In this compelling episode of OFFBounds, host Paula Macaggi is joined in London by Oliver Banks, retail expert and author of "Driving Retail Transformation." Together, they delve into the intricacies of retail change, discussing the balance between strategic decisions and ongoing adjustments needed to stay competitive. Oliver shares insights from his career, including his time at Tesco and as a consultant, exploring themes like the importance of intentional transformation, the role of data in...

With over 30 years in the industry, Paul Sims - the company's Chief Architect - shares his journey from learning Mandarin in Shanghai to leading Primark's tech strategy as they aim to expand to over 500 stores by 2026. This episode explores the challenges of global retail expansion, balancing legacy technologies with innovative solutions, and the role of AI in enhancing customer experiences without losing the human touch. Tune in for a compelling discussion on the future of retail and...

Paula Macaggi engages in a captivating discussion with Renee Hartman, co-author of "Next Generation Retail," exploring the revolutionary trends in China's retail sector. Broadcasting from Lisbon, this episode delves into Renee's decade-long experience in China, her insights into social commerce, and the significant impact of technological advancements on Chinese and global retail landscapes. Join them as they uncover the dynamics of consumer behavior and the future of retail in one of the...

Throughout the years that I’ve been working in retail I met with many tech companies from different levels of development and often when they explain what they do they struggle to tell the problem they are solving. In many cases, it’s easy to notice that they are so amazed by the solution that they aren’t really solving any real problem and according to my guest today the key to value creation is to fall in love with the problem, not the solution. While I was in São Paulo, the city I called...

The Asia Pacific retail market is undergoing a significant transformation due to technological innovation, evolving consumer preferences, and rising disposable income. The National Retail Federation (NRF) is hosting its first show in Asia in Singapore in 2024, highlighting the region's importance. The APAC region is a trendsetter and a growth engine for the world, with a young, tech-savvy population. Retail designers in APAC have the opportunity to create unique experiences that reflect...

Tiago shares the unique approach of O Grupo Valor do Tempo towards innovation in retail, emphasizing experience and storytelling over technological advancements. By meticulously crafting store environments that captivate the senses, from the layout and lighting to the curated music, Tiago's ventures invite customers into a world where every product tells a story of tradition and craftsmanship. This focus on creating an immersive shopping experience has not only differentiated their brands in...

Worten is a leading brand that has been democratizing access to technology in Portugal and Spain. With more than 230 physical stores and a presence strong online, Worten offers a wide range of products, from consumer electronics to entertainment and telecommunications, ensuring innovation, and the best prices for its customers. In today's episode, Paula sits with Rui Cohen,  the CTO who's leading several initiatives to change the IT Architecture landscape and drive business agility to better...

Join Paula Macaggi in this exciting episode of OFFBOUNDS as we dive into the transformative power of Apple Vision Pro in the retail industry. Featuring insights from experts DeAnn Campbell, Neil Redding, Carl Boutet, and Jeffrey Roberts, we explore how this VR/AR technology could revolutionize consumer engagement and profitability in retail. From virtual try-ons to immersive in-store experiences, discover the potential challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.  As we speculate on the...

The episode today is about a super-loved fashion brand called AllSaints. The British brand was founded in 1994 and it sells menswear, womenswear, footwear, accessories and is mostly famous for its leather jackets. Today, they have almost 300 stores in 27 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia. For this interview, I went to London and met with James Reid, he’s the Chief Innovation Officer of the brand and brought to the studio in Shoreditch his wonderful British sarcasm and knowledge....

From Gotheburg, Sweden. Florian Westerdahl, the leader of the tech team at Lindex, discusses how technology has empowered their stores and the importance of designing the organization for innovation. He shares insights into Lindex's digital store program and their use of generative AI through their project called Co-Pilot. Florian emphasizes the need to engage with new technologies, such as generative AI, and the importance of building a strong team with shared goals in the retail...

Kicks is the largest beauty retailer in the Nordics. They achieved this title by investing in community-building and expertise as their competitive advantage and today, Kicks Beauty Talks has 140K members which is more than their Instagram following. In this interview, Carola Lundell, the EVP of Kicks Group sits with Paula Macaggi and talks about loyalty and their membership program Kicks Club as well as live shopping, fostering innovation, and incorporating AI in their business. Visit...

In episode 8 of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi talks with Jonas Karlén, CEO of Adlibris, a pioneering force in Nordic e-commerce. With Adlibris boasting an extensive catalog of over 13 million titles, Jonas shares his insights into the beauty of managing such a vast assortment while navigating operational challenges. From crisis management to the fusion of offline and online retail experiences, Jonas provides invaluable perspectives on leadership and strategic adaptation in the digital age. This...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Giorgio Pradi, Sunglass Hut's North America President, as he unveils the brand's innovative strategies and global vision for the future of retail. Discover how Sunglass Hut ensures a consistent customer experience across continents, from New York to Barcelona, Milan, and Brazil. Pradi shares how meticulous training and adaptation empower associates to embody a standardized approach while respecting diverse cultures. Explore Sunglass Hut's...

From a career in agencies to leading marketing at the largest retailer in Finland, Lauri Toivonen has a phenomenal perspective on serving grocery customers with creativity. He is now the CMO of SOK, a Finish co-op with 47% of the grocery market share and 78% of the country's households as loyalty members. In this episode, Lauri shares how successful marketing campaigns often involve thinking outside the box and embracing unconventional ideas as well as how companies should foster a culture...

Silvia Mazzucchelli has had leadership roles in fashion brands throughout her career being responsible for transformation and turnarounds in companies like Guess, Toms, and American Apparel. In this conversation, Silvia shares her experiences and insights from her career in the retail and fashion industry. She discusses the impact of her dual cultural experience on her professional growth and the value of working with strong personalities. Silvia also talks about her time as CMO at...

Enrique Martinez is a passionate leader who's really committed to his team and FNAC's mission to transform its customers' lives by providing access to culture and technologies. In this episode, we learn more about Enrique's leadership and how he manages more than 25K employees and FNAC's Everyday Project which is focused on sustainability, omnichannel, and service. This episode is sponsored by AWS Amazon Web Services provides a highly reliable, scalable, infrastructure platform in the...

Tim Engler is part of the team of young leaders driving digital transformation in Germany's retail industry. He leads all things technology at OBI, a home improvement retailer with more than 600 stores in 10 different countries (I mentioned 11 in the interview but I was wrong). In this interview, he shares his perspective on the importance of technology for enabling the business by optimizing processes, supply chain, and customer journey. Especially on how digital helps customers prepare...

Olivier Gibert has an impressive career in technology. He started in consulting and went to retail because he enjoys the challenge. Almost 10 years later, he became the Global CTO of Carrefour a huge retailer present in 40 countries with direct operations in 8 around Europe and Latin America. With over 10 billion transactions per year and 80 million customers served, Carrefour announced its Digital Retail 2026 strategy to transform its business into data-driven and digital-first by...

Jenna Posner had the chance to see all sides of our industry, she has navigated from the technology side to lead the digital strategies at the footwear retailer Snipes and now she's doing the same on the brand side with Solo Brands. In this interview, she will dive into the role of technology and the importance of a true partnership between retailers and solution providers. Sharing her retail insights from the technology perspective. This episode is sponsored by YOTTAA. Yottaa just...

OFFBounds is a podcast where commerce executives share their perspectives, successes, and lessons learned in their careers to inspire other global leaders in their journey and decision-making. Every week, the host Paula Macaggi meets industry leaders to discuss business strategies, careers, and leadership in one-on-one conversations challenging the limits of borders and boundaries. Paula Macaggi unveils the person behind the leader and brings to her audience of commerce executives...