Scandinavian MIND

Ben Botas explains how fashion agencies are evolving from sales intermediaries to data-driven partners that align brands and retailers around shared insights and sell-through performance.This is the second episode of Retail Eye-Openers, a three-part podcast series produced in collaboration with Impulso. The series explores how data sharing and retailer partnerships drive sell-through and reduce overstock.In this conversation, Konrad Olsson speaks with Ben Botas, founder of the Munich-based agency Ben&, about how his team is redefining the role of the fashion Agent through technology and collaboration. He explains how data-driven decision-making, process discipline, and cultural change are transforming an industry still too reliant on intuition — and why sell-through, not sell-in, is the true measure of success.--Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and consultancy operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newsletters

We speak with Oskar Rundqvist, co-founder and CEO of eComID, about the shift from search-and-filter to conversational discovery, why “the interface becomes the store,” and how brands can retain data, loyalty, and margins with on-site AI agents.AI is changing how people shop. With large language models introducing in-feed browsing and even checkout, customer journeys risk completing off-site. eComID’s response is to bring conversational discovery onto brand domains and connect first-party signals across a network of retailers, blending size/fit intelligence to cut returns and improve trust.In this episode, Rundqvist explains why the classic search bar is “on borrowed time,” how cross-brand data can create a shopper “passport,” and why fully agentic purchasing makes sense for staples but not for style-led fashion.With: Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-Chief and Founder, Scandinavian MIND--Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and consultancy operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newsletters

This is the first episode of Retail Eye-Openers, a three-part podcast series produced in collaboration with Impulso. The series explores how data sharing and retailer partnerships drive sell-through and reduce overstock.In this conversation, Konrad Olsson speaks with Morten Kristiansen, Chief Commercial Officer at the Danish fashion brand Les Deux, about how the company builds its growth on close retailer relationships, a trusted “mothership” of data, and pragmatic technology adoption — and why relying too heavily on data alone can be a mistake.Host:Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-Chief and Founder, Scandinavian MIND--Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and consultancy operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newsletters

We speak with Fashionlab co-founder Lisa Bagge about how AI is changing image production in fashion — from e-commerce photography to campaigns — and how it can help brands move faster while reducing returns and overproduction.We discuss how brands are adopting new tools across their workflows, from product pages to lookbooks, and how smaller labels can now produce high-quality visuals with limited resources.Hosted by: Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-chief & Founder, Scandinavian MIND—Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and branding agency operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newsletters

At Transformation Conference Stockholm, C&A and Markmi shared how AI-driven pricing helps fashion retailers optimise markdowns, protect margins, and adapt faster to changing market conditions.In this conversation, we speak with Laurent Mainil, Founder of Markmi, and Markus Krenn, Head of Commercial Planning & Operations at C&A Europe, about how their collaboration uses artificial intelligence to drive sell-through and reduce overstock. The discussion explores how AI can transform pricing strategies, how large retailers adopt startup solutions, and what change management is needed to make AI work inside complex organisations.Hosted by:Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-chief and founder, Scandinavian MINDLinda Pimmeshofer, Editor-at-large, Scandinavian MIND—Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and branding agency operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newsletters

As AI tools become more embedded in creative workflows, what happens to intuition, craft, and authorship? In this behind-the-scenes episode, we discuss recent articles and interviews published by Scandinavian MIND. The conversation touches on emerging design practices like vibe coding, the rise (and limits) of prompting, and why Nordic creatives continue to emphasise human-centric strategy.In this conversation, we talk about:How AI challenges the role of human intuition in design and storytellingWhy creativity is becoming a shared task between humans and machinesWhat brands and creatives must do to stay relevant in an age of algorithmic discoveryWith:Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-Chief and FounderErik Olofsson-Havikko, Co-Founder and Creative DirectorLouise Holmström, Editorial Assistant—Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and branding agency operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newsletters

We revisit a panel from the latest Transformation Conference in Copenhagen, where we spoke to three industry leaders shaping how fashion brands and retailers use data to improve planning, reduce waste, and boost profitability We speak with:Anna-Karin Holck, Country Retail Manager, Bestseller.Morten Kristiansen, CCO, Les Deux.Daniel Di Benedetto, Regional Director Euro North, Centric SoftwareIn this conversation, we talk about: Why localisation in retail is key to reducing overproduction and increasing margins.How to combine creative instinct with structured data to stay relevant in both digital and physical retail.The role of RFID and PLM systems in creating feedback loops that improve decision-making across the organisation.How generative AI can support designers and planners in improving hit rates and optimising inventory.Host: Konrad Olsson, editor-in-chief and founder of Scandinavian MINDLinda Pimmeshofer, editor-at-large, Scandinavian MIND—Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and branding agency operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newslettersConnect with our agency:www.scandinavianmind.com/agency

We speak with Kieran Long, director of Amos Rex in Helsinki. After leading the architecture and design museum ArkDes in Stockholm and the design department at the V&A museum in London, Kieran Long now heads one of the most progressive institutions in the Nordics. Amos Rex in HelsinkiIn this conversation, recorded during Fashion in Helsinki, we talk about:Why fashion is more than clothes, it’s cultureHow museums can become spaces for self-expression and public dialogueThe impact of AI on creativity and artistic practiceLessons from working with the iconic Finnish fashion personality Minttu Vesala and staging fashion shows in public spaceHosted by:Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-chief and founder, Scandinavian MIND—Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and branding agency operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newslettersConnect with our agency:www.scandinavianmind.com/agency

We speak with Lauren Crichton, Director of Marketing at Sana, about their recent AI Summit – one of the most important tech events in the Nordics. The event gathered leading thinkers on the global AI scene, and Lauren was at the center as the host and moderator.  In this episode we discuss:Sana’s mission of empowering knowledgeHow organisations need to foster a safe environment for AI experimentation Why writing remains a vital skill despite the rise of generative AI How creatives can play a crucial role in an AI-driven future.Hosted by:Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-chief and founder, Scandinavian MIND—Scandinavian MIND is a media platform and branding agency operating at the intersection of lifestyle industries and tech. Sign up for our newsletter:www.scandinavianmind.com/newslettersConnect with our agency:www.scandinavianmind.com/agency