RETHINK RETAIL

Latest Episodes:

Why Brand Loyalty Is Retail's Best AI Defense Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Global retail leaders are adjusting their strategic playbooks as practical AI integration, localized omnichannel operations, and customer retention redefine competitive growth across worldwide markets. On this special edition of Global Lens, Jill Dvorak (NRF) and Annabelle Serres (NRF Europe) sit down with host and Senior Retail Analyst Lavina Suthenthiran to unpack how overarching industry strategies translate into practical solutions on the ground at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Europe. AI is an Efficiency Enabler, Not a Full Replacement: - Brands are steering clear of full-scale AI handoffs or replacing core infrastructure. Instead, forward-thinking teams are layering AI directly over tedious operational functions like budget scenario planning, inventory forecasting, and product and pricing research to clear immediate operational slowdowns. Regional Market Divergence and Localization Strategy: - Digital commerce tools fail when copied verbatim across regions. Effective strategies adapt directly to local realities, whether that means capitalizing on live video commerce and dense quick-delivery networks in Asian markets, or navigating complex cross-border licensing regulations, fragmented payment systems, and strict compliance standards throughout Europe. Prioritizing Brand Loyalty and Customer Retention: - Generative search and agentic discovery engines risk turning unbranded product searches into pure commodities. Capturing mindshare and maintaining active direct-to-consumer relationships are no longer just a marketing metric. It is the single most critical defense against having your catalog filtered out by third-party search tools. Listen to the full episode above for expert takes on navigating global market shifts, putting impactful technology to work, and maximizing your experience on the show floor in Paris.

The 30 Seconds at Checkout That Make or Break Loyalty Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Retailers spend fortunes perfecting the store, then hand the whole experience over to 30 seconds at the counter. In our latest episode, Senior Retail Analyst Lavina Suthenthiran sits down with Jessie Cole, Director of Strategic Planning at Effy Jewelry, and Sandra Ishak, Head of Marketing, Americas at Ingenico, to break down why the physical checkout moment carries as much weight as the first impression, and what it takes to get it right. INSIDE THE EPISODE: - Why the last touchpoint matters as much as the first, illustrated by Effy's cruise ship business, where community-driven checkout experiences bring customers back to the counter even when they're not buying. - How the "peak-end rule" explains why one frustrating moment, like a rebooting terminal or a clunky interface, can erase 45 minutes of great in-store browsing. - Why retailers are now asking Ingenico for operational simplicity and mobile flexibility over raw speed, from managing devices remotely across hundreds of stores to checking customers out anywhere with an NFC phone. - How fixing checkout takes more than new hardware, from Effy's approach of listening to sales associates to Ingenico's emphasis on testing the full workflow before rollout. Listen above to learn how to turn checkout from your store's last afterthought into its strongest loyalty driver.

FTC Cracks Down on Pricing as Amazon Bets $530M on Delivery Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to another edition of Retail Roundup. This is your weekly brief helping retail leaders decode the biggest shifts in retail, AI, and commerce. In this week's episode, Jeremy Goldman sits down with David Polinchock (Brand Experience Lab) and Drew Cashmore (Vantage & Chair of MiR) to mark nine years since Amazon's Whole Foods acquisition, unpack the FTC's new scrutiny of personalised pricing, and break down what Walmart and Target's latest earnings reveal about the state of retail media. Inside this special edition, Cashmore shares the motivation behind expanding Media in Retail (MiR) to include brand and agency founding members, rounding out the community for retail media's full ecosystem. He explains how this move elevates the discipline's voices and craft while developing the next generation of retail media talent. Learn more about the community here. ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE: Nine Years of Whole Foods, and Amazon's Next Flywheel Bet A look at Project Tetramino, Amazon's next-generation delivery station projected to cost over $530 million through 2029 and process packages 2.5x faster than current systems. Why the panel thinks most retailers can't compete on throughput alone, and what differentiating instead of imitating actually looks like. Is Personalised Pricing Retail's Next Trust Problem? The FTC's proposed crackdown on undisclosed personalised pricing, and why the panel thinks consumer tolerance comes down to whether a price shift feels like it's working in their favor. Retail Media Is Growing, Just Not Evenly Walmart's ad business grew 38%, and Target's Roundel grew nearly 30%. Still, Cashmore's numbers show growth outside Amazon and Walmart is slowing fast, leaving dozens of smaller retail media networks competing for a shrinking pool of dollars. 🎧 Listen above for the full conversation on the trends making us rethink retail this week.

When Creative Becomes Software: Walmart Connect Product Leader Nishanth Kadiyala on Scaling AI Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Global retail media expansion hinges on balancing localized AI-generated creative with brand integrity. In this episode of the Global Lens podcast series, host Lavina Suthenthiran speaks with Nishanth Kadiyala (Walmart Connect) about how Walmart built an automated creative generation system handling nearly $1 billion in ad spend and how to scale generative AI across international borders. INSIDE THE EPISODE: - Creative was retail media's last automation holdout. While ad tech automated targeting, bidding, and attribution in seconds, creative production traditionally took weeks of manual reviews across designers, researchers, and policy checkers. This bottleneck is critical to solve as the IAB 2026 Outlook study projects commerce media spend to grow 12.1% this year, with two-thirds of buyers prioritizing agentic AI for campaign execution. - Scaling AI creative requires a non-negotiable rubric. To manage brand risk across endless product catalogs, Walmart aligned stakeholders around four core evaluation pillars: product truth, compliance and policy, brand voice, and visual aesthetics. - Rollouts must be sequenced by brand sophistication. Walmart launched its automated tool with long-tail marketplace sellers who prioritize raw performance first, using that volume to build its evaluation engine before expanding to mid-market brands and eventual Fortune 50 CPGs with strict national campaign guidelines. - Tech infrastructure travels across borders, but cultural nuance requires local expertise. When expanding its creative AI tools from the US to Mexico, Walmart found that 80% of the underlying tech guardrails transferred directly. However, because US consumer habits do not automatically generalize, the team trained local subject-matter experts to teach the AI regional language, culture, and shopper preferences. Listen above to learn how Walmart Connect built its automated creative generation system, how to manage AI-driven brand risk, and what retailers need in place before scaling generative AI globally.

Uscreen & BBM: Transforming Video into Community Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Building a loyal audience takes far more than just posting on social media and relying on fickle algorithms. As creators and brands look for reliable growth, the real challenge is scaling reach without losing the direct, human connections that turn casual followers into long-term subscribers. Jeremy Goldman sits down with Allison Yazdian, CEO of Uscreen, and Briana Christine, Founder of BBM Health & Fitness, to break down why the most successful digital businesses are moving away from the "rented land" of traditional social platforms to build owned, video-first communities. KEY INSIGHTS: - How algorithms restrict reach, and why owned platforms secure direct access, data control, and predictable recurring revenue. - How real human connection and lived experiences build genuine trust as automated content floods social feeds. - How unpolished member check-ins and peer support spark stronger brand advocacy than polished ads. - Why broad appeal dilutes engagement, whereas targeting specific customer archetypes creates sustainable loyalty. - How to capture first-party data off social media using quizzes, landing pages, and lead magnets. 🎧 Listen above to learn how to transition from borrowed social feeds to owned digital communities that drive lasting member retention.

David’s Bridal, Brooks Running, and Does Sustainability Matter? Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to another edition of Retail Roundup. This is your weekly brief helping retail leaders decode the biggest shifts in retail, AI, and commerce. In this week’s episode, Jeremy Goldman sits down with industry experts Charisma Glassman (Genpact), Ricardo Belmar (Retail Razor Podcast Network), and David Polinchock (Brand Experience Lab) to examine Prime Day's impact on July sales, the boom in health and wellness, and why sustainable denim brand Mud Jeans filed for bankruptcy. Plus, stick around for an interview from the eTail Boston show floor with David’s Bridal’s Chief Communications & Creative Officer, Lisa Horton, and President & Chief Business Officer, Elina Vilk. INSIDE THE WEEK's EPISODE: DECODING JULY RETAIL SALES A look behind July’s 0.6% drop in retail sales and e-commerce shifts. Why month-to-month volatility can misread the consumer, how Back-to-School moved into June, and what category-level spending reveals about the economic landscape. WHY BROOKS RUNNING IS WINNING How Brooks achieved 14% revenue growth by capturing replacement purchases from dedicated run clubs, where runners treat $150+ shoes as consumable tools rather than fashion accessories. THE SUSTAINABILITY REALITY CHECK Why consumers care about circular commerce but resist paying a premium: from the fall of Mud Jeans to the rise of thrifting, resale, and DIY personalization. TRANSFORMING A 76-YEAR-OLD RETAILER: DAVID's BRIDAL Lisa Horton and Alina Vilk break down how David's Bridal operates like a startup inside a legacy brand by expanding into the $100B+ wedding ecosystem, mastering LLM discovery, and launching new outlet retail concepts. 🎧 Listen above for the full conversation on the trends making us rethink retail this week.

Global Lens: What Nike & Under Armour Got Wrong in China Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Scaling an international brand isn't about flooding new markets with identical stores. It is about knowing exactly what to protect in your brand's DNA and what to rewrite on the ground. In this week's episode of our Global Lens podcast, Senior Retail Analyst Lavina Suthenthiran sits down with global growth advisor Renee Hartmann (who has advised brands such as Armani, YSL, and Fendi) to explain why precision, not footprint size, drives modern international expansion. INSIDE THE EPISODE: - Domestic success breeds arrogance abroad. Local success requires auditing brand awareness, adjusting product fit, and ditching copy-paste strategies. - Adapting locally shouldn't dilute core heritage. Successful brands protect their identity while letting regional teams drive authentic partnerships and tailored experiences. - China isn't just a luxury buyer anymore. Local beauty, tech, and EV brands are now driving global retail innovation. - The hidden trap of cross-border e-commerce: Turning on international digital shipping is easy, but if you under-invest in local demand generation, nobody shows up. Sustainable market entry requires bottom-up financial planning rather than relying on technical capability alone. Tune in to the full episode above to hear Renee's field-tested advice on navigating global expansion, the financial realities of market entry, and local execution. Download the Global Lens Report to access the complete framework for building an agile, future-proof global operating model.

eTail Recap: AI Returns, $95 Loyalty & GLP-1 Trends Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

In this special mashup episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Jeremy Goldman sits down with leaders from New York & Company, Elizée, Ross-Simons, and Paradise Naturals USA live from eTail Boston We dig into the exact tactics driving retail performance today: turning product returns into upsells, replacing point systems with paid VIP perks, and adapting product lines for GLP-1 users. INSIDE THE EPISODE: AI That Makes Money vs. AI That Replaces People Guests: Laura Cantor (VP of Marketing & Ecommerce, New York & Company) & Avani Oswal (Head of Digital, Elizée) - How New York & Company uses AI to read natural-language return reasons and automatically prompt customers with tailored exchange options. - How luxury footwear brand Elizée uses AI for lifestyle image background extensions and stock prediction without losing brand aesthetics. - Why small brands are running fast A/B tests with AI tools while legacy competitors get stuck in legal and corporate red tape. Ditching Point Systems for a $95 Paid VIP Club Guest: Diana Stuparu (VP of Ecommerce & Marketing, Ross-Simons) - Why 74-year-old jeweler Ross-Simons abandoned traditional discount points in favor of immediate, tangible value. - The breakdown of Ross-Simons' paid loyalty program (including three $50 order coupons, free 2-day shipping, and free returns). - How dedicated, real-person shopping assistants based in Rhode Island guide high-intent customers through complex gemstone and estate collections. - Using simple inputs like birth months to deploy automated, story-driven campaigns around monthly birthstones. Amazon Launchpads, CPG Mergers, & GLP-1 Demand Guest: Katya Vass (Founder, Paradise Naturals USA) - Why Paradise Naturals built an "Amazon-first" strategy to capture high-intent buyers searching for gut health tools without spending heavily on DTC ad acquisition. - How agile founders innovate faster than newly consolidated CPG mega-brands (like P&G acquiring Thorne). - Building advocate networks out of real customers who saw visceral health improvements rather than paying traditional influencers. - How appetite-suppressing GLP-1 medications are driving customers toward easy, nutrient-dense protein sources like bone broth powders to meet daily nutritional baselines. Listen above for an inside look at the strategies and operational playbooks shaping the future of retail execution.

Tariff Gold Rush, Kroger AI & Hot Topic's Buyout Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to another edition of Retail Roundup. This is your weekly brief helping retail leaders decode the biggest shifts in retail, AI, and commerce. In this week’s episode, Jeremy Goldman sits down with industry experts Zak Stambor (EMARKETER) and Martin Bailie (MWB Advisory Limited) to examine the shifts redefining commerce. Together, they analyze shifting consumer spending, the evolution of ad-supported retail media, and the operational tightrope legacy brands must walk to survive. INSIDE THE EPISODE: Immediate Liquidity vs. Long-Term Customer Loyalty: Invalidated tariff refunds are creating a massive financial asset for retailers, but strategies on how to deploy this capital are starkly divided. - In Action: American Eagle sold off its refund rights to secure immediate cash flow, whereas Costco pledged to pass savings directly back to members through lower prices. Monetizing Conversational Commerce from Day One: Grocers are accelerating retail media monetization by embedding paid ads directly into consumer-facing AI tools at launch. - In Action: Kroger launched its AI shopping assistant with sponsored meal-planning and cart-building placements on day one to capture high-margin ad revenues using its deep first-party loyalty data. Niche Expansion vs. Rebrand Risk: Scaling or modernizing a heritage business requires balancing core brand identity with complex operational realities. - In Action: Spencer Spirit Holdings is consolidating fandom-driven niche retailers by acquiring Hot Topic and Box Lunch to build out its seasonal footprint, while legacy pioneers like QVC face steep uphill battles trying to modernize after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. From tariff refunds to AI monetization, retail leaders must adapt operations to protect margins and drive customer loyalty. 🎧 Listen above for the full conversation on the trends making us rethink retail this week.

Vuori’s Blueprint for International Brand Growth Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Scaling globally without losing the core identity and product quality that built early brand loyalty remains one of retail's hardest execution challenges. In this episode of the Global Lens podcast series, host Lavina Suthenthiran speaks with Ashley Kechter, Global President of Vuori, about the mechanics of international expansion and how brands can scale globally while protecting their core DNA. INSIDE THE EPISODE: - Protecting Brand DNA at Scale: Why successful global rollouts rely on preserving the distinct feeling and lifestyle identity behind the product rather than treating expansion as a purely transactional exercise. - Bridging Performance and Lifestyle: How Vuori builds a defensible category position by designing fabric-first, versatile apparel built to move in and styled for life. - Demand-Led Market Entry: How Vuori leverages digital demand signals across 30+ e-commerce markets to strategically build physical store density and local community relationships in key regions like the UK and China. - Localization Without Dilution: Why tailoring global expansion requires blending local culture, artists, and regional brand partners like Jack Draper and Tom Holland with consistent back-end infrastructure. Listen above to learn how modern activewear brands navigate global growth, protect customer loyalty, and scale international operations without losing their identity. Download the Global Lens Report to access the complete framework for building an agile, future-proof global operating model.

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