Primark vs SKIMS and the Return of UK E-Commerce Growth- Plus Argos, Charlotte Tilbury Five Things Friday UK

The UK retail industry never stands still. This week Alex and Simone unpack five of the biggest retail stories shaping customer experience, ecommerce, retail technology and consumer behaviour across the UK.In this episode:• Charlotte Tilbury transforms Covent Garden into an immersive Unreal Glow Club pop-up experience• Online Home Shop posts impressive growth as UK ecommerce continues to evolve• Morrisons introduces new retail innovation• Argos reinvents its iconic catalogue with personalised digital shopping experiences• New ONS retail sales data raises questions about the future of ecommerce• Primark steals headlines with a cheeky response to the new Skims flagship opening on Regent StreetThe discussion explores where UK retail is heading, whether ecommerce has entered another phase of structural growth, and how retailers are increasingly competing through experience, discovery and customer inspiration rather than price alone.Stories discussedCharlotte Tilbury Unreal Glow Clubhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DbY-C2ZjTv1/?img_index=8Online Home Shophttps://www.onlinehomeshop.com/Argos Your Cataloguehttps://www.argos.co.uk/events/your-catalogueOnline Home Shop company filingshttps://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08885099/filing-historyONS Retail Sales June 2026https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/bulletins/retailsales/june2026Primark campaignhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DbOUY2Ct2Lm/Subscribe for weekly retail intelligence covering:• Retail Innovation• AI in Retail• Ecommerce• Store Design• Consumer Trends• Grocery• Fashion Retail• Retail Technology• Omnichannel• Global Retail NewsThe Retail Podcast delivers conversations with the world's leading retailers, technology companies and industry experts.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:08 Charlotte Tilbury's Unreal Glow Club Pop-up02:55 Online Home Shop's £100M Growth Story04:22 ONS Retail Sales & Ecommerce Trends05:37 Argos Reinvents the Catalogue07:32 Primark vs Skims on Regent Street10:04 NRF Europe Preview💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which trend discussed today do you think will impact the industry most? Let us know in the comments below!