Retail Disrupted

Live from Barcelona, Green Retail World's Editor Ben Sillitoe joins Natalie on the podcast to share what they learned at Manhattan Exchange this week. They explore how generative AI chatbots are going to revolutionize customer service, why the days of frontline staff being told to "sell, not think" are over and what sustainability looks like for retailers in 2025. If you missed the episode with Ma...

Live from Barcelona, Pieter Van den Broecke, EMEA Leader, Supply Chain Commerce Strategies at Manhattan Associates joins Natalie to discuss: Europe's retail CIOs - what's keeping them up at night? Generative AI – what are the opportunities and challenges? Customer experience - how to service your customers in real-time and learning to trust AI to be the first port of call. Why giving shoppers grea...

Faire is the largest global b2b marketplace for independent retailers. In this episode, Faire's UK General Manager Charlotte Broadbent joins Natalie to discuss: How Faire is disrupting the wholesale sector and benefits for SMEs Opportunities and challenges facing independent retailers today How indies can up their game with AI  Values-based shopping and why 'Not on Amazon' is Faire's most popular...

Gary Kusin, co-founder of GameStop and Laura Mercier Cosmetics, joins Natalie on the podcast to discuss:  GameStop's origins: what inspired Gary and James McCurry to launch the world's first video game store in the early 80s? Successes and missed opportunities: what would Gary have done differently? The pivot to makeup: Gary discusses how a conversation with former Macy's Chairman Terry Lundgren s...

From the rise of Temu and Shein to immersive digital commerce - and not to mention the resurgence of good old-fashioned bricks & mortar retail - Amazon certainly isn't short of competitive threats. Miya Knights and Natalie Berg, co-authors of Amazon: How the World's Most Relentless Retailer Will Continue to Revolutionize Commerce , reconnect on Amazon's 30th anniversary to explore what comes next...

This week, Natalie is answering the questions rather than asking them! She speaks to Rishad Tobaccowala who is the former Global Strategy and Growth Officer at Publicis Groupe and host of the What Next? podcast.  They explore: Natalie's move to the UK nearly two decades ago. How the need for flexibility led her to set up her own business as an independent retail analyst.  The rise of the digital s...

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, podcast host, and bestselling author of Remarkable Retail. He joins Natalie to discuss the findings of his new book, LEADERS LEAP: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption. They explore: The cost of misunderstanding risk – why playing it safe is the riskiest strategy of all. Why a complete metamorphosis of the leadership mindset is...

David Blakeney, former Store Development Director at House of Fraser and Sook, joins Natalie to discuss: -    Why physical retail is on the cusp of a new dawn. -    Repurposing physical space in a digital era. -    Innovation in department stores - are retailers doing enough? -    Pop-up retail – which verticals are best suited (you'll be surprised) and lessons from Sook. -    David's newest ventu...

The interview from this episode originally aired on The Globalist from Monocle Radio. Natalie discusses the latest global retail stories with Georgina Godwin: Ikea's Roblox venture: the launch of a virtual store and how Ikea has become the first brand to offer paid work on the gaming platform. Walmart's tech update: innovation in delivery – drones and in-home delivery – and the beta launch of a ge...

Jeremy Schwartz was the turnaround CEO of Pandora, the world's largest jewellery company with 2,500 stores and e-commerce sites in 90 countries. Prior to that, Jeremy was Chairman and CEO of The Body Shop from 2013 to 2017. He also previously spent time at Sainsbury's and, as Brand Director, he was the architect of the grocer's turnaround in 2005 which saw a decade of growth after years in decline...

Brian Librach, former VP of Stores at Urban Outfitters, Pacific Sunwear and Old Navy, joins Natalie to discuss his new book: The Retail Leader's Roadmap. They explore: Why retail leaders get stuck and how to rewrite your career outcome. The evolution of bricks & mortar retail – what is the future of stores and how should we be measuring success? Which brands does Brian admire and what are they get...

James Keyes, Former 7-Eleven and Blockbuster CEO and author of EDUCATION IS FREEDOM: The Future Is in Your Hands, joins Natalie on the podcast to discuss: Change equals opportunity – lessons from Jim's career and how to avoid being disrupted during periods of turbulence. Dispelling the myths behind Blockbuster's demise – why fear, not Netflix, killed Blockbuster. Why Jim believes we might see a re...

Paul Wilkinson, Product Director at Deliveroo and former Tesco and Amazon exec, joins Natalie to discuss: •    Quick commerce: what went wrong and how will it evolve? •    Why Deliveroo won't chase 15-minute delivery. •    Learnings from the restaurant sector. •    Why retail partners are more open to collaboration in 2024.  •    Deliveroo's move into non-food: "bringing the whole high street to t...

Former Tesco director and Nisa CEO Ken Towle joins Natalie on the podcast to discuss: •    The retail and consumer outlook. •    Why shrinkflation is not always a bad thing. •    His experience running Nisa during the pandemic. •    From self-checkouts to generative AI – how technology is changing the way we shop for food. •    Grocery e-commerce and the importance of collaboration. •    Lessons f...

Have you been to Catford Mews or Peckham Levels? Then you'll know what can be achieved by transforming disused car parks and empty retail units into vibrant, community-led, cultural hubs. Preston Benson, founder of Really Local Group and fellow American in London, joins Natalie on the podcast to discuss: How Really Local Group is creating and restoring cultural infrastructure by regenerating disus...

It's International Women's Day this week and who better to speak to than the iconic and wonderfully inspirational fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes? This conversation was recorded live on stage at Springfair in February 2024. Dame Zandra tells Natalie about: - The highs and lows of breaking into the US fashion scene in the 1960s. - How she has spent her life rallying against what was expected of...

Natalie speaks to Nigel Oddy, currently CEO of the UK and Europe's leading golf retailer American Golf, and previously CEO of House of Fraser, New Look, Matalan and The Range. The video version of this episode is available on YouTube and is part of a special collaboration with the Richmond Retail & E-commerce Directors' Forum . Nigel will be speaking at the event alongside leaders from across the...

Chris Browne , former Global Retail Director at Ted Baker, joins Natalie to discuss: Visual AI and the opportunities for fashion retail    How tech can enhance the shopping experience Addressing the perennial problem of returns What Western retailers can learn from Asia Chris' vision for the future of the high street Prefer video? You can also watch Natalie and Chris' conversation on YouTube . Thi...

Natalie speaks to TV dragon, retail magnate and small business champion Theo Paphitis live on stage at Springfair. They discuss: Digital transformation and the impact on retail Why stores are assets in today's digital era High street struggles - business rates, rents and levelling the playing field Failing fast in business What will retail look like in 2034? Theo is the Chairman and Owner of Ryman...

Prefer video? You can watch Sarah and Natalie's conversation on YouTube . This episode is part of a collaboration with the Richmond Retail & E-commerce Directors' Forum. Sarah Welsh, CEO of Retail at N Brown, gives us a sneak peek into what she'll be discussing at the event on 18 April 2024. She and Natalie explore: What are the barriers to getting women in retail leadership positions? The importa...

Prefer video? Watch Helen and Natalie's conversation on YouTube. Helen Dickinson OBE, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, joins the podcast to discuss the BRC's 2024 manifesto. Topics include:  Business rates: how is the retail industry disproportionately affected and what does reform look like? Retail jobs and impact of AI: how can the industry continue to attract and retain talent? Shoplifting...

Retail analyst and consultant Nick Bubb joins the show to discuss: Christmas trading results - winners and losers. Why electricals retailing is poised for a comeback in 2024. What JD Sports' and Burberry's profit warnings tell us about the state of retail. What went wrong at John Lewis and whether Peter Ruis can revive the brand. Frasers' stake-building strategy - what is the end game for Asos and...

Paul Martin, KPMG's Global Head of Retail, joins Natalie for a wide-ranging discussion on: Bifurcation of retail winners and losers Why consumers will be battening down the hatches in H1 Breaking down the BRC-KPMG December sales data Promotions, margins, and the importance of stock visibility Economic outlook and impact of attacks on container ships in the Red Sea Opportunities for retailers in 20...

Chris Noice, Communications Director at the Association of Convenience Stores , joins Natalie to discuss Britain's shoplifting epidemic. They explore: The scale of the problem and factors driving the growing wave of shoplifting. What motivates shoplifters and is it a victimless crime? Cops in shops – will we see more retailers and shopping centres collaborate with the police for in-store police st...

Richard Lim, CEO of Retail Economics , joins Natalie for a wide-ranging discussion on: The health of the UK consumer and why 2024 will be a year of two halves. Richard's inflation theory (listen to find out!) Combating cost pressures in 2024 - business rates, labour costs and more. November data releases - interpreting the BRC retail sales and Barclaycard consumer spending data - from 'insperience...