All Podcast Episodes
The Interview: Retail Trust
The Interview - Retail Trust: In this episode, host Mark Faithfull returns to the important issue of wellbeing, as we mark Mental Health Awareness Week and the Retail Trust’s Together Fest 2022, which takes place in London today. Recorded at Spring Fair 2022, Retail Trust wellbeing consultant Andrea Woodside joins us to examine whether retail is a happy place, why kindness and empathy is not rocket science (but can be rocket fuel), and why it’s important to give retail leaders permission to focus their energy and efforts on signposting support to make a meaningful difference to employees.
The Interview: Pandora, SVP Omnichannel Retail Kate Walsh
The Interview: Pandora: In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Kate Walsh, SVP Omnichannel Retail for Pandora. She reveals the charm of working for this iconic jewellery brand, how it is repurposing and revitalising its offer for the future, the lessons she’s learned about how to do business better, and her views on whether The Apprentice is as good as it used to be.
In Focus: Employee Wellbeing
In Focus - Employee Wellbeing: In this episode, host Mark Faithfull talks wellbeing. Employee wellbeing doesn’t stop at the store or office entrance. We sit down with Claire Kershaw, Wellbeing Offer at Next and Terry Streather, Director of Oakwood Training to discuss the importance of achieving buy-in at a senior level, why the narrative needs to switch from reactive to one that’s proactive, how to empower managers to spot the warning, and what wellbeing will look like in the future.
Event Review: Spring Fair 2022
For those who have an eye on wholesale retail, Spring Fair has traditionally had a strong spot on their roster. Its physical presence may well have been on pause since 2020 but this year it's back, to claim the mantle of being Europe's biggest post-pandemic industry event to date. And with a distinct era of hope and optimism as well. In this special episode, The Retail Exchange reports from Spring Fair 2022 at the NEC Birmingham to bring you a review of the flagship four-day wholesale retail event.
The Interview: OKA
The Interview - OKA: In this special episode of The Interview Series, our host Ben Bland looks ahead to Retail Week Live 2020 with Sarah Clark – Advisory Board Member and Chief Commercial Officer of luxury homewares retailer OKA.
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.
The Interview: V-Mart
The Interview: V-Mart: In this episode, host Ben Bland sits down with V-Mart chief operating officer Samir Misra, to discover more about the country's economic boom, the retailer's high velocity growth, and its blueprint for delivering sustained retail success. Recorded at World Retail Congress 2019.
The Interview: thredUP
The Interview: thredUP: In this special episode, guest host Karl McKeever travels to San Francisco for an exclusive interview with thredUP president Anthony Marino. We also catch up with the brand's co-founder and CTO Chris Homer, during his visit to Tech. Festival 2019, to learn about the technology fuelling its phenomenal growth.
The Interview: Three UK
The Interview: Three UK: In an exclusive interview, recorded at Future Stores 2019, host Martin Popplewell sits down with Three UK Head of Omnichannel & Digital First, Graham Johnston, to talk about the importance of delivering a seamless customer experience, and what lies in store in a 5G connected future.
The Interview: British Retail Consortium
The Interview: British Retail Consortium: In an exclusive interview, recorded at the World Retail Congress 2019, host Ben Bland sits down with Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium to discuss the challenges facing UK retail in the light on unprecedented change in the industry that's resulted in difficult trading conditions and evolving shopper habits.
The Interview: Levi’s
The Interview: Levi’s: In an exclusive interview, recorded at World Retail Congress 2019, Ben Bland sits down with Marc Rosen, Levi's EVP/President of Global Direct to Consumer, to discuss how the brand is keeping its customer experience fresh - in its own distinct way.
The Interview: Leica
The Interview: Leica: In this edition of ‘The Interview’, business broadcaster Ben Bland sits down with Jason Heward, UK managing director of Leica Camera. He talks about the passion that exists within Leica (and himself) for photography, the brand’s recently opened new London flagship store, and its focus on using ‘experience’ to connect with customers.
In Focus: Fashion Retail
In Focus - Fashion Retail: As fashion retail’s ever-shifting landscape continues at breakneck pace, we ponder what retailers can do to overcome the current challenges in style. Host Ben Bland sits down with senior industry thinkers to discuss the challenges that exist, as well as can be done to deliver practical long-lasting improvements in retail performance.
The Interview: Leon Restaurants
The Interview: Leon Restaurants: In this edition of The Interview, John Vincent, co-founder of Leon Restaurants joins host Ben Bland to discuss the story of the brand, its ethos and future plans.
The Interview: Neal’s Yard Remedies
The Interview: Neal’s Yard Remedies: In this edition of The Interview Series, we sit down with Neal’s Yard Remedies director of international sales Calum Mackay. Originally recorded at World Retail Congress 2018 in Madrid, he takes business broadcaster Ben Bland through his varied career in beauty, explains the importance of going the extra mile to engage with international retailers and customers, and shares his top tips for surviving the long haul to success.
The Interview: Juventus FC
The Interview: Juventus FC: In this episode, host Ben Bland is joined by Juventus Football Club head of brand licensing and retail, Silvio Vigato to discuss all-things sports retail; the power of fan loyalty; and how the club uses its football stars to promote the brand on a global scale.
The Interview: Rockar
The Interview: Rockar: In this episode, host Ben Bland talks to Rockar founder Simon Dixon about his company’s latest partnership with industry giant Ford and fashion retailer Next, and how innovation is moving car retailing up a gear – transforming perceptions and putting power into the hands of customers.
The Interview: Group Cortefiel
The Interview: Grupo Cortefiel: In our latest special edition of The Interview ahead of the World Retail Congress 2018, business broadcaster Ben Bland talks to Grupo Cortefiel CEO, Jaume Miquel. He discusses the key trends he expects to dominate the agenda at the Congress and tells the story of retail transformation and international expansion taking place within the Grupo Cortefiel.
The Interview: Supremebeing
The Interview: Supremebeing: In this edition host Ben Bland has an in-depth conversation with Gavin Aldred, owner of online clothing brand Supremebeing.com to talk refashioning physical and online retailing, and to explore why the brand has eschewed many standard industry practices in favour of tackling ethical concerns.
In Focus: Store Teams
In Focus - Store Teams: In this episode, we're discussing the power of people. As technology and automation becomes more prevalent in the world of retail, the idea of having store assistants might seem old-fashioned. But the human touch is still very much in demand.