 11: most profit effective way for them to serve their consumer, 553 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 11: and consumers are you know, focused upon efficiency and so 554 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 11: you're really seeing those retailers that are particularly in proximity 555 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 11: to where people live, do quite well. And you know, 556 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,640 Speaker 11: occupancy is super high right now as retailers are using 557 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 11: their stores for both traditional shopping but also as a 558 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 11: little mini fulfillment centers. 559 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 4: Tom, I know we talked earlier this year. I'm just 560 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 4: curious and just remind our audience. I mean, are we're back. 561 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 4: I'm trying to figure out because we talked about demise 562 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 4: of them. 563 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 6: All for so long. So where are we are? 564 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 4: What's the what's the uh you know data point that 565 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 4: you kind of compare where today is to where it was. 566 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 4: That's important and gives us kind of some smart perspective. 567 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 11: Look, I think the narrative around the demise of the 568 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 11: mall has been in existence for forty years. I mean, 569 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 11: the people have talked about the mall dying, and here 570 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 11: we are today, and principally there's about the same number 571 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 11: of malls in the United States as there was a 572 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 11: decade ago. 573 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 9: There are clearly some thriving malls. There's clearly some malls 574 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 9: that are struggling. 575 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 11: But you know, and that is such an iconic part 576 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 11: of people's perspective of retail, but it's a relatively small 577 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 11: percentage of the total retail square footage in the United States. 578 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 11: That said, occupanceeing malls across the entire sector is in 579 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 11: the mid eighty percent. Class A malls, high end malls. 580 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 9: Are doing much much better than that. 581 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 11: And then open air retail, you know, everything from grocery 582 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 11: anchored retail in suburban America to Target and Costco and 583 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:54,600 Speaker 11: Walmart anchored retail, that's in the mid to high ninety percent. 584 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 9: And so physical retail. 585 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 11: There has been no really new supply put on the 586 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 11: MA market since the Great Financial Crisis, and yet retail 587 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 11: sales have almost. 588 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 9: Doubled over that period of time. 589 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 11: And so you know, there's there's really a lack of 590 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 11: supply in the market for the demand for physical space 591 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 11: that retailers want, but clearly open air retail in proximity 592 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 11: to where people live is particularly strong right. 593 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 2: Now, Tom, are there any hot categories of purchases this 594 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 2: season or maybe products that are kind of getting the 595 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 2: attention of retailers. 596 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 9: Well, obviously it's the holiday season. 597 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 11: So I think that you know, toys and electronics will 598 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 11: always be will always be, you know. 599 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 9: In vogue. But I think the category. 600 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 11: That's going to do particularly well this the part of 601 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 11: retail that's going to go do particularly well is discount. 602 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,000 Speaker 11: You know, discount retail is going to do well because 603 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 11: consumers are very price conscious and people do you know, 604 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 11: it's hard, as you're, as Charlie suggested, to know exactly 605 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 11: what to buy, even when it's somebody you've known for 606 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 11: three decades. And so I think gift cards are often, 607 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 11: you know, very very are quite frankly the most popular 608 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 11: gift category because people want to give the recipient the 609 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 11: flexibility to buy what they want. 610 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 4: Well, apparently, if you've got young kids in your life, 611 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 4: the Squish mellow Squish mallow, a plush stuff animal our 612 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 4: Live retail Sales blog. Apparently at a Virginia Walmart Charlotteessvale, 613 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 4: three customers asked about the five dollars squishmllow, Am I 614 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 4: saying it right? In a matter of minutes. Apparently they've 615 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 4: sold out and it's just kind of this squishy little pillow. 616 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 11: I don't know. 617 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,720 Speaker 4: That seems to be what is interesting. I do wonder 618 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:35,680 Speaker 4: about the toy retailers. Right, there's so much you can 619 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 4: buy online here. What are you hearing about that sector specifically? 620 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 9: Well, I think you're right. 621 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 11: I think that, you know, I think the toy the 622 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 11: toy sector has been you know, it's been disrupted for 623 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 11: the last twenty years or so, right in multiple dimensions, 624 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 11: one online, but also back to discount retailers, discount department stories. 625 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 11: I mean, obviously they've grown out there their toy space, 626 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:03,720 Speaker 11: amount of space devoted to toys, and so a toy 627 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 11: specific retailer is going to be challenged because they're getting 628 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 11: a competition in multiple fronts. That said, you know, specialty 629 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 11: retail if it's unique and it provides an experience, you know, 630 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:16,520 Speaker 11: could do quite well. 631 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 9: But kind of the mass merchant toy retailer is really not. 632 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 11: You know, it's not the same as it was twenty 633 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 11: years ago or even forty years ago when we. 634 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 4: Were growing I remember going to the Seers and it 635 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 4: was like the Barbie isle and it was like who 636 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 4: you walk down, it was pretty cool stuff. It's a 637 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 4: very different environment today, Paul. 638 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, Hey, Tom, if I actually find myself in a 639 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 2: store and it's a very low probability that that's going 640 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 2: to happen. Am I going to find stuff on the shelves? 641 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 2: Hell's the inventory, supply chain all that stuff? 642 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 9: Yeah, of course, of course. You well, I think you 643 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 9: know one thing, it's just implicit in your question. 644 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:52,840 Speaker 11: I don't know exactly where you live, Paul, but I 645 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 11: think that it's important to recognize that New York City 646 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 11: and Manhattan is its own ecosystem, and there is clearly 647 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 11: a lot of people that's chopped online in Manhattan for 648 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 11: a variety of reasons. 649 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 9: Yeah, but when you get off the island and you 650 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:07,960 Speaker 9: go to the rest of America. 651 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 11: People do go to stores, and that is still by 652 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 11: far the most popular way to shop in suburban America. 653 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 11: And of course, remember what's happened in the course of 654 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,360 Speaker 11: the pandemic is people have moved back to the suburbs. 655 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 11: Suburban retail, suburban real estate is back in vogue, and 656 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 11: so people will go out and masses to the stores 657 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:31,400 Speaker 11: this weekend. And the supply chain issues that we're experienced 658 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:34,280 Speaker 11: at the height of the pandemic have really retailers have 659 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 11: kind of managed their way through that. 660 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:37,920 Speaker 9: So I don't think that's going to be an issue. 661 00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 4: Good, right, Yeah, interesting, right, Yeah, absolutely, it's true that 662 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 4: migration right post pandemic of people back out to the burbs, 663 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:46,520 Speaker 4: that's a good thing for a lot of retail, traditional retail. 664 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 4: Hey Tom McGee, thank you so much, CEO and president 665 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 4: of ICSSE joining us on Zoom from Los Angeles. Happy, 666 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 4: Happy post Thanksgiving, and I'm sure we're going to be 667 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 4: checking in with him throughout the holiday season. 668 00:33:56,360 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 5: Yeah. 669 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:59,240 Speaker 2: Absolutely, So I can tell you that Short Hills Mall 670 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 2: will be today and they will be lined up on 671 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:03,800 Speaker 2: Route twenty four waiting to get in. 672 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 6: For the line is like outside to exit. 673 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just extraordinary and it's a great great mom 674 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:10,360 Speaker 2: people still love going to that. 675 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:15,279 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Bloomberg Markets podcasts. You can 676 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: subscribe and listen to interviews at Apple Podcasts or whatever. 677 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:22,880 Speaker 1: Podcast platform you prefer. I'm Matt Miller. I'm on Twitter 678 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 1: at Matt Miller nineteen seventy three. 679 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:26,320 Speaker 2: And I'm fall Sweeney. 680 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:27,840 Speaker 5: I'm on Twitter at pt Sweeney. 681 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 2: Before the podcast, you can always catch us worldwide at 682 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:32,399 Speaker 2: Bloomberg Radio