The Retail Podcast (Video Feed)

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.
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🔗 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.
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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
 
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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.

Shopify’s CRO on Scaling Simplicity: Bobby Morrison on AI Search, Unified Commerce & 10 Tn Data Calls

Guest: Bobby Morrison — Chief Revenue Officer, Shopify  Host: Alex, Founder of The Retail Podcast & RetailNews.AI
Shopify CRO Bobby Morrison explains why making the complex simple—at Black‑Friday scale—beats piling complexity onto merchants. We unpack AI‑powered search, Sidekick, the rise of wholesale & retail POS on Shopify, and the partner ecosystem that’s moving 42 brands to the platform for every one leaving.
What we cover- 00:00 Complexity vs. simplicity: 10 trn data queries, 1.1 trn edge requests  - 02:17 The modern Shopify stack (e‑com, wholesale, retail POS)  - 07:05 AI‑driven search and why affiliates are back  - 10:31 Perplexity, edge commerce & the future of discovery  - 12:20 From entrepreneur DNA to 50 %+ enterprise revenue  - 15:09 Cutting “keep‑the‑lights‑on” teams by 70 % after migrating  - 18:36 Partner ecosystems: agencies → GSIs → SIs  - 21:04 Sidekick AI: your built‑in growth analyst  - 23:30 Inside founder‑led culture at scale  - 27:49 Global retail tour & where to meet Bobby next  
Links & resources- Shopify Sidekick ➜ https://www.shopify.com/sidekick  - Partner program overview ➜ https://www.shopify.com/partners  - Black Friday/Cyber Monday data 2024 ➜ https://news.shopify.com/bfcm-2024  - Join our newsletter for weekly retail tech briefings ➜ https://retailnews.ai  
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Stanley 1913: Reinventing Hydration & Heritage Brands with Kate Ridley

Join Alex as he interviews Kate Ridley, Chief Brand Officer at Stanley 1913, exploring the brand’s remarkable evolution from a traditional heritage company to an innovative hydration industry leader. Kate shares powerful insights on maintaining authenticity through strategic partnerships, harnessing cultural trends, and prioritizing sustainability. Essential listening for anyone interested in brand strategy, consumer trends, sustainability, and the secrets behind long-term brand relevance.
Key Topics:
Brand Transformation & Innovation

Authentic Partnerships: Post Malone & Leo Messi

Sustainability Initiatives

Digital Commerce & TikTok Strategy

Consumer Engagement & Global Trends

Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome & Introduction 02:00 - Stanley’s Brand Evolution 06:15 - Iconic Partnerships 10:20 - Heritage & Innovation Balance 14:35 - Sustainability Storytelling 19:10 - Digital Commerce Strategies 23:50 - Personal Insights from Kate Ridley 27:30 - Future Trends & Stanley’s Growth
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Episode Tags:
Branding, Hydration Market, Sustainability, Consumer Trends, Post Malone, Leo Messi, Kate Ridley, Stanley 1913, Marketing Strategy, Retail Podcast

Five Things Friday USA #1: Glossier’s TikTok Move, Adidas Superstar & Prime Day Insights

Alex & Jill Dvorak unpack key US retail stories: Glossier on TikTok, Adidas’ Superstar comeback, NRF Back-to-School data & Prime Day showdown.
⏩ Jump straight into it:00:00 Welcome & Intro to Jill Dvorak (NRF)00:47 Glossier’s Big TikTok Move03:17 Adidas Superstar Relaunch (Missy Elliott & Samuel L. Jackson)05:15 Cannes Lions: Creators vs Agencies (Walmart Connect & more)07:54 NRF’s Back-to-School Insights (Shopping Trends & Spending)11:09 Amazon Prime Day vs Walmart & Nordstrom
Welcome to our first-ever **Five Things Friday USA Edition!** Alex sits down with the brilliant **Jill Dvorak (SVP Content, NRF)** for a lively chat on the hottest US retail and commerce stories of the week:
🚀 **Glossier** launches on TikTok Shop, instantly scaling its 1M followers into a 1B-user shopping marketplace.👟 **Adidas** taps megastars **Missy Elliott** & **Samuel L. Jackson** for an iconic relaunch of the Superstar sneaker—just as competitor Nike struggles.🎤 **Cannes Lions Festival** shifts from big agencies to micro-creators; Jill reveals standout activations including Walmart Connect’s impressive presence.📚 **NRF research:** Back-to-school shopping starts earlier as families brace for price impacts. Jill shares exclusive NRF insights on how tariffs and Prime Day impact spending.🛒 **Amazon Prime Day** expands to four days, facing off directly with Walmart’s rival sale and Nordstrom’s Anniversary event. Early results show surprises, including the rise of Buy Now Pay Later.
 
🔗 Featured Sources & Resources:- Glossier TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glossier  - Glossier x TikTok Shop (FastCompany): https://www.fastcompany.com/91362270/glossier-is-joining-tiktok-shop  - Adidas Superstar Campaign: https://youtu.be/0i3ryZcv1PU  - NRF Back-to-School Blog: https://nrf.com/blog/back-to-basics-3-ways-the-economy-is-impacting-back-to-school-this-year  - NRF Economist Insights: https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-chief-economist-says-anxiety-and-confusion-from-tariffs-and-other-policies-are-causing-uncertainty  - Prime Day Insights (AdWeek): https://www.adweek.com/commerce/4-trends-marketers-should-keep-in-mind-heading-into-prime-day/  - Oasis (UK Adidas activation): https://oasisinet.com/  - MediaPost Analysis: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/407211/  
#FiveThingsFriday #RetailTrends #Glossier #AdidasSuperstar #PrimeDay #NRF #Podcast #RetailInnovation

Five Things Friday EU #1 – Drive‑Thru Grocery, Auchan × Houra & Mango’s AI Stylist

Why Europe’s grocers love ‘Le Drive’ and how Mango turned AI into a personal stylist.
 
⏩ Jump to a topic: 00:00 Intro | 01:05 Drive‑Thru Grocery (Leclerc, Carrefour) | 04:03 Auchan × Houra deal | 06:28 Spain’s BM premium format | 07:37 Mango AI Stylist | 12:05 ‘Messy Era’ culture shift | 15:05 Sign‑off
 
Welcome to the European edition of *Five Things Friday*.
 
🔹 **Drive‑thru grocery (‘Le Drive’)** now 10 % of French grocery sales – flagship operators **Leclerc** & **Carrefour**
🔹 **Auchan** teams with **Houra.fr** after closing Auchan Direct, echoing Ocado‑style partnerships
🔹 **BM Supermercados** shows Spain how premium community stores beat the price war of **Aldi** & **Lidl**
🔹 **Mango** launches *Mango Stylist AI* – personalised outfits across web, app & Instagram
🔹 TikTok data (@curatingambiance) signals the end of the *Clean Girl* era; make room for Europe’s new #MessyCulture
 
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts → [links once live]
📄 Full transcript & notes → https://theretailpodcast.com/five‑things‑friday‑eu‑13
 
RESOURCES & FURTHER READING
• Actu‑Retail on drive‑thru boom — https://www.actu-retail.fr/2025/06/25/e-commerce-alimentaire-le-drive-toujours-en-pleine-acceleration/
• Auchan × Houra deep‑dive — https://www.actu-retail.fr/2025/06/28/auchan-mise-sur-houra-pour-booster-ses-livraisons-a-domicile/
• Drapers: Mango AI Stylist — https://www.drapersonline.com/news/mango-launches-ai-powered-fashion-stylist
• LinkedIn analysis: BM premium strategy — https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beyond-price-war-bm-supermercados-retail-strategy-redefines-rezvan-wv8jf
• TikTok clip by **Anne Valois** — https://www.tiktok.com/@curatingambiance/video/7525185174296857878
 
BRANDS & PLAYERS MENTIONED
**Leclerc, Carrefour, Auchan, Houra.fr, Ocado, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, BM Supermercados, Aldi, Lidl, Mango, Instagram, TikTok, Anne Valois (@curatingambiance).**
 
#Retail #eCommerce #DriveThruGrocery #AIStyling #Auchan #Mango #TikTokTrends
 
00:00  Intro – Alex & Alexandra
01:05  France’s Drive‑Thru Grocery (Leclerc, Carrefour)
04:03  Auchan partners Houra for e‑commerce reboot
06:28  Spain’s BM supermarkets go premium
07:37  Mango’s AI Stylist in action
12:05  TikTok & the European ‘Messy Era’
15:05  Wrap‑up & weekend plans

Five Things Friday UK #2 – Rapid Delivery, Festival Fashion , Adidas Revival & New Balance

From 15‑minute grocery to Oasis‑fuelled nostalgia, the retail week decoded.
⏩ Skip to a segment: 00:00 Intro | 01:33 Need It For Tonight | 02:24 Festival Fashion Pop‑Ups | 06:25 TikTok’s ‘Messy Era’ | 10:37 15‑Minute Delivery | 14:01 Adidas vs Nike | 17:09 New Balance Flagship | 18:20 Wrap‑up
 
In this UK edition of *Five Things Friday*, host **Alex** (The Retail Podcast) and co‑host **Simone Oloman** decode culture, commerce and convenience:
 
1. **Free People, Wimbledon & Glastonbury** – Why situational marketing beats seasonal planning.
2. TikTok’s shift from *Clean Girl* to *Messy* (via Anne Valois – @curatingambiance).
3. **Amazon × GoPuff** – 15‑minute grocery is the new baseline.
4. **Adidas Superstar** relaunch (Missy Elliott, Samuel L Jackson) vs **Nike** cultural dip; bonus **Oasis** pop‑ups.
5. **New Balance** “Made in England” store tour.
 
RESOURCES
• Oasis merch store –⁠ https://shop.oasisinet.com/ ⁠
• TikTok video – ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@curatingambiance/video/7525185174296857878 ⁠
• Adidas Originals “Superstar” film – ⁠https://youtu.be/0i3ryZcv1PU ⁠
• MediaPost analysis – ⁠https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/407211/ ⁠
• Need It For Tonight –⁠ https://needitfortonight.com/ ⁠
 
BRANDS MENTIONED
Need It For Tonight, Deliveroo, Free People, Glastonbury, Wimbledon, Flannels, Louise (jewellery), Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, Never Fully Dressed, TikTok, The Row, Amazon, GoPuff, AliExpress, DoorDash, Glovo, Diageo, AB InBev, Adidas, Nike, New Balance, Oasis (band), Sabrina Carpenter, Formula 1.
 
#Retail #eCommerce #RapidDelivery #FestivalFashion #Adidas #Nike #Podcast

Marketplace Reset, Mosaic Collapse, Shanghai Community Stores, Brompton’s China Play, OR Sydney

wo Australian marketplaces vanish, a $300 million fashion group liquidates, and community‑first retail in Shanghai proves experience still wins. Ryf’s skiing, so Alex and Laura trade this week’s five.
 
Marketplace closures – Catch and MyDeal shut after big‑box acquisitions; retailer‑run hybrids (The Iconic, Kogan, Woolworths) surge.
Mosaic Brands liquidation – 2,800 jobs lost and a looming investigation into private‑equity practices.
Deja Vu Shanghai – 12 million users trade 36 million up‑cycled books; “Fish Points” turn every purchase into community currency.
Brompton café‑clubhouse – London’s folding‑bike icon cracks China by making the store a hang‑out and ride hub.
Online Retailer Sydney preview – 4,000‑attendee e‑commerce summit and next week’s Shopify CRO interview.
 
 
Keywords: marketplace shutdown, Catch closure, MyDeal closure, Mosaic Brands liquidation, community retail Shanghai, Brompton China, Online Retailer Sydney, Five Things Friday podcast.
 
00:00 Intro – where’s Ryf?
00:36 Marketplace closures (Catch & MyDeal)
02:59 Mosaic Brands liquidation
05:52 Deja Vu bookstore/fashion community
08:59 Brompton Shanghai café‑clubhouse
11:45 Online Retailer Sydney preview + Shopify CRO tease
14:00 Wrap & see you next Friday
 
Brands & topics  Catch • MyDeal • Woolworths • Wesfarmers • The Iconic • Kogan • Mosaic Brands • Deja Vu Shanghai • Brompton • Online Retailer Sydney • Shopify CRO interview • APAC retail trends
 
Source Media Quoted: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/mosaic-brands-collapse-totals-318m-staff-owed-22m-likely-to-be-paid/news-story/d928932509ad8eba4f06158df17a9370