Brand & marketing

Coverage

• news · 10 Sept 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  John Lewis Is Turning Its Christmas Storytelling Machine Into an Always-On Content Studio

  John Lewis has opened The Box Studio, a permanent content creation facility inside its Oxford Street shop, as part of an £800 million investment programme. The move turns the storytelling capability behind its Christmas adverts into a year-round operation spanning social video…

• podcast · 4 Sept 2026 · Trade press

  Target Beauty Studio: Prestige Beauty Comes to 600+ Stores

  Target is bringing 90 prestige, emerging and global beauty brands to more than 600 stores. Alex Rezvan and Jill Dvorak examine what Target Beauty Studio means for Target, Sephora and Ulta Beauty—and where the customer’s beauty spend could move next.This week’s US retail briefi…

• news · 28 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  Walmart, Home Depot, American Eagle, Best Buy and Ross Reveal Five New Rules of US Retail

  Walmart is removing friction at checkout, Home Depot is turning stores into rapid-fulfilment hubs, American Eagle is betting on football culture, Best Buy has reached a major zero-waste milestone and Ross is proving that value retail can grow through more than price alone. Tog…

• podcast · 28 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  M&S Moves European Fulfilment to Zalando; John Lewis Launches Sports & Wellness

  Marks & Spencer is moving its European ecommerce fulfilment to Zalando's ZEOS platform across 22 continental European markets. Alex Rezvan and Simone Oloman, Co-founder and CEO of NIFT, examine what the partnership means alongside five other UK retail developments from the…

• podcast · 28 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  Walmart Adds Apple Pay as Ross Outpaces TJX on Q2 Comps

  Walmart has started rolling out Apple Pay at select US Walmart and Sam's Club locations, with rollout to all US stores and clubs planned by the end of 2026. Alex Rezvan is joined by Jill Dvorak, Senior Vice President, Content at NRF, for five US retail stories: Home Depot's na…

• news · 27 Aug 2026 · Operator voice

  Holland & Barrett Is Designing for the Attention Economy, Not Just the Shopping Trip

  Speaking at EuroShop 2026, Holland & Barrett's Head of Store Design Richard Fisher explains why physical retail now competes with Netflix for attention, and how punk and showbiz design, Tesco concessions and the Cardiff Experience Store are reinventing a 150-year-old wellness …

• podcast · 24 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  Target’s AI Move, Coach Growth & the Future of US Retail

  Why is Coach growing while Kate Spade declines under the same parent company?And what does Target appointing a Chief AI Officer tell us about the next phase of retail technology?In this USA edition of Five Things Friday, Alex and Jill unpack five developments shaping US retail…

• podcast · 24 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  Target’s AI Move, Coach Growth and the Future of US Retail

  What does Target appointing a Chief AI Officer tell us about the next phase of AI in retail? In this USA edition of Five Things Friday, Alex and Jill examine five developments shaping the US retail market — and the strategic implications behind them. Target has brought Chandu …

• news · 21 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  NIFT Is Betting on 90-Minute Fashion Delivery as UK Retail Rethinks Convenience, Value and Resale

  NIFT is expanding its rapid-delivery model with a 12,000 sq ft logistics hub at Westfield London. Co-founder and CEO Simone Oloman explains why faster local fulfilment could give fashion brands a new route into London, as UK retail rethinks value, luxury consolidation and resale.

• podcast · 21 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  Five Things Friday UK: Harvey Nichols, Poundland, IKEA & Rapid Delivery

  Five Things Friday UK Edition brings together the retail stories worth knowing this week. Alex Rezvan of The Retail Podcast and Simone Oloman, co-founder of Need It For Tonight, discuss the developments shaping the UK retail industry and what they could mean for retailers, bra…

• news · 20 Aug 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Stanley 1913's Next Era: From Heritage Thermos to Global Hydration Powerhouse

  Stanley 1913 Chief Brand Officer Kate Ridley on heritage, the Quencher effect, Post Malone and Messi partnerships, TikTok Shop and life beyond hydration.

• news · 11 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  Frasers, Tesco, Nike and FairPrice Reveal the New Battle for Retail Control

  From Frasers Group's pursuit of Hugo Boss and Tesco's quick-commerce expansion to Nike's China recalibration and FairPrice's smart-store platform, five stories reveal that retail's next battle is about controlling the customer relationship.

• podcast · 10 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  What's Really Happening in Global Retail Right Now? Hugo Boss, Uber Eats, Nike, Fair Price & LA 2028

  Five retail stories. Less than ten minutes. And several signals about where global retail could be heading next. In this international edition of Five Things Friday, we examine five developments across retail, commerce, technology and consumer engagement. First, Fraser’s Group…

• news · 10 Aug 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Global Brands Need to Adapt Locally Without Losing What Makes Them Global

  Katherine Melchior Ray explains why global brands like Louis Vuitton succeed by defining non-negotiable values while letting local teams innovate.

• podcast · 7 Aug 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  Global Brand Localization: What Retailers Get Wrong

  How can a global retailer maintain consistency across markets without losing local relevance?In this episode of The Retail Podcast, Katherine Melchior Ray examines why international brand strategies often break down—not because executives reject localisation, but because organ…

• podcast · 7 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  What You Don't See About Culture Shapes Everything

  How can a global retailer maintain consistency across markets without losing local relevance? In this episode of The Retail Podcast, Katherine Melchior Ray examines why international brand strategies often break down not because executives reject localisation, but because orga…

• news · 3 Aug 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Dunnhumby: Retail Media Has a Shopper Problem

  New Dunnhumby research across 3,000 US and UK grocery shoppers finds 91% will share transactional data for real value, and that relevance, trust and in-store media now decide retail media's next phase of growth.

• podcast · 1 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  APAC Retail: Crime, Costco China, Vietnam E-commerce and K-Food

  Retail crime is becoming serious enough to affect whether stores can continue operating in parts of Australia. At the same time, Costco is expanding its reach in China through JD.com, Vietnam’s e-commerce market is being shaped by Shopee and TikTok Shop, and functional foods a…

• podcast · 31 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Primark vs SKIMS and the Return of UK E-Commerce Growth- Plus Argos, Charlotte Tilbury Five Things Friday UK

  The UK retail industry never stands still. This week Alex and Simone unpack five of the biggest retail stories shaping customer experience, ecommerce, retail technology and consumer behaviour across the UK.In this episode:• Charlotte Tilbury transforms Covent Garden into an im…

• podcast · 31 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Is UK Retail Changing Again? Argos, Charlotte Tilbury, ONS, Primark & Skims

  The UK retail industry never stands still. This week Alex and Simone unpack five of the biggest retail stories shaping customer experience, ecommerce, retail technology and consumer behaviour across the UK. In this episode: • Charlotte Tilbury transforms Covent Garden into an …

• news · 30 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  The World's Best Stores Are Converging Around One Idea

  Matthew Brown's latest selection of the world's most innovative stores reveals a clear direction for physical retail. The winners are competing on emotion, hospitality, community and experience.

• podcast · 29 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  US Retail Sales Surge, Walmart’s World Cup Moment and Wonder’s $9B Bet

  US retail sales rose more than 11% year over year in June across the core categories tracked by Retail Dive. But the headline number is only one part of this week’s retail story. Alex Rezvan and Jill Dvorak examine five developments affecting consumer behaviour, store experien…

• news · 29 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Groceryshop 2026: AI, GLP-1 and Retail Media Face Growth Test

  AI shopping, GLP-1 demand and in-store retail media will dominate Groceryshop 2026 as leaders confront the commercial decisions reshaping everyday retail.

• news · 28 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  BM Is Rebuilding the Spanish Supermarket Shoppers Thought Lost

  At its La Finca flagship in Madrid, BM is combining the craft of a traditional market with modern retail technology, local sourcing and specialist fresh food expertise.

• podcast · 28 Jul 2026 · Operator voice

  5 Things Friday: WAIC 2026, JD.com's EU Bid & Decathlon's Uber Eats Move

  What changes when AI stops being a productivity tool and starts becoming part of the operating system of a business?In this APAC retail briefing, Ryf Quail and the panel examine five developments:• AI-led business transformation at WAIC Shanghai• JD, CECONOMY and EU regulatory…

• podcast · 28 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  5 Things Friday: WAIC 2026, JD.com's EU Bid & Decathlon's Uber Eats Move

  AI is moving beyond individual productivity tools. The more important question is whether companies will redesign their operating models around it. In this edition of Five Things Friday: APAC Edition, Ryf Quail and the panel examine five developments connecting technology, mar…

• news · 24 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Air Up: From University Project to Innovative Consumer Brand

  Air Up began as a student research project into neuroscience and has grown into an international consumer brand operating across 14 markets. Its scented water bottles use retronasal olfaction to deliver flavour without sugar, reshaping how consumers think about hydration and h…

• podcast · 24 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Primark Faces New Pressure as M&S Bets on the Weekly Shop

  M&S is building a bigger proposition around the family weekly shop. Primark is lowering prices as competition for value-conscious fashion customers intensifies. Meanwhile, beauty and luxury brands are moving beyond products and free samples towards experiences, consultatio…

• podcast · 24 Jul 2026 · Operator voice

  UK Retail: M&S Goes Bigger, Primark Cuts Prices & Beauty Gets Personal

  M&S is building a bigger proposition around the family weekly shop. Primark is lowering prices as competition for value-conscious fashion customers intensifies. Meanwhile, beauty and luxury brands are moving beyond products and free samples towards experiences, consultatio…

• podcast · 22 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Starbucks Korea, Lefties UK, AI Beauty and Adidas Bangkok

  Five global retail stories in one concise briefing: Starbucks Korea’s marketing crisis, retail-crime legislation in Canada and the US, AI-powered beauty at shu uemura, Lefties’ UK launch and Adidas’ community-focused Bangkok store.Five international retail developments in unde…

• podcast · 22 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Starbucks Korea, AI Beauty Mirrors and Lefties’ UK Launch

  Starbucks Korea’s Tank Day promotion led to public backlash and an unusual company-wide response. What should international brands learn from the mistake? Alex Rezvan and Jill from the National Retail Federation examine five stories influencing global retail: Starbucks Korea a…

• news · 21 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  M&S, Aldi and Holland & Barrett Reveal Retail's Growth Strategy

  From destination flagship stores to experiential activations and culturally relevant marketing, the UK's leading retailers are proving that growth today depends on creating experiences customers want to be part of, not simply transactions they need to make.

• podcast · 21 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Milan's Retail Shift: Community, Culture & Curated Luxury (Video)

  Experience alone isn't enough.On the next stop of our Road to NRF Europe, The Retail Podcast arrives in Milan to explore how one of Europe's fashion capitals is redefining luxury retail.If Madrid showed us retail as a destination and London demonstrated experiential re…

• podcast · 21 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Milan's Retail Shift: Community, Culture & Curated Luxury Video

  Milan has long been recognised as one of the world's luxury capitals, but what makes its retail experience so distinctive? In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we explore how Milan moves beyond experiential retail to focus on something even more valuable—curation. Walking th…

• podcast · 17 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  M&S Pantheon, the World Cup Spending Effect and Aldi Goes Baldi

  What does M&S’s investment in its renewed Oxford Street flagship tell us about the future of physical retail? Simone Oloman and Alex Rezvan examine the new M&S Pantheon format and the growing need for stores to become places customers actively choose to spend time in. …

• podcast · 17 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  M&S Bets on Oxford Street, Aldi Goes Baldi and the FIFA Effect

  M&S has renewed almost 100,000 square feet of retail space on Oxford Street. Aldi temporarily became Baldi for Pitbull. Holland & Barrett created a wellness pub.Simone Oloman and Alex Rezvan discuss what these stories reveal about destination stores, cultural relevance…

• news · 17 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Pomelo Built Stores Around Mobile, Not the Other Way Around

  Pomelo pioneered a mobile-first omnichannel retail model in Southeast Asia, using physical stores to support e-commerce and reduce purchase anxiety.

• podcast · 15 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Uniqlo, Shein and FamilyMart: Global Retail’s New Playbook

  Uniqlo is expanding, Shein is approaching a possible Hong Kong listing, and FamilyMart is transforming the convenience store into a fashion and cultural destination.Alex and Jill also discuss Onitsuka Tiger, Inditex’s omnichannel model and what international retail events reve…

• podcast · 15 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Uniqlo’s Global Surge, Shein’s IPO Test and FamilyMart’s Reinvention

  Uniqlo is reporting strong international momentum. Shein is moving closer to a possible Hong Kong listing while facing a leadership transition and continuing legal scrutiny. FamilyMart, meanwhile, is attempting to transform the convenience store into a destination for food, fa…

• podcast · 14 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Inside London's Most Innovative Retail Experiences Before NRF Paris

  Retail is changing faster than ever—and London is showing what the future looks like. Ahead of NRF Europe, we take you on a retail roadshow through one of the world's most influential shopping destinations to explore how leading brands are transforming the in-store experience.…

• podcast · 13 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  RH London, Harvey Nichols & the Future of Luxury

  Luxury retail is evolving beyond products and this week's World Retail Signals explores exactly why. Alex is joined by Ian and Niamh from the World Retail Congress to discuss the biggest retail developments shaping the industry today. In this episode: RH London's new flagship …

• news · 9 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Wimbledon, Naomi Osaka and World Cup Campaigns Reveal a New Playbook for Modern Marketing

  From creator-led storytelling to cultural relevance, brands are finding that authenticity is becoming more valuable than sponsorship alone.

• news · 3 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Kaufland Global Marketplace: AI and One-Click Europe Expansion

  CTO Fabian Kothe outlines how Kaufland Global Marketplace is using AI, omnichannel retail and cross-border technology to simplify selling across Europe while creating a homegrown alternative to global ecommerce giants.

• podcast · 3 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Wimbledon's Real Winners, Osaka's 350% Spike & Google's World Cup Ads | Five Things Friday UK

  The retail marketing stories that matter this week: why the brands winning Wimbledon aren't the official sponsors, Naomi Osaka's 350% search spike, Charlotte Tilbury lands in Boots, and Google's Head of Agencies UK reveals the World Cup ads topping YouTube's leaderboard. Googl…

• podcast · 3 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Wimbledon's Real Winners, Osaka's 350% Spike & Google's World Cup Ads | Five Things Friday UK

  The retail marketing stories that matter this week: why the brands winning Wimbledon aren't the official sponsors, Naomi Osaka's 350% search spike, Charlotte Tilbury lands in Boots, and Google's Head of Agencies UK reveals the World Cup ads topping YouTube's le…

• news · 2 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Coca-Cola, P&G, Coty, RMS Beauty: Retail Media Must Break Its Silo

  At Shoptalk Europe 2026, leaders from Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Coty and RMS Beauty argued retail media's next phase depends on consumer-first strategy, cross-functional planning and measurable business outcomes - not more ad inventory.

• podcast · 30 Jun 2026 · Operator voice

  From Hamleys to Armani: Scaling Brands in India

  Sumeet Yadav, Head of Reliance Brands Limited, on luxury retail, global partnerships and what international brands need to understand about India.How do global brands enter, adapt and scale in India?In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we sit down with Sumeet Yadav, Head of …

• podcast · 30 Jun 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  From Hamleys to Armani: Scaling Brands in India

  What does it take to build global brands in one of the world’s most dynamic retail markets? Sumeet Yadav, Head of Reliance Brands Limited, joins The Retail Podcast just before his keynote at NRF APAC 2026 in Singapore. Reliance Brands Limited is one of India’s most important p…

• podcast · 29 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  AI Search, Shopee, Action & Target: Retail’s Big Week

  Retailers are facing a new discovery challenge: what happens when AI search becomes the layer between brands and customers?In this episode of World Retail, Alex is joined by Niamh and Ian from World Retail Congress to discuss what is top of mind across global retail. The conve…

• news · 29 Jun 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Unlimitail, Douglas, Nectar360 on Retail Media's Next Chapter

  Executives from Unlimitail, Douglas Group and Nectar360 explain why the future of retail media depends on talent, measurement and omnichannel personalisation.

• podcast · 26 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Lacoste, Nadine Merabi, Wimbledon Pop-Ups, JD Sports & Disney Collectibles: This week in UK Retail

  This week on Five Things Friday UK Edition, Alex is joined by Simone Oloman, co-founder and CEO of For Tonight / Neft, a rapid delivery business for retailers, to unpack five retail stories from a quieter but still revealing week in UK fashion, lifestyle and consumer culture.F…

• podcast · 26 Jun 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Lacoste, Nadine Merabi, Wimbledon Pop-Ups, JD Sports & Disney Collectibles: This week in UK Retail

  This week on Five Things Friday UK Edition, Alex is joined by Simone Oloman, co-founder and CEO of For Tonight / Neft, a rapid delivery business for retailers, to unpack five retail stories from a quieter but still revealing week in UK fashion, lifestyle and consumer culture. …

• podcast · 19 Jun 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  How Brands Reach Gen Z Without TikTok + Coach's Retail Masterclass

  What happens when brands can no longer rely on social media to reach younger consumers?In this week's Five Things Friday UK, retail expert Simone Oloman, Co-Founder and CEO of NIFT, joins us to discuss one of the biggest questions facing retail marketers today: how brands …

• podcast · 19 Jun 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  How Brands Reach Gen Z Without TikTok + Coach's Retail Masterclass

  What happens when brands can no longer rely on social media to reach younger consumers? In this week's Five Things Friday UK, retail expert Simone Oloman, Co-Founder and CEO of NIFT, joins us to discuss one of the biggest questions facing retail marketers today: how brands sta…

• news · 19 Jun 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Why Christian Louboutin's CEO Hired Jaden Smith as Men's Creative Director

  Christian Louboutin CEO Alexis Mourot on why radical innovation has to come from outside the house, the Miss Z Pump bet, and the five filters that decide every collaboration.

• podcast · 19 Jun 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  The Retail Trends Reshaping APAC: Pomelo, Temu, Miniso & More

  This episode of Five Things Friday explores major retail developments across APAC and global markets. Ruth Kewell and Alex discuss Pomelo's mobile-first retail model in Southeast Asia, the worsening retail conditions in Australia, and the international expansion of Chinese ret…

• podcast · 19 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  The Retail Trends Reshaping APAC: Pomelo, Temu, Miniso & More

  This episode of Five Things Friday explores major retail developments across APAC and global markets. Ruth Kewell and Alex discuss Pomelo's mobile-first retail model in Southeast Asia, the worsening retail conditions in Australia, and the international expansion of Chinese…

• news · 18 Jun 2026 · Operator voice

  Arc'teryx CEO Stuart Haselden: How the Brand Grew 5x Without Betting on AI

  At Shoptalk Europe, Arc'teryx CEO Stuart Haselden explained how the brand grew from $500m to $2.7bn in five years with no AI in the story - just vision, DTC control and an obsessive focus on the mountain athlete.

• podcast · 17 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  The Global Retail Briefing: UK, GCC, Dubai & Luxury Expansion

  Global retail is moving fast and this first international briefing looks beyond the US to track where the biggest growth stories are happening. In this episode, we cover Frasers Group’s reported $2 billion takeover bid for Hugo Boss, JD.com’s UK expansion through Joybuy and it…

• podcast · 17 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  The Global Retail Briefing: UK, GCC, Dubai & Luxury Expansion

  Global retail is moving fast and this first international briefing looks beyond the US to track where the biggest growth stories are happening.In this episode, we cover Frasers Group’s reported $2 billion takeover bid for Hugo Boss, JD.com’s UK expansion through Joybuy and its…

• podcast · 17 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Madrid’s Retail Shift: Lessons From the Street, Not the Boardroom

  Madrid isn’t just a tourist destination. It is becoming a retail destination.In this episode, we explore how Sephora and Calvin Klein are using street-level activations in Madrid to create community, experience and engagement.What does this reveal about the future of physical …

• news · 16 Jun 2026 · Operator voice

  Nadine Graf: How Estée Lauder Is Reimagining Beauty for the Speed of the Consumer

  Estée Lauder EMEA President Nadine Graf on Beauty Reimagined, AI compressing innovation to 70 hours, and why relevance has a short shelf life.

• podcast · 16 Jun 2026 · Operator voice

  I Was Ranked #1 in Retail — But This Matters More

  I was ranked number one on the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Retail 2026 list this week.I am proud of it.But this episode is not really about who is number one. It is about what the retail industry should be measuring in the first place.No ranking system is …

• podcast · 16 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  I Was Ranked #1 in Retail — But This Matters More

  This episode reflects on being ranked number one on the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Retail 2026 list, but shifts the focus to a bigger industry question: what should retail actually recognise as thought leadership? The episode argues that true influence sh…

• podcast · 10 Jun 2026 · Vendor · primary theme

  WooCommerce at Shoptalk Europe: Scaling Open-Source Ecommerce

  WooCommerce is live at Shoptalk Europe in Barcelona, and the team is bringing open-source ecommerce conversations, enterprise growth strategy, and a local Barcelona touch to the show floor.In this episode, we cover WooCommerce’s presence at Booth B30, where attendees can meet …

• podcast · 10 Jun 2026 · Promotional · primary theme

  WooCommerce at Shoptalk Europe: Scaling Open-Source Ecommerce

  WooCommerce is live at Shoptalk Europe in Barcelona, and the team is bringing open-source ecommerce conversations, enterprise growth strategy, and a local Barcelona touch to the show floor. In this episode, we cover WooCommerce’s presence at Booth B30, where attendees can meet…

• podcast · 10 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Retail AI, Currys & Hasbro: What’s Changing in Retail

  Retail AI is moving quickly — and this episode looks at what that means for retailers, ecommerce platforms, brands, and technology leaders. In this discussion, the hosts cover a range of retail and commerce stories, including Currys in the UK, European retail activity, Hasbro,…

• podcast · 9 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Unauthorized Sellers Are Killing Retail Margins

  Unauthorized sellers can quietly destroy retail margins. In this episode of The Retail Podcast, Alex speaks with Megan Harman, founder of Thorn Crest, about how unauthorized sellers, counterfeits, dupes, broken case packs, copycat products, and weak reseller agreements can ero…

• podcast · 9 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Unauthorized Sellers Are Killing Retail Margins

  Retail brand protection is no longer just about stopping counterfeit products. For many brands, the bigger issue is margin loss.In this episode of The Retail Podcast, Alex speaks with Megan Harman, founder of Thorn Crest, about how unauthorized sellers, copycat products, onlin…

• news · 5 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Know Your Customer or Lose Them to Someone Who Does: The Sharpest Lessons From World Retail Congress 2026

  Zalando's AI engine, Primark x Unhidden, and Fressnapf's 2030 ambition: the sharpest customer-first lessons from World Retail Congress 2026 in Berlin.

• news · 1 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Zalando's Co-Founder Says Retail Is at an Inflection Point. Here Is What Comes Next.

  David Schneider opened the World Retail Congress 2026 with a candid read of where retail goes next - and the practical playbook that got Zalando here.

• podcast · 29 May 2026 · Trade press

  UK Retail Shake-Up: Ocado, Lidl, M&S Safety & Brand Collabs and a big thank you to COACH UK

  In this episode of Five Things Friday UK, Alex and Simone discuss major shifts across UK and European retail. Topics include Ocado’s growing role as a grocery technology platform, Lidl overtaking Morrisons, M&S’s staff safety initiative with WalkSafe, and the role of store…

• podcast · 29 May 2026 · Trade press

  UK Retail Shake-Up: Ocado, Lidl, M&S Safety & Brand Collabs and a big thank you to COACH UK

  This week on Five Things Friday UK, Alex and Simone unpack the biggest retail stories shaping the UK and European market.The episode covers Ocado’s major tech partnership, Lidl overtaking Morrisons, and why the UK grocery market continues to be watched globally as a model for …

• news · 26 May 2026 · Trade press

  Adidas, Lululemon and Ulta Beauty Rewrite Customer Loyalty

  At a Deloitte retail leadership panel, executives from Adidas, Lululemon and Ulta Beauty explained how community, localisation and data are replacing points-based loyalty as the new competitive advantage in retail.

• podcast · 26 May 2026 · Operator voice

  Retail vs Netflix: Why Stores Are Fighting for Attention

  Retail is no longer just competing for customer spend. It is competing for attention. In this episode of Podcast Sessions, Richard Fisher, Head of Store Design at Holland & Barrett, joins us live from the EuroShop floor to explore how physical retail is changing in the att…

• podcast · 26 May 2026 · Operator voice

  Retail vs Netflix: Why Stores Are Fighting for Attention

  Retail is no longer just competing for customer spend. It is competing for attention.In this episode of Podcast Sessions, Richard Fisher, Head of Store Design at Holland & Barrett, joins us live from the EuroShop floor to explore how physical retail is changing in the atte…

• news · 25 May 2026 · Trade press

  Alex Baldock on Currys, AI and Retail's Industrial Revolution

  Outgoing Currys CEO Alex Baldock on why AI is the biggest general purpose technology since steam power, the retailer's 75% UK share in AI laptops, and how 'home of AI' translates to colleagues, SMBs, and stores.

• news · 20 May 2026 · Trade press

  Every AI Has an Opinion of Your Brand - WRC 2026

  David Roth used the World Retail Congress to unveil Aura, WPP's first look at how AI models actually judge brands - and what retailers must do before the agent-to-agent commerce era arrives.

• news · 18 May 2026 · Trade press

  UNIQLO's Clare Waight Keller on Fabric, Fit and the Future of Fashion

  UNIQLO Creative Director Clare Waight Keller on her path from Birmingham to Tokyo, fabric innovation with Japanese mills and a XXS to XXXL inclusive fit philosophy driving the retailer's global momentum.

• podcast · 15 May 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Why M&S, Topshop, H&M & Vogue Are Winning Fashion Culture Again

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• podcast · 15 May 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Why M&S, Topshop, H&M & Vogue Are Winning Fashion Culture Again

  Why are heritage fashion brands suddenly winning again? This episode explores how M&S, Topshop, H&M, Vogue and Laura Ashley are using experiential retail, collaborations and nostalgia marketing to reconnect with younger audiences. Topics include: M&S’s Ibiza runway…

• podcast · 14 May 2026 · Trade press

  How AI Will Transform Private Label Retail in APAC

  AI-driven retail is reshaping how consumers discover products and private label brands may be one of the biggest winners.In episode of Five Things Friday- APAC Edition, the conversation explores why private label adoption across Asia-Pacific is accelerating, how retailers are …

• podcast · 14 May 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  AI, Private Label Retail & Consumer Trends in APAC

  Private label retail in APAC is entering a major growth phase — and AI may accelerate the shift dramatically. This episode explores: Retailer-owned brands and consumer adoption AI-powered product recommendations Beauty retail competition in Australia Mecca vs Sephora The growi…

• news · 14 May 2026 · Trade press

  Fressnapf's Torsten Toeller on Building a €5B Pet Empire

  Fressnapf founder Torsten Toeller built one of Europe's largest pet retail empires from a single store funded with 50,000 German marks. At the World Retail Congress, he reflected on 36 years of franchising, vertical integration, costly missteps, and why the future of pet care …

• podcast · 11 May 2026 · Trade press

  What Zalando & Primark Are Actually Doing With AI | World Retail Signals

  “90% of Zalando’s marketing content is now AI generated.”Fresh from World Retail Congress, Alex sits down with Ian and Niamh to unpack the retail leadership signals shaping the industry’s future.Featuring insights from Zalando, Primark, Fressnapf, Action and Unhidden, this epi…

• podcast · 11 May 2026 · Trade press

  How AI Is Reshaping Retail: Zalando, Primark & Fressnapf Insights

  “90% of Zalando’s marketing content is now AI generated.” Fresh from World Retail Congress, Alex sits down with Ian and Niamh to unpack the retail leadership signals shaping the industry’s future. Featuring insights from Zalando, Primark, Fressnapf, Action and Unhidden, this e…

• podcast · 1 May 2026 · Trade press

  Retail’s Experience Era: Longchamp, Claire’s Comeback & AI’s Reddit Problem | 5 Things Friday UK

  This week on 5 Things Friday UK edition, we break down the retail stories shaping the high street, physical stores, discovery, customer experience, AI, and the future of retail.The episode starts with a spotlight on Positive Retail, described in the conversation as a more cura…

• podcast · 1 May 2026 · Trade press

  Retail’s Experience Era: Longchamp, Claire’s Comeback & AI’s Reddit Problem | 5 Things Friday UK

  This week on 5 Things Friday UK edition, we break down the retail stories shaping the high street, physical stores, discovery, customer experience, AI, and the future of retail. The episode starts with a spotlight on Positive Retail, described in the conversation as a more cur…

• podcast · 24 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Louis Vuitton’s “Hotel”, London Marathon Brand Activations & Clarks’ Marketplace Move | Five Things Friday

  Retail is moving fast, and this week’s Five Things Friday breaks down the brand moves that matter. Alex is joined by Simone, co-founder and CEO of NIFT — Need It For Tonight, a rapid delivery infrastructure business powering retail through a fashion marketplace app and B2B plu…

• podcast · 24 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Louis Vuitton Is Opening a Hotel. What Does That Mean for Retail? | 5 Things Friday UK

  Retail is moving fast, and this week’s Five Things Friday breaks down the brand moves that matter.Alex is joined by Simone, co-founder and CEO of NIFT — Need It For Tonight, a rapid delivery infrastructure business powering retail through a fashion marketplace app and B2B plug…

• podcast · 24 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Walmart Is Betting on Weight-Loss Drugs. Is That the Future of Grocery Retail?

  This week on Five Things Friday, Deal is back for a fast-moving conversation on the retail stories shaping the week.The episode starts with Revolve and Coachella, unpacking how event-based e-commerce is turning festivals into shoppable brand ecosystems. From Revolve Festival t…

• podcast · 24 Apr 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Coachella Commerce, Walmart’s GLP-1 Play & Gap’s Victoria Beckham Bet

  This week on Five Things Friday, Deal is back for a fast-moving conversation on the retail stories shaping the week. The episode starts with Revolve and Coachella, unpacking how event-based e-commerce is turning festivals into shoppable brand ecosystems. From Revolve Festival …

• podcast · 22 Apr 2026 · Promotional · primary theme

  Retail Media in 2026: What Shoppers Actually Want | Michael Schuh, dunnhumby

  This episode is a paid partnership with dunnhumby. What do shoppers actually want from retail media? Read the full research here: https://resources.dunnhumby.com/retail-media-report-2026/ That’s the question at the centre of this week’s episode of The Retail Podcast, where I s…

• podcast · 22 Apr 2026 · Promotional · primary theme

  Retail Media in 2026: What Shoppers Actually Want | Michael Schuh, dunnhumby

  This episode is a paid partnership with dunnhumby.What do shoppers actually want from retail media?Read the full research here:https://resources.dunnhumby.com/retail-media-report-2026/That’s the question at the centre of this week’s episode of The Retail Podcast, where I sit d…

• podcast · 17 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Gymshark Is Opening Gyms. Selfridges Is Going VIP. Is This What Loyalty Looks Like Now?

  Retail is undergoing a fundamental shift—from product-driven transactions to experience-led ecosystems.In this episode of 5 Things Friday, we break down the most important retail trends shaping 2026:Gymshark is launching its first physical gym, signalling a move from apparel b…

• podcast · 17 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  AI Is Rewriting Retail: AEO, Zero-Click Commerce & China’s Expansion Strategy

  AI is fundamentally changing how consumers search, discover, and buy. In this Asia-Pacific edition of 5 Things Friday, we explore the next wave of retail transformation: * The rise of Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) and how AI search is replacing traditional SEO * Why zero-cl…

• podcast · 10 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Adidas x ASOS, Experiential Retail & Uber Eats Loyalty Shift | Five Things Friday

  Physical retail isn’t dead, boring retail is.This episode breaks down the smart retail moves winning right now: collabs, pop-ups, experiences, and loyalty that works across ecosystems.In this episode of Five Things Friday, the conversation covers the retail stories shaping the…

• podcast · 10 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Adidas x ASOS, Experiential Retail & Uber Eats Loyalty Shift | Five Things Friday

  Physical retail isn’t dead, boring retail is. This episode breaks down the smart retail moves winning right now: collabs, pop-ups, experiences, and loyalty that works across ecosystems. In this episode of Five Things Friday, the conversation covers the retail stories shaping t…

• podcast · 3 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Retail Trends UK: Selfridges Pop-Ups, Dyson’s Bold Move, New Look & Peachy Den

  Retail is evolving fast and this week’s UK retail breakdown covers the strategies brands are using to stay relevant, drive footfall, and win customers.We unpack five key retail stories shaping the industry right now:Selfridges’ Golden Goose pop-up turning retail into theatrePr…

• podcast · 3 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Retail Trends UK: Selfridges Pop-Ups, Dyson’s Bold Move, New Look & Peachy Den

  Retail is evolving fast and this week’s UK retail breakdown covers the strategies brands are using to stay relevant, drive footfall, and win customers. We unpack five key retail stories shaping the industry right now: Selfridges’ Golden Goose pop-up turning retail into theatre…

• podcast · 20 Mar 2026 · Trade press

  Target Bets on AI, Amazon Gets Faster, OpenAI Checkout, Clinique & Nuuds Five Things Friday US

  In this episode of Five Things Friday US Edition, we break down five retail and commerce stories shaping the week. We cover Target’s $6 billion turnaround push, including store refits, price cuts, and a bigger AI focus; Amazon’s expanded one- to three-hour delivery rollout acr…

• podcast · 17 Mar 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  How Be Athletica Built a Sustainable Sportswear

  In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we sit down with Gauri Sarma, Founder of Be Athletica, to unpack how she’s building a sportswear brand ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Welcome to the official channel of The Retail Podcast, your hub for global retail intelligence. Whether you are an e…

• podcast · 17 Mar 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  How Be Athletica Built a Sustainable Sportswear

  In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we sit down with Gauri Sarma, Founder of Be Athletica, to unpack how she’s building a sportswear brandABOUT THIS CHANNEL Welcome to the official channel of The Retail Podcast, your hub for global retail intelligence.Whether you are an exe…

• podcast · 13 Mar 2026 · Trade press

  5 Things Friday USA: ChatGPT Commerce Pause, Off-Price Retail Boom, Primark Expansion & Uniqlo Strategy

  Welcome to Five Things Friday – USA Edition. Each week we break down the most important signals shaping retail in the United States in under 15 minutes. This week Jill Dvorak joins the conversation to unpack major shifts across AI commerce, value retail expansion, festival mar…

• podcast · 13 Mar 2026 · Trade press

  5 Things Friday UK: SHEIN Xcelerator, John Lewis AI, Whole Foods Expansion & Retail Store Trends

  It’s Friday 13 March, and this week’s Five Things Friday UK Edition breaks down the retail stories worth watching right now.In this episode, we cover:Links mentionedSHEIN Xcelerator – https://sheinxcelerator.com/John Lewis TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@johnlewis/video/76141…

• podcast · 13 Mar 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  5 Things Friday UK: SHEIN Xcelerator, John Lewis AI, Whole Foods Expansion & Retail Store Trends

  It’s Friday 13 March, and this week’s Five Things Friday UK Edition breaks down the retail stories worth watching right now. In this episode, we cover: SHEIN opening up its infrastructure to other brands through SHEIN Xcelerator John Lewis pushing into AI-powered shopping and …

• podcast · 6 Mar 2026 · Trade press

  Molly-Mae, M&S, Greggs & EE: 5 Retail Moves Reshaping the High Street | Five Things Friday

  Retail is moving fast, and this episode breaks down five of the clearest signals shaping the high street right now. Alex and Simone Oloman, Co-Founder of Need It For Tonight, unpack Molly-Mae’s International Women’s Day activation, Marks & Spencer’s new Putney store format…

• podcast · 3 Mar 2026 · Trade press

  How Accessibility Impacts Bounce Rate, Basket Value, and Brand Trust

  Retailers talk about UX. They talk about conversion. But too many still ship digital experiences that a huge part of the population simply can’t use. In this episode of the Wonderful Retail Podcast, Marion Ranvier (Executive Director, @Contentsquare Foundation) explains why di…

• podcast · 27 Feb 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Lidl’s Trolley Handbag, Greggs’ Wellness Pivot & eBay Buying Depop | 5 Things Friday

  Live from EuroShop in Germany on the ITAB stand, Alex is joined by co-host Simone for 5 Things Friday — unpacking the week’s most culturally relevant retail + brand moves.In this episode:Lidl’s London Fashion Week moment: a mini shopping-trolley handbag collab that stops peopl…

• podcast · 17 Feb 2026 · Vendor

  How AI Is Doubling Fashion Conversions & Cutting Returns by 30% | Antonia Dumitriu, Irisphera

  AI is no longer optional in fashion, it’s infrastructure. In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we sit down with Antonia Dumitriu, Co-Founder & CEO of @Irisphera, to explore how AI-powered virtual styling is transforming online fashion retail. Irisphera offers online bran…

• podcast · 13 Feb 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Liberty x Bridgerton, Quiz Retail Goes Bust & Beauty Pop-Ups | Five Things Friday

  Liberty London meets Bridgerton, Quiz enters administration, and pop-ups are taking over the UK high street — this week's Five Things Friday covers the retail stories that matter. In this episode, Alex and Simone break down five major retail and fashion stories shaping the UK …

• podcast · 13 Feb 2026 · Trade press

  Luckin Hits 30,000 Stores | Sephora’s K-Beauty Pivot | Why Seoul is the New Retail Capital | Five Things Friday

  Retail is shifting fast across Asia-Pacific and this week’s Five Things Friday unpacks the signals every operator, brand and investor needs to watch. Low Ngai Yuen MD AEON360 & Ryf Quail (Managing Director, NRF Retail’s Big Show APAC & Middle East) joins the conversati…

• podcast · 10 Feb 2026 · Operator voice

  How Marine Layer Wins Conscious Consumers: Retail Experience, Sustainability & Women in Leadership | NRF

  At NRF, we sat down with Alyssa Hampton and Corinne Suarez, senior retail leaders at Marine Layer, to break down what’s actually driving success in modern retail. Marine Layer has built a fast-growing retail business by focusing on conscious consumers, low-pressure in-store ex…

• podcast · 6 Feb 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Super Bowl Ads, Retail Momentum & Brand Storytelling | Five Things Friday (US Edition)

  This week on Five Things Friday (US Edition), we unpack the momentum shaping US retail and brand marketing right now—starting with strong sentiment coming out of NRF and rolling straight into the biggest advertising moment of the year: the Super Bowl. After a positive “Big Sho…

• podcast · 6 Feb 2026 · Trade press

  Five Things Friday UK: Retail Tech, Reformation Stores, UAE Malls & What’s Next for UK Retail

  In this edition of Five Things Friday UK, Alex and Simone break down the most important retail and brand signals shaping the future of shopping right now. From Reformation’s quietly embedded in-store technology to luxury pop-ups in Dubai malls, this episode explores what actua…

• podcast · 16 Jan 2026 · Trade press

  NRF SVP Jill on AI, Culture & the Future of Retail | Five Things Friday USA

  In this Five Things Friday – USA Edition, we sit down with Jill, SVP of Content at National Retail Federation (NRF), live from the largest NRF show ever. With 41,000 attendees, 1,000+ exhibitors, 550+ sessions, and 100 countries represented, Jill breaks down what actually matt…

• podcast · 15 Jan 2026 · Trade press

  NRF Big Show 2026 Breaks Records: 42,000 Attendees, Middle East Expansion & Retail Tech Trends

  In this episode of Five Things Friday, Alex sits down live at the show with Ryf Quail to unpack what made this year’s event the biggest on record from 41–42,000 attendees, packed expo halls, and record exhibitor meetings, to a major global expansion announcement that reshapes …

• podcast · 19 Dec 2025 · Operator voice

  APAC Retail: The $32B AI Agent Boom, TikTok Shop & Subscription Trends

  Ngai Yuen Low (AEON) and Ryf Quail discuss the rise of AI shopping agents, how retailers can use "Wrapped" marketing, and the explosion of subscription retail in Asia. Ngai Yuen Low (Managing Director, AEON360) and Ryf Quail (Managing Director, Comexposium APAC) discuss why pr…

• podcast · 12 Dec 2025 · Trade press

  Live Shopping, Ralph Lauren & NRF: The Real Retail Signals This Week

  It’s almost Christmas and this week’s Five Things cuts straight through the noise. Alex and Simon break down what really happened this Black Friday, why the numbers matter less than the format shift, and what live shopping and brand activations tell us about where retail is he…

• podcast · 4 Dec 2025 · Trade press

  Singles’ Day, Black Friday & Quick Commerce: APAC Retail’s New Peak Season

  Black Friday isn’t a day anymore. Singles’ Day now stretches across weeks. Quick commerce promises groceries in 15–30 minutes. In this APAC edition of Five Things Friday, co‑hosts Ngai Yuen Low & Ryf Quail break down how peak season is changing across China, Southeast Asia…