In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya and Anchita explore the resurgence of RFID technology in retail. From its bumpy beginnings to new use cases with leading brands like Prada, Levi’s, Mango, and Ralph Lauren, discover how RFID is reshaping everything from inventory accuracy to customer experience. They discuss why RFID is gaining a second look after the pandemic, the hurdles that remain, and how next-generation technologies like computer vision and blockchain could shape the future of retail operations and transparency.

For more retail tech updates and industry insights, follow us on LinkedIn, check out our Substack, and find resources and case studies at www.iads.org.

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya and Christine go behind the scenes at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann to uncover how the legendary Parisian department store is reinventing itself for a new era. From innovative women’s shoes and fashion floors to circular economy concepts like (Re)store, Galeries Lafayette is blending heritage with bold, future-focused moves, all while navigating the pressures of competition, digital acceleration, and changing customer expectations. Discover why the store’s “Le Grand Magasin de Tous” mission and the transformation under “Programme Lumière” are drawing Millennials, Gen Z, locals, and tourists alike. Christine shares exclusive insights from inside the flagship, including new brand launches, sustainability initiatives, omnichannel campaigns, and what it takes to be a retail leader in a city where tradition and reinvention collide.

👉 Click here to read the full exclusive.

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, and visit www.iads.org for additional resources

[📸source: Galeries Lafayette]

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya welcomes back Dr. Christopher Knee to decode the supply chain transformation happening in department stores and global retail. Drawing on lessons from the pandemic, this conversation examines how fulfilment from stores, dark stores🏬, advanced returns processes, and new inventory strategies are turning logistics into a frontline customer issue.

Discover why models like “click-and-mortar,” hybrid showrooms, and digital inventory management are changing what it means to run a resilient retail business. Are just-in-time models out? Is “just-in-case” the new normal? And how are tech and logistics now driving the in-store experience as much as product or design?📖 Read the full exclusive here: Rethinking the retail supply chain: From the customer viewpoint

For more insights, follow us on LinkedIn🔗, check out our Substack📝, or visit www.iads.org 🌐for additional resources.

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya shares practical insights from her IADS exclusive on how retailers can turn Agile’s promise into action. With Anchita guiding the conversation, Maya breaks down what Agile implementation looks like on the ground, explores frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, XP, and more, and covers leadership, culture, project selection, and roadblocks. Discover why Agile is more than a set of tools and how a truly Agile mindset drives faster launches, better teamwork, and lasting change, even in retail’s most established giants.

👉 Click here to read the full exclusive on IADS Exclusive Insights at Substack.

[Part 1 Exclusive: Embracing Agile] : [🎙️Podcast episode: Embracing Agile]

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, and visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources and learn more here!

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎙️, we examine Ikea's groundbreaking transformation from suburban big-box stores to sophisticated urban retail formats 🏪. Through the lens of Paris, discover how the furniture giant is reinventing retail with three distinct store concepts 🔄, from the innovative City Store to the compact Planning Studio. Learn how Ikea is balancing its iconic brand identity with local needs, and what this means for the future of retail adaptation 🌆. 👉 Click here to read the full exclusive on IADS Exclusive Insights at Substack.

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

[📸THOMAS SAMSON / AFP]

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎙️, Maya welcomes back Dr. Christopher Knee to make sense of how retail jobs are being completely reimagined. From the automation of routine tasks to the rise of the “workforce ecosystem,” today’s department stores are deconstructing old roles and inventing new ones—sometimes on the fly. Dr. Knee shares research, real-world examples, and post-pandemic context as he and Maya discuss which roles are disappearing, what skills retailers need next, and how leaders can prepare their teams for the unknown. Hear why adaptability, upskilling, and a test-and-learn mindset now matter as much as salesfloor experience, and what it means for the future of stores and staff alike.

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack for all our exclusives, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

Is Agile just a buzzword, or is it quietly shaping the way your retail organisation already works? In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya breaks down Agile’s journey from software teams to the retail floor, with Anchita asking the questions that matter. They explore why flexibility and continuous improvement have become critical for retailers facing fast-moving markets, shifting consumer demands, and technology disruptions.

Maya unpacks the core values and practical principles of Agile methodology, brings in exclusive examples from Sainsbury’s, Breuninger, H&M, and Macy’s, and explains how Agile is not just a process but a cultural shift. Find out whether Agile is something your teams are already practising, without even naming it, and why embracing it fully might be the next step for your business.

👉 Click here to read the full exclusive on IADS Exclusive Insights at Substack.

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where we'll explore detailed implementation strategies and more real-world success stories!

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, access all our exclusives on our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎙️, Maya and Dr. Christopher Knee, honorary advisor to IADS, reveal the two secret advantages department stores hold over even the mightiest online retailers: deep product knowledge and the power of physical stores. Discover why Amazon’s cutting-edge algorithms can’t match the genuine recommendations of a trustworthy merchant and how the unique in-store experience, from knowledgeable staff to omnichannel pickup, creates a winning edge in today’s evolving market. Learn how pioneers like Waterstones and legacy giants like Sears thrived by blending expertise with presence, and why the future belongs to department stores that adapt their human and spatial assets to digital-era shoppers.For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya and Christine Montard (Head of Markets and Events, IADS) explore the seismic shifts transforming retail employment. They reveal findings from IADS’s 2021 research, showing why stores face unprecedented staff shortages and why traditional retail roles are evolving into new hybrid positions like “mini-marketers.” 🛍️💻 Hear real-world stories from Target, Neiman Marcus, Apple, and El Corte Inglés as we discuss innovative pay, flexible work, creative perks, and how to engage Millennials and Gen Z. From wellness benefits to meaningful company culture, discover what it takes to make retail a rewarding career again. ✨

Whether you’re in HR, operations, or leadership, tune in for actionable tips and a glimpse at retail’s future of work!

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎙️, we unpack the remarkable transformation of La Rinascente Milan from this week’s IADS Exclusive. Join Maya and Selvanne as they explore the iconic department store's ambitious €40M evolution, from its historic legacy to its bold future plans. Discover how this retail pioneer is reimagining luxury retail with Europe's largest beauty destination, innovative store design, and strategic brand positioning 🏪. From the unique Design Supermarket to the acquisition of the historic Odeon cinema, we examine the strategic decisions shaping this €1bn success story. Want to dive deeper? 🌟 Read our exclusive article and view store photos here → IADS Exclusive: La Rinascente Milan gets ready for a change

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!