Getting Closer to the Customer with Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, Chairman of IKEA and Sarah Engel, President January Digital

In the second of our episodes recorded at Shoptalk Europe in the Bambuser remote podcast studio we mix up our format with two shorter interviews.

First up is c, Chairman of INGKA Holding B.V., the holding company that controls the majority of IKEA stores worldwide. He shares about how leading with purpose and kindness is essential to the IKEA culture and its decades long record of remarkable success. We also learn about the company's strong commitment to sustainability and how smaller new stores formats are helping IKEA get closer to the customer.

Then Sarah Engel, President of January Digital, joins us fresh off the stage interviewing LJ on Shoptalk Europe's main stage. She reflects on their conversation before giving us her thoughts on how the digital landscape continues to evolve and what's important globally as brands look to the future.

We kick things off with some quick reflections on Shoptalk Europe as well as some remarkable experiences from Steve's time in Bangkok.

Then we do our usual unpacking of the most important retail news of the week starting with the first interest rate cuts since 2019, body cams being used to cut theft at TJX, updated Forrester e-commerce growth rates, and earnings from Lululemon (meh) and Victoria's Secret (yuck).

References in the podcast:

Central Embassy (Bangkok luxury mall)

Gaggan (Asia's #1 restaurant)

Leaders Leap FREE audiobook offer (US and UK only). Buy the hardcover and send your receipt to leadersleap@sageberryconsulting.com and we will send you a code for a free download of the Audible version of Steve's newest bestseller. Offer expires June 21, 2024.

Join us at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York June 23rd and 24th with this exclusive discount code for 10% off general admission tickets and FREE retail tickets: Your code is "REMARKABLE" . See you in the Big Apple!

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.

Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.