The Retail Podcast

Recorded live at NRF APAC 2025, this short soundbite features Panchalee Weeratammawat, Chief People Officer of Central Retail. With nearly 80,000 employees across Thailand, Vietnam, and Italy, Panchalee shares what’s top of mind for retail leaders in Asia today.

Key Highlights:

• Why employee happiness drives customer loyalty

• Retail’s evolving role: from reactive to behavior-shaping

• What stood out on Day 1 of NRF APAC 2025

  
  

A quick yet powerful insight into the human side of global retail transformation.

She unpacks why great retail begins with engaged employees, and how listening—both to teams and customers—is the secret to building long-term trust and sustainable growth.

Panchalee Weeratammawat

Chief People Officer, Central Retail

🧑‍💼 Guest Name & Title

Welcome to a special APAC edition of Five Things Friday from The Retail Podcast.This week, host Alex is on the cusp of two retail mega-events: Shoptalk Europe and NRF APAC in Singapore. With Laura under the weather, we’re joined by special guest Reef Quail, Managing Director at NRF APAC, for a candid, front-line take on the pulse of Asian retail.In this episode:

• How Asia-Pacific is rewriting retail’s playbook—diversity, partnerships, and global scale
• Why the retailer-to-vendor ratio makes or breaks a great event
• What Western brands get wrong (and right) when expanding in Asia
• The rise of homegrown brands like Anko, and the secret to successful cross-border expansion
• Big tech, AI, and the looming disruption in retail jobs

Alex shares milestone listener numbers, thanks the global retail community, and raises the alarm for leaders who think digital disruption is “someone else’s problem.” This is your behind-the-scenes pass to the real stories, challenges, and opportunities in global retail right now.Don’t forget to rate, follow, and share the show!Connect:The Retail Podcast on LinkedInThe Retail Podcast websiteContact:Email Alex at [your email here]—he reads every message.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & Retail Event Preview

1:30 – Milestones & Listener Shoutouts

3:45 – AI in Retail: Opportunity or Threat?

8:15 – Reef Quail on the Ground in Singapore

10:00 – The Secret to a Great Retail Event: Ratios

13:30 – The Diversity Challenge in APAC

16:00 – Anko: An Aussie Brand Goes Global

18:30 – Lessons from Japan: Long-Term Partnership Success

20:00 – Closing Thoughts & Next Week’s Preview

The pace of retail transformation hasnever been faster—and Microsoft is at the heart of it.

In this exclusive interview, Alex fromThe Retail Podcast sits down with Keith Mercier, Vice President ofWorldwide Retail & Consumer Goods at Microsoft. They explore:

·How generative AI and copilots are reshaping the frontlineexperience

·The myth of data readiness—and how to get unstuck frompilot purgatory

·Why conversational commerce is the next battleground

·The power of real-time decision-making from petabytes ofstore data

·Where Microsoft is showing up in retail around the globe

This is one of the most practical andvisionary conversations you’ll hear about the future of retail. Whether you’rea CIO, CMO, or store operator—this is essential listening.

🔔 Subscribe for more real-world retailinsight.

Keith Mercier of Microsoft joins Alexto unpack the next wave of retail innovation—from copilots and AI agents tomultimodal commerce. A future-proofing conversation for anyone in the industry.

In this special “Five Things Friday: APAC Edition,” Alex from The Retail Podcast and Laura from Neat sit down with Ryf Quail, Managing Director of NRF APAC, to unpack the biggest trends shaping retail in Asia-Pacific ahead of NRF APAC in Singapore.🎙️ Topics covered:

• Ryf’s top insights for APAC retail leaders
• Digital transformation: AI, 5G, and cloud
• Shopify Editions: Key updates, global e-commerce, new “Horizon” theme
• The future of agencies and AI-driven retail
• CEO Club at NRF APAC and leadership networking

• NRF APAC 2024
• The Retail Podcast
• Laura @ Neat

Chapters:

• 00:01 – Welcome & introductions

• 01:00 – What’s ahead for NRF APAC

• 03:00 – Shopify’s latest moves: AI, global markets, and new themes

• 08:00 – The agency landscape: how AI is reshaping service

• 13:00 – Digital transformation trends in APAC: AI, 5G, and more

• 16:30 – Ryf Quail: Economic outlook, CEO Club, and what’s different in 2024

• 21:00 – Networking for retail leadership

• 22:00 – Closing thoughts

Useful Links:

• NRF APAC

• Shopify Editions

• The Retail Podcast

Notable brands & technologies: Shopify, NRF, Grab, GoJek, FairPrice, LottePlus: The real impact of generative AI, what’s driving optimism in the region, and why Asia-Pacific is setting the pace for global retail.Don’t miss this candid conversation packed with actionable insights for retail executives, technology leaders, and anyone shaping the future of commerce.Connect:Follow and share for more expert interviews from the world’s top retail leaders.3. Episode Show Notes

If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Retail Podcast, leave a rating, and share with your network. For more interviews with retail’s top thinkers, visit theretailpodcast.com.

In this powerhouse episode of The Retail Podcast, Alex sits down with Ben Miller, VP of Content at Shoptalk, to unpack what’s really shaping the future of global retail.

From rising pressure on operational efficiency to the explosive growth of retail media and AI-powered discovery, this conversation goes deep into:

• How leaders are navigating uncertainty

• Why in-store tech investment is skyrocketing

• The mindset shift retailers need to thrive

• Key regional differences between the US and Europe

• What’s next for grocery, CPG, and digital influence

As Shoptalk expands globally—with shows in the US, Europe, and now Abu Dhabi—Ben shares what he’s hearing from hundreds of retail leaders and why cultural adaptability and digital-first thinking are now non-negotiables.

📍 Recorded inside The Hive offices, just weeks before Shoptalk Europe 2025.

Shoptalk, retail leadership, grocery trends, digital transformation, Ben Miller, retail podcast, retail innovation, retail media, AI in retail, physical vs digital retail, eCommerce strategy, store tech, retail mindset, European retail, CPG insights, retail search behavior, inventory management, loyalty programs, global retail events, Shoptalk Europe, Retail Podcast with Alex

retailpodcast, shoptalkeurope, futureofretail, grocerytrends, digitalretail, retailleadership, retailinnovation, ecommerce2025, instoretech, aiinretail

• Business

• Retail & Shopping

• Marketing

• Technology

• Entrepreneurship

• Leadership

• Innovation

• Grocery

• CPG

• Digital Strategy

  
  

(June 1, 2025)

Stereo MP3

• 128kbps or higher

• Loudness normalized to -16 LUFS

In this episode of Five Things Friday, Alex and Laura break down the strategies, trends, and tensions shaping the retail landscape.

Fresh from the World Retail Congress in London, Alex shares how Morrisons is rebuilding trust with a simple but powerful 5-5-5 framework. Laura brings sharp insights from Australia, highlighting Shein’s explosive $12B sales surge and what it means for domestic retailers.

They also explore:

• The overlooked role of inclusive leadership and how gender conversations need a reset

• Why marketplaces like Amazon are reshaping luxury commerce

• How brands can stay relevant in an era of shifting customer loyalty

• The impact of tariff changes and cost-of-living pressure on global expansion strategies

Whether you’re a CEO, operator, strategist, or startup founder — this episode delivers the frontline signals you need to make better decisions.

🎙️ Hosted by: Alex from The Retail Podcast

🎧 Guest Co-Host: Laura, Tech Advisor for mid-market and enterprise brands in Australia

Morrisons, Shein, Amazon, Retail Strategy, World Retail Congress, Ecommerce Trends, Marketplaces, Gender in Leadership, Inclusive Leadership, Cost of Living, Retail Podcast, Digital Commerce, Australia Retail, UK Retail, Five Things Friday

Welcome to Five Things Friday—your new weekly dose of insights, hosted by Laura & Alex from The Retail Podcast!

In this debut episode, we explore:

- 🌟 Luxury Wellness Clubs: How Sunday Sporting Club is reshaping social gatherings through fitness and meaningful connections.

- 🛍️ World Retail Congress 2025: A sneak peek at next week's event in London, highlighting innovative store tours at Selfridges, John Lewis, and IKEA.

- 📈 Retail Strategy Deep Dive: Analysis of groundbreaking retail strategies from James Hurman’s insightful collaboration with Klaviyo, exploring new approaches to consumer engagement.

Stay connected:

- [Sunday Sporting Club](https://www.sundaysportingclub.com/)

- [World Retail Congress](https://www.worldretailcongress.com/)

- Instagram: [Sunday Sporting Club](https://www.instagram.com/sundaysportingclub/)

Follow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss future episodes every Friday!

#FiveThingsFriday #RetailPodcast #RetailInsights #LuxuryWellness #RetailStrategy #WorldRetailCongress

Join Alex on The Retail Podcast as he speaks with Andrew Doyle, VP of Frontline Workers at Jabra, about how cutting-edge audio technology and AI are revolutionizing frontline communication in retail. Discover how Jabra enhances productivity, customer engagement, and employee satisfaction by enabling crystal-clear audio interactions and seamless integration with AI-driven applications. Andrew explores why voice-driven interfaces and noise-canceling headset technology are critical to maximizing efficiency and accuracy in noisy retail environments.

Key discussion points include:

• The strategic importance of superior audio solutions in frontline retail.

• Why AI-powered voice interfaces are the future of frontline operations.

• How noise-canceling technology significantly improves productivity and accuracy.

• Insights into Jabra’s innovative retail solutions, including the new Jabra Perform 75 headset.

Guest: Andrew Doyle, Vice President of Frontline Workers, Jabra

Host: Alex, The Retail Podcast

Learn More: www.jabra.com/perform

• 00:00 Introduction

• 01:03 About Jabra and GN Group’s legacy

• 02:39 Why frontline workers are critical to Jabra

• 04:09 Digital transformation in retail frontline

• 05:28 Voice as the future interface for AI

• 07:05 Benefits of using headsets: hands-free & clear audio

• 08:22 Importance of accurate audio transcription

• 09:28 Noise-canceling microphone technology

• 11:46 Real-world retail use-case examples

• 12:37 Introducing the Jabra Perform 75 headset

• 14:15 Battery life and design features for frontline

• 15:35 Audio intelligibility and 99% noise-cancellation

• 16:33 How to learn more and connect with Jabra

Timestamped Chapters (YouTube)

Retail, Technology, Business, Management, Artificial Intelligence, Productivity, Frontline Workers, Communication, Leadership, Jabra, Andrew Doyle

#RetailPodcast #Jabra #FrontlineWorkers #RetailTech #AIinRetail #VoiceTechnology #EmployeeEngagement #Productivity #Innovation

Returns are costing retailers nearly $900 billion annually—and the problem is accelerating.

In this episode, Sender Shamiss, CEO and co-founder of ReturnPro, joins The Retail Podcast to expose the operational chaos, financial impact, and future-facing solutions around retail returns.

We explore why returns are no longer a back-office issue—but a strategic lever that can drive or destroy margin. From brand protection and machine learning to reverse logistics and customer trust algorithms, Shamiss offers a blueprint for how retailers can take control of the returns crisis.

Key topics include:

• Why bracketing and e-commerce are fueling unsustainable return rates

• How forward-thinking brands are reducing return fraud

• What every retail exec should know about post-purchase operations

• The rise of trusted customer algorithms and “keep-it” logic

• Why returns policy now dictates customer loyalty

• The coming rise of the Chief Returns Officer

Key topics include:

• Why apparel and e-commerce are fueling a returns crisis

• How retailers can shift from defense to offense on returns

• The role of machine learning in solving returns complexity

• The hidden cost of return fraud—and how to fight back

• Why clear returns policies are now a key sales driver

• Visions of a future Chief Returns Officer

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Events mentioned:

• NRF 2025

• Manifest

• Shoptalk

• Reverse Logistics Association Conference

Retail, Returns Management, eCommerce, Reverse Logistics, Supply Chain, Retail Innovation, Customer Experience, Retail Operations, Sustainability, Fraud Prevention

Step backstage at the NRF APAC Big Show 2025 with Ryf Quail, Managing Director at Comexposium, as he reveals the powerful growth, strategic decisions, and transformative experiences shaping retail across Asia-Pacific. Ryf shares candid reflections from NRF APAC 2024, dives into what's driving the 2025 agenda, and highlights unique regional retail trends—from lightning-fast delivery revolutions in India to cross-cultural collaborations unlocking market expansion. Discover how NRF APAC is becoming the must-attend event that unites diverse leaders and innovative ideas from around the globe.

• 00:00 Introduction and Welcome

• 01:06 Reflecting on NRF APAC 2024 Success

• 03:17 Driving Forces Behind the 2025 Agenda

• 04:58 Diversity and Breakout Sessions Highlights

• 05:52 India's Quick Commerce Revolution

• 06:47 Overcoming Challenges in Cross-Border Expansion

• 07:18 Expanding CEO Networking Opportunities

• 08:27 New and Improved Exhibition Experiences

• 09:39 Global Innovation Showcase Overview

• 11:35 Singapore's Retail Excellence Tours

• 12:21 Impact of Global Economic Context on APAC Retail

• 15:02 Transformational Insights from FamilyMart

• 19:50 Expectations for NRF APAC 2025 Attendance

• 23:33 Creating a Movement in Retail

• 25:11 Closing Thoughts

Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for more insights from global retail leaders. Don’t miss NRF APAC 2025—visit our LinkedIn page website to register and join the future of retail.

Ryf Quail, NRF APAC, NRF Big Show, Comexposium, Retail conference, Asia-Pacific retail, retail innovation, quick commerce, ESG, sustainability in retail, cross-border retail expansion, retail trends 2025, retail CEO networking, retail event insights, Singapore retail, FamilyMart innovation, global retail trends