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: 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: 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: 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: LEGO
The Interview: LEGO: LEGO is one of the most recognised toy brands in the world. In this edition of ‘The Interview’, business broadcaster Ben Bland sits down with Simone Sweeney, Vice President of Global Retail Development for LEGO Group.
In Focus: Rethinking Supermarkets
In Focus - Grocery Retail: In this episode, we explore what the future could look like for our supermarkets. As the hunger for change in the sector grows, assumptions that have underpinned the business models of the big grocery retail players for so many years no longer hold true.
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: L’Occitane
The Interview: L’Occitane: In this episode, host Ben Bland talks to Jamie Taylor, Retail, Property and Wholesale Director for international beauty brand L’Occitane. He tells business broadcaster Ben Bland what lies in-store for shoppers in its new Regent Street store, how the hospitality industry was an inspiration, and how people are crucial in delivering retail transformation.
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.
The Interview: O2
The Interview: O2: In this edition, broadcaster and business journalist Declan Curry talks to Bridget Lea, O2 director of stores, online, multichannel and supply chain. She recalls the journey so far for the business and looks ahead to what's still in store for the fast-changing mobile phone retailing marketplace.
In Focus: Seasonal Promotions
In Focus - Seasonal Promotions: In this episode, we ask: Is the high street reaching saturation point with seasonal promotions? What more retailers can do to keep things fresh and generate amplification beyond the four walls of the store?
In Focus: Mainstream Retail
In Focus - Mainstream Retail: Our panel of leading industry thinkers discuss the challenges that mainstream retailers are facing and several ideas on what can be done to get stores back on track.
In Focus: Rethinking Retail
In Focus - Rethinking Retail: As the way we shop continues to be redefined, is a rethink needed for retailers? Our guests give their take on how evolving shopper behaviour is impacting in-store brand engagement.
In Focus: Stores of the Future
In Focus - Stores of the Future: In our launch episode, senior industry thinkers discuss Stores of the Future, what’s worthy of attention, why there is still much work to do and what could, or should, retailers do to change their approach.