CIRCLES
53 Circles. One Connected Club.
53 Circles.
One Connected Club.
Circles are practical starting points around the decisions that drive retail and consumer businesses.
Choose the one closest to you, explore how it connects, and discover the decisions that set everything in motion.
Choose a Domain, search term or Retail Summit stage to see relevant Circles.
Choose a Domain, search term or Retail Summit stage to see relevant Circles.
CIRCLE FINDER
Browse by the area of work that best fits what you are focused on.
PILLAR 1
Organisational Capability & Resilience
2 DOMAINS · 7 CIRCLES
Governance, people, skills, leadership and trusted change.
Sustainability Governance & Credibility
Sustainability Governance & Credibility
People & Leadership
PILLAR 2
Business Strategy, Performance & Finance
3 DOMAINS · 10 CIRCLES
Strategy, performance, finance and asset decisions.
Executive Strategy
Profit, Cash & Value
Real Estate & Asset Investment
PILLAR 3
Value Chains, Collaboration & Operations
3 DOMAINS · 12 CIRCLES
Supply, fulfilment and sustainable operations.
Supply Chain
Omnichannel Logistics
Sustainable Operations
PILLAR 4
Customer, Growth & Transformation
3 DOMAINS · 24 CIRCLES
eRetail, in-store, MarTech and growth.
eRetail
In-Store
MarTech
Governance & Credibility
Governance & Credibility
Sustainability Governance & Credibility
What evidence, ownership and timing make sustainability commitments credible enough to defend and practical enough to act on?
Often relevant to
Sustainability · ESG · Legal · Compliance · Finance · Procurement · Supply chain · Operations · Corporate affairs · Communications · Risk
The Second Effect
Supplier Proof & Sustainability Data · Roles & Decision Ownership · Transformation Investment & Value Realisation
Risk & Decision Readiness
Risk & Decision Readiness
Profit, Cash & Value
Which scenarios, signals and thresholds should trigger decisions before certainty arrives?
Often relevant to
Enterprise risk · FP&A · Treasury · Internal control · Audit · Compliance · Insurance · Business continuity · Operations · Cybersecurity · Legal · Board leadership
The Second Effect
Scenario Planning & Response · Financial Planning & Performance Management · Resilience & Continuity
Supplier Proof & Sustainability Data
Supplier Proof & Sustainability Data
Sustainable Operations
How can reliable sustainability evidence be secured from suppliers and kept usable, current and operationally owned?
Often relevant to
Procurement · Supplier management · Sustainability data · Compliance · Quality · Sourcing · Supply chain · Traceability · Operational readiness
The Second Effect
Governance & Credibility · Risk & Decision Readiness · Circular Packaging & Returnable Assets
Workforce Planning & Flexibility
Workforce Planning & Flexibility
People & Leadership
Which roles need stability, where can capacity flex and how should permanent, temporary, internal and external workforce models work together?
Often relevant to
Strategic workforce planning · HR operations · Workforce management · Labour planning · Contingent labour · Operational leadership · Workforce analytics
The Second Effect
Frontline Work Design · Skills & Future Capability · Warehouse, Transport & Labour Capacity
Skills & Future Capability
Skills & Future Capability
People & Leadership
How can people build and apply the skills needed as products, technology, service and roles change?
Often relevant to
Learning and development · Talent · Capability · Onboarding · Knowledge management · Frontline learning · Internal mobility · Future skills
The Second Effect
Frontline Work Design · Change Adoption & Trust · Transformation Investment & Value Realisation
Frontline Work Design
Frontline Work Design
People & Leadership
How can frontline roles, workloads, priorities, tools and support be designed so people can perform reliably?
Often relevant to
HR operations · Employee experience · Organisation and work design · Store, warehouse, field and customer-service operations · Frontline technology · Operational excellence
The Second Effect
Managers & Team Leadership · Warehouse, Transport & Labour Capacity · Customer Service & Recovery
Managers & Team Leadership
Managers & Team Leadership
People & Leadership
What must be removed, clarified or supported so managers have the time, decision space and capacity to lead?
Often relevant to
Leadership effectiveness · Management development · Operations · Regional and site leadership · Organisation design · Employee experience · Transformation
The Second Effect
Roles & Decision Ownership · Frontline Work Design · Change Adoption & Trust
Roles & Decision Ownership
Roles & Decision Ownership
People & Leadership
As work changes, who does the work, owns the process, may decide or challenge and remains accountable?
Often relevant to
Organisation design · Operating models · Transformation · Process ownership · AI governance · Operational excellence · Risk · Legal · Compliance
The Second Effect
Integrated Planning · Store Operations, AI & Automation · AI & Marketing Operations
Change Adoption & Trust
Change Adoption & Trust
People & Leadership
How can new technologies and working methods become trusted, repeated daily practice rather than isolated pilots or announcements?
Often relevant to
Change and transformation · Organisational development · Employee experience · Internal communication · Digital and AI transformation · Programme delivery · Operational leadership
The Second Effect
Skills & Future Capability · Transformation Investment & Value Realisation · Adoption & Value Realisation
Food Retail
Food Retail
Executive Strategy
What should food retailers protect, change or invest in as markets, business models and operating conditions shift?
Often relevant to
CEO and board leadership · General management · Strategy · Commercial · Operations · Finance · Transformation · Investment
The Second Effect
Capital Allocation · Integrated Planning · Shopper Value
Non-Food Retail
Non-Food Retail
Executive Strategy
Where should non-food retailers invest, adapt or exit as customer demand shifts and categories, formats, channels and physical assets evolve?
Often relevant to
CEO and board leadership · General management · Strategy · Commercial · Operations · Finance · Property · Transformation · Investment
The Second Effect
Footprint & Asset Strategy · Profitable Digital Growth · Capital Allocation
FMCG & Consumer Goods
FMCG & Consumer Goods
Executive Strategy
Where should brands and manufacturers compete, how should retailer relationships evolve and which capabilities deserve investment as markets change?
Often relevant to
CEO and board leadership · General management · Strategy · Sales · Category · Brand · Supply chain · Finance · Transformation · Investment
The Second Effect
Retailer-Brand Activation & Store Execution · Integrated Planning · Capital Allocation
Profitability & Business Performance
Profitability & Business Performance
Profit, Cash & Value
Where does the business genuinely create economic contribution once full costs, complexity and shared resources are included?
Often relevant to
CFO and finance leadership · Commercial finance · Profitability · FP&A · Category · RGM · Store and channel leadership · eCommerce · Operations · Strategy
The Second Effect
Cash Flow & Working Capital · Profitable Digital Growth · Shopper Value
Cash Flow & Working Capital
Cash Flow & Working Capital
Profit, Cash & Value
Where is cash trapped, and how can it be released without weakening inventory, supplier relationships, service or future growth?
Often relevant to
Treasury · Working capital · FP&A · Supply chain finance · Procurement · Inventory planning · Order-to-Cash · Procure-to-Pay · Commercial finance · Operations
The Second Effect
Inventory, Working Capital & Service Levels · Returns & Value Recovery · Capital Allocation
Transformation Investment & Value Realisation
Transformation Investment & Value Realisation
Profit, Cash & Value
Which transformations are ready to fund and sequence, and which should be delayed, redesigned or stopped because the business cannot yet deliver them?
Often relevant to
CFO · Strategy · Transformation offices · Portfolio management · CIO and technology leadership · Investment committees · Programme leadership · Benefits realisation
The Second Effect
Change Adoption & Trust · Capital Allocation · Adoption & Value Realisation
Financial Planning & Performance Management
Financial Planning & Performance Management
Profit, Cash & Value
How can operational and financial assumptions be connected into one trusted forward view that changes as conditions change?
Often relevant to
CFO and finance leadership · FP&A · Budgeting · Rolling forecasting · Business performance · Commercial and supply chain finance · Demand planning · Enterprise performance management
The Second Effect
Integrated Planning · Risk & Decision Readiness · Capital Allocation
Capital Allocation
Capital Allocation
Profit, Cash & Value
How should competing investments be compared, and what should be funded, held, redesigned, released, exited or stopped?
Often relevant to
CFO · CEO and board leadership · Strategy · Investment committees · FP&A · Corporate development · Business-unit leadership · Transformation · Property · Technology · Operations
The Second Effect
Transformation Investment & Value Realisation · Footprint & Asset Strategy · Skills & Future Capability
Footprint & Asset Strategy
Footprint & Asset Strategy
Real Estate & Asset Investment
Where should the physical network grow, and which existing assets should be transformed, retained, repurposed or exited?
Often relevant to
Real estate · Expansion · Network strategy · Leasing · Property acquisition · Development · Asset management · Finance · Operations · Investment committees · Country leadership
The Second Effect
Capital Allocation · Warehouse, Transport & Labour Capacity · Store Experience, Service & Assisted Selling
Integrated Planning
Integrated Planning
Supply Chain
How can demand, supply, commercial and financial assumptions become one credible plan with clear ownership and decisions?
Often relevant to
S&OP · IBP · Demand planning · Supply planning · Commercial planning · Finance · Operations · Cross-functional decision ownership
The Second Effect
Inventory, Working Capital & Service Levels · Financial Planning & Performance Management · Warehouse, Transport & Labour Capacity
Inventory, Working Capital & Service Levels
Inventory, Working Capital & Service Levels
Supply Chain
How much inventory should the business hold, where should buffers sit and how can cash, availability and service be balanced?
Often relevant to
Inventory and demand planning · Supply chain finance · Commercial and category teams · Operations · Replenishment · Service-level management · Working capital
The Second Effect
Cash Flow & Working Capital · Fulfilment & Delivery · Profitability & Business Performance
Scenario Planning & Response
Scenario Planning & Response
Supply Chain
Which early signals should trigger action, who should own the response and how can the business act before volatility becomes cost or service failure?
Often relevant to
Supply chain planning · Risk and resilience · Procurement · Logistics · Operations · Control towers · Supplier management · Business continuity
The Second Effect
Risk & Decision Readiness · Resilience & Continuity · Integrated Planning
Logistics Operating Models
Logistics Operating Models
Supply Chain
Which logistics capabilities should the business own, outsource or combine, and how can control, flexibility and service be protected?
Often relevant to
Logistics strategy · Operations · 3PL management · Procurement · Finance · Partner governance · Network leadership · Transformation
The Second Effect
Warehouse, Transport & Labour Capacity · Fulfilment & Delivery · Service Levels & Cost-to-Serve
Warehouse, Transport & Labour Capacity
Warehouse, Transport & Labour Capacity
Supply Chain
How much usable logistics capacity do we need, how flexible should it be and where can automation strengthen it without creating new fragility?
Often relevant to
Warehouse and transport operations · Labour planning · Network and capacity planning · Automation · Logistics engineering · Procurement · Finance · Operational excellence
The Second Effect
Frontline Work Design · Footprint & Asset Strategy · Low-Emission Logistics & Infrastructure
Service Levels & Cost-to-Serve
Service Levels & Cost-to-Serve
Supply Chain
Which service levels should be offered to different customers and channels, and what do they truly cost to deliver?
Often relevant to
Logistics service design · Transport and warehouse operations · Commercial finance · Customer operations · Service management · Cost-to-serve analytics
The Second Effect
Fulfilment & Delivery · Profitability & Business Performance · Logistics Operating Models
Fulfilment & Delivery
Fulfilment & Delivery
Omnichannel Logistics
What can be promised to customers across channels, and can stock, capacity, partners and cost-to-serve support it reliably?
Often relevant to
eCommerce and omnichannel operations · Fulfilment · Last mile · Stores · Delivery partners · Customer experience · Logistics · Service design
The Second Effect
Inventory, Working Capital & Service Levels · Store Operations, AI & Automation · Service Levels & Cost-to-Serve
Returns & Value Recovery
Returns & Value Recovery
Omnichannel Logistics
How can returns remain customer-friendly while more product, inventory and financial value is recovered?
Often relevant to
Returns and reverse logistics · eCommerce operations · Customer service · Fulfilment · Inventory · Finance · Resale · Refurbishment · Sustainability
The Second Effect
Cash Flow & Working Capital · Inventory, Working Capital & Service Levels · Customer Service & Recovery
Resilience & Continuity
Resilience & Continuity
Omnichannel Logistics
When stock, systems, sites or partners fail, how can omnichannel fulfilment keep running and protect the customer promise?
Often relevant to
Fulfilment operations · Business continuity · IT · Logistics · Store operations · Carrier and partner management · Resilience · Exception management
The Second Effect
Scenario Planning & Response · Logistics Operating Models · Customer Service & Recovery
Circular Packaging & Returnable Assets
Circular Packaging & Returnable Assets
Sustainable Operations
How can circular packaging and returnable-asset systems work at scale without losing control of flows, assets or cost?
Often relevant to
Packaging · Circularity · Logistics · Operations · Asset pooling · Procurement · Retail and supplier collaboration · Tracking · Reverse flows
The Second Effect
Store Operations, AI & Automation · Warehouse, Transport & Labour Capacity · Profitability & Business Performance
Low-Emission Logistics & Infrastructure
Low-Emission Logistics & Infrastructure
Sustainable Operations
Which low-emission logistics routes are operationally feasible, and what do fleet, energy, infrastructure, cost and service conditions allow?
Often relevant to
Transport · Fleet · Logistics · Energy · Infrastructure · Facilities · Sustainability · Finance · Property · Network planning
The Second Effect
Logistics Operating Models · Footprint & Asset Strategy · Capital Allocation
Profitable Digital Growth
Profitable Digital Growth
eRetail
Which digital growth routes create real contribution after channel costs and complexity, and where should the business scale, redesign or stop?
Often relevant to
eCommerce strategy · Digital growth · Commercial finance · Marketplaces · Channel leadership · Unit economics · Cost-to-serve · Business development
The Second Effect
Profitability & Business Performance · Marketplace Strategy & Control · Service Levels & Cost-to-Serve
Commerce Intelligence & Decision-Making
Commerce Intelligence & Decision-Making
eRetail
Which commerce signals matter, who owns the decision and how does data move from dashboards into timely action?
Often relevant to
eCommerce analytics · BI · Digital commerce · Finance · Product · Operations · Performance management · Data · Decision ownership
The Second Effect
Financial Planning & Performance Management · Commerce AI & Automation · Customer Retention
Digital Shelf & Product Discovery
Digital Shelf & Product Discovery
eRetail
How can product information remain accurate, trusted and discoverable across digital shelves, search and AI shopping interfaces?
Often relevant to
Product data · PIM · Digital shelf · eCommerce content · Search · SEO · Marketplaces · Brands · Data governance · AI discoverability
The Second Effect
Category, Assortment & Shelf Conversion · Marketplace Strategy & Control · Commerce AI & Automation
Checkout & Payments
Checkout & Payments
eRetail
How can checkout and payment friction be removed while valid orders, revenue and transaction trust remain protected?
Often relevant to
eCommerce · Checkout · Payments · Fraud · Identity · Risk · Customer experience · Product · Technology · Transaction recovery
The Second Effect
Fulfilment & Delivery · Profitability & Business Performance · Customer Service & Recovery
Commerce Platforms & Integration
Commerce Platforms & Integration
eRetail
How can commerce systems be connected without creating technical debt, brittle integrations or vendor dependence?
Often relevant to
Commerce platforms · Architecture · Integration · IT · Product · Data · Vendor management · Procurement · Digital transformation
The Second Effect
Commerce AI & Automation · Resilience & Continuity · Platforms, Integration & Data Governance
Commerce AI & Automation
Commerce AI & Automation
eRetail
Which commerce workflows should be automated, what should remain under human control and how will value be proven?
Often relevant to
eCommerce operations · Product · Automation · AI · Customer operations · Workflow design · Data · Quality · Exception management
The Second Effect
Roles & Decision Ownership · Change Adoption & Trust · Customer Service & Recovery
Marketplace Strategy & Control
Marketplace Strategy & Control
eRetail
How can marketplace growth be achieved while protecting pricing, margin, brand presentation, reseller control and customer ownership?
Often relevant to
Marketplace management · eCommerce · Commercial · Brand protection · Legal · Reseller governance · Pricing · Content · Customer strategy
The Second Effect
Profitability & Business Performance · Digital Shelf & Product Discovery · Fulfilment & Delivery
Platform Visibility & Retail Media
Platform Visibility & Retail Media
eRetail
Which retail media and platform-visibility investments create incremental demand rather than margin leakage or dependency?
Often relevant to
Marketplace and eCommerce marketing · Retail media · Performance marketing · Brand · Media investment · Analytics · Finance · Commercial teams
The Second Effect
Marketing Effectiveness & Investment Decisions · Digital Shelf & Product Discovery · Profitability & Business Performance
Social Commerce & Live Selling
Social Commerce & Live Selling
eRetail
How can creators, social content and live formats become a repeatable sales model without weakening margin, fulfilment or trust?
Often relevant to
Social commerce · Creator partnerships · Marketing · eCommerce operations · Content · Live selling · Fulfilment · Customer experience · Analytics
The Second Effect
Fulfilment & Delivery · Customer Service & Recovery · Customer Retention
Customer Retention
Customer Retention
eRetail
Which customers, behaviours and moments deserve retention investment, and where should over-rewarding stop?
Often relevant to
Customer retention · CRM · Lifecycle management · Customer analytics · eCommerce · Finance · Loyalty · Service · Commercial leadership
The Second Effect
Loyalty, Membership & Partnerships · Customer Data, CRM & Activation · Profitability & Business Performance
Loyalty, Membership & Partnerships
Loyalty, Membership & Partnerships
eRetail
How can loyalty and membership create lasting value beyond repeated discounts, with benefits, partners and funding that can endure?
Often relevant to
Loyalty · Membership · Partnerships · CRM · Benefits · Funding · Commercial · Customer strategy · Finance
The Second Effect
Customer Retention · Customer Data, CRM & Activation · Shopper Value
Customer Service & Recovery
Customer Service & Recovery
eRetail
How can self-service, automation and human support be combined to resolve problems without losing trust?
Often relevant to
Customer service · Contact centres · Customer experience · Automation · eCommerce operations · Complaints · Service design · Relationship recovery
The Second Effect
Resilience & Continuity · Returns & Value Recovery · Customer Retention
Shopper Value
Shopper Value
In-Store
How can price, promotion and private-label value remain clear and credible without training deal dependence or eroding margin?
Often relevant to
Pricing · Promotions · Private label · Category · Shopper marketing · Trade investment · Commercial finance · Buying · Value communication
The Second Effect
Category, Assortment & Shelf Conversion · Profitability & Business Performance · Customer Retention
Category, Assortment & Shelf Conversion
Category, Assortment & Shelf Conversion
In-Store
How can category roles, assortment, shelf space and product communication make products easier to find, understand and choose?
Often relevant to
Category management · Buying · Assortment · Private label · Brands · Space planning · Planograms · Merchandising · Shelf execution
The Second Effect
Digital Shelf & Product Discovery · Store Experience, Service & Assisted Selling · Profitability & Business Performance
Retailer-Brand Activation & Store Execution
Retailer-Brand Activation & Store Execution
In-Store
How can retailer-brand plans survive handover, local adaptation and store execution, with the readiness and evidence to prove they worked?
Often relevant to
Shopper and trade marketing · Brand and retailer collaboration · Field sales · Store operations · Activation planning · Materials · Stock readiness · Execution
The Second Effect
Frontline Work Design · Store Operations, AI & Automation · Marketing Effectiveness & Investment Decisions
Store Operations, AI & Automation
Store Operations, AI & Automation
In-Store
How can stores turn signals and exceptions into better action while modernising the systems behind daily operations without adding workload or disrupting live trading?
Often relevant to
Store operations · Loss prevention · IT · Computer vision · IoT · Task management · Automation · Field operations · Systems modernisation · Operational excellence
The Second Effect
Frontline Work Design · Roles & Decision Ownership · Store Experience, Service & Assisted Selling
Store Experience, Service & Assisted Selling
Store Experience, Service & Assisted Selling
In-Store
How should space, service, product interaction and assisted selling help shoppers understand, compare, decide and complete the journey?
Often relevant to
Store experience · Design · Customer service · Assisted selling · Digital in-store · Sales · Product interaction · Navigation · Training · Format leadership
The Second Effect
Frontline Work Design · Skills & Future Capability · Shopper Missions & Buying Behaviour
Shopper Missions & Buying Behaviour
Shopper Missions & Buying Behaviour
In-Store
Which shopper missions and habits can be influenced, what should change and how can incremental value be proven?
Often relevant to
Shopper insights · Category · Marketing · Formats · Innovation · Journey research · Behavioural analytics · Test-and-learn · Incrementality
The Second Effect
Shopper Value · Category, Assortment & Shelf Conversion · Marketing Effectiveness & Investment Decisions
Retail Media Networks
Retail Media Networks
MarTech
How should a retailer, commerce platform or network operator build and operate a retail-media proposition that connects first-party audiences, on-site, off-site and in-store inventory, campaign execution, data collaboration and credible advertiser-value proof?
Often relevant to
Retail media · Media sales · CRM · Data · Adtech · Campaign operations · Measurement · Commercial leadership · Advertiser partnerships
The Second Effect
Marketing Effectiveness & Investment Decisions · Store Operations, AI & Automation · Inventory, Working Capital & Service Levels
Customer Data, CRM & Activation
Customer Data, CRM & Activation
MarTech
How should identified and permissioned customer relationships be activated at the right moment, through the right channel and with an appropriate level of relevance?
Often relevant to
CRM · CDP · Customer data · Identity · Consent · Lifecycle marketing · Marketing operations · Privacy · Analytics · Channel orchestration
The Second Effect
Customer Retention · Loyalty, Membership & Partnerships · Platforms, Integration & Data Governance
Marketing Effectiveness & Investment Decisions
Marketing Effectiveness & Investment Decisions
MarTech
How should media, CRM, personalisation, content and other marketing activity be tested and compared so that evidence leads to decisions to scale, redesign, reallocate or stop?
Often relevant to
Marketing analytics · Experimentation · Attribution · MMM · Media · CRM · Personalisation · Content · Finance · Strategy · Budget allocation
The Second Effect
Retail Media Networks · Customer Data, CRM & Activation · Profitability & Business Performance
Platforms, Integration & Data Governance
Platforms, Integration & Data Governance
MarTech
Which MarTech capabilities should be owned, bought or sourced, and how should customer, campaign, media and content platforms, data, integrations and vendors be governed as one adaptable environment?
Often relevant to
MarTech architecture · Marketing technology · IT · Data · Integration · Procurement · Vendor management · Marketing operations · Governance
The Second Effect
Customer Data, CRM & Activation · AI & Marketing Operations · Adoption & Value Realisation
AI & Marketing Operations
AI & Marketing Operations
MarTech
Which marketing workflows and decisions should be redesigned, automated or delegated to AI, what must remain under human control and how should operating improvement be proven?
Often relevant to
Marketing operations · AI · Automation · Campaign management · Content operations · Workflow design · Data · Quality · Legal · Governance
The Second Effect
Adoption & Value Realisation · Roles & Decision Ownership · Change Adoption & Trust
Adoption & Value Realisation
Adoption & Value Realisation
MarTech
How should MarTech implementation become adoption, utilisation, scale and measurable business value?
Often relevant to
Marketing transformation · Change · Product ownership · Rollout · Local and regional teams · Business cases · Benefits realisation · Performance management
The Second Effect
Transformation Investment & Value Realisation · Change Adoption & Trust · Roles & Decision Ownership
The whole Club starts with one Circle.
Join the Club and begin with the Circle closest to your work. From there, discover the people, questions and connections across the wider Club. New members can join until 30 Novembere every year.