Simone Oloman, Co-host of Five Things Friday UK on The Retail Podcast, asks whether Stelios's easyShop marketplace can win shoppers from Amazon and Temu. Plus the TFG cyber attack, Gymshark's first celebrity and the collab boom.
Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast, and Simone Oloman cover the five UK retail stories of the week for 16 October 2026: a golden quarter heading into Black Friday with shoppers who need a reason to spend, a cyber attack on the group behind Hobbs and Whistles and what it means for retail cybersecurity, easyShop.com launching in 21 European countries from the easyJet founder's easyGroup, Gymshark's first celebrity ambassador, and the collab boom at YPB, Ugg and Farm Rio.
00:00 Cold open
00:22 Five Things Friday, UK edition
01:00 Shoppers need a reason to spend this golden quarter
02:24 Cyber attack hits Hobbs and Whistles owner TFG
03:41 Stelios launches easyShop in 21 countries
05:01 Gymshark bets on a celebrity to reach new shoppers
06:21 Collabs: YPB, Ugg and Farm Rio chase new audiences
15:20 Wrap
Sources: easyGroup press release via PR Newswire, 13 October 2026 (easyShop.com in 21 countries); WWD, October 2026 (Adanola x Hailey Bieber capsule, 23 pieces); FashionNetwork UK, May 2025 (Farm Rio's third London store).
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