The Retail Podcast

Global retail is moving fast and this first international briefing looks beyond the US to track where the biggest growth stories are happening.

In this episode, we cover Frasers Group’s reported $2 billion takeover bid for Hugo Boss, JD.com’s UK expansion through Joybuy and its summer Black Friday positioning, Lulu Retail’s ambitious store growth across the GCC, Dubai’s two-month summer shopping push, and Jenni Kayne’s move into international markets through partners including Selfridges and TNT in Toronto.

Key themes include:

International retail expansion

Luxury and premium brand positioning

Middle East retail investment

Holiday shopping moving earlier

E-commerce growth and loyalty

Global department store and marketplace strategy

This briefing is designed to track retail stories outside the US and spotlight where consumer demand, investment, and brand expansion are shifting globally.

Subscribe for more international retail briefings.

Madrid isn’t just a tourist destination. It is becoming a retail destination.

In this episode, we explore how Sephora and Calvin Klein are using street-level activations in Madrid to create community, experience and engagement.

What does this reveal about the future of physical retail?

Retail doesn’t happen in the boardroom. It happens where customers

Madrid is famous for tourism, culture, tapas and beautiful architecture.

But walk through Gran Vía and another story starts to appear.

In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we explore how Madrid is evolving from a tourist hotspot into a serious retail destination. From Sephora’s flower-led Mother’s Day activation to Calvin Klein’s floral fragrance launch, the streets of Madrid reveal how physical retail is being reshaped by community, experience and customer engagement.

This episode looks at why the most important retail signals are not always found in boardrooms, strategy decks or technology showcases. Sometimes they are happening directly in front of customers, in the queue, on the street and at the point where culture meets commerce.

You’ll hear about:

Madrid’s shift from tourism destination to shopping destination

Sephora’s experiential retail activation

Calvin Klein’s Euphoria floral launch

Why physical retail still matters

The three speeds of retail: community and culture, experience, and intelligence

What European retail leaders should watch on the Road to Paris

This episode is part of The Road to Paris, exploring the cities, stores and ideas shaping the future of retail ahead of NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show Europe in Paris.

Recorded live at NRF APAC 2026, this episode features Toru Koyama, Executive Officer & Head of IT and Digital Promotion Group at H2O Retailing Corp., and Executive Officer & GM of Digital Innovation Division at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, Inc.

In this conversation, Toru shares H2O Retailing’s transformation journey — from backend IT and ERP foundations to CRM, unified commerce, retail media, customer data platforms and AI-powered customer communication.

The central idea is the “communication retailer”: a retailer that does not simply sell products in-store, but builds trusted, permission-based relationships with customers across stores, e-commerce, data, service and AI-enabled interactions.

Guest Bio

Toru Koyama is Executive Officer & Head of IT and Digital Promotion Group at H2O Retailing Corp. and Executive Officer & GM of Digital Innovation Division at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, Inc. His background includes roles at IBM Japan, Pfizer and PwC, and he previously served as President & Representative Director of Isetan Mitsukoshi System Solutions, where he led structural reforms. He assumed his current H2O Retailing roles in April 2021 and has been associated with the company’s group-wide digital transformation.

I was ranked number one on the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Retail 2026 list this week.

I am proud of it.

But this episode is not really about who is number one. It is about what the retail industry should be measuring in the first place.

No ranking system is perfect. No algorithm can fully measure judgement, generosity, lived experience, commercial impact, or trust. But visible work matters: content, speaking, publishing, interviews, and contribution that is out in the open.

For too long, recognition in retail has often depended on access, visibility, historic relationships, and who gets invited into the room. Those things have value, but they cannot be the only measure.

Thought leadership should not be a lifetime achievement award. It should be evidence of what someone is contributing now.

Are they listening to customers?
Are they sharing useful insight?
Are they helping people make better decisions?
Are they putting ideas into the market?
Are they giving more than they take?

This episode also recognises the people who rarely get enough credit: vendors, partners, event teams, technology builders, exhibitors, supporters, and the people helping move the retail ecosystem forward every day.

The Retail Podcast now reaches almost 2,000 listeners a week globally — with no paid audience, no bought followers, and no shortcut. Just people choosing to listen.

So the question is:

In 2026, what should the retail industry actually recognise as thought leadership?

Links:
Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Retail 2026 list: https://www.thinkers360.com/top-50-global-thought-leaders-and-influencers-on-retail-2026/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast

WooCommerce is live at Shoptalk Europe in Barcelona, and the team is bringing open-source ecommerce conversations, enterprise growth strategy, and a local Barcelona touch to the show floor.

In this episode, we cover WooCommerce’s presence at Booth B30, where attendees can meet the Woo team, speak with developers and specialists, and explore how open-source ecommerce can support online store growth. The conversation also points to platform features, enterprise ecommerce capabilities, and practical discussions around scaling digital commerce businesses.

The episode also highlights WooCommerce’s exclusive local swag: premium candles from Santaló Candles, a Barcelona-based merchant. Plus, WooCommerce is co-hosting a Rooftop Reset & Happy Hour with Avalara, Mollie, and PayPal, giving attendees another way to connect during Shoptalk Europe.

Key themes in this episode:
Open-source ecommerce
WooCommerce for scaling online stores
Enterprise ecommerce capabilities
Shoptalk Europe Barcelona
WooCommerce Booth B30
Ecommerce platform features
Merchant growth strategies
Retail and ecommerce networking

Featured context:

Visit WooCommerce at Booth B30 during Shoptalk Europe to meet the team, ask about the platform, and learn more about their event activities.

Retail AI is moving quickly — and this episode looks at what that means for retailers, ecommerce platforms, brands, and technology leaders.

In this discussion, the hosts cover a range of retail and commerce stories, including Currys in the UK, European retail activity, Hasbro, TikTok influencers, Rep AI, Claude, Debenhams, and the wider shift toward AI-powered retail platforms. The episode also touches on funding activity, customer behaviour, platform launches, and how retail companies are responding to new technology.

Key themes in this episode include:

• AI in retail and ecommerce
• Currys and UK consumer electronics
• Hasbro and brand-led retail innovation
• TikTok influencers and commerce discovery
• Rep AI and retail technology funding
• Claude and AI platform relevance
• Debenhams and retail AI developments
• European retail market signals
• How customer behaviour is changing

This episode is especially useful for retail leaders, ecommerce teams, founders, marketers, and anyone tracking how AI is reshaping commerce.

Guest/context note: the transcript references Alex, Simon, and Christian, but the provided transcript does not include full names, roles, or bios.

Subscribe for more conversations on retail technology, ecommerce, AI, marketplaces, and the future of digital commerce.

00:00:00 — Episode Intro: Wednesday Retail News Roundup
00:00:22 — Welcome and What’s Coming Up
00:01:13 — Shop Talk and European Retail Signals
00:01:31 — Live Coverage and Market Context
00:01:50 — Currys and UK Electronics Retail
00:02:23 — Nordic CEO Discussion and Growth Context
00:03:01 — Retail Risk, Warning Signs and Monthly Updates
00:04:20 — Hasbro Launch Discussion
00:05:25 — Toy Companies, TikTok Influencers and Brand Strategy
00:05:49 — Rep AI and Retail AI Funding
00:06:09 — Claude and AI Platform Direction
00:06:51 — Investor Interest and Retail AI Momentum
00:07:22 — AI in Retail and Customer Behaviour
00:07:36 — Debenhams and Platform Launches
00:08:17 — Retail Data, AI Potential and Next Moves
00:08:42 — Final Segment: Retail AI Follow-Up

Retail brand protection is no longer just about stopping counterfeit products. For many brands, the bigger issue is margin loss.

In this episode of The Retail Podcast, Alex speaks with Megan Harman, founder of Thorn Crest, about how unauthorized sellers, copycat products, online price undercutting, broken case packs, and weak reseller agreements can damage retail profitability.

Megan explains how a small online pricing issue can quickly become a wider retail problem. If an unauthorized seller undercuts a brand’s intended price online, the brand may lower its own price to win the sale. Retailers using dynamic pricing may then match that lower price, and buyers may ask for price protection. What starts as a marketplace issue can become a full-channel margin problem.

The episode also explores why counterfeits are only one part of brand protection. Megan breaks down the different risks facing consumer electronics, apparel, CPG, beauty, and skincare brands, from stolen goods and mass liquidation to tampered packaging and social media copycats.

Most importantly, Megan explains why seller takedowns are often only a temporary fix. The long-term solution is rebuilding the foundation: authorized reseller agreements, updated warranty language, stronger distribution contracts, and clearer criteria for who is allowed to represent the brand.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why brand protection is really margin protection
• How unauthorized sellers create a race to the bottom
• Why online pricing problems can bleed into physical retail
• The difference between counterfeits, dupes, and unauthorized sellers
• Why consumer electronics, beauty, apparel, and CPG face different risks
• Why litigation is not always the best first step
• How brands can use reseller agreements and warranty language to regain control
• Why protecting good retail partners matters as much as removing bad sellers

Guest: Megan Harman, founder of Thorn Crest
Host: Alex, The Retail Podcast

Connect with Megan:
LinkedIn: Megan Harman
Email: Megan at Thorn Crest
Website: https://www.thorncrest.com/brand-protection

Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for more conversations on retail strategy, e-commerce, marketplaces, brand protection, consumer brands, and the future of retail.

The future of retail is being shaped by Asia.

Recorded live at NRF APAC 2026, this conversation features Isabelle Allen, Global Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure at KPMG, discussing the trends transforming retail worldwide.

Topics include:

✅ Why Asia is becoming a retail innovation powerhouse

✅ How GLP-1 medications are changing consumer behavior

✅ AI adoption challenges facing retailers

✅ The growing wellness economy

✅ Technology modernization and data readiness

✅ What retailers must do to stay competitive

From AI to consumer spending shifts, this episode explores the forces that will define the next decade of retail.

Guest:
Isabelle Allen (KPMG)

Host:
Jill Dvorak (National Retail Federation)

Ryf Quail joins Alex to walk through the NRF 2026 APAC agenda just before the show opens in Singapore.

This episode is a practical guide to the sessions, speakers and themes shaping this year’s event, from AI-powered supply chains and retail media to omnichannel, luxury, malls, content commerce, Japan-style transformation and the rise of APAC as a global retail growth engine.

Ryf explains why this year’s show has strong momentum, including a larger expo footprint, strong regional attendance and growing interest from markets including China, the Philippines and Indonesia. He then breaks down key agenda moments featuring leaders and companies including Matt Shay, Isabelle Allen, Anish Melwani, Scott Price, Woolworths Group, RELEX Solutions, Moloco, Pacvue, AEON360, DFI Retail Group, FairPrice Group, CJ Olive Young, Shiseido Japan, Maxim’s Food Group, CAA, Kering, Shopify, Scanteak, Manochi, OnTheList, Nestlé Japan, SM Supermalls, Reliance Brands Limited and Authentic Brands Group.

Key themes in this episode:

Why NRF 2026 APAC is expanding in Singapore

The biggest keynote and breakout sessions to watch

How AI is changing supply chain, stores, search and customer experience

Why retail media is becoming a major platform for growth

How APAC retailers are approaching omnichannel differently

Why malls remain central to retail in Southeast Asia

What India, Japan, China and Southeast Asia reveal about retail’s next phase

How content, talent and entertainment are becoming retail growth channels

Whether you are attending NRF APAC, following the agenda remotely, or tracking the future of retail in Asia Pacific, this episode gives you a clear roadmap of the conversations that matter.

This week on Five Things Friday UK, Alex and Simone unpack the biggest retail stories shaping the UK and European market.

The episode covers Ocado’s major tech partnership, Lidl overtaking Morrisons, and why the UK grocery market continues to be watched globally as a model for digital and physical retail. Alex also shares reflections from recent retail visits across Europe, including the Coach pop-up at Selfridges and the House of Rituals in Amsterdam.

Simone brings two key stories: M&S’s staff safety initiative with WalkSafe, and the unexpected but strategic collaboration between Little Greene and Hunter. The conversation also explores retail theft, frontline worker protection, experiential retail, lifestyle-led collaborations, and the rise of IP licensing in fashion and retail.

Featuring discussion around Coach, Selfridges, Ocado, Lidl, Morrisons, M&S, WalkSafe, JD Sports, Waitrose, Tesco, Rituals, Little Greene, Hunter, Marc Jacobs and LVMH.

In this episode:

Ocado’s role as a grocery technology platform
Lidl overtaking Morrisons in UK grocery
M&S, WalkSafe and staff safety
Retail theft and frontline worker protection
Rituals and the future of experiential retail
Little Greene x Hunter and lifestyle-led brand collaborations
Marc Jacobs, LVMH and IP licensing

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