Retail Gazette

Retailers can rarely measure the cost of missed opportunities. But they can catch up by optimising their equipment. How? To find out on this episode of the Retail Gazette Unpacked podcast, we sat down with Dmytro Visyn, Chief Business Development Officer at Modern Expo - a company that has been providing solutions for UK retailers for 10 years.

“We usually think that optimization requires extra effort, but in reality it saves a great deal of time and money if you know your client. For example, refrigeration takes from 40 to 60 percent of a store's total energy consumption. Cutting energy costs by 20 percent might be equivalent to increasing sales by 5 percent. Practice shows that a typical convenience store can save around £80,000 over the lifespan of its refrigeration systems,” says Dmytro.

The main focus of the conversation is the balance between the cost of equipment and the profit it brings in the long run. Specifically, we are talking about:

For a deeper dive into Modern Expo’s solutions, download the presentations with detailed information for both large chains and small convenience stores.

In this episode of Retail Unpacked, we sit down with Zara Gentles, customer engagement manager at Monsoon Accessorize, who brings more than 25 years of hands-on retail experience inside the company to the table. 

From the shop floor to leading global CX strategy, Zara has seen firsthand how the customer experience has evolved – and how technology, particularly AI, is now reshaping it once again.


We discuss how AI can enhance, rather than replace, the human side of service – improving both customer and employee experience when applied with purpose. In a world where AI has become a buzzword, Zara shares how Monsoon Accessorize approaches innovation by working backwards from the customer’s needs. Expect a frank and insightful conversation that touches on the real use cases for AI in retail, how to avoid tech for tech’s sake, and why the future of great CX is still, fundamentally, human.

On this week's episode of Retail Gazette's Unpacked, we sit down with John Trenchard, who is the vice president of commercial and supply chain at DP World Ports and Terminals UK, leading strategic initiatives at two of the UK's busiest ports, London Gateway and Southampton. 

The conversation covers DP World's innovative sustainability programmes like the Modal Shift Programme, significantly reducing truck journeys and emissions by shifting freight to rail, and the recently launched Carbon Inset Programme, which aims to revolutionise the way retailers manage their environmental impact. 

In 2023 alone, cyber attacks and fraud cost UK retailers a staggering £11 billion in lost revenue. That’s a huge chunk of money to lose for any business, but with retail margins currently razor thin, for many it could be the difference between a healthy turnover, and ceasing training.

Retailers need protection from bad actors looking to commit nefarious acts. But with the evolution of criminal tools moving at lightning speed, how is it possible to stay ahead?

To answer that question, we’re turning to Eric Horgan, the chief product officer for Europe at card transaction experts Elavon. In the latest episode of Retail Gazette’s Unpacked podcast, Horgan sits down with host Kieran Howells, and gets into the nitty gritty of stemming return policy abuse, combatting online payment fraud, stopping phishing attacks in their tracks, and understanding AI’s role in fuelling fraud.

The conversation offers definitive answers on how you, as a business leader, can protect yourself and your customers from devastating losses, and what being perpetually protected from cyber criminals really looks like.

For more insight into protecting your business from fraud, download Elavon’s latest report, ‘Five ways retailers can combat the rising threat of fraud’. 

Many consumers have had the frustrating experience of seeing that perfect item of clothing online or in a shop window, only to have it arrive or try it on and it doesn't fit. This is a common complaint for shoppers across the UK and doesn't just lead to a disappointing customer experience but also impacts sustainability schemes through high return rates. N Brown have taken an innovative approach to this particular problem, utilising tech and data as part of their Fashion for All campaign, which aims to make it easier for people to enjoy fashion and the confidence and wellbeing boost it can bring.

On this episode of the Retail Inside Out podcast we're joined by Sarah Ewens-Smythe, head of buying, N Brown, to find out how and why they developed Fashion for All and what they've learned and achieved from its successful deployment. Having achieved accolades including the Fashion Game Changer award at the 2023 Retail Gazette Awards, we discover what feedback N Brown have had from their customers, and how their return rate has declined and sustainability increased as a result of the steps they've taken.

Also joining us on this look deep into the world of fashion, we hear from Lewis Rhys Davies, senior account executive, from loyalty scheme experts SheerID. Lewis weighs in on the hot topic of personalisation, and how retailers can convert shoppers into loyal customers.

Stream the episode through the player on this page, or listen on Spotify, Apple or your preferred podcast platform.

In difficult economic landscapes the brands that connect with consumers on a deeper level are the ones that succeed and build strong brand affinity. How do retailers manage to achieve this with their customers increasingly looking at more factors than ever when choosing where to shop? From omnichannel to personalisation and AI, to sustainability and brand purpose the marketplace is more challenging than ever for retailers who are looking to connect and build lasting relationships.

Joining the Retail Gazette Retail Inside Out Podcast to discuss the topic and share there unique perspectives are Christina Downend, head of climate change, Dunelm and Marcus Henley, senior account executive, enterprise, Yext. Dunelm are the recent winners of the Best Retailer Over £500m award at the Retail Gazette Awards 2023, and have put sustainability at the heart of their business success. Yext are leaders in the world of digital experience, and have a broad view of what brands can do to connect with their customers and achieve success. Both provide an excellent insight into the steps retailers can take to build their customer proposition and deepen their relationships with their audience.

Join us for a fascinating discussion on the latest Retail Inside Out podcast.

Sleep experts' Dreams became the Official Sleep Partner of Team GB in 2019, supporting the team at the Olympics in 2020, expanding the partnership to include ParalympicsGB shortly after. A massive marketing partnership is a challenging endeavour at the best of times, but the pandemic and subsequent delay of the Tokyo games added an extra level of complexity to the mix. What can marketing professionals learn from Dreams partnership at the Olympics, and how they utilised a truly multi-channel approach to maximise their campaign impact?

To find out we're thrilled to be joined by Dreams' director of marketing Simon Moore, the winner of this years Retail Gazette Awards Marketing Gamechanger category, to hear the ins and outs of running a complex and impactful marketing campaign. Adding further insight is Andy Houstoun, chief commercial officer for Crimtan who shares his perspective on the metrics and benchmarks brands need to keep in mind to truly measure their campaigns to judge their success.

From geotesting to where to spend to deliver the results you need, we go for a deep-dive into the fundamentals that all marketing professionals, from brands big or small, can apply to help them achieve success.

About Dreams

Established in 1985, Dreams are the UK’s most loved bed retailer – backed by Tempur Sealy and led by CEO Jonathan Hirst.

Headquartered at their ‘Bedquarters’ in High Wycombe, they have around 2300 colleagues across the UK, and sell around 14,000 mattresses, bases and headboards per week to customers nationwide through their store network of 208 sites and online.

They're a proudly British business, committed to continue making their products in this country, at their Dreams Workshop in Oldbury. Currently Dreams makes 290,000 mattresses and over 200,000 divan bases & headboards a year before delivering to customers across the UK through its 11 delivery centres and fleet of 155 home delivery vehicles.

About Crimtan

Crimtan was founded in 2009 with the purpose of delivering maximum performance for their clients, with the reassurance of complete compliance. 

They've continued to grow year-on-year since, winning awards such as RAR Best Online Media Buying, achieving Gold Standard certification by the IAB, DTSG Brand Safety certification by JICWEBS and featuring in Raconteur/The Times Future CMO marketing report. 

Moving into the future, their mission is to be a trusted partner, delivering the most relevant, consented programmatic advertising, driving exceptional incremental ROI across every stage of the customer lifecycle. And helping more brands reach customers who need and want what they sell.

In 2023 most consumers would say they care about sustainability. The impact of the products we buy on our planet and the connection between the actions we take and our impact on our environment are clear for all to see. As sustainability becomes a way for businesses to demonstrate their value to customers, we ask what it means to be truly sustainable. To find out we couldn't imagine a better retailer to speak to than this years Retail Gazette Awards Sustainability Game Changer award winner, Lush.

Lush are no newcomers to the sustainable space, with the business holding ethics and reducing their environmental impact as key core values for the entirety of their 27-year existence. What challenges do they face, how do they bring their staff with them as sustainability stakeholders, and how do they ensure their supply chains are complying with their mission? We're thrilled to be joined by Ruth Andrade, Earth Care Strategy Lead for Lush to find out answers to all of those questions and more.

Also joining us to give us a wider view of the retail world and how brands are upping their sustainability game is Caroline Sajas, UK Business Director, Locala. Together they share insight into the challenges, opportunities and paths that retailers can take to become truly sustainable.

About Lush

Lush was founded in 1995 by six co-founders; Mo Constantine, Mark Constantine, Rowena Bird, Helen Ambrosen, Liz Bennett and Paul Greeves.

Emerging from the demise of a previous mail order business called Cosmetics To Go – a massive success that collapsed through a combination of over-trading and flooding – it was the same team that created and inspired this new venture called Lush.

Lush is 10% Employee Owned and our people are the heart and soul of our business.

About Locala

Trusted for more than a decade by the world’s top retailers, restaurants, and auto brands, Locala is the recognized leader in driving consumers to stores and measuring the results. Locala’s powerful and complete suite of digital marketing tools provides unmatched visibility into shoppers and competitors while delivering complete control over where and when brands can reach high-potential consumers and drive them to buy. Founded in 2011, the company has offices in the United States, France, Belgium, the UK, Switzerland, Singapore, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and the UAE.