OFFBounds Retail

In this episode, Shaoming Yang, VP of DingDong Fresh, shares how the company is transforming grocery retail in China through a deeply integrated, AI-powered model. From operating over 1,000 dark stores to delivering live seafood in under 30 minutes, DingDong combines precision forecasting, supply chain innovation, and customer personalization to create one of the most efficient grocery ecosystems...

India is one of the fastest-growing retail markets in the world, and at the center of its fashion and lifestyle revolution is Myntra , one of the country’s largest e-commerce platforms. In this episode, Paula Macaggi sits down with Nandita Sinha , CEO of Myntra, to explore how the company is digitizing a still largely offline market, shaping Gen Z shopping behavior, and powering the rise of trend-...

Retail in APAC Series with NRF APAC 2025: Korea Retail in South Korea doesn’t look like retail anywhere else. With over half of all shopping happening online, the line between digital and physical has completely disappeared. At the center of it all is Lotte Retail, a household name that’s now rethinking everything it does. In this episode, Group CEO Sam Kim shares what it really takes to lead tran...

In this special episode recorded live at NRF APAC 2025 in Singapore, Paula Macaggi kicks off a six-part series exploring the boldest innovations and biggest challenges shaping retail across Asia-Pacific. From Indonesia’s 22,000-store convenience giant to India’s booming quick commerce scene and Korea’s "no-line" retail revolution, this episode is packed with insights on AI, customer experience, lo...

In this episode, Paula Macaggi sits down with Dusan Vujovic, Head of North America at Tony’s Chocolonely, to explore how the Dutch-born chocolate brand is rewriting the rules of ethical business in the U.S. retail landscape. From turning a mission into a movement to breaking into a competitive $4B market, Dusan shares how Tony’s combines bold storytelling, radical transparency, and uncompromising...

In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Laudato, COO of The Vitamin Shoppe,  a leading U.S. health and wellness retailer with 650+ stores, to explore how great IT teams are built, why innovation starts with operational excellence, and how AI is transforming retail. From vibe coding and RPA to inclusivity and composable commerce, Andrew shares why tech leaders must speak the language of business an...

In this episode of OFFBounds, I sit down with Tarek Müller, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of About You, to unpack how he built one of Europe’s most innovative fashion-tech companies from the ground up. From early bets on mobile and influencer marketing to launching a hybrid model that combines retail and enterprise software, Tarek shares the strategies behind About You’s $2B success, the tech powering 200...

In this special episode of OFFBounds , Paula Macaggi invites you to Singapore for NRF APAC 2025 , the region’s biggest retail event, to explore why Asia-Pacific is the most powerful engine of global retail growth. With 60% of the world’s population and 3.49 billion people expected to join the middle class by 2030, APAC is transforming how the world shops. Paula is joined by Ryf Quail , Managing Di...

In this episode, Paula sits down with Mike Dupuis , Chief Digital Officer at Catalyst Brands (Aéropostale, Nautica, Lucky Brand, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, and JCPenney), to explore the art of digital transformation at scale. We discuss the evolution from 2 brands to 1,700+ stores, the challenge of building unified tech and data platforms, and the critical balance between building and farming b...

Join me as I sit down with Paul Porter , Global Chief Experience Officer at Hamleys , the world’s oldest and most iconic toy retailer, for a deep dive into the art of creating unforgettable in-store experiences. In this episode, we discuss how Hamleys has captivated generations of shoppers for 265 years , the magic behind its seven floors on London’s Regent Street, and the power of play in a digit...

Shoptalk Europe - https://shoptalkeurope.com OFFBounds listeners can get a discount using the codes below: 🎟️ Retailers and Brands, use code RBOFFBO20  🎟️ General Attendees, use code GAOFFBO20AD:  ----- In this special BONUS episode of the OFFBounds podcast, host Paula Macaggi had a coffee chat with Ben Miller, VP of Original Content & Strategy at Shoptalk & Groceryshop, for a rapid-fire c...

In this special episode recorded in London, bestselling author and retail leader Ron Thurston joins Paula Macaggi to launch his new book Human Pride —a bold call to embrace what makes us human in an age dominated by AI. They discuss how frontline retail, purpose-driven leadership, and personal pride are the real future-proofing tools in a changing job market. From multigenerational teams to algori...

Step inside the yellow-bag world of Selfridges as host Paula Macaggi sits down with CTO Ross Beaumont to reveal how a 1906 department store stays at the cutting edge of luxury retail: from “Selfridges Unlocked” keys that trade spend for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, to ReSelfridges buy-back tech fuelling a circular economy, to AI that augments—never replaces—the human touch that turns shoppers i...

In this episode, I sit down with Lindsay Haselhurst , Chief Operating Officer at Currys , to unpack what it really takes to lead transformation at scale in one of the UK’s largest retailers. From navigating Brexit and pandemic-era supply chain chaos to pioneering innovation in re-commerce, 3D printing, and customer-centric operations, Lindsay shares a masterclass in operational excellence and peop...

What does it take to digitally transform a £13B retail giant across eight countries and nearly 2,000 stores? In this episode, I sit down with Christopher Blatchford , Global CTO of Kingfisher PLC — the company behind B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, and more — to unpack the tech strategy powering one of Europe’s biggest home improvement groups. We dive into why modularity (not just microservices) is...

What does it really take to build innovation that scales inside a legacy business? In this episode, Benjamin Thompson, Head of Global Insights & Strategic Partnerships at Endeavour Group , shares how one of Australia’s largest drinks and hospitality companies stays ahead by blending strategic foresight with cultural transformation. From global tech scouting to the real reasons digital transfor...

Mirko Saul, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Schwarz Digital , joins Paula Macaggi to share how Schwarz Group — the parent company of Lidl and Kaufland — drives innovation at a massive scale. From testing the cutting-edge tech in lab stores to building their own cloud and AI infrastructure, Mirko reveals how the group balances speed, sovereignty, and scalability across 14,000 stores in 30 co...

Although Co-op entered the ecommerce space later than most, launching its online presence only in 2019, the company rapidly distinguished itself through quick commerce. Today, Co-op delivers an impressive 500,000 online grocery orders weekly, and its loyalty membership has surged by 50%. In this episode, Chris Conway , Managing Director of Ecommerce at Co-op , shares how leveraging existing conven...

In this episode 4th episode of our Europe's Retail Evolution series in partnership with Shoptalk Europe , Paula Macaggi sits down with Christian Raveaux , Head of Retail Media Connect at Rewe Group , to unpack the rapidly evolving world of retail media. Christian reveals how Rewe is blending digital and in-store advertising, harnessing first-party data, and executing innovative campaigns—like weat...

In this episode of the OFFBounds , you will meet Javier Figar de Lacalle , Chief Retail Officer of Tendam , one of Spain’s largest fashion groups. Javier discusses how technology is empowering frontline employees to provide exceptional customer experiences while driving operational efficiency across Tendam’s global retail network. From the implementation of RFID and clienteling platforms to the ev...

In this episode of our Europe's Retail Evolution Series in partnership with Shoptalk Europe, I sat down with Katya Denike , Chief Product Officer at Holland & Barrett . She shares many insights on leading digital transformation within a 150-year-old legacy brand. We explore the true challenge of aligning teams, breaking old habits, and shifting mindsets to build a product-driven culture. Katya...

This is the first episode of our Europe's Retail Evolution series with Shoptalk Europe , and I sat down with Arianne Parisi, Chief Digital Officer at JD Sports, to discuss the massive digital transformation behind one of the world’s largest sports retailers. With over 4,500 stores across 30+ countries, JD is redefining omnichannel retail, from AI-driven customer care to global-local market strateg...

How does a 200-year-old luxury brand stay ahead in the digital era? In this episode of OFFBounds , I sit down with Carla Graça, CDO of Vista Alegre , to explore how AI, automation, and personalization are transforming retail. From running six global e-commerce platforms to leveraging AI for customer experience , Carla shares how Vista Alegre is blending heritage with innovation —and why Cristiano...

Retail is evolving fast, and we’re diving into what’s next! In this episode of OFFBounds , I sit down with Joe Lazslo, Head of Content US at Shoptalk , to explore the biggest shifts in retail— Unified Commerce, Loyalty, Customer Experience, and more. We break down why loyalty is harder than ever , how retailers are redefining customer experiences , and why Shoptalk’s new event, Shoptalk Luxe, is a...

NRF 2025 wrapped up a few weeks ago, this year’s key theme was Game Changer. In this episode, Paula Macaggi breaks down the biggest trends shaping the future of shopping, from the shift toward Generative AI-powered product discovery to the long-overdue RFID breakthrough. We also explore the rise of Social Commerce, the need for brands to foster real-world communities, and the growing demand for ul...