Retail Disrupted

ROI Reimagined: The 11 Metrics Every Retail Leader Needs Now

Traditional ROI is broken. If you're still measuring success with quarterly numbers and like-for-like sales, you're flying blind into the next decade of retail. In this episode, host Natalie Berg is joined by Martin Newman — "The Consumer Champion", author of ROI Reimagined, and a 40-year retail veteran who has shaped strategies for brands like Burberry, Harrods, and Ted Baker. Together, they dismantle the "96% Problem" (why 96% of website visitors don't buy) and introduce the ROI Reimagined framework — a set of 11 critical metrics designed for the future of shopping, where innovation and failure are inextricably linked. In this episode, you will learn: The 96% Problem: Why retailers are obsessed with conversion rates but ignore the massive opportunity in those who leave empty-handed. CX vs. CC: The strategic difference between Customer Experience (what happens to the customer) and Customer Centricity (what the business must do to deliver it). The 11 Future Metrics: A breakdown of the "new" ROI, including Return on Integrity, Inclusion, Inspiration, and Innovation. The "Monday Morning" Challenge: A simple framework to re-energize your leadership meetings and shift focus from reporting to problem-solving. Tech-Led Trade-Ins: Lessons from brands like Suit Supply and CDLP on bridging the gap between digital and physical retail. 🔔 Subscribe to the Retail Disrupted YouTube Channel: Watch the full video version here 👉 Follow Natalie Berg on LinkedIn: Natalie Berg | Retail Analyst Retail Disrupted™ is a Top 5% Global Podcast for retail leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Holland & Barrett CFO: Why Boring AI Beats the Hype

This CFO doesn't care about ROI. Instead, Vineta Bajaj (Holland & Barrett CFO) believes we should be asking: How will the customer's life change? Will they get a better assortment? Will they get better pricing? Will they get dynamic pricing? Will they get better personalization? If I invest this in tech, will my frequency go up? Will my conversion go up? Will my AOV go up? Will they keep coming back? Long-term compounding beats short-term justification. Every time. Vineta also breaks down: Holland & Barrett's omnichannel transformation Why grocery e-commerce is structurally brutal - and why most retailers are playing it wrong (pre-H&B, Vineta was the CFO at Rohlik Group and she also spent 10 years at Ocado so the perfect person to help us demystify this) Whether quick commerce is here to stay What her LinkedIn cat memes 🐈 tell us about her leadership style Why all retail leaders need to be on TikTok The case for "boring AI" 📺 Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full video episode of our conversation with Vineta + exclusive clips from the podcast every week: https://youtu.be/iUwAGCfc5NU?si=gMRnCdsJaHHCoCtd

Why PayMore's Physical-First Strategy Is Winning the Recommerce Race

While major chains struggle with closures and declining foot traffic, one category is quietly thriving: recommerce. And at the center of it is a surprising advantage - physical stores. In this episode of Retail Disrupted, retail analyst Natalie Berg sits down with Stephen Preuss, Co-Founder and CEO of PayMore, to unpack how a brick-and-mortar-first strategy is fueling the fastest-growing electronics franchise in the U.S. You'll learn: Why physical retail is essential for trust in secondhand transactions How PayMore achieves a 7-minute average transaction vs. ~60 mins for pawn shops — and why that speed builds loyalty The 75% repeat customer rate that defies a 7% industry average How PayMore competes with eBay, pawn shops, and Big Tech buyback programs  The franchise model: building a strong network of seasoned operators How PayMore is turning used electronics into a community retail experience — creating local jobs, driving economic growth, and keeping money in the neighbourhood 2 million pounds of e-waste diverted — and why sustainability is now a revenue driver International expansion: UK, Canada, and Europe  📺 You can also watch this episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXHJdr7LhTM and don't forget to subscribe for weekly insights and exclusive clips from the podcast!  If you're a retail leader exploring resale, recommerce, or franchise growth, this episode is a must-listen.

How AI Is Changing Shopping: Shopify MD on Agentic Commerce & Retail's Future

Millions of people are already shopping with AI. It's rewiring how customers discover, browse, and buy products - and we're really just getting started. Deann Evans, Shopify's Managing Director, EMEA, joins Natalie Berg to share how Shopify is building AI into the fabric of commerce and what that means for retailers over the next 3–5 years. We dig into agentic commerce, unified commerce, and how retailers can offer a consistent experience across stores, apps, marketplaces and AI assistants. We also dive into ecosystem shifts like the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) – and what it means when your products, prices and inventory start surfacing directly inside AI-led experiences, not just on your own site. For GMs, CX leaders, e-commerce heads and board level strategists, this episode offers a clear lens on how AI is reshaping the retail landscape – and the decisions you need to prioritize now to stay relevant. TIMESTAMPS 2:15 – How AI Already Shapes Everyday Shopping / 6:45 – Agentic Commerce – From Discovery to Purchase / 12:30 – Unified Data Foundations – Building a Single Source of Truth / 17:00 – Trust, Control & Governance – Where Humans Stay in the Loop / 22:15 – Execution Playbook – Moving from Pilots to Production / 27:30 – Key Actions for Retail Leaders 🔔 Subscribe to Retail Disrupted for weekly insights from the leaders and disruptors shaping the future of retail.

How Fortnum & Mason Is Redefining Luxury for the Next-Generation Shopper

What does "luxury" mean when your brand is over 300 years old, your customers span Gen Z to Royal Households, and your products have to delight both online and in-store? In this Retail Disrupted episode, Fortnum & Mason's Director of Buying for Hampers, Fashion, Beauty & Home, Jo Newton, lifts the lid on how a heritage icon stays radically relevant. You'll learn: • How Fortnum & Mason defines modern luxury beyond logos and price • The role of "joy" as a core KPI for products and experiences • How tight supplier relationships fuel innovation without diluting heritage • Why gifting, hampers and service are being redesigned for a new generation of luxury customers Plus a little bit of Fortnum & Mason trivia – from Charles Dickens being a fan to the invention of the Scotch egg! 🤝 This episode is brought to you by The Richmond Retail & eCommerce Directors' Forum, where Jo will be continuing the conversation on protecting brand equity while still evolving for the future of shopping. Retailers, there's still time to register your interest here: https://richmondevents.com/forums/details/ret26