OFFBounds Retail

Recorded at NRF APAC in Singapore, Paula Macaggi sits down with Alex Lawson, Head of Strategy & Media at The Warehouse Group, one of the largest retailers in New Zealand, operating more than 160 stores across brands including The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, and Warehouse Stationery. Alex shares how the company built its retail media business from the ground up in a market where stores remain central to shopping behavior, offering a unique perspective on how retail media evolves beyond the supermarket playbook.The conversation explores the realities of launching a retail media network in a smaller, highly distinctive market, balancing in-store and digital experiences, educating internal teams and brand partners, and creating value for both endemic and non-endemic advertisers. Alex also shares lessons learned from building the business, discusses why physical stores remain powerful media channels, and offers his perspective on the future of retail media, first-party data, AI, and agentic commerce. It's a thoughtful look at innovation, experimentation, and what happens when retailers start thinking like media companies.

Ryan Holm, Divisional VP of Retail Innovation and Operations at Helzberg Diamonds, joins me in our New York studio to explore how a 111-year-old jewelry retailer bridges heritage with cutting-edge technology. We dive into the unique world of jewelry retail, where sales associates don't just close transactions—they start lifelong relationships with customers. Ryan shares the Christie Griffin story that changed his career trajectory, how AI-powered scheduling saved managers 66% of their time, the art of finding your store "innovators" for successful tech rollouts, and why treating solution providers as actual partners earned him Retail Partner Person of the Year. From managing change across 161 stores to knowing when technology helps versus when human connection is irreplaceable, this conversation is packed with honest insights for anyone leading retail innovation or bridging headquarters with frontline teams.

Westwing’s transformation is a rare example of how a digital brand can reinvent itself and return to profitable growth. Recorded in Munich, this conversation with CEO Andreas Hoerning explores how the company shifted away from the flash sales model, rebuilt its technology foundation, premiumized its design-led assortment, expanded into physical retail, and made the difficult decision to walk away from unprofitable revenue. The discussion also dives into leadership during crisis, balancing data with intuition, and Westwing’s ambition to become Europe’s leading design super brand.

OFFBounds’ 100th episode celebrates a major milestone by turning the spotlight on host Paula Macaggi, with Oliver Banks stepping in as guest host. The conversation looks back on how the show began, how it has grown, and what it took to get there, from Paula’s global journey and early nerves behind the mic to building a truly international retail podcast driven by curiosity and consistency. Paula shares honest lessons about confidence, the hard work behind producing a weekly show, and the realities of traveling the world to record in person. The episode is both reflective and celebratory, while also looking ahead with excitement at how OFFBounds will continue to challenge perspectives and explore the future of retail and innovation.

Paula Macaggi is joined by Ometria's Hannah Stacey, Director of Strategy and Product Marketing, and Rita Martins, Retail Intelligence Team Lead, to break down what really happened during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Drawing on performance data from hundreds of retail brands, they explore why Black Friday has become a full season, which categories and customer behaviors drove growth, how marketing volume and engagement shifted, and why retention remains the biggest post Black Friday challenge. The conversation focuses on what these results mean for long term growth, brand value, and how retail leaders should think about preparing for the next peak period.Discover the trends that defined Black Friday 2025 in Ometria’s report, featuring verticalized breakdowns and expert analysis: ometria.com/page/black-friday-2025-report-offbounds