In Focus | Online Luxury Retail CX. On the latest episode of our In Focus series, recorded live at Fortnum & Mason’s flagship store in London and presented by Narvar – we sit down in conversation with Briony Yeates, Senior CX Manager at Seasalt Cornwall, Matthew Henton, Head of E-commerce at Moss, Kelly Corr, Enterprise Customer Success Manager at …

In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined in conversation by Jean-Marc Bellaiche, CEO at Parisian-based luxury department store, Printemps.. A trip to Paris is never complete without a stop by luxury department store, Printemps. Its first-ever store opened on Boulevard Haussmann back in 1865, where it still stands. Today…

In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined in conversation by Peter Pernot-Day, Head of Global Strategy & Corporate Affairs at Chinese fast-fashion brand, Shein. One of the world's fastest growing apparel retailers, Peter shares an insight into the brand's unique on-demand business model and its explosive growth, with rum…

In Focus | Digital in Retail. On the latest episode of our In Focus series, presented by Trust, we sit down in conversation with John Lewis Partnership head of personalisation and retail media, Tom Langley, Fortnum & Mason head of digital transformation, Sophie Cunningham, and Trust commercial director, Mike Dowson. Together, we discuss the strateg…

The Interview | Host Karl McKeever sits down in conversation with Chris Lipari, Director of Product Innovation at HAVI. If there is one business where time is money, in the literal sense, it is Quick Service Restaurants. Or as it’s more commonly known, the QSR industry. The industry’s lifeblood is customer demand - something that’s inherently unpre…

In Focus | Lightspeed Commerce. Channel connectivity is nothing new. Advanced automation is now everywhere. Combine the two, and sales channels will never look the same again. But what does total visibility and control over your inventory online orders and fulfilment look like. And just how do retailers (big and small) go about effectively streamli…

In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined in conversation by Dawn Fichot, Head of Marketing North America for iconic British foldable bike manufacturer, Brompton Bicycles. From its humble beginnings in a South Kensington railway arch in 1975, Brompton has grown into an internationally renowned brand - famed for its ingen…

In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever sits down with Ian Bailey, Managing Director of Kmart Group Australia. With over 450 stores, Kmart Australia is the country’s number one performing general merchandise and apparel retailer, and one of the most trusted and loved brands in Australia and New Zealand. We explore how Kmart Aust…

In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever travels to Barcelona to sit down with Isabelle Aberman, Global Retail Director for iconic global footwear brand, Camper. In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever travels to Barcelona to sit down with Isabelle Aberman, Global Retail Director of iconic footwear brand, Camp…

In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever travels to Barcelona to sit down with Eduardo Recio, Creative Director eCommerce & Retail, for leading Spanish multi-sport retail brand, Sprinter. First showcased in its new Madrid store - its largest store to date - Sprinter’s new store concept, created by UK-based creative and innovation…

In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Andy Lawrence, VP of International of US-based athletic clothing brand, Vuori. Inspired by California’s active, coastal lifestyle, Vuori was founded in 2015. In September last year it launched into China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East, and Mexico, and opened its first …

Event Review: World Retail Congress 2023 - In this episode, we bring you more highlights from World Retail Congress 2023. As the retail industry’s best and brightest gathered in Barcelona for the three-day event, we took to the stage to capture two live recordings. Host Karl McKeever is joined by Deloitte chief global economist, Ira Kalish, and Mat…

The Interview: The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. - In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Ophelia Ceradini Vice President of Digital Technology and Innovation at The Estée Lauder Companies. Artificial intelligence and augmented reality are transforming the beauty shopping experience through seamless and omnichannel experiences. In our lates…

Event Review - Shoptalk Europe 2023 - Ep03: in the final of our daily podcast episodes from Shoptalk Europe 2023 in Barcelona, host Karl McKeever picks his way through some of the highlights from Day Three at the event. We hear from some of the sharpest minds in retail, at some of Europe’s leading retailers and brands, as they discuss, debate and p…

Event Review - Shoptalk Europe 2023 - Ep02: in the second of our daily podcast episodes from Shoptalk Europe 2023 in Barcelona, we pick our way through some of the highlights from Day Two at the event. Host Karl McKeever brings you highlights of what was on show (and discussed) during what was another busy day at Shoptalk Europe 2023. We hear from …

Event Review: World Retail Congress 2023 - In this episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, host Karl McKeever brings you highlights from World Retail Congress 2023 in Barcelona, as we pick our way through some of the topics, insights and conversations that are inspiring and challenging the retail ecosystem, and that interested us the most.…

The Interview: Hollister Co. - The Interview: Hollister Co. In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Jacee Scoular, Snr Director Brand Marketing Strategy. at Hollister Co., Gilly Hicks and Social Tourist. Recorded live in the heart of New York City during NRF 2023, Jacee joins us to discuss why authenticity must lie …

The Interview: IKEA - In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Seana Strawn, Head of Home Furnishing and Retail Design at IKEA US. For over 20 years she has personally been designing or leading teams who design home furnishing product and retail spaces for some of the biggest names in the industry. Most recently with…

Event Review: Retail Week Live 2023 - In this episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, host Karl McKeever brings you highlights from Retail Week Live 2023 in London, as we pick our way through some of the topics, insights and conversations that are inspiring and challenging the retail ecosystem, and that interested us the most.…

The Interview: FitFlop. In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Sal Usmai, CTO of ergonomic and wellness footwear brand, FitFlop. Leading the company's transition to an omnichannel organisation, Sal is a seasoned technology leader with 20+ years of experience managing multichannel business applications in a strategi…

The Interview: Neighborhood Goods: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by by Matt Alexander, Co-Founder and CEO of Neighborhood Goods, as well as the brand’s President, Ashley Shelton Conger. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Neighborhood Goods is a new take on the department store, featuring a…

The Interview: Organic Garden: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Martin Wild, founder and CEO of Germany-based food-tech start-up, Organic Garden. As Martin prepares to take to the stage at Shoptalk Europe 2023 in Barcelona, we sit down together to discuss the brand’s journey, how the retail food industry can …

The Interview: Dickies: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Calvin Anderson, Global VP of Digital Strategy for VF Corporation brands Dickies, Altra and Smartwool. Founded a century ago, the Dickies brand originated as a denim bib overall company, selling workwear to farm and ranch hands around the Southwest. Acq…

In Focus: Retail Automation. Are robots taking over the retail industry? E-commerce had a transformative effect on retail operations but now the booming demand for warehouses to speed-up last-mile deliveries is set to bring another round of dramatic change in retail. Robots are well established in industrial settings but advances in AI and robotic …

In Focus: Host Karl McKeever sits down with Citizen Watch VP Customer Insights & Data Management, Rob Harvath, and Amperity Chief Customer Officer, Dan Milgrom to discuss how customer data platforms can connect the dots for improved customer engagement; why establishing a singular source-of-truth for customer data matters; the importance of adoptin…

The Interview: Fabletics: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Ron Harries, SVP Head of Retail at Fabletics. 2023 marks the 10th anniversary for the digitally-native brand, co-founded by actress and entrepreneur Kate Hudson. In that time, Fabletics has been busy pulling in a loyal online consumer following. For t…

Host Karl McKeever reports from NRF 2023, Retail’s Big Show, in New York City. We bring your highlights from the Javits Convention Center, where retail leaders and some of the industry’s most pioneering vendors, discuss, debate, and present the key topics that provide a glimpse into what the future of retail might look like. In this episode, we pic…

The Interview: Warner’s Gin: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Mark Faithfull is joined by Tom Warner, co-founder & CEO of Warner’s Gin. Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2022, Warner’s Gin has had much to do the gin-naissance boom over the last decade. In this episode, Warner walks us through the story of how he and his then busines…

The Special: In this episode of The Special, host Karl McKeever is joined in our Manhattan studio by Laura Lewi, associate and senior designer at global architecture and design practice CRTKL, calls into our studio for a discussion about the importance of reimagining physical retail for our new reality. We speak to Neil Saunders, retail analyst and…

The Interview: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by John Gregory, Head of Industry – Retail Vertical at Spotify. From bombs to beer to Bloomingdale’s. Gregory has enjoyed a varied and storied career that has seen him involved in everything from the F-15 fighter program to the role of VP Marketing at the US luxury…

The Interview: C&A Europe In this episode, host Karl McKeever sits down with Aleix Gonzalez Director Global Sustainability at C&A Europe Director - one of the leading fashion retail businesses in Europe with 1,575 stores in 21 countries, as well as a presence in Brazil, Mexico, and China. In his role, Gonzalez is responsible for overseeing the impl…

The Interview: Majid Al Futtaim – Retail: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined in conversation by Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim – Retail, the exclusive partner of choice for international hypermarket and supermarket brand, Carrefour. The last few years have brought profound, powerful change to retail. The critical…

The Interview: UGG: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined in conversation by the Vice President of Global Marketing for global lifestyle brand UGG, Carole Diarra. UGG boots are back. But in truth, they never really went away. The brand has enjoyed several ‘fashion moments’ since it first rose to popularity back in the 1970s, and once again …

The Interview: Frugi: In this episode, host Mark Faithfull is joined by Sarah Clark, CEO of UK organic clothing brand, Frugi. We to explore how sustainable fashion has changed; the brand’s plan for growth; what a sustained approach to business growth looks like; how to better influence and empower customers to live more sustainably; and how can it …

In this special episode, we look at one of the biggest supply chain challenges to affect both retail and global food supplies, in decades. Russia’s effective blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports has forced it to seek alternative methods of exporting nearly 25 million tonnes of grains. With supply chain delays continuing to see global food prices s…

In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by LIFVS co-founder and COO Daniel Lundh to explore the story behind Europe’s largest unstaffed grocery chain; why it classes itself as a technology start-up first and retailer second; and how its business model could teach others a thing or two about how to enjoy retail success in low traffic areas and…

In this episode, we explore the importance of taking time to foster loyal and lasting customer relationships. Host Karl McKeever sits down with Gousto Chief Marketing Officer Tom Wallis and Inkpact Founder & CEO Charlotte Pearce to discuss the challenges, twists, and lessons for success to connect, engage, and retain valued customers.…

In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Boots UK CIO Rich Corbridge and Director of IT – Customer and Category, Jennifer Duffy. A staple UK health and beauty retailer, Boots has been hugely successful in its transition to e-commerce, particularly during the pandemic. As a brand with strong roots in brick and mortar, the retailer continues …

Host Karl McKeever looks back at what was on show at Shoptalk Europe 2022 in London. We hear from the heads of some of Europe's leading retailers and vendors on how to harness an ever-shifting retail landscape.We report from Shoptalk Europe 2022 in London

In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Coresight Research founder and CEO, Deborah Weinswig to explore the disruptive trends and priorities that are shaping the new retail landscape, and to hopefully provide some answers to the question about the next digital “reality”: the metaverse.We talk to Coresight Research founder & CEO Deborah Weinswig

In this episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, Karl McKeever and Mark Faithfull bring you highlights from the annual Retail Week Live festival, as we pick our way through some of the topics, insights and conversations that are inspiring and challenging the retail ecosystem, and that interested us the most. In partnership with Inkpact.…

We talk to Zalando VP Direct to Consumer Dr. Carsten Keller

in this special episode of The Interview Series, as we look ahead to Retail Week 2022 later this month, host Karl McKeever sits down with in conversation with Unilever Chief Customer Officer Wellbeing, Beauty and Digital Commerce, Claire Hennah. When it comes to how consumers goods companies go to market, digital is changing everything. Claire join…

In this episode, host Mark Faithfull returns to the important issue of wellbeing, as we mark Mental Health Awareness Week and the Retail Trust’s Together Fest 2022, which takes place in London today. Recorded at Spring Fair 2022, Retail Trust wellbeing consultant Andrea Woodside joins us to examine whether retail is a happy place, why kindness and …

In this episode, we explore how the beauty industry can capitalise on the booming consumer demand to feel good again, by bringing joy and discovery to the retail experience. After two years spent behind masks, it’s clear that the pandemic has changed what beauty means to shoppers and, as a result, their purchasing behaviour. Host Karl McKeever is j…

In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Kate Walsh, SVP Omnichannel Retail for Pandora. As it celebrates 40 years in business, Pandora remains loved by consumers and employees around the world, in equal measure. Delve deeper into the fabric of the Danish jewellery brand and it is possible to understand why this retail gem continues to be s…

In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, Karl McKeever and Mark Faithfull host a special edition, reporting from World Retail Congress 2022 in Rome. In case the World Retail Congress is not on your radar, there are few more significant gatherings of the industry. The flagship retail event returned after an enforced two-year break, due…