The Retail Podcast

Hosted by Alex Rezvan

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309

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Nov 2026

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EN-GB

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Retail intelligence for leaders making decisions about growth, margins, customers, and stores. Decoding Retail Daily: the developments that matter, in around five minutes. Five Things Friday: what the week's stories mean for retail. Expert interviews: decisions and lessons from the people running global retail. Your Host, Alex Rezvan, explores AI, ecommerce, store operations, and retail media with CEOs, founders, and operators. Follow for your daily briefing, weekly perspective, and deeper conversations.

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November 11, 20264 min

M&S Eyes Nearly Half Online, Toolstation Goes for €1

Marks and Spencer wants online to reach nearly 50% of fashion, home and beauty sales alongside a network of 180 highly productive stores, but has put no year on it. Today's briefing also covers US grocery prices rising at their fastest since April, Travis Perkins selling Toolstation Benelux for one euro, and Lidl keeping its comparative price ads in France. 00:00 Intro 00:07 M&S targets nearly 50% online, 180 stores 00:43 UK supermarket till sales up 3.2% in October 01:06 US CPI up 0.4%, grocery prices up most since April 01:27 Food Lion buys five Winn-Dixie stores 02:03 Ethan Allen's Kathwari out, interim CEO named 02:26 Travis Perkins sells Toolstation Benelux for €1 03:01 Action loses French court bid against Lidl ads 03:32 Costco adds beauty discovery tables 04:09 Supreme and Timberland return to the field boot Sources: - Marks & Spencer: M&S Sets Near-50% Online Target for Fashion; Plans 180-Store Network https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/newsroom/press-releases/capital-markets-day-2026 - NielsenIQ: UK Supermarket Till Sales Up 3.2% in October; Final Week Reaches 4.1% https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2026/uk-supermarket-sales-bounce-back-in-october-as-extra-spending-lifts-growth/ - US Bureau of Labor Statistics: CPI Up 0.4% in October; Grocery Prices Up Most Since April https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cpi_11102026.htm - Ahold Delhaize: Food Lion Agrees to Buy Five Winn-Dixie Stores in Georgia https://newsroom.aholddelhaize.com/food-lion-to-acquire-five-winn-dixie-stores-in-southern-georgia-exceeding-2026-growth-plan/ - Ethan Allen: Ethan Allen CEO Kathwari Out After Four Decades; Former Neiman Marcus Executive Named Interim https://ir.ethanallen.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/335/a-new-day-at-ethan-allen - Travis Perkins: German Investment Group to Acquire Toolstation's 100-Plus Benelux Stores https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/travis-perkins--tpk/travis-perkins-divestment-of-toolstation-benelux/9866401 - RetailDetail EU: French Court Rejects Action's Bid to Block Lidl Comparative Price Ads https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/general/action-comes-up-empty-lidl-is-allowed-to-compare-prices/ - Beauty Independent: Costco Steps Up Its Beauty Destination Ambitions With New Prestige Displays https://www.beautyindependent.com/costco-steps-up-beauty-destination-ambitions-new-prestige-displays/ - Footwear News: Timberland’s Beloved Field Boot Is Getting a New Limited-Edition Collaboration With Supreme https://wwd.com/footwear-news/sneaker-news/supreme-timberland-bandana-field-boot-release-date-1239409069/ Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

November 10, 202617 min

Currys on Customer Experience and Risky Credit | Dean Kramer

Dean Kramer, Chief Services Officer at Currys, on the customer experience that builds loyalty over years, not one sale. Why saying no to risky credit protects customers, and why AI should make colleagues better. Currys Group recurring services revenue rose 7% to £873m in FY 2025/26, and flexpay credit reached 23.7% of Currys UK&I sales. Dean explains why the business still turns down higher-risk lending, how loyalty works when customers buy big-ticket items only every few years, and why the right solution starts with how the customer will use the product. He also covers the B2B push (revenue up 20% in UK&I, with 70 Business Hubs across 296 UK&I stores), why most small firms want a better consumer offer, and where AI in retail belongs: behind colleagues, not in place of them. For leaders working on customer experience, customer service and consumer credit, including buy now pay later (BNPL). Chapters 00:00 Cold open 00:12 Introduction 00:47 Services turn a sale into a relationship 02:24 Loyalty is won or lost at every touch point 04:06 Know the customer before you sell the solution 06:25 Trust starts before the first conversation 08:43 Saying no to risky credit protects the customer 11:05 Small firms want a better consumer offer 14:26 AI should make colleagues better, not replace them 17:20 Wrap Sources: Currys plc, FY 2025/26 results (RNS), 2 July 2026; Currys plc press release, 10 new Business Hubs, 17 July 2026. Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

November 9, 20262 min

Ulta Adds Oura, Sprouts Adds Beauty: Five US Retail Stories

Well People is moving into Sprouts, Ulta is adding Oura rings, and NikeSKIMS has another collection on the way. This US edition also covers Warby Parker's smart glasses and Depop's plans to get more students buying and selling secondhand. IN THIS EPISODE Well People at Sprouts. Cosmetics and skincare are heading to more than 500 stores and Sprouts.com, priced from $12 to $26. e.l.f. Beauty, 2026-11-09 https://investor.elfbeauty.com/stock-and-financial/press-releases/landing-news/2026/11-09-2026-050118811 Oura at Ulta. Ring 5 launches online on 10 November and in 1,000 stores on 22 November, with sizing displays and rewards points on qualifying purchases. Oura, 2026-11-09 https://ouraring.com/blog/zh_TX/oura-ring-ulta-beauty/ NikeSKIMS. The Waffle Racer launches online on 10 November. The Retro Sport clothing collection follows on 17 November. Nike, 2026-11-05 https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nikeskims-waffle-racer-and-retro-sport-collection-reimagine-classic-sport-style Warby Parker. Intelligent Eyewear preorders open on 12 November, with deliveries expected during the holiday season. The company finished the quarter with 364 stores after opening 12 net new locations. Warby Parker via SEC, 2026-11-05 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1504776/000150477626000022/warbyparkerincearningsrele.htm Depop. More than 2,000 events are planned over 12 weeks across more than 300 campuses. There were 7,000 applicants for 600 paid student ambassador places. Austin was the first campus-tour date, with Fullerton and Berkeley next. Glossy, Danny Parisi, 2026-11-06 https://www.glossy.co/pop/glossy-pop-newsletter-depop-is-hosting-over-2000-campus-events-this-fall/ Follow Decoding Retail.

November 9, 20264 min

Global Edition: Meta's Muse, CVS Split and JD.com Clears Ceconomy

Meta's AI shopping assistant Muse launches in the UK within weeks, and any retailer signing up has to ask who controls the channel and who owns the customer data. Today's briefing also covers the CVS Health split, the Kroger and Albertsons merger dispute, and the EU's conditions on JD.com's takeover of Ceconomy. 00:00 Intro 00:08 Meta readies AI shopping assistant Muse for UK 00:43 Police link resale bargains to shoplifting gangs 01:32 CVS Health to split off its pharmacy chain 02:12 Teamsters strike at AGNE warehouse 02:42 Kroger and Albertsons divestiture dispute 03:24 EU clears JD.com takeover of Ceconomy 04:24 Armani heirs favour IPO over a sale Sources: - Retail Gazette: Meta Prepares to Launch AI Shopping Assistant Muse in UK Within Weeks https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2026/11/meta-to-launch-ai-shopping-assistant-muse-in-uk-within-weeks/ - Retail Gazette: Police Warn Shoppers on Vinted, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace Are Funding Organised Retail Theft https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2026/11/police-warn-online-bargain-hunters-are-fuelling-organised-retail-crime/ - CVS Health: CVS Health to Split Off 9,000-Store Pharmacy Chain by 2028 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000064803/000119312526446150/d148827dex991.htm - Supermarket News: Teamsters Strike at AGNE Warehouse Over Pension Fund Withdrawal https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-labor/teamsters-strike-at-agne-warehouse - Grocery Dive: Kroger-Albertsons Divestiture Deadlock Puts Merger Ruling at Risk https://www.grocerydive.com/news/the-friday-checkout-albertsons-kroger-trial-store-divestitures/873861/ - European Commission (Representation in Germany): EU Clears JD.com Takeover of Ceconomy With Logistics Conditions https://germany.representation.ec.europa.eu/nachrichten-und-veranstaltungen/pressemitteilungen/eu-kommission-genehmigt-ubernahme-von-ceconomy-durch-jdcom-unter-bedingungen-2026-11-03_de - Retail Insight Network: Armani Heirs Favour IPO Over Sale; Initial 15% Stake Reported in Play https://www.retail-insight-network.com/news/armani-heirs-favour-ipo/ Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

November 9, 20262 min

UK/EU Edition: Meta Muse for UK, EU clears JD.com-Ceconomy

UK & Europe retail news for Monday 9 November: Meta readies AI shopping assistant Muse for UK; Police link resale bargains to shoplifting gangs; EU clears JD.com takeover of Ceconomy; Armani heirs favour IPO over a sale. 00:00 Intro 00:07 Meta readies AI shopping assistant Muse for UK 00:42 Police link resale bargains to shoplifting gangs 01:27 EU clears JD.com takeover of Ceconomy 02:28 Armani heirs favour IPO over a sale Sources: - European Commission (Representation in Germany): https://germany.representation.ec.europa.eu/nachrichten-und-veranstaltungen/pressemitteilungen/eu-kommission-genehmigt-ubernahme-von-ceconomy-durch-jdcom-unter-bedingungen-2026-11-03_de Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

November 6, 202614 min

AI Agents Failed 4 in 10 Visa Test Checkouts | Five Things Friday

Visa let 22 AI agents shop 15 customer journeys and 4 in 10 test runs failed. Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, explains why agentic commerce is a nice to have this holiday, plus the midterms, Kroger, Starbucks and Walmart Sparky. CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open 00:20 Five Things Friday, US edition 01:10 Midterm blue wave puts retail crime bill at risk 03:52 Kroger courts solo diners with Thanksgiving for one 05:35 Starbucks turnaround pays off as earnings jump 07:06 Visa test: AI agents fail 4 in 10 purchases 10:32 Walmart Sparky turns a photo into a shopping list 14:05 Wrap MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO - Subscribe to The Retail Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxc8ZC3VJUM7RaTWLlAxMKg?sub_confirmation=1 SOURCES Starbucks, Q4 FY26 earnings release (SEC 8-K), 29 Oct 2026 Nasdaq closing prices via Zacks and Morningstar, 31 Dec 2025 and 4 Nov 2026 Fortune, Visa AI shopping agent benchmark report, 5 Nov 2026 Walmart, 'Sparky Makes Holiday Magic Real' announcement, 30 Oct 2026 Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27 ABOUT THE RETAIL PODCAST The Retail Podcast is retail intelligence for senior retail leaders: executive interviews, the Decoding Retail daily briefing and Five Things Friday. Host: Alex Rezvan, former Retail Industry Director, Global at Verizon and UK, at Microsoft. CONNECT - Website: https://www.theretailpodcast.com - Newsletter: https://www.theretailpodcast.com/newsletter - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast #AgenticCommerce #RetailNews #TheRetailPodcast

October 29, 20263 min

Poundland on the Brink and Retail's £41bn Tax Bill

Poundland's slide towards administration puts around 11,000 jobs and a value price anchor on the high street at risk, just as the BRC warns retail faces £41 billion in business taxes this year. In the US, Aritzia, Etsy and Walmart show where growth and price pressure are heading, while Migros moves to centralise Switzerland's largest retailer. 00:00 Good morning, this is Decoding Retail 00:04 Poundland on the brink of administration 00:32 BRC: £41bn business tax bill for retail 01:02 Aritzia plans up to 14 US stores a year 01:23 Etsy active buyers grow for first time in 2 years 01:53 Walmart's $35 holiday meal for 10 02:28 Migros plans a single group cooperative 03:05 Sign off Sources: - Talking Retail: Poundland on Brink of Administration; 11,000 Jobs at Risk https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/poundland-on-the-brink-of-administration-28-10-2026/ - British Retail Consortium: Budget 2026 Leaves Retail Facing £41bn Tax Burden, BRC Says https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/no-breathing-space-for-retail-as-budget-keeps-costs-climbing/ - Aritzia: Aritzia Plans Up to 14 US Stores a Year to Double Revenue in Five Years https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aritzia-presents-its-five-year-strategic-plan-302920259.html - Etsy: Etsy Q3 Active Buyers Grow for First Time in Two Years https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001370637/000137063726000090/q326shareholderletter.htm - Walmart: Walmart Sets $35 Holiday Meal Basket for 10 Across 26 Items https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/10/walmart-holiday-meal-basket - Migros: Migros Plans Unified Group Cooperative to Streamline Operations; Member Vote Pending https://corporate.migros.ch/it/news/cooperativa-di-gruppo Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

October 28, 202618 min

Luxury Brands Leave David Jones | Ryf Quail & Ngai Yuen Low

Luxury brands are pulling out of David Jones as the 100-year-old department store fights for relevance. Ryf Quail and Ngai Yuen Low, co-hosts of Five Things Friday APAC, explain what it means for luxury retail in Australia and Asia. David Jones sales fell 8.7% to A$2bn in the year to June 2025, with a A$95.5m pre-tax loss, per accounts lodged with ASIC. The chain is down to 38 department stores, and reports now say it may close more than half. Also this week: Asian brands winning attention with mystery names, Hong Kong malls swapping fashion for sportswear and bags, and Rolex sitting alongside online giants among the top brands in the Brand Conviction Index, built on data from 70,000 consumers in 11 Asian markets. A useful read on where luxury goods shoppers are putting their trust, and what that means for every department store still counting on the top luxury brands. 00:00 Cold open 00:24 Five Things Friday, APAC edition 01:10 Asian brands win attention with mystery names 05:36 David Jones fights for relevance as luxury walks out 09:54 Hong Kong malls swap fashion for sportswear and bags 12:38 Rolex and online giants top APAC brand conviction 16:50 Alex hosts the Innovators Showcase stage at NRF 18:22 Wrap Sources: The Nightly (ASIC-lodged accounts, 28 Apr 2026); Inside Retail, citing AFR (28 Oct 2026); Inside Retail Asia, 2026 Brand Conviction Index methodology (Sep 2026). Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

October 27, 202628 min

Ted Baker to Jigsaw: Why Stores Still Win | Chris Browne

Chris Browne, Retail Director at Jigsaw and 30 years at Ted Baker, on why Jigsaw opens stores while rivals close them. Fewer staff, less footfall, market towns, and the business rates fight with online giants. Chris started with a paper round and built his career at Ted Baker London before moving to Jigsaw. His view of the UK high street is practical rather than nostalgic: trading is not tougher than in the 1970s, stores now work as showrooms and mini warehouses, and if a store is not delivering an experience, it is failing. He makes the case for moving some of the business rates burden onto the big online players, explains why Jigsaw earns customers rather than buying them, and says Gen Z found instant gratification in a shop. Hosted by Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast. Timestamps 00:00 Cold open 00:20 Introduction 00:56 From a paper round to 30 years running Ted Baker 03:04 Trading is not tougher now than in the 1970s 05:56 Stores can work with fewer staff and less footfall 08:42 Market towns keep growing as commuting fades 10:23 Jigsaw does not buy customers, it earns them 12:28 If a store is not experiential, it is failing 16:24 Move the rates burden onto the big online players 19:21 Gen Z found instant gratification in a shop 29:24 Wrap Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

October 23, 202614 min

Aldi's $39 Thanksgiving vs Sam's Club | Jill Dvorak

Aldi Thanksgiving for $39 feeds 10, Sam's Club goes bigger, and NRF expects 4.2% holiday growth. Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, on why value is winning the holiday season. In this US edition of Five Things Friday, Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, look at budget friendly meals on the Thanksgiving table, what NRF's forecast says about holiday shopping, why BJ's rewarded its hourly staff before the rush, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show putting influencers on the runway. 00:00 Cold open 00:18 Five Things Friday, US edition 00:58 Victoria's Secret puts influencers on the runway 03:46 BJ's rewards hourly staff before the holiday rush 05:27 NRF expects holiday growth despite tight budgets 07:37 Aldi feeds ten for $39 this Thanksgiving 08:55 Sam's Club goes big on its Thanksgiving meal 14:06 Wrap Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27