All Podcast Episodes
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.
Event Review: World Retail Congress
Event Review - World Retail Congress 2023: In this episode, we bring you more highlights from World Retail Congress 2023 in Barcelona.
Host Karl McKeever is joined by Deloitte chief global economist, Ira Kalish, and Matahari Department Store CFO, Niraj Jain. Together, we discuss the economic headwinds that the industry is facing in 2023, and how retailers can create the financial foundation to deliver resilience and growth in the months ahead. Plus we are joined in conversation by Havaianas President EMEA, Guillaume Prou, to explore his company’s extraordinary brand journey and why investing in product innovation remains vital in the face of growing additional ‘distractions’ to the day job of retailing.
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
Event Review: Shoptalk Europe 2023
Event Review - Shoptalk Europe 2023 - Ep03: in the final of our daily podcast episodes from Shoptalk Europe 2023 in Barcelona, host Karl McKeever brings you highlights from Day Three at the event. We hear from some of the sharpest minds in retail, at some of Europe’s leading retailers and brands, as they discuss, debate and present the solutions that are redefining thinking… in an ever-shifting landscape.
Event Review: Shoptalk Europe 2023
Event Review - Shoptalk Europe 2023 - Ep02: in the second of our daily podcast episodes from Shoptalk Europe 2023 in Barcelona, we pick our way through some of the highlights from Day Two at the event. Host Karl McKeever brings you highlights of what was on show (and discussed) during what was another busy day at Shoptalk Europe 2023. We hear from some of the sharpest minds in retail, at some of Europe’s leading retailers and brands, as they discuss, debate and present the solutions that are redefining thinking… in an ever-shifting landscape.
Event Review: Shoptalk Europe 2023
Event Review - Shoptalk Europe 2023 - Ep01: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, host Karl McKeever brings you highlights from the first day of Shoptalk Europe 2023 in Barcelona. The event promises to unite Europe’s entire retail ecosystem. And the first day did not disappoint as retail leaders and some of the industry’s leading innovators came together to discuss and debate the trends that are shaping the industry… and present solutions that are providing a glimpse into what the future of retail might look like.
Event Review: World Retail Congress
Event Review - World Retail Congress 2023: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, host Karl McKeever brings you highlights from World Retail Congress 2023 in Barcelona, as we pick our way through some of the topics, insights and conversations that are inspiring and challenging the retail ecosystem, and that interested us the most.
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: 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: 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: 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.
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.
In Focus: Fashionably Agile
In Focus - Fashionably Agile: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, our special guest host Cate Trotter sits down with Boohoo CIO Jo Graham and Endava VP Retail Industry Acceleration Bradley Howard to discuss why agility and digital evolution is the new commercial imperative.
The Interview: Foot Locker
The Interview - Foot Locker: In this special episode, we sit down with respected retail designer, Kambiz Hemati. Best known for his work with brands such as Foot Locker and Starbucks, he discusses the art of great retail design and looks back on his own storied career.
The Interview: Unrobe
The Interview: Unrobe: Dutch clothing label Unrobe is a new sustainable fashion brand on a mission to dress people by 'undressing' the fashion industry. Host Ben Bland caught up with the brand’s founder, Daan Ubachs for an exclusive interview, to discuss why there has never been a better, or more important time, for change. Recorded at World Retail Congress 2019
The Interview: Happy Socks
The Interview: Happy Socks: Recorded at World Retail Congress 2019, Happy Socks’ head of retail, Aleksander Milenkovic sits down with Ben Bland to talk about the brand’s story – one that’s full of colourful designs, celebrity collaborations and exceptional charm, that’s guaranteed to make you smile.
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.
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: L’Estrange
The Interview: L’Estrange: In this episode, co-founders of menswear apparel brand L’Estrange, university friends Tom Horne and Will Green share the story behind the brand’s development, talk about their store concept ‘The Apartment’, and explain why more fashion brands should champion a move towards ‘Essentialism’.