OFFBounds Retail

Paula Macaggi is joined by Ometria's Hannah Stacey, Director of Strategy and Product Marketing, and Rita Martins, Retail Intelligence Team Lead, to break down what really happened during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Drawing on performance data from hundreds of retail brands, they explore why Black Friday has become a full season, which categories and customer behaviors drove growth, how marketing volume and engagement shifted, and why retention remains the biggest post Black Friday challenge. The conversation focuses on what these results mean for long term growth, brand value, and how retail leaders should think about preparing for the next peak period.Discover the trends that defined Black Friday 2025 in Ometria’s report, featuring verticalized breakdowns and expert analysis: ometria.com/page/black-friday-2025-report-offbounds

Sherry Smith, President of Retail Media at Criteo, joins OFFBounds to unpack the rapid evolution of retail media and what brands, agencies and retailers must prepare for next. From the industry’s early days in 2008 to today’s surge of more than 200 retail media networks, Sherry explains where growth is coming from, why self-serve activation is critical, how AI and agents will reshape customer journeys, and what talent and skills will win in the next phase. This is a sharp, future-focused conversation for anyone navigating retail, ecommerce, and marketing transformation.You can read more on what we discussed here - https://hub.criteo.com/ujoFf

In this episode, Julius Carrell, Director at Enactor, breaks down why the future of retail depends on building a flexible blueprint rather than relying on rigid, legacy systems. We explore how retailers can simplify complexity, adapt faster and design technology foundations that actually match the way their business and customers evolve. From the true cost of rigid stacks to the cultural shift required for future proofing, Julius shares practical insights on creating a blueprint mindset that empowers teams, unlocks new journeys and sets retailers up for long term growth.Julius and Enactor will be with me at NRF 2026 and you can book time with the team here.

In this episode, Paula sits down with Jill Dvorak, SVP of Content at the National Retail Federation, for a wide ranging conversation about the state of retail in 2025, the turbulence created by tariffs and policy uncertainty, and why consumers are still driving a one trillion dollar holiday season. Jill breaks down what NRF really does beyond the Big Show, the global view from APAC and Europe, the surge of AI shaping this year’s event, and the growing importance of reverse logistics and new regulations like California’s textile law. She also shares her unconventional career path and the lessons she learned along the way. This is a grounded, honest, and global look at the forces reshaping retail right now.Learn more about Enactor and see how their platform puts you in control. Click here!

In this episode, I sit down with our first Norwegian guest: Martin Lien, Chief Commercial Officer at Norrøna, to explore how one of Norway’s most iconic outdoor brands has built a global community rooted in nature, performance and experience. We talk about Norrøna’s unique approach to product development with extreme athletes, their growing ecosystem of festivals, expeditions and hospitality, the strategy behind Norrøna House in Oslo, and how the brand is preparing for its 100th anniversary. Martin also shares lessons from his own career journey and what it takes to build a brand that stays relevant for almost a century.Check the brand's website here.