The Retail Podcast (Video Feed)

Nagarro’s Rahul Mahajan: AI Demand Planning, Knowledge Graphs & Humanized Personalization

How a €1 B digital‑engineering firm uses generative AI and agent tech to reinvent retail supply chains and CX.
 
18 000 engineers, €1 B revenue, 50+ patents—Nagarro’s Global CTO Rahul Mahajan explains how generative AI, vector databases and knowledge graphs are reshaping demand planning and personalization at scale.
⏱️  CHAPTERS00:00  Intro: product‑to‑service mind‑set  00:22  Meet Rahul Mahajan & Nagarro overview  01:17  Missed NRF meetings + digital engineering culture  02:35  Diversified industries & complex problem solving  03:35  Rahul’s 50+ patents in retail AI  04:58  CPG use case: multi‑channel demand planning  06:49  SKU‑level AI forecasting & supply chain accuracy  07:32  “Humanizing personalization” patent explained  08:20  Ecosystem shift: partner products & services  09:29  Agent tech & zero‑downtime integration  10:16  From transactions to lifestyle services  12:08  Patenting novel data structures & AI models  13:19  Knowledge graphs + vectorized semantics  14:24  AI governance: tone, privacy, explainability  15:14  LLM interoperability (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini)  16:32  Why retailers must move before they’re disrupted  17:13  Contact Rahul & closing  
🔑  KEY STATS• 18 000 employees across 36 countries  • €1 B revenue; listed in Frankfurt  • >50 patents in AI, personalization & data science  • New patent filed on “Humanizing Personalization” (2025)  
👇  CONNECT  • Nagarro ► https://nagarro.com  • Rahul on LinkedIn ► rahul.mahajan@nagarro.com • Email ► rahul.mahajan@nagarro.com  • Subscribe to The Retail Podcast ► 
🎧  LISTEN ON APPLE & SPOTIFY ➡️ [links]

Loyalty 2.0, Autonomous AI Agents, Luxury Pop‑Ups, Mega Athleisure Stores

ASOS launches a next‑gen loyalty ladder, LVMH test‑drives autonomous AI agents, luxury pop‑ups swamp central London, and JD Sports opens a 42 K ft² “department store for trainers.” In the debut Five Things Friday – UK Edition, Alex welcomes Simone Oloman (Co‑Founder & CEO, Need It For Tonight) to decode four trends and preview the quick‑commerce future.
 
This week’s five things
Loyalty 2.0 at ASOS – Tiered access, FOMO perks, and why points are passé.
Rise of autonomous AI agents – LVMH pilots task‑bots that act without prompts: merchandising, micro‑campaigns, customer service.
Luxury pop‑ups as culture – Miu Miu, Selfridges and countless beauty collabs turn London into a weekly treasure hunt.
Athleisure goes supersize – Foot Locker’s new Bullring flagship & JD Sports’ 42 K ft² Surrey store push “bigger is better.”
Quick‑commerce preview – Simone’s 90‑minute fashion platform “Need It For Tonight” and why hyper‑convenience will transform UK retail.
 
Keywords: UK retail trends, ASOS loyalty scheme, AI agents in fashion, luxury pop‑ups London, JD Sports mega store, quick commerce UK, Need It For Tonight, Five Things Friday podcast.
 
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00:00 Intro & host bios02:12 Thing 1 – ASOS Loyalty 2.0 (belonging > points)05:19 Thing 2 – Autonomous AI agents (LVMH pilots)09:38 Thing 3 – Luxury pop‑ups flood London (creator “See You Sunny”)12:59 Thing 4 – Mega athleisure stores (Foot Locker Bullring, JD 42 K ft²)15:30 Thing 5 – The quick‑commerce future of NIFT (90‑minute fashion)18:45 Wrap & what to expect next Friday

Gulf Luxury Boom, LVMH “Cruise” Flagship, Aussie Bargain Surge, Shein × Reliance, Live‑Commerce Wave

Luxury malls in Dubai and Riyadh are booming while China cools; LVMH parks a “cruise‑liner” flagship in downtown Shanghai; Australian retail sales jump, but the growth comes from Shein, Temu and other bargain imports; Reliance Retail strikes a game‑changing partnership with Shein, blending Indian and Chinese fast‑fashion supply; and live‑commerce numbers in Southeast Asia prove the next big shopping format is travelling east‑to‑west.
 
🎙️ What we cover
Middle‑East luxury surge – Dubai Mall draws 111 M visitors; Saudi’s Solitaire & Avenue Mall projects; VIP privacy as standard.
LVMH’s cruise‑ship flagship, Shanghai – experiential retail over product, culture as moat.
Australia’s “surge” in retail sales – ABS data shows +3.3 % YOY, driven 11 % by bargain platforms (Shein, Temu).
Shein × Reliance Retail – China’s fast‑fashion giant taps Indian manufacturing; dual‑sourced supply will flood global markets.
Live‑commerce wave – Alibaba Singles’ Day, L’Oréal Malaysia 24‑hour record, 14 live streams from Jakarta, why Gen Z will force adoption in the West.
00:00 Intro – colds, coffees, catch‑up
00:51 Thing 1 – Gulf luxury boom & mall expansion
05:14 Thing 2 – LVMH “cruise‑liner” flagship in Shanghai
10:59 Thing 3 – Australian retail ‘surge’ driven by bargain imports
17:08 Thing 4 – Shein × Reliance Retail partnership, India + China supply scale
22:55 Thing 5 – Live‑commerce numbers & east‑to‑west adoption
29:12 Rapid‑fire reactions & next‑week teaser
Keywords: Gulf luxury market, Dubai mall expansion, LVMH flagship Shanghai, Australian retail statistics, Shein Reliance partnership, fast‑fashion supply chain, live commerce Southeast Asia, APAC retail trends, Five Things Friday podcast.
 
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AI: Retail’s New Operating System with TCS VP Abhijit Niyogi

Dynamic pricing, omnichannel fulfilment & sustainable retail in 2025.
Dynamic pricing, omnichannel fulfilment & sustainable retail in 2025.
AI rewired retail—and Abhijit Niyogi built the circuit. In this 28‑minute masterclass, TCS’s Retail VP breaks down:
• Why stores behave like software post‑pandemic
• How AI pricing drives margin without raising shelf prices
• Electronic shelf labels: ROI thresholds & rollout traps
• Retail media networks: monetising Gen Z attention
• Store‑as‑micro‑DC: omnichannel fulfilment architecture
• Personalised in‑store attachments that delight and profit
• Europe’s head‑start on circular retail—and what comes next Listen and sharpen your 2025 roadmap.
 
 

Brick-and-Mortar CAC • Aesop’s $2.5B Playbook • Digital-First Meets Store Staff • Cross-Border Marketplaces • The Post-Purchase Power Move

Customer-acquisition costs exploded online. Smart brands are responding with bricks, data—and a dash of theatre.
 
⚡️ What we tackle in 20 minutes
Physical retail as the new CAC – DTC brands discover rent can be cheaper than Meta ads when the store becomes a stage.

Aesop’s $2.5 billion masterclass – From Melbourne to 400 boutiques, every location is bespoke, scented, and digitally wired for replenishment.

Digital-first, store-second – Love, Bonito show why in-store staff now behave like consultants, not cashiers.

Cross-border marketplaces – Shopee, Amazon AU, Trade Me and Afterpay’s “shop day” rewrite payments, language, and trust across ASEAN.

Post-purchase power moves – Hand-written notes, sticker packs, friction-free returns. Retention is the real growth engine—and AI search will only raise the stakes.

00:00 Intro – heatwaves, cold snaps, and one crisp Sydney morning
01:05 Topic 1 – Physical stores as customer-acquisition engines
03:20 Topic 2 – Aesop: $2.5 B valuation built on scent & signature design
06:36 Topic 3 – Digital-heritage brands opening doors (Love, Bonito, Temple & Webster)
10:39 Topic 4 – Region-level marketplaces: Shopee, Amazon AU, Trade Me, Afterpay
15:07 Topic 5 – Post-purchase, returns, and the loyalty multiplier
Retailers & platforms in play
Aesop • L’Oréal • Love, Bonito • Temple & Webster • Amazon • eBay • Shopee • Afterpay • Trade Me • Kingfisher/B&Q • JD Sports • HP • Perplexity AI
 
Hosts
Alex Rezvan – Founder, The Retail Podcast, decoding global retail shifts.

Ryf Quail – Leads NRF APAC, guiding brands across Asia-Pacific.

Laura Doonin – Tech strategist turning omnichannel ambition into reality.

 
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Asia’s Five-Element Edge • Australia’s IT Surge • 8-Minute Delivery • Meta’s AI Ad Rules • The Hybrid Consumer

Retail evolves faster than it’s ever moved. This week Alex, Ryf, and Laura unpack five forces reshaping the industry—and the brands proving each point.
Asia’s five-element advantage – Emotional value, community identity, nighttime escapes, immersive art, smart-health choices. Gentle Monster, LVMH, Hermès, Burberry, and Lefty’s show why experience beats merchandise.
Australia’s IT breakout moment – A fresh fiscal year releases frozen budgets, pushing tech projects back to the top of the agenda. Vendors slow to commit risk falling behind.
The delivery revolution – Apple clocks an eight-minute iPhone drop in Mumbai. Quick-commerce rivals from India to the Middle East chase sub-15-minute promises; Deliveroo decides where speed does (and doesn’t) matter.
Meta’s new AI ad levers – Value Optimisation, Incremental Attribution, and Value Rules let marketers dial in a conversion rate and let algorithms hunt for it, squeezing agency middlemen in the process.
The hybrid consumer – Shoppers move fluidly between phone, store, and social feed. Retailers run risk—not channels—when they still treat ecommerce, physical, and media as separate fiefdoms.
 
Mentioned brands: Apple • Amazon • Deliveroo • Gentle Monster • Lefty’s • Primark • LVMH / Louis Vuitton • Hermès • Burberry • Inditex • Mango • Gap • Westfield.
 
Guest bios
Alex – Host of The Retail Podcast, known for distilling global trends into actionable strategy.
Ryf Quail – Managing Director, NRF APAC; guides brands across Asia-Pacific on future-proof retail models.
Laura Doonin – Tech advisor specialising in digital transformation and omnichannel acceleration.
00:00 Intro – Welcome to Five Things Friday02:00 Topic 1 – Asia’s five-element edge (Gentle Monster, LVMH, Hermès, Burberry, Lefty’s)14:30 Topic 2 – Australia’s IT spend rebound23:00 Topic 3 – Delivery revolution: Apple’s 8-minute iPhone, Deliveroo & quick commerce33:50 Topic 4 – Meta’s AI ad toolkit and what it means for agencies
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NRF APAC 2025: Retail’s New Frontier with Jill Dvorak and Ryf Quail

Alex Rezvan from The Retail Podcast sits down with Jill Dvorak, SVP of Content at NRF, and Ryf Quail, Managing Director of NRF APAC. Recorded live from NRF APAC 2025 in Singapore, this conversation explores why the next generation of consumers is not just arriving—they’re here and reshaping retail in profound ways.
 
Discover how retailers can navigate the challenge of catering to a generation that shops with individuality, ethics, and personal values at the forefront. From record-breaking attendance to groundbreaking trends in partnership, innovation, and global collaboration, hear firsthand insights from two retail thought leaders who are at the heart of transforming the industry.
 
Key Topics Discussed:
Next Generation Shopping Behaviors (Gen Z & Alpha)
Ethical and Value-Based Retail
Record-breaking NRF APAC Conference Highlights
Future of Retail: Buy vs. Build
Trends in Retail Innovation and Partnership Strategies
Insights from NRF’s global expansions (U.S., APAC, Europe)
 
Featured Guests:
Jill Dvorak, MBA – SVP Content at NRF, Retail Enthusiast
Ryf Quail – Managing Director, NRF APAC
 
Host:
Alex Rezvan – Founder and Host, The Retail Podcast

NRF APAC 2025 Day 1: AI in Retail, FairPrice Store of the Future & Global Insights

Day 1 at NRF APAC 2025 and we’re off with a bang.
I had the chance to walk the floor with Ryf Quail—Managing Director of the show and my co-host on Five Things Friday. Fresh from ribbon-cutting duties, Ryf talked about the emotional high of seeing the industry come alive again.
The show floor is packed.FairPrice's Store of the Future is a must-see.And the Innovators Showcase? 25 handpicked tech companies proving how AI is transforming everything—from supply chains to customer loyalty.
We even got a sneak peek into the Ai-Media Penang event coming in 2026 with Michael Lamb.
A special shout-out to Seth Webb, EVP at Tusk Strategies (Woodstock, Vermont), who curated the Innovators Showcase with insights from VCs, accelerators, and global operators. He’s also behind iMedia Summits & Events across AU, NZ & SEA. Great to see him shaping what’s next in retail tech.
It’s fast, it’s energetic, and it’s only Day 1.
🎧 Catch the highlights now on The Retail Podcast#NRFAPAC2025 #RetailUnlimited #AIinRetail #FairPrice #RetailEvents #TheRetailPodcast #iMediaSummits #RetailInnovation

NRF APAC 2025 Soundbite: Panchalee Weeratammawat on Retail’s Human Core

Recorded live at NRF APAC 2025, this short soundbite features Panchalee Weeratammawat, Chief People Officer of Central Retail. With nearly 80,000 employees across Thailand, Vietnam, and Italy, Panchalee shares what’s top of mind for retail leaders in Asia today.
Key Highlights:
 
Why employee happiness drives customer loyalty
Retail’s evolving role: from reactive to behavior-shaping
What stood out on Day 1 of NRF APAC 2025
 
A quick yet powerful insight into the human side of global retail transformation.
She unpacks why great retail begins with engaged employees, and how listening—both to teams and customers—is the secret to building long-term trust and sustainable growth.
Panchalee Weeratammawat
Chief People Officer, Central Retail
🧑‍💼 Guest Name & Title

Five Things Friday APAC Edition: Retail’s Next Moves at NRF Singapore & Shoptalk Europe

Welcome to a special APAC edition of Five Things Friday from The Retail Podcast.
This week, host Alex is on the cusp of two retail mega-events: Shoptalk Europe and NRF APAC in Singapore. With Laura under the weather, we’re joined by special guest Reef Quail, Managing Director at NRF APAC, for a candid, front-line take on the pulse of Asian retail.
In this episode:
How Asia-Pacific is rewriting retail’s playbook—diversity, partnerships, and global scale
Why the retailer-to-vendor ratio makes or breaks a great event
What Western brands get wrong (and right) when expanding in Asia
The rise of homegrown brands like Anko, and the secret to successful cross-border expansion
Big tech, AI, and the looming disruption in retail jobs
Alex shares milestone listener numbers, thanks the global retail community, and raises the alarm for leaders who think digital disruption is “someone else’s problem.” This is your behind-the-scenes pass to the real stories, challenges, and opportunities in global retail right now.
Don’t forget to rate, follow, and share the show!
Connect:
The Retail Podcast on LinkedIn
The Retail Podcast website
Contact:
Email Alex at [your email here]—he reads every message.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome & Retail Event Preview
1:30 – Milestones & Listener Shoutouts
3:45 – AI in Retail: Opportunity or Threat?
8:15 – Reef Quail on the Ground in Singapore
10:00 – The Secret to a Great Retail Event: Ratios
13:30 – The Diversity Challenge in APAC
16:00 – Anko: An Aussie Brand Goes Global
18:30 – Lessons from Japan: Long-Term Partnership Success
20:00 – Closing Thoughts & Next Week’s Preview