Retail Crime Surge, Marketplace Power, and APAC’s AI-Driven Retail Revolution

From safe rooms to social commerce, we unpack what’s shaping the APAC retail landscape now.   Recorded live during Australia’s largest retail conference, this episode of Five Things Friday – APAC Edition dives into two polarizing forces in retail: rising crime rates and retail media growth. Co-host Laura, chair of the Online Retailer Conference, joins Alex to dissect what’s making headlines—and what’s shifting power—in the Asia-Pacific market.   Key Topics:   📉 66% YoY growth in weapons-related retail incidents (AU) 🇳🇿 Safe rooms in telco retail stores in New Zealand 📈 Retail media surging 73% by 2030: Shopee, Lazada, Grab, eBay 🧠 AI personalization, marketplaces, and TikTok Shop’s delayed arrival 💥 Why Temu and SHEIN are overtaking Australia’s digital retail stage     Plus: A deep dive into marketplace dominance, cultural contrasts in retail crime, and what APAC leaders can learn from content creators in Europe and the US.   Hosts: Alex Rezvan – Founder, The Retail Podcast Laura – Retail & Tech Consultant, Chair of Online Retailer Australia   🔗 Visit ⁠TheRetailPodcast.com⁠ for full transcripts and show insights. 🎙 Follow us for more episodes from APAC, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA.   APAC retail, retail crime, retail media, marketplaces, Shopee, Lazada, Temu, SHEIN, TikTok Shop, personalization, AI in retail, Australia retail, New Zealand retail, DTC brands, retail podcast, eCommerce trends 2025