Fashion retail is under pressure, shrinking margins, rising costs, volatile demand, and no real volume growth.

In this episode of Marketing in the Madness, retail and data expert Sarah McVittie breaks down what’s actually happening behind the scenes and what separates the brands that are winning from those stuck in the middle.

Recorded live on stage at our event, Marketing in the Madness Live, this session dives into six years of data from 113 of the world’s most successful fashion retailers across the UK, Europe, and the US. Sarah reveals the operating models, brand strategies, and data-driven decisions that are driving profitability in an increasingly competitive market.

You’ll learn:

- Why fashion retail is now a share-gain market, not a growth market - How brand power is becoming more important again after years of performance marketing dominance - What resale, second-hand, and value perception mean for future growth - What fashion brands can learn from players like Hermès, Zara, Uniqlo, Shein, and Vinted - Where data and AI genuinely help and where they don’t replace creativity or brand thinking - And much more!

Sarah also shares why operational discipline often beats channel mix, how omnichannel really works today, and what brands must do to stay relevant in an increasingly commoditised market.

This episode was recorded live on stage at Marketing in the Madness Live in London.

Sarah McVittie https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-mcvittie-61884a7/

Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Street Agency https://street.agency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/

In this festive episode of Marketing in the Madness, Katie Street is joined by Jason Trout former colleague, long-time industry leader, and Managing Director at Crimtan to explore how advertising has evolved over the past two decades and where it’s heading next.

The conversation reflects on the golden era of traditional advertising, examines why Christmas campaigns from brands such as John Lewis and Waitrose continue to capture national attention, and unpacks the psychology behind creative that truly resonates.

Jason shares his perspective on the rise of Connected TV, the shift toward advertiser-funded content, and why relevance has become increasingly important in a household viewing environment.

The episode also explores the impact of AI on media planning, creativity, and targeting, alongside the growing influence of independent agencies. Together, they discuss what brands need to do to build trust, stay human, and cut through in an increasingly fragmented advertising landscape.

Whether you’re running an agency, leading a brand, or simply interested in the intersection of advertising, technology, and culture, this episode offers practical insight and thoughtful perspective.

Enjoyed the episode? Click subscribe so you never miss the conversations shaping the future of marketing, tech and brand growth.

Connect with us:

Jason Trout https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-trout/

Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Marketing in the Madness https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast/ https://www.instagram.com/marketinginthemadness/

Street Agency https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/

The word community gets thrown around constantly but very few brands or creators are actually building one. In this live episode of Marketing in the Madness, recorded at our sold-out event in London, moderated by Sedge Beswick, founder of NXT LVL featuring PerfectTed’s Romilly Bodington and InterTalent’s Alex Segal break down what genuine community really looks like in 2025 and how the smartest brands are building it.

• Why follower count tells you nothing about community: Most brands confuse reach with belonging. Romi and Alex explain why community is built through connection, not numbers.

• How PerfectTed turned storytelling into explosive growth: From packaging to social content, they show how vulnerability and relatability made the brand stick.

• The new rules of creator partnerships: Creators are younger, smarter and more intentional and they won’t work with brands who lack authenticity.

• Why IRL ‘temples’ matter more than ever: From cafés to run clubs, in-person spaces are becoming the real backbone of modern brand communities.

• How to actually measure community success: Impressions aren’t it. Learn what qualitative signals matter and how to spot real engagement.

• The rise of niche and micro-creators: Smaller creators are driving higher trust, deeper engagement and better long-term value than ever before.

Community is becoming the most defensible moat in brand building yet most teams still chase metrics that don’t matter. This episode gives you the frameworks, examples and mindset shifts needed to build something people choose to be part of.

Don't forget to follow our channels for more episodes like this!

Connect with us: Sedge Beswick https://www.linkedin.com/in/sedge-beswick/ Romilly Bodington

https://www.linkedin.com/in/romillybodington/ Alex Segal https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsegal30/

Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/

Marketing in the Madness https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast/ https://www.instagram.com/marketinginthemadness/

Street Agency https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/