In this episode of Five Things Friday UK, Alex and Simon break down what the rescue of Russell & Bromley by Next really signals for the British high street, why consolidation is accelerating, and what it means for heritage brands.They also explore:Why the UK may be heading toward a three-giant retail landscapeA standout Valentine’s campaign from Thortful and how physical products stay relevant in a digital ageThe return of fashion founder Nina Hopkins with her new ready-to-wear label Sam DateWhy fashion careers aren’t linear — and why that matters for the next generation of retail talentA first look at www.Keynotely.ai , a new “Spotify for keynotes” built to preserve human intelligence in a world dominated by AIThis conversation blends retail strategy, brand storytelling, fashion innovation, and the future of knowledge sharing — with practical insights for anyone building, selling, or advising retail brands in the UK and beyond.📍 Recorded as part of Five Things Friday UK📢 Subscribe for more Retail Insights! #RetailTrends #Macy #GapInc #NRF2025 #FiveThingsFriday💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which trend discussed today do you think will impact the industry most? Let us know in the comments below!🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO STAY AHEAD Don't miss the next update. Click here to subscribe: / @theretailpodcast ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Welcome to the official YouTube channel of The Retail Podcast, your hub for global retail intelligence.Whether you are an executive refining your strategy, a vendor connecting with major players, or an innovator tracking the latest tech, this channel connects you to the pulse of the industry.What to expect:Expert Analysis: Breaking down insights from major global conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, Web Summit, MAPIC; Euroshop and EuroCIS.Diverse Perspectives: Hosted by a rotation of industry veterans and regional experts (APAC, US, EU).Actionable Strategy: We move beyond the headlines to discuss real ROI, digital transformation, and the future of commerce from AI agents to luxury fashion and grocery trends.As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, we help you cut through the noise to find what actually works in modern retail.🌐 GET MORE INSIGHTS Visit our knowledge hub: https://retailnews.ai/📲 CONNECT WITH USLinkedIn: / the-retail-podcast Contact: Sofia@theretailpodcast.com#RetailTrends #APACRetail #AIinRetail #FiveThingsFriday #TheRetailPodcast #thefutureofretailguy

Host Alex is joined by Simone Oloman, Co-Founder & CEO of Need It For Tonight (NIFT) — often described as Deliveroo for quality fashion — for an honest discussion on what retailers are really prioritising right now.

In this episode, we cover:

Why Middle East retail (Abu Dhabi & Saudi Arabia) is being built for a new generation

Simone’s role speaking at ShopTalk Abu Dhabi

Why influencer collaborations work best when they feel obvious, using Molly-Mae Hague x Adidas as an example

The shift from AI promises to AI proof and real-world impact

Why retailers want to know what AI is doing today, not what it could do tomorrow

Workforce efficiency without layoffs and what “human + AI” actually means

Career progression from shop floor to leadership, including female leadership paths

Why Tommy Hilfiger x Liverpool Football Club is about cultural relevance, not football

A rapid-fire breakdown of Pinterest 2026 trends

Why Gen Z, raised digital, is craving physical experiences again

This episode is grounded, practical, and culture-led — cutting through hype to focus on what retailers should pay attention to now.

📢 Subscribe for more Retail Insights! #RetailTrends #Macy #GapInc #NRF2025 #FiveThingsFriday

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which trend discussed today do you think will impact the industry most? Let us know in the comments below!

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO STAY AHEAD Don't miss the next update. Click here to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailpodcast?sub_confirmation=1

ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Welcome to the official channel of The Retail Podcast, your hub for global retail intelligence.

Whether you are an executive refining your strategy, a vendor connecting with major players, or an innovator tracking the latest tech, this channel connects you to the pulse of the industry.

What to expect:

Expert Analysis: Breaking down insights from major global conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, Web Summit, MAPIC; Euroshop and EuroCIS.

Diverse Perspectives: Hosted by a rotation of industry veterans and regional experts (APAC, US, EU).

Actionable Strategy: We move beyond the headlines to discuss real ROI, digital transformation, and the future of commerce—from AI agents to luxury fashion and grocery trends.

As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, we help you cut through the noise to find what actually works in modern retail.

🌐 GET MORE INSIGHTS Visit our knowledge hub: https://retailnews.ai/

📲 CONNECT WITH US

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/

Contact: Sofia@theretailpodcast.com

#RetailTrends #APACRetail #AIinRetail #FiveThingsFriday #TheRetailPodcast #thefutureofretailguy

In this Five Things Friday – USA Edition, we sit down with Jill, SVP of Content at National Retail Federation (NRF), live from the largest NRF show ever.

With 41,000 attendees, 1,000+ exhibitors, 550+ sessions, and 100 countries represented, Jill breaks down what actually mattered at NRF this year — and what retailers must take forward.

Key topics covered:

Why customer relevance now outweighs platform strategy

AI’s shift from buzzword to embedded business infrastructure

How agents and automation are driving margin improvement, not layoffs

Why retail is moving at the speed of culture, not just technology

The rise of contextual commerce and attention-based discovery

How search behaviour is changing with ChatGPT-style queries

What retailers should leave behind — and take forward — into 2026

NRF’s global expansion: Singapore, Paris, and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) 2027

Jill also reflects on standout voices including Gary Vaynerchuk, major announcements from Google, and future-focused thinking from Jason Goldberg of Publicis.

This episode is a field guide for retail leaders navigating AI, culture, loyalty, and what comes next-now.

📢 Subscribe for more Retail Insights! #RetailTrends #Macy #GapInc #NRF2025 #FiveThingsFriday

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which trend discussed today do you think will impact the industry most? Let us know in the comments below!

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO STAY AHEAD Don't miss the next update. Click here to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailpodcast?sub_confirmation=1

ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Welcome to the official channel of The Retail Podcast, your hub for global retail intelligence.

Whether you are an executive refining your strategy, a vendor connecting with major players, or an innovator tracking the latest tech, this channel connects you to the pulse of the industry.

What to expect:

Expert Analysis: Breaking down insights from major global conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, Web Summit, MAPIC; Euroshop and EuroCIS.

Diverse Perspectives: Hosted by a rotation of industry veterans and regional experts (APAC, US, EU).

Actionable Strategy: We move beyond the headlines to discuss real ROI, digital transformation, and the future of commerce—from AI agents to luxury fashion and grocery trends.

As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, we help you cut through the noise to find what actually works in modern retail.

🌐 GET MORE INSIGHTS Visit our knowledge hub: https://retailnews.ai/

📲 CONNECT WITH US

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/

Contact: Sofia@theretailpodcast.com

#RetailTrends #APACRetail #AIinRetail #FiveThingsFriday #TheRetailPodcast #thefutureofretailguy