On this week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, Melissa Moore chats with Thomas Ennis, CEO of Thomas Ennis Group. They explore his 35-year retail career in fresh food, the mentors who shaped his path and his people-first leadership style. Thomas shares insights on building strong teams, learning from both successes and failures in retail expansion and adapting through innovation. They also discuss the role of AI in modern retail operations and Thomas’s advice for independent retailers on growth, resilience and work-life balance.

Key Takeaways:

• Mentorship and leadership go hand in hand.
• Strong teams thrive on respect, development and clear expectations.
• Failure fuels growth: learn, adapt and try again.
• AI enhances retail operations without replacing the human touch.
• Work-life balance is essential for long-term success.

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, Melissa Moore is joined by Melissa Minkow, Global Director of Retail Strategy at CI&T. They dive into the latest consumer trends shaping the future of retail. The discussion covers how AI, digital transformation and evolving search behaviors are reshaping the retail landscape, as well as the shifting nature of consumer loyalty. Melissa highlights practical strategies for retailers to meet changing consumer expectations and leverage technology to enhance the shopping experience.

Retailers of all sizes will benefit from understanding how AI and digital trends are transforming shopping behaviors. Melissa’s insights offer actionable strategies to optimize customer experiences, anticipate holiday season behaviors and ensure your brand remains relevant in a fast-evolving market.

Key Takeaways:

• 75% of consumers are now using AI tools during their shopping journeys.
• Search engines are becoming more influential than marketplaces in guiding purchases.
• Consumer loyalty is shifting from emotional attachment to transactional behavior.
• The “app gap” highlights a disconnect between consumer behavior and retailer offerings.
• Social media continues to play a central role in influencing shopping decisions.
• Consumers increasingly prioritize experiences over traditional brand loyalty.
• Today’s savvy consumers are firmly in control of their shopping journeys.

See the full report here: https://ciandt.com/us/en-us/report/retail-tech-reality-check

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected] 

In this episode of The Retail Tea Break, Melissa Moore sits down with Dan Bond, VP of Marketing at RevLifter. They explore how retailers can stop wasting their promotion budgets and start running smarter, more profitable intelligent offers. With over 20 years in marketing and MarTech, Dan explains how data-driven promotions not only delight customers but also keep sales moving, stock under control and margins healthy.

Discussion topics:

• Why traditional discounting strategies damage profits and brand value
• How retailers can make their promotion budgets work harder
• The role of customer behaviour data in creating the right offer, at the right time
• Practical ways to turn browsers into buyers without destroying margins
• How smart promotions keep stock moving while protecting profitability
• The future of promotions: balancing customer expectations with sustainable margins

Huge thanks to RevLifter for sponsoring this episode. Test drive RevLifter for 90 days for free. Request a demo to see how machine learning, smart targeting and personalised promotions can transform your eCommerce strategy. Find out how they help retailers boost conversions and increase revenue:

• RevLifter website: https://www.revlifter.com/
• RevLifter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revlifter/
• RevLifter on YOuTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlMg7QUHJnHC8KyhW93Z_A

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by Nora Zukauskaite, Integrated Marketing Director at TikTok Shop. With a career across creative, tech and entertainment, Nora now leads the way in discovery commerce and digital-first retail. This is a phenomenal episode,  full of insights and exciting sneak peak.  Grab your notebook and your cup of tea and enjoy this game changing episode!

We discuss:

• Why TikTok Shop is driving discovery commerce success
• Which product categories are growing fastest
• How TikTok Shop is shaping the creator economy
• The power of live shopping for brands and consumers
• Opportunities and challenges heading into the Golden Quarter.

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

Huge thanks to RevLifter for sponsoring this episode. Test drive RevLifter for 90 days for free. Request a demo to see how machine learning, smart targeting and personalised promotions can transform your eCommerce strategy. Find out how they help retailers boost conversions and increase revenue:

• RevLifter website: https://www.revlifter.com/
• RevLifter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revlifter/
• RevLifter on YOuTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlMg7QUHJnHC8KyhW93Z_A

Every customer who walks through your door is an opportunity, but only if you know how to convert them. In this episode of The Retail Tea Break, Melissa Moore chats with Mark Ryski, retail analytics expert and author of Store Traffic Is a Gift. Mark unpacks why store traffic is often undervalued, how conversion is the missing link to sales success and what practical steps retailers can take to maximise every visitor.

Whether you manage a single shop or a nationwide chain, this conversation offers practical, game-changing advice on traffic, conversion and sales.

• Mark’s early journey into traffic counting and why it transformed his view of retail.
• Why store traffic is a “gift” and why retailers must treat it as a scarce resource.
• The outdated ways retailers still manage staffing and why they need to change.
• Why focusing on conversion rates matters more than simply chasing traffic.
• The challenges retailers face in implementing and using traffic data effectively.
• “Super-converting stores”: how to identify them and learn from their best practices.
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• Traffic without conversion is wasted potential, sales success relies on both.
• Store traffic is precious and should be treated as a non-renewable resource.
• Simple data insights empower frontline teams and drive accountability.
• Only half of retailers measure traffic and many fail to use the data they collect.
• Benchmark your best stores: small conversion gains across the chain mean big revenue increases.
• Labour allocation matters, align staff schedules with peak traffic to capture more sales.

Purchase Mark’s latest book on Amazon: Store Traffic Is A Gift

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

Huge thanks to RevLifter for sponsoring this episode. Test drive RevLifter for 90 days for free. Request a demo to see how machine learning, smart targeting and personalised promotions can transform your eCommerce strategy. Find out how they help retailers boost conversions and increase revenue:

• RevLifter website: https://www.revlifter.com/
• RevLifter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revlifter/

RevLifter on YOuTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlMg7QUHJnHC8KyhW93Z_A

Melissa Moore chats with Michael Walsh, Marketing Director at Dubarry of Ireland, the luxury brand known for premium footwear and lifestyle apparel. Michael shares how Dubarry evolved from a niche sailing boot maker into a global lifestyle brand while staying true to Irish heritage and craftsmanship.

They discuss:

• Retail innovation, including pop-ups, flagship stores and direct-to-consumer strategies.
• Customer-driven product design, from sailing boots to country boots.
• Digital marketing, sustainability and creating unforgettable in-store experiences.
• Expansion plans and upcoming collections in equestrian, dog accessories and performance footwear.

Key Takeaways:

• Heritage brands can evolve while staying true to craftsmanship.
• Direct engagement with consumers can overcome challenges like price perception and brand awareness.
• Retail associates are educators, not just salespeople, enhancing customer loyalty.
• Listening to customers drives meaningful product innovation.

Whether you’re a retail professional, brand enthusiast, or simply curious about how heritage brands adapt in 2025, this episode offers a masterclass in evolution, innovation, and customer-centric retail

Visit Dubarry of Ireland’s website www.dubarry.com

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

Huge thanks to RevLifter for sponsoring this episode. Test drive RevLifter for 90 days for free. Request a demo to see how machine learning, smart targeting and personalised promotions can transform your eCommerce strategy. Find out how they help retailers boost conversions and increase revenue:

• RevLifter website: https://www.revlifter.com/
• RevLifter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revlifter/
• RevLifter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlMg7QUHJnHC8KyhW93Z_A

Season 9 of the award-winning Retail Tea Break Podcast is here!

This season, host Melissa Moore brings conversations with trailblazing retailers, industry experts and global brands covering the latest insights and innovations shaping the retail industry.

Topics include:

• Discovery commerce, live shopping & TikTok Shop
• The fundamentals of successful retail stores
• Store traffic as a driver of sales success
• Scaling challenges faced by growing retailers
• Evolution of family businesses across four generations
• Craftsmanship, heritage & innovation in retail experiences
• AI and technology transforming customer journeys
• Insights into holiday shopping trends and so much more.

Of course, there’s plenty of tech and AI in the mix too, because it’s transforming the way we all connect with customers. So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen in.. to the season 9 of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

In the meantime, catch up on the past 8 seasons on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

In this bold and brilliantly candid Retail Room 101 edition of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by one of the most outspoken voices in the industry, The Retail Maverick Andrew Busby. The well-known retail industry expert, speaker and writer,  has extensive experience and knowledge in the retail sector, particularly in areas such as retail technology, customer experience, and emerging trends. 

In this episode Andrew tackles these trends, terms and technologies that might sound impressive in boardrooms… but often fall flat on the shop floor! From industry jargon to shiny new tech, he doesn’t hold back as he shares what he’d banish from the retail world and what’s actually worthy of our attention. This episode is packed with healthy provocation, a few laughs and some home truths every retailer needs to hear. It’s a fantastic final episode of season 8!

In this episode we discuss:

•  The retail buzzwords that have lost all meaning
• The importance of context in customer experience
• Why Net Promoter Scores might be misleading
• The human edge in the age of AI
• What might come after the smartphone
• Retail’s cybersecurity wake-up call
• Tech that’s truly transforming in-store experiences

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: Andrew Busby | LinkedIn

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your retail insights.

And don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join the conversation! Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today! Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

In the 100th episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by the storytelling legend, Charlie Boyle. The customer experience expert champions the powerful message: human skills are still the heartbeat of retail.

Charlie describes why emotional intelligence, empathy and effective communication are not just “soft skills”, they are critical, measurable and trainable capabilities that define great customer and team experiences in today’s retail landscape. Human skills aren’t an optional extra, they’re the foundation of the experience economy. Whether in a flagship store or behind a screen, retail success depends on authentic connection, emotional intelligence, and purpose-led culture.

We discuss:

• Why it’s time to stop calling them “soft skills” — and start building them strategically
• The underestimated power of emotional connection in both physical and digital retail
• How AI and automation are freeing us to lean into our most human strengths
• Recognition vs. reward: the free leadership tool that transforms culture and retention
• Creating a frictionless, feel-good environment for staff and customers alike
• Real-life examples from retail, Amazon, the car industry and beloved Irish brands including Magee’s of Donegal.

Thank you to our listeners for supporting 100 episodes of insights, stories and retail wisdom. Here's to the next 100! Grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

🔗 Resources:

• Customer Experience Excellence Ireland – Customer Experience Excellence Ireland | CX | Home
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• Charlie book: The Future is Human– Amazon

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today! Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast we explore how modern retail leaders are blending passion, people and purpose to drive meaningful growth. George Sullivan is the Founder and CEO of The Sole Supplier, a shopping platform and marketplace connecting sneakerheads with hard to find products. Through the use of innovative tech, engaging content and strategic partnerships, the brand drives over £50 million gross merchandise value (GMV) annually, to global brands like Nike, Adidas and ASOS. Over the past decade, George has bootstrapped the company from a bedroom blog to a UK powerhouse, driven by an amazing team of 30 at their Shoreditch hub in London!

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving retail landscape and what it really takes to lead with heart and innovation.So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Key themes include:

• People-First Leadership: Creating supportive, ego-free team cultures
• Authentic Community: Building real connections that drive loyalty
• Creative Content: Human-led storytelling amplified by AI tools
• AI + Human Insight: Using tech to enhance, not replace creativity
• Retail Trends: Shoppers want stories, transparency and values
• Passion-Led Projects: Solving real problems with purpose
• What’s Next: New content, podcast relaunches and brand collabs

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email [email protected]

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today! Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/