Marketing budgets are under pressure… but most brands still don’t know what’s actually working.

In this episode of Marketing in the Madness, Katie Street sits down with Elissa Brown, Ecommerce Lead at AppsFlyer North America, recorded in Las Vegas.

They unpack what’s really changing in ecommerce right now and why measurement has become one of the biggest competitive advantages a brand can have.

Because the way people buy has changed… fast.

From social discovery to AI validation, to mobile apps and back again, the customer journey is no longer something you can neatly track.

And most brands are still trying to.

Chapters:

Customer journeys aren’t just multi-channel anymore. They’re unpredictable.

And if you can’t measure them properly… you can’t optimise them.

In a world where AI is reshaping discovery, and attention is fragmented across platforms, the brands that win will be the ones that understand the full picture.

Not just the last click.

Listen now to understand what’s actually driving performance in modern ecommerce.

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Katie Street

AppsFlyer

Marketing in the Madness

Street Agency

#ecommerce #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy #AIinmarketing #attribution

Luxury brands talk about loyalty... but what does it actually take to earn it?

In this episode of Marketing in the Madness, recorded live at Shoptalk Luxe, Katie Street sits down with Ahmed Al Derazi, VP & Head of Corporate Communications at Landmark Group, a $7B retail business operating across 15 countries with over 50 million loyalty members. 

They unpack what most brands still get wrong about loyalty, trust and customer experience and why the rules are changing fast.

Because loyalty isn’t just about points or perks anymore. It’s about how brands show up.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Landmark Group and why they’re at Shoptalk Luxe

The big shift?

Trust is no longer built through campaigns.

It’s built through people, consistency and experience.

And in a world of AI, content overload and declining trust in media… that matters more than ever.

And because this series is part of our partnership with Shoptalk Luxe, if conversations like this one spark ideas then you'll definitely want to be in the room next time!

Shoptalk Europe 2026 is already shaping up to be HUGE. If retail, tech and innovation sit anywhere in your world, now's the time to get your ticket and get it in the diary here: https://europe.shoptalk.com/home?utm_source=mediapartner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=marketing-in-the-madness-podcast

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Katie Street 

Marketing in the Madness 

Street Agency

#luxuryretail #customerexperience #brandtrust  #loyalty

What happens when luxury stops being reserved for special occasions… and becomes something you can wear every day?

In this episode of Marketing in the Madness, recorded live at Shoptalk Luxe in Abu Dhabi, Katie Street sits down with Colleen Conkling, SVP of Brand at Monica Vinader, to unpack how the brand helped redefine an entire category: accessible luxury.

From its beginnings in 2008, Monica Vinader challenged the idea that fine jewellery had to be expensive, gifted, or saved for “big moments.” Instead, it created something different - high-quality, beautifully crafted pieces that women could buy for themselves, wear daily and feel connected to.

But building a brand in this space isn’t just about price point.

It’s about:

Colleen shares how the brand balances aspiration with accessibility, why values matter more than ever in a crowded market, and how partnerships - like their recent collaboration with rising artist Sienna Spiro - are chosen with intention, not just reach.

The conversation also explores a bigger shift happening in luxury right now.

As AI accelerates content and production, brands are being pushed to stand out in more human ways - through tactility, authenticity, and meaning. Because when everything can be generated, what people value most is what feels real.

If you’re building a brand, working in marketing, or trying to stay relevant in a fast-moving industry, this episode offers a clear reminder:

And because this series is part of our partnership with Shoptalk Luxe, if conversations like this one spark ideas then you'll definitely want to be in the room next time!

Shoptalk Europe 2026 is already shaping up to be HUGE. If retail, tech and innovation sit anywhere in your world, now's the time to get your ticket and get it in the diary here: https://europe.shoptalk.com/home?utm_source=mediapartner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=marketing-in-the-madness-podcast

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Marketing in the Madness 

Street Agency

How do you build a digital experience worthy of an £8,000 bag?

That was the question at the centre of this live podcast recording at Soho Works, 180 Strand hosted by Live Story and Marketing in the Madness.

Bringing together leaders from Bottega Veneta, Merkle and across luxury retail, this conversation explores what’s really happening behind the scenes as brands rethink how digital experiences are built, managed and scaled.

From slow, rigid platforms to more agile, content-led approaches, this episode looks at why many brands are struggling to deliver the kind of experiences customers now expect and how solutions like Live Story are helping teams take back control of the frontend, enabling faster launches, more creative freedom and less reliance on development.

Featuring Francesca Ricci Bitti, Global Digital Business Director, Bottega Veneta, Marta Bevilacqua, Head of Global Ecommerce & Omnichannel, Bottega Veneta and Billy Hanna, Head of Experience & Commerce Platforms, Merkle and hosted by Katie Street.

This episode was recorded live at Soho Works, 180 Strand, as part of a private breakfast event hosted by Live Story, bringing together luxury brands and digital leaders to share practical insights on how ecommerce is evolving and what brands need to do next.

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Billy Hanna

Francesca Ricci Bitti

Marta Bevilacqua

Live Story

Katie Street 

Marketing in the Madness 

Street Agency

Artificial intelligence is transforming hospitality but how can luxury brands use AI without losing the human touch?

In this episode recorded live at Shoptalk Luxe in Abu Dhabi, Katie Street sits down with Sean Sear, SVP of Strategy, Technology & Innovation at Langham Hospitality Group, to explore how one of the world’s most historic luxury hotel brands is embracing AI to create better guest experiences.

From AI-powered booking assistants to staff training tools and data-driven strategy platforms, Sean shares how Langham is building a “family of AIs” designed to increase bookings, empower hotel staff and deliver truly personalised luxury hospitality.

They also discuss why successful AI adoption starts with defining the right business problem, how to balance startup innovation with enterprise technology, and why data is the foundation of any effective AI strategy.

If you’re interested in AI in hospitality, luxury hotel innovation, digital transformation or how brands can implement AI across large organisations, this conversation is packed with insights.

00:00 - Introduction from Shoptalk Luxe

And because this series is part of our partnership with Shoptalk Luxe, if conversations like this one spark ideas then you'll definitely want to be in the room next time!

Shoptalk Europe 2026 is already shaping up to be HUGE. If retail, tech and innovation sit anywhere in your world, now's the time to get your ticket and get it in the diary here:

Don't forget to like, comment and follow so you don't miss the rest of the series 🔔

Connect with us:

Katie Street 

Marketing in the Madness 

Street Agency

Recommerce, resale, circular fashion… whatever you call it, the way we buy luxury is changing!

In this episode recorded live at Shoptalk Luxe in Abu Dhabi, Katie Street sits down with Kirsty Keoghan, GM of Fashion & Luxury at eBay, to talk about the explosion of pre-loved luxury, the changing psychology of luxury buyers and why trust is everything in resale marketplaces.

From authentication technology to Love Island partnerships and the rise of live shopping, this conversation explores how eBay is shaping the future of luxury recommerce!

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, comment and subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping the future of retail.

And because this series is part of our partnership with Shoptalk Luxe, if conversations like this one spark ideas then you'll definitely want to be in the room next time!

Shoptalk Europe 2026 is already shaping up to be HUGE. If retail, tech and innovation sit anywhere in your world, now's the time to get your ticket and get it in the diary here: https://europe.shoptalk.com/home?utm_source=mediapartner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=marketing-in-the-madness-podcast

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Katie Street 

Marketing in the Madness 

Street Agency

We're continuing our Marketing in the Madness series recorded live at Shoptalk Luxe Abu Dhabi and this one is for anyone obsessed with luxury travel!!!

In this episode, Katie Street sits down with Candice D'Cruz, VP of Luxury Brands at Hilton for Asia Pacific, based out of Singapore and overseeing some of the world's most iconic hotel brands including Waldorf Astoria and Conrad. 

Candice brings a rare mix of commercial sharpness and genuine passion for hospitality and this conversation is packed with insight around quiet luxury, wellness travel, multi-generational holidays and the role of TikTok in high-end hospitality marketing.

Here's what they cover:

And because this series is part of our partnership with Shoptalk Luxe, if conversations like this one spark ideas then you'll definitely want to be in the room next time!

Shoptalk Europe 2026 is already shaping up to be HUGE. If retail, tech and innovation sit anywhere in your world, now's the time to get your ticket and get it in the diary here:

Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe so you don't miss the rest of the series 🔔

We’re kicking off a brand new Marketing in the Madness series recorded live at Shoptalk Luxe Abu Dhabi.

Picture this: a podcast studio on the beach at Emirates Palace, sunshine and some of the sharpest minds in luxury retail talking candidly about AI, loyalty programmes, omnichannel and what the future of commerce actually looks like.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing short, sharp, insight-packed conversations with senior leaders from brands including eBay, Monica Vinader, Hilton and more - basically, the people genuinely shaping what’s next across luxury, retail and tech.

And we’re starting strong.

In our first episode of this series, Katie Street sits down with Amit Keswani Manghnani, Chief Omnichannel & AI Officer at Chalhoub Group, a 70+ year luxury powerhouse operating across the GCC, Europe and beyond.

Here’s what they cover:

00:00 - Welcome to Shoptalk Luxe Abu Dhabi

And because this series is part of our partnership with Shoptalk Luxe, if conversations like this one spark ideas, you’ll definitely want to be in the room next time! 

Shoptalk Europe 2026 is already shaping up to be HUGE. If retail, tech and innovation sit anywhere in your world, now’s the time to get your ticket and get it in the diary here: 

Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe so you don’t miss the rest of the series.

Connect with us:

Katie Street 

Marketing in the Madness 

Street Agency

White ponytail, black sunglasses and fingerless gloves. 

Mirjam Schuele, SVP of Marketing at Karl Lagerfeld and our host Katie Street explore how one of fashion’s most iconic personal brands became a global house built on accessibility, authenticity and cultural relevance.

From reinventing Chanel and Fendi to launching his own label, Karl built more than collections - he built a recognisable identity and a world people wanted to be part of.

Here’s what we cover:

This conversation explores how luxury can be inclusive without losing its edge and what today’s brands can learn from a man (and legend) who understood identity, accessibility and cultural timing long before they became marketing buzzwords.

If you’re interested in brand building, personal branding at scale, luxury marketing, or community-driven growth then this conversation is for you.

Enjoyed the episode? Click subscribe so you never miss the conversations shaping the future of marketing, tech and brand growth.

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Katie Street 

Marketing in the Madness 

Karl Lagerfeld didn’t just design fashion, he was the brand.

Katie Street sits down with Mirjam Schuele, SVP of Marketing at Karl Lagerfeld, live from the brand’s Amsterdam headquarters, to unpack how Karl built one of the most iconic personal brands in history, long before “personal branding” was even a concept.

Together, they explore:

How Karl Lagerfeld deliberately built an unmistakable personal brand

Why accessibility and “masstige” were central to his vision

How the brand has evolved since Karl’s passing and how his legacy lives on

What modern marketers can learn from Karl’s fearless authenticity

The role of people, culture and community in marketing today

Why authenticity will matter even more in an AI-driven future

As Karl himself famously said: “Embrace the present and invent the future.”

Listen now and learn how one man became larger than life and how you can apply those lessons to your own brand.