Fostering human connections is easier said than done, both online and in-store. Online, tech sometimes feels like that awkward robot trying too hard to be your friend. In-store, finding (and keeping) staff who genuinely care about customers can feel like hunting for unicorns. But fear not! This session brings you fireside chats with two senior leaders from brands that have cracked the code on customer hospitality. They’ll share how they have instilled hospitable retail experiences in their businesses —and why it’s paying off big time for their businesses.

Fostering human connections is easier said than done, both online and in-store. Online, tech sometimes feels like that awkward robot trying too hard to be your friend. In-store, finding (and keeping) staff who genuinely care about customers can feel like hunting for unicorns. But fear not! This session brings you a conversation with two senior leaders from brands that have cracked the code on customer hospitality. They’ll share how they have instilled hospitable retail experiences in their businesses —and why it’s paying off big time for their businesses.

At Shoptalk Spring last March, Macy’s CEO Tony Spring hit us with a strong defense of the role of merchandising: “It’s not the endless aisle, but the best aisle” that matters to shoppers. Boom. But curating that best aisle isn’t just about gut feelings anymore—it’s all about mixing intuition with data-driven smarts. In this session, three retail execs will share the tools they’re using to stay ahead of ever-changing shopper preferences and make sure their physical and virtual shelves are packed with items people actually want, whether it’s trending nationwide or a regional specialty.

Welcome to the mid-2020s—a perfect moment to pause and ask, “Where are we all headed?” In this session, two forward-thinking leaders will share their long-term views on what their businesses, and the industry as a whole, are planning for the next five years. They’ll share the moves they’re considering, the scenarios they’re preparing for, and how they’re charting a course to boldly go where no retailer has gone before. 🚀

Across retail categories, tech solutions are giving us fresh ways to understand shoppers —whether they’re browsing online or hitting the stores. These solutions don’t just help brands engage with customers better, they’re also unleashing troves of data and insights. In this session, three leaders in technology and analytics will share what they're seeing in the world of retail and shopper behavior. The three companies will share exclusive research, illuminating surprising trends on where retail is headed next.

Money, time, and attention are the three most finite assets we have. And inevitably it takes capturing attention for a company to have any hope of winning any share of a shopper’s money or time. A visionary CEO will share their out-of-box thinking on ways to jolt people out of their complacency, grab them, and keep them engaged.

Retail media is reshaping how marketers think about the entire landscape of occasions for communicating with customers. But it’s not the only new, rapidly growing, game in town. The boldest CMOs will take the New Market stage to share how they are throwing out old gameplans in favor of new approaches to creating and executing their media plans. Fun fact: sometimes the best plan is to improvise! 

Creating retail experiences that are welcoming, human, inspirational, and filled with value does not mean abandoning tech. Instead, the smartest retailers are using AI and other tech to actually boost those human connections. Whether it’s freeing up the real-life humans from boring tasks, letting staff and shoppers connect online, or giving the team a treasure trove of insights about what people want and what they’re selling, tech's in on the action. This session will feature three senior consumer brand and retailer leaders in a series of fireside chats about the technologies they are using to keep things human and keep shoppers happy.

Masstige—"prestige for the masses"—is taking the retail world by storm. Fueled by social media trends like “quiet luxury” and dupe culture, thrifty Gen Z and younger Millennial shoppers are loving brands that serve up elevated vibes without breaking the bank. In this session, an industry expert will break down why masstige is such a big deal for shoppers today. Plus, executives from three consumer brands that have nailed the art of mixing affordability with aspiration will share how they’re winning over shoppers who want champagne dreams on a beer budget. 🍾✨

As the second half of the decade gets underway, the only safe prediction is that the next decade in retail will be unpredictable. This session will feature three supreme retail experts who'll gaze into their crystal balls and share their visions for how retailers, consumer brands, and shoppers will evolve, which fringe trends today will be mainstream norms in years to come, and what seeds of transformation companies can plant now that will bear fruit over the next five years.

Shoptalk’s Rapid Fire sessions are where panels meet game shows! Three sharp, no-holds-barred speakers share their hottest takes on today’s coolest retail tech. But here’s the twist: there’s a four-minute countdown for each topic. When the clock hits zero, it’s on to the next, so there’s no room for fluff—just straight-to-the-point insights. These sessions deliver some of our highest insights-per-minute, and this one will give you the scoop on which retail techs are crushing it and which ones still need some work.

The meteoric growth of retail media is driven by a combination of first-party data and measurement accountability. But where retail media gets exciting is at the frontiers of the space, including video and other engaging creative, going off-site, and extending retail media’s reach in-store. Some of the greatest architects of retail media will share perspectives on the current state of the art, as well as where the industry is going.

Creating a welcoming retail vibe doesn’t always mean rolling out the slow, friendly, "let’s-chat-about-your-day" treatment. Sometimes, it’s about making shopping so fast and easy that customers want to high-five you on their way out—while still keeping a feeling of fun and delight. Tech plays a big role here, helping companies read the room (or browser) to figure out what customers need, how much time they have, and what will make them happiest. In this Track Keynote, the CEO of a fast-growing apparel brand will share how her team is speeding things up, smoothing out the bumps, and still sprinkling in some magic. She'll also discuss how they’re measuring the business benefits of those good vibes and smooth moves.

Creating a welcoming retail vibe doesn’t always mean rolling out the slow, friendly, "let’s-chat-about-your-day" treatment. Sometimes, it’s about making shopping so fast and easy that customers want to high-five you on their way out—while still keeping a feeling of fun and delight. Tech plays a big role here, helping companies read the room (or browser) to figure out what customers need, how much time they have, and what will make them happiest. In this session, three retail executives will share how they’re speeding things up, smoothing out the bumps, and still sprinkling in some magic. They’ll also discuss how they’re measuring the business benefits of those good vibes and smooth moves.

With over 75% of Americans feeling stressed about their finances, it’s no surprise people are rethinking how they spend and hunting for more affordable options. But here’s the twist: value takes other forms beyond just “cheap.” Shoppers are still splurging on pricier items when they see the extra value—like luxury products that hold their resale worth. They’ll also spend more if they get convenience or save time as a result. In this panel, senior execs will share their candid views about how consumer brands can authentically strike that tricky balance between keeping prices appealing and delivering other forms of value that’re worth the splurge.

What’s the future of luxury? In this session, we’re diving into how cutting-edge brands are winning over younger shoppers and shaking up the premium retail world. With Gen Z and Millennials now making up almost half of all luxury consumers, these innovators are rewriting the rules on exclusivity, engagement, and personalization. Think digital-first experiences, bold storytelling, and meeting younger shoppers exactly where they are. We’ll kick things off with a brief presentation, then jump into a lively panel discussion on what’s driving the future of luxury. Expect big ideas, fresh insights, and a whole new perspective on how these brands challenging the status quo and engaging a new generation of shoppers.

Startup Pitch is a Shoptalk tradition! In this fast-paced showdown, you’ll meet the founders of a dozen early-stage tech startups shaking up retail and consumer brands. to solve problems or seize opportunities. This opening session will feature six companies with game-changing solutions to level up the customer experience. Each founder has just three minutes to wow you with their pitch. The fun part? Your votes—combined with those from our rockstar panel of judges—decide who moves on to the Final Round on Wednesday morning. The winner scores a $100,000 investment from Shoptalk Ventures, courtesy of Commerce Ventures. Your vote could be a game-changer for one of these bold innovators!

Content and shopping are merging in exciting ways to create seamless, engaging retail experiences. Consumer brands are finding new ways to turn storytelling into a powerful sales tool—from shoppable videos to immersive brand experiences. The three conversations on this dynamic New Market session will explore how content is transforming the shopping journey.

At Shoptalk Fall last October, Forrester’s Brendan Witcher shared a heavy truth: while 92% of digital pros say they’ve made significant investments in personalization, only a third of shoppers feel like brands are actually nailing creating relevant, customized experiences. Ouch. Closing this gap is a must if we’re serious about putting the customer at the heart of ecommerce. In this session, you’ll hear from three retail rockstars who’ve cracked the code on personalization. They’ll share how they’ve created experiences that make customers smile, feel seen, and hit "buy" with confidence.

This session will explore how brands and retailers are scoring big by thinking small—tapping into often overlooked market segments in fresh, bold, and totally unexpected ways. From hyper-targeted products to super-personalized experiences, these retail game-changers are proving that going niche is the new way to win. In a fun, talk-show-style session, we’ll chat with industry leaders who’ve nailed the art of serving overlooked audiences. Expect lively conversations, plenty of “aha” moments, and inspiration for how leaning into these unique opportunities can spark growth and keep brands ahead of the curve!

Startup Pitch is a Shoptalk tradition! In this fast-paced showdown, you’ll meet the founders of a dozen early-stage tech startups shaking up retail and consumer brands. to solve problems or seize opportunities. Our second session will feature six companies with innovative approaches to operations and supply chain challenges. Each founder has just three minutes to wow you with their pitch. The fun part? Your votes—combined with those from our rockstar panel of judges—decide who moves on to the Final Round on Wednesday morning. The winner scores a $100,000 investment from Shoptalk Ventures, courtesy of Commerce Ventures. Your vote could be a game-changer for one of these bold innovators!

Retail media has opened the door to creative team-ups between retailers, data wizards, media moguls, and more. But it’s not perfect. We're excited to feature senior leaders from top consumer brands, sharing how retail media is changing their game plans – but also their frustrations, unmet needs, and dreams as they pursue more perfect partnerships.

Gen Alpha may not be old enough to drive, but they’re already steering over $500 billion in family spending. Meanwhile, Gen X, with $2.5 trillion in purchasing power, is often overlooked as a major force in retail. These two generations are shaping the future of shopping in profound ways, and staying ahead of their ever-changing preferences is a must. This session will feature the latest trends and insights into the shopping habits of these two key segments. With two punchy presentations and lively Q&A, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and practical insights to fine-tune your strategy and connect with these powerhouse shoppers.

From Google’s launch in 1998 through 2022, search has been, dare we say it, less than thrilling. For over 20 years, it’s been largely the same drill: type in some keywords gest a list of links, and generally find what you were looking for. Despite the launch of new search features, nothing significantly disrupted that fundamental experience...until now. LLMs and generative AI are enabling a reimagining of how we seek and find digital content. This session will feature three consumer brands diving into the implications of the next generation of search for companies that rely on it to help shoppers find them and their products.

In an age when people crave authenticity and connection, it’s tougher than ever to create a brand narrative that truly sticks. This fireside chat with one of retail's most dynamic innovators will explore the art of storytelling and uncover the secrets to building a brand that resonates and inspires. From being real and open at every touchpoint to evolving your message while staying true to your core values, this fireside chat will open your eyes to crafting a narrative that captivates and endures.

In an age when people crave authenticity and connection, it’s tougher than ever to create a brand narrative that truly sticks. This fireside chat with one of retail's most dynamic innovators will explore the art of storytelling and uncover the secrets to building a brand that resonates and inspires. From being real and open at every touchpoint to evolving your message while staying true to your core values, this fireside chat will open your eyes to crafting a narrative that captivates and endures.

It's the thrilling Final Round of the Shark Reef Startup Pitch! Yesterday's First Round contenders have been winnowed down to six finalists, among the most innovative and disruptive early-stage retail tech solutions. The finalists will each take the stage for questions about their business and vision from our fierce panel of judges. Who wins, and who's chum? The audience and judges will rate each presenter, and at the end of the session we'll crown an Audience Choice and a Judges' Choice winner. The winner of the Judges’ Choice also receives a $100,000 investment from Shoptalk Ventures, so you'll witness a game-changing moment for a fantastic Founder!

Marketers and shoppers both feel a degree of nostalgia for the old 30-second spot. We all (if we’re over 40) remember some incessant earworm jingle from a TV commercial of our childhoods. But the new market has no patience for :30s, and nostalgia’s only useful for hawking yesterday's products. The New Market is excited to feature a CMO at the forefront of rethinking sight, sound, and motion in their campaigns, creating spots that are flexible, immersive, and utterly memorable.

Although we don’t live in the metaverse yet, there’s no denying the power of immersive worlds as places where key customer segments are spending an increasing amount of their time and attention. And if customers are there, brands will be too. The New Market will feature pioneers exploring innovative ways to interact with their customers in virtual worlds, and, at times, in new times and places in the real world as well.

Market research has long helped brands identify emerging trends and identify new opportunities. However, the modern world of retail has created new avenues for listening to engaged customers, and involving fans in aspects of product creation, merchandising, and marketing. This Track Keynote features the CEO of a leading activewear brand that leverages both high- and low- technology approaches to tapping into their customers' mindset. He'll share the approaches that have worked best as well as examples of ways the company has taken action based on these insights.

Curious about how to spot the next big trend before it takes off? This session takes you inside the world of social listening, where top retail leaders are analyzing real-time chatter to uncover the biggest emerging trends. Expect a dynamic conversation as two experts reveal how they identify emerging opportunities, separate fleeting fads from lasting shifts, and turn social insights into impactful business moves. From spotting new product ideas to refining your marketing playbook, you’ll leave with insights to help you stay ahead of the curve.

The humble search box has been a staple of ecommerce forever—simple, reliable, and consistent. But things are changing. While features like visual and conversational search aren’t exactly new, the last few years have seen major leaps in technology and shopper interest, giving consumer brands and retailers a golden opportunity to shake up how they approach search. In this session, three leaders will share the search innovations they’ve rolled out, how they’re teaching shoppers to use them, and what they’ve learned so far about adoption and results.

Great teams aren’t just about talent—they’re about being on the same page. When everyone’s aligned with the brand story, they can bring it to life in everything they do. In this session, three execs will share their playbooks for inspiring and uniting their teams to not just understand the brand but live it—from the boardroom to the storefront. Expect solid insights, examples, and advice to boost collaboration, create authentic customer experiences, and build a unified team culture.

Shoptalk believes retail hospitality is a vital piece of customer-centricity. In this lively session, you’ll meet four Founders and CEOs behind cutting-edge technologies that are making retail experiences more welcoming and human. Each speaker will kick off with a quick intro to their game-changing solutions, sharing real-world examples and their take on creating hospitable retail experiences. Then, they’ll dive into a fast-paced, moderated panel discussion, tackling big questions. Expect some lively insights into how tech can supercharge human skills in areas like clienteling and personalization.

Brand marketers must reshape how they tell stories as new media create new modes of storytelling, as consumer attention spans shift and fragment, and as the culture evolves. But the importance of storytelling in persuading customers to pick this brand over that one, to buy this product or not, has never been more important. Leaders doing brilliant work on telling their brands’ stories in moving, meaningful ways will share how they create the brief, assess options, and make bold choices.

Hear from three retail rockstars as they reveal the secrets behind their boldest product launches and strategic market shake-ups. Through compelling case studies, you’ll learn how they spotted untapped opportunities, created buzz-worthy experiences, and crushed it in new spaces. Whether it’s launching a game-changing product or reshaping their brand’s footprint, these real-world stories are packed with inspiration to help you think bigger and act bolder. Get ready for actionable insights that could spark your next big retail breakthrough!

Search is all about helping shoppers find products they know they want, while discovery is about surprising shoppers with things they didn’t even know they wanted. But as search evolves from keyword-driven to conversational, it's blurring the line between search and discovery. This session will feature three executives from top retailers and consumer brands talking about how they’re keeping search sharp for those gotta-find-it-now moments, while also making it a tool for sparking inspiration and discovery.

In today’s fast-moving retail landscape, change is the only constant. Top brands need to move as fast as startups, making bold pivots when needed while staying true to their core values. But embracing change and turning it into opportunity is tricky. We'll feature three senior executives who will share their stories of navigating major shifts with agility and adaptability—whether that means changing business models, embracing new technologies, or reinventing a brand identity. You'll hear solid examples, lessons learned, and practical takeaways on how to pivot without losing your balance.

This session will introduce you to four innovative tech companies focused on customer care, loyalty, and the post-purchase experience. Each Founder/CEO speaker will briefly present on how their solution influences this vital part of the customer journey. Following the presentations, all four will join a moderator for a fast-paced conversation on how exceptional post-purchase experiences help grow customer satisfaction, value, and loyalty.

The past decade has transformed the ways that consumer brands work with talent – the spectrum from stars of stage and screen to digital creators and influencers. As social media use shifts and fame and influence wax and wane, how should today's marketer be evaluating who represents their brand? We'll feature senior marketers highlighting their new approaches to creator partnerships.

Younger shoppers are shaking up the market—Millennials and Gen Z control over 50% of global consumer spending, with a jaw-dropping $1.4 trillion in purchasing power just in the U.S. But how can retailers break through the noise and keep pace with the changing expectations and preferences of this digitally native, trend-driven crowd? In this session, a leading analyst who has cracked the code will share their winning strategies. After their presentation, we’ll jump into a lively discussion with a consumer brand leader, packed with insights to help your brand thrive with younger customers.

2025 is the perfect moment for retail leaders to rethink both their search strategies and the nitty-gritty tactics of how their search works. From better ways to interpreting and understanding product catalogs to more intuitive customer experiences, search innovation is sweeping. This session will kick off with fresh frameworks from an industry expert, addressing the opportunities, challenges, and imperatives in search today. We’ll follow that with a fireside chat with retailer executive diving into how they’re leveling up their search features and capabilities.

Shoppers today are hyper-aware of brand values, and aren’t shy about commenting on them. Defining (or redefining) and communicating a company’s purpose can feel fraught. When should a brand speak up? When should it mind its business? We'll set the stage with a presentation from an industry expert, followed by an engaging conversation with a retail leaders who has lived this challenge. Expect practical takeaways on how to define and articulate a brand’s story, and communicate what it stands for with authenticity, clarity, and impact.

This session will feature exciting technologies at the bleeding edge of operations and supply chains. Each speaker, a Founder or CEO of their company, will intro themselves and highlight what they do and how they do it. Then, all four will join a moderator for a fast-paced conversation on the current state of retail operations, and how companies can pursue the quest for agility, resiliency, and efficiency.

The old language of the purchase funnel, gross rating points, impressions, and ROAS hasn’t kept up with fast-changing times and technologies. But if the old jargon doesn’t work, how do we find shared language and standards for marketing success in a world filled with ever-changing channels and technologies? Four top CMOs will share their candid views of how they define marketing effectiveness, and how they are tracking what’s working.

Loyalty is having a moment. With shoppers more prone to chase novelty and deals than ever, consumer brands are re-thinking how they promote stickiness, moving away from the old world of "buy 10, get one free" to a new world of personalization, gamification, mixing financial and emotional rewards to engage and delight. This Track Keynote will feature a senior leader of a major retailer who will share how his team is thinking about and measuring customer loyalty, and the multiple tactics they’ve deployed to stay at the top of shoppers' hearts and minds.

Rebranding is risky business. Shake things up too much or too suddenly, and loyal customers might start eyeing the competition. The trick is to spark fresh interest and bring in new fans—without alienating your loyal base. In this session, two senior executives will share how they successfully relaunched brands or products. From getting buy-in from stakeholders to keeping customers on board, they’ll break down their game plans, wins, and lessons learned.

Today’s shoppers are pros at juggling IRL and digital—they’re equally at home in both worlds. But they still expect an in-store experience that’s as smooth as they are. Even the slickest, most experiential physical store visit can go downhill fast with confusing layouts, unhelpful staff, or checkout headaches. In this session, an industry expect will share brand new capability benchmarking research on the topic, before two store execs discuss how they are optimizing operations to make stores easy to navigate, frustration-free, and full of delight for those savvy customers.

The world of data, analytics, and AI is moving at warp speed. AI infrastructure like Large Language Models is constantly evolving and companies are rapidly getting smarter about generative AI applications. As a result, the possibilities (and payoffs) are clearer than ever. In this session, four Founders and CEOs of cutting-edge AI and data analytics solutions will take the stage. They’ll kick things off with quick intros, then jump into a lively panel discussion on what’s hot, what’s next, and where this fast-changing space is headed.

Until GenAI takes all our jobs (five years?), we’ll still need human beings to help plan, executive, and measure marketing. Given the continued importance of human resources, The New Market will feature the CMO of an iconic consumer brand sharing how she evaluates up-and-coming talent. Who is marketing’s next generation, and what are the skills and capabilities that will define their career success?

The New Market will feature a fireside chat with the CEO of a brand that has mastered emerging platforms, channels, and media. They’ll share how they keep up with the changing media landscape, bets they’ve made, and what excites them in the world of tomorrow’s new media.

The retail rule of thumb for keeping loyal customers coming back is pretty simple: make it easy or make it fun—or better yet, do both! Subscriptions and auto-replenishment keep things hassle-free, while gamified loyalty programs add a layer of excitement with personalized perks and playful rewards. Done well, gamified loyalty sparks emotional connections, boosts purchases, and keeps customers coming back for more. Three senior leaders who’ve nailed both approaches to customer engagement will share their knowledge. They’ll share the formal and informal loyalty features that are working to turn “maybe” shoppers into loyal fans.

Once upon a time, product and marketing teams defined brands. Today, though, ops and supply chain teams also play a critical role in making and keeping the promises that brands make to customers. With a nod to today’s era of collaborating cross-functionally, this session will feature three executives who will explore how ops and supply chain prowess help define and shape a brand, including making sure products make it from point A to point B when they need to, backing traceability and sustainability assurances, and more.

The physical store is alive and well—especially with nearly 85% of U.S. retail sales still happening in brick-and-mortar spots. But shoppers want more than just a place to buy stuff. They’re looking for fun experiences, unique offerings, curated finds, and seamless cross-channel shopping. This session will feature a conversation with the leader of a luxury brand that is bringing the “wow” factor to stores today. She'll share how she thinks about shopper wants and needs to cultivate unique store experiences that both delight and drive sales.

The physical store is alive and well—especially with nearly 85% of U.S. retail sales still happening in brick-and-mortar spots. But shoppers want more than just a place to buy stuff. They’re looking for fun experiences, unique offerings, curated finds, and seamless cross-channel shopping. This session will feature a visually rich presentations from a leading design executive bringing the “wow” factor to stores today. He’ll share how he thinks about shopper wants and needs to cultivate unique store experiences that both delight and drive sales.

Shoptalk's definition of customer-centricity includes sparking inspiration—creating that moment of joy when a shopper finds the perfect thing. In the past, digital platforms have struggled to match the inspiration of in-store shopping, but that’s changing fast. In this session, four Founders and CEOs will show how their cutting-edge tech is making digital shopping more fun, engaging, and downright delightful. They’ll then dive into a fast-paced panel on how digital and unified shopping experiences are upping the ante on sparking delight.

Three visionary agency leaders will share their sharpest insights into the future of their trade. How has retail media changed the game? What applications of generative AI are moving the marketing needle? What is the role of the agency of tomorrow? This fast-faced conversation will change your view of The New Market, and the players who participate in it.

Modern loyalty programs are driven by personalization, powered by AI, and fueled by customer data. Brands are using everything from demographics to purchase history to events and occasions to create loyalty experiences that feel tailor-made. But how well are these strategies working, in an era with shoppers more fickle than ever? And how can companies build loyalty programs that stand out from the crowd? This session will help you find answers, featuring three companies that are shaking up the loyalty game. They’ll share how they are turning customers into advocates and keeping them coming back.

Retail media, social marketing, and all the myriad other ways to reach customers are not making it any easier figure out whether your marketing efforts are truly paying off. RMNs can supply unprecedented insight into who’s buying based on what message, but they can also lack trust and transparency. In this session, top leaders will unpack their latest approaches to measuring retail media performance and overall marketing effectiveness. From advanced attribution models to tying campaigns to real-world results, you’ll get ideas on evaluating impact across channels.

For the past couple of decades, digital teams were mostly insulated from corporate restructuring. The most tech savvy employees in what’s typically been the fastest growing part of a retail business were seldom on the chopping block. But times have changed, and technologies like generative AI and retail trends like the rise of unified commerce are leading companies to rethink their digital teams and the skills those team members need. In this session, ecom veterans will share the emerging organizational best practices for strengthening digital talent and team structure.

Contemporary commerce tech stacks need to support both in-store and digital channels and to have the flexibility to add new ecommerce platforms we haven't even thought of yet. Choosing between monolithic, headless, and composable commerce platforms depends on a combo of business needs and technical resources. The session will feature a consultant sharing a framework for evaluating and implementing tech stack options today. Following that, a fireside chat with two retail executives will illuminate how they approach building a tech stack to stand the test of time, with tactics and takeaways for your own tech stacks as well.

Consumer brands today aren’t delivered, fully baked, to waiting consumers. Instead, they are the product of an ongoing dialogue between the brand and its audience. We’ve invited executives from companies that are adept at speaking with rather than at their customers. They’ll share how they’ve leveraged these conversations to re-shape their approaches to storytelling, and create products and opportunities.