Your Retail Coach’s Post

IADS MEMBER | Chalhoub Group redefines luxury with the power of hyper-personalisation. 🌟 In a thought-provoking discussion on the latest episode of Journeys Unpacked with Fast Company Middle East, Michael Chalhoub, President of JVs and SGII at Chalhoub Group, shares his insights on how technology is transforming the retail landscape. Joined by Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the GCC region at Visa, the conversation delves into the future of retail and the critical role digital payments play in shaping hyper-personalised consumer experiences. 🛍️💳 According to Chalhoub, "Today, the real luxury is hyper-personalisation." This statement highlights the shift in luxury retail, where understanding and catering to the unique needs of each customer is paramount. With the integration of cutting-edge technologies, Chalhoub Group is at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring that customer experiences are not only enhanced but deeply personalised. 📲✨ IADS applauds Chalhoub Group for leading the conversation on the intersection of luxury, technology, and personalisation in the GCC region! 👏 Click the link in the comments to watch the video and learn more! #ChalhoubGroup #JourneysUnpacked #LuxuryRetail #HyperPersonalisation #DigitalPayments #TechnologyAndRetail #IADS

In a captivating dialogue with Stephen Vickerstaff, COO, Alshaya Group at Middle East Retail Forum 2024 shared glimpses of the retail titan's exciting journey. Touching upon the Group’s incredible evolution over almost three decades, he shared, “𝑾𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒊𝒏 18 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 70 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔, 4,000 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 125 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒆’𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑰 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 27 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒐, 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 4,000, 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈.” Yet, beneath this vast expanse, Vickerstaff revealed Alshaya’s beating heart – its people. “𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕,” he reflected, underscoring the power of human connection and a customer-first philosophy in a world of ever-changing trends. As the conversation deepened, he highlighted how the pandemic shifted their strategy. “𝑨𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕, 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆... 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔, 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈.” This adaptability, born from necessity, fuelled Alshaya’s omnichannel journey, a path they now heavily invest in with technology and a deep focus on building loyalty with a difference. As the focus turned to Saudi Arabia, the promise of new horizons emerged. Vickerstaff revealed the $6 billion investment by sister company Mabani, crafting monumental shopping destinations in the Kingdom, including one of Riyadh’s grandest. Though Alshaya’s portfolio boasts 70 brands, its focus remains clear: deepening roots in its strongest markets, where just 10 brands drive the lion’s share of business. According to Vickerstaff, for Alshaya, the future isn’t just about chasing new lands but nurturing the boundless potential within its current realm. Watch #ShapingTheNextOfAlshaya, only on RetailTV, for exclusive insights into Alshaya’s exciting journey and future plans: https://lnkd.in/g5GTmYkH #MRF2024 #AlshayaGroup #RetailGrowth #ThePowerOfNext

🚀 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐢’𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 24/7 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 Majid Al Futtaim Retail has set a new benchmark with its round-the-clock express delivery service, available exclusively via the Carrefour app. This move caters to Dubai’s thriving late-night shopping culture and demand for convenience. 🕒 24/7 Delivery with guaranteed orders arriving within 60 minutes. 🛒 10,000+ products at standard hypermarket prices, no late-night surcharges! 🌆 Current coverage spans Dubai Marina, Downtown, and Business Bay, with planned expansion to Mirdif and Arabian Ranches. 🎯 Insights show 65% of orders are placed late at night or early morning (10 PM–midnight and 6 AM–8 AM). Günther H., CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Retail, emphasizes how customer-centric innovation is reshaping eCommerce in Dubai. This bold initiative ensures Carrefour stays ahead of market trends while elevating the shopping experience. 👏 Kudos to Günther, Timo, Arun, Sunil, Samir, Sophie, Leena, Pravesh and the entire team, your commitment to pushing boundaries and operational excellence is truly inspiring. This achievement highlights the power of aligning technology and customer insights for innovation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gkuAjTzM #EmerceConsulting #DubaiRetail #eCommerceInnovation #CustomerExperience #Convenience

Incentives are a powerful tool in sales, driving teams to exceed targets. However, when not carefully structured, they can backfire. Imagine a sales team motivated solely by bonuses tied to sales volume. At first, results soar, but soon, issues emerge.Some salespeople, focused on hitting targets, start overselling products, leading to an increase in returns and dissatisfied customers. The short-term success is quickly overshadowed by long-term damage to customer trust and brand reputation.Incentives should align with broader business goals, including customer satisfaction and retention, not just immediate sales. A well-rounded approach ensures sustainable growth and a motivated, ethical sales team. #SalesManagement #RetailExcellence #CustomerExperience #Incentives #Leadership #SustainableGrowth #SalesStrategy #EthicalSales #CustomerSatisfaction #GCCRetail Landmark Group Al-Futtaim Alshaya Group Seddiqi Holding Cenomi Retail Cenomi Group Chalhoub Group Azadea Group AlTayea Group Etoile Group Apparel Group BFL Group IKEA IKEA Alsulaiman

🤷🏻♂️ Why don’t we see more consumer brands and UK supermarkets partnering to deliver more permanent impactful fixtures? 🚀 Fully branded fixtures in duty-free retailers enhance visibility, brand recall, and boost sales for both brands and stores. Traditionally, UK supermarkets favour generic shelves for cost, product availability and flexibility reasons. 🇫🇷 However, supermarkets in other countries, like Carrefour in France, utilise more branded fixtures to create engaging shopping experiences. 🦋 Could the increasing number of branded bays in UK supermarkets and the trend towards more experiential retail signal a shift in attitudes and strategies around branded fixtures? #Supermarkets #ConsumerBrands #Collaboration #Retail 📸: Lagardère Travel Retail @ London Luton Airport

𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭: 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 & 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟑𝟐 ▶𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐃𝐅: https://lnkd.in/dvMv6Pzm The MENA retail market, valued at USD 768.47 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to USD 1,401.32 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 7.12%. This diverse sector spans from affluent Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia to developing economies such as Egypt and Morocco. Technological advancements and supportive government plans are boosting the market's attractiveness, exemplified by Amazon Web Services' 2022 expansion in the UAE, enhancing local consumers' access to advanced cloud technologies. However, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the sector, causing supply chain challenges, shortages of essential and non-essential goods, and logistical issues due to lockdowns, travel restrictions, and border closures. 𝐒𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: ▶𝐁𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭: Food, Beverage, & Grocery, Apparel & Accessories, Personal Care & Healthcare, Home Care, Home Décor & Furniture, Consumer Electronics & Household Appliances, and Others. ▶𝐁𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥: Supermarket/Hypermarket, Convenience Stores, E-Commerce, and Others. ▶𝐁𝐲 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Store Chains and Independent Stores. ▶𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲: North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝:                     Alshaya Group, Al-Futtaim, BinDawood Holding,Alghanim Industries, LuLu Group International, Chalhoub Group, Azadea Group, Al Tayer Group, Landmark Group, Apparel Group. #MENARetail #RetailInnovation #EcommerceMENA #RetailTrendsMENA #MENAConsumerTrends #RetailTechMENA #MENAShopping #fatposglobal

Not aligning your retail shop windows with holiday themes can result in missed opportunities to captivate seasonal shoppers. Without festive displays, your store risks blending into the background while competitors attract attention with vibrant, event-specific visuals. These holiday moments are key for emotional engagement, driving foot traffic and spontaneous purchases. Not tapping into this consumer mindset can translate to a drop in potential revenue and weakened brand connection during peak shopping times. #RetailStrategy #RetailSuccess #VisualMerchandising #HolidayMarketing #CustomerEngagement BFL Group Alshaya Group Alshaya Enterprises Cenomi Retail Cenomi Group Cenomi Centers Al-Futtaim Majid Al Futtaim Apparel Group Azadea Group Patchi ABC Lebanon

In December 2023, Shopobill became Carrefour UAE's exclusive retail media platform, enabling impactful shopper marketing campaigns. Brands like Maybelline, Olay, Garnier, and Fine eagerly tried the new capabilities. The Carrefour monetization team sought tech-driven gamified solutions to enhance consumer promotion campaigns for CPG (FMCG) producers. Traditional mechanics often failed to drive desired sales uplift, so they explored gamified promotion experiences like 'scratch & win' and raffles known for strong engagement. Their goal? Run these digitally for real-time performance tracking and agile campaign tweaks. However, the team initially struggled, sometimes waiting up to 8 working days for providers to implement changes or fix technical issues. This totally changed with switching to Shopobill retail media gamification platform: "When the artworks and videos were ready, we only spent one hour in the system, and the campaign was up! Imagine, going from 8 business days to 1 hour...oh my goodness," exclaimed team Carrefour. Key benefits included live analytics for transparency, over 500 gamified mechanics for diverse audiences and goals, and first-party data consolidated into one system instead of multiple promo sites. #retailmedia #shoppermarketing #carrefouruae

What a compelling panel with senior leaders from talabat , DHL , Alshaya Group , and Global Hotel Alliance on the power of diversification. Here are some dynamic insights: 1. Integrating Loyalty Across Networks: Leveraging technology to seamlessly incorporate loyalty programs within group networks, enhancing customer retention. 2. Data-Driven Customer Insights: Smart data use isn't just about collecting info—it's about creating a compelling customer experience by deeply understanding customer preferences. 3. Localized Growth Strategies: Tailoring approaches for each market, with partnerships like those with Mastercard adding unique value. 4. Competitive Edge and Right to Win: Identifying core strengths and advantages that give a brand the winning edge in each market. 5. Adapting to Emerging Generations: New trends from younger demographics push businesses to evolve and stay relevant. 6. Globalizing Loyalty Programs: Translating loyalty concepts across borders—whether points convert to flights, retail perks, or exclusive experiences—keeping customers invested within the brand network through personalized rewards. 7. Harnessing AI for Customer Feedback: AI is now a powerful tool for summarizing customer interactions to drive meaningful enhancements—genius! And, as a final note... Primark is officially coming to the UAE—exciting times ahead! thanks for a great session Omoke Adebanjo ! #collaboratetoinnovate #mastercard

The shifts in retail commerce over recent years are unparalleled, driven by the rapid emergence of transformative technologies & trends around innovation , design & sustainability that quickly become expected by customers, challenging businesses to innovate and adapt continuously. So, if you are a brand in Retail, Technology, logistics ,Fintech doing this, this will be a great opportunity to talk about it amidst regional & Global leaders.#Retail #NextBigThingsinRetail #RetailTech Fast Company Middle East Abhinav Mishra Farida Rateb