The Retail Podcast

Epizode

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  A Retail Executive Goes Shopping for AI | NRF APAC 2026 19.08.2026 10min

  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 proof of concept and the reality of turning conference discovery into retail execution.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 requirement: improve the quality, structure, localisation and usefulness of AEON’s product data before expecting AI to create value from it.The journey began at NRF New York, where she found two young product-data companies. In Singapore, she meets them again—this time with a clearer brief, real retail data and a route towards a proof of concept.The first conversation is with Lazuli, a Japanese product-data company whose location and market knowledge matter to AEON’s imported Japanese products and private brands. The team discusses turning unstructured catalogues and PDFs into structured, searchable information, then enriching products with the right language, descriptions, categories and market context.The second meeting focuses on inconsistent supplier data, missing attributes and a proof of concept involving 50,000 SKUs. The discussion shows why retailers need reliable information before adding generative or agentic AI—and why a product catalogue must keep changing as language, trends and customer search intent evolve.This is less a conference interview than a view inside the retail buying process: identifying a problem, finding potential partners, testing them on a real case and deciding whether the technology can scale.In this episode- Why Ngai Yuen came to NRF APAC with a live buying brief- How relationships formed at NRF New York continued in Singapore- Why local Japanese market knowledge matters to AEON- How unstructured product information becomes searchable catalogue data- What inconsistent supplier data costs retailers- Why the team is testing a 50,000-SKU proof of concept- How a “living catalogue” responds to changing search intent- What innovation showcases can offer established retailersThis episode is forRetail CEOs, digital and data leaders, ecommerce teams, merchandising leaders, innovation teams, procurement leaders, retail technology founders and anyone responsible for taking AI from conference pitch to operational reality.Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for retail intelligence from the people making the decisions.LinksLow Ngai Yuen / AEON360: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngaiyuen/NRF APAC: https://nrfbigshowapac.nrf.com/The Retail Podcast: https://www.theretailpodcast.com/RetailNews.ai: https://www.retailnews.ai/Alex Rezvan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-rezvan/
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  What's Really Happening in Global Retail Right Now? Hugo Boss, Uber Eats, Nike, Fair Price & LA 2028 10.08.2026 9min

  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 and its position in Hugo Boss — and why the premium market could be ripe for further change. The conversation then moves to Tesco and Uber Eats, as quick commerce increasingly becomes part of retailers’ last-mile strategies.Next, we look at Nike in China. After shifting aggressively toward direct-to-consumer and later rebuilding wholesale relationships, Nike is again refining its channel strategy, concentrating on selected platforms alongside its own direct business.Then we head to Singapore and Fair Price’s Store of Tomorrow, where smart carts, RFID, digital shelf labels, in-store navigation and health-focused experiences provide a glimpse at one possible direction for the physical grocery store.Finally, attention turns to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and what brands can learn from major global sporting events when planning consumer engagement and activation strategies.In this episode:Fraser’s Group and Hugo BossTesco, Uber Eats and quick commerceDecathlon and last-mile deliveryNike’s evolving China retail strategyDirect-to-consumer versus wholesaleFair Price’s Store of TomorrowSmart carts, RFID and digital shelf labelsRetail health and wellness experiencesLA 2028 Olympic brand activationsMarketing around major global sporting eventsWho should watch or listen:Retail executives, brand leaders, retail technology teams, marketers, commerce professionals and anyone tracking the evolution of physical and digital retail.Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for global retail intelligence, interviews and analysis.https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-rezvan/
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  Global Brand Localization: What Retailers Get Wrong 07.08.2026 27min

  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 organisations underestimate how differently trust, value, service and quality are interpreted across cultures.The conversation explores the strategic and commercial decisions behind global brand localisation: what should remain non-negotiable, what local teams should be allowed to change, who should hold decision-making authority and how leaders can determine whether adaptation is creating genuine customer value.Katherine also explains why the cost of entering a market incorrectly can be substantially greater than the cost and complexity of adapting properly.Katherine Melchior Ray is a global CMO, speaker, consultant, author and international marketing and management faculty member at UC Berkeley Haas.Her international experience spans Japan, Europe and the United States, with more than 25 years working across markets and categories. The episode discusses her experience with brands including Louis Vuitton, Nike, Gucci, Nordstrom, Hyatt and Shiseido. She is the co-author, with Natalie Kelly, of:Brand Global, Adapt Local: How to Build Brand Value Across CulturesWhy apparently universal concepts such as trust, speed, performance and value are expressed differently across cultures.How global brands can separate their enduring identity from the products, experiences and communications that should evolve.Why Louis Vuitton’s heritage in travel, quality and innovation allows the brand to expand into new categories without losing its identity.How trust between global headquarters and local leadership creates permission for meaningful innovation.Katherine’s “freedom within a frame” model for balancing global governance with local autonomy.Why failed market entry can be more expensive than local adaptation.What Airbnb’s experience in China reveals about trust, payments, reviews, housekeeping and cultural assumptions.Why AI can accelerate translation and content production but still requires human context, judgement and interpretation.Global brand localisation, international retail expansion, cultural intelligence, global marketing strategy, local market adaptation, retail governance, headquarters and local-team relationships, brand consistency, Louis Vuitton, Airbnb in China, Nike in India, AI localisation, customer trust, cultural context and international leadership.This episode is relevant to:Retail CEOs and executive teamsGlobal and regional marketing leadersInternational expansion teamsBrand and customer-experience leadersRetail technology providersStrategy consultantsBusiness-school studentsExecutives managing global and local teamsKatherine argues that brands must become explicit about the elements of their identity that cannot change. Local teams can then innovate within a clearly defined strategic frame.She describes trust as being built through three elements:Shared valuesOpen, bilateral communicationA history of promises keptThis trust gives local leadership the authority to make the brand relevant without fragmenting it. The discussion also examines AI’s role in localisation. AI can support research, translation and analysis, but culture depends on context. As Katherine explains, insight does not simply exist in the data; it emerges through interpretation. Where should global brand consistency end and local decision-making begin?Share your perspective in the comments.Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for conversations with the executives, strategists and technology leaders shaping the future of retail.
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  What Retailers Can Expect at NRF Retail’s Big Show Europe 03.08.2026 6min

  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, the lessons Europe can take from APAC and why retailers now need to accelerate implementation.The conversation also covers what executives can expect in Paris, from keynote sessions and practical case studies to startup innovation, the Innovators Showcase and peer networking.For retail leaders working across technology, operations, transformation and customer experience.
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  APAC Retail Trends: China Membership, Vietnam E-commerce & K-Food 01.08.2026 15min

  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 are moving into the mainstream across Southeast Asia.In this Five Things Friday APAC edition, Alex Rezvan, Ryf Quail and Ngai Yuen Low Managing Director, AEON360 discuss the retail signals shaping Australia, China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.They examine the cost of organised retail crime, the growth of paid membership retail, the role of live commerce, the importance of grocery in e-commerce adoption, the rise of functional food and the localisation of Korean food for Southeast Asian consumers.
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  Primark vs SKIMS and the Return of UK E-Commerce Growth- Plus Argos, Charlotte Tilbury Five Things Friday UK 31.07.2026 10min

  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 immersive Unreal Glow Club pop-up experience• Online Home Shop posts impressive growth as UK ecommerce continues to evolve• Morrisons introduces new retail innovation• Argos reinvents its iconic catalogue with personalised digital shopping experiences• New ONS retail sales data raises questions about the future of ecommerce• Primark steals headlines with a cheeky response to the new Skims flagship opening on Regent StreetThe discussion explores where UK retail is heading, whether ecommerce has entered another phase of structural growth, and how retailers are increasingly competing through experience, discovery and customer inspiration rather than price alone.Stories discussedCharlotte Tilbury Unreal Glow Clubhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DbY-C2ZjTv1/?img_index=8Online Home Shophttps://www.onlinehomeshop.com/Argos Your Cataloguehttps://www.argos.co.uk/events/your-catalogueOnline Home Shop company filingshttps://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08885099/filing-historyONS Retail Sales June 2026https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/bulletins/retailsales/june2026Primark campaignhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DbOUY2Ct2Lm/Subscribe for weekly retail intelligence covering:• Retail Innovation• AI in Retail• Ecommerce• Store Design• Consumer Trends• Grocery• Fashion Retail• Retail Technology• Omnichannel• Global Retail NewsThe Retail Podcast delivers conversations with the world's leading retailers, technology companies and industry experts.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:08 Charlotte Tilbury's Unreal Glow Club Pop-up02:55 Online Home Shop's £100M Growth Story04:22 ONS Retail Sales & Ecommerce Trends05:37 Argos Reinvents the Catalogue07:32 Primark vs Skims on Regent Street10:04 NRF Europe Preview💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which trend discussed today do you think will impact the industry most? Let us know in the comments below!
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  Walmart Goes Viral, Amazon Bets on Robots and Wonder Hits $9B 29.07.2026 9min

  US retail sales rose more than 11% year over year in June—but what sits behind the headline?Alex Rezvan and Jill Dvorak examine five major US retail developments:• The latest US retail-sales figures and whether the World Cup may have influenced consumer activity• International football fans turning Walmart into an unexpected destination• Walmart converting organic social attention into guided store tours• Amazon’s planned $48 million robotics-enabled facility in Georgetown, Texas• Sephora’s global rollout of Quiet Hours• Wonder’s $650 million Series D at a $9 billion pre-money valuationThe episode explores the broader implications for social listening, cultural relevance, warehouse automation, inclusive store design, food technology and customer convenience.Five Things Friday USA delivers concise analysis of the retail stories and technologies that industry leaders need to understand.Presented by Alex Rezvan and Jill Dvorak.
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  5 Things Friday: WAIC 2026, JD.com's EU Bid & Decathlon's Uber Eats Move 28.07.2026 12min

  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 scrutiny• Seafolly’s expansion into China• LVMH, Molly Tea and consumer nationalism• Decathlon’s on-demand Uber Eats partnership in AustraliaThe discussion covers AI agents, marketing transformation, human judgement, Chinese companies expanding overseas, international brands entering China, cultural localisation and the future of rapid retail delivery.Follow the show for weekly retail intelligence from across APAC and the wider global market.
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  UK Retail: M&S Goes Bigger, Primark Cuts Prices & Beauty Gets Personal 24.07.2026 9min

  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, consultations and personalisation.In this UK edition of Five Things Friday, Alex Rezvan and Simone examine five retail developments:• M&S’s largest standalone Foodhall and what it signals about its grocery ambitions• Why Primark is lowering prices across hundreds of popular products• The competitive pressure created by SHEIN, Lefties and other value retailers• How a luxury beauty brand turned pistachio fragrance into an ice-cream experience• Sephora’s continued expansion across London• Why Lancôme is using skin analysis and personalised advice• The difference between distributing samples and creating a memorable service• Whether beauty brands can build an ongoing relationship around individual skin needsThe wider retail story is a market moving in several directions at once.Customers continue to demand value, forcing retailers such as Primark to defend their price credentials. At the same time, M&S is investing in larger food stores designed to capture more complete shopping missions.In beauty and luxury, brands are creating more accessible experiences that allow customers to engage with them without making a major product purchase.Alex and Simone also explore an important customer-experience question: does any beauty brand know its customers well enough to remember their needs, track changes and make genuinely relevant recommendations over time?This episode is relevant to:• Retail leaders and store-format teams• Beauty and luxury executives• Customer-experience and loyalty specialists• Retail marketing professionals• Brand activation and experiential marketing teams• Anyone following UK retail trendsCHAPTERS00:00 M&S Food Expands and Primark Cuts Prices02:17 Is SHEIN Taking Primark’s Traditional Customer?02:44 Luxury Retail Turns Fragrance Into an Experience04:06 Sephora and Lancôme Rethink Beauty Retail05:37 Digital Skin Analysis and Customer Profiles07:34 Why Personal Beauty Advice Builds Loyalty08:20 Do Beauty Brands Really Know Their Customers?08:53 Final ThoughtsFEATURED STORIES AND LINKSM&S opens its biggest-ever standalone food store in Godalming:https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/newsroom/press-releases/ms-opens-its-biggest-ever-standalone-food-store-godalming-it-invests-biggerPrimark lowers prices across hundreds of favourites:https://corporate.primark.com/en-gb/a/news/corporate-news/iconic-value-primark-lowers-prices-across-hundreds-of-favouritesLuxury pistachio experience featured on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/p/DbF7IPjDTea/?img_index=2Sephora London store openings:https://www.sephora.co.uk/store-openings-london?curr=GBPExplore Lancôme UK:https://www.lancome.co.uk/SUBSCRIBE TO THE RETAIL PODCAST#UKRetail #RetailNews #MarksAndSpencer #Primark #BeautyRetail
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  Starbucks Korea, Lefties UK, AI Beauty and Adidas Bangkok 22.07.2026 8min

  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 under nine minutes.Alex Rezvan and Jill discuss Starbucks Korea’s response to its Tank Day controversy, organized retail crime legislation in Canada and the US, shu uemura’s AI beauty mirror, Lefties’ UK expansion and Adidas’ community-focused store in Bangkok.The central question: how are culture, technology, value and experience changing the role of the physical store?
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  Milan's Retail Shift: Community, Culture & Curated Luxury (Video) 21.07.2026 2min

  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 retail, Milan reveals something different—the power of curation.In this episode, we explore how luxury brands build communities through fashion, art, music and culture, creating destinations that customers genuinely want to return to.✔ Why Milan is redefining luxury retail✔ Community over mass appeal✔ The role of culture in customer loyalty✔ The Three Speeds of Retail:• Community & Culture• Experience• IntelligenceThis episode is part of The Next Now: Road to NRF Europe, following the ideas, brands and cities shaping the future of retail ahead of NRF Europe 2026 in Paris.🎟️ Join us at NRF EuropeBook your ticket: https://bit.ly/4vh5Iz5Subscribe for more insights from Europe's leading retail destinations.In this episode
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  M&S Bets on Oxford Street, Aldi Goes Baldi and the FIFA Effect 17.07.2026 8min

  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 and experiential retail.Also covered: World Cup spending, online versus physical retail performance, Henry Dummer’s appointment at Very.ie and Dress Well Dad Well.Subscribe for weekly analysis of the people, brands and ideas changing retail.LINKS MENTIONEDDress Well Dad Well on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/033AAv7NIHyp8fqjkG3IjyInstagram referencehttps://www.instagram.com/p/Das0_RYAmZk/FIFAhttps://www.fifa.com/en/homeInstagram referencehttps://www.instagram.com/p/DanDeaxiRSR/M&S Pantheon announcementhttps://corporate.marksandspencer.com/newsroom/press-releases/ms-pantheon-ms-unveils-new-oxford-street-flagshipInstagram referencehttps://www.instagram.com/reels/DavodQKCDf7/World Cup and UK consumer spendinghttps://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/14/world-cup-sunshine-uk-consumers-splash-out-on-beer-and-online-shopping
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  Uniqlo, Shein and FamilyMart: Global Retail’s New Playbook 15.07.2026 10min

  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 reveal about brands before they become globally familiar.What do Uniqlo, Shein, FamilyMart, Onitsuka Tiger and Inditex tell us about the direction of global retail?Alex and Jill explore Uniqlo’s international momentum, Shein’s prospective Hong Kong listing, FamilyMart’s move into destination retail, Onitsuka Tiger’s more independent structure and the disciplined omnichannel model supporting Inditex.They also examine why Asian convenience stores operate very differently from their US counterparts and preview NRF Europe 2026 in Paris.LINKS MENTIONEDShein executive chairman and prospective listing:https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/Shein-executive-chairman-to-step-down-as-ipo-nears-completion-sources-say,1852145.htmlShein and Lacoste legal proceedings:https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/shein-says-legal-dispute-with-lacoste-ongoing-2026-07-10/FamilyMart’s FAMIMA PARK AZABUDAI:https://www.family.co.jp/company/news_releases/2026/20260709_02.htmlCHAPTERS00:00 International retail briefing00:46 Uniqlo and Fast Retailing’s global growth02:02 Shein’s IPO and leadership transition03:01 The continuing Shein–Lacoste dispute03:27 FamilyMart’s culture-led retail reinvention05:20 Why APAC convenience stores are different06:22 Onitsuka Tiger’s planned separation07:39 Inditex and the disciplined omnichannel model08:53 NRF Europe 2026 preview09:59 Why conferences create brand connectionSubscribe for international retail intelligence, analysis and conversations with the people shaping the industry.
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  Inside London's Most Innovative Retail Experiences Before NRF Paris (Video) 14.07.2026 3min

  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. From Coach's immersive pop-up inside Selfridges to H&M's flagship on King's Road, this episode showcases how retailers are moving beyond traditional stores to create destinations built around personalisation, community and memorable customer experiences.Discover how live craftsmanship, customisation, retail media and experiential design are redefining physical retail in the age of AI. If you're a retailer, brand leader, marketer or technology professional, this episode offers practical inspiration and real-world examples of what's shaping the next generation of commerce.In this episode:• Why London continues to lead retail innovation• Inside Coach's experiential pop-up at Selfridges• The power of personalisation and live in-store services• How flagship stores are becoming community hubs• Why physical retail is evolving—not disappearing• Key retail trends ahead of NRF Europe🎟️ Join us at NRF EuropeBook your ticket: https://bit.ly/4vh5Iz5If you're attending NRF Europe, come and say hello—we'd love to meet you.Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for more insights on retail innovation, AI, customer experience, unified commerce and the technologies shaping the future of retail.#Retail #NRFEurope #RetailInnovation #CustomerExperience #RetailMedia #ExperientialRetail
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  RH London, Harvey Nichols & the Future of Luxury 13.07.2026 13min

  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 "Gallery" and how experiential retail is redefining luxury.Why brands including Dior, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Alo Yoga are investing in destination experiences across Europe's luxury holiday hotspots.The reported sale of Harvey Nichols and what it could signal for consolidation across UK retail.How retailers like Next, Marks & Spencer and Frasers Group are expanding through brand portfolios and acquisitions.Why startup innovation continues to drive grocery retail, with insights from the Grocer Gold Awards and the rapid growth of Griddle Bakery.Whether you're a retailer, brand leader, investor or simply interested in where commerce is heading, this episode breaks down the signals that matter.Topics covered:Experiential retailLuxury retail strategyRH London GalleryRetail consolidationUK high streetDepartment storesGrocery innovationConsumer behaviourBrand experienceRetail trendsExperiential retail is becoming a key strategy for luxury brands as they look to build stronger customer engagement beyond traditional shopping. In this episode, the World Retail Signals team discusses RH London's immersive flagship, luxury destination activations from brands like Dior and Gucci, UK retail consolidation, and why innovation from emerging brands continues to shape the industry's future.Chapter Timestamps00:00 Introduction & Welcome01:13 Meet the World Retail Congress Team02:17 RH London: A New Vision for Luxury Retail05:13 Luxury Brands Expand Into Holiday Destinations07:07 Why Luxury Brands Need New Relevance07:55 Harvey Nichols Sale & UK Retail Consolidation10:04 The Rise of Retail Brand Portfolios10:43 Grocer Gold Awards & Grocery Innovation12:22 Why Retailers Need Startup Brands13:12 Ocado Leadership Changes & Closing Thoughts💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which trend discussed today do you think will impact the industry most? Let us know in the comments below!
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  How SM Supermalls Serves 5 Million Shoppers Every Day | Steven S. Tan President 07.07.2026 11min

  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 every decision.SM Supermalls operates nearly 100 shopping centres across the Philippines and China, welcoming approximately 5 million visitors every day. Steven shares how continuous innovation, inclusive design, community-building and customer-first leadership have helped one of Asia's largest retail property businesses continue growing despite changing consumer behaviour.In this episode you'll learn:• Why physical retail continues to outperform expectations• How shopping centres become community destinations• Lessons retailers should learn before expanding into Southeast Asia• Why customer experience matters more than technology alone• How SM Supermalls approaches inclusivity and accessibility• The biggest mistake retailers make when entering new markets• Steven Tan's advice for staying relevant in retailWhether you're a retailer, shopping centre operator, brand leader or retail technology professional, this conversation offers practical insights into the future of physical retail.Recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Asia Pacific in Singapore.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:23 What is SM Supermalls?01:26 From Shoe Store to Retail Giant02:01 The Future of Retail02:53 Future-Proofing Shopping Centres04:16 Customer Experience First05:08 Inclusivity in Retail07:07 Why Physical Retail Is Growing08:01 Shopping Centres as Community Spaces09:23 Advice for Global Retailers10:13 Listening to Gen Z10:39 How Brands Stay Relevant#RetailPodcast #SMSupermalls #RetailLeadership #CustomerExperience #FutureOfRetail #ShoppingMalls #RetailInnovation #NRFAPAC #RetailStrategy #PhysicalRetail
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  Wimbledon's Real Winners, Osaka's 350% Spike & Google's World Cup Ads | Five Things Friday UK 03.07.2026 13min

  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.Google's Carl Read joins Alex and Simone Oloman (NIFT) to discuss the week's biggest marketing stories, including Wimbledon, Nike, Charlotte Tilbury, Boots, Evian, YouTube, Naomi Osaka, John Lewis, Cult Beauty and more.Topics include:• Why Wimbledon is becoming a creator-first marketing opportunity• Naomi Osaka's powerful brand storytelling strategy• How YouTube advertising is evolving around cultural moments• Why Charlotte Tilbury's Boots expansion matters• Pride marketing and authentic community engagement• What brands can learn from Google's latest YouTube advertising insightsCarl shares Google's perspective on creator trust, emotional storytelling, YouTube performance and why today's best campaigns succeed by giving creators genuine creative freedom.Whether you're a marketer, founder, retailer or agency leader, this episode explores how brands can stay culturally relevant while building long-term trust.Featured GuestCarl ReadDirector, Agencies & Partners (UKI)GoogleFeaturingAlexSimone OlomanCo-Founder & CEO, NIFTIf you enjoyed the episode:✅ Subscribe for weekly insights👍 Like the video💬 Tell us which story stood out most
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  From Hamleys to Armani: Scaling Brands in India 30.06.2026 14min

  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 Reliance Brands Limited, just before his keynote at NRF APAC 2026 in Singapore.Reliance Brands Limited sits at the centre of India’s global luxury and lifestyle retail ecosystem, with partnerships spanning fashion, lifestyle, eyewear, toys, home, and food and beverage. Its portfolio connects high luxury, premium lifestyle, family retail and scaled consumer experiences.This conversation explores the leadership, operating discipline and market understanding required to bring international brands into India and build them for long-term relevance.In this episode, we cover:• How global brands enter and grow in India• The role of Reliance Brands Limited in India’s luxury and lifestyle market• Building international brand partnerships at scale• Premium retail, lifestyle retail and consumer evolution in India• Lessons from brands including Hamleys, Mothercare, Diesel, Superdry, Brooks Brothers, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Valentino and Tiffany & Co.• Sumeet Yadav’s leadership journey across Reliance Brands, Hamleys Global, Nando’s, Tommy Hilfiger India and Ford• NRF APAC 2026 and the future of retail in Asia PacificSumeet Yadav is a founding member of Reliance Brands Limited and a member of its central leadership team. He has helped shape the launch and scale of major international franchises in India and has also led Hamleys Global during its international expansion.Whether you are a retailer, brand leader, founder, investor or operator thinking about India, this episode offers a rare look at the mechanics behind building global brands for Indian consumers.Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the future of retail, brands, commerce and consumer behaviour.Links:Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumeet-yadav-8a48a87Reliance Brands / Reliance Retail: https://relianceretail.com/partner-brands.htmlNRF APAC 2026: https://nrfbigshowapac.nrf.com/speakers/sumeet_yadav__Podcast website: www.theretailpodcast.comNewsletter: www.retailnews.ai
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  AI Search, Shopee, Action & Target: Retail’s Big Week 29.06.2026 11min

  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 conversation starts with one of the biggest concerns raised in a CEO survey: whether AI-driven search could reduce brand visibility by surfacing competitors, platforms or intermediaries instead of the retailers customers are actually looking for.The team explores Shopee’s expanded partnership with ChatGPT, examples from Walmart, Google and Sephora, and why retailers may need to move from worrying about AI search to actively building around it.They also discuss:Why Barnes & Noble and Waterstones may show the continued power of physical bookstoresHow James Daunt’s store autonomy model has helped reshape bookstore retailWhy Action’s lean operating model and rapid store growth make it a major value retail storyThe allegations around Anthropic, Alibaba and ClaudeWhy Target and Brian Cornell are back under investor scrutinyWhat these stories reveal about the future of physical retail, AI search and customer experienceGuest/context: This episode features Alex with co-hosts Niamh and Ian from World Retail Congress.00:00 - Retailers fear AI search could hide their brands00:38 - Welcome to World Retail with Neve and Ian01:04 - Why Asia may show the future of retail01:21 - AI search becomes retailers’ top concern01:46 - Shopee expands its ChatGPT partnership02:15 - Walmart, Google, Sephora and retail AI adoption03:13 - Barnes & Noble and Waterstones IPO rumours04:13 - What retailers can learn from local bookstore autonomy04:40 - Action rebounds as 3i investors watch value retail05:33 - Why Action’s operating model is so effective06:22 - Action’s store density, SKU consistency and local flexibility08:35 - Anthropic, Alibaba and alleged Claude distillation claims09:54 - Target, Brian Cornell and investor pressure11:12 - Heatwave wrap-up and closing thoughtsSubscribe for more weekly analysis on global retail, AI in commerce, store strategy, ecommerce, leadership and the future of retail.
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  Lacoste, Nadine Merabi, Wimbledon Pop-Ups, JD Sports & Disney Collectibles: This week in UK Retail 26.06.2026 10min

  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.From Lacoste transforming Selfridges into a tennis clubhouse to Ralph Lauren’s Wimbledon activity on Sloane Square, this episode looks at how brands are turning sporting moments into immersive retail experiences.Alex and Simone also discuss why big physical retail is far from dead, with JD Sports opening its largest store in Scotland and Dunelm launching a 34,000 sq ft Kingston superstore. Plus, they look at Disney’s push into collectibles with YuYus and why Nadine Merabi’s denim launch is a smart example of category expansion.In this episode:How Wimbledon is becoming a major retail activation momentWhy fashion and sport collaborations feel increasingly naturalThe return of large-format flagship retailDisney YuYus and the power of collectiblesNadine Merabi’s move from occasionwear into everyday wardrobe categoriesWhy trust is key when brands expand into new product areasGuest context:Simone Oloman is the co-founder and CEO of Need It For Tonight / NIFT, a business offering rapid delivery for retailers, including app-based delivery and checkout integrations for 90-minute delivery.Show notes / links mentioned:Nadine Merabi: https://www.instagram.com/nadinemerabi/?hl=enLacoste at Selfridges: https://www.theindustry.fashion/lacoste-brings-its-tennis-clubhouse-to-selfridges/Ralph Lauren Wimbledon post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZtsNTsDBf3/?img_index=7JD Sports Livingston: https://www.lcpgroup.co.uk/news/jd-sports-opens-its-largest-store-in-scotland-at-the-centre-livingston-next-monthJD Sports: https://www.jdsports.co.uk/Dunelm Kingston: https://furniturenews.net/news/dunelm-opens-kingston-superstoreDisney YuYus Soho pop-up: https://press.disney.co.uk/news/meet-disneys-cutest-new-collectable-companions-this-june-at-exclusive-pop-up-in-soho