335: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Some of the most critical problems in retail are unsolved, and they’re not being looked at seriously enough. Whether it’s waste, supply chains, or workforce conditions, it’s often easier to look the other way. In this episode of the Retail Transformation Show, we explore what happens when retail challenges are left ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ From vast clothing mountains to overlooked supply chain and workforce issues, we uncover the hidden realities that deserve more attention—and ask what changes when we finally choose to see them.

Listen to this episode and discover:

• Why it’s easy for both retailers and consumers to ignore uncomfortable truths.
• The retail areas most likely to be overlooked—and why that’s risky.
• How greater visibility leads to better decisions, accountability, and action.

 

 

Discover the clothing mountain on Google Maps

Hidden away in the outskirts of Alto Hospicio in Chile lies the Montaña de Ropa (Clothing Mountain). Image from Google Maps.

The scale is big and it seems to be unrestricted. Photo credit to Fabian Landscape.

And Google registers this as a local landmark, which even has a 2.3 star rating. Image screenshot from Google.

Looking around the desert, you can see other retail-related eyesores, like this Vertedero Clandestino (clandestine waste dump) and a nearby incinerator leaving ash spoils across the landscape.

 

Additional episodes to listen to next.

When we ignore inefficiencies or delays in our operating model, we create bigger problems down the line. In episode 232: The Hidden Costs In Your Transformation, we explore the unseen issues that silently drain resources and stall progress.

Transformation often stalls when businesses aren’t honest about what’s really happening behind the scenes. Episode 308: When Transformation Fails highlights the most common missteps and how to avoid falling into the same traps.

It’s the decisions we make today—especially the ones we don’t question—that shape the outcomes we regret later. Listen to episode 236: Today’s Decisions Create Our Future Regrets and challenge yourself to rethink short-term choices and their long-term impact.

And finally, check out Carl Boutet in episode 324: Uncovering The Blind Spots Of Innovation as he discusses why we can be caught off guard in the fast-moving world of technology.