Now based in Costa Rica and known as The Retail Nomad, Nick shares his global perspective on brick-and-mortar retail, operational discipline and what it truly takes to deliver projects at scale.

Key Discussion Points

• Managing store rollouts across 600+ locations in 15 countries
• The importance of cross-department collaboration between marketing, construction and operations
• Why strong project management protects timelines, budgets and client relationships
• Cost control, scope clarity, and knowing when to walk away from the wrong projects
• Relationship-driven business development and long-term networking strategies
• Life in Costa Rica and building The Retail Nomad brand!

Check out The Retail Nomad: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailnomad

This episode is brought to you by SmartGifty, the modular digital platform connecting gift cards, loyalty and data into one experience layer. It is used by destinations, shopping centres and retail chains to personalise customer journeys, gain behavioural insight and treat customers as guests rather than transactions. Check out www.smartgifty.com

• Meriel Neighbour, Director of Technology at River Island 
• Will Lockie, Global Digital Director at Noble Panacea
• Ana Machado da Silva, VP Digital Product at Pentland Brands 
• Matt Bradley, Event Director at Retail Technology Show

From large-scale transformation journeys to the reality of MACH architecture, evolving loyalty strategies and aligning tech with brand and people, this is a grounded, insight-rich conversation on what actually drives success in modern retail.

If you're navigating legacy systems, AI hype, or digital change fatigue this one’s essential listening.

Key Takeaways

• Transformation is holistic, not just tech
• MACH enables speed, agility, and seamless journeys
• Loyalty must move from discounts to  relationships
• Tech should be invisible but powerful
• Legacy systems fail when they limit customer experience
• People, not platforms determine transformation success

You can hear more from today’s guests and episode sponsor SmartGifty at Retail Technology Show!

Links & Resources

Retail Technology Show: 22–23 April, London ExCeL

Registration link: Retail Technology Show - Feel the Beat of Retail here

This episode is brought to you by SmartGifty, the modular digital platform connecting gift cards, loyalty and data into one experience layer. It is used by destinations, shopping centres and retail chains to personalise customer journeys, gain behavioural insight and treat customers as guests rather than transactions. Check out www.smartgifty.com Founder Jurij Triller will be at Retail Technology Show, connect with him Jurij Triller | LinkedIn and arrange your meeting today!

With over 25 years of experience in retail operations and change management, Edel shares how a strengths-based, human-first approach has shaped a culture where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to grow.

Episode Highlights:

1. How inclusive retail leadership improves productivity and customer experience
2. Using strengths-based management in retail that focuses on employee capability rather than limitations
3. Moving from policy-driven HR to a human-first workplace culture
4. The impact of programmes like Women at Work and Tribe on employee confidence and retention
5. Retail employee retention strategies; early engagement, mentorship and confidence-building
6. Creating psychological safety in store environments

This episode is a masterclass in diversity and inclusion in retail; showing how DEI, employee engagement, and strengths-based management directly impact retention, growth and commercial success.

This episode is brought to you by SmartGifty, the modular digital platform connecting gift cards, loyalty and data into one experience layer. It is used by destinations, shopping centres and retail chains to personalise customer journeys, gain behavioural insight and treat customers as guests rather than transactions. Check out www.smartgifty.com

Four and a half years in and after a record-breaking 2025, the momentum is only building. This season promises sharper insights, bolder conversations and real-world retail truths you won’t hear anywhere else.

What’s Coming Up This Season…

1. A conversation that proves inclusion isn’t a trend, it’s transformative
2. A global perspective connecting design, delivery and commercial success
3. A bold, no-filter take on what it really takes to grow a business
4. Honest truths about digital transformation the wins and the uncomfortable realities
5. A question around sustainability that might challenge everything you think you know
6. A deep dive into a platform many overlook, but shouldn’t
7. A conversation that will make you rethink one of retail’s most talked-about brands

New for Season 10

We’re now on Substack!

Subscribe to The Retail Tea Break Podcast on Substack to read my take on each episode, with extra learnings, deeper insights and behind-the-scenes thinking you won’t hear on the podcast.

Catch up on all 114 previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and make sure you hit follow or subscribe so you never miss a new release.

You can also watch episodes on YouTube, and join the conversation by sharing your favourite moments. Tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break Podcast on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Put the kettle on, grab your cup of tea, and get ready, season 10 is here!

In this special megamix episode, Melissa Moore brings together industry leaders to share honest, on-the-ground insight into what’s shaping retail in 2026; from store operations and global expansion to AI, availability, waste and cyber resilience.

Grab a cup of tea and listen in to the conversations driving real change across retail!

Featured Guests & Conversations

• Linda Johansen James, Founder & CEO, International Retail Group

A leading retail voice on the latest issue of International Retail Magazine and the evolving role of AI in retail leadership.

• Allan Malcomson, Co-Founder & CEO, Meerby

A retailer-turned-founder shares what’s top of the agenda for 2026 and how technology can genuinely support store teams.

• Dan Jelfs, Chief Commercial Officer, PMC

Where retailers are really placing their tech bets, simplifying complexity under the bonnet, and why cyber security is now a board-level priority.

• Alex Considine Tong, Chief Product Officer, Retail Insight

Fixing availability, reducing waste and turning data into clear, actionable priorities for store teams.

• Fred de Gombert, Co-Founder & President, Akeneo

Why product information matters more than ever, how teams can move faster with confidence and what AI needs to truly add value.

• Isabell Aakervik, Chief Expansion Officer, Sitoo

The reality of unified commerce, empowering store teams with real-time insight and future-proofing commerce platforms for growth.

A huge thank you to our sponsor International Retail Magazine.

Each issue is packed with practical strategies, global insights, and leadership perspectives you can use immediately. Visit https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/ to subscribe to your free copy of the latest issue.

Key Discussion Topics

• What went into launching Amazon.ie and why it matters for Irish customers
• Ireland’s shifting shopping habits and their report ‘The Impact of E-commerce on Consumers in Ireland’
• How online and in-store experiences complement each other
• Improving rural access through Amazon’s partnership with An Post
• How Amazon empowers Irish brands to scale globally
• Marketplace vs retailer, what it means for Irish SMEs
• Christmas campaign with Friends of The Elderly x Amazon

For information on how to start selling on Amazon, visit:

https://sellercentral.amazon.ie/

Friends of the Elderly x Amazon Christmas 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkSC8O1W6P0&t=49s

Key Discussion Points

• The value of honest, observational insight in a sector often dominated by polished narratives.
• How rising costs, labour pressures and inconsistent standards are reshaping the store experience.
• The persistent disconnect between store teams and central offices and why it harms execution.
• Why culture, communication and accountability matter as much as strategy in driving change.
• The growing tension between retail tech ambitions and the need to fix fundamental in-store operations

Find out more about Grocery Insight here: https://www.groceryinsight.com/

Thank you to Autoaddress for sponsoring today’s episode. You can solve your address data problems with Ireland’s most trusted supplier of Eircode solutions. Improve data quality, reduce manual errors and deliver better customer experiences at https://autoaddress.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Building a trusted, award-winning Irish skincare brand
• Science meets sustainability in every product
• Staying true to Irish roots with proudly Irish-made, Irish-branded products
• Balancing retail growth with booming e-commerce
• Using tech and AI to shape the future of skincare retail
• Expanding successfully into Canada with bilingual packaging
• Exciting new Irish branding and new SPF launches coming in 2026

Check out Kinvara website at https://www.kinvaraskincare.com/ 

Go raibh míle maith agat le Joanne ó Kinvara as labhairt liom inniu, agus as an gcúpla focal as Gaeilge.

Thank you to Autoaddress for sponsoring today’s episode. You can solve your address data problems with Ireland’s most trusted supplier of Eircode solutions. Improve data quality, reduce manual errors and deliver better customer experiences at https://autoaddress.com/

Discussion Points:

• How Inish Pharmacy blends online convenience with in-store care and trust.
• Scaling operations and moving warehouses mid–holiday season.
• The role of clean, accurate address data in enhancing customer experience.
• The impact of express checkouts and digital wallets on address accuracy.
• The evolving Irish address landscape; Eircode, compliance and automation.
• 
  

Key Takeaways:

• Human touch still matters: Personal service builds loyalty, even in e-commerce.
• Bad data costs retailers: Clean address data reduces failed deliveries and customer complaints.
• Growth requires resilience: Operational challenges, like warehouse expansion, can strengthen long-term capacity.
• Convenience must meet accuracy: Retailers must balance frictionless checkouts with verified customer details.
• Technology is a team player: Smart integrations between retailers and data partners improve both service and efficiency.

Check out https://www.inishpharmacy.com/

Thank you to Autoaddress for sponsoring today’s episode. You can solve your address data problems with Ireland’s most trusted supplier of Eircode solutions. Improve data quality, reduce manual errors and deliver better customer experiences at https://autoaddress.com/

They discuss:

• The transformation of a family grocery shop into a modern multi-department retail destination.
• How adaptability and customer focus helped the business survive world wars, recessions and the pandemic.
• The role of partnerships, buying groups and collaborations (including PetStop) in maintaining competitiveness.
• The balance between digital convenience (same-day dispatch, nationwide delivery) and strong local identity.
• How AI, data and technology are shaping operations and customer experience.

Key takeaways:

• Family businesses thrive when they evolve with customer needs while holding onto their community roots.
• Strategic partnerships and buying groups give independents the scale to compete with bigger players.
• Investing in technology, from AI to fibre broadband can enhance both online and in-store experiences.
• Staff training and empowerment remain at the heart of excellent customer service.
• Resilience in retail comes from positivity, peer support and a willingness to adapt.

Check out https://www.keanscm.ie/

Thank you to AutoAddress for sponsoring today’s episode. You can solve your address data problems with Ireland’s most trusted supplier of Eircode solutions. Improve data quality, reduce manual errors and deliver better customer experiences at https://autoaddress.com/

Key Takeaways:

• Mentorship and leadership go hand in hand.
• Strong teams thrive on respect, development and clear expectations.
• Failure fuels growth: learn, adapt and try again.
• AI enhances retail operations without replacing the human touch.
• Work-life balance is essential for long-term success.

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

Retailers of all sizes will benefit from understanding how AI and digital trends are transforming shopping behaviors. Melissa’s insights offer actionable strategies to optimize customer experiences, anticipate holiday season behaviors and ensure your brand remains relevant in a fast-evolving market.

Key Takeaways:

• 75% of consumers are now using AI tools during their shopping journeys.
• Search engines are becoming more influential than marketplaces in guiding purchases.
• Consumer loyalty is shifting from emotional attachment to transactional behavior.
• The “app gap” highlights a disconnect between consumer behavior and retailer offerings.
• Social media continues to play a central role in influencing shopping decisions.
• Consumers increasingly prioritize experiences over traditional brand loyalty.
• Today’s savvy consumers are firmly in control of their shopping journeys.

See the full report here: https://ciandt.com/us/en-us/report/retail-tech-reality-check

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie 

Discussion topics:

• Why traditional discounting strategies damage profits and brand value
• How retailers can make their promotion budgets work harder
• The role of customer behaviour data in creating the right offer, at the right time
• Practical ways to turn browsers into buyers without destroying margins
• How smart promotions keep stock moving while protecting profitability
• The future of promotions: balancing customer expectations with sustainable margins

Huge thanks to RevLifter for sponsoring this episode. Test drive RevLifter for 90 days for free. Request a demo to see how machine learning, smart targeting and personalised promotions can transform your eCommerce strategy. Find out how they help retailers boost conversions and increase revenue:

• RevLifter website: https://www.revlifter.com/
• RevLifter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revlifter/
• RevLifter on YOuTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlMg7QUHJnHC8KyhW93Z_A

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

We discuss:

• Why TikTok Shop is driving discovery commerce success
• Which product categories are growing fastest
• How TikTok Shop is shaping the creator economy
• The power of live shopping for brands and consumers
• Opportunities and challenges heading into the Golden Quarter.

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

Huge thanks to RevLifter for sponsoring this episode. Test drive RevLifter for 90 days for free. Request a demo to see how machine learning, smart targeting and personalised promotions can transform your eCommerce strategy. Find out how they help retailers boost conversions and increase revenue:

• RevLifter website: https://www.revlifter.com/
• RevLifter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revlifter/
• RevLifter on YOuTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlMg7QUHJnHC8KyhW93Z_A

Whether you manage a single shop or a nationwide chain, this conversation offers practical, game-changing advice on traffic, conversion and sales.

Key Discussions

• Mark’s early journey into traffic counting and why it transformed his view of retail.
• Why store traffic is a “gift” and why retailers must treat it as a scarce resource.
• The outdated ways retailers still manage staffing and why they need to change.
• Why focusing on conversion rates matters more than simply chasing traffic.
• The challenges retailers face in implementing and using traffic data effectively.
• “Super-converting stores”: how to identify them and learn from their best practices.
• 
  

Key Takeaways

• Traffic without conversion is wasted potential, sales success relies on both.
• Store traffic is precious and should be treated as a non-renewable resource.
• Simple data insights empower frontline teams and drive accountability.
• Only half of retailers measure traffic and many fail to use the data they collect.
• Benchmark your best stores: small conversion gains across the chain mean big revenue increases.
• Labour allocation matters, align staff schedules with peak traffic to capture more sales.

Purchase Mark’s latest book on Amazon: Store Traffic Is A Gift

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

Huge thanks to RevLifter for sponsoring this episode. Test drive RevLifter for 90 days for free. Request a demo to see how machine learning, smart targeting and personalised promotions can transform your eCommerce strategy. Find out how they help retailers boost conversions and increase revenue:

• RevLifter website: https://www.revlifter.com/
• RevLifter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revlifter/

RevLifter on YOuTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlMg7QUHJnHC8KyhW93Z_A

They discuss:

• Retail innovation, including pop-ups, flagship stores and direct-to-consumer strategies.
• Customer-driven product design, from sailing boots to country boots.
• Digital marketing, sustainability and creating unforgettable in-store experiences.
• Expansion plans and upcoming collections in equestrian, dog accessories and performance footwear.

Key Takeaways:

• Heritage brands can evolve while staying true to craftsmanship.
• Direct engagement with consumers can overcome challenges like price perception and brand awareness.
• Retail associates are educators, not just salespeople, enhancing customer loyalty.
• Listening to customers drives meaningful product innovation.

Whether you’re a retail professional, brand enthusiast, or simply curious about how heritage brands adapt in 2025, this episode offers a masterclass in evolution, innovation, and customer-centric retail

Visit Dubarry of Ireland’s website www.dubarry.com

Catch up on past episodes on your favourite podcast platform and hit follow for weekly updates! Subscribe on YouTube at The Retail Tea Break, share your favorites and tag me, Melissa Moore and The Retail Tea Break on social media. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

Huge thanks to RevLifter for sponsoring this episode. Test drive RevLifter for 90 days for free. Request a demo to see how machine learning, smart targeting and personalised promotions can transform your eCommerce strategy. Find out how they help retailers boost conversions and increase revenue:

• RevLifter website: https://www.revlifter.com/
• RevLifter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revlifter/
• RevLifter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlMg7QUHJnHC8KyhW93Z_A

In this episode Andrew tackles these trends, terms and technologies that might sound impressive in boardrooms… but often fall flat on the shop floor! From industry jargon to shiny new tech, he doesn’t hold back as he shares what he’d banish from the retail world and what’s actually worthy of our attention. This episode is packed with healthy provocation, a few laughs and some home truths every retailer needs to hear. It’s a fantastic final episode of season 8!

In this episode we discuss:

•  The retail buzzwords that have lost all meaning
• The importance of context in customer experience
• Why Net Promoter Scores might be misleading
• The human edge in the age of AI
• What might come after the smartphone
• Retail’s cybersecurity wake-up call
• Tech that’s truly transforming in-store experiences

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: Andrew Busby | LinkedIn

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your retail insights.

And don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join the conversation! Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today! Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

Charlie describes why emotional intelligence, empathy and effective communication are not just “soft skills”, they are critical, measurable and trainable capabilities that define great customer and team experiences in today’s retail landscape. Human skills aren’t an optional extra, they’re the foundation of the experience economy. Whether in a flagship store or behind a screen, retail success depends on authentic connection, emotional intelligence, and purpose-led culture.

We discuss:

• Why it’s time to stop calling them “soft skills” — and start building them strategically
• The underestimated power of emotional connection in both physical and digital retail
• How AI and automation are freeing us to lean into our most human strengths
• Recognition vs. reward: the free leadership tool that transforms culture and retention
• Creating a frictionless, feel-good environment for staff and customers alike
• Real-life examples from retail, Amazon, the car industry and beloved Irish brands including Magee’s of Donegal.

Thank you to our listeners for supporting 100 episodes of insights, stories and retail wisdom. Here's to the next 100! Grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

🔗 Resources:

• Customer Experience Excellence Ireland – Customer Experience Excellence Ireland | CX | Home
• 
  
• Charlie book: The Future is Human– Amazon

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today! Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving retail landscape and what it really takes to lead with heart and innovation.So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Key themes include:

• People-First Leadership: Creating supportive, ego-free team cultures
• Authentic Community: Building real connections that drive loyalty
• Creative Content: Human-led storytelling amplified by AI tools
• AI + Human Insight: Using tech to enhance, not replace creativity
• Retail Trends: Shoppers want stories, transparency and values
• Passion-Led Projects: Solving real problems with purpose
• What’s Next: New content, podcast relaunches and brand collabs

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today! Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

Having held various C-Level and leadership roles, he has successfully worked and turned around over 100 eCommerce and digital businesses. Today’s guest achieved a 24x increase in monthly traffic at RetailWire.com, propelling it from 50,000 to 1.2 million visitors and transformed its market presence. So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

 We discussed:

• How do you see those retail and media are all about storytelling
• How retailers need to focus on content and customer engagement
• Digital strategy in 2025?
• Lessons learned  from the media industry that retailers could apply 
• The best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a leader?

Check Dominick out here: https://miserandino.com/

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today! Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

Brendan Boyle is COO and CO-Founder of TapCreative, who partners with forward thinking companies to define their customer experience design. His ethos is that it’s how well you engage emotively with your customer and communicate how your brand aligns with their lifestyles.

Emily Miller is Petmania’s Sales and Marketing Manager with a passion for innovation with purpose. She has evolved Petmania’s consumer offering over the years to push beyond retail and give Petmania’s customers access to meaningful, educational and supportive campaigns that support their mission to create a world of happier, healthier pets.

During this episode we discussed:

• Creating a foundation to drive the brand forward
• The design process
• Why the award winning Athlone store works so well
• Considering the pre-store, instore and post-store experience
• The importance of upskilling the team
•  Commercial and financial investment 

So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Visit TapCreative: https://tapcreative.ie/

Shop online with Pet Mania: https://www.petmania.ie/

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today!

Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

His groundbreaking book--Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is a perennial international bestseller. His provocative ideas on the future of commerce and consumer behavior are regularly featured in the media in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and as co-host of the award-winning Remarkable Retail podcast. Last year he was named retail's top global influencer by two different organizations and this year he was part of the NRF's inaugural class of retail's top voices.

We discuss his latest book Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption, the collapse of the ‘un-remarkable’ middle and why retail leaders may be struggling to keep pace. He also kindly shares his two top pieces of advice for all retail leaders! So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

Purchase Leaders Leap: https://stevenpdennis.com/leaders-leap/

Purchase Remarkable Retail: https://stevenpdennis.com/remarkable-retail/

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today! Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

 As Carraig Donn celebrates 60 years in retail, today's guest believes the best is yet to come. With exciting new brands, upcoming expansions, and continuous innovation, the business shows no signs of slowing down.

 We talked about:

• Carraig Donn’s 60 years in business.
• Diversifying  from a tourist-focused business countrywide retailer.
• Being a buyer; determining what to buy? 
• The success of developing private labels.
• Affordable, quality fashion that fits.
• Why has Carraig Donn been so successful?
• What’s next for the business?

So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Visit Carraig Donn online:https://www.carraigdonn.com/

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

A huge thank you to our sponsor, International Retail Magazine. Make sure you subscribe today!

Read the latest edition here: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

In the episode we talk about her new book, The Whole Sale, profitable wholesale strategies for brands. We discuss everything from pricing to the common mistakes that brands make. So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Grab your copy of The Whole Sale here: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Sale-Profitable-Wholesale-Strategies

Sign up to The Merchant Life newsletter here:

https://www.themerchantlife.com/

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

The business was established by their grandparents in 1946 and has undergone many changes over three generations. Nowadays, the business serves both international and local customers while also reaching a global audience through its online platform.

We discuss:

• The challenges facing the business
• Customer loyalty and retention
• The team and the incredible service they deliver
• Product mix and curating the right collection
• Delivering an online experience 24/7

So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Check out Standún’s online store here: https://standun.com/

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

1. Dr. Mark Chrystal, CEO & Co-founder at Profitmind

2. Simone Oloman, Co-Founder & CEO at Need It For Tonight (NIFT)

3. Finn Wikander, Chief Product Officer at Pricer

4.  Stuart Trevor, Founder of All Saints & CEO at STUART TREVOR

5.   Sarah Friswell, CEO at Red Ant 

6.   Kieran O’Brien,  VP of Customer Success for EMEA at Retail Insight

7.   Rebecca Carrington, Head of Product at Sparkbox.ai

8.   Bradley Capon, VP Sales at Yoobic 

9.   Angus Hayman, Senior Strategy Consultant at Akeneo

So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

You can catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

Michelle is back on The Retail Tea Break podcast to share the insights and trends from the 6th Connected Shoppers Report. The document includes global insights and trends from 8,350 shoppers and 1,700 retail industry decision-makers. We discuss:

• Global challenges and opportunities
•  Instore shopping and digital growth
• Exclusive Irish insights
• Unified commerce
• Encouraging loyalty
• Embracing AI; the next generations…

So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

To download the Connected Shoppers Report: The Sixth Edition Connected Shoppers Report - Salesforce.com

Paul Lowry is the Design Director at TapCreative; he oversees a team of designers on projects that span many sectors from retail to hospitality. TapCreative say that great experiences don’t just happen by chance, they imagine, engineer and elevate them. Jonathan Mullane is the Design Manager at Musgrave Retail Partners. Musgrave is Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and foodservice company. They say that every day they feed one in three people in Ireland through 15 market leading food brands that include SuperValu, Centra, Frank and Honest, Donnybrook Fair and Musgrave MarketPlace. 

In this episode, the two experts dive into understanding customers and the needs of the business, maintaining the brand message and delivering a consistent brand experience. We explore testing ideas with pilot projects, putting the customer at the heart of the brand experience, incredible concept stores, sharing valuable insights on how brands can stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape.

So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

For more information visit:

TapCreative www.tapcreative.ie

Musgrave www.musgravegroup.com 

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

 The Retail Tea Break podcast is a media partner for The Retail Technology Show, which takes place on 2nd-3rd April 2025 at ExCeL London. With over 15,000+ senior retail professionals, 400+ innovative tech suppliers, 125+ industry-leading speakers and  2 days of unparalleled networking it’s going to be epic!

We discuss:

• The new venue- ExCeL London
• The unbelievable speakers, including Archie Norman the Chairman of Marks and Spencer plc and Theo Paphitis the Owner & Chairman of Theo Paphitis Retail Group
• The supportive nature of the event that allows retailers and their partners to connect
• “Did we mention it’s free”

For more information and to register: Retail Technology Show - The wonder of Retail is here

So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen to the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

Catch up on previous episodes on your favourite podcast platform and while you’re there please hit that follow button so that you get to listen to it first every week. Follow for weekly updates and watch us on YouTube by subscribing to The Retail Advisor. Sharing is caring—share episodes with your network and tag me, Melissa Moore, and The Retail Break podcast on social media.

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

Each week on season 7 of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’ve been joined by industry experts, retailers and brands to decode the myths, share knowledge and give you a better insight into the retail industry. 

In this final episode of season 7, I give you a quick recap of key moments from 2024. There have been 24 episodes of The Retail Tea Break podcast covering an incredible range of topics. So grab your cup of tea, sit back, relax and listen in! And If you have enjoyed the podcast this year, please subscribe and leave me a comment, let me know which episode has been your favourite.

Remember you can listen back to all the previous Retail Tea Break episodes from the last 3 years on your favourite podcast platform or on YouTube. 

If you’d like to get involved in the next season of the podcast, as a guest or a sponsor please drop me a message on LinkedIn or email melissa@theretailadvisor.ie

See you in 2025 for season 8, as we head towards our 100th episode!

Andy was previously a founding team member on AmazonFresh and AWS Marketplace, building these businesses to materiality from the very beginning. He has a phenomenal amount of experience- so this is an episode not to miss… Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• The product experience company, what does that mean?
• What comes first; the data or the customer? 
• Barriers retailers are facing, but they don’t have to do it alone
• Reducing returns and support the customer journey 
• Regulations: preparing for the digital product passport
• Fantastic case study from Swedish clothing brand Asket
• What’s coming up next for the business

For more information visit: https://www.akeneo.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Anne is passionate about independent retail and its place in the community and in creating vibrant town centres. The message is simple; bringing joy to your customers is the best and possibly only way for small retailers to thrive. This is a gorgeous episode to listen to ahead of Black Friday- support local and if you can, help Anne turn it into an Amber Friday! Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

Topics:

• Positivity in retail
• Creating an easy and uplifting customer journey. 
• Nurturing the lifetime value of the customers
• Engaging shoppers senses
• Thriving as an independent retail owner
• Happy Staff = Happy Customers
• It’s not Black Friday, it’s Amber Friday
• What’s next and celebrating 20 years in business next year

 For more information visit: https://butterslip.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Eamonn has 24 years’ experience working across multiple industries, in roles that cover DTC, ecommerce and B2B for well known brands including Samsung and Supervalu. Jonathan Sheard has extensive retail sales leadership, securing career wins with internationally renowned brands including ASOS, Ralph Lauren, SHEIN and Boohoo Group. This is an episode that will help you grow your business internationally; so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in….

Topics:

• What do ESW do?
• Current challenges facing retailers 
• Omni channel demand variation by market
• Bringing value to the customers’ experience
• Delivering holiday magic to ensure customers have a happy worry-free holiday season
• ESW future plans

For more information: https://esw.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Torben is passionate about unleashing the synergies between commercial strategy, commercial leadership and intelligence integration in the pursuit of building consumer bonds. He believes that growing team and growing consumer bonds is the foundation of growing business. This episode is set to challenge the retail ‘norms’, however it also provides a solution that utilises intel, strategy and leadership. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• The changing marketplace
• 2008- when traditional branding died
• The Shopperverse and the 360 experience
• Brand strategy and communication
• The solution: ViiBE
• Building an emotional connection

For more information visit: https://www.imagineership.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

In this episode she talks about a collaboration that has taken her work to Selfridges and her latest pop-up store in Kildare Village. Her commitment to sustainability and innovation continues to inspire and set new benchmarks, making her a celebrated figure in both floral design and entrepreneurship. This is a gorgeous episode! So grab a cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

Topics:

•  Having a creative career before One More Thing
• The gap in the market that helped create the Everblooms Preserved Flowers
• A new candle concept
• The floral art installation at Selfridges.
• Delivering the Pop-Up experience
• Meeting the customer to grow the brand

For more information: https://onemorething.ie/

One More Things at Kildare Village: https://www.thebicestercollection.com/kildare-village/en/brands/one-more-thing

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Most recently, Alyson is back at the helm of Vita Liberata. The brand saw meteoric growth since its inception, through its disruption of the self-tan category and she has very exciting plans for the future! So grab that cup of tea and listen to a fantastic episode….

Topics:

• Starting Vita Liberata
• Growing a business isn’t glamorous
• Buying back the business; “often imitated, never copied”
• Delegation and team work
• Incredible advice for entrepreneurs and beauty brands
• Future plans

For more information: https://www.vitaliberata.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

His strategy consulting firm has completed over 150 projects to help companies identify, evaluate, and profit from growth opportunities created by changing technology. Peter is author of 17 books including the latest one, Brain Rush. RETHINK Retail named him a Top Retail Expert every year between 2021 and 2024 and chose him as a Top AI Leader in 2024. Sit back and listen to a fantastic episode.

Topics:

• The new book ‘Brain Rush, how to invest and compete in the real world of Generative AI’
• The Value Pyramid
• The payoffs for retail
• Getting the CEO onboard, using AI across the business?
• People in retail can “AI proof their careers”
• AI that adds value for customers
• Future plans

For more information:

Babson College Associate Professor of Management Practice

Peter S. Cohan & Associates

Books

Forbes and Inc. columns

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

• From season 2, Ian Scott works at a strategic level with brands and retailers. He provides insights, assisting with store development and offering a consumer centric perspective. He introduced the concept of Symbiotic Retail, highlighting how all channels need to work together as one ecosystem for the benefit of the shopper.
• Long time friend of the podcast and author of Breaking Down Barriers, Chris Igwe provides services to luxury and premium brands, as well as shopping centre owners and high street landlords. His advice is both strategic and implementational, given his vast knowledge of, and experience within, global retail.
• Back for season 7, Linda Johansen-James,the Founder and CEO of International Retail Group. The “Billion Dollar Brand Maker”, specialises in brand launches, in-store design, sales training, franchising, and has a track record of generating $1.7 billion in revenue and attracting top brands. 
• And introducing Torben Valsted! An Imagineer and growth architect who believes that growing teams and growing consumer bonds is the foundation of growing business. Passionate about unleashing the synergies between commercial strategy, commercial leadership and intelligence integration in the pursuit of building consumer bonds. 

Listen back to the first episode of season 7 to hear our initial conversation. In the meantime, Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

Topics:

• Proper retail training= increased sales
• Is product knowledge really neccessary?
• Driving footfall when standards are poor
• Retail pay and benefits
• Back to basics
• What’s coming up next?

For more information visit: 

Ian Scott: https://www.ianscott.net/

Chris Igwe: https://www.igweinternational.com/

Linda Johansen-James: https://irg-retail.com/

Torben Valsted: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/tvalsted

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Rebecca describes the retail store’s opening day during a bank holiday weekend and learning on the job. She talks passionately about growing the business, empowering the team and engaging customers. This episode celebrates the incredible journey that the brand has been on over the last two years and looks forward to what comes next! So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen…

Topics:

• Starting out in retail
• Running a people focused business
• The importance of storytelling
• The challenges of running a rapidly growing business
• Becoming B-Corp certified
• Exciting plans for the future

For more information visit: www.outwestclothing.ie

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

In late 2021 he became the first non-family CEO at Shaws, a business that is reaching its 160-year milestone this year. Conrad describes how the omni channel business has a passionate service ethos and a ‘surprising’ range of international brands.  

This is such a special episode, as the CEO describes his excitement about the new store opening in Athlone. Packed with insights and stories, it’s one not to miss! So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

Topics:

• The new store, Golden Island Shopping Centre in Athlone.
• The importance of the physical store
• Late adopters to online
• Personal customer service
• Driving the sustainability agenda
• Revisiting brand values
• The Golden Quarter!

For more information visit: https://shaws.ie/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Now over 70 years in business and in its third generation, the legacy brand uses meticulous craftmanship. From the original focus on corsetry, to their pivot to outwear, the brand continues to strive for innovation while respecting their heritage. And so their core focus remains the same, timeless elegance crafted with an eye for detail. This episode shares how the brand bounced back from one of the most challenging periods in their existence. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen…

Topics:

• Marketing a legacy brand
• Supportive retailer relationships
• “we don’t just talk sustainability- we live it”
• Challenging times through Brexit and Covid
• The bounce-back
• Exciting times ahead

For more information visit: www.jackmurphy.ie

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

• From season 2, Ian Scott works at a strategic level with brands and retailers. He provides insights, assisting with store development and offering a consumer centric perspective. He introduced the concept of Symbiotic Retail, highlighting how all channels need to work together as one ecosystem for the benefit of the shopper.
• Long time friend of the podcast and author of Breaking Down Barriers, Chris Igwe provides services to luxury and premium brands, as well as shopping centre owners and high street landlords. His advice is both strategic and implementational, given his vast knowledge of, and experience within, global retail.
• Back for season 7, Linda Johansen-James,the Founder and CEO of International Retail Group. The “Billion Dollar Brand Maker”, specialises in brand launches, in-store design, sales training, franchising, and has a track record of generating $1.7 billion in revenue and attracting top brands. 
• And introducing Torben Valsted! An Imagineer and growth architect who believes that growing teams and growing consumer bonds is the foundation of growing business. Passionate about unleashing the synergies between commercial strategy, commercial leadership and intelligence integration in the pursuit of building consumer bonds. 

Topics:

• Retail relationships with landlords and centre managers
• Delivering exceptional shopping experiences
• Retail trends and retail theatre
• Has retail become too complicated?
• Retail and technology

For more information visit: 

Ian Scott: https://www.ianscott.net/

Chris Igwe: https://www.igweinternational.com/

Linda Johansen-James: https://irg-retail.com/

Torben Valsted: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/tvalsted

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

The strategic global retail leader has made a name for himself driving growth and innovation, whilst transforming the retail landscape. This is a fantastic episode that will future proof your retail business, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• Is there a better word for “retail”
• Processes and People
• Customer Centricity
• The importance of sharing your brand story
• The future of retail

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boneville

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Gavin describes how many retailers and brands are missing huge opportunities to enhance the customer experience and to drive loyalty. This is a fantastic episode that will future proof your retail business, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• What Scurri does and how it all works for retailers and brands
• Supporting retailers to grow
• Black Friday and the Golden Quarter at Scurri
• Hyper-personalisation and driving loyalty
• the post purchase experience… 
• Data driving competitor advantage
• Future plans and expansion

For more information on Scurri: https://www.scurri.com/

The Retail Tea Break podcast episodes sponsored by Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/eu/form/conf/the-retail-tea-break-sponsored-by-salesforce

For more information visit: https://www.salesforce.com/eu/campaign/salesforce-ireland/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

This is a fascinating conversation full of great insights and case studies. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

Topics:

• What Walnut Unlimited does
• How Shoppers Shop
• Scientific tools including behavioural science
• Real examples
• Key takeaways key takeaways that retailers and brands should be aware of?

For more information visit: https://walnutunlimited.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

He currently leads industry research, drives solution strategy, and advises senior executives globally on digital transformation. He is also a frequent industry speaker, a member of NRF’s Digital Council, and Chair of the Retail Customer Advisory Board. In this episode, he takes me through Salesforces’ shopping index for Q1 of 2024 and of course we discuss retail’s hottest topic, AI.

This is a fantastic episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• Salesforce’s Shopping Index data for Q1 of 2024
• Shopper Loyalty
• Mobile shopping
• Adapting to AI
• Delivering exceptional AI driven customer experiences
• Salesforce’s holiday predictions!

The Retail Tea Break podcast episodes sponsored by Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/eu/form/conf/the-retail-tea-break-sponsored-by-salesforce

Shopper Index report: https://www.salesforce.com/blog/shopping-index-retail-data/

Retail AI Council X Salesforce AI report: https://www.salesforce.com/resources/research-reports/retail-insights-generative-ai/

For more information visit: https://www.salesforce.com/eu/campaign/salesforce-ireland/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

The magic of retail could be seen and heard on every stage and at every booth! With key themes of creating meaningful experiences for the retailer, the customer and the employee, this was retail at its best.

 So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen…

This episode features:        

• Matt Bradley, Event Director and Founder of Retail Technology Show: https://www.retailtechnologyshow.com/
• Darren Cremins, Senior Sales Director Retail Media at Scala: https://scala.com/en/
• Oliver Banks, Retail Expert and Author of ‘Driving Retail Transformation’: purchase the book on Amazon
• Rebecca Carrington, Head of Product at Sparkbox.ai: https://www.sparkbox.ai/
• Chris Smith, UK Sales Director at Hypervsn: https://hypervsn.com/
• Craig Ash, Managing Director of Swarovski UK & Ireland: Swarovski
• Sarah Friswell, CEO Red Ant: https://www.redant.com/
• Ian Rowan, CEO X-Hoppers: https://www.x-hoppers.com/
• Guatier Feld, Co-Founder CircularX: https://circularx.com/
• Holly Tucker MBE, Founder and CEO of Holly & Co. Founder of Notonthehighstreet: https://holly.co/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Anthony Gallagher, Founder and Managing Director of Petstop. Having started out as a trainee with Penneys, Anthony has since gone to set up one the first pet superstores in Ireland. 

This experienced retailer took note of what pet stores across the pond were doing to develop his own successful business model. This is an honest, heartwarming conversation full of great retail stories and examples! So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

Topics:

• New store openings
• Why physical stores so important for Petstop
• Award winning online presence
• How the online  strategy changed over the last few years
• The People success story
•  Customer loyalty
• Growing the business

For more information visit: https://www.petstop.ie/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

This is a fascinating episode that brings pricing, margins and sustainability together.  So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

Topics:

• Retailing, rice, spice and mangos!
• Using AI to support better pricing
• Sustainability and pricing with RapidPricer 
• The Expert Guide to Retail Pricing book
• Pricing principles and strategies for retailers

For more information visit: Kiran Gange | Retail Pricing Expert 

To purchase The Expert Guide to Retail Pricing: The Expert Guide to Retail Pricing: Gange, Kiran: 9781032465326: Amazon.com: Books

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

This episode explores the journey that BEO undertook to design and develop their new home in the heart of Ennis. The beautiful retail space is combined with a coffee shop and community studio space under Ciara’s guidance. From strong brand values to stalking a landlord (!), this episode is one not to be missed!  So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

Topics:

• Putting down roots and integrating retail space, coffee shop and studio space

• Beo’s brand values and developing a design brief

• Real life experiential retail

• Concept design and space planning for a new retail store

• The challenges of setting up a new retail store for an established brand

• The importance of a retail design led customer experience

For more information visit: https://beowellness.ie/ and https://www.ciarapetty.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Linda’s years of experience shines through in this episode, as she discusses everything from shaking up shopping malls to training thousands of staff. She encourages the c-suite to work the shop floor, she expects staff to stick to the 4 second rule and she expects you to know the LTV of your customer. This episode is FULL of golden nuggets! So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen…

Topics:

·         Starting out with a shopping cart

·         Nurturing retail staff and writing a script

·         Going back to basics

·         Pivoting during Covid

·         Supporting the next generation of retailers

For more information visit: https://irg-retail.com/

To read the IRG magazine: https://irg-retail.com/international-retail-magazine/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Brain’s approach to leading a retail team is practical and timely. He appreciates the need to juggle business tasks while nurturing people to enable business growth. He continues to channel his passion for coaching, mentoring, and leading the next generation of retail stars with his new book. So  grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• Writing the new book?
• The three pillars, build your character, build your connection and build your plan. 
• The many mistakes
• Paying it forward as a leader
• Task or people first? 

For more information visit: www.retailleadersroadmap.com

To buy a couple of The Retail Leader’s Roadmap: https://a.co/d/8a8N1JU

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

In this episode, Aideen describes how she wanted to use her knowledge and expertise to influence change in the fashion industry. She started to look at the problem of returns, from a shopper and a retailer's perspective. From all of her research, Aideen was able to pinpoint three key issues with shopping online for clothing. This episode gives you a great insight into the fashion retail industry, so  grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• Does fashion really work online? 
• The issues with buying fashion online; sizing, suitability, representation
• Returns, fast fashion and sustainability
• Combining retail and digital
• StylAI

For more information and for details of Aideen’s  appearance in Kilkenny Design in Nassau Street on 30th March, check out Aideen’s social media pages including: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/aideen-bodkin-35185822

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Vinny also has in-depth knowledge of DTC channels thanks to DTC brand, Crua Outdoors, selling in the US market. Last year he joined an analyst firm in New York, RMW Commerce as their content producer and analyst. Earlier this year Vinny was added to the RETHINK retail list of retail experts for 2024!

This is such a refreshingly insightful conversation that is full of great examples. If you are curious about ecommerce,  grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• Ecommerce in 2024
• Great ecommerce examples
• Consumers and ecommerce
• The decision to replatform
• Ecommerce recruitment and retention

For more information visit: https://www.vinnyandco.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please subscribe and share it. 

Remember you can also listen back to previous Retail Tea Break episodes on your favourite podcast platform or on YouTube. You’ll find full transcriptions of each episode on www.theretailadvisor.ie.

See you in 2024 for season 6!

Grab a notebook, Alvin shares lots of golden nuggets in this episode. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• The true importance of understanding cash flow
•  Which is more important: profitability or revenue
• Discounts eating profitability
•  Shopper price sensitivity
• Recommended KPI’s
• Coming up in 2024

For more information visit: https://www.alvinnarseycoaching.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Ciara has worked with a broad number of B2B retailers across EMEA; focusing on being where the consumer shops, and bringing the best of the brand to life across those touchpoints, to complement their D2C offering. She’s currently working for a fantastic Irish female focused startup bringing an inclusive athleisure proposition to women, not currently provided by mainstream brands. Ciara’s shares lots of insights in this fascinating episode. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Customer centricity, in the post Covid era 
• Exploring B2B at Nike
• Utilising the D2C route with Peachylean
• Smaller brands with big brand loyalty
• Top tips for brands who are starting to scale their business
• What’s coming up over the next 6 months.

For more information: https://peachylean.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Looking through the lens of digital transformation, Natasha explains the research that supports the need for retailers to have an ‘EX+CX=Growth’ agenda. Sarah describes how Brown Thomas Arnotts are utilising an opti-channel experience to meet the needs of all of their customers. 

This is a must listen to episode, which is packed full of inspirational insights and thought provoking data. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Why the Employee Experience (EX)  together with Customer Experience (CX) is so important.
• Switching the mindset to include EX alongside CX.
• ‘Opti-channel’ experiences
• Collaboration leads to centricity.
• The NEW Brown Thomas & Arnotts apps.
• Retail digital transformation can’t stand still. 
• What’s next for Brown Thomas Arnotts?

For more information visit: 

https://www.brownthomas.com/

https://www.brownthomas.com/services/brown-thomas-app.html

https://www.arnotts.ie/

https://www.arnotts.ie/arnotts-app-info.html

https://www.salesforce.com/eu/campaign/salesforce-ireland/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

I’m joined by a former lawyer, who became fascinated with how to measure, understand, and predict human behaviour. Georgina Nelson is the CEO and Co-Founder of TruRating, the award winning, rapidly growing, global tech start-up. Retailers and brands using TruRating average an 80% response rate on questions asked. This is accomplished by asking a single, rotating question directly on the POS pin pad, making it a seamless part of the shopper's checkout experience. 

This is a fantastic conversation full of incredible insights from half a billion responses that TruRating has collected. Georgina takes us through the key themes from the data that has been gathered across various retail verticals including grocery, clothing and pharmacy brands. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Half a billion customer responses
• Your people are your power
• The emotional connection
• Tasking, store operations and a lack of customer focus
• Retail media, strong communication and in-store signage
• What’s next for TruRating

For more information check out: https://trurating.com/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

She has headed up a number of industry-leading initiatives within the retail sector, many of which she talks about in this episode. Maeve discusses growing the business with Lidl’s colleagues, by nurturing and upskilling them and in turn they deliver the service and sales that the business needs. This is a fascinating conversation, full of golden nuggets and thought provoking ideas. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• Hiring and retaining staff
• The Leadership Academy for everyone
•  Lidl’s initiatives and benefits supporting inclusivity
• What smaller retailers could do
• Company culture versus company policy
• What’s next; Christmas is coming…

For more information check out: https://jobs.lidl.ie/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Having started her career in a very different field, Maria and her husband Melvin realised that they were not happy with their jobs. They wanted to do something more meaningful and fulfilling, something that would bring joy to themselves and others. This episode is full of those meaningful moments, as Maria describes the highs and lows of running a retail store and ecommerce business while making so much of the stock. This is a wonderfully heartwarming episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

•  Starting and growing Duffy and Porter
• From online to physical store
• The importance of customer relationships
• Lifetime value of the customer
• Top tips for makers considering scaling up or branching out
• Christmas is coming….

For more information visit: https://www.duffyandporter.ie/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

Over the years, Niall has met the customer at every touchpoint from design through to implementation and he firmly believes in customer centricity. He describes how storage solutions are normally an afterthought for retailers and brands and how he can guide them to solutions that ensure retail staff are more customer facing, which leads to a greater ROI and increase in sales. This is a fascinating episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• Bringing the stock room to the shop floor 
• Solutions that enhance the customer experience
• The explosion of ecommerce and click and collect. 
•  Inefficient stock rooms- top tips for saving time and delivering a return on investment.

For more information visit: https://www.storagesystems.ie/commercial/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

From omnichannel to marketplaces, B2B eCommerce, and Direct to Consumer, Dean has had a varied career covering local, regional and global roles across both emerging and developed markets. Before joining The Stanley Black & Decker Company, Dean held roles at The Kellogg Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Mastercard Advisors and Nestle. All this experience gives him a unique perspective of the eCommerce landscape across the world, how it is evolving and what to do about it. This is a fascinating conversation, full of golden nuggets and thought provoking ideas. So grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• Writing the new book ‘Ecommerce for CEO’s- what every CEO and C-Suite leader should know about ecommerce’
• The seismic shift in consumer buying behaviour
• Ecommerce isn’t the magic solution to grow a brand or drive sales…    
• The explosion of D2C brands
• Measuring ecommerce performance
• What’s next in the world of ecommerce?

To purchase the book visit: https://amzn.eu/d/0UNYATN

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

This episode really does dispel the myths about buying and merchandising (not to be confused with visual merchandising) with insights into the not so glamorous life of a buyer and how to plan a range. Underneath it all, there is a clear message about the importance of team work, collaboration and communication. It is a great episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• 100 years experience in the retail industry
• Buying and merchandising, the perfect mix of creativity and finance
• Data driven planning and merchandising #bemoreneil
• The importance of front line collaboration and insights
• Quick top tips; the next newest trend in retail, building relationships, ‘friendly’ data, utilising your team.

For more information visit: https://www.retail100consulting.co.uk/

Transcription and show notes available at: https://theretailadvisor.ie/

I speak to Thomas Gleeson, the Co-Founder of StoreHero, who alongside his Co-Founder Karl O’Brien want to empower retailers through their ecommerce analytics platform.

Having grown up watching and supporting the family DTC business grow, Thomas now helps ecommerce brands grow their businesses bridging that gap between marketing and finance. The company’s mission is to provide store owners with the insights and tools they need to make informed decisions about their business and drive growth in the confidence of doing so profitably.

This is a great episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics: 

• What is StoreHero?
• Marketing and Finance working off the same data
• Free Shipping and the real cost to the business
• Unit economics and KPI’s
• The true cost to doing business

For more information visit: https://storehero.ai/

Michelle Grant is Director of Strategy and Insights for Retail & Consumer Goods at Salesforce. She has shared her thoughts with the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Financial Times. Footwear News honoured as one of the 6 Powerful Women in Technology in 2021, Rethink Retail continues to list her as one of the top retail influencers in the world for 2022 and 2023.

At Salesforce, she blends data and analysis to create thought provoking content that helps companies understand how new technologies will impact the future of their business. In this episode, she takes me through Salesforces predictions for the holiday season.

This is a fantastic episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

·         Salesforce predictions for the Christmas and holiday season

·         Predictive AI driving digital sales

·         BOPIS; delivering an efficient, convenient shopping experience

·         Returns policies impacting the shopper journey

·         Social media advertising delivering peak ROI both instore and online

·         Resale gifting

·         Keeping Christmas shoppers

For more information visit: https://www.salesforce.com/eu/campaign/salesforce-ireland/

Original five trends for holiday predictions: https://www.salesforce.com/blog/holiday-shopping-predictions/

Updated predictions with forecasts for spending: https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/salesforce-holiday-predictions-2023/

Link to Connected Shoppers report: https://www.salesforce.com/resources/research-reports/connected-shoppers-report/

For more information and the transcript, please visit www.theretailadvisor.ie

Topics:

Customer Experience

• In episode 3, Cristiane Ross from Sparc Consulting explains that the emotional connection with your customer matters. As the customer’s relationship with your brand deepens, they become more valuable to you.
• In episode 14, Ian Scott describes the new era of physical retailing. He asks the question “Is your physical store speaking to your ideal customer?”
• In episode 22, Dr Denis O’Hora paints an incredible picture of how you can turn consumers into paying customers.
• In episode 29, Chris Igwe warns us to “Leave a lasting impression… to keep me coming back”. Chris talked about physical retail stores and raising the bar with retail basics.

Loyalty and a true Omni-Channel experience

• In episode 44, Scott Kennedy from Salesforce describes what a true customer centric, omni-channel experiences should look and feel like.
• In episode 28, Gurpreet Kuar from Salesforce blows my mind by describing the importance of hyper personalisation- it’s well worth a listen!
• In episode 34, Jennie McGinn, Paul Gillart and Gurpreet Kaur discussed the importance of gathering the right data, how to build a loyalty programme and how best to use the information.

Sustainability and Conscious Consumerism

• In episode 2, Elaine Kennedy from Hawthorn Handmade Skincare set the scene “we should be asking more questions as producers, consumers and retailers and looking a bit deeper in terms of sustainability”.
• In episode 6, James Byrne from Faerly explained that customers want to be able to buy products from retailers that conform with their ethics and values and retailers want to be able to provide these goods.
• In episode 36, Jenny Johnston, Head of Marketing for Kilkenny Design/ Champion Green and Sheelin Conlon, founder of The Kind described the importance of supporting local businesses.
• In episode 45, Sharon Yourell Lawlor from Think Plan Do Consulting explores the Sustainable Irish Retail Action (SIRA) guide. She describes how best to use the guide and the impact that it can have on retail businesses.

Our People

• In episode 24, Dr Oran Doherty from Retail Ireland Skillnet explained “To get talent and to keep talent you need to offer people training and education opportunities”.
• In episode 40, Aine Greallis from Circle K explored a recent Circle K survey that looked at the harassment that frontline retailers experience- from customers.
• In episode 43, Elma Carew described the new workforce, the next generation and the idea of replacing exit interviews with ‘stay interviews’.

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please like and share it. Remember you can also listen back to previous Retail Tea Break episodes on your favourite podcast platform or on YouTube. Connect with me on LinkedIn or follow The Retail Advisor across social channels.

See you in September!

In this episode we hear about Portwest’s 4 retail stores in Ireland, which sell outdoor clothing and equipment and how the brand also supplies workwear & PPE to retailers nationwide. Rachel describes why they recently remodelled their flagship store in the West of Ireland and the impact it is having. She also explains how the retail division plays a small part in a bigger, global brand that sells into over 200 countries worldwide.

Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in to episode 50, ahead of the last episode of the season next week!

Topics:

• From Assistant Manager to Managing Director.
• Advice for having a long sustainable retail career.
• Strategically placed physical stores.
• Delivering exciting customer experiences in redesigned stores.
• Meeting the needs of the customers.
• Portwest- the family owed global brand.

For more information:

https://www.theoutdoorshop.ie/

https://www.portwest.com/

This week we welcome back a wonderful guest whose vast knowledge of, and experience within, global retail is mind blowing. Chris Igwe runs his own international retail advisory firm, providing services to luxury and premium brands. The keynote speaker, coach and mentor with an entrepreneurial mindset, inspires with his advice. He’s back on The Retail Tea Break podcast to tell us about his new book.

Breaking Down Barriers; my journey from small African village to the world stage takes a look behind the scenes of Chris’s personal philosophies. He explores some of the key themes from the book in the latest episode and shares some incredible stories and ideas that challenge us all to think a little deeper. Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Writing Breaking Down Barriers
• Action items, recommend resources and critical thinking questions…
• Dreaming big is not enough. Invest in yourself.
• Recognition and reflection.
• The standout retail memory.
• Retailing in 2023.

For more information:

www.igweinternational.com

To purchase Breaking Down Barriers:

https://www.amazon.com/author/chrisigweinternational

Listen back to Chris’s previous episode of The Retail Tea Break Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/02REn06Id90EDHkt07ecra?si=93d299b7a2ec4043

This published author and marketing and retail lecturer, has international teaching experience, having attended universities and business schools in Beirut, Istanbul, London, and Paris. Her research and publications cover retail, fashion management and ephemeral retail. This episode does a deep dive into pop up stores, one of Ghalia’s specialities. Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Ephemeral retail and pop-up stores.
• Retail atmospherics and building reason to visit.
• Being part of a community.
• The disadvantages of pop-up stores.
• Can they play a part in retails every changing future?
• Key takeaways…

For more information on Ghalia’s academic articles, publications and books visit:

https://linktr.ee/gboustani

This episode explores what VisionR can do for retail businesses. Oran explains that the team are focused on bridging the gap between online and traditional retail, shaping the future of shopper data-driven success. Their revolutionary shopper insights enable retailers to optimise their marketing, operations, and stores in order to boost revenues. Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• VisionR creating actionable insights.
• Identifying potential revenue that is walking out the door.
• Insights that can be used by everyone in the business.
• Plug and play solution.
• Beacon technology is a thing of the past.
• Privacy; the customers and the retailers.

For more information visit:

Website: https://visionr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/35643878

This episode explores the reality of running an award winning SME! This rapidly growing brand supplies customers nationwide, helping them work on their hedges and plants, bringing nature to your home. Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Running a family business
• Educating the customers through real service
• Simple, but effective selling
• Keeping track of the customers
• The importance of resilience in business

For more information visit:

https://cullennurseries.ie/

This episode explores the SIRA guide, that Sharon helped research and write as co-author. She describes how best to use the guide and the impact that it can have on retail businesses. Sharon also tells us about an event coming up for anyone looking to better understand sustainable retailing through the eyes of the ‘conscious shopper’… Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• The Sustainable Irish Retail Action (SIRA) guide
• Understanding sustainability and the circular economy
• A sustainability strategy
• Using retail to educate customers whilst supporting the conscious consumer
• Going on a ‘Sustainable Shopper Safari’

For more information visit:

https://www.retailexcellence.ie/sira/

Eventbrite - Sustainable Shopper Safari

Scott describes the impact that the unprecedented digital growth and the physical store renaissance is having across the globe. We discuss what a true customer centric, omni-channel experiences should look and feel like. Scott also gives us an insight into what Salesforce Commerce Cloud can do for retail businesses. He explains how brands could be utilising their customer data to personalise communication and experiences, ensuring customer loyalty.

This is a fantastic episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Current retail trends across physical and digital
• True omni-channel experiences
• Gen Z buyer behaviour
• Focusing on retaining loyal customers
• Salesforce helping retailers having deeper customer conversations
• What’s coming up next for Salesforce?

For more information visit:

https://www.salesforce.com/eu/campaign/salesforce-ireland/

This episode explores the lessons that commercial retailers can learn from the charity retail sector. Mark explains how charity shops have been at the forefront of the circular economy for years. Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Charity retailers supporting each other
• Dispelling myths; rent costs, efficiencies and recycling
• Vintage clothing and the circular economy 
• Conscious consumers 
• Challenges facing the sector
• Charity Retail Ireland week 2023

For more information visit:

https://www.charityretail.ie/

This episode explores Elma’s insights on the honest, transparent attitude that is needed within the retail industry to entice new employees and to empower and retain those already working. Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• The current state of recruitment and retention.
• The ‘great resignation’ and ‘quiet quitting’.
• The new workforce, the next generation…
• Changing the way we recruit, interview and hire.
• Replacing exit interviews with ‘stay interviews’.

For more information visit:

https://www.elmacarew.com/

This episode gives us an insight into what Salesforce can do for retail businesses in a “digital first way”. Deirdre explains how the company supports the full scope of the customer journey, helping brands get closer to their customers. She also describes how the company continues to invest in Ireland as “a world leading technology hub”.

This is a fantastic episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• A global brand firmly rooted in Ireland.
• Retail strategy driven by loyalty, customer centricity and hyper-personalisation.
• Building a single source of truth; how it all works.
• Helping brands get closer to their customers.
• Growing your retail business supported by Salesforce.
• What’s coming up next for Salesforce?

For more information visit:

https://www.salesforce.com/eu/campaign/salesforce-ireland/

This episode explores a recent Circle K survey of their workforce and the wider retail community. It looked at the harassment that frontline retailers experience- from customers. Have we got used to everyday verbal aggression? Is this part of the reason that so many are leaving the industry? Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

- The recent survey carried out by Circle K and the results.

- The impact that the harassment, aggression and anti-social behaviour is having on the workforce

- Finding a solution?

- Circle K’s first Kindness Day.

- The incredible impact of having a more diverse and inclusive workforce

This episode explores Sandra’s belief in her team, her expectation that they work hard and her inspiration, company founder John McElhinney. With her vast industry experience and her huge plans for the future, she is an incredible leader and retailer. Grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

Topics:

• Taking over as GM of McElhinneys during Lockdown.
• Investing in the team, staff development and succession.
• The secret to McElhinneys retention rate being so good.
• Sandra’s 5@5!
• Charity and community work with the ‘See Me’ campaign.

So grab your cup of tea, sit back, relax and listen in….

 Times are tough for both retailers and consumers right now, with rising costs and uncertain times ahead. However as this episode explains, you don’t have to spend more to #shoplocal you can write a review or share a social media post. Champion Green is about supporting everyone in your local community, from the local café to the local service provider. This is a really important episode, so grab your cup of tea, sit back and listen in…

• Jennie McGinn, Head of E-commerce for Lifestyle Sports
• Paul Gillart, Chief Operating Officer at The Skin Nerd
• Gurpreet Kaur, Director of Retail Solutions and Strategy at Salesforce

We discuss data strategy and the importance of gathering the right data (for the consumer and the brand). We learn about different types of loyalty programme, how to build one and how best to use the information. Jennie describes how Lifestyle Sports have gone back to basics to focus on their values and service proposition in order to best serve their customer in the long term. Paul explains how listening to The Skin Nerd’s customers led to the creation of Skingredients. This is an episode packed full of useful tips and idea, so grab your cup of tea (and a notebook) and listen in…..

system, used in the right way it can enhance the customer experience and future

proof the business. In this episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to

an expert who has the inside story. Patrick Heslin is the Managing Director of

Retail Integration; the company pride themselves on individually supporting

retailers by providing solutions including EPOS, online and instore sales

integration and stock management. He talks about how he and his team not only

support their retail customers, but their customers’ customer too!

spaces and shopping centres as relevant today as they once were? In this

episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to an expert who has the

inside story. Chris Igwe from Chris Igwe International runs a retail advisory

firm, providing services to luxury and premium brands, as well as shopping

centre owners and high street landlords. His vast knowledge of, and experience

within, global retail is absolutely mind blowing. This episode is full of

examples of best practice, as well as a clear message to get back to retail

basics. Grab a cup of tea, sit back and listen in!

• Jennie McGinn, Head of E-commerce for Lifestyle Sports
• Paul Gillart, Chief Operating Officer at The Skin Nerd
• Gurpreet Kaur, Director of Retail Solutions and Strategy at Salesforce 

We delve into Salesforces’ predictions for peak 2022 and their tips for delivering amazing experiences whilst providing a hyper-personalised service for customers. We also hear how Irish brands Lifestyle Sports, The Skin Nerd and Skingredients are preparing for the golden quarter. Paul tells us about the power of gifting (and self-gifting) and we discuss Jennie’s top tips for what not to do this Black Friday! This is an incredible episode, one that should not be missed!

So grab your cup of tea, sit back, relax and listen in.

Topics:

• A recap of season 2 of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

• My thoughts on the current retail situation.

Topics:

• What is Retail Ireland Skillnet.

• Apprenticeship in Retail Supervision.

• Degree in Retail Management Practice.

• The importance of education for staff retention.

• Confidence and empowered staff.

I meet a women who along with her brothers and sisters, are continuing to run the family retail business that was started by their Grandmother. Tracy Phillips and her family own Phillips Shoes and Phillips Menswear in the West of Ireland. Having been in business for nearly 100 years, this family is at the very heart of the local community. Tracy describes the true meaning of customer service, that has been nurtured over the generations. Having grown both the physical and online parts of the business, Tracy imparts some excellent, honest advice so that you can do the same.

Topics:

• Tell us about you and your business
• Generations of retailing
• The community and shopping local
• Putting the service into customer service
• Facts, figures and expertise
• Plans for the next few months

Topics:

• Tell us about you and your business
• Planning the coffee shop and store
• Becoming a retailer and maker
• Curating the range and making fudge
• Plans for the next few months

Topics:

• Tell us about you and your retail background
• The start of E-Commerce and digital retail
• True Fit and the data driven experience
• The negative emotional connection
• Exciting plans for the next few months

Topics:

• Tell us about you and your backgrounds
• Running a successful physical and online store during a pandemic
• The demanding nature of eCommerce
• Sales vs Service, having the trust factor
• The challenges of building a loyal social media following
• Plans for the next few months

alternative remedies into an incredibly successful business. Karl Murray

from Kotanical is open and honest about the ups and downs of running his

company. He is self-taught, learning about everything from logistics to

building a website. He talks about the tireless work and graft that has gone

into developing a premium quality product and becoming the first company on

Ireland to distil oil from natural native sources. This conversation is raw,

Karl talks passionately about his determination to grow his business and

gives us an insight of what the last 2 years (in particular) has been like.

specialist who helps global brands push the boundaries of physical retail.

Ian Scott provides insights on global retail trends and innovations,

travelling around the world to ensure retailers stay connected with their

customers. His work has included the design and implementation of retail

stores, store research and customer behavioural psychology. This

conversation is full of examples and best practices from brick and mortar

stores. Ian also explains how the best physical stores are contributing to

both the beginning and end of the customer journey. This is an episode not

to be missed!

So grab your cup of tea, sit back, relax and listen in….

 Topics:

• A recap of season 1 of The Retail Tea Break
• What’s coming up in 2022

Topics:

• College days and a part time job.
• Working full time
• Efficiency and creativity.
• Plans for the next few months

Be sure to grab your cup of tea, sit back, relax and listen in…

Topics:

What is influencer marketing

Is it just a passing trend

How do you gauge the return on investment

Plans for the next few months

Topics:

• Starting out in retail
• Coping strategies for the festive period
• Supporting each other
• Minding Customers
• Plans for the next few months

Topics:

• The background to Ella and Jo
• The ideal customer
• The value of research
• The un-boxing experience
• Plans for the next few months

Topics:

• What is networking (it’s not what you think)
• Your networking toolkit
• Your ultimate customer
• Proactive visibility
• Plans for the next few months

Topics:

• Growing up in retail
• Sustainability vs rampant consumerism
• Attracting like-minded customers
• Tips for running a successful e-commerce business
• Plans for the next few months

Topics:

What sustainability really means for their growing business

Different routes to market

Back to basics, get to know your customer

The relationship with your retailer

Know your prices in order to sell

Your social media strategy

Plans for the next few months

Topics:

• 360/ VR immersive technology
• How it works?
• The barriers for customers and retailers
• The emotional connection
• Retail technology supporting the sustainability movement
• Plans for the next few months

 I talk to an industry expert with global retail experience about the simple steps you can take to create a deeper connection with your customers. Cristiane Ross from Sparc Consulting has been based in Hong Kong for the last 14 years, having worked all over the world in retail and CX roles. As we hear in this episode, she helps businesses deliver engaging customer interactions one SPARC at a time. Her energy and passion for putting the customer first and connecting emotionally is so powerful. Cristiane shares simple, effective tips on how to engage with a customer to ensure they keep coming back.

 Topics:

• Serving from the heart
• The importance of listening effectively
• The emotional connection with customers
• Mystery Shopping
• #ShopLocal
• Plans for the next few months

Topics:

• Starting out in retail
• Developing the brand, an exclusive!
• The impact retailers and customers have on developing a product range
• #ShopLocal
• Sustainability
• Plans for the next few months

In this episode, I talk to about my retail experience over the last 20 plus years and why I have decided to start a podcast. Each week I’ll be joined by industry experts, retailers and product creators to decode the myths, share knowledge and give you a better insight into the retail industry.

So grab your cup of tea, sit back, relax and listen in….