Latest / Omni Talk Retail / Retail Is Emotional, Not Rational with Kate Hardcastle The Customer Whisperer | RTS 2026
Transcript
- 0:00Hello,
- 0:00everybody.
- 0:01Welcome
- 0:01back.
- 0:01This
- 0:01is
- 0:01Omnitalk
- 0:02Retail.
- 0:02I'm
- 0:03coming
- 0:03to
- 0:03you
- 0:03live
- 0:04from
- 0:04the
- 0:04retail
- 0:05technology
- 0:05show
- 0:05in
- 0:06London
- 0:06in
- 0:06the
- 0:06Fusion
- 0:07podcast
- 0:07studio.
- 0:08And
- 0:08joining
- 0:08me
- 0:08now
- 0:09is
- 0:09someone
- 0:09who
- 0:10I
- 0:10just
- 0:10met
- 0:10at
- 0:10this
- 0:11show
- 0:11and
- 0:11kind
- 0:11of
- 0:12surprised
- 0:12that
- 0:12I
- 0:12haven't
- 0:12met
- 0:12her
- 0:13before.
- 0:13Actually,
- 0:13we
- 0:14were
- 0:14just
- 0:14talking
- 0:14about
- 0:14that
- 0:14before
- 0:15we
- 0:15hit
- 0:15record,
- 0:15and
- 0:16that
- 0:16is
- 0:16Kate
- 0:16Hardcastle,
- 0:17AKA
- 0:18the
- 0:18Customer
- 0:19Whisperer.
- 0:19Kate,
- 0:20how
- 0:20are
- 0:20you
- 0:20today?
- 0:21I'm
- 0:21really
- 0:21good.
- 0:21Thank
- 0:21you
- 0:22for
- 0:22having
- 0:22me.
- 0:22Yeah,
- 0:22no,
- 0:23it's
- 0:23a
- 0:23blast
- 0:23to
- 0:23meet
- 0:23you.
- 0:24So
- 0:24tell
- 0:24us
- 0:24about
- 0:24yourself
- 0:25and
- 0:25how
- 0:25one
- 0:25becomes
- 0:26the
- 0:26customer
- 0:27Whisperer.
- 0:28Well,
- 0:28it
- 0:28wasn't
- 0:28intentional.
- 0:28Okay.
- 0:29But
- 0:29I'm
- 0:29very
- 0:29pleased
- 0:30that
- 0:30we
- 0:31are
- 0:31at
- 0:31this
- 0:31point
- 0:32today.
- 0:32So
- 0:33I'm
- 0:33an
- 0:33advisor
- 0:34who
- 0:35has
- 0:35a
- 0:35broadcasting
- 0:36and
- 0:37a
- 0:37speaking
- 0:37career.
- 0:38Okay.
- 0:39And
- 0:39when
- 0:40I
- 0:40was
- 0:40in
- 0:40the
- 0:40TV
- 0:41studios
- 0:42looking
- 0:42into
- 0:42some
- 0:43of
- 0:43the
- 0:43primetime
- 0:43TV
- 0:44work
- 0:44I
- 0:44was
- 0:44doing,
- 0:45the
- 0:46production
- 0:46team
- 0:47I
- 0:47worked
- 0:47with
- 0:47very
- 0:47politely
- 0:48told
- 0:48me
- 0:48that
- 0:48what
- 0:49I
- 0:49did
- 0:49was
- 0:49too
- 0:49complex
- 0:49and
- 0:50too
- 0:50boring.
- 0:51So
- 0:51they
- 0:51gave
- 0:51me
- 0:52the
- 0:52moniker
- 0:52the
- 0:52Customer
- 0:52Whisperer.
- 0:53Okay.
- 0:53And
- 0:54I
- 0:54was
- 0:54a
- 0:54little
- 0:54bit
- 0:54upset
- 0:55with
- 0:55it
- 0:55to
- 0:55start
- 0:55with,
- 0:55I'm
- 0:56going
- 0:56to
- 0:56be
- 0:56honest,
- 0:56because
- 0:56all
- 0:57I
- 0:57knew
- 0:57of
- 0:57was
- 0:57the
- 0:58dog
- 0:58whisperer,
- 0:58Caesar,
- 0:59the
- 0:59dog
- 0:59whisperer.
- 1:01That's
- 1:01not
- 1:02what
- 1:02I
- 1:02do.
- 1:02I
- 1:02didn't
- 1:02go
- 1:03to
- 1:03insead
- 1:03for
- 1:03that.
- 1:05So
- 1:05it
- 1:06basically
- 1:06explains
- 1:06me
- 1:07in
- 1:07this
- 1:07bridge
- 1:08role,
- 1:08which
- 1:08I
- 1:09felt
- 1:09was
- 1:09ever
- 1:09more
- 1:10important
- 1:11between
- 1:11the
- 1:11consumer
- 1:12and
- 1:12brands,
- 1:12be
- 1:13those
- 1:13brands,
- 1:13a
- 1:14tech
- 1:14business,
- 1:14a
- 1:14retail
- 1:15business,
- 1:15sporting
- 1:16business.
- 1:17And
- 1:17what
- 1:17it
- 1:17also
- 1:18allows
- 1:18me
- 1:18to
- 1:18do,
- 1:19which
- 1:19I'm
- 1:19very
- 1:19excited
- 1:20about,
- 1:20is
- 1:20kind
- 1:20of
- 1:21cross
- 1:21pollinate
- 1:21industry
- 1:22to
- 1:22industry.
- 1:23So
- 1:23I'm
- 1:23not
- 1:23retail
- 1:24specific.
- 1:25I
- 1:25am
- 1:25moments
- 1:26specific.
- 1:26Where
- 1:27the
- 1:27consumer
- 1:27heartbeat
- 1:28is,
- 1:28that's
- 1:28where
- 1:28I
- 1:28want
- 1:28to
- 1:28be.
- 1:29So
- 1:29I'll
- 1:29be
- 1:29as
- 1:30equally
- 1:30comfortable
- 1:30at
- 1:30Cannes
- 1:31lion
- 1:31or
- 1:31south
- 1:31by
- 1:32Southwest
- 1:32as
- 1:32I
- 1:32will
- 1:32be
- 1:33here
- 1:33at
- 1:33Retail
- 1:33Technology
- 1:34Show.
- 1:34And
- 1:35I
- 1:35love
- 1:35doing
- 1:35that
- 1:36because
- 1:36it
- 1:36means
- 1:36I
- 1:36can
- 1:36pick
- 1:36the
- 1:37phone
- 1:37up
- 1:37to
- 1:37people
- 1:38in
- 1:38different
- 1:38industries
- 1:39and
- 1:39sectors
- 1:39because
- 1:39we're
- 1:39all
- 1:39getting
- 1:40more
- 1:40closely
- 1:40aligned.
- 1:41Right,
- 1:41right.
- 1:41Technology
- 1:42has
- 1:42a
- 1:42tendency
- 1:43to
- 1:43do
- 1:43that,
- 1:43doesn't
- 1:43it,
- 1:44Kate?
- 1:44Yeah.
- 1:44Yeah.
- 1:45So
- 1:45you
- 1:45wrote
- 1:45a
- 1:45book,
- 1:46too,
- 1:46the
- 1:46Science
- 1:46of
- 1:46Shopping
- 1:47as
- 1:47well.
- 1:47Tell
- 1:47us
- 1:48about
- 1:48that.
- 1:49I
- 1:49was
- 1:49quite
- 1:50reticent
- 1:50to
- 1:50write
- 1:50the
- 1:51book
- 1:51just
- 1:52like
- 1:52I
- 1:52was
- 1:52with
- 1:52the
- 1:53podcast.
- 1:53I'd
- 1:53love
- 1:53some
- 1:53advice
- 1:54with
- 1:54you.
- 1:55I
- 1:55did
- 1:55a
- 1:55very
- 1:55separate
- 1:56podcast,
- 1:56Rock
- 1:56and
- 1:56Roll
- 1:57Business,
- 1:57which
- 1:57I'
- 1:58proud
- 1:58of.
- 1:58Oh,
- 1:58that
- 1:59sounds
- 1:59cool.
- 1:59That
- 1:59links
- 1:59back
- 1:59into
- 2:00my
- 2:00music
- 2:00career,
- 2:01but
- 2:02I
- 2:02haven't
- 2:02yet
- 2:02done
- 2:03that
- 2:03one
- 2:03because
- 2:03I
- 2:03think
- 2:04it
- 2:04does
- 2:04become
- 2:05the
- 2:05bit
- 2:05of
- 2:05the
- 2:05cliche,
- 2:06doesn't
- 2:06it?
- 2:06I've
- 2:06written
- 2:06the
- 2:06book
- 2:07and
- 2:07everything
- 2:07else,
- 2:07but
- 2:08an
- 2:08incredible
- 2:08publisher
- 2:09came
- 2:09on
- 2:09and
- 2:09said,
- 2:09what
- 2:10Would
- 2:10you
- 2:10like
- 2:11to
- 2:11write?
- 2:11And
- 2:11I
- 2:11said
- 2:11it
- 2:12would
- 2:12be
- 2:12great
- 2:12again
- 2:12to
- 2:13have
- 2:13a
- 2:13bridge
- 2:13of
- 2:13a
- 2:13book
- 2:14that
- 2:14a
- 2:14consumer
- 2:15could
- 2:15pick
- 2:15up
- 2:15or
- 2:16a
- 2:16retailer
- 2:16or
- 2:17a
- 2:17tech
- 2:17person
- 2:17and
- 2:18all
- 2:18feel
- 2:18that
- 2:18we're
- 2:18going
- 2:19on
- 2:19the
- 2:19journey
- 2:19together.
- 2:19And
- 2:20that's
- 2:20what
- 2:20we
- 2:20did.
- 2:20So
- 2:21we
- 2:21have
- 2:21some
- 2:21incredible
- 2:22interviews
- 2:22in
- 2:22there.
- 2:23We've
- 2:23got
- 2:23some
- 2:23fantastic
- 2:24case
- 2:24that.
- 2:25And
- 2:25it's
- 2:25just
- 2:25basically
- 2:26me
- 2:26talking
- 2:26about
- 2:26that
- 2:27constant
- 2:27idea
- 2:27that
- 2:28we
- 2:28buy
- 2:28emotively,
- 2:29that
- 2:30we
- 2:30are
- 2:30creatures
- 2:31that
- 2:31are
- 2:32far
- 2:32more
- 2:32complex
- 2:32than
- 2:33a
- 2:33data
- 2:33dashboard
- 2:33will
- 2:34ever
- 2:34read
- 2:35and
- 2:35how
- 2:35much
- 2:35emotional
- 2:36intelligence
- 2:36really
- 2:36counts.
- 2:37Yeah,
- 2:37yeah.
- 2:37You
- 2:37also
- 2:38introduced
- 2:38this
- 2:38concept
- 2:38called
- 2:39the
- 2:39bierarchy
- 2:39of
- 2:40needs.
- 2:40What
- 2:40is
- 2:40that?
- 2:41What
- 2:41does
- 2:41that
- 2:41mean?
- 2:42Perfectly
- 2:42stolen
- 2:43from
- 2:44Maslow's
- 2:44hierarchy.
- 2:45Oh,
- 2:45right,
- 2:45right,
- 2:45right.
- 2:46Nicely
- 2:46done.
- 2:46Well,
- 2:47you
- 2:47know,
- 2:47we
- 2:47were
- 2:48looking
- 2:48into
- 2:48psychology
- 2:49and
- 2:50how
- 2:50people
- 2:50work,
- 2:51and
- 2:51it
- 2:52was
- 2:52just
- 2:52a
- 2:52way
- 2:53for
- 2:53me
- 2:53to
- 2:53explain
- 2:53to
- 2:54organizations
- 2:55that,
- 2:56you
- 2:56know,
- 2:56you
- 2:56shouldn't
- 2:56worry
- 2:57too
- 2:57much.
- 2:57That
- 2:57one
- 2:58I
- 2:58was
- 2:59talking
- 2:59about,
- 2:59particularly
- 3:00pick
- 3:00and
- 3:00mix
- 3:00ethics
- 3:01when
- 3:01it
- 3:01comes
- 3:01to
- 3:01sustainability.
- 3:02Okay.
- 3:02And
- 3:03a
- 3:03very
- 3:04fair
- 3:04question
- 3:04from
- 3:05a
- 3:05retailer
- 3:05was,
- 3:05I
- 3:06just
- 3:06don't
- 3:06get
- 3:06it.
- 3:06One
- 3:06minute
- 3:07we've
- 3:07got
- 3:07to
- 3:07be
- 3:08all
- 3:08green
- 3:09and
- 3:09purposeful,
- 3:10then
- 3:10the
- 3:10next
- 3:11minute
- 3:11the
- 3:11consumer's
- 3:11pushing
- 3:12us
- 3:12on
- 3:12the
- 3:12fastest
- 3:13delivery,
- 3:14the
- 3:14cheapest
- 3:15price.
- 3:15How
- 3:15can
- 3:16they
- 3:16want
- 3:16both?
- 3:16How
- 3:17can
- 3:17that
- 3:17even
- 3:17be
- 3:17a
- 3:18mindset?
- 3:18So
- 3:19that
- 3:19was
- 3:19kind
- 3:19of
- 3:20the
- 3:20reason,
- 3:20the
- 3:20rationale,
- 3:20to
- 3:21explain
- 3:21the
- 3:21idea
- 3:22that
- 3:22we
- 3:22can
- 3:22be
- 3:23all
- 3:23things
- 3:23and
- 3:24our
- 3:24minds
- 3:24do
- 3:24work,
- 3:24that
- 3:25we'll
- 3:25watch
- 3:25a
- 3:25TV
- 3:25show,
- 3:26we'll
- 3:26listen
- 3:26to
- 3:26your
- 3:27podcast.
- 3:27Okay,
- 3:28I'm
- 3:28really
- 3:28influenced
- 3:28that
- 3:28way.
- 3:29And
- 3:29then
- 3:29we'll
- 3:30read
- 3:30a
- 3:30book
- 3:30or
- 3:30we'll
- 3:30hear
- 3:31something
- 3:31else
- 3:31and
- 3:31be
- 3:32influenced
- 3:32a
- 3:32different
- 3:32way.
- 3:33And
- 3:33it's
- 3:34not
- 3:34a
- 3:34case
- 3:34of
- 3:34who
- 3:34shouts
- 3:35loudest,
- 3:35because,
- 3:35of
- 3:35course,
- 3:35we've
- 3:36got
- 3:36that
- 3:36value
- 3:36set.
- 3:37But
- 3:37I
- 3:38do
- 3:38think
- 3:38sometimes
- 3:39we
- 3:39have
- 3:39to
- 3:39give
- 3:40permission
- 3:41to
- 3:41be
- 3:42people
- 3:43that
- 3:43have
- 3:43multiple
- 3:44interests,
- 3:45multiple
- 3:45engagement
- 3:46points
- 3:47and
- 3:47purpose.
- 3:47And
- 3:48we're
- 3:48allowed
- 3:48to
- 3:48change
- 3:48our
- 3:48minds,
- 3:49too.
- 3:49Right,
- 3:50right.
- 3:50That's
- 3:50the
- 3:51other
- 3:51thing.
- 3:51We're
- 3:51allowed
- 3:51to
- 3:51change
- 3:52our
- 3:52minds.
- 3:52Yes.
- 3:52Nothing's
- 3:53ever
- 3:53set
- 3:53in
- 3:53stone.
- 3:54All
- 3:54right,
- 3:55I
- 3:55know
- 3:55we've
- 3:55got
- 3:55you
- 3:55on
- 3:56a
- 3:56tight
- 3:56schedule
- 3:56today,
- 3:57but
- 3:57I
- 3:57do
- 3:57want
- 3:57to
- 3:57ask
- 3:57you
- 3:58about
- 3:58the
- 3:58human
- 3:58touch.
- 3:59The
- 3:59human
- 3:59touch
- 4:00of
- 4:00retailing,
- 4:00particularly
- 4:01in
- 4:01this
- 4:01age
- 4:01of
- 4:01AI.
- 4:02How
- 4:02do
- 4:02you
- 4:03think
- 4:03AI
- 4:03is
- 4:03going
- 4:03to
- 4:03impact
- 4:04the
- 4:04importance
- 4:04of
- 4:05the
- 4:05human
- 4:05touch
- 4:06element
- 4:06in
- 4:06retail,
- 4:07particularly?
- 4:08Can
- 4:08I
- 4:08sound
- 4:09probably
- 4:09extremely
- 4:10positive
- 4:10and
- 4:11joyous
- 4:11for
- 4:11a
- 4:11British.
- 4:13Of
- 4:14course
- 4:14you
- 4:14can.
- 4:14That's
- 4:15almost
- 4:15anathema,
- 4:16but
- 4:16yes,
- 4:16go
- 4:16ahead.
- 4:16Okay.
- 4:17I
- 4:17really
- 4:18think
- 4:18it's
- 4:18going
- 4:18to
- 4:18be
- 4:18an
- 4:19enabler.
- 4:19I'm
- 4:20a
- 4:20tech
- 4:20geek
- 4:21and
- 4:21I
- 4:21have
- 4:22been
- 4:22to
- 4:22medical
- 4:22conferences
- 4:23on
- 4:23AI
- 4:24and
- 4:24again,
- 4:24different
- 4:25sectors
- 4:25who
- 4:26have
- 4:26maybe
- 4:26a
- 4:26different
- 4:26mindset,
- 4:27they're
- 4:27not
- 4:27as
- 4:27closed
- 4:28door.
- 4:28And
- 4:28I
- 4:29truly
- 4:29think
- 4:30we
- 4:30need
- 4:30more
- 4:30human
- 4:31touch.
- 4:31And
- 4:32anytime
- 4:32we
- 4:32can
- 4:32use
- 4:33a
- 4:33tool
- 4:33that
- 4:33allows
- 4:33us
- 4:34enablers,
- 4:34the
- 4:34time,
- 4:35the
- 4:35infrastructure,
- 4:36the
- 4:36opportunity
- 4:37of
- 4:37that,
- 4:37that
- 4:38is
- 4:38the
- 4:38purpose.
- 4:39So
- 4:39if
- 4:39it's
- 4:39got
- 4:40technology
- 4:40on
- 4:40it,
- 4:40you'll
- 4:41find
- 4:41me
- 4:41there
- 4:41because
- 4:42I
- 4:42want
- 4:42to
- 4:42discover
- 4:42and
- 4:43work
- 4:43with
- 4:43you
- 4:45as
- 4:45brands
- 4:45to
- 4:45understand
- 4:46where
- 4:46you're
- 4:46going
- 4:46with
- 4:46this.
- 4:47You
- 4:47can
- 4:48be
- 4:48the
- 4:48big
- 4:49system
- 4:49change
- 4:49here.
- 4:50Got
- 4:50it.
- 4:50So
- 4:51you
- 4:51think,
- 4:51really
- 4:51then
- 4:51the
- 4:52element
- 4:52of
- 4:52freeing
- 4:52up
- 4:53time
- 4:53to
- 4:53create
- 4:54more
- 4:54human
- 4:54interactions
- 4:55is
- 4:55what's
- 4:56one
- 4:57of
- 4:57the
- 4:57good
- 4:57byproducts
- 4:57that's
- 4:58going
- 4:58to
- 4:58come
- 4:58from.
- 4:58It
- 4:58so
- 4:59many
- 4:59ways?
- 4:59I
- 4:59mean,
- 4:59at
- 5:00future
- 5:00stores
- 5:00in
- 5:00London,
- 5:01we
- 5:01have
- 5:01this
- 5:02experimental
- 5:02zone.
- 5:03We
- 5:03can
- 5:03see
- 5:03heat
- 5:03spots,
- 5:04but
- 5:04we
- 5:04can
- 5:04also
- 5:04see
- 5:04eye
- 5:05movement,
- 5:05we
- 5:05can
- 5:06see
- 5:06touch
- 5:06points,
- 5:06we
- 5:07can
- 5:07see
- 5:07engagement
- 5:07pieces.
- 5:08There's
- 5:08so
- 5:08much
- 5:08sophistication.
- 5:09You
- 5:09and
- 5:09I
- 5:09know
- 5:10that
- 5:11what
- 5:11sticks,
- 5:11what
- 5:12lands,
- 5:12we
- 5:12will
- 5:12yet
- 5:13see.
- 5:13But
- 5:13I
- 5:14truly
- 5:14think
- 5:14tech
- 5:15could
- 5:15be
- 5:15the
- 5:15hero
- 5:16here.
- 5:16Yeah,
- 5:16it
- 5:16can
- 5:17out
- 5:17all
- 5:17the
- 5:17great
- 5:17things
- 5:18that
- 5:18make
- 5:18retail
- 5:19special.
- 5:19All
- 5:20right,
- 5:20well,
- 5:20that
- 5:20was
- 5:20Kate
- 5:21Hardcastle,
- 5:21the
- 5:22customer
- 5:22whisperer.
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- 5:26loud
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- 5:27hall.
- 5:27So
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- 5:28next
- 5:29time,
- 5:29everybody,
- 5:29as
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- 5:31And
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- 5:31special
- 5:31thanks
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- 5:32Retail
- 5:32Technology
- 5:33show
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- 5:33Avusion
- 5:34for
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- 5:34our
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- 5:34possible.
- 5:35But
- 5:35as
- 5:35always,
- 5:36be
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