What happens when AI becomes the storefront?

In this episode of The Retail Tea Break, I’m joined by Tarek Müller, Co-Founder and MD of About You and SCAYLE, for a fascinating conversation on the future of commerce.

From SCAYLE’s expansion into the US market and its recent Levi Strauss & Co. partnership, to the growing role of AI and Large Language Models in retail discovery, Tarek shares why the industry is entering another major shift in consumer behaviour. We also explore how AI is changing operational efficiency, personalisation and even fashion photography through TAYLA, a platform already transforming digital content production at scale.

If you want to understand where retail is heading next, this episode is essential listening.

Key Topics

• Why LLMs like ChatGPT and Gemini are becoming major traffic sources for retailers
• How brands need to rethink visibility and discovery in an AI first world
• The significance of SCAYLE’s partnership with Levi’s and expansion into the US
• Why retailers relying solely on product catalogues risk becoming commoditised
• How ABOUT YOU is using AI to reduce content production costs while improving conversion, introducing TAYLA
• Tarek’s predictions for the future of e-commerce, AI transactions, and social commerce

For more information:

AI fashion photo shoots at scale: Visit Tayla.ai

Built for retailers, by retailers: Visit: www.scayle.com

This episode of the Retail Tea Break podcast is brought to you by SCAYLE, the enterprise commerce platform empowering B2C brands and retailers to easily create outstanding customer experiences with a seamless and flexible feature set that can be extended through APIs. Trusted by brands like Levi Strauss®️, Harrods, Manchester United and Deichmann, SCAYLE enables businesses to accelerate innovation and drive real growth.

In the latest episode of The Retail Tea Break, I’m joined by the Group CFO of Holland & Barrett to explore what happens when finance leadership truly puts the customer first. Vineta Bajaj’s career spans high-growth, tech-led businesses including Ocado and Rohlik Group. She brings a fresh perspective to the CFO role, one that goes far beyond traditional metrics and into customer experience, culture and long-term value.

From scaling online grocery operations to transforming physical retail into community wellness hubs, we explore why stores still matter. We also discuss the role of culture in driving performance and why engaged teams are critical to long-term commercial success.

Together, this conversation offers a clear and practical view of what modern retail leadership really looks like. A must-listen for anyone leading, or aspiring to lead, in modern retail.

• Why customer experience should drive business decisions, even in finance
• What it really takes to scale fast-growth, multi-market retail businesses
• How culture and employee experience directly impact performance
• The shift towards Holland & Barrett stores as community-led wellness hubs
• How technology, data and personalisation are reshaping retail
• Finding the balance between digital growth and human connection in-store

Connect with Vineta via her website: www.vinetabajaj.com

Visit www.hollandandbarrett.com

This episode is brought to you by SCAYLE! The enterprise commerce platform empowering B2C brands and retailers to easily create outstanding customer experiences. It provides an intuitive, seamless feature set, which can be flexibly extended via API. Brands like Levi’s®, Harrods, Manchester United and Deichmann choose SCAYLE to accelerate innovations and drive growth. For more information, check out www.scayle.com

In this episode of The Retail Tea Break Podcast, Melissa is joined by Steve Lister. The sustainability consultant has over 20 years’ experience working with some of the world’s biggest retail brands.

Known for his straight-talking approach, Steve lifts the lid on what’s really happening behind the scenes in retail sustainability. From the hidden inefficiencies driving waste, to the disconnect between head office decisions and in-store reality, this conversation challenges the narratives the industry is often reluctant to confront.

Looking ahead, Steve also shares what’s coming next; including the impact of new legislation and why the future of sustainability in retail will be defined less by messaging and more by how effectively businesses actually operate.

Key Discussion Points:

• Why up to 40% of retail displays never reach the shop floor and what that reveals about execution
• The true scale of in-store waste and packaging disposal and the cost retailers carry behind the scenes
• The disconnect between design, head office strategy and operational reality in stores
• How upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation legislation (2026) will force major changes in packaging and retail practices
• The gap between what customers say about sustainability and how they actually shop
• Why the future of retail sustainability will be driven by operational excellence, not marketing claims

Check out www.stevelister.com

This episode is brought to you by SmartGifty, the modular digital platform connecting gift cards, loyalty and data into one experience layer. It is used by destinations, shopping centres and retail chains to personalise customer journeys, gain behavioural insight and treat customers as guests rather than transactions. Check out www.smartgifty.com