The Retail Podcast (Video Feed)

Five Things Friday (EU)– Delipop folds, JD.com courts MediaMarkt, summer luxury slump, Picnic’s Paris push, France’s fast‑fashion clamp‑down

Delipop shutters its robot locker network; JD.com tries a €2.2 bn play for Ceconomy/MediaMarkt; US & Chinese tourists rein‑in luxury spend; Dutch grocer Picnic finishes its Île‑de‑France roll‑out; France moves to criminalise ultra‑fast‑fashion influence. Analysis, context, and what it means for European retail.
 
Chapter title
00:00:00
🎙️ Intro – “Happy Friday!”
00:00:20
Meet the hosts
00:01:10
1 – Delipop shutters multi‑brand drive‑thru lockers
00:03:20
2 – JD.com eyes MediaMarkt/Saturn (€2.2 bn bid)
00:05:03
3 – Luxury’s Euro‑summer disappoints
00:06:56
4 – Picnic opens tenth Paris hub
00:10:25
5 – France to criminalise ultra‑fast‑fashion influencing
 
Five Things Friday – European Edition | 7 Aug 2025Hosts: Alex (RetailNews.ai) & Alex Boisson (French Trade Commission, London)
Delipop pulls the plug on robotic multi‑brand pick‑up points – after just nine Paris sites, the start‑up enters liquidation, citing regulatory confusion and investor caution. lineaires.com
JD.com’s €2.2 bn play for Ceconomy / MediaMarkt‑Saturn – the Chinese marketplace seeks an instant European footprint; German regulators will decide. Financial Times
Euro‑summer a bust for luxury – Prada, Burberry, Kering and others blame softer US & Chinese tourism. Vogue Business
Picnic’s 10th Île‑de‑France hub goes live – Dutch online grocer now reaches 2 m households around Paris with free 20‑minute slots and EV fleets. (LSA‑Conso, 2 Aug 2025).
France drafts law making ultra‑fast‑fashion influencing a crime – Shein and Temu squarely in the cross‑hairs; eco‑score and advertising fines incoming. Marie Claire UK
Why it matters: Consolidation, consumer caution and sustainability regulation are reshaping European retail. We unpack the trends and flag what to watch next.
Links & sources (fair‑use reference):
Delipop liquidation – Linéaires, 4 Aug 2025https://www.lineaires.com/la-distribution/delipop-met-fin-a-ses-drives-pietons
“JD.com launches €2.2 bn offer for Ceconomy” – Financial Times, 5 Aug 2025https://www.ft.com/content/f773c342-1044-43c5-a106-54274e466fe7
“Is Euro summer a bust for luxury brands?” – Vogue Business, 7 Aug 2025https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/consumers/is-euro-summer-a-bust-for-luxury-brands
“Picnic finalises Île‑de‑France roll‑out with 10th hub” – LSA‑Conso, 2 Aug 2025https://www.lsa-conso.fr/livraison-picnic…hub-logistique
“France just made influencing fast fashion a crime” – Marie Claire UK, 12 Jul 2025https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/france-fast-fashion-ban
(All links © their respective publishers; provided here under fair‑use for commentary.)
 

Five Things Friday UK: Retail Relevance, Gen Z Trends & The Rise of Resale

In this week’s Five Things Friday UK Edition, Alex and Simone break down the retail trends you can’t afford to ignore. From iconic brands fighting for survival to the innovative players winning Gen Z loyalty, we explore how cultural relevance is now the biggest currency in retail.
Topics include:
River Island & Claire’s — lessons from legacy brand struggles
Mango’s teen range expansion and the underserved youth market
UK’s booming £4.8B online second-hand homeware sector
Loop earplugs — turning hearing protection into a fashion flex
TALA’s scuba-tech leisurewear and the rise of functional style
If you’re in retail, brand marketing, or consumer strategy, this episode is your cultural trend compass.
 
🔗 References:TALA: wearetala.com/en-euLoop Earplugs: loopearplugs.comUK Second-hand Market Report: news.commonshare.com/blog/uk-second-hand-market-surges-4-8-billion-in-online-sales-expected-this-yearMango Teen Range Story: apparelresources.com/business-news/retail/mango-expands-teen-range-uk-eyes-untapped-demandRiver Island: riverisland.com

Five Things Friday APAC – Luxury Shifts, Honjok Retail, Vietnam’s Boom & More

Ryf & Laura join Alex to unpack five APAC headlines: China’s Shushu·Tong shakes luxury, Korea’s “honjok” solo shoppers rewrite store design, K‑beauty label Anua wins U.S. fans, Vietnam’s retail GMV rockets 37 %, and Laura talks about in on Yotpo’s pivot plus Gen Z’s debit‑first mindset.
🎙️  Episode overview00:00  Intro – Rafe Cloud, MD iPAC, joins Alex01:59  #1  Chinese luxury disruptor Shushu·Tong03:45  #2  Korea’s ‘Honjok’ solo lifestyle & retail05:46  #3  K‑Beauty brand Anua hits the U.S.08:20  #4  Vietnam retail GMV up 37 %11:45  #5  Laura on Yotpo sunset & Gen Z debit habits19:59  Wrap‑up
🔗  Links & sources• Shushu·Tong Studio – https://www.shushutongstudio.com/about/• Anua Skincare – https://anua.kr/• Vietnam e‑commerce data – Shopee / Lazada 2024 reports• Yotpo sunset announcement – yotpo.com/blog• BigCommerce 2025 ANZ Online Shopping Report
🤝  ConnectSubscribe to the newsletter: RetailNews.ai/five‑things

Intent-Driven Commerce: Solving Retail’s Biggest Frustration

Shopping online can feel like navigating endless aisles of irrelevant products, leaving customers frustrated and retailers losing sales. In this insightful episode of The Retail Podcast, host Alex speaks with Warren Cowan, CEO of Foundit, about how retailers can transform customer frustration into powerful intent-driven experiences.
 
Explore why traditional e-commerce fails to inspire, and discover practical strategies for surfacing relevant products at precisely the right moments. Warren shares real-world insights on how retailers can avoid overwhelming shoppers with excessive choices, reduce decision fatigue, and unlock hidden sales opportunities buried in their “dark aisles.”
 
You’ll learn:
The biggest frustrations online shoppers face—and how to address them.
Why a “catalog-first” mindset is holding back your e-commerce growth.
How retailers like Aldi and Lidl succeed by simplifying customer decisions.
Practical tips to shift toward customer intent-led experiences.
The role AI and automation play in future-proofing your e-commerce site.
Why traditional personalization often falls short, and what to do instead.
 
Join Warren Cowan and Alex as they discuss real-world successes from Foundit’s clients, including increased conversions, reduced bounce rates, and significant merchandising efficiencies. It’s time to trade frustration for inspiration and transform browsing into buying.
 
Featuring Warren Cowan, CEO of Foundit.
 
Key topics: E-commerce, customer intent, merchandising automation, retail tech, personalization, digital transformation, AI in retail, customer experience, decision fatigue, online shopping trends.

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
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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