Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf Spryker

In this conversation, Aurèlien Cuellar, Director of Omnichannel and Technology at Chalhoub Group, discusses the success and business model of Chalhoub Group, a leader in retail and distribution of luxury products in the Middle East. He shares his reasons for moving to the region and highlights the opportunities and challenges it presents. Aurèlien also discusses the importance of talent acquisition and retention in the region and the role of technology, including AI, in the future of retail in the Middle East.

Indraneel Chitale from Chitale Bandhu discusses the company's growth, unique flavors, India's economic progress post-liberalization, and adapting to digital trends for market expansion in a Commerce Talks podcast.

In this episode of the Commerce Talks podcast, Ali discusses his coffee venture in Kuwait and the market in the GCC region. The COFE App aims to solve the problem of connecting coffee bean farmers directly with coffee shops, cutting out the middlemen. The app offers a personalized coffee ordering experience for consumers and generates revenue through subscriptions, commissions, and partnerships. Ali shares the current status of the business and plans for expansion in 2024. He also highlights the advantages of using the COFE App in Dubai and discusses the coffee culture in different cities.

In this episode, Günther Helm, CEO of Cenomi Retail, discusses the growth of e-commerce in Saudi Arabia and the challenges and opportunities it presents. He emphasizes the importance of price and customer service in building customer loyalty. Günther also shares insights into the unique aspects of doing business in Saudi Arabia, including the Saudization strategy and the cultural differences that impact the retail industry. He discusses the future of e-commerce and the potential for super apps in the region. Overall, Günther highlights the dynamic and rapidly changing nature of the Saudi Arabian market. The conversation explores the opportunities in Saudi Arabia, the priorities for growth, building a strong team, becoming an omnichannel retailer, and closing remarks.

In this episode, we chat with Giulia Staffieri the Chief Marketing, Sales, and Omnichannel Officer, at Leroy Merlin. We learn about the DIY business model in Italy and their unique DIY store experience, which is more like a boutique and offers fully integrated services. Giulia also talks about the challenges of managing different services and the transition from traditional DIY to serviced DIY. She discusses the competition with online channels and the rise of new pure online channels. We dive into loyalty mechanisms, expanding the business, and the role of marketing channels and DIY influencers.

In this final episode of Commerce Talks recorded at Seamless KSA, Alex is joined by his co-host Lina Gallagher, and Anshuman Anand, the CEO of fashion retailer R&B.

R&B is the fastest-growing value fashion retailer in the GCC & India, offering the latest fashion at affordable prices. It has more than 100 stores along with its online shopping platform, and Anshuman provides insight into how R&B is combining the offline and online worlds to such great success.