What if your store didn’t sell anything – but still made people buy?

In this live episode of The Retail Reality Show, recorded at LIGANOVA's 'NEXT is NOW' 30 Years Anniversary Celebrations in Stuttgart, we dive into the transformation of physical retail, from transactional spaces to immersive brand experiences.

Julia Bischof, EMEA Retail Director at Le Creuset, shares how the iconic cookware brand is evolving from wholesale to a modern direct-to-consumer strategy using community events sensory experiences, and emotional storytelling to attract a younger audience.

Meike Hartelust, Managing Director at LIGANOVA Netherlands B.V., reveals how stores are becoming media channels: curated, flexible, and designed to connect with consumers on a deeper level.

Together with our hosts Nino Bergfeld and Nicolas Kröger, they discuss:

• How to build community-driven retail formats

• The role of experiential retail in premium DTC brands

• Why Gen Z is falling in love with enameled cast-iron cookware 

• Why measuring foot traffic isn’t enough – and what KPIs really matter

• How to integrate omnichannel retail strategy without losing human connection

Whether you’re a retail leader, a brand strategist, or just obsessed with the future of physical stores, this episode is packed with insights on modern retail transformation, emotional brand connection, and community marketing.

Retail is moving faster than ever.

But is it moving in the right direction?

In this episode of The Retail Reality Show, Yael and Nino sit down with Dominick Miserandino, founder of RTM Nexus, to unpack the contradictions shaping the future of the industry.

From AI-driven automation to store closures and media scandals, we explore the gap between hype and reality, and what it takes to lead when trust is low and expectations are high.

What to expect:

• Why most retailers still don’t trust their own AI
• Why store closures create more than just bad press
• Why leadership starts in the lobby, not the boardroom
• Why the human side of retail still matters more than ever

🎧 A fast, funny and surprisingly grounded conversation about the very real tensions behind today’s retail headlines.

Listen in now to find out Dominick’s advice on how to lead through the chaos.

What happens when the customer journey no longer starts with a search?

In this episode of The Retail Reality Show Shorts, Nino Bergfeld and Nicolas Kröger explore how large language models like ChatGPT and Perplexity are turning into full shopping interfaces, from discovery to checkout.

LLMs aren’t just suggesting products.

They’re becoming the new point of sale.

💡This episode dives into:

• Why SEO is no longer enough in a world without “Page 1”
• What content needs to rank in the age of prompts
• How retailers can stay visible when the interface is the brand

Tune in to understand how AI changes the way people discover, choose, and buy.

Temu, Action & Co. wirbeln den Handel auf – mit Preisen, bei denen klassische Händler kaum mithalten können. 

Doch Preisdruck ist nur ein Symptom. 

Was steckt wirklich hinter dem Wandel im Konsumverhalten?

In dieser Episode der Retail Reality Show sprechen Nino Bergfeld und Nicolas Kröger mit Prof. Dr. Thomas Rudolph von der Universität St. Gallen über die größten Herausforderungen für Händler und über die neuen Spielregeln, die jetzt zählen.

Jetzt reinhören, und erfahren:

• Wie Kund:innen heute denken, suchen – und kaufen
• Warum klassische Loyalitätsprogramme nicht mehr funktionieren
• Welche Rolle AI SEO (“GEO”) künftig für Sichtbarkeit und Relevanz spielt

💡 Eine Folge voller Insights, Marktbeispiele und klarer Empfehlungen für alle, die den Handel von morgen mitgestalten wollen.

Kaffee, Community und keine Bots.

Nespresso setzt neue Maßstäbe im Retail.

Mit dem neuen Nespresso House in München eröffnet die Marke nicht nur einen Store, sondern setzt auch ein Statement:

für Menschlichkeit, Beziehung und kulturelle Relevanz.

In dieser Episode der Retail Reality Show spricht Nino mit Lea Drusio, Marketing Director bei Nespresso Deutschland, über eine zentrale Frage im Handel:

Was kann Technologie leisten – und was eben nicht?

Es geht um die bewusste Entscheidung gegen Technologie im Vordergrund – und für echte Begegnung im physischen Raum.

Warum ist Nähe ein strategisches Asset?

Was bedeutet Customer Centricity heute wirklich?

Und wie bringt man globale Markenidentität mit lokaler Community in Einklang?

Während viele Marken noch mit AI-Integration beschäftigt sind, setzt Nespresso mit Menschlichkeit als Strategie neue Standards.

🎧 Jetzt reinhören und erfahren, warum echte Verbindung im Retail nicht automatisierbar ist.

What makes retail tech succeed – and why does most of it still fail?

In this episode, we speak with Joel Bar-El, Chairman of Trax and CEO of Xpand, who’s spent 30 years building tech that actually transforms retail.

From shelf analytics and computer vision to fully autonomous, robot-operated stores:

Joel shares what he’s learned building two unicorns, and why most innovation still ignores the shopper.

🎧 Hear why:

• AI is infrastructure, not a trend
• Retail media won’t scale without shopper value
• Automation must start with real-world constraints

Tune in for a candid conversation that cuts through the buzzwords and gets to the operational truth of retail innovation.

Tariffs are rising. AI is underdelivering. 

And even Swiss shoppers are embracing discount mode.

In this special episode, hosts Yael, Nicolas and Nino explore how retail leaders are adapting to an industry in flux.

Global trade disruptions, shaky AI tools, and changing shopper habits all point to one thing: uncertainty is here to stay.

From shifting supply chains to AI fatigue and unpredictable consumer behavior, this is what we dive into:

• How leadership is evolving in a high-pressure environment
• Why retailers are rethinking go-to-market strategies
• What AI can actually deliver – and what it can’t

🧠 Real talk, real context – in 20 minutes.

In dieser Live-Episode der Retail Reality Show, aufgenommen auf der Salesforce Agentforce World Tour in Frankfurt, spricht Host Nino Bergfeld mit Prof. Dr. Peter Gentsch über die nächste große Welle im Handel:

Agentic AI und wie sie die Spielregeln für Marken und Konsument:innen verändert. Denn wer heute nach einem Produkt sucht, fragt nicht mehr Amazon oder Google – sondern promptet.

Die neuen Gatekeeper heißen Sprachmodelle. Und sie entscheiden mit, was gekauft wird. Wer heute im Retail relevant bleiben will, muss verstehen, wie KI denkt, entscheidet und handelt.

Wir sprechen außerdem darüber:

• Wie KI-Systeme Kaufentscheidungen beeinflussen
• Warum klassische SEO-Strategien nicht mehr ausreichen
• Wie Marken in Sprachmodellen wie GPT & Perplexity sichtbar bleiben
• Was Agentic AI für Unternehmen intern und extern bedeutet

Eine Episode, die zeigt, warum Marken jetzt handeln müssen – bevor andere die Entscheidung treffen.

What does it take to lead through uncertainty?

In this episode, retail strategist and The Retail Pilot host Ken Pilot shares how he went from avoiding tech meetings to backing the very platforms transforming the industry.

Alongside Yael and Nicolas, Ken – former GAP & J.Crew exec – dives into:

– How tariffs are shaking up sourcing strategies

– What leaders must unlearn to stay relevant

– Why tech literacy matters more than ever

From PDPs to AI to China tariffs, Ken breaks down the complex realities of retail – and how to build teams equipped to handle them.

If you’re leading in retail today, this one’s for you.

Can fast fashion ever be sustainable?

In this eye-opening episode of The Retail Reality Show, founder and CEO of Circular Transparency, and former H&M Group leader, Nina Shariati, joins Nino in unpacking the hard truths and bold possibilities for an industry that needs to transform – not just to tweak.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why SHEIN’s model works within a broken system
• What’s missing from today’s circular economy narrative
• How the Digital Product Passport could drive real change
• Why sustainability isn’t a fashion problem – it’s an economic one

This isn’t a conversation about swapping polyester for organic cotton.

It’s about redesigning the rules, from supply chains to shareholder expectations, to make sustainability inevitable, not optional.

We talk circularity, climate risk, SHEIN, supply chains, legislation, and what leadership really means in fashion today. A must-listen for anyone thinking beyond green labels looking for real transformation.

Tune in now!