All Podcast Episodes
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: Unilever, Chief Customer Officer Claire Hennah
The Interview - Unilever: in this special episode of The Interview Series, as we look ahead to Retail Week 2022 later this month, host Karl McKeever sits down with in conversation with Unilever Chief Customer Officer Wellbeing, Beauty and Digital Commerce, Claire Hennah.
She explains why, when it comes to how consumers goods companies go to market, digital is changing everything. We also look ahead to Retail Week Live 2022.
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: Beauty Retail
In Focus - Beauty Retail: In this episode, we explore how the beauty industry can capitalise on the booming consumer demand to feel good again, by bringing joy and discovery to the retail experience. Host Karl McKeever sits down with Benefit Cosmetics UK & Ireland marketing director Lou Bennett, Cosmetic Executive Women editor Sallie Berkerey and arken P-O-P International head of insights Aimee Grandfield.
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.
Event Review: World Retail Congress 2022 Roundup
Event Review - World Retail Congress 2022 Week: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, Karl McKeever and Mark Faithfull report from World Retail Congress in Rome. As the event makes a welcome return to the industry calendar, we hear from retail leaders, exhibitors and attendees at the global flagship retail conference.
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: Digital Retail Signage
In Focus - Digital Retail Signage: In the second of our two-part special exploring innovation in digital signage technology, guest host Jason Bradbury is joined by a panel of experts to explore the now and the next in digital signage solutions – the trends and the challenges for retailers as they seek to make informed strategic decisions in 2022, and beyond.
In Focus: Digital Retail Signage
In Focus - Digital Retail Signage: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, guest host Jason Bradbury talks to three companies who know a thing or two about what it takes to create a blueprint for success when it comes to digital retail signage, for anyone wanting to think big and do better.
In Focus: Ethics Work
In Focus - Ethics Work: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, host Karl McKeever talks to three companies about how to design and source more sustainably, and explores how creating sustainable products has been integral to their own journey from seed to full bloom. Recorded at Spring Fair 2022 and in support of its ‘The Power of One’ campaign, that aims to energise retailers and consumers to take small steps to change the world.
The Interview: Little Moons, CEO & co-founder Vivien Wong
In this episode of The Interview series, host Karl McKeever sits down with Little Moons CEO and co-founder Vivien Wong. As children growing up in their parents’ bakery in London, Vivien (and her brother Howard) were surrounded by a passion for creating amazing food.
In 2010, they set up Little Moons; making a Japanese-inspired dessert called "mochi”. After enjoying steady growth, the company set up a Little Moons TikTok account and began posting videos… and then things began to get really interesting.
The Interview: Joe & Seph’s, Director & co-founder Paul Sopher
In this episode of The Interview series, recorded at Spring Fair 2022, host Mark Faithfull is sits down with Joe & Seph’s co-founder Paul Sopher as he shares the intriguing story of how a trip to the US led to the transformation of the UK popcorn category, his experience of life in a fast-growing family business, and advice for wannabe entrepreneurs.
Despite the company's success and expanding range of product lines, it remains singularly committed to one thing: creating the best tasting popcorn possible. That focus has helped to reinvent a category, taking the word of popcorn far beyond simply being a moorish movie treat.
The Interview: British Independent Retailers Association CEO Andrew Goodacre
In this episode of The Interview series, recorded at Spring Fair 2022, host Karl McKeever is joined by British Independent Retailers Association CEO Andrew Goodacre and Jayne Weldon, ECommerce Manager of new BIRA-backed online trading platform Neartoo. While The Retail Exchange’s Mark Faithfull talks to Claire Leigh, founder of award-winning independent retailer, Two Ducks.
During the pandemic, customers were increasingly keen to support smaller, independent and community retailers. But will bricks-and-mortar independent retail still be popular and relevant as we move forward? BIRA CEO Andrew Goodacre believes so. Now it’s time for independent shops, run by owners with passion and commitment, to seize the moment.
The Interview: Green & Black’s, co-founder Jo Fairley
In this episode of The Interview series, recorded at Spring Fair 2022, host Karl McKeever is joined by Green & Black’s co-founder Jo Fairley as she shares her experience of founding a business during a recession and discusses the importance of staying true to her core belief that doing good for your people and the planet simply makes good business sense.
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: Mintel, director of trends EMEA Simon Moriarty
As we look ahead to Spring Fair 2022, host Karl McKeever sits down with Mintel Director of Trends EMEA Simon Moriarty to discuss post-pandemic consumers trends and the big changes that will impact the world in which we all live and work within in 2022, and beyond.
The Interview: Pets at Home, chief people & culture officer Louise Stonier
The Interview: Pets at Home: In this latest episode of The Interview Series host Karl McKeever is joined by Pets at Home chief people & culture officer Louise Stonier. She explains the retailer’s focus on people, as well as pets. Why loving what you do is key to giving it your all. And why meaningful engagement and flexible working ultimately pays off when it comes to delivering lasting improvements in performance.
The Interview: BOXPARK founder Roger Wade
The Interview: BOXPARK x London Designer Outlet: In this latest episode of The Interview Series host Karl McKeever is joined by BOXPARK founder Roger Wade and London Designer Outlet general manager Sue Shepherd. Together, they discuss strategies for making neighbourhoods a pleasing place, and the formula that will ensure bricks-and-mortar retail and hospitality doesn’t just survive, but thrives.
The Special Live
The Special Live - The CEOs…: In this special episode of the podcast, presented by Trust Systems and recorded on stage at Retail Week Live 2021, Retail Week Connect’s Isobel Chillman is joined by The Very Group group chief executive Henry Birch, Wickes CEO David Wood, and Fenwick CEO John Edgar.
Event Review: Retail Week Live 2021 Roundup
Event Review - Retail Week Live 2021: In this latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, Karl McKeever hosts a special edition from Retail Week Live 2021 in London. As physical events made a welcome return to the industry calendar and the retail industry begins to reconnect, we hear from retail leaders, exhibitors and attendees at the UK’s flagship retail conference.