The Retail Podcast

Alex Rezvan
  • 4.0 (2)
  • Management
  • Updated Semiweekly

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

  1. 20h ago

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

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

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

  2. 4d ago

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

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

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

  3. 4d ago

    Christmas in London Starts at Selfridges | Simone Oloman

    Christmas in London starts in October as Selfridges unveils its Christmas in the City windows. Simone Oloman, Co-host of Five Things Friday UK, covers that plus Gap x Victoria Beckham and John Lewis x Rixo. Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Simone also cover Sainsbury's extra £3 a week for Healthy Start families this winter, the 44-piece John Lewis x Rixo collection and what it says about UK fashion, and why Oatly and Lego are betting on immersive pop-ups in London. Then back to Selfridges on Oxford Street: does starting Christmas shopping early win the season, or just wear it out? 00:00 Cold open 00:17 Five Things Friday, UK edition 01:33 Sainsbury's backs Healthy Start families this winter 02:49 John Lewis courts a younger customer with Rixo 04:34 Gap and Victoria Beckham return for a second drop 06:05 Oatly and Lego bet on immersive pop-ups in London 09:57 Selfridges launches its Christmas in the City windows 12:54 Wrap Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

    Christmas in London Starts at Selfridges | Simone Oloman

  4. 5d ago

    Sainsbury's Wins the Weekly Shop, Walmart's AI Agents

    Sainsbury's is winning back the weekly shop on price, while Walmart writes the rules for AI shopping agents that buy on a customer's behalf. Today's Decoding Retail also covers BRC confidence and shoplifting figures, Waitrose's first full-line supermarket in eight years, eBay's 1,000 job cuts and Target's $30 Thanksgiving meal. 00:00 Intro 00:06 Sainsbury's returns to volume growth 00:27 BRC: economy confidence falls to minus 40 00:52 Shoplifting falls 2% but police powers unused 01:14 Waitrose opens first full-line store in 8 years 01:41 Aldi and ABP launch Grounded in Goodness 02:05 Walmart sets terms for AI shopping agents 02:28 eBay cuts around 1,000 jobs 02:49 Target's $30 Thanksgiving meal for six 03:08 Brussels and Paris shops board up 03:27 India's quick commerce turns festive gift channel Sources: - Sainsbury's: Sainsbury's Reports First-Half Volume Growth on Price Investment and Nectar Prices https://corporate.sainsburys.co.uk/news/press-releases/interim-results-announcement-2026-27/ - British Retail Consortium: BRC: Economy Confidence Hits -40 as Spending Intent Rises to +15 Ahead of Budget https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/consumer-confidence-tumbles-ahead-of-budget/ - British Retail Consortium: Shoplifting Falls 2% to 519,516 but BRC Says New Police Powers Unused Six Months On https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/unleash-delayed-police-powers-to-fight-high-street-crime-retailers-urge/ - Waitrose: Waitrose Opens First Full-Line Supermarket in Eight Years; Five More Sites in Pipeline https://www.linkedin.com/posts/waitrose_waitrose-storeopening-cricklewood-activity-7519032939205017600-AsqQ - Aldi UK: Aldi Launches 'Grounded in Goodness' Beef Scheme With ABP Supporting Around 1,000 UK Farms https://www.aldipresscentre.co.uk/business-news/aldi-launches-british-beef-scheme-with-abp-to-support-farmer-livelihoods/ - Walmart: Walmart Publishes Agent Terms and Profile Feature to Govern Third-Party AI Shopping https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/10/Making-It-Possible-for-Agents-to-Shop-on-Behalf-of-Customers - Retail Dive: eBay Cuts 1,000 Jobs, 9% of Global Workforce, in Second Downsizing of 2026 https://www.retaildive.com/news/ebay-cuts-one-thousand-jobs-layoffs-downsizing/833668/ - Target: Target Sets $30 Thanksgiving Meal for Six With Turkey at 79 Cents a Pound https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/10/target-brings-more-value-and-delight-to-thanksgiving-with-a-$30-meal-for-six-and-fresh-takes-on-holi - RetailDetail EU: Brussels and Paris Retailers Board Up Stores Before Fresh Weekend Unrest https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/general/retailers-in-brussels-and-paris-are-barricading-their-stores-out-of-fear-of-new-riots/ - ET Retail India: Quick Commerce Becomes India Festive Gift Channel; Brands Not Equally Stocked https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/quick-commerce-becomes-a-festive-gifting-channel-but-brands-are-not-equally-stocked-for-it/135131810 Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

    Sainsbury's Wins the Weekly Shop, Walmart's AI Agents

  5. 6d ago

    Why Walmart Is Letting AI Shopping Agents In

    Walmart has opened its platform to third-party AI shopping agents, which means retailers now sell to machines as well as people. Today's briefing also covers UK inflation rising to 3.5%, Sainsbury's pulling SmartShop from more than 800 Local stores, Primark's first store in Qatar and Ahold Delhaize's next CEO. 00:00 Intro 00:07 UK inflation rises to 3.5%, BRC wants a budget cut 00:37 Bain: Christmas growth is mostly in price tags 00:55 Sainsbury's pulls SmartShop from 800+ Locals 01:11 Primark opens its first store in Qatar 01:34 Walmart opens up to third-party AI shopping agents 01:57 Target's 8,000 new holiday gifts and AI tool 02:12 Carrefour BuyBye autonomous stores reach 12 02:29 Ahold Delhaize confirms Thierry Garnier as CEO Sources: - British Retail Consortium: UK CPI Rises to 3.5%; BRC Calls for Cost-Cutting Budget https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/retailers-call-for-cost-cutting-budget-to-stem-rising-inflation/ - Bain & Company: Bain Forecasts 3.5% UK Christmas Sales Growth, Strongest in Four Years https://www.bain.com/insights/2026-european-holiday-shopping-outlook-infographic/ - Talking Retail: Sainsbury's Pulls SmartShop From 800-Plus Convenience Stores After Six Years https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/sainsburys-smartshop-service-removed-from-c-stores-21-10-2026/ - Primark: Primark Opens Qatar; 21 Countries and Six Middle East Stores Now https://www.linkedin.com/posts/primark-stores-ltd_21-countries-and-counting-today-we-officially-activity-7518695225884680192-VEki - Walmart: Walmart Opens Commerce Platform to Third-Party AI Shopping Agents https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/10/Making-It-Possible-for-Agents-to-Shop-on-Behalf-of-Customers - Target: Target Offers 8,000-Plus New Holiday Gifts, Most Under $20, With New AI Gifting Tool https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/10/target-makes-it-easier-for-guests-to-discover-stylish-holiday-gifts-they-can-t-wait-to-give - Carrefour Belgium: Carrefour Opens Five More BuyBye Autonomous Stores, Reaching 12 Locations https://newsroom.carrefour.be/carrefour-belgique-franchit-le-cap-des-12-magasins-autonomes-buybye-avec-deux-ouvertures-a-lhopital-de-charleroi-et-3-ouvertures-a-lyon-en-collaboration-avec-carrefour-france - Ahold Delhaize: Ahold Delhaize Confirms Garnier as CEO from 3 March 2027 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ahold-delhaize_ahold-delhaize-announces-start-date-for-future-activity-7518561340030889985-dCZE Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

    Why Walmart Is Letting AI Shopping Agents In

  6. 6d ago

    Debenhams Group CEO: The Online Department Store | Dan Finley

    Debenhams Group CEO Dan Finleyexplains how the brand was rebuilt as Britain's online department store and whyits marketplace model is shaping the wider group. Recorded at NRF Europe 2026 in Paris,this six-minute conversation with Alex Rezvan of The Retail Podcast and JillDvorak of NRF covers the value of the Debenhams name, AI in retail, and theplaybook for boohoo, boohooMAN, PrettyLittleThing and Karen Millen. Dan alsoexplains his ambition for Debenhams to be to retail what Spotify is to music. Recorded in September 2026. Figuresand plans discussed reflect the interview at that time. Chapters 00:00 Dan Finley at NRF Europe 00:39 Why save the Debenhams brand? 02:06 The online department store 03:04 Why Debenhams has no UK stores 03:37 Technology and AI in retail 05:18 Growing the marketplace 05:52 The playbook for the wider group Follow The Retail Podcast forexecutive interviews and practical insight for retail leaders. Website:https://www.theretailpodcast.com Newsletter: https://www.theretailpodcast.com/newsletter Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January I'll be hosting the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase across allthree days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

    Debenhams Group CEO: The Online Department Store | Dan Finley

  7. Oct 21

    ChatGPT Virtual Try-On Goes Live, Tractor Supply, Kroger Cuts 3,000 Jobs

    ChatGPT virtual try on is live, and NRF SVP Content Jill Dvorak explains what it means for retailers. Plus Kroger's 3,000 job cuts, Tractor Supply, Ross and Prime Day pulling Halloween forward. Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, on the five US retail stories that matter this week: what virtual try-on inside ChatGPT means for who owns the customer, Kroger's corporate restructuring (about 3,000 corporate roles), Tractor Supply's $15.5bn year, Ross opening 51 stores in September and October, and October Amazon Prime Day pulling Halloween spending forward. 00:00 Cold open 00:21 Five Things Friday, US edition 00:58 Prime Day pulls Halloween spending forward 03:15 Tractor Supply grows where rivals are thin 06:25 Kroger to cut 3,000 jobs over three years 08:29 Ross opens 50 stores and targets close to 3,000 12:33 ChatGPT virtual try-on goes live for shoppers 15:33 Wrap Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

    ChatGPT Virtual Try-On Goes Live, Tractor Supply, Kroger Cuts 3,000 Jobs

  8. Oct 20

    Gymshark's First Celebrity, Stelios's easyShop, Cyber Attack Hits Hobbs Owner TFG

    Simone Oloman, Co-host of Five Things Friday UK on The Retail Podcast, asks whether Stelios's easyShop marketplace can win shoppers from Amazon and Temu. Plus the TFG cyber attack, Gymshark's first celebrity and the collab boom. Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Simone Oloman cover the five UK retail stories of the week for 16 October 2026: a golden quarter heading into Black Friday with shoppers who need a reason to spend, a cyber attack on the group behind Hobbs and Whistles and what it means for retail cybersecurity, easyShop.com launching in 21 European countries from the easyJet founder's easyGroup, Gymshark's first celebrity ambassador, and the collab boom at YPB, Ugg and Farm Rio. 00:00 Cold open 00:22 Five Things Friday, UK edition 01:00 Shoppers need a reason to spend this golden quarter 02:24 Cyber attack hits Hobbs and Whistles owner TFG 03:41 Stelios launches easyShop in 21 countries 05:01 Gymshark bets on a celebrity to reach new shoppers 06:21 Collabs: YPB, Ugg and Farm Rio chase new audiences 15:20 Wrap Sources: easyGroup press release via PR Newswire, 13 October 2026 (easyShop.com in 21 countries); WWD, October 2026 (Adanola x Hailey Bieber capsule, 23 pieces); FashionNetwork UK, May 2025 (Farm Rio's third London store). Newsletter: https://www.theretailpodcast.com/newsletter Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

    Gymshark's First Celebrity, Stelios's easyShop, Cyber Attack Hits Hobbs Owner TFG
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out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Rezvan
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    302
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Alex Rezvan
  • Show Website
    The Retail Podcast

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