Category: RetailCraft

Available on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retailcraft-34-phenotype-andy-jayes-of-fenwicks/id1418542382?i=1000588131423

Andy Jayes is a retail and digital veteran, and has earned that accolade given his background in BHS, House of Fraser, Selfridges, Virgin Megastores… along with covering the gamut of digital – from product and merchandising, via operations and development – to his current role as Digital Director at Fenwicks, the independently-owned, unique and quirky department store mini-chain.

There’s so much to follow here – his journey from chef to chief, the positioning of Fenwicks and the sources of distinctiveness, the role of Digital Director, and how digital can transform a last-century business while retaining and using its DNA… As a result we just dived straight into the middle!

If you’re not already familiar with Fenwicks then do check out their website (https://www.fenwick.co.uk/) to see the range of products and something of their history on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenwick_(department_store)) or in their own words (https://www.fenwick.co.uk/our-story.html).

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Run time: 30 minutes

INFORMATION:

Andy Jayes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-jayes-14307821/  

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/  and www.twitter.com/ianjindal 

Recorded and engineered at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal (https://www.instagram.com/ianjindal )

Available on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retailcraft-33-the-detail-and-the-dream-camilla/id1418542382?i=1000571651637

Camilla Henriksson is the Global Brand Innovation Manager at H&M, as well as the Global Head of Customer Experience for their Lifestyle Brands… that should give you a clue as to just how busy Camilla is, and the range of her interests. We caught up with her fresh from the launch of Atelier100, a global collaboration with another global Swedish powerhouse, IKEA. Atelier100 (https://www.atelier100.com/) is a project that seeks to ‘democratise design’ and has three objectives for the partnership: to find and support local creatives; to explore and support local production; and to work on local relevance.

This is an extraordinary project as a stand-alone, but when you consider it’s a joint endeavour between two global businesses it acquires an additional level of purpose, learning and connection.

During our conversation Camilla gives us an insight into her career and how she’s moved through product, visual merchandising, stores, digital, innovation, circular economy and sustainability… as well as in different parts of H&M. Her clarity on delivery, focus and learning is clear – and from her open conversation and enjoyment of her role we can see that humour and culture are definite contributing factors to success!

During our discussion we mentioned in passing the Grand Prix-winning project at Cannes Lions in 2021. Called “the Loop” it’s an in-store end-to-end recycling machine and you can see details here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQhaZNWfZmY

We also discussed the role of Matter, the local/sourcing research consultancy, and you can see their work here: https://ma-tt-er.org/ 

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All of our podcasts now have a full transcript and notes available – check out the episode page on https://internetretailing.net/retailcraft-retail-podcasts/retailcraft-retail-podcasts

Run time: 30 minutes

INFORMATION:

Camilla Henriksson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilla-henriksson-56863231/  

Jamie Merrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemerrick/ 

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/  and www.twitter.com/ianjindal 

Recorded and engineered at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal (https://www.instagram.com/ianjindal )

Available on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retailcraft-32-in-the-path-of-the-customer/id1418542382?i=1000567590519

Operating in 25 countries, with 49million active customers and featuring 5,800 brands, Zalando is a European fashion powerhouse that we’ve long tracked and admired. Megan Maley spoke at Shoptalk Europe 2022 when we launched the Global Elite 1000 report, and I invited her to share with us some of the dynamics, focus areas and directions of travel for Zalando from the vantage point of her role as GM UK/Ireland and Benelux.

We hear about the platform approach, an obsessive customer focus, a relationship with the brands they sell, market entry and growth and of course the long-standing commitment to sustainability, with some 22% of products sold now coming from the more sustainable ranges.

Megan shares with us the importance of getting into the path of the customer, but we also hear about her career path and the idea of “provoking your destiny”. 

This is a generous, open and inspiring conversation with a thoughtful leader in one of Europe’s leading retailers.

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All of our podcasts now have a full transcript and notes available – check out the episode page on https://internetretailing.net/retailcraft-retail-podcasts/retailcraft-retail-podcasts

Run time: 40 minutes

INFORMATION:

Megan Maley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-maley-7478a24/ 

Jamie Merrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemerrick/ 

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/  and www.twitter.com/ianjindal 

Recorded and engineered at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal (https://www.instagram.com/ianjindal )

Available on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retailcraft-31-glass-box-brands-provenance-org-and/id1418542382?i=1000555699733

Provenance provides a framework for retailers and brands to assess, monitor and communicate their sustainability, and this has progressed from a technology play (developing data and blockchain services) into “sustainability marketing technology”. We go behind the scenes with Jessi Baker, the founder and CEO, and along the way discuss the challenges of implementation, how brands are adapting to and embracing transparency, and the direction of travel in making sustainable supply chains easy and relevant for the consumer. Jessi mentioned the phrase “glass-box brands”, succinctly describing the radical transparency and scrutiny under which modern businesses now operate.

Sienne Veit is the Group Digital Product and Platform Director for Kingfisher PLC, owners of Screwfix, B&Q, Castorama and others in a £13bn turnover powerhouse in the “homes” and DIY sectors across Europe. Sienne tracks the idea of a “product” and how the aim is to “create joyful things” that increase not only increased sales but also enhance the experience of interacting with the brand, solving consumer problems. She repeats the concept when she describes how the combination of data science and engineering can ‘make meaning and create joy’ – surely a rallying cry for our times!

Join us in the studio for this informative, wide-ranging and clear discussion on key themes in modern retail: data, transparency, technology and the consumer’s experience.

All of our podcasts now have a full transcript and notes available – check out the episode page on https://internetretailing.net/retailcraft-retail-podcasts/retailcraft-retail-podcasts

Run time: 54 minutes

INFORMATION:

Jessi Baker MBE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessibaker/ 

Sienne Veit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sienneveit/ 

Jamie Merrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemerrick/ 

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/  and www.twitter.com/ianjindal 

Recorded and engineered at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal (https://www.instagram.com/ianjindal )

Available on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retailcraft-29-by-no-means-stereotypical-logistics/id1418542382?i=1000549506060

As we return to the studio, this is a conversation full of surprises, of twists, turns and revelations, and it’s one of those serendipitous discussions that just leave you thinking “wow”.

We hear from Claire Bottle, the new-ish CEO of the UK Warehousing Association. Claire covers the serendipity that led from a secretarial role to a logistics leader, with the mentoring she received and how she now looks to create opportunities and training within the industry.

Gavin’s journey goes from Facebook to establishing a cannabis store, via Tesco and arrives at digital health data. It’s a track that blends bravery with analysis, clarity and flexibility.

Both of these journeys share one thread – that they defy our expectations. Claire comments that her path is “by no means stereotypical” while Gavin notes several times that the commercial realities today and in the future and “different to our mental model”.

This is a podcast full of opinion-changing insights and rather than spoiling the surprises now, I’ll just remind our listeners that a full transcript with notes and links is available via https://internetretailing.net/retailcraft-retail-podcasts

More information on the UKWA here (https://www.ukwa.org.uk/) and on AltaFlora here (https://www.altaflora.co/).

We also noted in passing that Gavin had featured on the cover of InternetRetailing Magazine – here’s an archive link to that issue, from 2011! https://internetretailing.net/magazine/internetretailing—november-2011-volume-6-issue-1 

Run time: 47 minutes

INFORMATION:

Claire Bottle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarebottlefcilt/ 

Gavin Sathianathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinsathianathan/ 

Jamie Merrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemerrick/ 

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/  and www.twitter.com/ianjindal 

Recorded and engineered at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal (https://www.instagram.com/ianjindal )

Podcast with Vanessa Barboni Hallik of Another Tomorrow (https://lnkd.in/eRardBc8)

At the intersection of sustainability, design and technology, Another Tomorrow is an inspiring, lucid and enlightening startup that ‘bakes in’ the circular economy to its whole business model.

The founder and CEO, Vanessa Barboni Hallik, kindly invited me to her Bleeker Street store when I was in #NYC a fortnight ago, and despite the early morning noise of film crews, leaf blowers and garbage collection (!) we covered a lot of ground about how one starts a brand that’s sustainable ‘ab initio’. Vanessa covers sourcing, marketplaces, being a point of discovery, the plans for scaling and reselling, values and culture – it’s a tour de force of things to consider in setting up a direct to consumer brand for a modern consumer. I particularly loved the combination of vision with analysis with execution.

You can listen on Apple Podcasts (https://lnkd.in/eRardBc8), Spotify (https://lnkd.in/eNysn6yf), or your preferred sound source.

Chris Poad, Managing Director, Online at Tesco PLC joins us in the studio for a wide-ranging and extensive discussion. Fresh from a series of senior roles at Amazon (heading Fulfilment by Amazon, then Director, Amazon Business International), Chris has returned to the UK to take up the reins at Tesco’s online activities – just in time to be in the eye of the COVID storm! 

We segue from his career to the Tesco response – an impressive and sustained activity at scale – and we learn about the values that drove the work, the decision-making approaches, and how the team runs under such great pressure.

The interview is chock-full of insights, expressed with clarity and openness – it’s a privileged view inside Tesco at a defining time. There are too many quotable nuggets to list here, but the title of this podcast references a perceptive classification of decision-making – jump to 22m10s if you can’t bear to wait! It’s worth it.

Our thanks to Chris for giving us so much time, and we’ll pick up with him again post-Christmas to see how the peak-upon-peak of trading turned out.

Run time: 38 minutes

INFORMATION:

Chris Poad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispoad/

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/ and www.twitter.com/ianjindal

Jamie Merrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemerrick/

Recorded remotely and at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal.

A bumper edition for the stifling dog-days of August! 

We kick off with an in-depth chat with Mark Wright, Group Operations Director at Fat Face. Mark’s got an incredible track record in retail – online, offline and multichannel – with stints as head of trading at M&S and as Managing Director, Omnichannel and Jack Wills. His role at Fat Face covers all operations and trading and so it was interesting to get his reflections upon the lockdown, recovery and impact. Mark’s a direct and generous guest and so there’s no holding back!

After Mark we hear from Murray Lambell, the VP of Trading at eBay UK. Murray’s role is to help major retailers and brands get onto the eBay platform and there are some suprises here, with no hard sell. 27 million (yes, million) active customers on eBay are the “bait” for sellers, and Murray’s team look at what they’re are searching for, identify gaps, and then approach retailers and brands to take up that demand. Murray shares  with us the partnership approach and, as if a jolt were needed this year, points out that 60,000 sellers have joined eBay in the last 90 days! Busy, busy times indeed.

Run time: 53 minutes

INFORMATION:

Mark Wright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wright-74824b/

Murray Lambell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/murraylambell/

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/ and www.twitter.com/ianjindal

Jamie Merrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemerrick/

Recorded remotely and at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal.

Still in lockdown limbo, we use the internet to speak with two guests from the beauty and electricals sectors.

First up is Aaron Winsloe, the Head of eCommerce USA for The Hut Group. We spoke with Aaron in his new office just before the group results were announced – an impressive 24% revenue growth to £1.1bn and a 22% increase in profits. With 66% of group turnover coming from the international operations, it was a timely moment to catch up with Aaron, and in particular the trading and learning experience over COVID.

Next up is John Roberts, founder and CEO of AO.com. John has some very pithy sayings, as well as a lovely ‘origin story’ for how ‘Appliances Online’ (as it was 20 years ago) was founded. This interview was recorded as a keynote for IRX Engage’s inaugural digital event, and in discussion we hear about the ‘pivot’ to a direct-selling brand and the values that underpin the business’ success.  The sound quality is more “phone line” than “BBC Studio” but John is such a compelling speaker that we had to share the interview.

Run time: 26 minutes.

INFORMATION:

Aaron Winsloe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-winsloe-a0a30680/

John Roberts: https://twitter.com/johnrobertsAO

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/ and www.twitter.com/ianjindal

Jamie Merrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemerrick/

Recorded remotely and at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal.

As Lockdown continued, we caught up with our guests ‘over the web’.

Our first guest is Gracia Amico: chair, non-executive advisor and experienced CEO. In the past, she’s held senior digital and commercial roles at Burberry, TopShop and Hobbs, as well as CEO at Pets Pyjamas. After a period as Head of Digital Operations at Sun Capital, Gracia is now a non-executive Director at Stitched (the online curtains and blinds seller) and Chair of the pet technology company, Pet Mate.

With Gracia we learn about the dynamics of the ‘pet’ market, discuss the role of the CEO and the skills needed as Chair, and touch on an investor view of the skills needed to thrive as we emerge from lockdown.

Robin Phillips is our next guest. Robin is the CEO of The Watch Shop, but his career has seen him cover the gamut of ecommerce. He was Ecommerce Director at Waitrose, then Director of Omnichannel for Boots, before joining Kurt Geiger as Director of Digital. Robin’s experience then across fashion, food and pharmacy mean that he’s got a unique take on retail over the COVID lockdown, as well as some interesting insights on how The Watch Shop can be a brand platform for watch brands to sell. 

Run time: 40 minutes.

INFORMATION:

Gracia Amico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracia-amico-7aa9b0/

Robin Phillips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-phillips-rgp/

Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/ and www.twitter.com/ianjindal

Jamie Merrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemerrick/

Recorded remotely and at Spiritland Studios, UK.

Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal.