From filling balloon sandbags for 5 cents each in his parents’ party shop to helping turn the family business into Australia’s largest

party retailer, Dean Salakas is a true Australian retail pioneer.

And he’s built his career by refusing to accept the mentality of “that’s just how it’s done.”

In this episode of ReStories, Cameron Wakefield and Peter Curry sit down with Dean to unpack a journey shaped by experimentation,

bold decisions and a willingness to challenge convention.

From pioneering click-and-collect and becoming an early Google advertiser, to making his mark at Woolworths, appearing on

Shark Tank, navigating the chaos of COVID and eventually selling The Party People, Dean shares the highs, mistakes and lessons

along the way.

He also reflects on rapid growth, leadership, resilience, customer behaviour and why testing and learning has always been

central to the way he works.

A fascinating conversation with one of Australian retail’s most original thinkers.

A must listen for anyone who works in, leads, or loves retail.

The latest episode of ReStories is a good one.

Our guest, Paul Tulip, has spent 25 years in executive search and has had a pretty unique view of some of the people and

personalities leading the retail industry.

But this conversation went well beyond executive recruitment.

Paul is a natural storyteller and we covered everything from arriving in Melbourne with virtually no network and building

Yorkshire Bridge, to what actually makes a great retail leader, why the best people aren't always looking for their next job,

and why you should always take the call.

We also get into Paul's time on The Apprentice, the evolution of Australian retail, why relationships and referrals still

Some people talk about retail from the sidelines.

James Stewart has been in the room when the biggest calls were made.

In Episode 7 of ReStories, Cameron Wakefield and Peter Curry sit down with James to unpack 40 years in business,

25 years deep inside Australian retail, and the lessons learned from some of the country’s most significant collapses,

restructures and turnarounds.

From Sportsgirl and Harris Scarfe to Dick Smith and dodgy video stores, James shares what really happens when a

retailer hits crisis point and why the human side of restructuring matters just as much as the numbers.

This episode is full of sharp insight on leadership, reinvention, customer behaviour, AI, department stores, and what it takes to

survive in one of the toughest retail markets in the world.

A must listen for anyone who works in, leads, or loves retail.

Some people talk about retail from the sidelines.

James Stewart has been in the room when the biggest calls were made.

In Episode 7 of ReStories, Cameron Wakefield and Peter Curry sit down with James to unpack 40 years in business,

25 years deep inside Australian retail, and the lessons learned from some of the country’s most significant collapses,

restructures and turnarounds.

From Sportsgirl and Harris Scarfe to Dick Smith and dodgy video stores, James shares what really happens when a

retailer hits crisis point and why the human side of restructuring matters just as much as the numbers.

This episode is full of sharp insight on leadership, reinvention, customer behaviour, AI, department stores, and what it takes to

survive in one of the toughest retail markets in the world.

A must listen for anyone who works in, leads, or loves retail.

In the latest episode of ReStories, Cameron Wakefield, Kylie Quirke & Peter Curry sit down with Colleen Callander. Former Sportsgirl CEO; current author, speaker and leadership mentor, Colleen brings decades of experience leading teams, building culture and helping people become the best version of themselves.

In this episode, Colleen shares her perspective on leadership, wellbeing, boundaries and the importance of creating a “circle of safety” at work. She explores how protecting your energy, filling your tank and creating environments where people feel heard, valued and bigger than the seat they sit in can unlock stronger teams and better outcomes.

Produced by Peter Curry

In the latest episode of ReStories, Cameron Wakefield, Kylie Quirke and Peter Curry sit down with Ana Escobar.  

Founder of LMND and a creative retail leader, Ana brings more than two decades of experience across brand, product, design and customer-led retail. 

Her career spans iconic Australian brands including Oroton and BIG W, through to building her own self-funded fashion brand from the ground up. 

In this episode, Ana unpacks storytelling, creative leadership, brand building, customer focus and the magic when product, story and customer all align.

In the fourth episode of ReStories, Cameron Wakefield and Peter Curry sit down with Duane Yaxley  

Head of Retail (Lids) at LICENSING ESSENTIALS, Duane brings over two decades of experience across fashion, sports and franchise retail. 

His career spans everything from the store floor through to national leadership, with a focus on building strong teams and running tight operations. 

In this episode, Duane unpacks leadership, team dynamics and the operational discipline behind strong retail execution. 

He even shares some great reads

ReStories is a podcast dedicated to the people behind retail, the leaders, builders and change makers shaping the industry’s future. 

Our third episode features Felicity Hann. Felicity is a people led retail leader and National Retail Manager at JD Sports Australia, known for her commitment to developing teams and building strong culture. With more than 15 years in retail, Felicity has grown through every level of the industry, shaping high-performing teams while guiding one of the fastest-growing retail brands in the market. Thoughtful, driven, and deeply invested in her people, she represents a modern approach to leadership, where development, resilience, and genuine care for teams drive lasting success. 

ReStories is hosted by Cameron Wakefield, Product Leader at ReStore for Retail, bringing thoughtful conversation and industry insight to each episode, and produced by Peter Curry, Head of Production at ReStore for Retail APAC. 

ReStore for Retail made this podcast possible. If you’re ready to explore how technology can centralise your data and support better decision-making across your stores, ReStore for Retail is the place to start. Head to https://www.restoreforretail.com

Brought to you by ReStore for Retail!

Our second episode features Metin Hulusi. Metin is a people-first retail leader and State Manager at YD Menswear (VIC), known for combining commercial clarity with genuine heart. With a career spanning some of Australia’s leading fashion brands, Metin leads by building strong culture, driving performance, and creating environments where people can grow. Thoughtful, grounded, and values-led, he represents a modern style of leadership, thinking with his head and leading with his heart.

ReStories is hosted by Cameron Wakefield, Product Leader at ReStore for Retail, bringing thoughtful conversation and industry insight to each episode, and produced by Peter Curry, Head of Production at ReStore for Retail APAC.

Enjoy!

Our first episode features Lachlan Ashton, a rising force in Australian retail, known for shaping culture, spotting trends early, and leading with authenticity. A new-generation leader and natural connector, Lachlan represents the future of retail: people-first, brand-driven and always evolving.