The Retail Exchange podcast

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 SaaS platforms are increasingly working alongside...

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 adopting a “question everything” approach; and how to...

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 the last six years, Ron Harries has been the person...

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 picked our way through some of the highlights from th...

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 picked our way through some of the highlights from Da...

Host Karl McKeever reports from NRF 2023, Retail’s Big Show, in New York City. At the start of a franticly busy three days in the Big Apple, 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 epi...

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 business partner decided to launch the brand; the inf...

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 managing director of GlobalData Retail in Arizona...

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 department store chain. Responsible for developin...

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 implementation of C&A’s global sustainabil...

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 factor holding everything together is Leadership....

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 became one of the hottest (and the warmest) f...

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 replace the pursuit of profit, and to reflect on h...

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 soar, the pressure is on to find a solution. As a r...

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 rural communities. Recorded at Shoptalk Europe 20...

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 to tackle the challenges...

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.

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.

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 .

In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Dr Carsten Keller, VP Direct to Consumer of fashion e-tailing giant, Zalando. Founded in 2008, the online fashion retailer operates in 23 European markets and has more than 48 million active users. Despite being Europe’s largest online fashion retailer, Zalando’s success has come from taking a local approach, and the retail giant continues to priori...

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 joins us to explore the importance of adapting portfol...

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 empathy is not rocket science (but can be rocket...

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 joined by Benefit Cosmetics UK & Ireland market...

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 so successful. Like the brand’s national birthplace...