Leadership & strategy

Coverage

• news · 8 Sept 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  Cybersecurity Is Now a Board Issue, Not Just a Technology Problem

  Speaking to The Retail Podcast at NRF APAC 2026, DFI Retail Group Chief Executive Scott Price argued that customer trust, information sharing and board-level accountability must become central to how the retail industry responds to cyber risk.

• 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…

• podcast · 1 Sept 2026 · Operator voice

  Retail Cybersecurity Is a Sector Problem — Scott Price, CEO DFI Retail Group

  Scott Price, Group Chief Executive of DFI Retail Group, argues that retail cybersecurity is now a sector-wide risk—not a problem any company can solve alone.Recorded at NRF APAC 2026 in Singapore, the conversation examines why retailers need to share threat intelligence, how d…

• 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 …

• news · 24 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  From Shein's €3 Challenge to Fabletics' Global Push: Five Forces Reshaping International Retail

  Cross-border e-commerce is getting more expensive, marketplaces are searching for growth beyond merchandise, India's quick-commerce boom is challenging traditional grocery, global shipping remains unpredictable and Fabletics is betting on stores for its next phase of expansion.

• 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 …

• podcast · 21 Aug 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  The International Briefing: 5 Global Retail Stories to Know SHEIN, JD.com, India, Shipping & Fabletics

  What should global retail leaders be paying attention to right now?In this edition of The International Briefing, Jill Dvorak, Senior Vice President, Content at NRF, joins Alex Rezvan to unpack five developments from across the international retail industry.Europe: What could …

• podcast · 21 Aug 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  The International Briefing: SHEIN, JD.com, India, Shipping & Fabletics

  The International Briefing examines five developments shaping retail around the world—and what they mean for industry leaders. Jill Dvorak, Senior Vice President, Content at NRF, joins Alex Rezvan for this edition. Europe’s €3 parcel charge A new charge on low-value parcels en…

• podcast · 21 Aug 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

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

  Five Things Friday UK Edition is your fast briefing on the retail stories worth paying attention to this week.Alex Rezvan and Simone Oloman break down the developments affecting retailers, brands and the wider industry.This week:Frasers buys Harvey Nichols — what could happen …

• 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

  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.

• podcast · 19 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  A Retail Executive Goes Shopping for AI | NRF APAC 2026

  What does buying AI look like when a retailer has a real problem to solve? At NRF APAC 2026 in Singapore, Alex Rezvan joins Low Ngai Yuen, Managing Director of AEON360, on a live buying mission across the show floor. Ngai Yuen is not browsing demonstrations. She has a specific…

• podcast · 19 Aug 2026 · Operator voice

  A Retail Executive Goes Shopping for AI | NRF APAC 2026

  Alex Rezvan and AEON360 Managing Director Low Ngai Yuen go into operator mode at NRF APAC. Ngai Yuen has a live AI and product-data requirement—and two startups she first met in New York may have the answer. This is the buying journey: the brief, the meetings, the 50,000-SKU p…

• news · 13 Aug 2026 · Vendor

  From Products to Ecosystems: Nagarro's Vision for the AI-Powered Future of Retail

  AI's biggest impact on retail may not come from chatbots or personalisation. Rahul Mahajan, Global CTO at Nagarro, argues the deeper opportunity lies in rebuilding how retailers forecast demand, interact with data and connect products with services.

• news · 11 Aug 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  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 Retailers Can Expect at NRF Retail’s Big Show Europe

  Why are some retail markets able to adopt AI faster than Europe? 30% off an All Access Pass: ALEX30 NRF Registration page here: ⁠https://bit.ly/4vh5Iz5⁠. Annabelle Serres, Director of Events for NRF Retail’s Big Show Europe, discusses the barriers created by legacy infrastruct…

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

  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 a…

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

  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

  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

  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 · primary theme

  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 · 6 Aug 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Five APAC Retail Trends Shaping Global Retail

  From organised retail crime in Australia to China's membership economy and Vietnam's mobile-first e-commerce, five developments across Asia Pacific point to one theme: the region's retailers are adapting faster than consumer behaviour is changing.

• news · 5 Aug 2026 · Trade press

  Europe Must Close Its AI Gap, Says NRF Europe Director

  Artificial intelligence is transforming every part of retail, but Europe faces a unique challenge. NRF Europe Show Director Annabelle Serres says regulation, legacy systems and slower implementation risk widening the innovation gap, and the industry now needs to move from disc…

• podcast · 3 Aug 2026 · Promotional

  What Retailers Can Expect at NRF Retail’s Big Show Europe

  Why are some retail markets able to adopt AI faster than Europe?30% off an All Access Pass: ALEX30NRF Registration page here: https://bit.ly/4vh5Iz5.Annabelle Serres, Director of Events for NRF Retail’s Big Show Europe, discusses the barriers created by legacy infrastructure, …

• 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…

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

  NRF Asia Pacific Wins Singapore Trade Show Award

  Comexposium Singapore has been named Trade Show of the Year at the Singapore MICE Awards for NRF 2025: Retail's Big Show Asia Pacific, a recognition that points to the growing influence of Asia Pacific on global retail.

• news · 24 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  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…

• news · 23 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  FamilyMart Is Turning the Convenience Store Into a Destination

  FamilyMart has opened FAMIMA PARK AZABUDAI, its first flagship store in Tokyo, as part of a strategy to turn the convenience store into a retail destination.

• podcast · 22 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  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 · 22 Jul 2026 · Operator voice

  H2O Retailing Rebuilds Japanese Retail Around Unified Commerce

  H2O Retailing Corporation is modernising its technology foundations to connect data, AI, stores and human service around a single customer relationship.

• news · 16 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Uniqlo, Zara and FamilyMart Reveal New Rules of Global Retail

  Uniqlo, Zara and FamilyMart show how disciplined expansion, omnichannel stores and experience-led retail are rewriting the playbook for global growth.

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

  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

  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…

• news · 15 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Ingka Centres: "We Are a Meeting Place, Not a Shopping Centre"

  At Shoptalk Europe 2026, Ingka Centres' Kajsa Gihan argued the future of physical retail is not shopping - it is meeting places people choose to spend time in.

• podcast · 14 Jul 2026 · Vendor

  Inside London's Most Innovative Retail Experiences Before NRF Paris (Video)

  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 · 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 flag…

• 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 · 10 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Agentic Commerce Is No Longer a Pilot. Shopify, NVIDIA and Google Cloud Explain What Comes Next

  At Shoptalk Europe 2026, Shopify, NVIDIA and Google Cloud outlined how leaders in agentic commerce are pulling ahead through concentrated investment, hybrid AI models and top-down leadership.

• news · 8 Jul 2026 · Operator voice

  Why 5 Million People Still Visit SM Supermalls Every Day Despite the Rise of E-commerce

  SM Supermalls President Steven Tan explains why customer-first innovation, inclusivity and community experiences continue to fuel double-digit growth across one of the world's largest mall operators.

• news · 7 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Pentland Brands Says Retail AI Success Depends on Business Value, Not Hype

  Ana Machado da Silva and Shopify's Peyman Naeini explain why the next phase of AI in retail will be driven by ROI, strong data foundations and enterprise-wide adoption.

• podcast · 7 Jul 2026 · Operator voice

  How SM Supermalls Serves 5 Million Shoppers Every Day | Steven S. Tan President

  Can physical retail still outperform e-commerce? In this exclusive interview recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Asia Pacific, Steven S. Tan, President of SM Supermalls, explains why physical shopping centres continue to thrive by putting customers at the centre of ev…

• news · 6 Jul 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  JD Outdoors Left Its Legacy Ecommerce Platform Behind to Accelerate Innovation

  Nichola Toner, Andy Burton and Peyman Naeini explain why digital transformation starts with business strategy, not technology.

• 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.

• news · 2 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  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.

• news · 1 Jul 2026 · Trade press

  Alcampo and Ocado: Grocery Ecommerce Runs on Partnership

  Carlos Pedreira Freire and Gregor Ulitzka explain how operational excellence, customer trust and deep collaboration are driving the next phase of online grocery growth in Spain.

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

  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

  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…

• news · 30 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  ASOS, Nestlé, L'Oréal: People Make AI Work in Retail

  At Shoptalk Europe, leaders from ASOS, Nestlé and L'Oréal told Jordan Berke of TOMORROW that the bottleneck for AI in retail is not technology - it is people, change management, and the operating system around the tools.

• 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 conv…

• news · 29 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  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.

• news · 22 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Holden Bale: 88% of Retailers Have Deployed AI, Only 6% Can Prove It Made Money

  Merkle Global Chief Strategy Officer Holden Bale told Shoptalk Europe that 88% of enterprises have deployed AI but only 6% can prove EBITDA value, and laid out the five patterns separating real execution from performance.

• podcast · 19 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Meta Glasses, Walmart Drones & Retail's Biggest Shifts This Week

  Retail innovation continues to accelerate. In this episode of Five Things Friday USA, Joe and Jill explore five major stories shaping the future of commerce: • Meta's expanding partnership with Best Buy and the rise of AI-powered smart glasses • Walmart's aggressive drone deli…

• podcast · 19 Jun 2026 · Operator voice

  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

  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

  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…

• news · 18 Jun 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  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 · primary theme

  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 · primary theme

  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…

• news · 17 Jun 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Peter Ruis: John Lewis Is Betting on AI, Resale and Expert Service

  At Shoptalk Europe 2026 in Barcelona, John Lewis Managing Director Peter Ruis said Britain's most recognisable retailer is no longer competing with other department stores but with specialist brands, social platforms, AI search engines, marketplaces and tech giants.

• podcast · 17 Jun 2026 · Trade press

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

  Madrid is famous for tourism, culture, tapas and beautiful architecture. But walk through Gran Vía and another story starts to appear. In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we explore how Madrid is evolving from a tourist hotspot into a serious retail destination. From Sephor…

• podcast · 16 Jun 2026 · Operator voice

  How AI, Data and Hospitality Are Rewiring Retail in Japan

  Recorded live at NRF APAC 2026, this episode features Toru Koyama, Executive Officer & Head of IT and Digital Promotion Group at H2O Retailing Corp., and Executive Officer & GM of Digital Innovation Division at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, Inc. In this conversatio…

• podcast · 16 Jun 2026 · Operator voice

  How AI, Data and Hospitality Are Rewiring Retail in Japan

  Recorded live at NRF APAC 2026, this episode features Toru Koyama, Executive Officer & Head of IT and Digital Promotion Group at H2O Retailing Corp., and Executive Officer & GM of Digital Innovation Division at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, Inc. In this conversatio…

• 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 · primary theme

  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 · primary theme

  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…

• news · 15 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Zalando Co-CEO David Schröder: AI Is Rewriting Fashion Retail

  Zalando co-CEO David Schröder on how AI is reshaping fashion retail, returns, and Europe's race to scale its own technology champions.

• podcast · 10 Jun 2026 · Vendor

  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

  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 · 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,…

• news · 9 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  Shoptalk Europe 2026: Zalando, Estée Lauder and John Lewis

  Day 1 of Shoptalk Europe 2026 opened with Zalando, The Estée Lauder Companies and John Lewis on the Headliner Stage, plus an afternoon block on AI readiness, data foundations and the workforce shift.

• 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 · 2 Jun 2026 · Trade press

  The Future of Retail in Asia: AI, GLP-1 & Consumer Trends with Isabelle Allen (KPMG)

  Why is Asia becoming the world's most influential retail innovation hub? In this NRF APAC 2026 Day 1 keynote conversation, Jill Dvorak, Senior Vice President at the National Retail Federation, speaks with Isabelle Allen, Global Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure at KPMG. T…

• news · 1 Jun 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  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 · primary theme

  NRF 2026 APAC Agenda: The Retail Sessions to Watch

  Ryf Quail joins Alex to walk through the NRF 2026 APAC agenda just before the show opens in Singapore. This episode is a practical guide to the sessions, speakers and themes shaping this year’s event, from AI-powered supply chains and retail media to omnichannel, luxury, malls…

• news · 27 May 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Speed Is the New Scale: What IKEA, Estée Lauder, and Tendam Said About Surviving to 2030

  At the World Retail Congress, leaders from IKEA, Estée Lauder, and Tendam agreed: by 2030, the winners will not be the biggest retailers but the fastest, most consumer-obsessed, and most willing to rebuild their operating models from the ground up.

• 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.

• 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 · 22 May 2026 · Trade press

  Lionel Souque Has 200 AI Projects Running. He Still Thinks Retail Is a Human Business.

  REWE Group CEO Lionel Souque on crossing 100 billion euros, running 200 AI projects, and why retail still comes down to goods, customers and people.

• news · 21 May 2026 · Trade press

  The Retailers Winning With AI Are Not the Ones You Think

  Tesco, REWE, Zalando and Walmart are pulling ahead not because of AI, but because customer insight is the operating system they let AI scale.

• podcast · 19 May 2026 · Vendor

  Why Retailers Are Already Falling Behind on AI

  AI is forcing a complete rethink of ecommerce, retail operations, and digital commerce architecture. In this episode, Kelly Goetsch — President at Pipe17 and one of the most influential voices in modern commerce technology — explains why the “status quo is no longer acceptable…

• news · 18 May 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  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.

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

  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 …

• news · 13 May 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  Retail Growth 2026: Why CEOs Are Fighting Harder Than Ever for Every Sale

  At World Retail Congress 2026 in Berlin, AlixPartners, Pepco, Ahold Delhaize and Direct Group leaders set out the new playbook for volume-led growth, AI-driven simplification and sharper customer relevance.

• podcast · 12 May 2026 · Vendor

  Jason Cottrell: AI Agents, Composable Commerce & The Future of Enterprise Retail

  Jason Cottrell, CEO of Orium and President of the MACH Alliance, explains how AI agents and composable commerce are reshaping enterprise retail and digital infrastructure. In this episode, we explore: AI agent ecosystems Human-in-the-loop AI governance Enterprise AI architectu…

• 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 · 27 Apr 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  From LVMH to Walmart: The Retail Shifts Leaders Need to Watch World Retail Signals

  Retail is changing fast and this episode of World Retail Signals captures the key shifts leaders need to watch right now. In this Berlin edition, Ian McGarrigle, Chairman of World Retail Congress, and Niamh Stone, Programme Director at World Retail Congress, join the conversat…

• podcast · 20 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  Retail Crime, JD.com, Carrefour Africa & Macy’s Closures | World Retail Signals

  In this episode of World Retail Signals, co-hosts Ian McGarrigle, Chairman at World Retail Congress, and Niamh Stone, Programme Director at World Retail Congress, join Alex to unpack the retail developments shaping leadership thinking across the UK, Europe, Africa and the US. …

• podcast · 13 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  World Retail Signals: The New Rules of Retail (AI, Stores, Profit)

  World Retail Signals breaks down the retail shifts that matter most right now. In this episode, Alex is joined by Ian McGarrigle, Chairman at World Retail Congress, and Niamh Stone, Programme Director at World Retail Congress, to explore the trends reshaping global retail — fr…

• podcast · 7 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  World Retail Signals: AI, Store Reinvention, Loyalty & Retail Trends Across Europe, Asia and the US

  Welcome to World Retail Signals, the podcast from World Retail Congress, hosted by Ian McGarrigle, Chairman at World Retail Congress, and Niamh Stone, Programme Director at World Retail Congress. In this episode, the conversation spans Europe, Asia and the US, exploring the re…

• podcast · 3 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  5 Things Friday APAC: Oil Shock, Supply Chains & Why Big Brands Are Suddenly at Risk

  This week’s Five Things Friday breaks down a growing global retail crisis—and why it’s much bigger than consumer confidence. We unpack how geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are triggering a ripple effect across Asia Pacific retail, impacting everything from energy costs…

• podcast · 1 Apr 2026 · Trade press

  US Retail Hit $1 Trillion in One Holiday Season — What's Next? | ITAB Group Podcast Ep.1

  US retail just crossed $1 trillion in a single holiday season. First time in history. In Episode 1 of the ITAB Group Podcast, recorded LIVE at EuroShop 2026 from the ITAB Group stand, Alex Rezvan sits down with Jill Dvorak — SVP Content at the National Retail Federation (NRF) …

• podcast · 31 Mar 2026 · Trade press

  The Future of Retail Stores: Global Flagships, Store Formats & Retail Innovation

  Retail is changing fast, and store formats are evolving even through crisis. In this episode of the Retail podcast, Alex sits down with Matthew from Echo Chamber to unpack what the best physical stores in the world are doing differently right now. Drawing on nearly three decad…

• podcast · 30 Mar 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  What's Keeping Retail CEOs Awake at Night in 2026? | World Retail Signals

  World Retail Signals is a new global retail intelligence show co-produced by The Retail Podcast and World Retail Congress — a monthly look at the top retail narratives shaping executive thinking around the world. This prelude episode goes behind the scenes of World Retail Cong…

• podcast · 11 Mar 2026 · Vendor

  How to Modernize Retail: Combining Planning & Execution (1 Minute Innovation Series) 1 Minute Innovation Series

  Discover how to bridge the gap between retail planning and execution in this interview with Costas Malamas, CEO of Dataviva. We discuss the "Retail Nervous System" and how a single unified system can handle everything from long-term analytics to real-time purchase orders and p…

• podcast · 10 Mar 2026 · Trade press

  Retail Strategy Is Changing Fast: What Footfall, Sales Data & Experience Reveal

  How is data reshaping retail strategy? In this episode of The Retail Podcast, Alex sits down with Mark Bruce, a data and insights leader with experience spanning the shop floor, landlord-side retail operations, and portfolio analytics, to unpack what the data is really saying …

• podcast · 13 Feb 2026 · Trade press

  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 · primary theme

  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

  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 · 3 Feb 2026 · Operator voice · primary theme

  Why "Local" is a Business Model, Not a Marketing Slogan | BM

  How does a regional retailer scale to 86 stores in 7 years? We go on-site at BM’s La Finca flagship in Madrid with Regional Director José to uncover the "Anti-Commodity" playbook that is redefining grocery retail in Spain.In this episode, we explore:The 4 Pillars of BM: Why Fr…

• podcast · 23 Jan 2026 · Trade press · primary theme

  UK retail is entering a defining phase. Five Thing Friday UK

  In this episode of Five Things Friday UK, Alex and Simon break down what the rescue of Russell & Bromley by Next really signals for the British high street, why consolidation is accelerating, and what it means for heritage brands. They also explore: Why the UK may be headi…

• 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 · primary theme

  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 · 10 Dec 2025 · Trade press

  How NRF’s Big Show Is Changing: AI Stage, Q&As & 40,000 Retail Pros

  This year, NRF is turning the dial up on everything: AI, interactivity, speakers and scaling a 40,000‑person global audience. In this episode, I sit down with Jill from NRF to unpack how the team is bringing the 2026 global theme “The Next Now” to life at the Big Show in the U…

• podcast · 9 Dec 2025 · Operator voice

  How Place Vendôme Became a Top 3 Luxury Mall in the Middle East | Shane Eldstrom (CEO, United Developers)

  In this episode, recorded at MAPIC in Cannes, we sit down with Shane Eldstrom, CEO of United Developers, the company behind Place Vendôme in Qatar – a project that has already become the #3 shopping centre for high-end fashion in the entire Middle East, just a few years after …

• podcast · 2 Dec 2025 · Operator voice

  Inside Europe’s Retail Property Boom: Ian Sandford on Debt Markets, Placemaking & F&B Trends

  Recorded live at MAPIC 2025 in Cannes, this episode features a rare deep-dive with Ian Sandford, President of Eurofund Group, one of Europe’s most influential retail property operators. With more than €2B in assets across Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and the UK, Eurofund si…