IMG_3065 2

- 18:09

Markets

or listen on

What NRF APAC 2025 Revealed About the Future of Retail

Earlier this month, I attended NRF APAC 2025 in Singapore, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. With over 9,500 attendees from 72 countries gathered at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, the event was a true melting pot of ideas, cultures, and bold innovations that are shaping the future of retail in the Asia-Pacific region. But what made it truly special wasn’t just the scale, it was the regional depth. The stories, the challenges, the nuance of operating across geographies like Indonesia, India, and Korea, these were conversations the global industry needs to hear.

That’s why I’m proud to introduce a new six-part APAC series on OFFBounds, created in partnership with NRF. In Episode 75, I kick things off by sharing the most powerful moments, insights, and encounters from the event, from a surprise bus ride with the CEO of Alfamart (a retailer with 22,000 stores!) to in-depth discussions on AI-driven supply chains, emotional intelligence in leadership, and the booming quick commerce ecosystems across Southeast Asia and India.

You’ll hear how companies like Lotte are merging online and offline into seamless ecosystems, why conversational commerce via WhatsApp is exploding in Indonesia, and how India’s fashion market has a lot of potential fro growth, meaning the next wave of retail transformation is just beginning. I also recap a live panel I had the pleasure of moderating on stage, featuring leaders from Central Retail and 2degrees, where we explored how happier employees create better customer experiences, a theme that kept echoing across the entire event.

This episode is just the beginning. In the coming weeks, you’ll hear from leaders shaping APAC’s retail future, from Korean superbrands and Australian beauty disruptors to India’s e-commerce trailblazers. If you’re curious about what’s next in retail, this series will take you where it’s already happening. Because in many ways, the East isn’t just catching up, it’s leading.

Listen more

Interview

How Helzberg Uses Technology to Remove Frontline Burden

Under Ryan Holm's leadership, the 111-year-old jewelry retailer has invested in technology that removes administrative burden while protecting human connection.

Under Ryan Holm's leadership, the 111-year-old jewelry retailer has invested in technology that removes administrative burden while protecting human connection.

Interview

Under Ryan Holm's leadership, the 111-year-old jewelry retailer has invested in technology that removes administrative burden while protecting human connection.

How Helzberg Uses Technology to Remove Frontline Burden

Under Ryan Holm's leadership, the 111-year-old jewelry retailer has invested in technology that removes administrative burden while protecting human connection.

Interview

How HANRO US Used Streaming Ads and Clienteling to Accelerate Growth

Growth has not come from nostalgia alone. Under Satanas’ leadership, HANRO USA invested in modern acquisition channels while playing the long game on brand building. Paid social laid the foundation, but streaming ads delivered a breakthrough moment.

Growth has not come from nostalgia alone. Under Satanas’ leadership, HANRO USA invested in modern acquisition channels while playing the long game on brand building. Paid social laid the foundation, but streaming ads delivered a breakthrough moment.

Interview

Growth has not come from nostalgia alone. Under Satanas’ leadership, HANRO USA invested in modern acquisition channels while playing the long game on brand building. Paid social laid the foundation, but streaming ads delivered a breakthrough moment.

How HANRO US Used Streaming Ads and Clienteling to Accelerate Growth

Growth has not come from nostalgia alone. Under Satanas’ leadership, HANRO USA invested in modern acquisition channels while playing the long game on brand building. Paid social laid the foundation, but streaming ads delivered a breakthrough moment.

Interview

Inside Westwing’s Turnaround: The Decisions That Changed Everything

At the center of this transformation sits an unusual balance of rigor and creativity. Hoerning often describes it as the tension between data and intuition.

At the center of this transformation sits an unusual balance of rigor and creativity. Hoerning often describes it as the tension between data and intuition.

Interview

At the center of this transformation sits an unusual balance of rigor and creativity. Hoerning often describes it as the tension between data and intuition.

Inside Westwing’s Turnaround: The Decisions That Changed Everything

At the center of this transformation sits an unusual balance of rigor and creativity. Hoerning often describes it as the tension between data and intuition.

Trends

The Rise of Brand Memberships and the Future of Customer Loyalty

Brand memberships are having a moment in retail, and it is not a passing one. Across fashion, beauty, grocery, and home, brands are moving beyond traditional loyalty programs built on points and discounts and instead creating paid or value-based memberships that promise access, belonging, and emotional connection.

Brand memberships are having a moment in retail, and it is not a passing one. Across fashion, beauty, grocery, and home, brands are moving beyond traditional loyalty programs built on points and discounts and instead creating paid or value-based memberships that promise access, belonging, and emotional connection.

Trends

Brand memberships are having a moment in retail, and it is not a passing one. Across fashion, beauty, grocery, and home, brands are moving beyond traditional loyalty programs built on points and discounts and instead creating paid or value-based memberships that promise access, belonging, and emotional connection.

The Rise of Brand Memberships and the Future of Customer Loyalty

Brand memberships are having a moment in retail, and it is not a passing one. Across fashion, beauty, grocery, and home, brands are moving beyond traditional loyalty programs built on points and discounts and instead creating paid or value-based memberships that promise access, belonging, and emotional connection.

Interview

Leading With Craft: Jonathan Adler’s Next Chapter

Eight weeks into her role as President of Jonathan Adler, Mary Beth Sheridan is already clear on what matters. Craftsmanship, customer connection, and emotional resonance are not marketing language for the brand, they are the foundation.

Eight weeks into her role as President of Jonathan Adler, Mary Beth Sheridan is already clear on what matters. Craftsmanship, customer connection, and emotional resonance are not marketing language for the brand, they are the foundation.

Interview

Eight weeks into her role as President of Jonathan Adler, Mary Beth Sheridan is already clear on what matters. Craftsmanship, customer connection, and emotional resonance are not marketing language for the brand, they are the foundation.

Leading With Craft: Jonathan Adler’s Next Chapter

Eight weeks into her role as President of Jonathan Adler, Mary Beth Sheridan is already clear on what matters. Craftsmanship, customer connection, and emotional resonance are not marketing language for the brand, they are the foundation.

Receive new exclusive episodes


Sign up for our newsletter now!

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.