Explore every episode of the podcast The Retail Tea Break

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, Melissa is joined by Alison Dunn, Country Manager for Amazon Ireland. This is a fast-paced conversation about her career across retail and the impact Amazon.ie is having on Ireland’s e-commerce landscape. From the Irish launch in March 2025  to rural delivery, support for local sellers and the trends reshaping how we shop, Alison offers a clear view of where Irish retail is heading next.

• 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

On this week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, Melissa chats with Steve Dresser, founder of Grocery Insight. Known for his straight-talking approach and sharp eye for detail, Steve lifts the lid on what’s really happening on the shop floor. Together, they explore why honesty matters, the cultural barriers he’s faced and what retailers must confront if they want meaningful change.

• 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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, Melissa sits down with Dr. Joanne Reilly, the inspiring founder and CEO behind Kinvara Skincare. The award-winning Irish brand blends science, sustainability and plant-powered beauty. From humble beginnings to being stocked in 600+ stores, Jo shares how Kinvara grew organically while staying true to its values, balancing local roots, global ambitions and a loyal customer base.

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break Podcast, Melissa Moore chats with Paul O’Hea, pharmacist and co-owner of Inish Pharmacy Group and Isabel Hughes, head of marketing at Autoaddress. Together, they explore how teamwork, technology and trust shape modern retail; from maintaining a human touch in pharmacy service to tackling the hidden costs of bad address data. The conversation blends the practical challenges of peak-season trading with digital innovation, customer care and operational growth.

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/

Melissa Moore sits down with James Kean, Managing Director of Keans Claremorris, a fourth-generation family business that has evolved from a small grocery shop into a 25,000 sq ft retail destination. With 120 years of history behind them, the Kean family has embraced change while staying true to their roots in customer service and community.

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/

On this week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, Melissa Moore chats with Thomas Ennis, CEO of Thomas Ennis Group. They explore his 35-year retail career in fresh food, the mentors who shaped his path and his people-first leadership style. Thomas shares insights on building strong teams, learning from both successes and failures in retail expansion and adapting through innovation. They also discuss the role of AI in modern retail operations and Thomas’s advice for independent retailers on growth, resilience and work-life balance.

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

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, Melissa Moore is joined by Melissa Minkow, Global Director of Retail Strategy at CI&T. They dive into the latest consumer trends shaping the future of retail. The discussion covers how AI, digital transformation and evolving search behaviors are reshaping the retail landscape, as well as the shifting nature of consumer loyalty. Melissa highlights practical strategies for retailers to meet changing consumer expectations and leverage technology to enhance the shopping experience.

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 

In this episode of The Retail Tea Break, Melissa Moore sits down with Dan Bond, VP of Marketing at RevLifter. They explore how retailers can stop wasting their promotion budgets and start running smarter, more profitable intelligent offers. With over 20 years in marketing and MarTech, Dan explains how data-driven promotions not only delight customers but also keep sales moving, stock under control and margins healthy.

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

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by Nora Zukauskaite, Integrated Marketing Director at TikTok Shop. With a career across creative, tech and entertainment, Nora now leads the way in discovery commerce and digital-first retail. This is a phenomenal episode,  full of insights and exciting sneak peak.  Grab your notebook and your cup of tea and enjoy this game changing episode!

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

Every customer who walks through your door is an opportunity, but only if you know how to convert them. In this episode of The Retail Tea Break, Melissa Moore chats with Mark Ryski, retail analytics expert and author of Store Traffic Is a Gift. Mark unpacks why store traffic is often undervalued, how conversion is the missing link to sales success and what practical steps retailers can take to maximise every visitor.

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

• 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.
• 
  

• 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

Melissa Moore chats with Michael Walsh, Marketing Director at Dubarry of Ireland, the luxury brand known for premium footwear and lifestyle apparel. Michael shares how Dubarry evolved from a niche sailing boot maker into a global lifestyle brand while staying true to Irish heritage and craftsmanship.

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

Season 9 of the award-winning Retail Tea Break Podcast is here!

This season, host Melissa Moore brings conversations with trailblazing retailers, industry experts and global brands covering the latest insights and innovations shaping the retail industry.

Topics include:

• Discovery commerce, live shopping & TikTok Shop
• The fundamentals of successful retail stores
• Store traffic as a driver of sales success
• Scaling challenges faced by growing retailers
• Evolution of family businesses across four generations
• Craftsmanship, heritage & innovation in retail experiences
• AI and technology transforming customer journeys
• Insights into holiday shopping trends and so much more.

Of course, there’s plenty of tech and AI in the mix too, because it’s transforming the way we all connect with customers. So grab that cup of tea, sit back and listen in.. to the season 9 of The Retail Tea Break podcast.

In the meantime, catch up on the past 8 seasons 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

In this bold and brilliantly candid Retail Room 101 edition of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by one of the most outspoken voices in the industry, The Retail Maverick Andrew Busby. The well-known retail industry expert, speaker and writer,  has extensive experience and knowledge in the retail sector, particularly in areas such as retail technology, customer experience, and emerging trends. 

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/

In the 100th episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by the storytelling legend, Charlie Boyle. The customer experience expert champions the powerful message: human skills are still the heartbeat of retail.

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast we explore how modern retail leaders are blending passion, people and purpose to drive meaningful growth. George Sullivan is the Founder and CEO of The Sole Supplier, a shopping platform and marketplace connecting sneakerheads with hard to find products. Through the use of innovative tech, engaging content and strategic partnerships, the brand drives over £50 million gross merchandise value (GMV) annually, to global brands like Nike, Adidas and ASOS. Over the past decade, George has bootstrapped the company from a bedroom blog to a UK powerhouse, driven by an amazing team of 30 at their Shoreditch hub in London!

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by an industry veteran who has brought measurable value to companies operating in the publishing, advertising and technology space. Dominick Miserandino is CEO of Retail Tech Media Nexus.

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by  two guests to explore incredible store experience.

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by a strategic advisor on growth and transformation. Steve Dennis is a world renowned keynote speaker, author, and former C-suite executive at two large retailers. 

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by a guest who is a true expert in Irish retail! Anne Harrison is the  Buying Director at Carraig Donn. Her deep understanding of the Irish customer and ever-evolving trends has been central to her employer’s growth and success. Since joining the team, she has played a pivotal role in the brand’s transformation, from just four stores in 1990 to 43 locations across Ireland today, along with a thriving multi million-euro online platform.

 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 latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by an industry expert in Merchandising, Buying, Product Development and Sourcing with luxury and mass merchant retailers in both regional and global markets. Liza Amlani, the Principal and Co-Founder of Retail Strategy Group brings the end-to-end expertise that retail brands need. 

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

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by two sisters who run a family-owned boutique destination store in the West of Ireland. Clíona and Laragh Standún describe their strengths as being like “chalk and cheese,” which makes them the perfect duo. They are always striving to advance their business and continue growing in an ever-changing and competitive environment.

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

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I share some insightful conversations that I had live at Retail Technology Show in London last week, offering you a front-row seat to the discussions that are driving retail innovation. I speak to:

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

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by an internationally recognised expert in the retail industry. Michelle Grant is the Director of Strategy and Insights for Retail & Consumer Goods at Salesforce The seasoned researcher helps global organisations build the future of their business. She has shared her thoughts with the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Financial Times. 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.

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

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by two guests to explore how working together has delivered brand experiences to thousands of customers.

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

In the opening episode of season 8, I’m joined by a guest who has spent over 20 years in the exhibition and events industry. Matt Bradley is the Event Director of The Retail Technology Show.  He is a well known face within the retail tech industry and has an enviable book of contacts and understands how to truly connect suppliers with buyers! His philosophy is simple, make experiences not exhibitions and he continues to find ways to revolutionize the conventional expo model.

 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

Season 7 Finale

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!

On this week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by a product experience specialist. Andy Tyra is the Chief Product Officer at Akeneo. He strives to deliver product information management solutions for brands and retailers contributing to a seamless and positive customer journey.

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/

On the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break I’m joined by a retailer who is on a mission to bring joy to customers and the community. Anne Barber is founder of Butterslip in Kilkenny. She has won numerous awards and accolades, as well as loyal customers over the last 20 years. The store is remarkable for its colourful displays, inside and out and for the joy with which it embraces its customers - a theme that runs through both its physical and online presence. 

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by two guests with a whole plethora of sales and ecommerce experience. Eamonn Grant is Senior VP of Corporate Development at ESW and Jonathan Sheard is VP Sales at ESW UK. Their teams empower the world’s best-loved retailers and brands to make global shopping better, safer, simpler, and faster, end-to-end.

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by a “Business Imagineer”, who is focused on building growth-unleashing relationships in symbiosis between commercial understanding and shopper insights. Torben Valsted is a Chief Imagineer, having worked as a transformational leader and growth architect for Nike, Nestlé and Carlsberg.

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/

On the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by a dynamic entrepreneur and visionary founder, who has set new standards in the floral industry. Vivian Wong-McKendry is the Founder of One More Thing- the brand that promotes sustainable living through beautiful, eco-friendly products. 

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/

On the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by a guest who really cares about what matters to the consumer. Alyson Hogg MBE, is the CEO and Founder of Vita Liberata. Driven by a passion to bring quality, meaningful products to market that people really want to use, Alyson excels at telling the story of those products in the most compelling way. Her incredible career brought her creativity, experience and energy to roles such as programme maker at BBC, to Communications Director for the Women's Coalition during the Northern Ireland peace process.

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/

On the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I'm joined by a guest who really understands how AI can impact and support retail. Peter Cohan is a strategy consultant, startup investor, author, and columnist. He is an Associate Professor of Management Practice at Babson College, he is faculty lead for the core undergraduate strategy course and has created popular electives on Startup Cities and Scaling Strategy.

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/

To celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the Retail Tea Break Podcast, I’m delighted to be re-joined by 4 retail experts for part two of our round table.

• 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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to a retail newbie! Rebecca Hoban is Co-Founder of Outwest Clothing and retail store. From Dingle in County Kerry, Rebecca and Co-Founder Shane Finn built an outdoor apparel brand made for the Irish outdoors.

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 the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to an incredibly experienced retailer. Conrad Digan is the CEO of Shaws Department Stores. Having worked in various DT2 store roles for Marks and Spencer in London and then Dublin, he went on to become the Head of Selling for M&S on the Island of Ireland. Then after almost 25 years, he left M&S to take on the Director of Retail Ops and Customer Service at Primark. 

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by a guest who plays a huge part in a modern heritage Irish brand that sells globally. Sarah Murphy is the Managing Director of Jack Murphy Clothing. Establishing themselves as a leader in fashionable, functional, and sustainable clothing was and still is, a family passion. 

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/

To celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the Retail Tea Break Podcast and the launch of season 7, I’m delighted to be joined by 4 retail experts.

• 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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast I’m joined by a guest who has spent over 30 years in the retail industry. Bob Neille has worked all over the world with leading sports and footwear brands including Addias, New Balance and Under Armour. From redefining operational processes to increase profits, to building high performance and highly engaged teams, Bob really understands the customer experience.

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/

This week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is sponsored by Salesforce, the world’s #1 CRM. I’m joined by a seasoned technology marketing executive with proven commercial success at executive and board level within tech, marketplaces and ecommerce, rapidly scaling international businesses working in both B2C and B2B environments. Gavin Murphy is the Chief Marketing Officer at Scurri. He is highly skilled in go-to-market strategies, building marketing teams, brand and product positioning, field marketing, product marketing and demand generation at an international level (EMEA & APAC). 

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by two guests who really understand shoppers. Vanessa Henry is Research Director (Shopper) ​​​​and Zoe Smith is a Research Executive, at Walnut Unlimited. They both have vast experience with the retail industry, using a variety of methodologies across projects to uncover true actionable insight that can help to unlock growth in the retail space. Their role- to Understand shopper behaviour, getting under the skin of how consumers behave and feel.

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/

This week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is sponsored by Salesforce, the world’s #1 CRM. I’m joined by an internationally recognised expert in the retail industry, Rob Garf. The Vice President and General Manager of Retail at Salesforce has over 25 years of global retail experience as a practitioner. He was an industry analyst with AMR Research, a strategy consultant at IBM and a software leader. As this episode shows, Rob is no stranger to the retail industry and the challenges retailers face.

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 latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is a little different. Recorded live at the Olympia in London, I’m joined by a whole host of guests from The Retail Technology Show.  

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by a guest who has always had an eye on what’s coming next and exciting ambitions for growth. 

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by a guest who believes in creating more value & less waste from every purchase through innovation & technology. Kiran Gange is the CEO and Founder of RapidPricer. The author and entrepreneur has over 18 years of experience launching innovative technologies around the world. Kiran has the ability to connect with multicultural teams and has trained on entrepreneurship, internationalisation and pricing at several prestigious institutions and organisations such as the Berkeley in California, Dutch Basecamp in Amsterdam and the Professional Pricing Society in Atlanta.

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by three special guests to explore how working together has brought a well loved brand to life, in its forever home. I’m joined by Aoibhín Garrihy and Sharon Connellan, the founders of BEO. The nationally renowned lifestyle brand blends live events promoting self-care with their product line which offers thoughtfully curated collections from sustainable and ethical sources in the West of Ireland. I’m also joined by Ciara Petty from Ciara Petty Design Studio which is a full-service interior design agency specialising in strategic, brand-focused retail, food service and hospitality design.

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/

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I speak to a retail trailblazer! Linda Johansen-James is 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.

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/

In this week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by a guest who really understands frontline retail. Brian Librach is  author of The Retail Leader’s Roadmap. He followed in the footsteps of his Father and Grandfather having been brought up around retailers and merchants. With a career that saw him climb the corporate ladder (and fall down it a few times), Brian worked for Urban Outfitters, Pacific Sunwear and Old Navy.

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 week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by a guest who is a creative entrepreneur, having spent most of her career as a leading Irish fashion designer. Aideen Bodkin is founder of StylAi . Throughout her successful career Aideen has been an advisor, trainer and mentor to many SME’s and creative individuals. Her expertise includes Fashion Design, Design Thinking, Sustainability for Creative Businesses, Digital Entrepreneurship and Product Development.

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/

In this week’s episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, I’m joined by a guest who really knows ecommerce. Vinny O’Brien from Vinny & Co works with some of the world's biggest brands in strategy and training roles and has delivered training to over 1000 companies over the last few years.

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/