The Retail Podcast (Video Feed)

AI Audio at Auchan, EU Customs Reform, Carrefour’s Autonomous Stores, Europe’s Ecommerce Habits & Inditex’s Lefties Gamble | Five Things Friday EU

This week on Five Things Friday EU Edition, host Alex from The Retail Podcast is joined by co-host Alexandra Boisson, Retail Tech & eCommerce Specialist at Business France. Together, they explore Europe’s retail landscape—highlighting game-changing AI innovations, pivotal EU regulatory shifts, and controversial moves by major brands like Zara’s parent, Inditex.
 
🌍 In this episode, you’ll hear insights on:
AI Revolution in Grocery – How Auchan’s AI-generated in-store announcements boosted sales by over 60% without traditional marketing.
EU’s Major Retail Regulation Shift – Why digital product passports, a complete overhaul of the Union Customs Code, and abolishing low-value import exemptions are transforming cross-border trade in Europe.
Carrefour’s Autonomous Microstores – Carrefour Belgium’s innovative, AI-powered microstore concept debuts at Ibis Hotel near Charles de Gaulle, redefining convenience retail.
Europe’s Complex Online Shopper Behaviors – Nexi’s European Ecommerce Report 2025 reveals sharp regional differences in delivery preferences, spending habits, and product categories.
Inditex Bets Big on Discount Retail – Inditex re-launches its low-cost fashion brand Lefties in France, sparking debate on sustainability versus commercial ambition amidst fierce competition from Shein and Primark.
 
📌 Referenced Links & Images:
Nexi European Ecommerce Report
EU Triple Reform Announcement
Carrefour Autonomous Microstore at Ibis Hotel
Inditex Discount Strategy with Lefties
 
👉 Join the conversation: Can Inditex’s Lefties brand succeed without compromising sustainability?
 
🎧 Subscribe, share, and stay ahead of retail’s European evolution.

Magnum Ice‑Cream Trend, Primark Home, Retail Cybersecurity & More

Episode at a glance
0:00 Intro – Alex & Simone set the scene
1:21 Magnum’s affordable luxury play
5:11 Smaller, faster, more targeted UK store formats
8:12 Cybersecurity breaches erode consumer trust
11:13 Omnichannel fulfilment: John Lewis × Uber Eats & B&Q marketplace C&C
12:41 Culture collabs: Buzz Social app and community‑first retail
14:23 Wrap‑up & next week’s teaser
 
Key takeaways
Affordable luxury wins Gen‑Z wallets. Magnum positions a £1.50 treat as a lifestyle statement, partnering with Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Beach Club and Primavera Sound to flood social feeds with golden sticks.
Store footprints are compressing. Co‑op’s 1,500 sq ft “On‑the‑Go” in Solihull and Primark’s 12,000 sq ft Trafford home concept mark a pivot to high‑velocity assortments and commuter missions.
Trust is the new margin. Repeated attacks—from Harrods to Sanderson—show why only 11 % of UK retailers carry cyber insurance. M&S’s public cyber update proves transparency must join price, product, and CX in the trust stack.
Last‑mile gets luxury treatment. John Lewis pilots 30‑minute delivery via Uber Eats in Leeds and Stratford; B&Q scales marketplace click‑and‑collect to 300 stores, turning each location into a micro‑fulfilment node.
Culture is the channel. Independent “Buzz” app curates Nike x music x art events, proving brands must participate—not commentate—in community spaces.
 
Reference links
Magnum Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/magnum/?hl=en
East of England Co‑op store opening plans — https://www.eastofengland.coop/news/opening-plans-confirmed-for-new-east-of-england-co
B&Q Click + Collect (marketplace roll‑out) — https://www.diy.com/customer-support/click-collect
Buzz Social App IG — https://www.instagram.com/buzzsocialapp/?hl=en
M&S Cyber Update — https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/cyber-update
Buzz App (iOS) — https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/buzz-find-creative-events/id6744612334
 
Calls‑to‑Act
🎧 Follow Five Things Friday in Apple Podcasts & Spotify.
💌 Get the weekly briefing in your inbox: https://www.linkedin.com/company/66918848
🗣️ Join the LinkedIn conversation: tag #5ThingsFriday.

Is Email Dead? Debunking the Myth with Ben Jackson, Klaviyo MD EMEA

Ben Jackson of Klaviyo explains why email still outperforms, how regional channel preferences are shifting (Germany loves WhatsApp, Nordics swear by SMS), and where AI genuinely moves the needle for retail CMOs drowning in data. Host Alex digs into practical roadblocks—from siloed martech stacks to missing content workflows—and how Klaviyo’s new Customer Hub and AI agent aim to solve them.
Timestamp
Chapter title
00:00
Intro & why email still matters
00:27
Conferences, Klaviyo booths & today’s agenda
00:58
Meet Ben Jackson
01:17
Myth‑busting: “Email is dead”
02:24
Multi‑channel done right
03:31
Tech vs. process bottlenecks
05:10
Regional channel preferences
06:24
Community as growth engine
07:33
Klaviyo’s AI approach
09:19
Unified data superiority
11:23
Too much first‑party data?
12:12
Common retailer mistakes
13:24
Coming CRM curve‑balls
14:07
Consumers’ value exchange
15:31
Introducing Customer Hub
16:16
What’s holding CMOs back
17:54
Final insights & outro
Retail, Klaviyo, Email Marketing, AI, Customer Data, CRM, Omnichannel, Shopify, Personalization, SMS, WhatsApp, First‑Party Data

Ulta Beauty’s UK Launch, Target’s Back-to-School, Retail AI, Cannabis Drinks & Walmart’s Tween Fashion

Ulta Beauty enters the UK, Target goes big on back-to-school, AI hits a trust challenge, cannabis beverages gain ground, and Walmart eyes tween fashion. Alex Rezvan and Jill Dvorak (SVP of Content, NRF) decode five major trends reshaping retail in America:
Ulta Beauty’s Global Move: Expanding internationally with 83 new stores in the UK.
⁠🔗 Ulta’s Announcement⁠
Target’s Back-to-School Strategy: Huge discounts, cross-category deals, and personalized offerings.
⁠🔗 Target Press Release⁠
Retail AI: Trust vs Experience: Consumers love AI recommendations but lack trust in accuracy.
⁠🔗 Akeneo’s AI Shopping Insights⁠
Cannabis Drinks vs Alcohol: Big Alcohol turns to cannabis-infused beverages to recapture lost market share.
⁠🔗 Reuters on Cannabis Drinks⁠
Walmart’s Tween Fashion Launch: “Weekend Academy” targets a critical gap in affordable youth fashion.
⁠🔗 Walmart Weekend Academy⁠
Join Alex and Jill as they unpack why these shifts are more than trends—they’re signposts of where US retail is heading next.
Alex Rezvan – Founder, The Retail Podcast
Jill Dvorak – SVP Content, NRF (National Retail Federation)
Ulta Beauty, Target back-to-school, Retail AI, cannabis beverages, Walmart fashion, US retail trends, retail podcast, NRF, consumer insights, Five Things Friday

Circular Fashion, Topshop’s Comeback & Currys’ AI: 5 Retail Shifts Shaping the UK

Nostalgia meets innovation from swaps to smart service.
Resale is mainstream, loyalty looks like an airline, and Topshop is back.
In this Five Things Friday – UK Edition, Alex Rezvan and Simone Oloman break down five signals every retailer should track right now:
RIXO Pre‑Loved – How a premium label keeps inventory (and spend) inside its own ecosystem.
Community Clothes Swaps – Loanhood & Islington Council prove circular fashion can scale locally.
Topshop × Cara Delevingne – Millennial nostalgia fuels the brand’s digital relaunch under ASOS.
TOCO Swim Loyalty – A “frequent‑flyer”‑style rewards model that turns engagement into revenue.
Currys + AI Video Support – Vyntelligence tech lifts first‑time‑fix rates and slashes carbon‑heavy call‑outs.
 
Why it matters: safety, circularity, and service now fight for the same share of wallet—and the winners are already blending physical and digital touchpoints.
 
Links & Resources
RIXO Pre‑Loved: https://rixolondon.com/en-eu/pages/rixo-pre-loved
Loanhood × Islington Swap event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/islington-clothes-swap-tickets-1410481420899?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&_gl=11p3ylkb_upMQ.._gaMTg1MDI3Nzg3Mi4xNzUzMzUzNDMw_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NTMzNTM0MzAkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTMzNTM0MzAkajYwJGwwJGgw
Topshop relaunch w/ Cara Delevingne: https://www.asosplc.com/news/topshop-partners-cara-delevingne-launch-topshopcom-and-brands-new-era/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
TOCO Swim: https://www.instagram.com/tocoswim/
TOCO Swim loyalty page: https://shopify.com/6073647192/account/pages/42026b1f-3325-417d-853a-8da8af55312b
TOCO Swim × New Acres rooftop event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rooftop-riviera-toco-swim-x-new-acres-tickets-1469348664409?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf_-VzVjhnuQC1RE22XECPsu4MmlVWhj6ckP5O9jRSaEwfIhqUzolgpNhGpQw_aem_sAVw8-_Wuo5RoQLrbiIZgw
Currys rolls out Vyntelligence AI: https://vyntelligence.com/news/retail-first-currys-rolls-out-game-changing-ai-video-tech-with-vyntelligence/
 
Hosts
Alex Rezvan – Founder, The Retail Podcast
Simone Oloman – Co‑founder & CEO, Need It For TonightUK retail, circular fashion, resale, clothes swap, RIXO Pre‑Loved, Topshop relaunch, Cara Delevingne, TOCO Swim, loyalty program, Currys, AI video support, Vyntelligence, retail podcast, Five Things Friday
 

Retail Crime Surge, Marketplace Power, and APAC’s AI-Driven Retail Revolution

From safe rooms to social commerce, we unpack what’s shaping the APAC retail landscape now.
 
Recorded live during Australia’s largest retail conference, this episode of Five Things Friday – APAC Edition dives into two polarizing forces in retail: rising crime rates and retail media growth. Co-host Laura, chair of the Online Retailer Conference, joins Alex to dissect what’s making headlines—and what’s shifting power—in the Asia-Pacific market.
 
Key Topics:
 
📉 66% YoY growth in weapons-related retail incidents (AU)
🇳🇿 Safe rooms in telco retail stores in New Zealand
📈 Retail media surging 73% by 2030: Shopee, Lazada, Grab, eBay
🧠 AI personalization, marketplaces, and TikTok Shop’s delayed arrival
💥 Why Temu and SHEIN are overtaking Australia’s digital retail stage
 
 
Plus: A deep dive into marketplace dominance, cultural contrasts in retail crime, and what APAC leaders can learn from content creators in Europe and the US.
 
Hosts:
Alex Rezvan – Founder, The Retail Podcast
Laura – Retail & Tech Consultant, Chair of Online Retailer Australia
 
🔗 Visit ⁠TheRetailPodcast.com⁠ for full transcripts and show insights.
🎙 Follow us for more episodes from APAC, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA.
 
APAC retail, retail crime, retail media, marketplaces, Shopee, Lazada, Temu, SHEIN, TikTok Shop, personalization, AI in retail, Australia retail, New Zealand retail, DTC brands, retail podcast, eCommerce trends 2025

Why Twilio Says Personalization Is Broken | NRF APAC 2025 Debrief

Live from NRF APAC, The Retail Podcast brings you exclusive access to Twilio’s 2025 State of Customer Engagement Report. This isn’t theory—it’s what leading global brands are actually doing on the ground.
We unpack:
Why 82% of brands think they personalize well—but only 16% of customers agree
How AI is redefining CX across channels
What customer data unification looks like in diverse APAC markets
Why privacy and consent are the new battlegrounds for loyalty
And what brands can do today to close the perception gap
💡 If you’re a retail or CX leader, this is your field guide for 2025 customer expectations.
🎧 Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for weekly episodes from the frontlines of global retail.
🔗 theretailpodcast.com

Five Things Friday EU: Carrefour AI Accelerator, Pinterest Commerce, RFID Expansion, and Amazon’s Beauty Push

Join Alex Rezvan and Alexandra Boisson for another engaging Five Things Friday EU edition. This week, we explore:
Carrefour’s innovative "Store Me Up" startup accelerator, aiming to redefine in-store AI experiences.
Pinterest’s AI-driven partnership with La Redoute, creating a seamless transition from inspiration to purchase.
Insights from Germany highlighting rising retail theft, reduced reporting rates, and increased security investments.
French heritage brand Kiabi’s ambitious RFID technology deployment across 450 stores.
Amazon’s strategic expansion into physical beauty retail in Milan, marking Europe as a core innovation hub.
Stay ahead of retail trends—subscribe and leave us a review!
Carrefour AI, Pinterest Shopping, RFID Retail, Kiabi Innovation, Amazon Retail Europe, Retail Theft Germany, Alexandra Boisson, Alex Rezvan, Retail Technology, European Retail
Reference Links (Mentioned in the Show):
⁠Carrefour LinkedIn Post⁠
⁠Carrefour Store Me Up⁠
⁠Pinterest x La Redoute Campaign⁠
⁠Kiabi RFID rollout article⁠
⁠Amazon Beauty store in Milan⁠
⁠German Retail Theft Report⁠
 

Five Things Friday UK: Topshop’s Return, John Lewis vs M&S Clash & Pop-up Highlights

On this week’s Five Things Friday UK, Alex Rezvan and Simone Oloman dissect the most impactful developments shaping retail: Topshop’s major comeback, Studio Seven’s London pop-up, the escalating rivalry between John Lewis and M&S, Eco by Sonia’s debut in the UK, and the burgeoning market for non-alcoholic beer highlighted by Baro Brewing at Wimbledon.
 
Highlights include:
The challenge of reinventing nostalgia for today’s shoppers.
Pop-ups as powerful tools for brand discovery.
Strategies fueling the John Lewis–M&S battle for consumer loyalty.
Eco by Sonia’s expansion story.
The rise of non-alcoholic drinks and celebrity branding.
Hosts:
Alex Rezvan – Founder, The Retail Podcast
Simone Oloman – Founder & CEO, Need It For Tonight
Links Mentioned:
🔗 Referenced Links: hhttps://www.google.com/search?q=john+lewis+vs+m%26s&oq=john+lewis+vs+M%26S&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgBEAAYgAQyCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMg0IBhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0ICBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoICRAAGIAEGKIE0gEJMTI0NjVqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/a65422243/topshop-relaunch-catwalk-show/ https://www.instagram.com/studio.seven.designs/ https://berobrewing.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ecobysonya/?hl=en
 
🎧 Love the episode? Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts — your feedback fuels the show.

Five Things Friday: Consumer Mobility, Asian Loyalty Shifts, and Rapid Commerce Trends in APAC

Ryf Quail returns energized from New Zealand to join Alex Rezvan in dissecting fascinating retail shifts across APAC. They delve into consumer mobility, the impact of currency fluctuations on shopping behaviors, the evolution of rational brand loyalty programs, and emerging quick-commerce opportunities, including rapid jewellery delivery in India. Plus, a deep dive into how Korean brands Musinsa and Coupang are reshaping regional retail dynamics amid China’s efforts to boost domestic spending.
 
APAC retail, Gen Z shopping, brand loyalty, quick commerce, Musinsa, Coupang, CaratLane, consumer trends, retail strategy, Asia-Pacific markets.
 
0:00 – Intro & Ryf’s New Zealand Ski Trip
1:21 – Consumer Mobility & Japan’s Tourism-Driven Retail Growth
2:41 – Cross-Border Shopping: Hong Kong & Southern China
3:16 – Singapore-Malaysia Border Retail Dynamics
4:27 – Gen Z & the Erosion of Brand Loyalty
5:43 – Rational Loyalty Programs: Hong Kong & Indonesia
6:59 – Love Bonito’s Innovative Loyalty Experiences
9:59 – Korean Retail Expansion: Musinsa & Coupang
11:47 – China’s Push for Increased Domestic Consumption
13:24 – India’s Jewellery Quick-Commerce Revolution
16:27 – Closing Remarks & Fun Wrap-Up
Key Insights from the Transcript and Articles:
1. Consumer Mobility:
Japan’s weakened yen boosted tourism-driven retail, with up to 20% of Tokyo’s retail spending from tourists.
2. Cross-border Retail:
Consumers in Hong Kong and Singapore regularly cross borders (to China and Malaysia) for cheaper goods, services, and fuel.
3. Loyalty Shifts:
Gen Z prioritizes rational decisions over emotional brand attachment, reshaping loyalty programs.
Programs like Hong Kong’s U-REWARDS (7-Eleven) engage 60% of the local population.
Indonesia’s Alpha Mart generates 60% of its revenue through its loyalty program.
4. Innovative Retail Experiences:
Brands like Love Bonito leverage physical experiences (Partner Benches) as a unique loyalty driver.
5. Korean Retail Expansion:
Musinsa expands from an online giant in Korea to physical stores in Shanghai, responding strategically to prior investments by Alibaba into Korea.
Coupang is rapidly growing across Asia due to strong cultural exports (K-pop, beauty, fashion).
6. China’s Economic Policy Shift:
China’s new economic priority focuses on boosting domestic consumption amid slower internal growth.
7. India’s Quick-Commerce Boom:
Jewellery delivery in under 50 minutes by platforms like Swiggy, with major retailers like CaratLane capitalizing on urban India’s quick-commerce infrastructure.
Musinsa expansion insights sourced from Jing Daily and Musinsa official site.
Coupang’s regional growth supported by insights from Korea Herald and Coupang website.
China’s consumption policy shift referenced from SCMP article.
Quick-commerce jewellery data from CaratLane and analysis from India Retailing.