The Great Retail Debate Podcast
1) Charity Retail in the Age of Resale
Charity shops helped save the UK high street—but can they survive the next wave of disruption? The conversation looks at how charity retail stepped in to fill the gaps left by traditional retailers, c...Show More
2) Scaling Vision: The Specsavers Story
How does a single UK optician become a global giant with 2,700 stores? Specsavers’ growth story is anything but ordinary. Martin and David walk through how deregulation, scale, fearless branding, and ...Show More
3) John Lewis: Legacy in Motion
John Lewis isn’t just a retailer—it’s a British institution. Discover the remarkable story behind its reputation as the benchmark for quality in UK retail and its journey through a decade of disruptio...Show More
4) Aroma-Zone: French Favorite, UK Challenger
In this episode, Martin and David dig into the arrival of French beauty and wellness brand Aroma-Zone in the UK. They track how the brand grew from an online essential-oil retailer to a French retail ...Show More
5) The Body Shop: 50 Years of Purpose and Progress
Martin Newman and David Boynton—former CEO of The Body Shop—break down the brand’s 50-year journey. They delve into its activist roots, its many ownership changes, and how those shifts have shaped its...Show More
6) ROI Reimagined: Redefining Business Success
In a special episode of The Great Retail Debate, Martin Newman and David Boynton explore the ideas behind Martin’s new book, ROI Reimagined. Challenging traditional measures of success, Martin introdu...Show More
7) Nike: Has the Swoosh Lost Its Stride?
With the swoosh as its signature, ‘Just Do It’ in its DNA, and countless signature shoes dominating the world of sports, Nike has been the ultimate symbol of sportswear innovation and cultural power f...Show More
8) Sephora: The Gold Standard of Beauty Retail?
Self-service counters. Virtual try-ons. A loyalty program millions swear by. Sephora has redefined the way we shop for beauty. This week on The Great Retail Debate, Martin and David trace Sephora’s ev...Show More
9) How Primark Broke the Mold
In this episode of The Great Retail Debate, Martin Newman and David Boynton unpack the rise of Primark, exploring the brand’s laser focus on product and price, its surprising resilience in an e-commer...Show More
10) Marks & Spencer’s Second Act
Martin Newman and David Boynton dig into one of Britain’s most storied retailers, asking what it really takes to stay relevant as the industry evolves. In this episode, they cover how Marks & Spencer ...Show More