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: Kmart Australia Managing Director, Ian Bailey
In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever sits down with Ian Bailey, Managing Director of Kmart Group Australia.
With over 450 stores, Kmart Australia is the country’s number one performing general merchandise and apparel retailer, and one of the most trusted and loved brands in Australia and New Zealand.
We explore how Kmart Australia doubled down on clarity of purpose and innovation to develop a strategic blueprint and operational architecture to transform its business model, moving it from a traditional discount chain to an innovative, modern, hybrid retailer.
Presented by World Retail Congress.
The Interview: Camper Global Retail Director, Isabelle Aberman
In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever travels to Barcelona to sit down with Isabelle Aberman, Global Retail Director of iconic footwear brand, Camper.
Founded on the small Spanish island of Mallorca in 1975, Camper is a family business with a rich shoemaking heritage that it uses to create unique designs that continue to enjoy global appeal.
Passionate about retail in all its forms, Isabelle joins us to discuss Camper’s unique approach to retail design, share the inside story of CamperLab and ReCamper, and to look ahead to what the future of retail holds for us all.
The Interview: Sprinter Creative Director, Eduardo Recio
In this episode of The Interview Series, host Karl McKeever travels to Barcelona to sit down with Eduardo Recio, Creative Director eCommerce & Retail, for leading Spanish multi-sport retail brand, Sprinter. We examine the story behind the retailer’s game-changing new retail concept, the key challenges that retailers in the sports sector face to deliver a winning customer experience, and look back on Eduardo’s own career retail—which first began here in the UK.
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: 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: Falabella, director of sustainability Pamela Lagos
The Interview - Falabella: In our latest episode, we travel to Santiago to meet Pamela Lagos, director of sustainability of Chilean department store chain Falabella Retail. She shares the inside story of how one of the country’s most famous retail names is investing in a responsible plan for future success, and the steps it is taking to show people and profitability can co-exist in greater harmony.
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: New Normal?
The Special - New Normal? In this episode of ‘The Special’ series, we explore the ramifications of the retail apocalypse that nobody saw coming, as stores around the world close their physical stores.
Event Review: EuroShop 2020
The Special - EuroShop 2020: Ben Bland and Karl McKeever host a special edition from EuroShop 2020 in Dusseldorf. We hear from exhibitors and attendees at the world’s largest retail trade fair on the ever-shifting sector landscape.
The Interview: HEMA
The Interview - HEMA: In this latest episode of The Interview Series, we talk exclusively to Tjeerd Jegen, CEO of HEMA to explore how a ‘return on value and values’ is helping drive new growth, and to shine a spotlight on his own storied retail career.
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: Rituals Cosmetics
The Interview - Rituals Cosmetics: In this episode of The Interview Series, we sit down with Richard Lems, Director of Format & Design at body and home cosmetics retailer Rituals, to discuss the importance of rituals and extol the virtues of ’slow retail’.
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: 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: Rapha
The Interview - Rapha: In this episode of The Interview Series, we sit down with Rapha’s Director of Retail & Development, Caroline Crosswell, and Head of Retail, Darren Read, to explore our growing love of all things two-wheeled.
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.