Sophie Baqué

Chief Editor of mind Retail

Latest articles by Sophie Baqué

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield continues to reduce debt and refocuses on Europe

Five years after the acquisition of Westfield, URW is accelerating a sale of assets in the U.S.A. to reduce debts.

10 January 2023

Beauty. Morphe, a symbol of the fragility of influence marketing

The make-up brand, valued at US$2.2 billion in 2019, is now closing its stores in the U.S.A., following a 30% drop in turnover between 2019 and 2021. It has become a symbol of the fragility of...

6 January 2023

Furniture: Nitori leaves the U.S.A. to compete with Ikea in Asia

Faced with rising energy and transportation costs, the furniture company Nitori Holdings is reviewing a retail footprint.

6 January 2023

Beijing gives the U.S.A. full access to Chinese company accounts

According to The Information, several US-listed Chinese tech giants are cancelling plans to list in Hong Kong. Among them, Pinduoduo (capitalised at US$100 billion) and Full Truck Alliance, a...

6 January 2023

[Confidential] In France, Picnic’s will end 2022 at around €28 million in sales

Increase in frequency, conquest of Berlin and of the Paris region in Q1 2023, selective automation of fulfillment centres… While funding is tightening for quick-commerce companies, Picnic is...

6 January 2023

Optical Center improves its e-reputation thanks to customer reviews

To improve its e-reputation, Optical Center (700 stores in 7 countries, turnover of €1 billion in 2021) joined forces with the customer review management platform Custplace in January 2018.It...

5 January 2023

Jean-Christophe Brindeau, C.F.A.O. Retail: “The Supeco brand is the foundation of Carrefour’s retail project in Africa”

Despite a drop in volumes on a comparable basis in Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Senegal, CFAO Consumer Retail will end the 2022 financial year with sales up by 64%. Committed to a policy of rapid...

4 January 2023

Algolia : How Harry Rosen more than tripled conversion rate in 3 years

In Canada, the men's fashion chain has been integrating Algolia,Commercetools and Amplience technologies over 3 years. The firm reports a boost for sales conversion and growth of online sales.

2 January 2023

American tourists drive luxury sales in Europe

Americans, taking advantage of a dollar at the highest level for 20 years, are boosting the European luxury market. According to payment specialist Planet, during the week of Black Friday...

21 December 2022

Discount: Dollar General plans to open 1,000 stores in 2023

Buoyed by inflation, “Dollar stores” are multiplying in the U.S.A., particularly in rural areas. Dollar General (Q3 sales of US$9.5 billion, up by 11%) plans to open 1,050 stores next...

21 December 2022

Quick commerce: Getir soon leader of a consolidating market

As the French quick-commerce market is expected to exceed €250 million in 2022 according to our estimates, the takeover of Gorillas by Getir will create a European leader.

16 December 2022

Fewer branches and difficulties at franchised stores: Carrefour’s strategy amid the energy crisis

Eager to protect profitability and to reduce its workforce, Carrefour is reorganizing stores and transforming working environment. Retail mind examines the way ahead.

16 December 2022

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How retailers are reinventing the checkout

As pressure on household budgets continues, new payment methods including account-to-account (A2A) instant payments, Wero, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), loyalty points and cashback, are gaining...

2 November 2026

Julien Cailleau, Oney: “With 3 retailers, we are testing the use of Valiuz data to streamline financing approvals”

Against a backdrop of growing pressure on household budgets, the European CCD2 Directive coming into force and a new legal framework for assisted purchasing journeys, Oney is stepping up an...

29 October 2026

Advantail signs with Formality to streamline commercial lease management

Amid an ownership shake-up following its acquisition by Evoriel, shopping centre operator Advantail has signed with Formality to digitise the management of commercial leases and contracts across...

23 October 2026

US retailers divided over the rise of autonomous shopping agents

In the US, Gap, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon and eBay are taking very different approaches to agentic commerce. While TV shopping giants QVC and HSN see these new intermediaries as an opportunity to...

21 October 2026

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AI agents: the KPIs that led L’Oréal to scale up across its warehouses

After testing 7 AI agents in its warehouses, L’Oréal is scaling up. Deployed to coordinate picking waves, manage replenishment and handle stocktaking, Manhattan’s agents have helped cut several...

20 October 2026

Danone turns to AI to personalise marketing campaigns and test advertising in ChatGPT

AI is being rolled out across some marketing activities, while others remain in a testing phase. If campaign automation and personalisation are among the most advanced applications, visibility in...

16 October 2026

How Mobilier de France reduced the share of cheque payments from 80% to 50%

With an average basket of €3,500 and a payment journey that includes a financial deposit at the time of ordering, Mobilier de France shares with mind Retail its assessment of the rollout of...

15 October 2026

Julien Cailleau, Oney: “With 3 retailers, we are testing the use of Valiuz data to streamline financing approvals”

Against a backdrop of growing pressure on household budgets, the European CCD2 Directive coming into force and a new legal framework for assisted purchasing journeys, Oney is stepping up an...

29 October 2026