Podcasts about nrf

The hosts take open a sweeping look at the week's most consequential retail developments before heading live to the Narvar Podcast Studio at the NRF Big Show for a deep dive into AI, agentic commerce, and the evolving post-purchase customer journey.The news segment explores Saks Global's decision to close nine full-line stores, underscoring ongoing consolidation in the luxury industry and challenges in multi-line retail. The hosts examine luxury's continued bifurcation, with Kering struggling while Hermès thrives, reinforcing that luxe positioning alone isn't enough — execution matters.In specialty retail, the “collapse of the unremarkable middle” continues as Toys “R” Us Canada, Francesca's, and Eddie Bauer face significant retrenchment if not extinction, while Tractor Supply and Aritzia aggressively expand. Kroger appoints its first external CEO, Greg Boren, signaling operational rigor ahead, while Costco once again posts remarkable sales growth  Meanwhile, Target begins meaningful leadership restructuring — a foundational step in what is likely a multi-year turnaround. On the radar: AI-powered retail crime prevention at Bunnings and the imminent opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major infrastructure development for North American trade.The featured interview brings Henry Spear, SVP Digital North America, JD Sports, and David Morin, VP Customer Strategy for Narvar, to the mic for a timely discussion on agentic commerce and how leveraging product returns can create competitive differentiation. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Technology is reshaping the in-store experience, and Jake Neiman is helping retailers bring digital innovation into the physical world. The co-founder and CEO of BIG Digital joins Retail Gets Real to discuss how immersive kiosks, smart merchandising solutions, AI-powered interfaces and next-generation ePaper displays are transforming how customers engage with brands inside stores.(00:00:00) Powering live events with interactive kiosks(00:04:38) Building BIG Digital during a global shutdown(00:07:04) Bringing immersive technology onto the sales floor(00:11:26) What limits retailers from adopting new tech(00:12:56) What's next for digital retail innovation(00:17:34) The future of retail belongs to immersive experiencesThe National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association.Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.Resources:• Become an NRF member and join the world's largest retail trade association• Learn about our retail education platform, the NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.comRelated:• 399: Inside Retail's Big Show: Innovation, AI and what's coming next• 392: How Warby Parker is redefining retail and customer experience

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupLaura Cantor, VP of Marketing & E-commerce at New York & Company, shares the reality of transforming a legacy retail brand in the age of AI - and why nobody can do it alone.In this episode:

L'e-commerce passe du SEO au GEO : Entre agents autonomes et révolutions logistiques.Dans ce 257ème épisode, Laetitia et Adrien décryptent la bascule historique que nous vivons : la fin du moteur de recherche au profit du moteur de conversation. Entre l'alliance Shopify x OpenAI et l'arrivée de la pub sur ChatGPT, le retail ne sera plus jamais le même.Au programme de cet épisode :

Liberty London meets Bridgerton, Quiz enters administration, and pop-ups are taking over the UK high street — this week's Five Things Friday covers the retail stories that matter.In this episode, Alex and Simone break down five major retail and fashion stories shaping the UK high street right now — from heritage brand activations and immersive beauty experiences to the harsh realities facing mid-market retailers.

Retail is shifting fast across Asia-Pacific and this week's Five Things Friday unpacks the signals every operator, brand and investor needs to watch.Low Ngai Yuen MD AEON360 & Ryf Quail (Managing Director, NRF Retail's Big Show APAC & Middle East) joins the conversation with major personal news, and major market insight.In this episode:• Sephora partners with Olive Young to launch dedicated K-Beauty zones globally• Luckin Coffee opens its 30,000th store and expands its flagship + small format model• Inflation resurfaces across Australia and Japan• The structural rise of convenience snacking• Why Seoul is becoming the flagship retail experience capital of AsiaThis is not trend watching. This is structural change.From cultural authority in beauty to omnichannel rollout strategies, from tier-2 coffee expansion to generational food behavior shifts — this episode maps where retail is headed next.ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Welcome to the official channel of The Retail Podcast, your hub for global retail intelligence.Whether you are an executive refining your strategy, a vendor connecting with major players, or an innovator tracking the latest tech, this channel connects you to the pulse of the industry.What to expect:Expert Analysis: Breaking down insights from major global conferences like NRF, Shoptalk, Web Summit, MAPIC; Euroshop and EuroCIS.Diverse Perspectives: Hosted by a rotation of industry veterans and regional experts (APAC, US, EU).Actionable Strategy: We move beyond the headlines to discuss real ROI, digital transformation, and the future of commerce—from AI agents to luxury fashion and grocery trends.As part of the RetailNews.AI ecosystem, we help you cut through the noise to find what actually works in modern retail.

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc open with a sweeping look at the week's most consequential retail developments before welcoming two global retail store visionaries for a deep dive into the future of brick-and-mortar locations.The news segment begins with a tale of two retail giants: Walmart reaching a historic $1 trillion market cap milestone, signaling sustained operational momentum, while Target faces leadership transition amid prolonged performance challenges. The hosts analyze what these divergent trajectories mean for mass retail strategy and investor expectations.Amazon's earnings dominate the conversation next. With massive capital expenditures approaching $200 billion—tied to AI infrastructure and distribution expansion—the debate centers on whether this represents visionary investment or an overheated AI arms race. Retail growth remains robust across retail while the highly profitable advertising business is on fire. Recent while same-day grocery expansion is driving new growth with the potential to shake-up competitive dynamics.The discussion also highlights luxury bifurcation, with strong results from Ralph Lauren and Tapestry's Coach brand contrasting broader sector volatility. Simon Property Group's strong earnings prove the best malls are dead, as they also continue to make big investments in reinventing several of their properities.The second half of the episode shifts to an insightful, live conversation from NRF's Big Show with Jack Stratten, Director of Insider Trends, and Kevin Ervin Kelley, Principal and Co-Founder of Shook Kelley and author of Irreplaceable. Together, they explore what makes modern stores not just functional—but truly remarkable. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Enterprise AI doesn't fail because the models aren't ready. It stalls when operating models, data foundations, and decision paths can't keep up. Recorded at NRF, this AiR Podcast features Yael Kochman in conversation with Rakesh Srinivasan (The Estée Lauder Companies) and Chris Daniels (Toptal) on what it takes to move from scattered experimentation to repeatable, enterprise deployment - across brands, regions, teams, and partner ecosystems. Key takeaways - Why saturation, skepticism, and a fragmented customer journey are forcing beauty brands to rethink how innovation gets delivered - What must change inside the enterprise to scale AI: product-oriented teams, clear intake and sequencing, and strategy-led roadmaps - The real governance challenge: maintaining brand voice and trust as data flows through platforms, vendors, and generative layers - How modular, “build once, scale many” platforms enable faster deployment across brands - When partnering accelerates outcomes - and why building everything internally can slow progress - A concrete example: Jo Malone London's Scent Finder and what it shows about treating AI as a product, not a pilot Learn more about The Estée Lauder Companies and Toptal

Cassandra Napoli, head of marketing, events and culture forecasting at WGSN, returns to Retail Gets Real to explore what is changing in culture, technology and consumer behavior. Recorded live from NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show in New York City, she discusses the evolving nature of human connection and what retailers can do to future-proof their businesses in a world shaped by uncertainty, fragmented identities and competing demands for attention.(00:00:00) When disruption reshapes the future overnight(00:04:25) How uncertainty is shaping the next consumer generation(00:07:35) Loneliness, community and the return of shared experiences(00:12:07) Why niche communities and creators are redefining influence(00:16:29) Where AI helps and where it hurts the retail experience(00:18:41) Why the next big disruption is going offline(00:23:49) How culture, entertainment and moments are driving what's next(00:29:03) Rapid fire insights on media, habits and attentionThe National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association.Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.Resources:• Become an NRF member and join the world's largest retail trade association• Learn about our retail education platform, the NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.comRelated:• 400: How retail navigated uncertainty and transformation in 2025• 374: Get ahead of the future of retail

At NRF, we sat down with Alyssa Hampton and Corinne Suarez, senior retail leaders at Marine Layer, to break down what's actually driving success in modern retail.Marine Layer has built a fast-growing retail business by focusing on conscious consumers, low-pressure in-store experiences, and a people-first culture—all while scaling to nearly 60 stores and maintaining B Corp values.In this conversation, we explore:Why younger generations care deeply about who they buy fromHow Marine Layer designs stores as places to hang out, not be sold toThe role of sustainability, recycled materials, and product educationHow retail tech supports seamless in-store and online experiencesWhat women early in their careers need to know about moving from the shop floor to HQThe importance of mentorship, advocacy, and asking for feedbackWhy retail experience builds grit that corporate résumés can't replaceThis episode is essential viewing for retail executives, brand leaders, store operators, and anyone building the future of physical retail.

O hype acabou e o caos começou.Depois da NRF, o mercado mergulhou de cabeça no universo dos agentes autônomos e o resultado foi um mix de empolgação, bug e paranoia digital.Neste episódio, Caio Camargo e Fred Alecrim destrincham o caso OpenClaw, o robô que tomou conta dos computadores e levantou um alerta global sobre segurança, governança e identidade digital.Um papo que vai do apocalipse tecnológico à esperança no bom e velho varejo físico.Toda terça é dia de Tendências e Pendências.Dá o play e vem entender o que o hype da IA está escondendo.----#varejocast #TendênciasEPendências #OpenClaw #AgentCommerce #Multibook #InteligenciaArtificial #Varejo #NRF2026 #Inovacao #FredAlecrim #CaioCamargo #PodcastBrasil----

There is a reason NRF is called Retail's Big Show. Each year, it generates an unmistakable buzz across the retail industry. What matters most, however, is how that buzz translates into real insight and action. NRF 2026 delivered bold predictions, big ideas, and no shortage of conversation around AI. The real question is what retailers actually took seriously this year. In this episode of Retail Therapy, host Andrew Smith of ThinkUncommon is joined by Liza Amlani of Retail Strategy Group and Casey Golden of CI&T to break down the signals that mattered most from both the show floor and the stage. Rather than rehashing headlines, the conversation focuses on the realities retailers are facing today, including: • Why NRF 2026 felt fresher and more grounded than recent years • The shift from AI education to AI implementation and accountability • Where pressure is building around data readiness, change management, and ROI • Practical examples of what is working, what remains difficult, and what may be overhyped • Why transparency, experimentation, and learning from failure stood out this year Whether you missed NRF or attended in person, this episode offers a clear, honest debrief designed to help retail leaders cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters. Listen to the full episode of Retail Therapy

Unified commerce is everywhere — but Pim Vijftigschild (Chief Commercial & Partner Officer at New Black) argues the next wave is bigger: contextual commerce.In this episode, we break down what “contextual” actually means in retail: capturing the interaction that leads to the transaction, rebuilding the “black book” level of customer understanding, and why most enterprise retail architectures (and RFPs) are stuck in the past.We also get into why modern retail transformation is 15% technology and 85% courage, how retailers get trapped in Frankenstacks and “best-of-breed” RFP thinking, and why click & collect became the wake-up call for legacy systems.Plus: a look at New Black's NRF plans, including iOS Avenue (a live store experience built with an ecosystem of partners) and a world tour concept designed to help retailers bring NRF inspiration back home and translate vision into execution.What you'll learn:How to convert any interaction into a transactionWhy retail tech stacks must shift from an enterprise pyramid to a customer-first funnelThe hidden failure in best-of-breed RFPs (and what's missing)Why “open heart surgery” is the right metaphor for POS changeHow brand communities move from one-way “clienteling” to two-way belongingGuest: Pim Vijftigschild, Chief Commercial & Partner Officer, New BlackTopic: Contextual commerce, retail transformation, platform strategy, communities, NRF

Host Karl McKeever reports from NRF 2026, Retail's Big Show, in New York City. At the start of a franticly busy three days in the Big Apple, we bring your highlights from the Javits Convention Center, where retail leaders and some of the industry's most pioneering vendors, discuss, debate, and present what the future of retail might look like. In this episode, we picked our way through some of the highlights from the event.

Recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show, The RETHINK Retail Podcast features Fritz Finlay, Head of Production at RETHINK Retail, in conversation with Will Burghes, Head of Professional Services at Rockerbox & DoubleVerify. The discussion focuses on how retail media measurement is evolving as brands and retailers move beyond impressions and clicks toward outcome-based metrics that matter to the business. Key insights from the episode include: - Why impressions and clicks are no longer enough for measuring retail media success - How retailers and brands are shifting toward revenue, incrementality, and ROAS - The role of verification, fraud prevention, and brand suitability as table stakes - How retail media networks, CTV, and walled gardens should be measured - Where AI fits into the future of advertising measurement, and where human judgment still matters With retail media networks growing rapidly, this episode breaks down what “good measurement” actually looks like in 2026 and how retailers can prioritize smarter budget decisions without waiting for perfect data.

This week on Five Things Friday (US Edition), we unpack the momentum shaping US retail and brand marketing right now—starting with strong sentiment coming out of NRF and rolling straight into the biggest advertising moment of the year: the Super Bowl.After a positive “Big Show,” retailers and exhibitors are carrying unexpected optimism into 2025. AI is no longer theoretical—brands are showing how it's actually being used. That confidence sets the stage for how companies are investing, storytelling, and showing up during the Super Bowl.In this episode, we cover:Retail sentiment and exhibitor confidence coming out of NRFAI moving from theory into real, practical useWhy Super Bowl ads command nearly $10M for 30 secondsStandout campaigns from Instacart, Xfinity, Ring, Expedia, and AdidasPurpose-driven marketing at true scaleHow brands extend Super Bowl moments beyond game dayWhat retailers should be doing now to prepare for the World Cup in the USFrom dinosaurs saved by better connectivity to lost dogs reunited through AI-powered cameras, this episode looks at how brands turn technology into emotion—and attention into long-term value.

In this edition of Five Things Friday UK, Alex and Simone break down the most important retail and brand signals shaping the future of shopping right now. From Reformation's quietly embedded in-store technology to luxury pop-ups in Dubai malls, this episode explores what actually improves customer experience and what retailers should be paying attention to.We cover how technology should be woven into the retail journey, not bolted on, why wellness-driven shopping baskets are accelerating, and how global markets like the UAE are redefining what shopping destinations can be. The conversation also tackles the realities facing UK retail, from high street pressures to cultural shifts, and why optimism is still justified.In this episode, you'll hear about:Reformation's tech-enabled fitting room modelWhy “quiet tech” is outperforming gimmicksOn Running's purpose-led collaboration strategyProtein and fibre as growth drivers in grocery basketsWhy UAE shopping malls feel like retail's golden eraHow luxury brands are engaging Gen Z without dilutionWhat UK retail must learn — and what it's already doing rightIf you work in retail, brand, ecommerce, or physical experience design, this episode is essential listening.Chapter Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Five Things Friday UK00:16 – Meet Alex & Simone00:31 – Retail travel, weather & context setting00:54 – What Alex & Simon do in retail01:16 – Shoptalk Luxe & empowering store staff with tech01:41 – Reformation's “tech menu” store experience01:57 – QR codes, digital baskets & optional technology02:22 – Physical retail's version of Google Analytics02:41 – Why quiet tech matters02:59 – Has Reformation cracked in-store tech?03:22 – The future of fitting rooms04:01 – Global brands entering the UK market04:29 – Asian and US brands expanding into London05:03 – Coffee brands, Camden & taste-testing retail05:16 – On Running x Sky High Farm Goods collaboration05:40 – Purpose-driven brand partnerships06:01 – Wellness shopping trends & Nielsen IQ insights06:28 – Protein and fibre driving basket growth06:47 – Fashion buying, Olympia & industry events07:14 – UAE retail experiences vs the UK07:35 – Why UAE malls feel different08:00 – Shopping as entertainment and destination08:16 – YSL pop-up & gamified luxury08:37 – Engaging Gen Z without cheapening luxury09:27 – Safety, culture & UK shopping centres10:11 – Challenges facing UK retail10:52 – Fun over more product11:15 – Signs of recovery and optimism

Retail in APAC is hitting a breaking point where "freshness" is no longer a luxury it's a survival requirement. Ryf Quail and Yuen Low break down why traditional 6-month order cycles are killing brands and how AI agents are fundamentally changing how consumers discover products.The Value Proposition: In this APAC Edition of Five Things Friday, we go behind the scenes of IKEA's flagship evolution in Shibuya, analyze Puma's strategic board-level shifts, and discuss the "death of search" as AI agents begin to make buying decisions for us.Chapter Timestamps:00:00 — Introduction: Meet Ryf Quail & Yuen Low01:06 — The Supply Chain Trap: Why long-lead orders are failing03:11 — The New IKEA: Why physical stores aren't withdrawing, they're evolving04:33 — Global Comparison: Shibuya's flagship vs. the Chinese retail model08:12 — The AI Agent Shift: When "Search" becomes "Action"10:33 — The Puma Play: Board seats, brand fantasy, and market influence13:47 — Influencer Dynamics: How individual creators are outpacing brand spend16:27 — Closing Thoughts: Is the IKEA withdrawal theory true?

Is retail suffering from "buzzword fatigue"? In this 25-minute deep dive, Nick Kaplan and Rick Watson debrief the biggest themes, surprises, and reality checks from NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show. From the noise surrounding "agentic commerce" to the practical startups actually moving the needle, we break down what brands need to know to survive the next era of retail.Key Takeaways:The Buzzword Barrier: Why brands are feeling lost in a sea of repetitive jargon and how to spot the difference between hype and high-impact tech.Practical Innovation: A look at the NRF Innovation Hub, featuring startups like Marpipe that are solving real-world problems in product feed and ad optimization.The Virtue of Patience: Navigating the rapid release cycle from giants such as OpenAI and Google requires a steady hand and a long-term view.The NRF Debrief is sponsored by Avalara and Freshmint.

In this episode of Five Things Friday, Alex sits down live at the show with Ryf Quail to unpack what made this year's event the biggest on record from 41–42,000 attendees, packed expo halls, and record exhibitor meetings, to a major global expansion announcement that reshapes the future of retail events.Ryf shares first-hand insights on:Why exhibitors recorded 200+ meaningful meetings on the show floorHow NRF has evolved into a truly global retail platformThe launch of NRF Big Show Middle East in Saudi Arabia (March 2027)Why international attendance now accounts for over a third of total attendeesThe innovation highlights — AI-driven food ordering, robots, holograms, and “store-in-a-box” concepts

The episode opens with a sweeping look at the biggest retail stories shaping January. Amazon dominates the headlines again, this time with the closure of all Amazon Fresh grocery and Go stores and a renewed reliance on Whole Foods and online grocery. At the same time, Amazon is laying off tens of thousands of employees, part of a broader wave of cuts across retail and adjacent industries, including UPS, Home Depot, and Nike. The hosts explore whether this is a post-pandemic correction, an AI-driven efficiency shift, or an early signal of bigger structural change.The news turns to Saks Global's bankruptcy, in which most Saks off-price stores will be shut down. This is expected to benefit rivals like Nordstrom Rack and Bloomingdale's Outlet. Earnings signals offer a mixed outlook: LVMH posts weaker results, reinforcing concerns that luxury's recovery will be uneven, while Starbucks shows early signs of traction with traffic growth and the return of tiered loyalty rewards.The second half features an energetic, insight-rich discussion with fellow NRF Top Voices Billy May, Brooklinen's CEO, and David J Katz, EVP and CMO, Randa Apparel, recorded live in the Narvar podcasting studio on the NRF Big Show show floor in New York. Together, they explore how consumer behavior is changing, why value is now deeply contextual, and how trust has become the most fragile currency in retail. They discuss pricing strategy in an era of tariffs, geopolitical risk, and algorithmic pricing, warning that transparency and clarity matter more than ever.The group dives into AI reality—what's working, what's hype, and why AI should be treated as a power tool, not a decision-maker. They examine leadership in the post-COVID era, arguing that execution, speed, and disciplined focus now define winning organizations. Don't miss these rapid-fire takes on rising retailers and the future of the department store—listen now and join the conversation to stay ahead in retail's next chapter.The conversation then shifts to the week's remarkable stories. highlighting the staggering scale of AI investment, including Anthropic's rumored $350 billion valuation and Amazon's possible $50 billion stake in OpenAI. Michael reflects on growing wealth concentration in the U.S. and many developed countries, noting the economic and social implications. Looking around the corner, Steve unpacks TikTok's shifting algorithms, political influence concerns, and TikTok Shop's move to force sellers into its proprietary logistics network—changes that could reshape social commerce. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Known for its bold brand, devoted fans and culture of innovation, Taco Bell continues to push the boundaries of what modern retail can be, blending human connection with digital transformation to create memorable experiences for both consumers and team members. Dane Mathews, global chief digital and technology officer at Taco Bell joins guest host David French of NRF for this wide-ranging conversation on innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of technology in retail, recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show in New York City.(00:00:00) From fandom to digital transformation(00:05:05) Turning loyalty into human connection(00:08:57) When AI changes the customer mindset(00:10:39) Scaling meaningful moments in 2026(00:13:55) Managing risk at the edge of innovation(00:16:53) Rethinking the human and technology equation(00:20:04) Leading with connection, curiosity and momentum(00:22:47) Why volatility is retail's greatest opportunityThe National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association.Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.Resources:• Become an NRF member and join the world's largest retail trade association• Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.comRelated:• 386: Inside Starbucks' commitment to thriving communities• 358: How McDonald's enhances customer engagement and loyalty

The National Retail Federation's annual NRF conference has become a showplace for the latest technology, as well its core retail foundations. Sheryl Kingstone returns to discuss what was on display and how it will impact retail and the larger tech landscape with host Eric Hanselman. While we may be a ways off from having robot dogs retrieving shoes at your local mall store, automation and agentic applications are delivering significant value in customer interactions - $22 billion in the recent 451 Research study. The days of clunky chatbot interfaces seem to be well and truly behind us. One the greater challenges in scaling agentic applications is maintaining consumer trust as applications and use cases grow. Part of that trust will depend on effectively managing fleets of agents. In order to scale, organizations have to develop an AI agent control plane that can manage memory, maintain context and guide agent actions. Regulatory requirements are in their early stages, but enterprises have to focus on controls that will ensure they can maintain customer trust as matter of basic business operations.   More S&P Global Content: Next in Tech podcast: Agentic Customer Experience Next in Tech episode 222:  FinOps Next in Tech | Ep. 205: Agentic AI Impacts AI for security: Agentic AI will be a focus for security operations in 2025   For S&P Global subscribers: NRF 2026 Spotlight: Agentic Experiences Redefine Retail Execution NRF 2026 Big Show signals physical retail's digital backbone Agents in the enterprise: Laying the groundwork for automation The CX AI Agent Index 2025 Agents are already driving workplace impact and agentic AI adoption – Highlights from Vot… Big Picture 2026 AI Outlook: Unleashing agentic potential   Credits: Host/Author: Eric Hanselman  Guest: Sheryl Kingstone Producer/Editor: Feranmi Adeoshun Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Kyra Smith

How does a regional retailer scale to 86 stores in 7 years? We go on-site at BM's La Finca flagship in Madrid with Regional Director José to uncover the "Anti-Commodity" playbook that is redefining grocery retail in Spain.In this episode, we explore:The 4 Pillars of BM: Why Fresh, Assortment, Service, and CX are non-negotiable.The 10,000 SKU Secret: How to offer "Full Basket" convenience in a proximity format.Fresh as a Driver: Why fresh food accounts for $50%$ of sales and how they scale craft.Local Sourcing KPIs: Moving beyond marketing to create real impact for producers.Retail Tech: The virtual wine recommender and digital assist tools that actually work.About the Guest:José is the Regional Director (Madrid) and Executive Committee member at BM. With a 10-year background at Lidl, he brings a unique perspective on blending discount efficiency with premium service levels.

Recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show, this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast features Michelle James, Vice President at CTIA, in conversation with Melissa Blassingame, RVP of Partner Alliances at Twilio. As consumers increasingly ignore unknown calls, this episode explores how Branded Calling ID in retail is helping brands rebuild trust and improve voice engagement. - Why trust in voice communications is critical for modern retail - How Branded Calling ID improves answer rates and customer experience - Real-world retail use cases, including delivery and customer support - How industry standards and collaboration are restoring trust in voice

AI took center stage at NRF 2026, and few moments underscored its importance more than Google CEO Sundar Pichai's keynote, where he outlined how shopping is evolving in an increasingly agentic, AI-driven world.This episode of Retail Remix, recorded live from the show floor, features host Nicole Silberstein in conversation with Anil Jain, who leads Global Strategic Industries at Google Cloud. Anil shares how Google Cloud is working with retailers to reimagine everything from product discovery to post-purchase service and why agentic AI represents a fundamental shift in how consumers will interact with brands.Key TakeawaysWhy AI is becoming the great equalizer, helping smaller companies compete with limited resources;How AI experiences in general-use platforms like Google Search are upping the ante for everyone, and how to keep up;What multimodal search unlocks when consumers can shop using not just text, but also voice, images and video;Why hyper-personalization is finally within reach after decades of promise;The change management that will be required as AI shifts the way we all work; How Google and its Cloud division are building for this future.Related LinksRelated reading: Google Launches Direct Checkout in Search, GeminiLearn how Google Cloud is helping retailers adopt AI at scaleExplore more NRF26 coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe so you don't miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26

Can technology actually make shopping feel more personal? Recorded live at NRF 2026, this RETHINK Retail Podcast moves past the AI hype to focus on the people behind the counter. Host Michael Klein is joined by David Weissman from Tulip, Rissa Jarrat from Jenni Kayne, and Kimberly Levine from TUMI for a candid conversation about the future of clienteling. In a world of digital noise, these leaders are using AI to bring back the "little black book" of retail, at scale: - The "Gift of Time": How TUMI uses technology to free up associates so they can focus on the person standing in front of them. - Authenticity First: Why Jenni Kayne prioritizes "reading the room" over automated messaging. - Million-Dollar Performers: What happens when you give every associate the tools to build their own book of business. This isn't just about efficiency; it's about making sure the "human" stays at the heart of your brand.

Recorded live from the Narvar podcasting studio at the NRF Big Show in New York, this 500th episode of The Voice of Retail features Michael LeBlanc in conversation with Jim Okamura, Partner at McMillanDoolittle and Co-Founder of the Global E-Commerce Leaders Forum (GELF). With nearly three decades of NRF attendance, Jim brings rare perspective on how retail has evolved—and why this year's show feels like a turning point.The discussion opens with the shifting mood across the industry. After a year defined by uncertainty and stalled investment, Jim notes a renewed sense of confidence and proactive thinking among retailers. Despite geopolitical volatility and tariff risks, brands are beginning to move from defensive postures toward growth strategies grounded in technology, experience, and global expansion.From there, Michael and Jim explore what's happening inside physical retail through store tour insights. They revisit standout experiences from Tecovas in New York, Patagonia's re-commerce flagship in Chicago, and Fjällräven's repair-driven store model—each illustrating how brands are using service, repair, and resale to create emotional loyalty and long-term customer value. Jim emphasizes that circular retail is no longer a niche or sustainability checkbox; it is becoming a core brand strategy, even in luxury.The conversation then shifts to AI, the dominant theme at NRF. Jim highlights how retailers are moving beyond pilot projects and into real operational use—especially in content creation, product imagery, associate tools, and internal data analysis. One recurring theme: simplification. AI's greatest value, Jim argues, is its ability to reduce friction—whether for customers navigating e-commerce, or for store associates juggling dozens of disconnected systems.Michael and Jim also examine the organizational implications of AI. As automation replaces many entry-level tasks, they raise critical questions about talent development, culture, and “reverse mentoring.” Younger employees—native to prompts and digital tools—may become essential guides in shaping how retailers evolve.Finally, the conversation returns to global commerce. Through GELF, Jim (and Michael) works with brands navigating cross-border growth, tariffs, marketplace complexity, and brand integrity across regions. He believes 2026 will mark a return to global growth—driven by smarter governance, better data readiness, and peer-driven learning models.Jim's closing advice is clear: retailers must invest now in AI governance, data infrastructure, and scalable use cases—or risk being left behind in a rapidly transforming industry. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

This episode is brought to you by Airia.AI dominated conversations at NRF 2026—but as adoption accelerates, so do the risks. In this Retail Remix Deep Dive bonus episode, host Adam Blair, Editor at Retail TouchPoints, sits down with Kevin Kiley, CEO of AIRIA, to explore how retailers can unlock the promise of AI without exposing themselves to unnecessary vulnerability.Together, they unpack where AI is delivering real value across retail, from store associate enablement to back-office operations, while also addressing the growing challenges around security, governance, reliability, and ROI. Kevin shares why “AI sprawl” is becoming a serious issue, how model outages and hallucinations can derail critical workflows, and why retailers must avoid locking themselves into a single AI provider.The conversation also draws parallels to earlier tech shifts like mobile and e-commerce, offering a grounded look at what retailers should prioritize now—and what to be cautious about—as AI moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment.Key TakeawaysWhy AI is a strong fit across retail functions, from the store floor to legal and supply chainThe hidden risks of agentic AI, including data access, outages, and model driftHow governance, observability, and auditability are becoming non-negotiableWhy flexibility across AI models is critical as capabilities evolve at breakneck speedWhere retailers are seeing the biggest ROI today—from associate training to contract reviewA realistic outlook on AI's trajectory through 2026, including where hype may coolRelated LinksLearn how AIRIA helps enterprises govern and secure AI deployments:Explore more retail insights and and NRF26 coverage at  Retail TouchPointsSubscribe so you don't miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26. -----Discover how Airia's no-code AI platform empowers retail teams to automate inventory, customer support, and more—without technical expertise. Ready to make AI work for you? Visit airia.com/retailtouchpoints to learn more.

Recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show, the RETHINK Retail Podcast dives into how Rebag is using conversational AI to transform luxury resale. Olivier Hepner, CPTO at Rebag and Howe Gu Senior Vice President, Partnerships & Ecosystem at Rezolve AI, discuss moving beyond traditional search, helping shoppers make confident decisions, and blending AI with human expertise. Discover what intelligence-driven retail looks like in a one-of-a-kind product world.

Retail is an industry built on people, emotion and constant reinvention, and few leaders embody that reality more fully than Ulta Beauty President and CEO Kecia Steelman. In this episode of Retail Gets Real recorded live from NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show in New York City, Steelman explores her remarkable career journey, leadership philosophy and how she's guiding the nation's largest specialty beauty retailer through one of the most transformative moments in retail history.(00:00:00) From the sales floor to the CEO seat(00:05:48) How retail creates opportunity at every level(00:09:14) Why beauty retail is about emotion, not just products(00:12:52) Why the future of retail has no finish line(00:16:24) How culture drives performance at Ulta Beauty(00:19:28) How Ulta Beauty localizes a global brand(00:22:14) What retail needs more (and less) of right nowThe National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association.Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.Resources:• Become an NRF member and join the world's largest retail trade association• Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.comRelated:• 380: How Vera Bradley transformed a legacy brand• 376: How Target's consumer-first strategy drives success

This Episode is Sponsored by: PwC The era of the GLP-1 is upon us – and with household penetration approaching 20%, the food and beverage industry needs to take notice. However, as PwC's Alison Furman and Paul Leinwand explain, these drugs are impacting more than just food purchasing behavior. More about Alison Furman: Alison Furman is PwC's US Consumer Markets Industry Leader across PwC's three lines of service: Advisory, Assurance and Tax. Her portfolio includes PwC's Retail, Hospitality, CPG, Travel, Airlines and Restaurant sub-sectors. Leveraging her extensive industry experience and the PwC network she works closely with senior leaders to grow, transform and take advantage of disruption, in the constantly changing landscape of Consumer Markets.​ A nationally recognized thought leader on consumer behavior, Ali shapes the conversation on how consumers think, spend, and engage with brands. She is an expert featured in Top Tier broadcast and written media including CBS, NPR, Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Live Radio, Good Morning America, CNBC, The TODAY Show and more, where she provides clear analysis on trends including generational trends, GLP-1s, and AI. ​ Ali serves as an active sponsor and strategic collaborator to the Consumer Brands Association (CBA) and sits on the NRF Foundation Board. She has delivered keynotes at NRF's Big Show, CBA leadership forums, and other premier stages, where leaders consistently describe her perspective as actionable.​ Prior to her current role, Ali served as the Managing Partner of PwC's US Transformation Consulting business, overseeing a ~$4B P&L and leading management consulting capabilities across strategy, customer, operations, M&A, finance, workforce, and technology. She is also a longtime PwC Deals Partner, having advised on hundreds of transactions — including many of the largest Consumer Markets mega-deals valued at more than $5 billion.​ More about Paul Leinwand: Paul Leinwand is a thought leader on strategy, growth, and capability building for Strategy&, PwC's strategy consulting group. Based in Chicago, he is a principal with PwC US Paul advises clients on the topic of strategy, growth, and capability building, with a focus on the consumer product and retail sectors. Recent Publications •Co-Author of four books, Beyond Digital: How Great Leaders Transform Their Organizations and Shape the Future, Strategy That Works: How Winning Companies Close the Strategy-to-Execution Gap (Harvard Business Review Press, 2016), The Essential Advantage: How to Win with a Capabilities-Driven Strategy (Harvard Business Review Press, 2010) and Cut Costs and Grow Stronger (Harvard Business Review Press, 2009), as well as several articles in the Harvard Business Review and strategy+business. •“Create a System to Grow Consistently” – Five elements can move you beyond episodic success, a Strategy& study. •"Pay Attention to Revenue Growth. But How?", which appeared in strategy+business. •"The Power of Operational POS – From Managing at the Mean to Managing the Meaningful", a Strategy& study. •"The End of Trade 'Spending'? Two New Approaches Can Recoup This Investment", a Strategy& study. Mr. Leinwand earned an MBA with Distinction from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Washington University. He currently teaches at Kellogg as an Adjunct Professor of Strategy. More about PwC: At PwC, we help clients build trust and reinvent so they can turn complexity into competitive advantage. We're a tech-forward, people-empowered network with more than 370,000 people in 149 countries. Across audit and assurance, tax and legal, deals and consulting we help clients build, accelerate and sustain momentum. Find out more at www.pwc.com.

Recorded at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show, this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast explores how retailers are translating data into more informed decision-making at the store level. In 'From Insight to Impact: How Intelligent Retail Creates Results', industry leaders discuss how connected retail ecosystems, spanning POS, self-checkout, back office operations, and analytics, can support operational efficiency and contribute to improved customer experiences. The conversation brings together perspectives from Loblaws and Diebold Nixdorf, sharing practical observations on how retailers approach technology integration, scale innovation across store networks, and align digital investments with business priorities. Podcast participants include: - Roman Gerlicher, SVP, Retail Technology, Loblaw Companies Limited - Arvin Jawa, VP, Global Marketing & Strategy, Diebold Nixdorf

The NRF Big Show is always a whirlwind and this year was no exception. In this special episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein is joined live from the show floor by her colleagues Adam Blair of Retail TouchPoints and Kate Robertson of Shop Eat Surf Outdoor to break down what stood out while everything was still fresh.From first-time impressions (Kate has never been before) to veteran perspectives (Adam has attended going on 20 years), the trio reflects on the themes that dominated conversations across sessions and booths. Unsurprisingly, AI was everywhere but the editors also dig into the growing emphasis on humanity, trust, authenticity and culture as retailers figure out how (and where) new this technology fits in.This candid, on-the-ground conversation captures what NRF really feels like — and what retail leaders are wrestling with as 2026 gets underway.Highlights from this episode include:How the AI conversation shifted at NRF 2026 from hype to hands-on learnings;The striking quality and confidence of Gen Z voices on stage — and what that says about the future workforce;Why retailers like LVMH are doubling down on the human element, even as automation accelerates;How creators, trust and authenticity are becoming more critical in a world of AI-driven discovery;Leadership lessons from Dick's Sporting Goods on culture, competitiveness, and rewarding the unglamorous work.Related LinksRelated reading:Dick's Sporting Goods Chairman Ed Stack on House of Sport, Corporate Culture and Fixing Foot LockerRelated reading: AI in Luxury: Why LVMH Won't Let AI Eclipse Humanity or CreativityRelated reading: How Inviting Consumers to ‘Ask Ralph' Deepens Their Connection to the Ralph Lauren BrandExplore ongoing NRF coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints.Subscribe so you don't miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26.

What happens when your best customer is no longer a person, but an AI agent acting on their behalf? Agility requires not just adapting to new technologies, but fundamentally rethinking the customer journey when those technologies change the very definition of a customer. It demands a proactive stance on what's next, rather than a reactive one. Today, we're going to talk about the seismic shifts happening in e-commerce, fresh off the floor of NRF 2026, and what it all means for the year ahead. We'll explore the real-world impact of AI on the customer experience, the rise of agentic commerce, and how marketing leaders can prepare for a future that's arriving faster than anyone expected.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome back Lena Moriarty, Head of Marketing at eTail. About Lena Moriarty Lena Moriarty is the Head of Marketing at eTail, the conference community designed to power your growth 365 days a year. At eTail, she takes charge on all things omnichannel marketing and strategy, from point A to point Z. Lena Moriarty on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/lenamoriarty Resources eTail Palm Springs: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://ratethispodcast.com/agile Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Tariffs reshaping supply chains. AI's hallucination problem exposed. Just-in-time dead, just-in-case reborn. Warehouse clubs dominating omnichannel. Four major themes. Twenty executive interviews. These were just some of my lessons learned from NRF 2026.Hosted by Chris Walton, former Target executive and co-host of the Omnii Talk Retail Fast Five Podcast. New episodes of Walton's Weekly Wramblings drop every Friday.Brought to you with the help and support of Grocery Dealz and MiraklSubscribe now and be careful out there - the retail landscape is changing faster than ever.

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us!Last week, Shelley caught up with five more innovators at NRF 2026 to get their takes on the retail industry and an outlook for this year. Their conversations ranged from the connected store and talent development to geolocation analytics and the need for personalization.  Listen and learn from the experts. Matthew Cry transformed his retail leadership experience by leveraging a better way to engage with customers and product with daily insights. “The physical store is the pulse on everything that's happening, connecting your inventory, shoppers, store teams, what's being bought, and what's not being bought. So, we're thinking when a customer is in that moment looking for something, we should be able to show her other products that are available in her size, and we should be saving the sales associate time from not having to do that manually.”Kimberly Minor's explains there is no longer a direct linear career path: “How do we create pathways to new jobs, and how do we prepare people to be flexible so that they are ready when new opportunities open?” She adds “If you're curious about what your future could look like, then you should be curious about what other opportunities are available.”As a professor at FIT and Parsons School of Design, Marie Driscoll distills the underlying trend in retail to the range of AI tools that are aiding the retail practice. Her NRF observations range from Mango , Dick's and LVMH to the K-shaped economy and the challenges of real estate and the luxury market. From a consumer perspective, going into 2026, she says, “I think the consumer is sitting in the best seat. She has so many choices, and the retailers that are creating valuable services for their customers will win.”Dominic Miserandino explores what makes the customer experience joy; he says experiential is a human connection.  As a connector, he adds, “I think we have evolved into a non-experiential, transactional retail culture, meaning DoorDash, press the button; Uber Eats, press the button. And the consumer is saying, yeah, that's awesome.” As an antidote, he adds, “You have to seek the emotional connections of humanity. So, retailers need to think about how they can humanize at scale.”  is the connection among them all.”  Gary Sankary's work on mapping and geo-spatial analytics helps retailers understand why things happen where they do inside and outside stores—everything from the global all the way down to the neighborhood. As a contrarian, he says, “I'm going to be an outlier here and say Agentic AI is not going to innovate; what drives retail success is innovation and design. What AI is helping us do is expand the scope of the things that we can look at.”Matthew Cyr, CEO, Founder, Crave RetailKimberly Minor, CEO Co-Founder, WOC Retail Alliance (WOCRA)Marie Driscoll, TRR Contributor, Professor, FIT, Parsons School of Design Dominic Miserandino, Founder and CEO, RTM NexusGary Sankary,Retail Industry Lead, EsriFor more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com, where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, Barry and Rachel are joined by Amar Singh and David Marcotte for a rapid‑fire download on everything we saw, heard, and learned at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show. From global tech innovation to the rise of agentic commerce, frictionless checkout, robotics, synthetic data, and the power of creators, this episode is packed with the signals shaping the next era of retail.

Live from NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show in New York City, Ali Furman, partner and U.S. consumer markets industry leader at PwC, and Barbara O'Beirne, head of global enterprise business development at Stripe, both join Retail Gets Real for a wide-ranging conversation on how AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to execution — and what that means for retailers right now.Near the Expo floor buzzing with robots, AI demos and next-generation technology, Furman and O'Beirne unpack why agentic AI represents a structural change rather than a passing trend. Unlike earlier generations of AI that primarily assisted with search and discovery, agentic AI is designed to act. It can evaluate options, make decisions and increasingly transact on behalf of consumers. They say this evolution is reshaping the very top of the shopping funnel and redefining how consumers decide what to buy.(00:00:00) Why agentic AI was everywhere at NRF 2026(00:04:49) How commerce is moving inside AI conversations(00:07:29) Why agentic commerce is a structural shift, not a trend(00:10:21) How will agentic AI impact bricks-and-mortar retail?(00:12:45) How PwC and Stripe are helping retailers move from pilots to reality(00:18:31) Where retail leaders should start with AI right nowThe National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association.Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.Resources:• Become an NRF member and join the world's largest retail trade association• Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.comRelated:• 395: Adapting to the rise of AI shoppers• 390: The role of AI in shaping cybersecurity and fraud prevention

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026, Mike Wier, Vice President of Store Brands at CVS, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how CVS is rethinking private brands as a core growth engine across health, wellness, and everyday convenience. Mike explains what it means to run store brands like a “mini CEO,” overseeing product development, sourcing, branding, and growth across a 9,000-store footprint. With most CVS customers shopping quick, mission-driven trips, the conversation focuses on how simplicity, clarity, and trust at the shelf are shaping CVS's private brand strategy. Looking ahead, Mike outlines his vision for CVS private brands evolving beyond the store, becoming trusted consumer brands that extend outside of CVS's four walls and operate more like modern CPG companies. Key Topics Covered: -What it means to lead private brands as a “mini CEO” inside CVS -Why CVS simplified dozens of brands into a focused brand portfolio How short, mission-driven trips shape private brand strategy -Repositioning the CVS brand for health, wellness, and trust -Packaging simplification and shelf clarity as competitive advantages -Competing with national brands in wellness and everyday essentials -Why CVS private brands may expand beyond CVS stores -How private brands are becoming long-term growth platforms Thank you to Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's NRF 2026 coverage, and thank you to our listeners for following along throughout the show. #NRF2026 #CVS #PrivateBrands #StoreBrands #RetailStrategy #HealthAndWellness #RetailBranding #RetailInnovation #OmniTalkRetail

In this Retail Technology Spotlight episode, Amy Vener, Global Retail & Consumer Goods Marketing Director for Commercial Cloud & AI at Microsoft, joins Omni Talk to unpack the main takeaways from NRF and where retailers should focus next as agentic commerce moves from theory to execution. Drawing on her experience across Walmart, Pinterest, and Microsoft, Amy shares how retailers are shifting away from AI hype and toward real, measurable outcomes. From conversational shopping agents and merchandising insights to connected stores and cultural readiness, this episode breaks down how retailers can drive real return on intelligence in 2026 and beyond. If you're trying to figure out where AI fits into your merchandising, marketing, store operations, or supply chain strategy (and how to start without boiling the ocean), this conversation is for you. Key Topics covered: • 00:03:08 – Why “what problem are you trying to solve?” still matters more than the tech • 00:07:34 – Agentic commerce use cases across marketing, merchandising, and operations • 00:15:50 – How conversational data is influencing assortment and product development • 00:10:01 – The role of connected stores and digital twins in retail decision-making • 00:09:09 / 00:19:58 – Lessons from brands like Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren, and Coca-Cola • 00:23:07 – Why culture and team readiness are critical to AI adoption • 00:25:42 – How retailers should engage Microsoft to drive faster business impact

This week, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels are joined by senior reporter Julia Waldow to dive into takeaways from the National Retail Federation's 2026 conference; it's the retail industry's biggest conference, and typically sets the tone for the year. The mood at NRF was cautiously optimistic, with brands and retailers showing off their best use cases of agentic commerce and AI tools to help with checkout and discovery. Waldow explains how the week also saw announcements from the likes of Google, and Microsoft about the tools they're deploying for retailers to try. But at the same time, executives said there is still some friction, with many attendees themselves saying they don't trust AI to do their shopping for them. Barkho discuss how beyond technology, brands talked about how to court today's shoppers by focusing on value, and the ways they're looking to stay relevant. Other key themes discussed on the show include: How AI in retail has shifted from hypothetical use cases to case studies of practical applications  The far-fetched robotics and technologies seen on the Expo Floor  Brands becoming less vocal about tariffs and immigration-related challenges as they focus on growth in a complex landscape

Fresh from the Javits Center, Phillip, Brian, and Alicia unpack NRF 2026's dominant themes, from AI's omnipresence to its curiously low adoption among the very professionals championing it. The conversation moves beyond technology theater to explore what truly drives commerce: cultural connection, intentional brand heritage, and multiplayer engagement that treats customers as collaborators rather than data points.2026 Brought Us An AI Wake-Up CallKey Takeaways:AI saturation at NRF contrasts sharply with minimal executive adoptionSuccessful AI integration preserves brand heritage rather than replacing itMultiplayer brand engagement becomes reality through tools like Taco Bell's Fan StyleplatformAnalog intimacy resurfaces as consumers fight against  digital fatigue"Who here has used AI to search for a product that you would like to buy? Not a single hand went up. Three out of 300 people had used ChatGPT to search for anything." — Phillip"The point isn't the technology. The point is building a memorable experience that connects people to people." — Brian (referencing Taco Bell's Dane Matthews)"How do you take a brand that is as beloved and known for being a merchant and design-led company and use technology in a way to just add to it and not try to over modernize it?" — Alicia (on Ralph Lauren's approach)"Maybe people are just figuring out where they want their time and how they want to spend their time... getting back to our roots through things like mahjong, board games, and very simplified intimate spaces." — AliciaIn-Show Mentions:Future Commerce Holiday AI Report, produced in partnership with CimulateMore details from NRF 2026Our official recap of Phillip's conversation with Dane MathewsShop Future Commerce's Multiplayer Brand bookAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's podcast episode, the team reports straight from the show floor at NRF's Big Show 2026 to break down the most compelling themes dominating the conference, noteworthy insights from off-stage and hallway conversations, and what retail leaders should prioritize next based on what mattered most at one of the retail industry's most influential events. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, along with Principal Analysts Sky Canaves and Sarah Marzano.   Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters   Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/   For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com   For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/   Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com    For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-what-everyone-talking-about-nrf-s-big-show-2026-reimagining-retail   © 2026 EMARKETER

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Jacob Tveraabak, Group Chief Executive Officer of StrongPoint, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how in-store order picking, grocery efficiency, and store-based fulfillment are becoming critical to profitable grocery ecommerce. Jacob explains why grocery presents a fundamentally different operational challenge than other retail categories, driven by high item velocity, low margins, and large basket sizes. Drawing on StrongPoint's Scandinavian roots, he shares how high labor costs have forced retailers to engineer ultra-efficient picking solutions and why those lessons are increasingly relevant for U.S. grocers. Key Topics Covered: -Why grocery order picking requires a fundamentally different technology approach -How labor costs drive efficiency and innovation in Scandinavian retail -The role of in-store picking in profitable grocery ecommerce -Store-based fulfillment vs centralized fulfillment centers -Integrating order picking with shelf visibility and store data -Reducing substitution, mis-picks, and wasted labor -How connected store infrastructure improves execution at scale -Why stores are becoming the backbone of future grocery fulfillment Thank you to Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's live coverage from NRF 2026, and thank you to our listeners for tuning in throughout the week. #NRF2026 #StrongPoint #GroceryRetail #OrderPicking #StoreBasedFulfillment #RetailOperations #ConnectedStores #RetailTechnology #OmniTalkRetail

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Mark Williamson, AVP of Retail Media at Costco, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how Costco is building its retail media business in a way that stays true to its culture, values, and member-first philosophy. Mark shares how Costco's retail media organization has evolved over the past year, including major investments in people, data infrastructure, and foundational capabilities designed to support personalization at scale. Rather than prioritizing short-term monetization, Costco is intentionally building a retail media platform that serves its broader member communication and personalization strategy. Looking ahead to 2026, Mark outlines upcoming product launches including a new clean room, expanded offsite media measurement, search and shopping integrations, and a rebuilt onsite ad server designed to connect identity, data, and in-warehouse sales outcomes. The discussion closes with a look at how Costco views scan-and-go style experiences, warehouse mode, and the role of the app as a one-to-one personalization channel. Key Topics covered: -How Costco's retail media business has evolved since NRF 2025 -What it means to build retail media “the Costco way” -Hiring from within and preserving Costco culture at scale -Why retail media is subordinated to member communication strategy -The role of AI in delivering personalization across 135 million members -Why data readiness is the foundation for scalable retail media -Balancing national brands and Kirkland Signature within retail media -Clean rooms, offsite measurement, and growing advertiser expectations -New search, shopping, and onsite ad server capabilities for 2026 -How Costco thinks about scan-and-go, warehouse mode, and the member app Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #Costco #RetailMedia #RetailTechnology #Personalization #RetailAI #OmnichannelRetail #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Martin Bailie, Senior Advisor at Vusion, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why the execution gap has become the biggest risk facing retailers in 2026. As retailers invest heavily in AI, data platforms, and digital transformation, many are discovering that strategy alone does not drive results. Martin breaks down why execution at store level, not vision decks or pilot programs, determines whether technology delivers real P & L impact. From disconnected systems and poor data quality to organizational silos and change management challenges, this conversation examines why retailers struggle to move from ideas to outcomes. Key Topics Covered: • Why the execution gap is now retail's biggest competitive risk • The difference between strategy, pilots, and scalable execution • How disconnected store systems undermine AI and analytics investments • Why data quality and real time visibility matter more than new tools • The role of connected store platforms in driving consistent execution • Organizational barriers that prevent technology from delivering value • How retailers can align store operations, IT, and leadership priorities • Turning technology investments into measurable P & L results • What retailers must do in 2026 to avoid permanent execution debt Stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello! #NRF2026 #RetailExecution #ConnectedStores #RetailTechnology #RetailAI #StoreOperations #Vusion #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at Vusion's booth, Todd Garner, Chief Product Officer at Sam's Club, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to share how Scan & Go has become a defining pillar of the Sam's Club member experience and what's coming next as agentic AI reshapes shopping. With Scan & Go now approaching 40% member adoption and nearing its 10-year anniversary, Sam's Club is using its limited SKU, membership-based model to reduce friction, shorten the distance between intent and purchase, and unlock new personalized, agent-driven experiences. Todd explains why mobile-first shopping, curated assortments, and AI-powered insights give Sam's Club a unique advantage and how all of it ladders back to engagement, renewal, and loyalty. Key Topics covered: -Scan & Go nearing 40% adoption and what's driving member usage -Why membership engagement and renewal matter more than individual feature metrics -How Scan & Go fits into a broader frictionless shopping ecosystem -Why limited SKUs make agentic shopping more powerful, not less -Using mobile-first experiences to shorten intent-to-purchase -The role of AI in merchandising, discovery, and personalized insights -How Sam's Club thinks about product, associate tools, and member experience together -What Todd is most excited to deliver next as Scan & Go approaches its 10-year milestone -Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #SamsClub #ScanAndGo #RetailAI #AgenticAI #MembershipRetail #RetailTechnology #OmniTalk #RetailInnovation

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 in New York, Emily Erusha-Hilleque, SVP of Private Brands at Macy's and an OmniStar of 2025, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how private brands are becoming a core growth driver for modern retailers. Emily shares how Macy's is evolving its private brand portfolio to meet the needs of a multi generational, value conscious customer while delivering inspiration, quality, and relevance at scale. From filling white space across the brand matrix to launching new brands and elevating existing ones, this conversation explores what it takes to build private brands customers truly buy into. The discussion also covers how Macy's is using collaborations and experiential retail to create cultural moments, including the recent Inc. partnership with Christian Siriano, as well as how AI is supporting storytelling, personalization, and basket growth across Macy's private brand ecosystem. Key Topics covered: • Why private brands are central to Macy's long term growth strategy • How Macy's serves a multi generational and value conscious customer • The role of private brands in driving loyalty and lifetime value • How private brands fill white space across Macy's brand portfolio • Collaborations as a growth engine for private brands • The Inc. partnership with Christian Siriano and experiential retail moments • Making fashion and design more accessible through private brands • How AI supports brand storytelling, personalization, and selective selling • Raising basket size and customer engagement with private brands • What to expect from Macy's private brand strategy in 2026 Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026. #NRF2026 #PrivateBrands #RetailStrategy #RetailInnovation #RetailAI #CustomerExperience #Macys #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at Vusion's booth, Jim Norred, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Vusion, and Gina Ayala Claxton, CVP of U.S. Retail & Consumer Goods at Microsoft, join Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why connected stores are quickly becoming a P&L priority for retailers in 2026. As margin pressure, labor constraints, and ecommerce fulfillment demands intensify, retailers are being forced to connect store infrastructure, data, and AI to drive faster, more accurate decisions. From Bluetooth-enabled connectivity and real-time shelf availability to agentic AI, data readiness, and governance at scale, this conversation breaks down what it really takes to modernize stores without creating costly “science projects.” Key Topics covered: -Why ecommerce picking accuracy is accelerating connected store adoption -Operational vs. marketing-led drivers of connected store investments -The anatomy of a connected store: BLE, data, and AI -Why Bluetooth is emerging as the heartbeat of in-store connectivity -Agentic AI, observability, and speeding decisions from signal to execution -Platform vs. point solutions and how retailers avoid technology sprawl -Governance, security, and scaling AI across thousands of stores -How retailers are prioritizing initiatives with measurable P&L impact -Turning connected store investments into loyalty, efficiency, and ROI Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #ConnectedStore #RetailTechnology #RetailAI #OmnichannelRetail #StoreOperations #VusionGroup #Microsoft #RetailInnovation #OmniTalk