In this mini episode of Marketing in the Madness, River Island’s CIO Simon Pakenham-Walsh reveals how one of the UK’s biggest fashion retailers is reinventing the customer experience through technology - both online and in-store.

After a “summer of reset,” the brand is doubling down on innovation, data, and seamless shopping journeys.

What you’ll hear:

- From RFID-powered “dump bucket” self-checkouts to smart fitting rooms that recommend your next size — River Island is redefining frictionless retail.

- How Simon’s team is uniting website, app, and store tech into one connected system where customers can browse, buy, and return anywhere.

- Why River Island’s focus on data, agility, and micro-experiments is shaping the future of retail innovation and customer experience design.

This isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a retail revolution built for the next generation of shoppers.

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Simon Pakenham-Walsh

Katie Street

Marketing in the Madness

Street Agency