The Great Retail Debate
Episodes
Charity Retail in the Age of Resale
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Scaling Vision: The Specsavers Story
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 thro...
John Lewis: Legacy in Motion
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Aroma-Zone: French Favorite, UK Challenger
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Body Shop: 50 Years of Purpose and Progress
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
ROI Reimagined: Redefining Business Success
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a special episode of The Great Retail Debate, Martin Newman and David Boynton explore the ideas behind Martin’s new book, ROI Reimagined. Challen...
Nike: Has the Swoosh Lost Its Stride?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ultimat...
Sephora: The Gold Standard of Beauty Retail?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How Primark Broke the Mold
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Marks & Spencer’s Second Act
26 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 evolv...
Boots’ Revival: Strategies for a Retail Comeback
05 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Martin Newman and David Boynton discuss where Boots, a leading UK pharmacy and health retailer, has lost momentum and how it might re...
What’s Next for Next: Is the Retail Giant Still Ahead?
21 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Martin Newman and David Boynton take a closer look at UK retail powerhouse Next plc, tracing its journey from visionary roots to its rise as a multi-b...
Empowered Employees, Elevated Brands
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Great Retail Debate, Martin and David chat about the human side of retail in an age dominated by technology. As AI and automation res...
Balancing Automation and the Human Touch
24 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Great Retail Debate, Martin and David tackle the impact of e-commerce on traditional retail and the role of technology in provi...
From Levy to Legacy: Unlocking Apprenticeship Potential
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Boynton and Martin Newman turn their focus to the UK government’s apprenticeship levy—what it was meant to achieve, and why it’s falling s...
The ROI of DEI: Purpose Meets Performance
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Great Retail Debate, hosts David Boynton and Martin Newman delve into the controversial topic of large retailers pulling back from th...
The Blueprint of Retail Leadership
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Martin Newman and David Boynton break down what sets exceptional retail leaders apart in today’s fast-paced world. It’s not just about profit marg...
Beyond Points: A New Era of Customer Loyalty
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Great Retail Debate, Martin Newman and David Boynton dive into the evolving world of retail loyalty. Using Selfridges’ innova...
Retail Isn’t Dying, It’s Evolving
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this inaugural episode of The Great Retail Debate, Martin Newman and David Boynton share their industry journeys and challenge the notion that 'ret...