For decades, sustainability was framed as sacrifice.
Less consumption, less pleasure, less fun.

Meanwhile, consumers preach green values, yet they still click ‘buy now’ on ultra-fast fashion.

Call it the YOLO effect: cheap, fun products win, even though we know better.

This mindset won’t future-proof retail.

Theresa Schleicher, retail futurist researcher, explains in our latest episode:

The next big shift is regeneration.
Not just doing less harm, but creating more good.

Whether you work in German grocery retail, European fashion, or global e-commerce, this conversation will help you prepare for what’s next.

97% of Germans still skip e-grocery. 
Why does the corner store win every time?
The answer starts with proximity.

📍 Live at Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute’s 75th Retail Summit, we welcomed retail insider Simone Krah, President of the MMM-Club, to discuss this and more:

- Why restaurant inflation (€38 Schnitzel!) drives shoppers toward in-store cafés and sushi bars

- How a bio chain pivoted fast with budget-friendly organics to protect stretched wallets

- What the single-household boom means for the surge in protein snacks and grab-&-go meals

🎧 Listen to the full German episode of The Retail Reality Show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Cheap is no longer just cheap – it’s damn well done.

Temu. Action. Shein.

If you’re laughing at them, you haven’t understood the shift in retail.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Rudolph, Professor at the University of St. Gallen, explains in our new German episode why platforms like Temu are no longer a low-income phenomenon – but perform across age and income groups.

On top of that: consumer sentiment remains tense.

Tune in now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts!

AI used to be a competitive advantage.

While some are still struggling with integration, others are shifting their focus back to what technology can’t do:

Closeness. Trust. Relationships.

In our new German episode, Nino visited Lea at the new Nespresso flagship store in downtown Munich and quickly realised:

The Nespresso House in Munich is more than just a store.
It’s a place for exchange, for community, for connection.

Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to find out why humanity in retail isn’t a “nice-to-have” – it’s brand strategy.

Forget funnels.

The next touchpoint for your customers is an AI agent.

In this special German live episode of The Retail Reality Show, recorded at the Salesforce World Tour in Frankfurt, AI expert and thought leader Prof. Dr. Peter Gentsch joins host Nino Bergfeld to discuss one of the most profound shifts in retail:

How generative and agentic AI is rewriting the customer journey.

Tune in now to find out how Agentic AI will transform the customer journey.

Retailers as media houses?

Retail media is growing rapidly, but not every retailer can benefit. While Amazon, Otto, and Douglas make millions from advertising, many are asking: Is retail media really worth it, or is it too big a risk?

In this German episode, our guest, retail media expert Olaf Reichel, explains which retailers win and why so many fail.

Tune in now!

In Martin’s last (German!) episode as co-host, he and Nino look back at the most exciting topics and most inspiring guests from the past two years

Alexander Matt, CMO von Fjällräven, verrät, wie die Marke mit Nachhaltigkeit, Community und Premium-Erlebnissen den Outdoor-Markt revolutioniert.

Martin Bressem, CEO von _blaenk und Karin Leiberg (Director Brand Activation & Strategy) von Liganova im Gespräch.

Philipp Clas, CDMO von Teveo, im Gespräch auf dem RRS Live Event in Berlin.

Philipp Engelmann, CEO von Glambou, im Gespräch auf dem RRS Live Event in Berlin.

In dieser Episode (LIVE von unserem letzten Event in München) sind Marc Schumacher (CEO, Avantgarde) und Jonathan Calverly (Head of Retail, Art-Invest) im Gespräch zu: Ist der stationäre Handel tot oder erfindet er sich neu?

🎯 Wie wird KI deinen Alltag im Retail verändern? 🤔 Die Co-Hosts Nino (Salesforce) und Nicolas (Manor) treffen auf Cindy Candrian, Mitgründerin von Delta Labs AG.

Store der Zukunft? In dieser Episode: Arndt Brockmann, ein echter Retail-Veteran, der unter anderem bei Marken wie Hugo Boss, Puma, Dodenhof uvm. tätig war, und Martin Baumdicker, Gründer und Visionär von Pioneers, einer Agentur für Retail- und Markenerlebnisse.

In dieser spannenden Episode begrüßen Martin und Nino den renommierten Professor Dr. Wolfgang Merkle, einen Top-Experten im Bereich Retail und Marketing

In dieser Episode beleuchten wir, wie sich veränderte Konsumenten-Mindsets auf den Einzelhandel auswirken und welche Trends Marken berücksichtigen müssen, um relevant zu bleiben.

Diese Episode ist mit den Gästen: Manja⁠ ⁠Kuntzsch⁠ (Head of Digital, Kneipp) & Johannes Schnödt (CRM-Manager, Kneipp) Fabian Engelhorn (CEO, Engelhorn Gruppe) live vom B2C Success Summit aus Mannheim. Fokus: Herausforderungen und Chancen sowie Gen AI.

Retail Trends 2024

Politik & Handel mit Oliver Kehrl (CDU)

TEMU Special: Hot oder Schrott?