Retail Reflections 1st August 2025 - Experiential retail, brand strategies and AI developments

Welcome! This is the start of our retail reflections, our weekly Friday morning catch up on all that's been going on in retail.  While we're taking a break from main podcast this summer, we thought actually, you know what, we chat a lot about everything that's going on in retail and we find it super interesting to hear each other's thoughts on it. So why not share it with the wider world and we would love to hear your views too, on what's going on out there because there's a lot going on! We've got brands closing down, brands coming back, brands taking a new form on either, either it just be online or opening an experience store, the advancement of tehcnology and AI making it's mark on retail, and so much more!These episodes are bitesize 15-20 minutes aimed to bring you upto date with some of the latest topics, to spark ideas and encourage conversationIn this weeks episode we discuss --  Experiential retail; health and beauty, home and furniture, and wellness and bakeries - The Topshop return; Who is the store partner in the UK? Who is the customer for the relaunch? - River Island; the sad news of their continued struggles - can they evolve again like the rebrand from Chelsea Girl?- Ted Baker; is it coming back to the high street?! A soft launch online and now hard launching back into bricks & mortar…One of the boldest brands from a print and colour POV - ASOS; premium controversy v. new strategies like ASOS World- Grocery shopping with AI; would you trust a computer to do your food shop? More and more people are learning to live through AI - is it thrive or die?We'd love to know your thoughts - drop us a message or a DM @buyingandbeyondSupport the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email [email protected] also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support