IADS Retail Park

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎧, Maya and Christine explore Benedict Evans’ provocative take on retail transformation. What do Netflix, Shopify, and Shein have in common? ✨ They’ve all used tech not to upgrade existing models, but to unbundle and rebuild entire value chains. From L’Oréal’s 25% direct-to-consumer shift to Amazon’s $31 billion ad business, our hosts unpack how every retail function—manufacturing, distribution, advertising, wholesale—is being deconstructed and reassembled. 🛍️ Learn why the question isn’t if your business will be unbundled, but when—and whether you’ll control the rebundle.👉 Check out the full Exclusive for more expert insights.🔗For updates and more can’t-miss content, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores – I.A.D.S., explore our Substack, or visit www.iads.org for extra resources and the full article. Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of IADS Retail Park 🎧, Maya and Christine pull back the velvet rope on retail’s most surprising reinvention: hospitality. ✨ What do Louis Vuitton, IKEA, and Selfridges have in common? They’ve all realised that in 2025, the real competition isn’t just about who sells the most shoes—it’s about who can make you linger, dine, post, and stay.🍽️🛋️ From Armani’s first foray into branded hotels to Harrods’ TikTok-fueled restaurant frenzy and IKEA’s game-changing meatballs, our hosts unravel the three-decade evolution that turned cafés and Michelin stars into serious business. Learn why loyalty schemes and data-driven dining redefine the department store experience, and what separates hype from lasting business impact.Want all the case studies and expert insight? 👉 Click here to unlock Christine’s full Exclusive for deeper dives and real-world examples! 🕵️‍♀️🔗 For updates and more can’t-miss content, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores – I.A.D.S., explore our Substack, or visit www.iads.org for extra resources and the full article. Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎧, Maya and Selvane dissect the I.A.D.S. 100 report, revealing how department stores worldwide weathered the unprecedented 2019-2021 period. 📊 From BHG’s stunning 62% growth in China to Japan’s tourism-dependent stores losing two-thirds of their sales, this deep dive uncovers the strategies that separated survivors from strugglers. 🌍Why did stores with food sections bounce back faster? How did supply chain disruptions reshape consumer expectations? And what made some retailers completely reinvent their business models while others clung to pre-pandemic strategies?👉 Click here to read this week’s IADS Exclusive on omnichannel.🖇️Click here to read The Great Reset: How Department Stores Navigated 2019-2021For more updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores – I.A.D.S., subscribe to our Substack for weekly signals shaping the future of retail, or explore www.iads.org for fresh resources and game-changing research! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎧, Maya sits down with Selvane to decode the conscious customer revolution that’s reshaping retail from the ground up. 🌱 From the explosion of fast fashion to today’s sustainability-first shoppers, they explore how 50% of consumers now actively seek greener options - and what this means for department stores racing to adapt. 🛍️ How do you balance customer demands, regulatory pressure, and investor expectations while staying profitable? Selvanne reveals surprising insights about customer segments, the coming wave of packaging surcharges, and why going “back to basics” might be retail’s most innovative move. Can traditional retailers actually out-sustain Amazon? What happens when conscious customers start buying less overall?👉 Check out the full exclusive for more expert insights and all the details—link in the episode description!For more updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores – I.A.D.S., subscribe to our Substack for weekly signals shaping the future of retail, or explore www.iads.org for fresh resources and game-changing research! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎧, Maya welcomes Selvane to rethink one of retail’s most overused buzzwords—omnichannel. What if being “everywhere at once” isn’t actually the goal? 🤯 Together, they unpack groundbreaking research from Erasmus University’s Robert Rooderkerk that challenges a decade of retail assumptions. Discover why the smartest retailers aren’t multiplying touchpoints—they’re mastering customer steering. From Holland & Barrett’s market-specific nudging to Coolblue’s pickup-point optimisations, Maya and Selvane decode what it really means to guide customers profitably through personalised journeys. 🧭🛍️ Expect candid conversation about misaligned incentives, store politics, and the downfall of the so-called “halo effect.” Learn how retailers are redefining omnichannel maturity—turning friction into fuel for smarter growth. Is the future of retail really about being everywhere—or just being right where it matters most? 🚦 👉 Click here to read this week’s IADS Exclusive on omnichannel. 🖇️Click here to read Robert’s article in the Harvard Business Review. For more updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores – I.A.D.S., subscribe to our Substack for weekly retail signals, or explore www.iads.org for exclusive insights, market intelligence, and more. 🌐 Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎧, Maya welcomes Selvane to unpack the untold story of Riyadh’s retail revolution—and why department stores are missing out on a market worth $270 billion and counting. 🏙️🛍️ Step inside the Saudi mall boom as our hosts walk through time-capsule classics like Olaya, entertainment giants like Panorama, and the ultra-luxury labyrinth of VIA Riyadh. But where are the department stores in all this action? Maya and Selvane break down the field report—revealing why Harvey Nichols and Al Rubaiyat feel stuck on defense, and what it will take for department stores to carve out a winning formula in the Kingdom. Expect candid stories from the ground: empty showrooms, eager shoppers, and what happens when malls trade focus for flash. Is this market waiting for retail’s next big reinvention? Or is the department store era running out of time in Riyadh? 🚗🌐 👉 Tap here to unlock the full Exclusive for expert strategy🔗, field notes, and the full Riyadh mall photo gallery📸 ! For more updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores – I.A.D.S., subscribe to our Substack for weekly signals shaping the future of retail, or explore www.iads.org for fresh resources and game-changing research! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🏢, Maya and Selvane explore KaDeWe Berlin’s spectacular transformation into Europe’s most ambitious luxury department store. 🛍️✨ How do you reimagine 60,000 square meters of retail space while keeping 80% local customers engaged? Discover OMA’s architectural genius, the power of forty simultaneous pop-ups, and why thirty restaurants on one floor changed everything. 🍽️🏗️ From transparent Louis Vuitton walls to midnight caviar bars, learn how KaDeWe became Berlin’s social infrastructure rather than just another shopping destination.👉 Tap here to read the full Exclusive!For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - I.A.D.S., check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🧘‍♀️, Maya and Selvane explore the wellness revolution transforming department stores worldwide. From Galeries Lafayette’s 3,000-square-meter Wellness Galerie to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Botox services, discover how retailers are reimagining traditional beauty salons. 💆‍♀️✨ What happens when department stores become wellness destinations offering hyperbaric chambers, mental health counseling, and IV drips? Learn about five distinct approaches, from “2.0 beauty salons” to holistic wellness ecosystems that challenge everything we know about retail spaces. 🏥👉 Tap here to unlock the full Exclusive for expert insights and all the juicy details!💊 For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - I.A.D.S., check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎧, Maya and Christine pull back the velvet curtain on Saks Global’s high-stakes transformation—where American luxury takes one last swing for the fences.🛍️💸 How do you merge two titans with a $2.65 billion deal, outpace overdue vendor bills, and stay glamorous when Amazon’s knocking and Costco’s calling? 💼✨ The hosts dissect Saks Fifth Avenue’s bold makeover, Neiman Marcus’s behind-the-scenes drama, and a cast of competitors ready to steal the spotlight. Expect inside stories on talent shakeups, brand mix shakeouts, and why Saks is racing the clock to prove it’s still retail royalty. Is this Saks’s finest hour—or a final act? Step inside the drama, and discover how luxury is being redefined for a digital-first age. 👉 Tap here to unlock the full Exclusive for expert insights and all the juicy details!🕵️‍♀️For further updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores – I.A.D.S., explore our Substack, or visit www.iads.org for more resources!🔗 Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎧, Maya and Christine take listeners inside Mecca’s ascent from local Melbourne boutique to powerhouse beauty authority. Find out how Mecca flipped the script on global competition—capturing over 30% of the Australian market even as Sephora set its sights Down Under. The hosts reveal Mecca’s secrets: brand-agnostic strategies, immersive flagship concepts, and a community-first culture that built fierce customer loyalty and €1 billion in sales. Step into the new 4,000 sqm Melbourne flagship offering over 80 services, and see how local innovation can beat international scale in today’s consolidated market. 👉 Read the full exclusive on Mecca’s rise and check out photos 📸 from inside the flagship store. For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores – IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park, Maya sits down with Selvane to explore I.A.D.S.’s groundbreaking experiment with Web3 technology. During their 2022 General Assembly, the association issued POAPs to member CEOs and Academy graduates, diving headfirst into digital assets to understand their practical applications for retail. 🚀 The conversation reveals the ambitious brainstorming process that considered everything from metaverse storefronts to NFT awards, and why budget realities led them to focus on POAPs over costly virtual worlds. They discuss the challenges of educating members about crypto wallets, the complexities of Web3 regulations, and the decision to prioritize community value over monetization. 💎 What does it cost to build a functional metaverse store? How do you distribute digital certificates to traditional retail executives? Can Web3 technologies align with non-profit values? Tune in for practical insights into Web3 experimentation, lessons learned from real implementation, and why starting small might be the smartest approach to emerging technologies. ⚡👉Click here to read the exclusive on the A window into Web3.For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn, check out our Substack, visit our website at iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park, Maya explores Dubai’s department store landscape with Selvanne following I.A.D.S.’s research visit to Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. They examine how international brands like Debenhams, Harvey Nichols, and Galeries Lafayette thrive through franchise partnerships with local operators. 🏬The conversation reveals striking contrasts in execution, from overcrowded experiences to luxury excellence, and discusses the phenomenon of brand over-representation across multiple locations. ✨How do franchise models balance global identity with local needs? What’s driving innovation in Dubai’s retail scene? Tune in for insights into franchise success and why Dubai has become a crucial testing ground for department store evolution. 🌍👉Click here to read the exclusive on the Dubai Retail Tour.For more insights and updates from the world of retail innovation, follow I.A.D.S. on LinkedIn, explore our Substack, and visit iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎧, Maya and Anchita dive deep into the premiere edition of the IADS Global Retail Risk Index 2025—a groundbreaking tool that’s reshaping how retailers approach global expansion. Join them as they explore why North America still reigns supreme despite political upheaval, how East Asia is bouncing back stronger than ever, and why Sub-Saharan Africa might be the sleeper hit for bold retailers 🌍. From Macy’s tariff struggles to Galeries Lafayette’s Indian adventure, discover how data-driven intelligence is becoming the ultimate competitive advantage in retail’s most uncertain era. Whether you’re planning your next market entry or rethinking your supply chain strategy, this episode delivers the insights you need to turn global chaos into strategic opportunity ✨.👉Click here to read the exclusive on the IADS Global Retail Risk Index 2025.👉Click here to access the full IADS Global Retail Risk Index.For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

How does a 109-year-old French lingerie brand transform every customer interaction into a sales opportunity? In this episode of IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya explores Etam's groundbreaking approach to omnichannel retail with Christine Montard, author of our latest IADS Exclusive. Discover how Etam's internally developed clienteling app 📱liberated sales associates from cash registers, turning them into mobile customer advisors. From processing 80% of online returns in-store to connected fitting rooms that solve intimate apparel's unique challenges, learn why this €880 million 💰transformation offers a blueprint for heritage brands everywhere. ➡️Click here to read the full IADS Exclusive on Etam and check out the store photos! For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎧, we explore how the word "sustainability" rings differently across India, China, and the West. Join Maya and Anchita as they unpack why fast-growth markets like India and China care more about sustainability than mature markets, yet approach it through completely different lenses. Discover how L'Oréal masterfully adapts its global sustainability initiatives to local contexts, why repair culture thrives in emerging markets for cost reasons rather than environmental ones, and how the collectivist versus individualist mindset shapes everything from consumer expectations to corporate responsibility. From greenwashing scepticism to the sustainability say-do gap, we examine the complex reality behind global retail's green transformation. 🌍👉 Click here to access this week’s IADS Exclusive on why "Sustainability" means different things in India, China and the West. 👉Also, click here to check out the IADS White Paper on sustainability!Stay connected—follow us on LinkedIn, read our stories on Substack, and visit our website for more details. Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park 🎧, Maya and Christine explore how Fortnum & Mason defies department store orthodoxy through food-centric specialisation, generating 63% of revenue from categories others treat as secondary. From royal warrant heritage to AI-powered innovation, discover why strategic restraint creates more sustainable competitive advantage than scale expansion 🏪. Uncover how this 317-year-old retailer transforms limitations into luxury positioning, balances heritage with modernisation, and navigates the climate threats that could reshape their three-century success story. From subscription services to supply chain vulnerabilities, we examine the strategic decisions behind retail's most compelling paradox ⭐. To read the full Exclusive, click here ➡️ Fortnum & Mason: the art of staying small to matter moreFor more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park🎙️ , Maya sits down with Selvane to explore the innovations showcased at EuroShop 2023, the first post-pandemic edition of Europe's premier retail trade fair. With 1,830 exhibitors from 55 countries demonstrating the future of retail technology, this massive German event revealed four critical trends. From Amazon's "Just Walk Out" checkout-free technology to computer vision analytics, practical AI applications 🤖, and innovative sustainability solutions🌱, discover which technologies offer real value for department stores. Selvanne, who collaborated with Retail Hub's CEO Massimo Volpe to analyse the fair, shares insights on why fully autonomous stores may not suit department stores, how companies like Shopreme are creating hybrid checkout experiences, and which AI tools like Miros's wordless search and Velou's automated co-pilot are moving from hype to practical implementation. To learn more about sustainability applications from Checkpoint Systems and Tomra, and understand why retail media was surprisingly absent despite industry buzz. Or what technologies should department store leaders prioritise, and which ones should they approach with caution? Or maybe you are interested in how retailers can balance innovation with the personal service that defines their business model? Click here to read the full Exclusive! Also, click here to access the mentioned 2022 White Paper on sustainability!🌱Stay in the loop—follow us on LinkedIn, read our stories on Substack, and visit our website for more details. Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The I.A.D.S. Retail Park, Maya teams up with Anchita to explore the ChatGPT phenomenon that captivated retail leaders in early 2023. When OpenAI's groundbreaking chatbot first launched, it promised human-like customer interactions and automated content creation - but our team's hands-on testing revealed both exciting possibilities and serious limitations. 🤖They dive into why ChatGPT couldn't provide sources, how it confidently delivered wrong answers, and what this meant for customer-facing retail applications. From inventory management to personalized recommendations, AI wasn't new to department stores - but this technology offered something different.How should retail leaders balance innovation with brand safety? What can we learn from Microsoft's partnership strategy versus Google's R&D approach? And why was human oversight absolutely critical for early adopters?Tune in for candid insights about AI's retail potential, the job displacement debate, and why proceeding with caution was the smartest strategy for forward-thinking department stores. 🏪✨👉Click here for the full IADS Exclusive!For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

In our hyper-connected retail landscape, a single supplier slip can put an entire department store’s operations and reputation at risk ⚠️. This episode, Maya and Anchita break down why your own cyber defences may not be enough, recount the cascading hacks that hit iconic UK retailers, and discuss how industry leaders are closing the value chain gaps. From supporting smaller vendors to treating cybersecurity as a boardroom issue, get up-to-date on what department stores are doing to ensure resilience and where risk still hides. For the full deep-dive, 👉click here for the full IADS Exclusive! Stay in the loop—follow us on LinkedIn, read our stories on Substack, and visit our website for more details. Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe

Join Maya and Selvane as they explore Boyner's remarkable transformation journey from traditional Turkish retailer to innovative lifestyle company. Discover how they used customer research, AI integration🤖, and community-building to capture younger demographics and achieve a 162% growth in their target segments over just three years.👉Click here to read the full exclusive.For more insights and updates, follow IADS on LinkedIn, read our stories on Substack, and visit our website for more details! Get full access to IADS’ Exclusive Insights at iads.substack.com/subscribe