Doing Retail Differently with The Wonky Woolins

What does it take to stay relevant, build customer loyalty and thrive in an ever-changing retail landscape?This week on The Retail Tea Break, I'm joined by Stephen Watkins, Managing Director of Boots Ireland and Chairperson of Retail Ireland, as we celebrate 30 years of Boots in Ireland and explore the people, partnerships and innovation behind its success.From changing customer expectations and the growing importance of health and wellness to the power of the Boots Advantage Card, Stephen shares how the business continues to evolve while keeping customers at its heart.We discuss championing Irish brands, developing future retail leaders and the incredible impact of Boots Ireland's partnership with the Irish Cancer Society.Plus, we explore the €6 million transformation of Boots Blanchardstown, exciting developments in digital retail and what the future holds for the wider industry.A fascinating conversation about leadership, loyalty and the power of people in retail.A little side note:I'm absolutely delighted that The Retail Tea Break Podcast has been nominated in The Voice of Retail category at the 2027 Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Awards in New York!After almost 30 years working in retail, it's a real honour to have these conversations recognised by an industry I still love. And now, I'd be so grateful for your vote!** 💛🗳️ How to cast your vote (just three steps!):1. Click the voting link below and register your email address to access the voting page.2. Find and select “The Voice of Retail” from the award categories.3. Select “Melissa Moore, The Retail Tea Break Podcast” to cast your vote.👉 VOTE HERE:https://zurl.co/6kxhR

How do you transform a retail business with almost 150 years of history while staying true to its heritage?In this episode of The Retail Tea Break, Melissa is joined by Mark Wolfe, Managing Director of Atkins, and Peter Rigney, founder of Rigney Forge, to explore the evolution of this fifth-generation Irish family business and the transformation of its Bandon store.From changing customer expectations to the importance of great store design, they discuss how thoughtful investment in physical retail can create better experiences for customers, support store teams and deliver commercial results.In this episode, we explore:The vision behind the Bandon store transformationUnderstanding different customer journeys and shopping needsCreating intuitive layouts, clear signage and a consistent brand experienceThe importance of collaboration and trust throughout the design processCustomer and team reactions to the new storeA conversation about balancing heritage with innovation and creating retail spaces that work for everyone.Atkins: https://www.atkins.ie/en-ie/Rigney Forge: https://rigneyforge.ie/linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rigney-forge/A little side note:I'm absolutely delighted that The Retail Tea Break Podcast has been nominated in The Voice of Retail category at the 2027 Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Awards in New York!After almost 30 years working in retail, it's a real honour to have these conversations recognised by an industry I still love. And now, I'd be so grateful for your vote! 💛🗳️ How to cast your vote (just three steps!):1. Click the voting link below and register your email address to access the voting page.2. Find and select “The Voice of Retail” from the award categories.3. Select “Melissa Moore, The Retail Tea Break Podcast” to cast your vote.👉 VOTE HERE:https://zurl.co/6kxhR

Building a business is rarely a straightforward journey, and sometimes the biggest lessons come from the toughest challenges. In this episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast, Melissa Moore is joined by Chloe Gardiner, founder of The Wonky Woolins, a multi-award-winning Irish children's toy and baby gift brand. Chloe shares her refreshingly honest experiences of entrepreneurship, from starting the business at just 15 years old to navigating the realities of growth, making difficult decisions and finding a more enjoyable and fulfilling way to run her business.In this episode, they discuss:The journey from craft markets to securing major retail partnerships in Ireland and the UK.Why the brand is shifting its focus towards direct-to-consumer and the impact of social media on sales.The importance of storytelling in building a brand and connecting with customers.The challenges of sourcing, production and finding reliable partners.Why simplifying the product range can create a healthier, more profitable business.The future of retail and the growing demand for quality, sustainability and authentic brand experiences.Discover more about The Wonky Woolins: https://www.thewonkywoolins.com

On the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break Podcast, I’m joined by Miya Knights, author of The Future of Shopping: Using Digital, Data and AI to Win with Customers.With 27 years’ experience across retail technology as an analyst, editor, author and consultant, Miya brings a practical perspective to how technology is reshaping retail. We explore how retailers can use digital, data and AI to better understand and serve their customers, without losing sight of the fundamentals of great retail.We discuss:Needs, missions and journeys – understanding what customers are really trying to achieve.Technology with purpose – putting business needs before technology.Connecting digital and physical retail – creating better experiences across channels.The intelligent store – using data, sensors and AI to enhance physical retail.Keeping retail human – where people add value in an increasingly automated world.The Golden Quarter and what comes next – pricing, promotions, retention and stronger customer relationships.This is a fascinating conversation about where retail is heading and what shouldn’t change along the way.Grab a cup of tea and listen in!Purchase The Future of Shopping and use the code KOGAN25: https://www.koganpage.com/marketing-communications/the-future-of-shopping-9781398627925Read the latest from Retail technology Magazine

What happens when AI starts influencing how customers discover and choose products?In this special episode of The Retail Tea Break Podcast, recorded live at MACH X Amsterdam, Melissa Moore is joined by Pratyush Sinha, Senior Director and Head of Responsible AI at Decathlon.They explore how AI agents are changing product discovery, why trust remains important in the customer journey, and what retailers need to consider as these technologies develop. They discuss:• How AI is changing product discovery• Responsible AI, governance and guardrails• Protecting the relationship between brand and customer• Why retailers may need their own AI “concierge”• What a more personalised e-commerce experience could look likeCould the future of online retail mean every customer having their own digital shopping concierge?This episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is supported by MACH Alliance, find out more https://machalliance.org/

What does it take to bring a challenger brand into an established retail category and more importantly, get customers to notice it on the shelf?In this episode of The Retail Tea Break, I’m joined by Kate Doyle, founder of EcoKinly, an Irish brand bringing reusable alternatives to the baby and family care market. After almost four years of building the business direct-to-consumer, Kate is now taking EcoKinly into retail, scaling across supermarkets, pharmacies, baby retail and leisure.Kate shares her journey from financial services and entrepreneurship into the world of retail, and what she’s learning as a founder navigating buyers, listings, logistics and the all-important challenge of driving customer pull-through once a product reaches the shelf.During our conversation, we explore:Finding the gap on the retail shelfEducating store teams to drive salesThe power of packaging, POS and FSDUsMoving from getting listed to scalingBuilding brand recognition and trustLearning by listening to customers face-to-faceThe Pregnancy and Baby Fair in DublinWe also look to the future of retail, including the opportunities around reusable and refillable products, the potential impact of AI on consumer decision-making, and what’s next for EcoKinly as the brand continues to grow.This episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is supported by International Retail magazine, check out the latest edition here: International Retail Magazine!!! The Retail Insiders GuideEcoKinly: EcoKinly Award Winning Irish Brand | Designed for life. Made to last.

This week, I’m joined by Keith Rogers, Chief Executive Officer at PACO, as we go behind the scenes of a familiar Irish retail brand that’s entering an exciting period of change and expansion.With over 30 years’ experience in retail leadership, Keith knows what it takes to grow and transform a business. We talk about PACO’s plans for growth, finding new opportunities and the importance of getting the retail basics right.We also explore the customer at the heart of PACO. And why great people, personal service, fit and value continue to matter.In this episode, we explore:PACO’s plans for growth, from new stores and concessions to opportunities in regional towns.The potential in menswear and footwear, including new suppliers and the launch of PACO Man.Why understanding your customer matters, particularly when that customer may have been overlooked by other retailers.New ways to think about physical retail, from partnerships and concessions to locations such as garden centres and hardware stores.The importance of a loyal team, with 80% of PACO’s people having been with the business for more than five years.A practical approach to managing residual stock, using pop-up stores while keeping full-price stores fresh and current.Why agility matters in retail, as technology, AI and changing customer expectations continue to reshape the industry.A conversation about growth, opportunity and staying close to your customer, while never losing sight of the retail basics.This episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is supported by International Retail magazine, check out the latest edition here: International Retail Magazine!!! The Retail Insiders GuidePaco website: Paco Clothing | Trendy Fashion Collections at Paco

The Retail Tea Break Podcast is five!And we’re kicking off Season 11 with a returning guest. Melissa Minkow, Global Director of Retail Strategy & Insights at CI&T, joins me one year on to share fresh consumer insights into how AI and agentic commerce are reshaping the shopping journey.A retail futurist whose work is rooted in cross industry consumer insights and innovation, Melissa brings a global perspective on changing shopper behaviour and what it means for retailers.As shoppers become more informed and increasingly in control, what does that mean for retailers? We explore the latest UK & Ireland and US research, the evolving path to purchase and what retailers need to consider to remain relevant, visible and valuable.In this episode, we explore:Why AI shopping adoption is accelerating in the UK and Ireland and how behaviours differ from the US.What changing search behaviour means for retail discoverability and the traditional path to purchase.How AI is creating new opportunities for smaller retailers and brands to reach consumers.Why “shopping smarter” means better value to UK&I consumers but more research to US consumers.Why strong, integrated data remains the foundation of any successful retail AI strategy.How retailers can differentiate their channels and create a stronger, more connected omnichannel experience.This episode of The Retail Tea Break podcast is supported by International Retail magazine, check out the latest edition here: International Retail Magazine!!! The Retail Insiders GuideCI&T report: https://ciandt.com/uk/en-gb/report/retail-tech-report-agentic-editionListen back to Melissa’s last episode here: Episode 106

Season 11 is here and The Retail Tea Break is celebrating five glorious years!I look back at that very first episode from September 2021 and ask how much has retail really changed? From Google search and e-commerce to AI, personalisation and the ever-evolving customer journey, the technology may have changed, but many of the retail fundamentals haven’t.Plus, get a sneak peek at what’s coming in Season 11! There’s fresh retail insights from Ireland, the UK and the US, ambitious growth stories, innovative products, scaling brands and plenty of conversations about people, stores, customers and tech.And The Retail Tea Break is back on the road, with a very special episode coming from Amsterdam.So after five years of stirring curiosity and brewing ideas… I feel like we’re only getting started.Grab that cup of tea and let’s get into Season 11!

What happens when a retailer combines a relentless focus on value with one of the fastest-growing marketplace channels in the world?In this episode of The Retail Tea Break, Melissa Moore is joined by Edward Chary, Managing Director of Purston Park Group, and Spencer Saunders, Marketplace Director at Spot On-Line Limited.Together, they share how Temu became a major sales channel for the business, growing from a small trial to generating £20,000 a day within just 18 months. Along the way, they discuss the realities of scaling a modern retail business, creating jobs, navigating multiple marketplaces, and why understanding your customer remains the key to long-term success.In this episode:How a value-first mindset continues to drive growthThe journey from £1,000 a month to £20,000 a dayThe operational reality of scaling at speedCreating jobs and expanding warehouse operationsBalancing Temu alongside Amazon, eBay and other sales channelsWhy retailers need to be where their customers areFuture plans for European expansionFor more information visit: seller.temu.com