Amazon’s New Surcharge, Re-Commerce Growth & The Retail Energy Shock | Five Things Friday APAC

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 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which trend discussed today do you think will impact the industry most? Let us know in the comments below! 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO STAY AHEAD Don't miss the next update. Click here to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@theretailpodcast?sub_confirmation=1 ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Welcome to the official channel of The Retail Podcast, your hub for global retail intelligence. Whether you are an executive refining your strategy, a vendor connecting with major players, or an innovator tracking the latest tech, this channel connects you to the pulse of the industry. What to expect: Expert Analysis: Breaking down insights from major global conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, Web Summit, MAPIC; Euroshop and EuroCIS. Diverse Perspectives: Hosted by a rotation of industry veterans and regional experts (APAC, US, EU). Actionable Strategy: We move beyond the headlines to discuss real ROI, digital transformation, and the future of commerce—from AI agents to luxury fashion and grocery trends. As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, we help you cut through the noise to find what actually works in modern retail. 🌐 GET MORE INSIGHTS Visit our knowledge hub: https://retailnews.ai/ 📲 CONNECT WITH US LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retail-podcast/ Contact: [email protected] #RetailTrends #APACRetail #AIinRetail #FiveThingsFriday #TheRetailPodcast  #thefutureofretailguy