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Five Things Friday EU: TikTok Shop, Amazon Second-Chance, Decathlon City, US Parcels, Zalando Beauty

Fast EU retail intel: marketplace moves, refurbished economics, urban formats, cross-border shocks, and beauty platform plays.
Fnac Darty’s TikTok Shop test, Amazon’s Second Chance Deal Days across Europe, Decathlon’s new “City” format inside Boulanger in Paris, the impact of new US rules on postal parcels from the EU, and Zalando’s expansion into beauty with virtual try-on and creator boards.
 
Topics• Fnac Darty joins TikTok Shop to reach younger buyers and test curated seasonal assortments.• Amazon runs “Second Chance Deal Days” across Europe: refurbished/open-box with warranties—resale momentum continues.• Decathlon opens a compact “City” store inside Boulanger in Paris—sports × tech, proximity, services.• New US customs handling for postal goods from the EU—expect disruption for DTC brands using postal networks.• Zalando doubles down on beauty: VTO, 360 product views, creator boards, major brand adds; expansion across Europe.
Chapters00:00 Intro & hosts00:58 TikTok Shop (Fnac Darty)03:20 Amazon Second Chance (refurbs)05:46 Decathlon City × Boulanger (Paris)08:53 US postal/de-minimis changes11:05 Zalando Beauty (VTO, creators, expansion)13:46 Wrap
References (links provided by the hosts)https://corporate.zalando.com/en/fashion/how-zalando-redefining-online-beauty-across-europehttps://group.dhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2025/new-us-customs-regulations-temporary-restrictions-on-postal-goods-shipping-to-the-us-for-private-and-business-customers.htmlhttps://be.fashionnetwork.com/en-be/news/In-a-company-first-decathlon-opens-paris-city-store-in-branch-of-electronics-chain-boulanger,1758383.htmlhttps://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/sustainability/second-chance-deal-dayshttps://www.ecommercemag.fr/Thematique/retail-1220/strategie-retail-2163/Breves/tiktok-shop-fnac-darty-mise-innovation-confiance-produit-484547.htm
CreditsHost: Alex Rezvan. Co-host: Alexandra Produced by The Retail Podcast / RetailNews.ai.
Follow the show. Share your take on whether TikTok Shop converts to owned sites, or holds buyers in-app.
DisclaimerInformational only. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Five Things Friday UK - M&S, ONS Data Delay, TikTok GMV Max, Charlotte Tilbury Pop‑ups

M&S launches a dedicated resale shop on eBay (with Reskinned), the ONS delays July retail sales to 5 Sept, TikTok Shop’s GMV Max becomes the only supported campaign type, Sainsbury’s begins a facial‑recognition trial, Lush closes UK stores for a day in solidarity with Gaza, and Charlotte Tilbury drives experiential shade‑matching at John Lewis and Café Airbrush in Covent Garden. Simone Oloman joins to decode what matters for operators—right now. Show notes / references:
In this UK edition of Five Things Friday, Alex and Simone Oloman cover six moves reshaping trading plans this month:
Resale goes mainstream: M&S × eBay launches an official pre‑loved shop, powered by Reskinned—a cleaner, scalable route to circularity than DIY platforms. Operators: track supply inflows, voucher economics, and re‑commerce margin mix. Marks & Spencer
Demand sensing > lagging KPIs: The ONS delayed the July 2025 retail sales release to 5 Sept for quality assurance; combine official series with real‑time social/returns data for better buys and markdowns. Office for National Statistics
Social commerce hardens: TikTok Shop Ads → GMV Max only. Expect heavier automation; ensure attribution and returns accounting are wired for campaign‑level ROAS and net‑margin truth. TikTok For Business+1
Safety vs privacy: Sainsbury’s begins an 8‑week facial‑recognition pilot in Sydenham (London) and Oldfield Park (Bath); union support vs privacy‑rights pushback—governance, DPIAs, and signage matter. corporate.sainsburys.co.ukbigbrotherwatch.org.uk
Brand activism with teeth: Lush shut UK shops, website and factories for a day—authenticity is an operational decision, not a slogan. Budget for impact and community response. Lush
Experience = acquisition: Charlotte Tilbury turns shade matching into a moment (John Lewis photo‑booths; Café Airbrush at Covent Garden). High‑touch, low‑friction sampling feeds CRM and lifetime value. British Beauty CouncilTheIndustry.beauty
Chapters / timestamps (mm:ss)00:00 – Welcome & format (fast 15)00:58 – M&S × eBay resale (why it’s smart, how it scales)02:14 – ONS delay & the case for live demand signals03:50 – TikTok Shop GMV Max: what marketers must change04:32 – Sainsbury’s: facial‑recognition pilot (safety vs privacy)06:05 – Lush: one‑day UK closures; what “authenticity” really costs06:55 – Charlotte Tilbury shade‑match activation (John Lewis)09:19 – Café Airbrush & Covent Garden Big Beauty10:00 – Wrap, next week teasers & CTAs
• M&S launches resale on eBay (Reskinned partnership): https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/ms-launches-resale-ebay-give-clothes-another-life• ONS: July retail sales release delayed to Sept 5 (quality assurance): https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-statistics-office-delays-retail-sales-data-release-by-two-weeks-2025-08-19/• TikTok Shop Ads — GMV Max migration (official help): https://ads.tiktok.com/help/article/gmv-max-migration-tiktok-shop-ads• Sainsbury’s facial‑recognition pilot (Sydenham & Oldfield Park): https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2025/sainsbury-s-begins-facial-recognition-trial-to-combat-shoplifting• Lush closes UK stores in solidarity with Gaza: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/03/lush-closes-all-its-uk-stores-in-protest-over-starvation-in-gaza• Covent Garden — Big Beauty (4–14 Sept): https://www.coventgarden.london/experience/things-to-do/big-beauty-at-covent-garden/• Charlotte Tilbury pop‑up / shade‑match activations: https://theindustry.beauty/charlotte-tilbury-turns-covent-garden-into-cafe-airbrush-celebrating-complexion-launch/

Five Things Friday APAC Retail Media’s Surge | Thailand’s Mega‑Malls | MUSINSA×ANTA | Urban Revivo

Five Things Friday — APAC edition. Guest Ryf Quail (NRF: Retail’s Big Show APAC) breaks down why retail media in APAC is set to lead globally, then we dive into Thailand’s mall renaissance, Uniqlo’s recycling roadmap, MUSINSA×ANTA’s China JV, and Urban Revivo’s global expansion. Chapters below. Sources and links at the end. Subscribe for weekly, no‑nonsense retail intel across APAC.
What we cover • Why APAC retail media is outpacing the West, with China and the U.S. dominating spend
• Thailand’s malls (ICONSIAM, MBK, Central Group) as cultural engines and retail tourism magnets
• Uniqlo: recycled materials and the 2030 climate roadmap
• MUSINSA × ANTA: K‑fashion’s structured path into China via a joint venture
• Urban Revivo: China’s answer to Zara, scaling with new flagships and a design hub in London
Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Guest setup (Ryf Quail, NRF APAC)
00:26 – Format: Two from Ryf, three from Alex
00:52 – APAC retail media: the fastest‑rising ad channel
02:10 – China + U.S. concentration; APAC’s trajectory
03:45 – India, Vietnam, Philippines: the next lifts
05:03 – Segment 2: Southeast Asia’s mall culture
05:30 – Thailand leads: ICONSIAM, MBK, Central Group
07:56 – Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam: development pipeline
09:16 – Story 1: Uniqlo & recycled materials roadmap
10:40 – Story 2: MUSINSA × ANTA joint venture in China 12:27 –
Story 3: Urban Revivo accelerates global flagships
13:40 – Takeaways: APAC is setting the pace
14:07 – Outro & tease for future global edition
Show Links (put these on separate lines for YouTube parsing)
• Urban Revivo — About: ⁠https://global.urbanrevivo.com/pages/about-urban-revivo-hp0036⁠
• MUSINSA × ANTA JV: ⁠https://about.musinsa.com/newsroom/musinsa-anta⁠
• Uniqlo — Recycled Materials: ⁠https://www.uniqlo.com/id/en/special-feature/sustainability/recycle-materials⁠ •
NRF: Retail’s Big Show APAC (guest org): ⁠https://nrfbigshowapac.nrf.com/⁠
• ICONSIAM: ⁠https://www.iconsiam.com/en⁠
• MBK Center: ⁠https://www.mbk-center.co.th/en⁠
• Central Group: ⁠https://www.centralgroup.com/en⁠
• eMarketer/Insider Intelligence — Retail Media growth + China/US shares (summary): ⁠https://www.emarketer.com/⁠ (specific references in “Research sources” below)
#RetailMedia #APAC #NRFAPAC #Thailand #Kfashion #Uniqlo #UrbanRevivo #Ecommerce

Five Things Friday UK - Aldi pay rise, Topshop Liberty comeback, Asda Express expansion, JD Sports earnings, The Very immersive fashion

Five Things Friday UK Edition with Simone Oloman UK retail news this week: Aldi boosts wages, Topshop returns to Liberty, Asda expands Express, JD Sports shares rise, and The Very launches an immersive fashion experience.
Aldi: link
Topshop: link
Asda: link
JD Sports: link
The Very Group: link
👉 Subscribe for weekly UK retail insights.00:00 Intro & Welcome01:07 Aldi Pay Rise & Food Inflation Context02:46 Topshop Returns via Liberty Pop-Up04:04 Asda Express Expansion & Convenience Growth05:29 JD Sports Shares vs. Soft UK Sales06:32 The Very Group’s Immersive Fashion Experience08:38 Wrap-Up & Teaser for Next Week
 
#RetailNews #RetailTrends #UKRetail #FiveThingsFriday

Five Things Friday: US Retail - Walmart AI, Travis Kelce, American Eagle, Gap & Best Buy

US retail news: Walmart marketplace AI and next‑day delivery, Gap’s denim push, Best Buy’s refurb engine, Cracker Barrel’s logo U‑turn, plus A&F × NFL.
Subscribe for weekly retail strategy.
American Eagle’s latest ambassador buzz & denim wars
Gap’s creative burst and the renewed denim cycle
Best Buy repairs/refurb: sustainability with margins
Cracker Barrel brand mark reversal—what it signals
Walmart Seller Summit: tools for speed, content, conversion
Bonus: A&F becomes the NFL’s official fashion partner🎥 Chapters below • 💬 Tell us which move changes your Q4 planOpinions are our own. No non‑public info shared.
 
00:00 Welcome — Five Things Friday (USA)00:00:37 American Eagle buzz + Swift/Kelce mentions00:01:40 GAP comeback & the denim push00:02:51 Best Buy: repairs/refurb & NRF Europe preview00:03:58 Cracker Barrel logo U‑turn (brand identity)00:05:55 Walmart Seller Summit: marketplace AI & next‑day00:09:35 Bonus: A&F × NFL — official fashion partner00:12:44 Sports as pop culture: F1, Savannah Bananas00:13:31 Sign‑off + Paris (NRF Europe) teaser
#RetailNews #RetailTrends #AIinRetail #TheRetailPodcast #USRetail

AusPost’s US Parcel Pause + JD Dubai: This Week in APAC

APAC retail briefing: LABUBU/Pop Mart’s blind‑box momentum, China’s Gen Z wellness shift, Australia Post’s US‑parcel pause (de minimis), “dopamine village” malls in PH, and JD.com’s new Dubai warehouse. Subscribe + comment with your action.
LABUBU/Pop Mart = modern playbook: scarcity, social currency, collaborations (host commentary).
Gen Z wellness, China: beauty x health, functional nutrition, ingestibles, and unmet needs in mental/cognitive wellness. McKinsey & Company+1
AusPost → US pause: letters/documents & low‑value gifts continue; duties need pre‑collection after de minimis shift; other posts also pausing. ABC
Malls as “dopamine villages”: SM Investments doubles down on experiences, arenas, fandoms, and tribes to capture demand. sminvestments.com
JD in Dubai: JAFZA warehouse, digital ops model, MEA reach; supports faster cross‑border. JD Corporate Blog
00:00 Welcome & cold open (Ryf + Alex)
00:30 LABUBU/Pop Mart: the blind‑box playbook (scarcity, social, IP) — host commentary
05:24 China’s Gen Z wellness wave (beauty x health; functional nutrition; unmet needs) — Source: McKinsey + Retail Asia. McKinsey & CompanyRetail Asia
09:36 Australia Post’s US‑parcel pause: why de minimis matters — Source: ABC News explainer. ABC
12:44 Malls → “Dopamine villages”: SM’s entertainment ecosystem bet — Source: SM Investments. sminvestments.com
16:30 JD.com opens Dubai warehouse: faster APAC→MEA cross‑border — Source: JD Corporate Blog. JD Corporate Blog
20:20 Wrap + next week’s K‑pop teaser
 
 

EU Retail in Focus: Smart Checkouts, Summer Sales Slump & Brand Resilience

From AI-powered supermarket lanes to shifting consumer habits, Alexandra Boisson & The Retail Podcast team unpack Europe’s retail trends.
In this Five Things Friday – EU Edition, Alexandra Boisson and Alex from The Retail Podcast dive into the latest shifts in the European retail market. We cover:
Colruyt’s Easy Checkout: AI-powered cameras speeding up lanes by 70% (via ⁠RTL.be⁠).
French Summer Sales Decline: Only 39% of shoppers participated vs. 43% last year, with fewer purchases and smaller spends (via ⁠Actu-Retail⁠).
Birkenstock: Profit beats expectations despite trade tensions (via ⁠Reuters⁠).
Douglas Beauty: Strong sales in Germany and CEE offset French softness (⁠Douglas⁠).
Carlsberg: Modest growth, cautious outlook for the second half (⁠Carlsberg Group⁠).
 

Retail’s Summer Shake-Up: AI in Stores, Experiential Flagships & UK Openings with Simone Oloman

From Currys’ Action AI rollout to Space NK’s Willy Wonka-style flagship, this week’s top UK retail stories.
In this summer edition of Five Things Friday, Alex from The Retail Podcast is joined by Simone Oloman (Co-Founder, NIFT) and Dave to unpack the hottest retail stories in the UK right now.
We cover:
Store closures & uncertainty — Claire’s administration filing, River Island restructuring, Hobbycraft closures
Store openings that wow — Space NK’s Oxford Street flagship (inspired by creator Chantelle Pang’s coverage on TikTok), Bershka’s AR mirror-powered Trafford Centre debut, and POP MART’s Liverpool ONE expansion
AI in retail operations — Currys’ partnership with Quorso to roll out “Action AI” (source: Quorso)
Beauty industry shake-up — Ulta Beauty’s acquisition of Space NK (source: Ulta Beauty Press Release)
Pop-up culture — London’s Pizzeria Pop-Up Party (source: Eventbrite)
Referenced creators and sources:
TikTok creator Chantelle Pang: TikTok profile, Space NK video
Quorso news release on Currys partnership
Ulta Beauty press release on Space NK acquisition
Eventbrite listing for Pizzeria Pop-Up Party
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Episode KeywordsUK retail trends, Currys Action AI, Space NK flagship, Bershka AR mirrors, POP MART, Chantelle Pang, Quorso, Ulta Beauty Space NK, London retail, experiential retail, store openings UK, retail technology
 

How Magnum, Guinness, Marmite, Pokémon, Waitrose & Tesco Build Unforgettable Brand Moments

In this episode of The Retail Podcast, Alex speaks with Rupert Pick, Global MD of Hot Pickle, the award-winning brand experience agency behind iconic activations for Magnum, Guinness, Marmite, Pokémon, Waitrose, Tesco, and more.
From physical brand homes to cultural relevance, Rupert reveals how Hot Pickle blends creativity, product innovation, and immersive retail activations to keep global CPG brands connected to their audiences. He explains why sampling should never be transactional, the formula for scaling playfulness, and how to avoid the “brand irrelevance” trap that’s hit names like River Island and Claire’s.
📌 Key talking points include:
How Hot Pickle launched in 2009 and grew into a global CPG & FMCG powerhouse
Strategic insights for CMOs struggling with brand relevance
The secret to building hype, scarcity, and cultural connection
Why fragrance, sound, and human interaction are often overlooked in brand activations
The rise of brand homes as multi-layered visitor experiences
How physical and digital retail experiences can fuel each other
🎯 Who should listen: CMOs, brand managers, retail innovation leads, experiential marketers, and anyone passionate about the future of brand experience.
 
⏱ YouTube Chapter Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction & who is Rupert Pick00:57 – The origin story of Hot Pickle02:08 – Expanding into the US & global projects03:10 – Strategic direction & client profile04:30 – Turnkey solutions for brand experiences05:50 – Retailer collaborations (Waitrose, Tesco, HelloFresh)06:17 – Protecting creativity with large brands08:28 – Advice for CMOs losing relevance10:13 – Embedding brands into culture12:11 – Sampling beyond the transactional model13:39 – The “Stick to the Original” Magnum activation15:35 – Protecting cultural relevance over the next five years16:40 – Hellmann’s and the sandwich culture revival17:37 – How culture moves fast & adapting brand messages19:06 – Gen Z vs Boomer brand loyalty21:29 – Overlooked senses in physical retail22:32 – The power of fragrance, sound & human touchpoints23:36 – Why physical retail experiences still matter in a digital world25:08 – The future of brand homes27:31 – Shanghai retail experiences & hospitality spaces28:08 – Founder storytelling & passionate brand ambassadors29:16 – Luxury brands losing relevance through self-focus30:16 – Staying curious & plugged into culture30:44 – Closing thoughts

Five Things Friday US: Zalando’s Growth, ShopMy, Hailey Bieber’s Rhode, Resale Boom, and Martha Stewart’s Global Move

In this week’s Five Things Friday – US Edition, Alex Rezvan is joined by Jill Dvorak, SVP of Content at the National Retail Federation (NRF), to unpack five key stories shaping retail right now.
We cover:
1️⃣ Zalando’s European Growth — How the fashion giant is exceeding forecasts and expanding its portfolio ahead of NRF Big Show Europe in Paris (Sept 16–18). Read NRF’s speaker announcement
2️⃣ ShopMy and the Creator Economy — Why social-led shopping platforms like ShopMy and influencer discovery tools are redefining retail inspiration. More from Vogue Business
3️⃣ Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Beauty — From a $1B brand sale to a physical retail presence, and why its new parent, e.l.f. Beauty, keeps winning. Discover Rhode
4️⃣ Resale Market Acceleration — Deloitte research shows over 150 brands investing in in-house resale channels, while California’s new SB 707 law sets strict textile recycling rules.
5️⃣ Martha Stewart’s First Standalone Stores — Why the homeware icon is opening in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait via Marquee Brands.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe
This episode blends exclusive industry insight, global retail trends, and real-world brand examples you can act on.