It’s certainly been a year of hyper-speed development in the world of e-commerce. The pandemic presented countless challenges for those working in online retail and forced everyone to up their game. Now comes the big question: “what’s next?”. In our latest episode of The Retail Exchange podcast, Boohoo CIO Jo Graham and Endava VP Retail Industry Acceleration Bradley Howard join guest host Cate Trotter to discuss why agility is the new commercial imperative, how technology and data driven decisions are improving the customer journey, and what solutions will help e-commerce retailers to adapt an ..read more

For many, having a place to enjoy a good cup of coffee is seen as a vital part of daily and community life. One of the most beloved brands in the UK is Costa Coffee. It’s a very different business to the one started back in 1971. Today, it has grown to almost 4,000 locations across more than 30 countries. Host Martin Popplewell sits down with Adam Dunt, Global Creative Design Lead, to talk coffee culture and ask how the right kind of design can create a warm, welcoming space that truly connects with the local communities it serves. Featuring in-depth conversations with leading figures fro ..read more

As 2020 rolls to a close, our final podcast episode of the year reflects on the year that was. A year in retail, like no other. If you were trying to end this year by winning a prize for its greatest understatement, you could describe 2020 as ‘eventful’. It is difficult in many respects to argue that 2020 was an especially good year. Emerging trends didn’t just gather momentum, they marched forward to turn the industry on its head in ways we could never have imagined. For retail, it’s been a year of contrasting fortunes. Some have faltered. Others have thrived. To set the tone, we revisit some ..read more

In the final episode of ‘The Special’ from The Retail Exchange podcast, we discuss this year’s explosive growth in grocery eCommerce retail, and look ahead as the sector prepares for December festivities. Grocery retailers have stepped up to the plate in 2020. But as shoppers ready themselves to shop online for their festive food favourites this year, who are set to be the winners and losers this Christmas, and why? Host Martin Popplewell is joined by guests to analyse what impact a ‘Covid Christmas’ is likely to have on grocery retailer’s home delivery solutions. We ask what grocery retailers ..read more

In this latest episode of ‘The Special’ from The Retail Exchange podcast, we look at the business of 25 December ahead of what will be a very different Christmas 2020 for the retail industry. Host Martin Popplewell is joined by guests to analyse approaches to this year’s big festive advertising campaigns and discuss the likely impact on retail footfall as retailer prepare to re-open their doors after the UK’s second lockdown. Plus we look ahead to the key trends for the year ahead. Featuring guests Simon Gregory, Joint Chief Strategy Officer at BBH, Richard Lim, CEO at Retail Economics, a ..read more

In this latest episode of ‘The Special’ from The Retail Exchange podcast, we reflect on key developments in the world of eCommerce in recent months. We assess the changes in shopper behaviour, how e-commerce playbooks have had to be reinvented, and the challenges that retailers and brands face to maximise sales during 2020’s crucial ‘Golden Quarter’ at a time when a growing number of consumers are buying what we need with a click. Featuring guests Dean McElwee, Integrated Commercial Lead Europe eCommerce at Kelloggs, Rob Wood, Head of Online at The Entertainer, and Lukasz Stebelski, Head of St ..read more

Listeners with a sweet tooth will likely already be familiar with the Hotel Chocolat brand.  Started in 1993, it has charmed UK shoppers with its meticulously produced chocolate and is now one of our most beloved chocolatiers. As the business prepares for one of its busiest times of the year, and what promises to be a very different ‘Covid’ Christmas, it’s also back on our TV screens this autumn, providing behind the scenes access into the running of the UK’s biggest chocolate maker. In this special episode of The Interview Series, Hotel Chocolat CEO and Co-founder, Angus Thirlwell, joins ..read more

Retailers are sometimes accused of pursuing surface-level? initiatives, designed to satisfy PR metrics rather than deliver real change. That cannot be said of Falabella. The Chilean-based department store chain Falabella is one of the country’s most treasured brands. A more than century-old success story, the retailer is a true South American powerhouse. It is also committed to investing in a responsible plan to secure the future for both its business, and the people of Chile. When it comes to responsible retailing, it is, quite literally, ‘thinking out of the box’—helping the country’s poores ..read more

To many, buying makeup can be confusing, expensive, and inconvenient. Birchbox founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp thought so too. A decade ago, they envisioned a way for customers — just like themselves — to easily and efficiently try, learn about, and purchase beauty products online. And so beauty subscription service Birchbox was born. Today it has more than 4 million subscribers and customers around the world. It has also expanded its offer into male grooming — allowing it to tap into an enormous group of underserved consumers. In this special episode of The Interview Series, recorde ..read more

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the products consumers care about the most are the ones that are keeping them connected. With brick and mortar stores closed, Enjoy – the first mobile retail store available on-demand – is playing a vital role, helping to get much-needed communications tools to consumers, safely and quickly. Like many companies, it has had to adjust and take time to figure out the best, safest next steps for Experts, partners and customers. The result has led to the creation of a whole new contactless experience to enable big brands like BT and EE in the UK, AT&T in th ..read more