How can companies identify the right international growth opportunities? Former CEO of The Body Shop, Pandora and L'Oréal UK, Jeremy Schwartz shares why AI-driven decision-making and emerging technologies will shape the next era of commerce.
Watch the full video interview below.
As the closing keynote speaker at Smart Commerce Nordic 2026, Jeremy Schwartz brought decades of global retail leadership experience to the stage. Having led iconic brands including The Body Shop, Pandora and L’Oréal UK, he shared practical advice for companies looking to expand beyond their home markets.
According to Schwartz, one of the biggest mistakes businesses make when entering new markets is relying on intuition instead of data.
“The key is to use AI to identify which cities and countries offer the optimum export opportunity.”
For Finnish companies in particular, he sees significant untapped potential abroad. With a domestic market of just five million people, international growth opportunities are abundant—but success depends on selecting the right markets using data and AI rather than familiarity or proximity.
Looking ahead, Schwartz believes commerce is entering a new technological era. While AI-powered avatars will make customer interactions more human and engaging, he predicts that humanoid robots will have an even greater impact on retail operations.
“Humanoid robots will become a future of retail.”
Driven by global labour shortages and rapid advances in automation, Schwartz sees robots taking on an increasing number of roles across retail and service industries.
His conviction is so strong that he has already ordered a humanoid robot himself—and is currently waiting for its arrival.