The Retail Podcast

Chris Browne, Retail Director at Jigsaw and 30 years at Ted Baker, on why Jigsaw opens stores while rivals close them. Fewer staff, less footfall, market towns, and the business rates fight with online giants.Chris started with a paper round and built his career at Ted Baker London before moving to Jigsaw. His view of the UK high street is practical rather than nostalgic: trading is not tougher than in the 1970s, stores now work as showrooms and mini warehouses, and if a store is not delivering an experience, it is failing. He makes the case for moving some of the business rates burden onto the big online players, explains why Jigsaw earns customers rather than buying them, and says Gen Z found instant gratification in a shop.Hosted by Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast.Timestamps00:00 Cold open00:20 Introduction00:56 From a paper round to 30 years running Ted Baker03:04 Trading is not tougher now than in the 1970s05:56 Stores can work with fewer staff and less footfall08:42 Market towns keep growing as commuting fades10:23 Jigsaw does not buy customers, it earns them12:28 If a store is not experiential, it is failing16:24 Move the rates burden onto the big online players19:21 Gen Z found instant gratification in a shop29:24 WrapJoin me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=theretailpodcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Aldi Thanksgiving for $39 feeds 10, Sam's Club goes bigger, and NRF expects 4.2% holiday growth. Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, on why value is winning the holiday season.In this US edition of Five Things Friday, Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Jill Dvorak, SVP Content at NRF, look at budget friendly meals on the Thanksgiving table, what NRF's forecast says about holiday shopping, why BJ's rewarded its hourly staff before the rush, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show putting influencers on the runway.00:00 Cold open00:18 Five Things Friday, US edition00:58 Victoria's Secret puts influencers on the runway03:46 BJ's rewards hourly staff before the holiday rush05:27 NRF expects holiday growth despite tight budgets07:37 Aldi feeds ten for $39 this Thanksgiving08:55 Sam's Club goes big on its Thanksgiving meal14:06 WrapJoin me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Christmas in London starts in October as Selfridges unveils its Christmas in the City windows. Simone Oloman, Co-host of Five Things Friday UK, covers that plus Gap x Victoria Beckham and John Lewis x Rixo.Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Simone also cover Sainsbury's extra £3 a week for Healthy Start families this winter, the 44-piece John Lewis x Rixo collection and what it says about UK fashion, and why Oatly and Lego are betting on immersive pop-ups in London. Then back to Selfridges on Oxford Street: does starting Christmas shopping early win the season, or just wear it out?00:00 Cold open00:17 Five Things Friday, UK edition01:33 Sainsbury's backs Healthy Start families this winter02:49 John Lewis courts a younger customer with Rixo04:34 Gap and Victoria Beckham return for a second drop06:05 Oatly and Lego bet on immersive pop-ups in London09:57 Selfridges launches its Christmas in the City windows12:54 WrapJoin me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Sainsbury's is winning back the weekly shop on price, while Walmart writes the rules for AI shopping agents that buy on a customer's behalf. Today's Decoding Retail also covers BRC confidence and shoplifting figures, Waitrose's first full-line supermarket in eight years, eBay's 1,000 job cuts and Target's $30 Thanksgiving meal.00:00 Intro00:06 Sainsbury's returns to volume growth00:27 BRC: economy confidence falls to minus 4000:52 Shoplifting falls 2% but police powers unused01:14 Waitrose opens first full-line store in 8 years01:41 Aldi and ABP launch Grounded in Goodness02:05 Walmart sets terms for AI shopping agents02:28 eBay cuts around 1,000 jobs02:49 Target's $30 Thanksgiving meal for six03:08 Brussels and Paris shops board up03:27 India's quick commerce turns festive gift channelSources:- Sainsbury's: Sainsbury's Reports First-Half Volume Growth on Price Investment and Nectar Prices https://corporate.sainsburys.co.uk/news/press-releases/interim-results-announcement-2026-27/- British Retail Consortium: BRC: Economy Confidence Hits -40 as Spending Intent Rises to +15 Ahead of Budget https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/consumer-confidence-tumbles-ahead-of-budget/- British Retail Consortium: Shoplifting Falls 2% to 519,516 but BRC Says New Police Powers Unused Six Months On https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/unleash-delayed-police-powers-to-fight-high-street-crime-retailers-urge/- Waitrose: Waitrose Opens First Full-Line Supermarket in Eight Years; Five More Sites in Pipeline https://www.linkedin.com/posts/waitrose_waitrose-storeopening-cricklewood-activity-7519032939205017600-AsqQ- Aldi UK: Aldi Launches 'Grounded in Goodness' Beef Scheme With ABP Supporting Around 1,000 UK Farms https://www.aldipresscentre.co.uk/business-news/aldi-launches-british-beef-scheme-with-abp-to-support-farmer-livelihoods/- Walmart: Walmart Publishes Agent Terms and Profile Feature to Govern Third-Party AI Shopping https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/10/Making-It-Possible-for-Agents-to-Shop-on-Behalf-of-Customers- Retail Dive: eBay Cuts 1,000 Jobs, 9% of Global Workforce, in Second Downsizing of 2026 https://www.retaildive.com/news/ebay-cuts-one-thousand-jobs-layoffs-downsizing/833668/- Target: Target Sets $30 Thanksgiving Meal for Six With Turkey at 79 Cents a Pound https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/10/target-brings-more-value-and-delight-to-thanksgiving-with-a-$30-meal-for-six-and-fresh-takes-on-holi- RetailDetail EU: Brussels and Paris Retailers Board Up Stores Before Fresh Weekend Unrest https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/general/retailers-in-brussels-and-paris-are-barricading-their-stores-out-of-fear-of-new-riots/- ET Retail India: Quick Commerce Becomes India Festive Gift Channel; Brands Not Equally Stocked https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/quick-commerce-becomes-a-festive-gifting-channel-but-brands-are-not-equally-stocked-for-it/135131810Join me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27

Walmart has opened its platform to third-party AI shopping agents, which means retailers now sell to machines as well as people. Today's briefing also covers UK inflation rising to 3.5%, Sainsbury's pulling SmartShop from more than 800 Local stores, Primark's first store in Qatar and Ahold Delhaize's next CEO.00:00 Intro00:07 UK inflation rises to 3.5%, BRC wants a budget cut00:37 Bain: Christmas growth is mostly in price tags00:55 Sainsbury's pulls SmartShop from 800+ Locals01:11 Primark opens its first store in Qatar01:34 Walmart opens up to third-party AI shopping agents01:57 Target's 8,000 new holiday gifts and AI tool02:12 Carrefour BuyBye autonomous stores reach 1202:29 Ahold Delhaize confirms Thierry Garnier as CEOSources:- British Retail Consortium: UK CPI Rises to 3.5%; BRC Calls for Cost-Cutting Budget https://brc.org.uk/news-and-events/news/corporate-affairs/2026/ungated/retailers-call-for-cost-cutting-budget-to-stem-rising-inflation/- Bain & Company: Bain Forecasts 3.5% UK Christmas Sales Growth, Strongest in Four Years https://www.bain.com/insights/2026-european-holiday-shopping-outlook-infographic/- Talking Retail: Sainsbury's Pulls SmartShop From 800-Plus Convenience Stores After Six Years https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/sainsburys-smartshop-service-removed-from-c-stores-21-10-2026/- Primark: Primark Opens Qatar; 21 Countries and Six Middle East Stores Now https://www.linkedin.com/posts/primark-stores-ltd_21-countries-and-counting-today-we-officially-activity-7518695225884680192-VEki- Walmart: Walmart Opens Commerce Platform to Third-Party AI Shopping Agents https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/10/Making-It-Possible-for-Agents-to-Shop-on-Behalf-of-Customers- Target: Target Offers 8,000-Plus New Holiday Gifts, Most Under $20, With New AI Gifting Tool https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/10/target-makes-it-easier-for-guests-to-discover-stylish-holiday-gifts-they-can-t-wait-to-give- Carrefour Belgium: Carrefour Opens Five More BuyBye Autonomous Stores, Reaching 12 Locations https://newsroom.carrefour.be/carrefour-belgique-franchit-le-cap-des-12-magasins-autonomes-buybye-avec-deux-ouvertures-a-lhopital-de-charleroi-et-3-ouvertures-a-lyon-en-collaboration-avec-carrefour-france- Ahold Delhaize: Ahold Delhaize Confirms Garnier as CEO from 3 March 2027 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ahold-delhaize_ahold-delhaize-announces-start-date-for-future-activity-7518561340030889985-dCZEJoin me at NRF 2027: Retail's Big Show in New York this January. I'm the Host of the Innovation Stage at the Innovators Showcase, all three days. Register and come say hello: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/register?utm_source=Online%2BAdvertising&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MK_BIGSHOW27