Retail is changing fast and River Island is already running ahead of the curve.

In this episode of Marketing in the Madness, we dig into how the brand is building smarter systems, faster teams, and better customer experiences using AI.

From automated code generation to an internal AI platform called Delta, River Island’s tech team is turning innovation into a daily habit.

We talk about what’s next for the brand, how AI is transforming retail operations, and why now’s the moment to plug in and start experimenting.

What you’ll learn:

- How River Island is building AI into its day-to-day operations - Why “test and learn” cultures are reshaping the retail playbook - The power of modular tools like Delta - What’s next for customer experience across web and stores

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Chapters

00:00 – AI is now driving 50% of online traffic 00:24 – The rise of test-and-learn cultures 01:18 – How AI models are reshaping search 02:28 – Inside River Island’s AI engine: Delta 05:26 – The power (and risk) of new AI tools 06:39 – AI’s future: scary or exciting? 06:52 – River Island’s next chapter in innovation 07:53 – Building smarter stores and better systems

Simon Pakenham-Walsh https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pakenham-walsh/

Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Marketing in the Madness

Street Agency https://street.agency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/

In this mini episode of Marketing in the Madness, River Island’s CIO Simon Pakenham-Walsh reveals how one of the UK’s biggest fashion retailers is reinventing the customer experience through technology - both online and in-store.

After a “summer of reset,” the brand is doubling down on innovation, data, and seamless shopping journeys.

What you’ll hear:

- From RFID-powered “dump bucket” self-checkouts to smart fitting rooms that recommend your next size — River Island is redefining frictionless retail.

- How Simon’s team is uniting website, app, and store tech into one connected system where customers can browse, buy, and return anywhere.

- Why River Island’s focus on data, agility, and micro-experiments is shaping the future of retail innovation and customer experience design.

This isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a retail revolution built for the next generation of shoppers.

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Simon Pakenham-Walsh https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pakenham-walsh/

Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Marketing in the Madness https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast

Street Agency https://street.agency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/

The future of shopping isn’t about selling, it’s about experience.

Simon Pakenham-Walsh, CIO at River Island, breaks down how technology, AI and data are transforming retail — from smart stores and RFID checkouts to seamless online journeys that actually feel connected.

With a career spanning Sweaty Betty, Sainsbury’s and Arcadia, Simon’s seen how brands win (and lose) when they get transformation wrong. Now he’s revealing how River Island is rethinking its tech, people, and mindset to rebuild what shopping means in 2025.

This one’s for the marketers, retail leaders and founders trying to make digital transformation actually work - without losing the human touch.

We talk:

• The future of retail and technology

• Why AI and data are rewriting how we shop

• How to transform a brand without breaking it

• Why tech isn’t the problem - mindset is

If you care about the future of eCommerce, AI in retail, or the next generation of in-store experiences, this episode will change how you think about shopping forever.