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In today's episode we shift gears a little to look at the high-end retail industry, talking to the director of the luxury watch (Rolex, Patek Philippe etc) and jewellery business, J. Farren-Price, Julian Farren Price. During the course of our conversation we talk about:

• How this segment of the market is performing;
• The importance of personalised service;
• The product as an experience; 
• Plus, the effect of the tourism on the luxury goods industry. 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

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In this episode we talk to Sabrina Noorani, who is the CEO and Founder of ClearForMe. ClearForMe is an independent cloud-based platform enabling beauty brands and retailers to seamlessly bring ingredient clarity to shoppers. This is a platform that is being used by both Credo Beauty + Ulta Beauty in the US. Even if you're not in the beauty industry this episode speaks to a broader conversation happening within culture at the moment around transparency, responsibility and sustainability. As we become more aware of our health and wellbeing, we start to question the ingredients in the products we use. As an FYI for those who are less familiar with the cosmetics industry, if you look at the ingredient listed on a product, first of all most of them will be unrecognisable and secondly, there can be up to 30 or more ways to describe the same ingredient. This is important because what we forget is that our skin is the largest organ in or on our body and the potential health impact that applying skincare or makeup can have on our health and wellbeing. 

Enjoy this conversation! We hope it sparks some new ideas.

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In this episode we talk to Will Chomley. Will is the founder and CEO of IMAGR. Founded in 2017 in Auckland, this is a tech platform that is turning shopping carts into autonomous checkouts – with their so-called Smart Cart product. SmartCart's contain four cameras, coupled with the world's most powerful AI vision recognition system. As a result, SmartCart knows what a customer puts in, or removes from their carts. At the beginning of the year they entered their first seed funding round and raised $14m (US$9.5M) with 3 investors: Sage Capital, Toshiba and Harald McPike. IMAGR are currently trialling their technology in Japan, with more retailers across Asia-Pacific and Europe to come. In this discussion we talk about: 

• What IMAGR is and what the SmartCart does?
• Where the technology is being trialled as well as it's future plans?
• How IMAGR stacks up against Amazon GO! (as well as a bit of a discussion around the launch of their own cart technology);
• Advice for businesses in start-up mode and more; 

We're sure you'll enjoy the conversation. 

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In this episode we talk to Tom Szaky. Tom is the CEO of the social enterprise TerraCycle. TerraCycle (the parent company of Loop) has partnered with some of the world's largest retailers like Carrefour (France), Tesco (UK), Kroger (US), Walgreens (US), and soon Woolworths in Australia. They are on a mission to reduce waste and recycle the unrecyclable. In this discussion today we talk about: 

• The philosophy behind TerraCycle and it's creation of Loop;
• The shift in consumer behaviour towards being more sustainable and making more thoughtful decisions; 
• The key driver within businesses to shift to being more responsible (hint: it's not what you think!);
• The future of recycling within retail and beyond;
• and, much more. 

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did recording it. 

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In this episode we talk to Richard Umbers. Richard has held leadership positions in Aldi’s UK operations, Woolworths (both in NZ + Australia), at Australia Post + Startrack, as well as being the CEO MD at Myer and most recently working for the German-based Kaufland. Richard is an incredible thinker, who has an astute understanding the effect of macro trends and changes upon business. In this episode we talk about: 

• The economics of COVID
• Innovation and new business models
• The importance of the back-end in retail 
• What Christmas + Cyber week hold + more. 

If you enjoy the conversation, feel free to rate + review it!

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In today’s episode we talk to Laura Beres. Laura is the Director of Corporate Strategy at Ulta Beauty. For those of you unfamiliar with Ulta, it is the largest U.S. beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. In 1990, the Company reinvented the beauty retail experience by offering a new way to shop for beauty – bringing together all things beauty, all in one place. Today we're talking about Ulta's shift into clean beauty, through the platform 'Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty'. Annie Jackson, who we spoke to last week from Credo Beauty, is a member of their newly formed Conscious Beauty Advisory Council. In this episode we talk about:

• The Ulta Beauty Brand and it's unique positioning in the US market; 
• Their push into clean beauty - and being the first mass beauty retailer to really step up into this category;
• Their partnership strategy within this program; 
• And, finally touch upon the unique nature of the Ulta Culture (seriously, incredible!). 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

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In today’s episode we talk to Annie Jackson. Annie is the co-founder and COO of Credo Beauty. If you haven’t heard of Credo, it’s a clean beauty retailer – in fact it’s the largest Clean Beauty store on the Planet. It opened in 2015 in her home town of San Francisco. Since then, they have opened 9 stores (with a large online presence) and have partnered with over 130 brands all of who must pass the Credo Clean Standard which mean they avoid all 2700+ ingredients on the Credo Dirty List (most of which would be standard in conventional beauty). Credo recently partnered with Ulta Beauty – who is the US biggest beauty retail ( bigger than Sephora) -  with 1124 stores. Annie is a member of their newly formed Conscious Beauty Advisory Council as well as Credo having a presence in their stores- Annie talks about this in the chat - as well as: 

• The history and creation of Credo Beauty; 
• The growth in Clean Beauty in the US;
• The creation of their unique Loyalty Program;
• How the business has approached COVID and how they are looking at the future; 
• Finally, finishing with a key piece of advice for these times. 

We hope you enjoy it as much as we loved recording this chat. 

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In this episode - which is approx 49 mins long - we talk to Stefan Preston. I don’t know how else to describe Stefan but as a serial entrepreneur. Stefan graduated from the University of Auckland with a degree in Civil Engineering, and after a stint in construction he moved into retail. He’s helped turnaround New Zealand brands Whitcoulls, Pacific Retail and Lingerie business, Bendon. He left Bendon in 2007 (as CEO) and worked as a Director and Shareholder in his wife’s business Bachcare (which is NZ largest full service manager of holiday homes and was recently sold to Sykes Holiday Cottages). He’s currently the Director of Sleepyhead Group, Advisor to New Zealand Trade + Enterprise, Co-Founder and Director of lingerie brand Rose & Thorne and (finally) Co-Founder + CEO of Meaningful Technology. As you can see, he’s a very busy person. In this episode we discuss: 

• Stefan's shift from Civil Engineering through to retail; 
• His advice for businesses currently in turn-around mode; 
• What you need to know if you're starting a business; 
• He talks about his current interest in technology;
• Finally, his personal advice for those in retail or entrepreneurial fields. 

Enjoy! If you love it, we'd love you to leave a review or recommendation. 

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In this episode, which is approx 45 minutes, we talk to Donna Player. Donna is the Merchandise Director at the iconic label Camilla, as well as Non Executive Director of Accent Group and Baby Bunting. Prior to that she was the Group Executive of Merchandise at David Jones and GM of Merchandise and Planning at Big W. I’m going to call her the Queen of Merchandise. Donna has the rare ability of combining strong intuition with commercial outcome; which you’ll hear a lot of through this interview. She brings much needed common sense to what’s happening in retail I think you’ll find it hard to argue with her logic. I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as we enjoyed recording it. In this episode we discuss: 

• Donna's initial reaction to the COVID crisis and the steps the Camilla business took to address it' 
• Her views on where fashion is headed - and it's shift into greater sustainability, as well as the need for stronger direction; 
• She shares with us the lessons she's learned from Discount Department Stores, Department Stores and now Speciality Fashion; 
• We talk about brands she's been watching and admiring during this period; 
• Finally, she shares her advice and expertise for businesses during the current climate. 

Enjoy! If you love it, we'd love you to leave a review or recommendation. 

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In this episode, which is approx 38 minutes, we talk to Erica Berchtold. Erica is CEO of pure-play retailer The Iconic. Prior to joining The Iconic in 2019, she was the Managing Director of Rebel Sport and Amart Sports (part of Super Retail Group). During our time together, we talk about: 

• How The Iconic responded during COVID-19? (They were one of the first to take note and even prepare before the restrictions came into effect);
• What changes, on the back of COVID, Erica believes the company will adopt for good;
• As a retailer that has come out of a more traditional business - Rebel Sport - what she has learnt in Pureplay as well as what B&M has taught her. 
• Plus, we'll finish with our usual question which is Erica's advice for businesses at the moment now re-gearing up that you could share from your experience?

Enjoy! If you love it, we'd love you to leave a review or recommendation.