The Retail Podcast

Chris Browne, Retail Director at Jigsaw and 30 years at Ted Baker, on why Jigsaw opens stores while rivals close them. Fewer staff, less footfall, market towns, and the business rates fight with online giants.

Chris started with a paper round and built his career at Ted Baker London before moving to Jigsaw. His view of the UK high street is practical rather than nostalgic: trading is not tougher than in the 1970s, stores now work as showrooms and mini warehouses, and if a store is not delivering an experience, it is failing. He makes the case for moving some of the business rates burden onto the big online players, explains why Jigsaw earns customers rather than buying them, and says Gen Z found instant gratification in a shop.

Hosted by Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast.

Timestamps

00:00 Cold open

00:20 Introduction

00:56 From a paper round to 30 years running Ted Baker

03:04 Trading is not tougher now than in the 1970s

05:56 Stores can work with fewer staff and less footfall

08:42 Market towns keep growing as commuting fades

10:23 Jigsaw does not buy customers, it earns them

12:28 If a store is not experiential, it is failing

16:24 Move the rates burden onto the big online players

19:21 Gen Z found instant gratification in a shop

29:24 Wrap

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Aldi Thanksgiving for $39 feeds 10, Sam's Club goes bigger, and NRF expects 4.2% holiday growth. Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, on why value is winning the holiday season.

In this US edition of Five Things Friday, Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, look at budget friendly meals on the Thanksgiving table, what NRF's forecast says about holiday shopping, why BJ's rewarded its hourly staff before the rush, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show putting influencers on the runway.

00:00 Cold open

00:18 Five Things Friday, US edition

00:58 Victoria's Secret puts influencers on the runway

03:46 BJ's rewards hourly staff before the holiday rush

05:27 NRF expects holiday growth despite tight budgets

07:37 Aldi feeds ten for $39 this Thanksgiving

08:55 Sam's Club goes big on its Thanksgiving meal

14:06 Wrap

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Christmas in London starts in October as Selfridges unveils its Christmas in the City windows. Simone Oloman, Co-host of Five Things Friday UK, covers that plus Gap x Victoria Beckham and John Lewis x Rixo.

Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Simone also cover Sainsbury's extra £3 a week for Healthy Start families this winter, the 44-piece John Lewis x Rixo collection and what it says about UK fashion, and why Oatly and Lego are betting on immersive pop-ups in London. Then back to Selfridges on Oxford Street: does starting Christmas shopping early win the season, or just wear it out?

00:00 Cold open

00:17 Five Things Friday, UK edition

01:33 Sainsbury's backs Healthy Start families this winter

02:49 John Lewis courts a younger customer with Rixo

04:34 Gap and Victoria Beckham return for a second drop

06:05 Oatly and Lego bet on immersive pop-ups in London

09:57 Selfridges launches its Christmas in the City windows

12:54 Wrap

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Sainsbury's is winning back the weekly shop on price, while Walmart writes the rules for AI shopping agents that buy on a customer's behalf. Today's Decoding Retail also covers BRC confidence and shoplifting figures, Waitrose's first full-line supermarket in eight years, eBay's 1,000 job cuts and Target's $30 Thanksgiving meal.

00:00 Intro

00:06 Sainsbury's returns to volume growth

00:27 BRC: economy confidence falls to minus 40

00:52 Shoplifting falls 2% but police powers unused

01:14 Waitrose opens first full-line store in 8 years

01:41 Aldi and ABP launch Grounded in Goodness

02:05 Walmart sets terms for AI shopping agents

02:28 eBay cuts around 1,000 jobs

02:49 Target's $30 Thanksgiving meal for six

03:08 Brussels and Paris shops board up

03:27 India's quick commerce turns festive gift channel

Sources:

- Sainsbury's: Sainsbury's Reports First-Half Volume Growth on Price Investment and Nectar Prices https://corporate.sainsburys.co.uk/news/press-releases/interim-results-announcement-2026-27/

- British Retail Consortium: BRC: Economy Confidence Hits -40 as Spending Intent Rises to +15 Ahead of Budget https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/consumer-confidence-tumbles-ahead-of-budget/

- British Retail Consortium: Shoplifting Falls 2% to 519,516 but BRC Says New Police Powers Unused Six Months On https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/unleash-delayed-police-powers-to-fight-high-street-crime-retailers-urge/

- Waitrose: Waitrose Opens First Full-Line Supermarket in Eight Years; Five More Sites in Pipeline https://www.linkedin.com/posts/waitrose_waitrose-storeopening-cricklewood-activity-7519032939205017600-AsqQ

- Aldi UK: Aldi Launches 'Grounded in Goodness' Beef Scheme With ABP Supporting Around 1,000 UK Farms https://www.aldipresscentre.co.uk/business-news/aldi-launches-british-beef-scheme-with-abp-to-support-farmer-livelihoods/

- Walmart: Walmart Publishes Agent Terms and Profile Feature to Govern Third-Party AI Shopping https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/10/Making-It-Possible-for-Agents-to-Shop-on-Behalf-of-Customers

- Retail Dive: eBay Cuts 1,000 Jobs, 9% of Global Workforce, in Second Downsizing of 2026 https://www.retaildive.com/news/ebay-cuts-one-thousand-jobs-layoffs-downsizing/833668/

- Target: Target Sets $30 Thanksgiving Meal for Six With Turkey at 79 Cents a Pound https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/10/target-brings-more-value-and-delight-to-thanksgiving-with-a-$30-meal-for-six-and-fresh-takes-on-holi

- RetailDetail EU: Brussels and Paris Retailers Board Up Stores Before Fresh Weekend Unrest https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/general/retailers-in-brussels-and-paris-are-barricading-their-stores-out-of-fear-of-new-riots/

- ET Retail India: Quick Commerce Becomes India Festive Gift Channel; Brands Not Equally Stocked https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/quick-commerce-becomes-a-festive-gifting-channel-but-brands-are-not-equally-stocked-for-it/135131810

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Walmart has opened its platform to third-party AI shopping agents, which means retailers now sell to machines as well as people. Today's briefing also covers UK inflation rising to 3.5%, Sainsbury's pulling SmartShop from more than 800 Local stores, Primark's first store in Qatar and Ahold Delhaize's next CEO.

00:00 Intro

00:07 UK inflation rises to 3.5%, BRC wants a budget cut

00:37 Bain: Christmas growth is mostly in price tags

00:55 Sainsbury's pulls SmartShop from 800+ Locals

01:11 Primark opens its first store in Qatar

01:34 Walmart opens up to third-party AI shopping agents

01:57 Target's 8,000 new holiday gifts and AI tool

02:12 Carrefour BuyBye autonomous stores reach 12

02:29 Ahold Delhaize confirms Thierry Garnier as CEO

Sources:

- British Retail Consortium: UK CPI Rises to 3.5%; BRC Calls for Cost-Cutting Budget https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/retailers-call-for-cost-cutting-budget-to-stem-rising-inflation/

- Bain & Company: Bain Forecasts 3.5% UK Christmas Sales Growth, Strongest in Four Years https://www.bain.com/insights/2026-european-holiday-shopping-outlook-infographic/

- Talking Retail: Sainsbury's Pulls SmartShop From 800-Plus Convenience Stores After Six Years https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/sainsburys-smartshop-service-removed-from-c-stores-21-10-2026/

- Primark: Primark Opens Qatar; 21 Countries and Six Middle East Stores Now https://www.linkedin.com/posts/primark-stores-ltd_21-countries-and-counting-today-we-officially-activity-7518695225884680192-VEki

- Walmart: Walmart Opens Commerce Platform to Third-Party AI Shopping Agents https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/10/Making-It-Possible-for-Agents-to-Shop-on-Behalf-of-Customers

- Target: Target Offers 8,000-Plus New Holiday Gifts, Most Under $20, With New AI Gifting Tool https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/10/target-makes-it-easier-for-guests-to-discover-stylish-holiday-gifts-they-can-t-wait-to-give

- Carrefour Belgium: Carrefour Opens Five More BuyBye Autonomous Stores, Reaching 12 Locations https://newsroom.carrefour.be/carrefour-belgique-franchit-le-cap-des-12-magasins-autonomes-buybye-avec-deux-ouvertures-a-lhopital-de-charleroi-et-3-ouvertures-a-lyon-en-collaboration-avec-carrefour-france

- Ahold Delhaize: Ahold Delhaize Confirms Garnier as CEO from 3 March 2027 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ahold-delhaize_ahold-delhaize-announces-start-date-for-future-activity-7518561340030889985-dCZE

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Debenhams Group CEO Dan Finleyexplains how the brand was rebuilt as Britain's online department store and whyits marketplace model is shaping the wider group.

Recorded at NRF Europe 2026 in Paris,this six-minute conversation with Alex Rezvan of The Retail Podcast and JillDvorak of NRF covers the value of the Debenhams name, AI in retail, and theplaybook for boohoo, boohooMAN, PrettyLittleThing and Karen Millen. Dan alsoexplains his ambition for Debenhams to be to retail what Spotify is to music.

Recorded in September 2026. Figuresand plans discussed reflect the interview at that time.

Chapters
00:00 Dan Finley at NRF Europe
00:39 Why save the Debenhams brand?
02:06 The online department store
03:04 Why Debenhams has no UK stores
03:37 Technology and AI in retail
05:18 Growing the marketplace
05:52 The playbook for the wider group

Follow The Retail Podcast forexecutive interviews and practical insight for retail leaders.

Website:https://www.theretailpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://www.theretailpodcast.com/newsletter

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January

I'll be hosting the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase across allthree days. Register and come say hello:
https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

ChatGPT virtual try on is live, and NRF SVP Content Jill Dvorak explains what it means for retailers. Plus Kroger's 3,000 job cuts, Tractor Supply, Ross and Prime Day pulling Halloween forward.

Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, on the five US retail stories that matter this week: what virtual try-on inside ChatGPT means for who owns the customer, Kroger's corporate restructuring (about 3,000 corporate roles), Tractor Supply's $15.5bn year, Ross opening 51 stores in September and October, and October Amazon Prime Day pulling Halloween spending forward.

00:00 Cold open

00:21 Five Things Friday, US edition

00:58 Prime Day pulls Halloween spending forward

03:15 Tractor Supply grows where rivals are thin

06:25 Kroger to cut 3,000 jobs over three years

08:29 Ross opens 50 stores and targets close to 3,000

12:33 ChatGPT virtual try-on goes live for shoppers

15:33 Wrap

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Simone Oloman, Co-host of Five Things Friday UK on The Retail Podcast, asks whether Stelios's easyShop marketplace can win shoppers from Amazon and Temu. Plus the TFG cyber attack, Gymshark's first celebrity and the collab boom.

Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Simone Oloman cover the five UK retail stories of the week for 16 October 2026: a golden quarter heading into Black Friday with shoppers who need a reason to spend, a cyber attack on the group behind Hobbs and Whistles and what it means for retail cybersecurity, easyShop.com launching in 21 European countries from the easyJet founder's easyGroup, Gymshark's first celebrity ambassador, and the collab boom at YPB, Ugg and Farm Rio.

00:00 Cold open

00:22 Five Things Friday, UK edition

01:00 Shoppers need a reason to spend this golden quarter

02:24 Cyber attack hits Hobbs and Whistles owner TFG

03:41 Stelios launches easyShop in 21 countries

05:01 Gymshark bets on a celebrity to reach new shoppers

06:21 Collabs: YPB, Ugg and Farm Rio chase new audiences

15:20 Wrap

Sources: easyGroup press release via PR Newswire, 13 October 2026 (easyShop.com in 21 countries); WWD, October 2026 (Adanola x Hailey Bieber capsule, 23 pieces); FashionNetwork UK, May 2025 (Farm Rio's third London store).

Newsletter: https://www.theretailpodcast.com/newsletter

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

LVMH results show luxury demand moving at different speeds inside one group, with fashion and leather goods down 5% while selective retailing grew 8%. Alongside that, Just Eat, Amazon, Ocado and Sainsbury's compete for shoppers' time and trust, Albertsons withdraws its outlook, and Flipkart narrows its losses ahead of a listing.

00:00 Intro

00:13 Just Eat: 'Stay Just Where You Are' campaign

00:54 Amazon brings back You Buy, We Donate

01:30 Ocado launches Simple Ingredients aisle

02:11 Sainsbury's SmartLists turn ideas into baskets

02:48 Albertsons withdraws outlook, sales down 0.8%

03:12 LVMH: fashion down 5%, selective retail up 8%

03:37 Flipkart revenue up 18%, losses narrow

Sources:

- Just Eat Takeaway.com: Just Eat Launches 'Stay Just Where You Are' Global Brand Platform Built on the Time Delivery Gives Back https://newsroom.justeattakeaway.com/en-GB/273370-just-eat-takeaway-com-says-stay-just-where-you-are-with-new-global-brand-platform/

- Amazon UK: Amazon Brings Back 'You Buy. We Donate' Until 9 November, Targeting 200,000 Donated Essentials https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/community/amazon-you-buy-we-donate

- Ocado Retail: Ocado Launches Simple Ingredients Aisle as 74% of UK Shoppers Prefer Recognisable Ingredients https://ocadoretail.com/media-centre/press-releases/ocado-launches-simple-ingredients-aisle-as-three-quarters-of-shoppers-seek-recognisable-ingredients/

- Sainsbury's: Sainsbury's Launches SmartLists, AI Shopping Lists Built From Typed Meal Ideas or a Photograph https://corporate.sainsburys.co.uk/news/press-releases/sainsbury-s-launches-smartlists-a-new-ai-powered-way-to-shop/

- Albertsons Companies (SEC filing): Albertsons Identical Sales Fall 0.8%; Fiscal 2026 Outlook Withdrawn Pending a Full Business Review https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1646972/000164697226000059/aciq226earningsrelease.htm

- LVMH: LVMH Third-Quarter Organic Growth 1%: Fashion and Leather Down 5%, Selective Retailing Up 8% https://www.lvmh.com/en/publications/continued-growth-in-the-third-quarter-of-2026

- The Economic Times: Flipkart Internet Revenue Up 18% to Rs 1,45,880 Crore; Net Loss Narrows to Rs 8,468 Crore Ahead of IPO https://m.economictimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/flipkart-internets-sales-surge-18-losses-shrink-as-the-e-commerce-giant-eyes-a-public-listing/amp_articleshow/134962855.cms

Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Shoppers are asking AI assistants what to buy, and those answers cite YouTube videos. Ben Jeffries, co-founder of Influencer.com, explains creator-first AEO, the sports-brand test, and why content now has to work for shoppers and for AI. With Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast.

Your next customer may never type your name into your own search bar.

Ben Jeffries, co-founder of Influencer.com, told me at YouTube Festival London that shoppers are taking their research to Gemini and ChatGPT. And when those tools answer, they lean on YouTube videos as a source.

So the creators who review, compare and demo products in your category are now helping decide whether you show up in the answer, and whether you rank above a competitor.

His team works with Profound to see which creators actually move a brand up those answers, then plans creator content around it. His example: a shopper asking for the best running shoe for a lap of Battersea Park.

For a retailer, that changes what a creator brief is for. It is no longer only reach. It is evidence that AI will read.

The test is simple and slightly uncomfortable: ask ChatGPT for the best product in your category this morning. Are you in the answer?

#RetailMarketing #AISearch #CreatorEconomy

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