In this mini episode of Marketing in the Madness, River Island’s CIO Simon Pakenham-Walsh reveals how one of the UK’s biggest fashion retailers is reinventing the customer experience through technology - both online and in-store.

After a “summer of reset,” the brand is doubling down on innovation, data, and seamless shopping journeys.

What you’ll hear:

- From RFID-powered “dump bucket” self-checkouts to smart fitting rooms that recommend your next size — River Island is redefining frictionless retail.

- How Simon’s team is uniting website, app, and store tech into one connected system where customers can browse, buy, and return anywhere.

- Why River Island’s focus on data, agility, and micro-experiments is shaping the future of retail innovation and customer experience design.

This isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a retail revolution built for the next generation of shoppers.

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Simon Pakenham-Walsh https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pakenham-walsh/

Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Marketing in the Madness https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast

Street Agency https://street.agency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/

The future of shopping isn’t about selling, it’s about experience.

Simon Pakenham-Walsh, CIO at River Island, breaks down how technology, AI and data are transforming retail — from smart stores and RFID checkouts to seamless online journeys that actually feel connected.

With a career spanning Sweaty Betty, Sainsbury’s and Arcadia, Simon’s seen how brands win (and lose) when they get transformation wrong. Now he’s revealing how River Island is rethinking its tech, people, and mindset to rebuild what shopping means in 2025.

This one’s for the marketers, retail leaders and founders trying to make digital transformation actually work - without losing the human touch.

We talk:

• The future of retail and technology

• Why AI and data are rewriting how we shop

• How to transform a brand without breaking it

• Why tech isn’t the problem - mindset is

If you care about the future of eCommerce, AI in retail, or the next generation of in-store experiences, this episode will change how you think about shopping forever.

Forget glossy influencer campaigns, the real power in e-commerce right now?

Your own people.

In this mini episode of Marketing in the Madness, we uncover how Marks & Spencer, of all brands, quietly became the new Zara, by handing the camera to their employees.

Our guest breaks down: - How employee-generated content (EGC) is flipping social commerce on its head - Why shoppers trust real staff more than influencers - The secret behind 2x higher order values and 3x more site visits from live shopping - Why authenticity beats polish - and how that’s changing the future of e-commerce

From live shopping to shoppable stories and social proofing, this convo dives into what happens when brands let their people become the stars.

If you care about e-commerce, social commerce, or brand authenticity, this one’s a must-watch

LiSA https://www.hello-lisa.com/

Sophie Freres https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-fr%C3%A8res-n%C3%A9e-spethmann-3316548/

Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Marketing in the Madness

https://www.instagram.com/marketinginthemadness/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast

The future of luxury is being rewritten and it’s happening faster than anyone expected!

In this episode, Katie Street sits down with Ekaterina Golovanova, Digital Director of Luxe at L’Oréal, to uncover how some of the world’s most iconic beauty brands are reinventing themselves in the age of AI, social selling, and shifting consumer expectations.

They cover everything:

• How AI is transforming skincare diagnostics and personalisation
• Why Gen Z is changing luxury forever
• The rise of TikTok Shop and the new wave of social commerce
• How luxury brands can stay exclusive while building inclusive communities
• The future of product discovery in a world of LLMs and AI agents

Ekaterina has worked with powerhouse brands like Lancôme, Armani, YSL, and Kiehl’s so this conversation goes deep into what luxury means today and what it will look like tomorrow.

If you care about AI, beauty, luxury, retail, or the future of marketing, this one is for you.

Don’t forget to follow for more unfiltered conversations with leaders reshaping the world of marketing and digital. Ekaterina Golovanova

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterinagolovanov042/

Katie Street

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/

https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Street Agency

https://street.agency/

https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/

95% of your market isn’t buying today. So why are you still selling like they are?

This mini episode of Marketing in the Madness drops the honest truth about the 95/5 Rule and why long-term brand fame beats short-term sales hype every single time!

In this cut from our full conversation, we get into:

👉 Why showing up consistently matters more than pushing harder 👉 How to stay in front of the 95% who’ll buy later 👉 The unfair advantage of brand fame in B2B

This is street-level strategy for marketers who actually want to play the long game and win.

Jennifer Shaw-Sweet https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-shaw-sweet-7134a56/

Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Marketing in the Madness https://www.instagram.com/marketinginthemadness/

Street Agency https://street.agency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/

AI is everywhere right now, but how are the world’s biggest brands actually using it to create growth, innovation, and personalisation that truly matters?

In this episode of Marketing in the Madness, Katie Street sits down with Balki Subramanian, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Mars Food & Nutrition, to uncover how Mars is approaching AI across household brands like Ben’s Original, Dolmio, Seeds of Change, Snickers, and Pedigree.

Balki shares real examples of AI in action. From a José Mourinho Snickers campaign to Pedigree Adoptables, an award-winning AI project helping shelter dogs find forever homes. He also opens up about the frameworks Mars uses to make sure AI is ethical, responsible, and always tied to solving real business problems.

What you’ll learn in this episode: - The difference between AI buzzwords (data science, automation, generative AI) - How to build an AI strategy that delivers results (without chasing falling for shiny tools) - Why responsible AI governance is critical for global brands - The most innovative AI campaigns from Mars - Practical advice for retail, CPG, and digital leaders starting their AI journey

If you’re interested in AI in retail, CPG marketing, or digital transformation, this episode is packed with insights you can apply in your business right now!

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with bold marketing and digital leaders (this helps us a lot). Join us at ShopTalk Luxe in Abu Dhabi, 27–29 January 2026, to connect with global retail leaders that are breaking through the noise and explore the future of brand, creativity, and commerce. Get your ticket now: https://luxe.shoptalk.com/ Balakrishnan Subramanian https://www.linkedin.com/in/balakrishnancs/ Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/ Marketing in the Madness https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast/ https://www.instagram.com/marketinginthemadness/

Can AI do 90% of your job?

Maybe.

But the last 10% - story, judgment, and real human connection - is where careers are won.

In this conversation with Chris Croft, we get honest about using AI boldly without losing your voice, why brand polish matters less than authenticity, and why people skills are the new moat.

What we cover:

- Authenticity > aesthetics: Your studio and brand can change; what audiences trust is you, open and honest on camera.

- Agentic AI is here: From bookings to cold calls, AI will eat routine work so double down on the human bits: rapport, influence, leadership.

- The “20 ideas” creativity workout: Push past the obvious; ideas #15–20 often contain the gold. Then let AI add another 20 to spark what you missed.

- Where AI shines (and doesn’t): Great for ideation, structure, and pros/cons, you still choose, tell the story, and add the edge audiences remember.

- AI music is fun, not Dylan: Tools like Suno can make catchy songs, but originality and lived nuance still belong to humans.

- Aim for the top 30%: If you’re in that tier for creativity and people skills, you’ll outperform today’s AI and tomorrow’s.

If you’re a marketer, creator, trainer, or leader, this episode gives you a practical playbook for partnering with AI while staying unmistakably you. Expect candid examples, a few laughs, and a clear path to staying valuable as tech races ahead.

If this resonated, hit the notification bell to stay tuned for upcoming episodes!