
The Retail Podcast · 2026-06-19 · 9 min
This episode of Five Things Friday explores major retail developments across APAC and global markets. Ruth Kewell and Alex discuss Pomelo's mobile-first retail model in Southeast Asia, the worsening retail conditions in Australia, and the international expansion of Chinese retail brands including Miniso, Urban Revivo, Temu and Shein. The conversation highlights how mobile commerce, changing consumer behaviour, Gen Z purchasing habits, and global competition are reshaping retail strategies worldwide. 00:00 Introduction & Five Things Friday 00:00:36 Pomelo: The Mobile-First Retail Pioneer 00:01:42 How Pomelo Built Stores Around Ecommerce 00:02:24 The "Tap, Try, Buy" Retail Model 00:03:48 Australian Retail Under Pressure 00:04:35 Shareholder Pressure and Retail Performance 00:05:23 Retail Debt, Restructuring and Survival 00:05:45 Temu and Shein Face Regulatory Challenges 00:06:33 Miniso's Global Expansion Strategy 00:07:20 Gen Z's Growing Influence on Retail 00:07:48 Urban Revivo Expands Into Western Markets 00:08:32 Closing Thoughts