All Podcast Episodes
The Interview: IKEA US Head of Home Furnishing Identity & Retail Design, Seana Strawn
The Interview: IKEA - In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Seana Strawn, Head of Home Furnishing and Retail Design at IKEA US.
At IKEA US, Seana Strawn leads, among other things, the omnichannel sustainability customer communication and sustainability retail visual experience as IKEA develops toward their goal of being a fully circular company by 2030.
Recorded live in the heart of New York City during NRF 2023, she joins us to discuss the need for retailers to place sustainability at the heart of strategic thinking, its growing influence on retail design and how, if done right at store level, the trend for resale can increase foot traffic with unique offerings, and boost customer loyalty.
Presented by Peak Technologies
The Interview: FitFlop CTO Sal Usmani
The Interview: FitFlop. In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Sal Usmai, CTO of ergonomic and wellness footwear brand, FitFlop. Leading the company's transition to an omnichannel organisation, Sal is a seasoned technology leader with 20+ years of experience managing multichannel business applications in a strategic environment, Sal joined FitFlop in 2022 as chief technology officer to ensure that innovation, data, technology and a customer-first approach are central to the retailer's overall growth plans. Before joining FitFlop he led technology teams at Belstaff, LVMH and the Conran Group. In our latest of episode of The Interview Series, recorded live in the heart of New York City during NRF 2023, Sal joins host Karl McKeever to discuss the changing face of digital transformation, and explore FitFlop's journey to becoming an AI-driven retailer.
Presented by Peak AI
The Special: US Retail
The Special: US Retail. In this episode of The Special, we report from our New York studio to focus on the latest developments in US retail. Host Karl McKeever is joined by Laura Lewi, associate and concept designer at global architecture and design practice CRTKL to discuss the importance of reimagining physical retail for our new reality.
We speak to Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director of GlobalData Retail in Arizona about the current state of US retail, consumer confidence, and the prospects for growth ahead of the Golden Quarter. Plus: we’re joined by Aimee Grandfield, head of insights at retail display specialist arken P-O-P International to talk beauty retail, following her own recent visit to New York City.
The Interview: Spotify Head of Industry – Retail Vertical, John Gregory
The Interview: Spotify: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by John Gregory, Head of Industry – Retail Vertical at Spotify. From bombs, to beer, to Bloomingdale’s. Gregory has enjoyed a varied and storied career that has seen him involved in everything from the F-15 fighter program to the role of VP Marketing at the US luxury department store chain.
We explore the secrets to delivering a successful digital customer experience; how technology and data can be used to truly understand the individual and appeal to consumer senses and emotions; and what retailers can do to inspire shoppers through the joy of discovery.
Recorded at Retail Week Live 2022
The Interview: Majid Al Futtaim – Retail, CEO Hani Weiss
The Interview: Majid Al Futtaim: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined in conversation by Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim – Retail, the exclusive partner of choice for international hypermarket and supermarket brand, Carrefour.
The last few years have brought profound, powerful change to retail. The critical factor holding everything together is Leadership. Hani’s own career began at Majid Al Futtaim - Retail in 2001, as a Section Manager at Carrefour in City Centre Deira, the firm’s first hypermarket in the region. Today, as its CEO, Hani leads a business of 37,000 colleagues, operating over 450 Carrefour stores across 16 countries in the region, and serving more than 750,000 customers a day.
We sat down with him to explore the story behind the Majid Al Futtaim Retail business; the challenges of operating a successful grocery retail franchise business in the Middle East, and to hear his thoughts on what great leadership looks like today and, more importantly, for the future.
Recorded at Shoptalk Europe 2022.
The Interview: UGG, VP of Global Marketing Carole Diarra
The Interview: UGG: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined in conversation by Vice President of Global Marketing for global lifestyle brand UGG, Carole Diarra.
Diarra reflects on how a brand can stay relevant in today’s uncertain times, and the enduring principles that make great brands stand out. She also shares the story of her own personal career journey that saw her spend 15 years in New York honing her skills at L’Oreal, before eventually settling in her current role (and into a new life) in Paris.
Recorded at Shoptalk Europe 2022.
The Interview: Frugi, Chief Executive Officer Sarah Clark
The Interview: Frugi: In this episode, host Mark Faithfull is joined by Sarah Clark, CEO of UK organic clothing brand, Frugi. We to explore how sustainable fashion has changed; the brand’s plan for growth; what a sustained approach to business growth looks like; how to better influence and empower customers to live more sustainably; and how can it replace the pursuit of profit, and to reflect on her first year in post.
Recorded at Retail Week Live 2022.
The Interview: LIFVS, co-founder and COO Daniel Lundh
The Interview: LIFVS: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by LIFVS co-founder and COO Daniel Lundh to explore the story behind Europe’s largest unstaffed grocery chain; why it classes itself as a technology start-up first and retailer second; and how its business model could teach others a thing or two about how to enjoy retail success in low traffic areas and rural communities. Recorded at Shoptalk Europe 2022.
The Interview: Boots UK, Chief Information Officer Rich Corbridge
The Interview: Boots UK: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Boots UK CIO Rich Corbridge and Director of IT – Customer and Category, Jennifer Duffy.
We explore the digital initiatives that the retailer has recently spun up to continue offering services to customers; the importance of speed of adaptation; how its omnichannel approach is helping to build a digital ecommerce experience for the future; and why this initiative is so fundamental to their tech talent acquisition, retention, and development strategy.
Recorded at Retail Week Live 2022
The Interview: Coresight Research, founder & CEO Deborah Weinswig
The Interview: Coresight Research: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Coresight Research founder and CEO, Deborah Weinswig, to explore the disruptive trends and priorities that are shaping the new retail landscape, and to hopefully provide some answers to the question about the next digital “reality”: the metaverse.
The Interview: Zalando, VP Direct to Consumer Carsten Keller
The Interview: Zalando: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Dr Carsten Keller, VP Direct to Consumer of fashion e-tailing giant, Zalando. With more and more brands continuing to gear their processes to direct-to-consumer models, the platform has seen a boom in brands collaborations. Carsten explains how Zalando is supporting brand’s DTC ambitions, what the future will look like for ‘platforms’, what he believes will drive the next phase of hyper growth in retail, and why ‘progress, not perfection’ is more crucial than ever.
The Interview: Unilever, Chief Customer Officer Claire Hennah
The Interview - Unilever: in this special episode of The Interview Series, as we look ahead to Retail Week 2022 later this month, host Karl McKeever sits down with in conversation with Unilever Chief Customer Officer Wellbeing, Beauty and Digital Commerce, Claire Hennah.
She explains why, when it comes to how consumers goods companies go to market, digital is changing everything. We also look ahead to Retail Week Live 2022.
In Focus: Digital Retail Signage
In Focus - Digital Retail Signage: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, guest host Jason Bradbury talks to three companies who know a thing or two about what it takes to create a blueprint for success when it comes to digital retail signage, for anyone wanting to think big and do better.
The Special: Has it Clicked?
The Special - Has it Clicked? In this new episode of ‘The Special’ we look at how e-commerce playbooks have evolved in recent months, and what it will take for retailers and brands to win online during what promises to be a very different Christmas 2020.
The Interview: HSBC
The Interview: HSBC: In an exclusive interview, recorded at Tech Festival 2019, host Jason Bradbury sits down with Josh Bottomley, global head of digital, data and development at HSBC, to discuss the tech challenges of becoming a successful retail bank in the digital world.
In Focus: Retail Technology
In Focus - Retail Technology: Are robots about to takeover our stores? We review the technology promising to change how we shop in-store, and visit New York to discuss the big topics at NRF Big Show 2018.
In Focus: Collaborative Working
In Focus - Collaborative Working: In this episode, we discuss how to achieve greater collaboration, what needs to change, and where responsibility for driving new ways of working should lie.