Retail Fest lessons: Speak first, do later, don't wear shorts ☀️

I’m writing this while looking out over the Gold Coast from the 18th floor, right in the thick of Retail Fest. The sun is shining, the content is on point and the 2am WhatsApp groups are buzzing. It’s the only conference where frustrated shorts-wearers (kind of) get away with it… we still judge you, by the way.

But overall, it’s a brilliant vibe this year. It feels much more upbeat and exploratory than the past few. A sign, perhaps?

Yesterday, someone attending Retail Fest for the first time asked me, “What do I actually do here?” It stopped me and made me think. What would I focus on if I were here for the first time?

I’d be having the pre-conversations that I expect to have in the next 12 months.

Earlier this week, I hosted a webinar with Convert Digital’s Andrew Waite and Albany Advisory’s Anna Samkova on how to plan a smooth replatform. While we tried to summarise the process in tidy, easy-to-follow steps, the truth is that a project like this is never that linear. It’s crucial to lay the groundwork in the lead-up to the project. Andrew said it perfectly: "The best replatforms start with a conversation, not a feature list."  

Talk to people you trust and those who are willing to lend an ear - vendors, partners, other retailers - while your ideas are still forming. Don’t wait until you think you have all the answers. That’s the time when feedback is most valuable. That’s also when people are most generous with their advice. And that’s how you avoid locking in the wrong scope, budget, or team.

When I was deep in ecommerce leadership roles, I’d often explore big tech decisions around events like Retail Fest. It’s the best place to pressure test your thinking. Everyone’s here. The platforms. The consultants. The people who have stuffed it up before you. Some of the best advice I’ve ever received happened over coffee or on the conference floor.

But it can be intimidating. It only works if you are willing to be a little vulnerable and trusting. Have the conversation. Ask for advice. Be open about what you’re stuck on. Don’t worry about looking silly. You’re not the only one trying to figure it out.

You’ll be surprised how generous people are with their advice when you give them a specific problem. Just don’t take advice from anyone at 2am in a Gold Coast nightclub.

Cheers,
Bushy

PS. If you want to view our How To Plan A Smooth Replatform, join our Add To Cart Community. I’ll be uploading it next week.

ECOMMERCE NEWS (from the past week)

👾 Reddit’s New Weapon: Dynamic Product Ads Go Public
Reddit has officially taken its Dynamic Product Ads out of beta and into the wild. The feature enables advertisers to target shoppers based on both online and offline intent. It’s like you can get inside the heads of Reddit users… gross. It works somewhat like what Meta and TikTok already do, but the key difference here is that Reddit’s pitch is centred on trust. People turn to Reddit for genuine reviews, not sponsored or affiliate ones. That’s why they’re now dominating search results. According to Reddit, these ads are already generating 2 times the return on ad spend compared to standard campaigns.

🔉 Amazon Adds ‘Play’ Button to Product Pages
Have you ever got to the bottom of an Amazon product page? Me neither. Amazon might have your back. They’re trialling audio overviews in the US. Press play and hear a handy 1–2 minute conversational summary of a product, including details, reviews, and snippets from across the web. Think of it like a podcast episode, but for your next air fryer. Actually… there’s an idea in that. It’s currently being tested on products like the Ninja Blender. While it’s a small experiment for now, it points to a bigger shift: voice-led discovery.

👀 Aussie Ads: Seen More, Scammed More
According to the latest report from Integral Ad Science, Australia’s ad game is a bit of a paradox. On one hand, we’ve got some of the highest viewability rates in the world but on the other hand, we’re also getting stitched up with higher-than-average desktop ad fraud. About 1.5% of ads served here are fake, which is comfortably above the global average. The other interesting finding was that brand safety tech for ads is actually working. Offensive and hate-filled content online is growing (up 72% year-on-year), but brands are less likely to be caught up in it due to the protective tech. It’s a reminder to check where your media budget is going… and maybe do a double-take on those “high performing” desktop campaigns.

🍏 Aldi Trains the Next Gen of Grocery Ninjas
I trick my kids into bagging Aldi groceries by turning it into a game of Beat The Checkout Person. Yeah, I know, I’m a fun dad. Aldi’s clearly spotted the talent early too. In the UK, they’re rolling out a free online course to teach students what it actually takes to work in retail, from warehouses to head office. It’s part of a bigger push to recruit 500 new apprentices across the UK. It’s not just a cute branding exercise, either. This is a proper look at structured talent development in retail, not just hoping future talent falls their way. With retail often overlooked as a career pathway, I really like Aldi’s forward-think to give young people a nudge to consider it as a professional career.

Walmart Helps Customers Spend Smarter—Thermomix, Not So Much
Walmart’s added a very handy set of tools for US shoppers using government benefits like nutritional assistance programs. Now, eligible products get a badge, shoppers can filter by what's covered, and there’s even a tracker showing how much benefit money is left to spend. It’s smart, inclusive, and a win for convenience, especially when every cent counts. Meanwhile, in Australia, Thermomix just copped an $80,000 fine for suggesting two of their appliances were endorsed by the NDIS. They weren’t. It’s a messy space - full of rules, sensitivities, and grey areas - but also real opportunity for brands that can do it right.

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Nathan Bush is an independent Australian ecommerce transformation consultant, with expertise in marketing, technology, and team leadership. If you're looking for fresh ideas, facing key decisions, or implementing significant investments, I'd love to work with you. Learn more and get in touch.