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 highlights the importance of authenticity in leadership, embracing informality, and the continuous need for unlearning outdated practices to foster real innovation.

Katya will be on the stage at Shoptalk Europe, which will happen in Barcelona from June 2nd to 4th.

OFFBounds listeners get discounted tickets on the links below:
🎟️ Retailers and Brands, code RBOFFBO20
🎟️ General Attendees, code GAOFFBO20

👉🏻 This episode is sponsored by New Black, which is redefining retail with EVA, a contextual commerce platform that unifies Inventory and order management, POS, in-store apps, promotions, loyalty, and clienteling into one seamless system.

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 strategies. Arianne shares how JD is breaking down silos, rethinking KPIs beyond revenue, and leveraging data to stay ahead of trends—like the Adidas Samba comeback. 

Arianne will be on stage at Shoptalk Europe, which will happen in Barcelona from June 2nd to 4th. If you haven't booked your tickets yet, we have discount links:

• Retailers and Brands
• General Attendees

This episode is sponsored by New Black.

New Black is redefining retail with EVA, a contextual commerce platform that unifies Inventory and order management, pos, in-store apps, promotions, loyalty, and clienteling into one seamless system.
 

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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 Ronaldo just became a major investor. Retail leaders, is your brand ready for the future? Tune in now! 🚀

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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 game-changer for the industry. Plus, in the end, we tease something BIG that OFFBounds and Shoptalk have been working on. 👀

Tune in now to get ahead of the trends shaping retail in 2025! 

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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 ultra-fast delivery. With so much change happening in retail, the question is: Are brands ready? Tune in for the biggest takeaways from retail’s most important event.

Learn more about RFID with Nedap
Best Unified Commerce Platform? New Black :)

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In this episode of OFFBounds, I chat with Stuart Frelick, Dyson’s Global Head of Product, about the ambitious retail transformation that’s redefining the stores of the brand. Stuart takes us behind the scenes of how Dyson modernized its systems, tackled the challenges of scaling innovation globally, and delivered a seamless customer experience. We explore the importance of bold leadership, the surprising ways Dyson’s passionate community influences product development, and what’s next for the brand—from Stuart's wishes for loyalty programs to future-focused technology. This conversation is full of real-world insights for anyone interested in retail, innovation, and driving change.

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This week I’m joined by Greg Merrill, the former Head of Digital Transformation at Nike, for a deep dive into what it really takes to lead change in today’s fast-moving world. From his unconventional career journey to his insights on balancing innovation and operational excellence, Greg shares how transformation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, strategy, and building a culture that thrives on adaptation. This episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss.

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In this episode of OFFBounds, I’m sharing my personal guide to the top retail conferences you should attend in 2025. From the bustling halls of NRF’s Big Show in New York to the vibrant Shoptalk events and hidden gems like EuroCIS in Germany, I’ll walk you through the must-attend events and why they’re worth your time. Whether you’re looking to discover cutting-edge tech, connect with industry leaders, or explore global markets, I’ve got you covered. Tune in for my honest insights, practical tips, and a little behind-the-scenes scoop on what makes these events stand out.

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Our take on NRF APAC 2024 and VTEX Day.

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In this first episode of OFFBounds' second season, Paula Macaggi sits down with Ricardo Larroudé, co-founder and CEO of the innovative footwear brand Larroudé. Launching in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, Larroudé has quickly risen to prominence, earning the prestigious "Brand of the Year" award in 2024. Ricardo shares the bold vision and strategies behind the brand's disruptive approach to fashion distribution, its commitment to filling the mid-market gap with high-quality, accessible footwear, and the entrepreneurial lessons he's learned along the way. Recorded in São Paulo, the conversation is both inspiring and insightful, offering a glimpse into how a young brand has reshaped the industry with their Direct-to-Demand strategy.

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At the beginning of spring 2024, I interviewed Tiago Quaresma, who runs the Group that owns some of the coolest stores selling Portuguese culture's traditions. 

For me, O Grupo o Valor do Tempo is a masterclass of value creation through storytelling and customer experience and it was one of the most shared interviews we had in our first season. 

By offering a dreamy environment with stellar service, their tinned fish business can sell a can of sardine for 10x the price of those that are sold in the supermarket. 

As our episode 50 falls on Christmas Eve, I am happy to offer again the opportunity to listen/watch this episode again. 

We, from OFFBounds, wish you Happy Holidays!