In this episode, Mal and Alex dig into what the latest retail news really signals — from job cuts at Amazon and Puma to quiet operational mastery at JB Hi-Fi and Starbucks’ long-awaited turnaround. They unpack the balance between AI efficiency and human experience, and debate whether Lululemon’s NFL partnership is a bold brand play or a case of chasing relevance.
Key theme: The tension between focus and flash — doing the basics brilliantly versus chasing the next shiny thing.
⚡ Quick Hits
1. Amazon & Puma layoffs
Amazon cuts 14,000 corporate roles; Puma drops 1,400 jobs.
Mal coins the term “OrgZempic” — brands trimming for short-term health but risking long-term muscle.
🔍 “If your first instinct is to cut, you don’t really have a growth strategy.”
2. JB Hi-Fi steady growth
+2.7% group sales to A$2.2B; online now 10% of total sales.
Praised as the model of operational discipline and brand clarity.
🧠 “They just do the basics right — clarity, value, execution.”
3. Starbucks turnaround
+2% global comp sales, +5% net revenue (US$9.1B) — first growth in 7 quarters.
Loyalty up 11%, return to “third place” philosophy.
✍️ They’re even writing names by hand on cups again.
💬 “Turnarounds don’t come from innovation; they come from remembering what made you great.”
4. AusPost’s “Back Team Australia” campaign
CEO warns Amazon, Temu & Shein could dominate in 4 years.
Debate: can patriotism outweigh price and convenience?
💡 “If your factory sells the same product on Temu, you’ll lose — build what only you can.”
🧠 Deep Dive
1. Lululemon × NFL — smart expansion or brand drift?
New collaboration with all 32 NFL teams; products on Lululemon.com, NFL Shop, and Fanatics.
Mal questions whether it’s chasing dopamine (short-term hype) over long-term DNA.
Alex highlights consumer response split — TikTok praise for quality, criticism for sameness.
⚔️ Provocation: Is Lulu trying to grow men’s share or just chasing headlines?
2. Gymshark × Dick’s Sporting Goods — DTC grows up
Gymshark enters wholesale via 12 House of Sport stores in the U.S.
Only two core collections stocked — a “controlled wholesale” model.
Alex reframes: “It’s not betrayal; it’s a level-up.”
💥 Takeaway: DTC isn’t dead; it’s just maturing into an omnichannel play.
3. Amazon’s Andy Jassy says “AI will end brick-and-mortar”
Jassy predicts a flip from 85% in-store to 85% online.
Mal and Alex push back — AI will enhance, not eliminate, physical retail.
Mal: “You still can’t try on ski boots online.”
Alex: “If anything, it reinforces why experiences matter.”
🧩 Lesson: AI will automate discovery; human connection still converts.
🧩 Key Takeaways
Focus is the new growth strategy — JB Hi-Fi and Starbucks win by doing less, better.
AI is not the enemy — it’s a mirror showing what parts of your retail experience actually matter.
Don’t chase new audiences at the cost of identity — Lululemon, take note.
Retail nationalism won’t save you — differentiation will.
