IMRG Takes On...

Welcome to IMRG Takes On, a podcast from IMRG, where eCommerce market expert Andy Mulcahy and the veritable Tom Jacobs take on the trends, challenges and events shaping retail and eCommerce – all with a healthy dose of humour.   Black Friday is now a major part of UK eCommerce, but what is a Thanksgiving shopping event doing here, and how did it become a month-long affair?    In this episode Andy and Tom take on its history, from Amazon bringing it to the UK and retailers cautiously testing the water, to 6am queues, questionable discounts, Brexit-era supply chain problems and Covid. They explore how Black Friday moved online, got bigger, stretched across November and eventually convinced October to join in, asking whether it has grown up, or simply learned to start earlier.    Inside this episode: How Black Friday started and made its way to the UK The early years: how Amazon popularised Black Friday and why it got serious in 2013 Other things Britain has imported: rock ’n’ roll, sport and… the royal family? The teenage years: why 2014 changed everything When every industry got involved, and why it can be a dangerous game Andy’s 6am Black Friday memories from PC World and The Entertainer Has this item been discounted? Tom tests Andy’s ability to spot a genuine bargain Black Friday grows up: how campaigns stretched from one day into a month, Covid changed the pattern and October entered the picture   Subscribe now to catch future episodes and send your questions to [email protected] for a chance to feature in an upcoming show.

Welcome to IMRG Takes On, a podcast from IMRG, where eCommerce market expert Andy Mulcahy and the veritable Tom Jacobs take on the trends, challenges and events shaping retail and eCommerce – all with a healthy dose of humour. Is Halloween having a moment in the UK, or are we all just looking for an excuse to buy more sweets? This week IMRG Takes On… Halloween, where Andy and Tom explore the retail side of spooky season (“ooooo”). They look at product upselling and the start of Peak campaigns to the really important questions about costumes, disappointing Halloween ranges and what a zombie pub crawl has to do with romance.   This episode’s treats: Does Halloween have its place in the UK? Why spooky season is the time for product upselling Why Tom is disappointed with Halloween ranges this year How Andy met his wife on a zombie pub crawl - romance isn’t dead! The five most popular Halloween outfits this year, starting with Dolly Parton How Halloween marks the start of party season and Peak campaigns Will Halloween save clothing retailers or will second-hand take the stake? Scary stuff: films, monsters, and Andy & Tom’s supernatural experiences Trick-or-treat: tales of weird things that may or may not have happened    Share this episode with a fellow Halloween fan and subscribe to IMRG Takes On… because the only thing scarier than a ghost is realising you’ve missed the next episode.

Welcome to IMRG Takes On, a podcast from IMRG, where eCommerce market expert Andy Mulcahy and the veritable Tom Jacobs take on the trends, challenges and events shaping retail and eCommerce – all with a healthy dose of humour. From serious conversations about AI governance and growth to a pink tote bag that Andy takes to Screwfix, this episode covers the full range of expo life. With special guests joining live from eCommerce Expo, Andy and Tom explore why retailers are feeling excited, how consumer purchasing behaviour is changing, and whether expos can be less awkward. The conversation then turns to Team IMRG’s competition to predict the eCommerce Awards winners, before reflecting on some of the world’s more unusual conferences. This episode covers: Why there’s an air of excitement among retailers right now Are people inserting silly words into their presentations at expos? Live at ECE: Ensuring the governance of AI and preventing silly mistakes Awkward interactions at expos; should name badges be placed on faces? Live at ECE: Consumer purchasing behaviour and AI’s role in growth The best merch at expos (Queue Andy’s trip to Screwfix with a pink tote bag) Awards ceremonies: What happened at the eCommerce awards this year? Rivalry! Weird conferences around the world: real life mermaids, Irish redheads, taxidermy Featuring guest speakers: Steve Warrington, SVP of Client & Industry Engagement at Upp.ai Aynsley Peet, Head of Growth at The Pixel

Welcome to IMRG Takes On, the new podcast from IMRG, where eCommerce market expert Andy Mulcahy and the veritable Tom Jacobs take on the trends, challenges and events shaping retail and eCommerce – all with a healthy dose of humour. In true A Christmas Carol style, we’ve had the past and imagined the future, but now it’s time to take on the present. Andy and Tom look at what’s happening in eCommerce right now: how the market is performing after the hottest summer ever, why Tom avoids the high street, and why eCom is pulled into every economic wobble. From Vinted’s challenge to clothing retailers and beauty’s strong performance, to premium prices, political scandals and whether Andy is a premium guy, this episode asks where the substance is, and when a ticket, pint or pair of trousers simply becomes too expensive. How is eCommerce performing this year with the hottest Summer ever? Why are people (Tom) not visiting the highstreet? Why that when times are bad, eCommerce is pulled into it Style over substance; are people getting the limelight who shouldn’t? Political scandals: is money always at the heart of them? The falling category: Has Vinted taken over clothing retailers?  Category of growth: Why beauty is the leading the way right now How is premium retail performing, and is Andy a premium guy? How much is too much £ for tickets, lager, clothes?…   Subscribe now to catch future episodes and send your questions to [email protected] for a chance to feature in an upcoming show.

Welcome to IMRG Takes On, the new podcast from IMRG, where eCommerce market expert Andy Mulcahy and the veritable Tom Jacobs take on the trends, challenges and events shaping retail and eCommerce – all with a healthy dose of humour.   For our sixth episode, we’ve taken on AI with help from the retailers using it. Recorded at our recent Tech & AI event, Andy speaks to retailers about treating AI as an extra member of the team, using it to speed up repetitive tasks, take meeting notes and improve visibility in AI search. Then the conversation quickly moves beyond the everyday. Is AI a supreme intelligence or a glorified search engine with the mind of a six-year-old? Should we give it a name and remember to say please? And could it eventually replace humans – or Andy – become our therapist, produce the next generation of music stars or even rent people to complete its tasks?   Meet the digital teammate: how retailers are already using AI at work Naming your AI, saying please and treating it like part of the team Supreme intelligence or a six-year-old? Retailers reveal how smart AI really is AI search and how retailers can make sure their brand becomes the answer The ‘AI could never’ trend and the things that will always require a human Could AI replace humans – and, more importantly, could it replace Andy? Uploading your consciousness and the possibility of living forever through AI AI-generated superstars and whether music needs a human story behind it AI therapy versus the importance of genuine human connection Rent a Human: have we reached the point where AI is delegating jobs to us?   Featuring guest retailers: Sarah Shakery, Ecommerce Director at Drakes Mat Brown, Head of Ecommerce at Universal Works Guy Meisl, Operations Director at Radley Robert Kulawik, COO at Stroodles Vladimir Pomitun, Ecommerce Director at Futon Company Madison Macinnis, Brand & Digital Marketing Manager at TONI&GUY Global India McCullough, Senior Ecommerce Executive at TONI&GUY World   We’ve explored the past and predicted the future of eCommerce. Now it’s time to take on the technology already changing it. Subscribe now to catch future episodes and send your questions to [email protected] for a chance to feature in an upcoming show.