How do you scale a homegrown brand in the UAE?

It’s not just about launching or getting noticed—it’s about growing it in a market that moves fast and expects a lot.

In the latest episode of The Marketing Bytes, our guest Yavar Khan breaks down what it truly takes to build and grow local brands in the region.

He talks about the realities of the UAE market and how trust and loyalty are built here. He also shares his own experiences, lessons, and mindset shifts that matter when scaling in a competitive space.

#TheMarketingBytes #UAEMarketing #BrandBuilding #EmiratiAudience #MarketingConversations #ConnexionStudio

Episode 05 of The Marketing Bytes with Shamim Akhtar is now live.

In this episode, Shamim shares insights from his journey of growing e-commerce brands in the GCC. He speaks about the role of logistics in earning customer trust, the idea of One GCC and how community and influencer-led commerce are driving real sales in the Middle East.

If you are looking to understand what scaling e-commerce in this region truly involves, this podcast is for you!

Plug in. Power up. Press play.

00:00 - Teaser

00:49 - Introduction & Guest Welcome

01:46 - Shamim’s Professional Journey

04:44 - Transitioning to E-commerce

05:38 - Business Growth: Then vs. Now

06:55 - Key Marketing Metrics for Profitability

08:14 - Defining E-commerce Success

09:18 - The Role of Influencers

10:31 - Driving Decisions with Data & Localization

11:17 - Balancing Sales Volume & Profitability

12:40 - AI & Automation in Business

14:11 - Examples of AI Efficiency

15:25 - AI & The Future of Jobs

17:00 - Understanding GCC Consumer Behavior

18:47 - Adapting Strategy: UAE vs. Saudi Arabia

20:30 - Trends Reshaping E-commerce

22:51 - Future Opportunities in GCC E-commerce

23:44 - Is There Room for New Brands?

25:09 - Logistics: The Core of E-commerce

27:25 - The Importance of Back-end Tech

28:24 - The Next Breakthrough: Tech or Logistics?

29:38 - Operational Pitfalls in Hyper-Growth

32:34 - Leading Teams Through Change

33:37 - Rapid Fire

37:16 - Advice for Aspiring E-commerce Entrepreneurs

37:54 - Closing

#TheMarketingBytes #EcommerceGCC #EcommerceMiddleEast #GCCBusiness #EcommerceScaling #LogisticsFirst #InfluencerCommerce #CommunityDriven #MarketingPodcast #BusinessGrowth #RegionalScale #UAEBusiness #dubaimarketing

Episode 04 of The Marketing Bytes with Abhinav Daharwal is now live!

In this episode, Abhinav uncovers what truly shapes loyalty today. He dives into how customer behaviour is shifting, why personalisation matters more than ever and what brands must get right to keep customers coming back. He also shares how to design meaningful CRM journeys, create seamless omnichannel experiences, and use data and automation to make smarter decisions every day.

If you’ve been trying to understand how different channels can work together to create meaningful customer experiences, this one is for you!

Plug in. Power up. Press play.

00:00 - Intro

00:00:48 - Introduction of Host & Guest (Abhinav Dharwal)

00:01:44 - Abhinav's Career Journey: From Merchandising to Marketing

00:03:55 - The Art & Science of Marketing: Data vs. Storytelling

00:05:34 - Why UAE is the Most Rewarding

00:07:44 - Centerpoint vs. HomeBox

00:09:36 - The Future of Customer Loyalty: Hyper-personalization & AI

00:11:28 - Top 3 Must-Haves for a Successful Loyalty Program

00:12:57 - Omni-channel Retail

00:15:39 - The Role of Traditional Marketing (ATL/BTL)

00:18:43 - Pre-Ramadan Strategy & Execution

00:22:54 - Mastering CRM in an Omni-channel Environment

00:26:10 - Aligning In-Store & Digital Teams

00:27:25 - AI, Automation & Creating "Customer Personas"

00:30:33 - Old School Market Research:

00:33:13 - Rapid Fire Round

00:35:49 - Advice for Aspiring CRM & Loyalty Professionals

00:37:20 - Conclusion

#TheMarketingBytes #MarketingPodcast #CustomerLoyalty #CRMStrategy #MiddleEastMarketing #MarketingInDubai #Omnichannel #ConsumerBehaviour #RetailMarketing #Personalisation #MarketingInsights #BrandGrowth #MENAIndustry

We’re live with Episode 03!

From localising global fashion brands to creating collaborations that genuinely connect, this episode with Maud Labro Grison explores what it really takes for fashion brands to resonate in new markets.

She takes us behind the scenes of global fashion, from how she’s helped brands like Benetton, Guess, Diesel, Scotch & Soda, Fred Perry, Pinko, and more find their cultural voice in the Middle East, to how retail experiences, collaborations, and events become powerful storytelling tools.

Watch it now — Plug in. Power up. Press play.

00:00 - Intro

00:00:43 - Introduction of Guest: Maud Labro Grison

00:01:23 - Maud's Journey: From Accounting to Fashion

00:03:33 - Moving to the Middle East & First Impressions

00:04:24 - Passion for Fashion

00:05:44 - What Unites Fashion Lovers Across Cultures?

00:06:57 - Brand Positioning: Why the Middle East is Unique

00:09:03 - Understanding Diverse Audiences: Middle East, Africa, CIS

00:10:19 - Memorable Brand Collaborations

00:12:17 - What Makes Partnerships Meaningful?

00:13:31 - Choosing the Right Local Partners

00:15:35 - Impactful Campaigns

00:17:22 - Fashion Shows, Pop-ups & Creating Experiences

00:20:30 - Balancing Global Brand DNA with Local Relevance

00:26:21 - Operational Challenges

00:28:33 - Managing People: Training & Cultural Alignment

00:30:57 - Turning Challenges into Opportunities

00:33:10 - Sustainability in the Middle East Fashion Market

00:35:52 - Rapid Fire Round

00:37:04 - Conclusion & Advice for Aspiring Fashion Professionals

#FashionMarketing #GlobalBrands #BrandLocalisation #CulturalMarketing #MiddleEastMarketing #BrandStrategy #FashionBusiness #RetailExperience #BrandStorytelling #CreativeThinking #MarketingInsights #MarketingCommunity #GlobalFashion #MarketingInDubai #brandrelevance

On this episode of The Marketing Bytes, we're joined by Ayesha Shaheen, a marketing powerhouse whose career journey is as diverse as the regions she's worked in. She shares fresh perspective on how to create compelling brand communication that resonates with different cultures and audiences.

We also dive into the balance between performance-driven marketing and creating genuine customer experiences, while uncovering her passion for CSR initiatives. Whether you’re exploring branding in Dubai or looking to scale across regions, this episode is packed insights you won’t want to miss.

Watch it now — Plug in. Power up. Press play.

00:00 - Intro

00:00:26 - Introduction of Guest: Ayesha Shaheen

00:01:04 - Ayesha's Unconventional Career Journey

00:02:16 - First Marketing Stints: Family Business & Pharma

00:05:03 - A Day in the Life of a Marketing Powerhouse

00:06:09 - Managing Marketing Strategy Across Diverse Markets

00:08:18 - Creating Regional Content: Adapting for UAE, India, & Saudi Arabia

00:09:07 - The Shift to Performance Marketing & Data-Driven Strategies

00:11:17 - Building a Performance Marketing Stack from Scratch

00:13:06 - Affiliate & Influencer Marketing

00:13:55 - Measuring Campaign Success: Social Listening & Sentiment Analysis

00:17:01 - Marketing Technology

00:20:27 - Internal Communications & Company Culture

00:21:41 - Customer Experience: Everyone's Responsibility

00:22:15 - CSR & ESG: More Than Just a Checkbox

00:25:23 - The Evolution of the 4 Ps to 7 Ps of Marketing

00:27:05 - Advice for Marketers Feeling Stuck

00:28:12 - Rapid Fire Round

00:30:19 - Conclusion & Advice for Young Marketers

#MarketingPodcast #MarketingInMENA #MiddleEastMarketing #DubaiMarketing #SaudiMarketing #CrossCulturalMarketing #ConsumerInsights #MarketingStrategy #BrandLeadership #BrandCommunication #CustomerExperience #PerformanceMarketing #MarketingTrends #MarketingCommunity #MarketingConversations #MarketingLeaders #DigitalMarketingInsights #MarketingProfessionals #MarketingGrowth

In Episode 01 of The Marketing Bytes, retail design expert Tyron Joseph breaks down the secrets behind visual merchandising, retain design, and customer experience that make people not just look, but walk in.

From campaign strategy to store design, Tyron shares insights every marketer, retail professional, and brand storyteller needs to hear.

• If you work in marketing, retail, or branding, this episode is packed with ideas you can apply right away.

• If you’re a student or professional, it’s a masterclass in how creativity drives business impact.

Don’t forget to subscribe for upcoming episodes with marketing leaders who are reshaping the industry!

Watch it now — Plug in. Power up. Press play.

0:00 Podcast Introduction & Guest Intro

1:22 Retail Growth Story

2:17 Dubai Retail Market

3:01 Career Story

4:55 “Out-of-the-Box” Retail

6:26 Art + Business

8:10 Nike HQ Visit – Retail Design at Scale

10:06 Omnichannel Alignment

12:12 Photoshoot Case Study

14:00 Category Switching – Sports, Kids, Home

15:19 Store Experience

16:53 Tools & Inspiration

18:20 Best-in-Class CX

19:34 AI in Retail

21:56 Curiosity, Iteration & Team Mindset

23:05 GCC Retail Trends

24:31 Overhyped Trend

26:01 Winning Trend

27:11 VM Talent Gap

28:39 Loyalty, CX & Branding

30:02 Rapid-Fire

31:17 Foundations, Teamwork

33:23 Advice for Young Creatives

34:08 Outro

#TheMarketingBytes #MarketingPodcast #VisualMerchandising #RetailDesign #CustomerExperience #RetailMarketing #BrandStrategy #StoreDesign #RetailInnovation #DesignThinking #Omnichannel #RetailStrategy #ShopperExperience #AIinRetail #DubaiBusiness #GCC #Mena