In episode 276 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Sean Kell, CEO of Blue Nile, the largest e-commerce retailer of GIA-certified diamonds and fine jewelry. Listen in as Kell discusses his career journey leading up to his joining Blue Nile last year, the company's recently announced store expansion plan, and why now is the right time for the jewelry company to open new showrooms.

Furthermore, Kell shares key details of Blue Nile's national five-year expansion plan, how online traffic and customer data is helping the retailer identify and select new markets, and how Blue Nile is working to integrate its digital and physical retail channels. Kell explains how Blue Nile is bringing its consultative showroom experience to online consumers, why connecting with customers across multiple touchpoints is essential to the jewelry company, and the metrics it's using to evaluate store performance. Lastly, he shares what he's focused on moving into 2021, details the company's new virtual appointment tool that connects consumers with diamond experts live online, and what he's forecasting for Blue Nile in the new year.

Sean Kell is a seasoned leader who is charged with driving Blue Nile’s strategic vision and continuing to elevate the company’s modern approach to purchasing handcrafted diamond rings and exquisite jewelry online. Before joining Blue Nile in 2019, Sean served as Chief Executive Officer of A Place for Mom, where he was responsible for overall brand management and business expansion. Sean has a proven track record of building successful businesses in e-commerce, digital innovation and product management across leading online retail organizations, including Expedia, Hotels.com, and Starbucks. Sean has also held various roles at McKinsey and IBM. Sean holds a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California. Sean is an avid skier and golfer, and enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.