The Retail Podcast

How will the $32 Billion AI Agent market change APAC Retail?

In this episode, Ngai Yuen Low (AEON360) and Ryf Quail (Comexposium) reveal why your product pages need to be "machine-readable" by 2028 and how TikTok Shop is evolving beyond fashion.

🔥 Topics & Timestamps:(00:41) The "Wrapped" Strategy: Creating shareable retail moments(03:30) AI Shopping Agents: The $32B forecast for APAC(08:15) TikTok Shop: Moving beyond beauty into serious commerce(11:17) Subscription Retail: Lessons from Coupang & L'Oreal

👤 Connect with the Guests:

• Ngai Yuen Low: [Insert LinkedIn URL]

• Ryf Quail: [Insert LinkedIn URL]

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

• AEON Group: [Link if you have one]

• Comexposium: [Link if you have one]

🎙️ About The Retail Podcast:We help retailers and vendors cut through the noise to find what actually works. Hosted by industry veterans, we cover the real ROI of tech, from AI agents to the future of luxury.

👉 Subscribe for more APAC insights:https://retailnews.ai/

Ngai Yuen Low (AEON) and Ryf Quail discuss the rise of AI shopping agents, how retailers can use "Wrapped" marketing, and the explosion of subscription retail in Asia.

Ngai Yuen Low (Managing Director, AEON360) and Ryf Quail (Managing Director, Comexposium APAC) discuss why products need to be "machine-readable" for the next generation of AI agents and how platforms like TikTok Shop are maturing into serious sales channels.

Key Topics:

The "Wrapped" Strategy: Why retailers need shareable data moments like Spotify.

AI Shopping Agents: A $32B forecast for APAC and what it means for your product pages.

Social Commerce: TikTok Shop’s move beyond fashion into SMB growth.

Subscription Retail: Innovations from Coupang, L'Oreal, and the rise of bundling.

Mentioned in this episode:

AEON Group

Comexposium

Alibaba & Shopee

Visa Intelligent Commerce

Connect with the Guests:

Ngai Yuen Low: [Insert LinkedIn Link]

Ryf Quail: [Insert LinkedIn Link]

About The Retail Podcast: Hosted by a rotation of industry veterans, we bring you actionable insights from the frontlines of global retail. From NRF to Shoptalk, we cover the strategies, stories, and signals defining the future of commerce.

Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Website: https://retailnews.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/

It’s almost Christmas and this week’s Five Things cuts straight through the noise.

Alex and Simon break down what really happened this Black Friday, why the numbers matter less than the format shift, and what live shopping and brand activations tell us about where retail is heading next.

From muted UK retail sales and changing Black Friday behaviour, to why Ralph Lauren’s activations are quietly best-in-class, this episode focuses on what retailers should actually be paying attention to right now — not the headlines.

We also touch on:

• The rise of live, shoppable events and social commerce

• Why “Black Friday Month” is now the reality

• What brands are doing instead of discounting

• How tech companies are preparing for NRF 2026

• Why activation, not promotion, is the differentiator heading into the new year

This is a grounded, honest conversation for retailers, brands, and tech leaders navigating a tough market without losing relevance.

This year, NRF is turning the dial up on everything: AI, interactivity, speakers and scaling a 40,000‑person global audience.

In this episode, I sit down with Jill from NRF to unpack how the team is bringing the 2026 global theme “The Next Now” to life at the Big Show in the US – and why this could be one of the strongest speaker lineups yet.

We dig into how what’s next is already here for retail – from AI‑driven shopping journeys to a new generation of talent that expects to participate in content rather than sit through one‑to‑many lectures. Jill shares how NRF has re‑engineered parts of the show to serve that next generation without losing what long‑time attendees love.

🌐 Visit Retail News.AI, your premium destination for the most relevant, cutting-edge information in the retail sector: https://retailnews.ai/

💬 Which of these trends do you think will shape the future of retail the most — and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

✅ Subscribe now and never miss a new episode of The Retail Podcast.

https://www.youtube.com/@theretailpodcast?sub_confirmation=1

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Welcome to the official channel of THE RETAIL PODCAST, the leading community for global retail leaders, innovators, and changemakers.*

If you are struggling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, looking for insights from major conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, and EuroCIS, or aiming to connect your digital funnels to physical events with measurable ROI, this channel is designed for you.

➡️ Hosted by Alex Rezvan and joined by some of the most respected voices in the sector, The Retail Podcast brings sharp, actionable insights from industry veterans with backgrounds at Microsoft and Verizon, where projects worth over $1.5 billion were directed. Our mission is to help retailers and businesses that sell to retailers anticipate change, embrace technology, and unlock new growth opportunities.

Here you will discover exclusive interviews with executives and innovators, coverage of global retail conferences, analysis of technology and AI trends, in-depth explorations of fashion, grocery, luxury, and eCommerce, and thought leadership that keeps your strategy relevant all year long. As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, this channel does more than report the news—it shapes the conversation on the future of retail.

*Subscribe now and activate notifications so you never miss the strategies, stories, and signals defining tomorrow’s retail.*

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📲 Follow us on LinkedIn to stay connected with daily retail insights and industry updates.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/

📩 Contact us at: [email protected]

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🔗 References:

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00:00 – Intro: the Big Show is 38 days away

00:00:35 – Welcoming Jill back & post‑Thanksgiving catch‑up

00:00:56 – Why the show happens after Christmas & representing retailers

00:01:17 – Why this year’s speaker lineup feels different

00:01:37 – Theme “The Next Now” and the 2026 global framing

00:01:58 – One global theme, local flavors & 100+ countries at the Big Show

00:02:18 – AI, generative shopping engines & hockey‑stick tech change

00:02:40 – Next‑gen retail talent replacing the old guard

00:03:03 – What younger audiences want: conversation, not lectures

00:03:22 – Designing content for the up‑and‑coming generation

00:03:44 – Host reflection: last year’s opener & new‑world expectations

00:04:14 – The challenge of serving 4–5,000 people in one room

00:04:35 – You can’t please everyone, but you can make them learn

00:04:55 – What’s new #1: the dedicated AI Stage in the River Pavilion

00:05:17 – General AI vs generative AI content & expert roundtables

00:10:09 – Opening tradition: board chair interview & the 107th show

00:16:54 – 14 years of conversations and “see you in 38 days”

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#TheRetailPodcast #NRF

In this episode, recorded at MAPIC in Cannes, we sit down with Shane Eldstrom, CEO of United Developers, the company behind Place Vendôme in Qatar – a project that has already become the #3 shopping centre for high-end fashion in the entire Middle East, just a few years after opening.

Shane breaks down what makes Qatar’s retail market so distinctive, how Place Vendôme has scaled from opening to regional leader, and what international brands need to know before entering the Middle East.

🌐 Visit Retail News.AI, your premium destination for the most relevant, cutting-edge information in the retail sector: https://retailnews.ai/

💬 Which of these trends do you think will shape the future of retail the most — and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Welcome to the official channel of THE RETAIL PODCAST, the leading community for global retail leaders, innovators, and changemakers.*

If you are struggling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, looking for insights from major conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, and EuroCIS, or aiming to connect your digital funnels to physical events with measurable ROI, this channel is designed for you.

➡️ Hosted by Alex Rezvan and joined by some of the most respected voices in the sector, The Retail Podcast brings sharp, actionable insights from industry veterans with backgrounds at Microsoft and Verizon, where projects worth over $1.5 billion were directed. Our mission is to help retailers and businesses that sell to retailers anticipate change, embrace technology, and unlock new growth opportunities.

Here you will discover exclusive interviews with executives and innovators, coverage of global retail conferences, analysis of technology and AI trends, in-depth explorations of fashion, grocery, luxury, and eCommerce, and thought leadership that keeps your strategy relevant all year long. As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, this channel does more than report the news—it shapes the conversation on the future of retail.

*Subscribe now and activate notifications so you never miss the strategies, stories, and signals defining tomorrow’s retail.*

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📲 Follow us on LinkedIn to stay connected with daily retail insights and industry updates.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/

📩 Contact us at: [email protected]

--------

🔗 References:

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Cold open: Place Vendôme hits top 3 for luxury in the Middle East

00:19 – Welcome from MAPIC Cannes & intro to Shane Eldstrom

00:44 – Who are United Developers & what is Place Vendôme, Qatar?

01:11 – Why MAPIC? Learnings, innovation & global retail connections

01:41 – Is the Middle East one market? Busting the “single region” myth

01:59 – Qatar’s demographics, Doha, and World Cup–driven infrastructure

02:25 – Local luxury demand and what makes Qatar’s shoppers unique

02:42 – Opening on 15 April 2022 & Place Vendôme’s growth story

02:59 – Thinking of entering Qatar? What retailers should consider

03:35 – New ownership laws & direct entry for international brands

03:56 – The future of retail at Place Vendôme: service, authenticity, sustainability

04:35 – VIP lounge, social-media-powered styling & curated experiences

05:12 – Where to find more info on United Developers & Place Vendôme

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#TheRetailPodcast #PlaceVendome #Qatar #RetailRealEstate #MAPIC #FashionTrustArabia #LuxuryRetail #MENA

Black Friday isn’t a day anymore. Singles’ Day now stretches across weeks. Quick commerce promises groceries in 15–30 minutes. In this APAC edition of Five Things Friday, co‑hosts Ngai Yuen Low & Ryf Quail break down how peak season is changing across China, Southeast Asia, Australia and Japan – and what it really means for consumers, retailers and retail property.Joining from WP. Kuala Lumpur and the Greater Sydney Area, Ngai Yuen and Ryf compare how Singles’ Day has turned into a multi‑week promotion machine, why Black Friday lands very differently in Singapore vs Malaysia, and how Australia now treats November as a long sprint into Christmas.🌐 Visit Retail News.AI, your premium destination for the most relevant, cutting-edge information in the retail sector: https://retailnews.ai/💬 Which of these trends do you think will shape the future of retail the most — and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!✅ Subscribe now and never miss a new episode of The Retail Podcast.https://www.youtube.com/@theretailpodcast?sub_confirmation=1--------*Welcome to the official channel of THE RETAIL PODCAST, the leading community for global retail leaders, innovators, and changemakers.*If you are struggling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, looking for insights from major conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, and EuroCIS, or aiming to connect your digital funnels to physical events with measurable ROI, this channel is designed for you.➡️ Hosted by Alex Rezvan and joined by some of the most respected voices in the sector, The Retail Podcast brings sharp, actionable insights from industry veterans with backgrounds at Microsoft and Verizon, where projects worth over $1.5 billion were directed. Our mission is to help retailers and businesses that sell to retailers anticipate change, embrace technology, and unlock new growth opportunities.Here you will discover exclusive interviews with executives and innovators, coverage of global retail conferences, analysis of technology and AI trends, in-depth explorations of fashion, grocery, luxury, and eCommerce, and thought leadership that keeps your strategy relevant all year long. As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, this channel does more than report the news—it shapes the conversation on the future of retail.*Subscribe now and activate notifications so you never miss the strategies, stories, and signals defining tomorrow’s retail.*--------📲 Follow us on LinkedIn to stay connected with daily retail insights and industry updates.https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/📩 Contact us at: [email protected]🔗 References:--------⏱️ Timestamps • 0:00 – Intro: Five Things Friday APAC & on‑the‑road check‑in • 1:06 – Singles’ Day & Black Friday turn into full “seasons” • 2:03 – Black Friday in Singapore vs Malaysia • 2:39 – Australia’s Black Friday “monster” & Christmas build‑up • 3:40 – Spend forecasts, per‑capita estimates & retail optimism • 4:36 – Promo email overload, time‑bound offers & Cyber Monday as one festival • 5:53 – Hockey weekend, 16‑year‑old daughter & shopping plans • 6:12 – TikTok’s “last time” parenting trend and emotional moments • 7:18 – MAPIC recap: retail property finally turns a corner in Europe • 8:12 – Asian retailers (kidswear, Mr DIY) reshaping European high streets • 8:40 – Quick commerce scepticism: infra, riders and margin erosion • 10:03 – India’s BigBasket & the race for shorter delivery promises • 11:25 – Don Don Donki: favourite retailer in Asia & SE Asia juggernaut • 13:07 – Yen weakness, retail tourism & destination Don Don Donki stores in Japan • 14:17 – Store autonomy, non‑traditional management & wrap‑up--------#TheRetailPodcast #FiveThingsFriday #APACRetail #BlackFriday #SinglesDay #QuickCommerce #DonDonDonki #MrDIY #RetailTrends #ecommerce

Recorded live at MAPIC 2025 in Cannes, this episode features a rare deep-dive with Ian Sandford, President of Eurofund Group, one of Europe’s most influential retail property operators. With more than €2B in assets across Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and the UK, Eurofund sits at the centre of the sector’s biggest shifts.

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*Welcome to the official  channel of THE RETAIL PODCAST, the leading community for global retail leaders, innovators, and changemakers.*

If you are struggling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, looking for insights from major conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, and EuroCIS, or aiming to connect your digital funnels to physical events with measurable ROI, this channel is designed for you.
➡️ Hosted by Alex Rezvan and joined by some of the most respected voices in the sector, The Retail Podcast brings sharp, actionable insights from industry veterans with backgrounds at Microsoft and Verizon, where projects worth over $1.5 billion were directed. Our mission is to help retailers and businesses that sell to retailers anticipate change, embrace technology, and unlock new growth opportunities.

Here you will discover exclusive interviews with executives and innovators, coverage of global retail conferences, analysis of technology and AI trends, in-depth explorations of fashion, grocery, luxury, and eCommerce, and thought leadership that keeps your strategy relevant all year long. As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, this channel does more than report the news—it shapes the conversation on the future of retail.

*Subscribe now and activate notifications so you never miss the strategies, stories, and signals defining tomorrow’s retail.*

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📲 Follow us on LinkedIn to stay connected with daily retail insights and industry updates.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/

📩 Contact us at: [email protected]

--------
🔗 References:

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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Running a shopping centre is harder than people think
00:27 Recording live from MAPIC 2025 in Cannes
00:53 Eurofund Group scale & portfolio overview
01:39 What trends are shaping European retail real estate?
01:58 Debt market dynamics & competitive leverage
02:23 Global capital flows reshaping asset valuations
02:41 US startups & new entrants to Europe
03:03 Why retail is growing again
03:28 Expansion advice: why Berlin leads Europe
03:50 Hamburg & Munich property strengths
04:18 Experience, placemaking & guest-centric design
04:40 From “clients” to “guests”: linguistic and strategic shifts
05:13 Toilets, car parks & what they reveal about landlords
05:46 F&B’s rising share and its role in dwell time
06:23 “Get them and keep them”: the only rule
06:44 The question property executives always ask
07:06 Understanding retailer performance inside your centres
07:30 Are your retailers making money?
07:47 Retail media: clean environments vs screen overload
08:06 The biggest screen in Southern Europe (Lisbon)
08:27 Digital vs calmness: what consumers want
08:45 Closing thanks
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#TheRetailPodcast #propertymanagement #retailproperty 

Black Friday isn’t a day anymore. It’s a month-long pressure cooker – and it’s forcing retailers to rethink everything from promotions to product pages.

Correction note: In the episode I mention a jumper with 7% wool – the actual composition was 8% wool.

Why Black Friday has morphed into “Black Month” – and what that constant promo pressure does to margins, teams and customer expectations

How John Lewis is investing £800m to turn “stuffy department store” into experiential destination, complete with VIP member lounges that feel more like British Airways than traditional retail

The power of personal styling: a live story from a first-ever styling session at Aubin, and why curated outfits create genuine “dopamine dressing” moments for time-poor professionals

What luxury players like Joseph really want from tech and AI: tools that free staff to serve customers, not replace them

How AI is fast becoming your second customer – from ChatGPT’s personal shopping and gift guides to the need for product pages that go beyond specs and capture story, emotion and use-case

Why the next generation won’t “Google it”, they’ll ChatGPT it – and what that means for search, content and retail strategy

If you work in retail, ecommerce, CX, merchandising or digital, you’re already living these tensions: discount pressure, demand for experience, and the rise of AI-driven discovery.

This episode gives you a sharp, 13‑minute snapshot of where those trends are heading – and how brands like John Lewis, Aubin, Joseph, Tumi and M&S are shaping the next chapter.

🌐 Visit Retail News.AI, your premium destination for the most relevant, cutting-edge information in the retail sector: https://retailnews.ai/

💬 Which of these trends do you think will shape the future of retail the most — and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

✅ Subscribe now and never miss a new episode of The Retail Podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/@theretailpodcast?sub_confirmation=1

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If you are struggling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, looking for insights from major conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, and EuroCIS, or aiming to connect your digital funnels to physical events with measurable ROI, this channel is designed for you.

*Subscribe now and activate notifications so you never miss the strategies, stories, and signals defining tomorrow’s retail.*

--------
📲 Follow us on LinkedIn to stay connected with daily retail insights and industry updates.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/

📩 Contact us at: [email protected]

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⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro: Live from The Nest & 5 Things Friday

0:22 – Meet Simone and Matt (“Mr Retail”)

0:39 – Inbox meltdown: Black Friday offers everywhere

1:24 – “Black Month”: brand pressure and promo fatigue

2:05 – Ecommerce spikes, supply chain strain & Cyber Monday

3:03 – John Lewis obsession & the £800m store revamp

3:23 – VIP member lounge: borrowing from airline loyalty

3:48 – From stuffy department store to experiential retail hub

4:36 – Collabs (Topshop, Carhartt) & shifting demographics

4:53 – A personal styling story: first ever styling session

5:18 – Aubin, Scottish wool & dressing for NRF

5:50 – Dopamine dressing: moving beyond “blue, blue, blue”

6:35 – The stigma around personal shopping & who it’s “for”

6:57 – Democratizing styling: bringing personal shopping to everyone

7:45 – Quality vs price: fabric, longevity and cost-per-wear

9:13 – Inside Joseph: luxury retail, tech and AI in-store

9:34 – Use AI to free staff, not replace staff

11:05 – ChatGPT launches personal shopping & gift guides

11:34 – Two customers: the human and the machine

12:02 – Product pages for AI search: from specs to story

12:25 – Gen Z, AI search and the future of retail discovery

13:02 – Wrap-up & teaser for next week
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#TheRetailPodcast #RetailPodcast #BlackFriday #ExperientialRetail #PersonalShopping #AIinRetail #EcommerceStrategy #JohnLewis #YouTubePodcast

Five Things Friday UK delivers another rapid-fire breakdown of the biggest moves in retail.

In this episode, Simon and Alex unpack a week defined by reinvention, cultural relevance, and bold expansion plays.

Clarks is rewriting its story through Cloudsteppers concept stores, clothing, accessories, and a new marketplace model. Rituals has opened one of the most impressive experiential stores on Oxford Street, complete with its Mind Oasis and immersive sound-therapy treatments. The kidswear category heats up as Swedish and Asian brands expand into the UK and Europe. Victoria’s Secret tries to rebuild its global identity with body-positive positioning. And Skims secures a $225M funding round, lifting the brand to a $5B valuation and signalling a wider shift in the apparel landscape.

Alex also explores the rise of sustainability-led jewellery brands and the power of transparency, lab-grown diamonds, and renewable energy supply chains.

🌐 Visit Retail News.AI, your premium destination for the most relevant, cutting-edge information in the retail sector: https://retailnews.ai/

💬 Which of these trends do you think will shape the future of retail the most — and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

✅ Subscribe now and never miss a new episode of The Retail Podcast.

If you are struggling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, looking for insights from major conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, and EuroCIS, or aiming to connect your digital funnels to physical events with measurable ROI, this channel is designed for you.

Here you will discover exclusive interviews with executives and innovators, coverage of global retail conferences, analysis of technology and AI trends, in-depth explorations of fashion, grocery, luxury, and eCommerce, and thought leadership that keeps your strategy relevant all year long. As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, this channel does more than report the news—it shapes the conversation on the future of retail.

*Subscribe now and activate notifications so you never miss the strategies, stories, and signals defining tomorrow’s retail.*

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📩 Contact us at: [email protected]

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Julia Paulsen, Director of Ecommerce Nordics at Elkjøp Nordic (part of Currys plc), unpacks how to win when your store has two customers: the human and the AI assistant. We cover data quality, MACH, omnichannel execution, and the culture that turns OKRs into commercial outcomes.

🌐 Visit Retail News.AI, your premium destination for the most relevant, cutting-edge information in the retail sector: https://retailnews.ai/

💬 Which of these trends do you think will shape the future of retail the most — and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

✅ Subscribe now and never miss a new episode of The Retail Podcast.

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*Welcome to the official THE RETAIL PODCAST, the leading community for global retail leaders, innovators, and changemakers.*

If you are struggling to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, looking for insights from major conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, and EuroCIS, or aiming to connect your digital funnels to physical events with measurable ROI, this channel is designed for you.
➡️ Hosted by Alex Rezvan and joined by some of the most respected voices in the sector, The Retail Podcast brings sharp, actionable insights from industry veterans with backgrounds at Microsoft and Verizon, where projects worth over $1.5 billion were directed. Our mission is to help retailers and businesses that sell to retailers anticipate change, embrace technology, and unlock new growth opportunities.

Here you will discover exclusive interviews with executives and innovators, coverage of global retail conferences, analysis of technology and AI trends, in-depth explorations of fashion, grocery, luxury, and eCommerce, and thought leadership that keeps your strategy relevant all year long. As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, this channel does more than report the news—it shapes the conversation on the future of retail.

*Subscribe now and activate notifications so you never miss the strategies, stories, and signals defining tomorrow’s retail.*

--------
📲 Follow us on LinkedIn to stay connected with daily retail insights and industry updates.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/

📩 Contact us at: [email protected]

--------
🔗 References:

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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:23 Welcome Julia Paulsen (Elkjøp Nordic / Currys)
00:40 What Elkjøp is + Nordic footprint
01:05 Market share + MediaMarkt history
01:49 Norway’s biggest e-commerce revolution
02:32 Two customers: human and AI assistant
05:26 “Menneske og maskin”: human + machine
06:54 How to make PDPs readable for virtual assistants
07:22 Agent vs human shopping missions
08:33 Last mile & omnichannel performance
09:42 Multi-market ecommerce + ContentSquare
12:13 Nordic stores as a strategic advantage
14:22 Culture, OKRs and performance
17:21 Leadership during pressure
19:33 The next 2–3 years of digital retail
20:52 Why structured product data is the battlefield
22:26 21,000 signals → +6% checkout completion
23:42 Closing thoughts

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#TheRetailPodcast #Retail #Ecommerce #AI #AgenticAI #Elkjop #Currys #FutureOfRetail #MACHAlliance #DigitalLeadership #CustomerExperience