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Multichannel retail, ecommerce and digital business - interviews, analysis and discussion with Ian Jindal and InternetRetailing
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Joining us in the studio at the end of 2022, Jennifer North, Head of Digital Experience at Hobbycraft, gives us an eye-opening insight to the demanding, innovative craft and hobby market in the UK, and their multipronged and entrepreneurial position.
We hear about the craft customer - artists, hobbyists, businesses and the growing "sidehustle" generation of digitally-amplified creators - and how their demands and behaviours changed over the pandemic and now into 2023.
Jenny covers loyalty, subscriptions, apps, customer insight... as well as a fascinating glimpse at their customers' requirements - listen out for the hand-knitted nativity set and the laser-cut materials!
The briefest glimpse at https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ will show the range and depth of the offering - along with a view of the triumph to present in a scaling, engaging experience.
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Run time: 33 minutes
INFORMATION:
Jennifer North: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyanorth/
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 )
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Cocoon (https://www.cocoon.club/) is a London-based circular subscription service for bag lovers. Not just any old bags - high end, desirable handbags. They operate a membership model, where a subscription unlocks access to the collection and weekly drops to support maintain freshness and energy. The business blends luxury service, product experience, sustainable and circular business models and of course the attraction of a scale-up with an interesting digital platform.
Ian was pleased to get some time with founder and luxury expert Ceanne Fernandes-Wong and in the cosiness of the studio we learn of the business drivers, the realities of providing the service, along with Ceanne's rich experiences and reflections from a career of leadership in luxury - Net a Porter, Vestiaire Collective, Kate Spade...
There's some bonus material at the end - we had so much to cover it was hard to leave the studio!
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Run time: 44 minutes
INFORMATION:
Ceanne Fernandes-Wong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceannefernandes/
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 )
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
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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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:
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 )
Saturday Jul 30, 2022
Saturday Jul 30, 2022
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 )
Friday Jun 24, 2022
Friday Jun 24, 2022
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 )
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
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 sustainably 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 )
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Two major brands discuss innovation, digital, delivery and retail. We hear from Ali Holmes, Senior Ecommerce Director at Pepsico Europe, and Megan Ludlow, Innovation Partnership at Marks & Spencer.
We mentioned that Ali had featured on the cover of InternetRetailing Magazine back in 2012 and you can see that edition here: https://internetretailing.net/magazine/internetretailing---july-2012-volume-6-issue-5
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: 53 minutes
INFORMATION:
Ali Holmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliholmes/
Megan Ludlow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-ludlow/
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 )
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
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 )
Thursday Dec 30, 2021
Thursday Dec 30, 2021
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC is a British multinational consumer goods company. Formed some 200 years ago it is a stalwart of the FTSE100 and turns over some £14bn (2020). It owns some global powerhouse brands in the health/hygiene/nutrition space, many of which are part of the fabric of UK society - Durex, Dettol, Airwick, Clearasil, Nurofen...
In this episode we spend time with Greg Duce, Area Ecommerce Director, Europe, Australia and New Zealand at Reckitt and it's a privileged look behind the brands at the realities of moving direct to consumer, embracing digital and maintaining values.
We were struck in chatting with Greg at the focus upon people and skills development, the need to move rapidly yet without losing track of the brand values. Greg articulated with great clarity that the transition to digital-first (without leaving behind the successful, multi-billion legacy) requires the ability to see multiple things at the same time - and to act for now and the future at the same time. Greg talks about the need to "win today and win tomorrow', and how this requires the simultaneous adoption of two competing maxims: the first is the mantra of "fewer, bigger, better" investments (using Reckitt's scale), while at the same time placing "bets everywhere to see what sticks" (because you have to recognise that new competitors are not limited to the legacy competitors). This 'duality' is at the heart of the digital approach - a flexibility of mind and approach that is worthy of a chapter or two by Von Clauswitz or Sun Tzu!
The full transcript is available via https://internetretailing.net/retailcraft-retail-podcasts/retailcraft-retail-podcasts
Run time: 47 minutes
INFORMATION:
Greg Duce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-duce-1888897/
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 )
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Another Tomorrow (www.anothertomorrow.co) is a startup that blends luxury with sustainability. It is interesting because it has digital 'baked into' the DNA - from traceability and sourcing through selling and a second life for products. The founder, Vanessa Barboni Hallik, bring a mixture of passion, flair and analytical insight to the fashion industry and has positioned Another Tomorrow at the intersection of design, sustainability and technology.
Vanessa was kind enough to meet with me in her Bleeker Street store in New York, and brought the brand, its story and direction of travel to life.
We recorded at 7am but the film crew and leaf-blowers were out in force as they prepared for the day's filming of the Sex and the City series reboot. It was all happening, but nothing interrupted our conversation and the team at Spiritland cleaned the audio wonderfully!
This interview is full of important insights on sourcing, culture, traceability, how to grow while maintaining focus, and remaining a 'point of discovery' for your customers.
The full transcript is available via https://internetretailing.net/retailcraft-retail-podcasts/retailcraft-retail-podcasts
Run time: 32 minutes
INFORMATION:
Vanessa Barboni Hallik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessabarbonihallik
Ian Jindal: www.linkedin.com/in/ianjindal/ and www.twitter.com/ianjindal
Recorded remotely in Another Tomorrow's Bleeker Street, New York store, and engineers by Spiritland Studios, UK.
Episode photo credit: Ian Jindal (https://www.instagram.com/ianjindal )