Marketing students attend Matalan talk on the use of AI in retail
On Tuesday 29 October, Management School BA Marketing students were invited to hear from Ali Jones, Chief Customer and Omni Channel Officer at Matalan.
With a career spanning Next, Arcadia, M&S, Co-op, and most recently, Matalan, Ali’s talk offered an insider’s perspective into the different marketing channels used within retail, and how trends have changed and continue to change over time.
Attendees were particularly interested to hear about Matalan’s use of Artificial Intelligence, as the first retailer to use AI-generated copy in the descriptions of its products.
The talk offered a unique opportunity for students to also gain valuable insights into retail strategy, the role of AI in marketing, and the differences between real sustainability initiatives and greenwashing within a retail context.
Ali’s top tip for our students was: ‘retail is about human beings buying stuff, don’t overcomplicate it.’
Rachel Spence, Director of Studies of BA Marketing, said:
"Thank you to Ali for an impactful session, delivered with expertise and rich, practical examples that illuminated complex topics such as retail technology, visual merchandising, and sustainability. Insights delivered brought these significant areas to life while reinforcing the essential role of the customer at the heart of a successful retail strategy and journey.
"The industry perspective offered really helps add to students’ learning whilst also provoking further analytical and critical thinking about ways to navigate the world of retail."
With roots in Liverpool, and as host for our placement year students, it was brilliant to hear about the history of Matalan. A huge thank you once again to Ali for joining us!