All Podcast Episodes
The Interview: Brompton Bicycles Head of Marketing NA, Dawn Fichot
In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined in conversation by Dawn Fichot, Head of Marketing North America for iconic British foldable bike manufacturer, Brompton Bicycles. We explore how this most British of companies is adapting its message to move in line with needs of the North American audience; the ways Brompton is leveraging digital solutions to track new consumers; urban change in the US; and why innovation and loyalty will always be Brompton’s obsession.
Recorded at NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show
The Interview: Vuori VP of International, Andy Lawrence
In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Andy Lawrence, VP of International of US-based athletic clothing brand, Vuori. Inspired by California’s active, coastal lifestyle, Vuori was founded in 2015. In September last year it launched into China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East, and Mexico, and opened its first UK store in London's Covent Garden. In this episode, we explore the story behind the SoCal brand, the key challenges that the athleisure sector (and many other DTC brands) face to ‘win’ with consumers, and the company’s secrets to serving up a successful international growth strategy.
The Interview: The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. VP Innovation & Technology, Ophelia Ceradini
The Interview: The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In this episode, host Karl McKeever is joined by Ophelia Ceradini Vice President of Digital Technology and Innovation at The Estée Lauder Companies.
Artificial intelligence and augmented reality are transforming the beauty shopping experience through seamless and omnichannel experiences. In our latest of episode of The Interview Series, recorded live in the heart of New York City during NRF 2023, Ophelia explains how, using technology to offer interactive, immersive, and sustainable solutions, brands in the beauty space are creating a solid foundation to solving consumer pain points and firming up loyalty and sales.
Presented by Peak Technologies
The Interview: Hollister Co. Snr Director Brand Marketing Strategy, Jacee Scoular
The Interview: Hollister Co. In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Jacee Scoular, Snr Director Brand Marketing Strategy. at Hollister Co., Gilly Hicks and Social Tourist. Recorded live in the heart of New York City during NRF 2023, Jacee joins us to discuss why authenticity must lie at the heart of the building successful brand collaborations with content creators, the growing trend for purpose-driven retail, and how brands can stay in tune with their customers by acting in a way that is not only good for shareholders, but also good for the planet and for local communities.
Presented by Peak Technologies
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 Interview: Neighborhood Goods CEO and co-founder Matt Alexander
The Interview: Neighborhood Goods. In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Matt Alexander, Co-Founder and CEO of Neighborhood Goods, as well as the brand’s President, Ashley Shelton Conger. Recorded live in the heart of New York City during NRF 2023, together we explore the brand story of Neighborhood Goods, the future of department stores, and the shift towards community-focused retailing.
. Presented by Peak Technologies
The Interview: Dickies Global VP of Digital Strategy, Calvin Anderson
The Interview: Dickies: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Calvin Anderson, Global VP of Digital Strategy at Dickies.
Founded a century ago, the Dickies brand originated as a denim bib overall company, selling workwear to farm and ranch hands around the Southwest. Acquired by VF Corporation in 2017, today it is a global brand found in more than 100 countries —with a style that resonates as much with pop culture icons as it does with auto mechanics.
Calvin currently serves as Global VP of Digital Strategy for Dickies, as well as two other brands within the VF Corporation stable of brands – Altra and Smartwool – overseeing digital technology, customer lifecycle, data analytics, engineering, and science.
Prior to his role at VF Corp, Anderson served in several executive positions within the hotel industry including Head of Commercial at OYO NORA, the world’s fastest growing economy hotel chain.
Recorded live in the heart of New York City during NRF 2023, together we explore changing face of digital transformation, and what retailers can learn from Calvin’s experience in the hospitality industry.
Presented by Peak Technologies.
In Focus Ep23: Retail Automation
In Focus | Retail Automation. Are robots taking over the retail industry? Host Karl McKeever sits down with John Toler, CEO of US retailer Plow & Hearth, and Samay Kohli, CEO of warehouse robotics company, GreyOrange to find out.
E-commerce had a transformative effect on retail operations but now the booming demand for warehouses to speed-up last-mile deliveries is set to bring another round of dramatic change in retail.
Robots are well established in industrial settings but advances in AI and robotic SaaS platforms are increasingly working alongside humans in the retail industry, and having a dramatic effect on warehouse operations and how retailers and brands make their businesses more efficient and productive.
In the latest episode of our ‘In Focus’ series, we examine why forward-looking leaders are investing in intelligent automation; and the challenges and opportunities presented by robotics.
Presented by GreyOrange.
In Focus Ep22: Customer Data Platforms
In Focus | Customer Data Platforms. Host Karl McKeever sits down with Citizen Watch VP Customer Insights & Data Management, Rob Harvath, and Amperity Chief Customer Officer, Dan Milgrom to discuss how customer data platforms can connect the dots for improved customer engagement; why establishing a singular source-of-truth for customer data matters; the importance of adopting a “question everything” approach; and how to create a data-driven culture, to keep things ticking.
Presented by Amperity.
The Interview: Fabletics SVP Head of Retail, Ron Harries
The Interview: Fabletics: In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever is joined by Ron Harries, SVP Head of Retail at US activewear brand Fabletics.
2023 marks the 10th anniversary for the digitally-native brand, co-founded by actress and entrepreneur Kate Hudson. In that time, Fabletics has been busy pulling in a loyal online consumer following.
For the last six years, Ron Harries has been the person responsible for leading the development of its retail proposition – unpicking the ever-more complex interplay of data and retailing. His tenure has seen the go-faster brand significantly increase its visibility across the US, with a raft of strategic store openings.
He reveals the importance of data-driven retail growth; why digitally-native and established retailers aren’t cut from the same cloth; how the lines between online and in-store are becoming increasingly blurred; why he’ll never step away from the challenge of delivering ‘better retail’; and the brand’s plans for the future.
Presented by Appriss Retail.
Event Review: NRF Big Show 2023
Event Review - NRF 2023 Retail’s Big Show - Day Three: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, host Karl McKeever reports from NRF 2023, Retail’s Big Show, in New York City. We bring your highlights from the Javits Convention Center, where retail leaders and some of the industry’s most pioneering vendors, discuss, debate, and present the key topics that provide a glimpse into what the future of retail might look like. In this episode, we picked our way through some of the highlights from the final day at the Show.
Event Review: NRF Big Show 2023
Event Review - NRF 2023 Retail’s Big Show - Day Two: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, host Karl McKeever reports from NRF 2023, Retail’s Big Show, in New York City. We bring your highlights from the Javits Convention Center, where retail leaders and some of the industry’s most pioneering vendors, discuss, debate, and present the key topics that provide a glimpse into what the future of retail might look like. In this episode, we picked our way through some of the highlights from Day Two at the Show.
Event Review: NRF Big Show 2023
Event Review - NRF 2023 Retail’s Big Show - Day One: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, host Karl McKeever reports from NRF 2023, Retail’s Big Show, in New York City. At the start of a franticly busy three days in the Big Apple, we bring your highlights from the Javits Convention Center, we picked our way through some of the highlights from Day One at the Show, where retail leaders and some of the industry’s most pioneering vendors, discuss, debate, and present the key topics that provide a glimpse into what the future of retail might look like.
The Interview: Birchbox
The Interview - Birchbox: In our latest episode, we bring you a special interview with Pooja Agarwal, chief operating officer of beauty subscription brand Birchbox. She explains how this pioneer of the subscription model has evolved and continues to remain on the cutting edge of the customer experience, and look ahead to what lies in store as it embarks on its next exciting chapter.
The Special: Braking Point
The Special - Braking Point: In our latest episode of ‘The Special’ series, we bring listeners a special report from the US and Canada, as stores across both countries close their physical stores in response to the global pandemic.
Episode 12: Results Business
Episode 12 - Results Business: As retailers release their ‘Golden Quarter’ results, our guests reflect on the latest trading updates and ponder the strategies that some retailers should be adopting to deliver success in the year ahead.
The Interview: Macy’s
The Interview: Macy’s: In this special episode, guest host Karl McKeever travels to New York for an exclusive interview with Macy's national director of window presentation, Roya Sullivan. She shares the behind-the-scenes story of preparations for its highly anticipated Christmas windows, and talks about the challenge of managing windows for the one of the world’s most iconic department stores.
The Interview: Allbirds
The Interview - Allbirds: In this special episode, we explore the story of footwear brand Allbirds. Guest host Karl McKeever travels to San Francisco for an exclusive interview with the brand’s head of global retail operations, Travis Boyce, to learn more about this increasingly popular shoe brand with sustainability at its heart.
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.