In this episode of Five Things Friday APAC Edition, Ryf Quail, Managing Director of NRF APAC, is joined by Ngai Yuen Low, Managing Director of AEON360, for a sharp discussion on the retail issues shaping the region right now.They unpack Amazon’s planned 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge, why that move could redefine platform economics, and how shipping is shifting from a hidden backend cost to a visible commercial lever.The conversation also explores the rise of re-commerce across APAC, with strong growth in smartphones, e...
In this episode of Five Things Friday APAC Edition, Ryf Quail, Managing Director of NRF APAC, is joined by Ngai Yuen Low, Managing Director of AEON360, for a sharp discussion on the retail issues shaping the region right now.
They unpack Amazon’s planned 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge, why that move could redefine platform economics, and how shipping is shifting from a hidden backend cost to a visible commercial lever.
The conversation also explores the rise of re-commerce across APAC, with strong growth in smartphones, electronics, fashion resale, and luxury, plus the role of Gen Z and government policy in accelerating adoption.
They then turn to returns, customer trust, and why return policies matter even more during periods of uncertainty and cash preservation.
The episode closes with a broader debate on fuel dependency, supply shocks, government response, renewable strategy, inflation-aware retail journeys, and how retailers can stay aligned with changing customer realities.
Topics covered
Amazon’s 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge
Why shipping is becoming a core retail cost
Re-commerce growth in APAC
Private label, value-seeking customers, and trade-down behavior
Returns as a trust and margin battleground
Power Retail and Click Frenzy liquidation in Australia
Energy disruption and what it means for retail
Renewable strategy and operational resilience
Inflation-aware CRM and customer journey design
#Retail #Ecommerce #APAC #Amazon #Recommerce #ReverseCommerce #RetailStrategy #Logistics #Returns #NRFAPAC #AEON360
Chapter timestamps
These are drawn from the topic shifts in the transcript.
00:00 Intro: Five Things Friday APAC Edition
00:31 Amazon’s 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge
02:14 Customers trading down and the rise of re-commerce
03:54 Returns, trust, and cash preservation in uncertain times
05:11 Power Retail and Click Frenzy liquidation in Australia
06:53 Why this podcast started: spotting retail shifts early
07:30 Global e-commerce scale and retail channel reality
08:12 Sustainability, renewable materials, and retail transition
08:48 Fuel dependency and the coming energy shock
10:35 How retailers should respond to inflation and stress
11:36 Government intervention, fuel prioritization, and market differences
13:23 Closing thoughts: renewables, resilience, and standing with customers
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