Retail Transformation and the Need to Change (Almost) Everything with Wim Blaauw, Chief Digital Officer for the Inkga Group/IKEA

As we continue our focus on global retail transformation we welcome Wim Blaauw, Chief Digital Officer for the Inkga Group/IKEA. In a wide-ranging discussion we explore the concept of human-centric technology innovation including the notion of responsible automation. We also discuss the Group's sustainability efforts, an accelerating commitment to digital transformation, and the evolution of its omni-channel strategy. We conclude with an overview of Ikea's hybrid format growth strategy in response to unrelenting disruption.

We kick-off the episode with the week in retail news and a brief progress report on Steve's annual predictions. We revisit the "disrupter reset," dipping into Rent the Runway and Stitch Fix's progress (or lack thereof) before turning our attention to the accelerating collapse of the unremarkable middle. We also explore emerging troubles among luxury department stores, before concluding with a word of caution on the idea that Nike is backtracking on its Consumer Direct Offence.

About Wim

Wim Blaauw is Chief Digital Officer (a role he shares with Parag Parekh) at Ingka Group. He has the responsibility for developing digital capabilities and accelerating the digital transformation of the business.

Wim has extensive experience in retail, supply chain and digital. He joined IKEA in the Netherlands, in 2002 where he, among other roles, was Store Manager for IKEA Haarlem and Country Retail Logistics Manager. In 2013, he left for IKEA UK/Ireland for a position as Deputy Country Manager, leading the multi-channel transformation. In 2016, Wim became Customer Fulfilment Manager and Fulfilment Operations Manager. In 2020 he became the Digital Performance and Development Manager responsible for building digital capabilities globally and securing that Group Digital is operating efficiently.

Wim truly embodies the IKEA vision and values as a leader. He believes in the spirit of togetherness, that we are stronger when we trust each other, pushing towards the same direction, and above all, having fun together.

Wim has a degree in Economics and Supply Chain from HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. Wim is married, has three daughters and lives in the Netherlands. Outside of work, he has a passion for sports and loves being outdoors.

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his       website.    The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book  Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is now available at  Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a      Forbes senior contributor and on       Twitter and       LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel      here.

Michael LeBlanc  is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice.   He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast,       The Voice of Retail, plus  Global eCommerce Leaders podcast, and The Food Professor  with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.    You can learn more about Michael   here  or on     LinkedIn. 

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue,  his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor, board member, and keynote speaker focused on strategic growth and transformation and the impact of digital disruption. He is the author of the bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption and the all new Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption , now available for purchase in the U.S. and available for pre-order at book retailers elsewhere. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on social media..

Don't forget to join Steve's new Linked Group for his new book.

Michael LeBlanc  is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada.   Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail,

Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.