Retailistic

Hosted by Deborah Weinswig

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214

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Join Deborah Weinswig of Coresight Research as she hosts discussions on a range of topics at the intersection of retail and technology.

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60 recent

August 11, 202641 min

Private Label’s Revenge: From Childhood Shame to Retail’s Sharpest Weapon

Key topics Impact of AI and data science on category management Role of retail media and private label in retail strategy Changing shopper behaviors and professional shoppers The evolution of store formats and online integration The importance of human touch and education in retail The role of nutrition and health in category planning The influence of private label on market dynamics The future of store formats and the role of physical stores Chapters 00:00Introduction to James Jackson and episode overview 02:28The evolution of retail events and networking 04:01The changing landscape of retail stakeholders 05:42Educational focus and industry innovation 07:04The role of data science and AI in category management 09:07Career journey into category management 10:40Impact of technology on the role of category managers 12:36Balancing art and science in retail decision-making 14:54Online shopping trends and consumer behavior 17:25The rise of professional shoppers and store formats 22:48Private label strategies and market impact 27:22The influence of Aldi and private label on retail 32:03The role of nutrition and health in retail 36:34Data-driven education and consumer trust 37:43The future of health and wellness in retail 39:47The impact of retail media and monetization 40:01Lightning round: retail trends and strategies

July 28, 202642 min

GLP-1s Aren’t Just a Drug—They’re Rewriting the Entire Retail Playbook

Key topics Evolution of retail technology from typewriters to AI Impact of AI and automation on pharmacy operations The role of pharmacists in patient care and diagnostics The significance of store experience and customer engagement Future trends: longevity, personalized medicine, and digital health Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Steve Perlowski and NACDS 00:31 Historical perspective: retail tech in 1988 01:01 From typewriters to mail correspondence 01:15 Early retail data collection methods 02:34 Impact of internet, cloud, and AI on retail 03:22 Prioritization of pharmacy tech investments 04:12 Transformations in pharmacy customer experience 05:26 Automation and AI in pharmacy operations 07:05 Centralized pharmacy fulfillment and robotics 08:42 Pharmacy's role in healthcare and longevity 09:40 Implications of extended lifespans and biotech advances 12:23 Misunderstandings about pharmacy and healthcare 13:50 The complexity of prescription fulfillment and insurance 17:47 Technological improvements in prescription accuracy 19:02 AI and computer vision in medication dispensing 20:06 GLP1s and the broader store health story 24:37 Emergence of new health categories and merchandising 27:24 Creating experiences and merchandising by life stage 32:22 The evolving role of pharmacists and in-store health services 39:11 Challenges facing pharmacy location sustainability 41:27 Tech industry disconnect and opportunities in retail 44:57 AI build vs. buy and organizational ownership 45:41 Data privacy, HIPAA, and AI regulation 47:06 Lightning round: personal preferences and insights

July 14, 202650 min

Beyond the Hype: Where AI Is Actually Changing Retail

Key topics Impact of AI on retail strategy Evolution of retail events and networking Future trends in retail technology Leadership and organizational change in retail Real-world applications of AI in retail Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Krystina Gustafson and Retail Innovation 02:02 Krystina's Journey from Journalism to Retail 03:55 Lessons from Early Digital Transformation at Women's Wear Daily 07:00 The Role of Content and Curiosity in Retail Leadership 10:10 Transition from Journalism to Shop Talk and Retail Events 13:03 Insights on Building a Successful Retail Conference 16:01 The Rapid Evolution of AI in Retail 20:08 Strategic Planning and Long-term AI Roadmaps 24:09 Operational Applications of AI in Physical Retail Spaces 27:58 The Future of Personalization and Customer Experience 32:59 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Adoption 38:10 The Importance of Connection and Authenticity in Events 41:47 The Intersection of Physical and Digital Retail 45:06 AI's Role in Enhancing Customer Engagement 49:08 Lightning Round: Retail Predictions and Trends

June 9, 202646 min

The Next Trillion-Dollar Company Won’t Be an App – It’ll Run on Robots and Real-World AI

Key topics AI in physical supply chains Testing and building in fast-paced tech environments The impact of GLP-1 on health and consumer behavior Chapters 00:00 Navigating the Information Overload in Venture Capital 02:17 The Importance of Testing and Building in Tech 04:52 The Shift Towards a Builder Culture 07:36 Evaluating Build vs. Buy in Technology Investments 10:10 The Role of Interns in Modern Organizations 13:01 The Future of AI in Supply Chain and Logistics 15:42 The Ripple Effects of AI on the Physical World 18:12 Challenges in Supply Chain Automation 20:55 Complexities of Robotics in Warehousing 25:30 Automation and Workforce Dynamics 26:49 The Impact of GLP-1 on Consumer Behavior 31:03 Healthcare Innovations and Continuous Care 33:49 Investing in a Changing Landscape 37:33 The Future of Shopping and Agentic Commerce 41:06 Lightning Round Insights

June 3, 20268 min

Agentic Commerce: The $1 Trillion Retail Revolution Coming by 2030

📌 Key Topics Covered in This Episode: • The rise of agentic commerce and AI-driven autonomous transactions. • How GLP-1 medications impact apparel sizing profiles and consumer grocery spending. • New Coresight Research data showing 60% of consumers want to use GenAI for shopping. • Overcoming the three main challenges of AI in retail: trust, checkout friction, and user inertia. #RetailTrends #AgenticCommerce #AIinRetail #Retailistic #CoresightResearch #RetailTech 0:00 - Weekly Research Highlights & Reports 0:53 - Introduction by Deborah Weinswig 1:10 - Defining Agentic Commerce Strategy & Architecture 2:24 - Projecting the $1 Trillion Agentic Commerce Market Size by 2030 3:10 - Use Cases: Demand Forecasting & Inventory Allocation 3:23 - The Retail Impact of GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications 4:00 - Solving Apparel Sizing vs. Non-Apparel Dietary Shifts 4:44 - Consumer Insights: GenAI Shopping Survey Results 6:06 - 3 Major Challenges Facing Autonomous AI Commerce 7:12 - Looking Ahead: The Future of Retail Tech 7:30 - Conclusion & Coresight Research Services

May 12, 202648 min

The End of Middle-of-the-Road Retail: How Discounters, Experiences & Healthcare Malls Will Reshape What You Buy, Where You Go, and How Much You Spend

Key topics Resurgence of malls and entertainment concepts Grocery store evolution and value shopping Impact of AI and PropTech on retail real estate Consumer behavior shifts and proximity effects Revitalization strategies for dead malls Luxury retail trends and customer focus The role of pop-ups and short-term leases Global retail insights from China and Mexico Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Passion for Retail 02:57 The Evolution of Entertainment in Retail 05:36 Changing Consumer Relationships with Malls 08:18 The Grocery Landscape Transformation 10:46 The Rise of Discount Retailers 13:23 The Future of Drugstores 16:19 Department Stores: A Dying Concept? 18:52 Experiential Retail and Consumer Engagement 21:32 Emerging Retail Concepts and Trends 26:17 The Rise of Luckin Coffee 29:48 Consumer Expectations and Product Innovation 30:30 The Mall Experience in China 31:37 Food and Beverage Trends in Malls 33:13 Healthcare in Retail Spaces 33:57 The State of Luxury Retail 36:00 The Lightning Round Begins 42:44 Misconceptions in Retail Real Estate 44:29 Future Cities and Retail Opportunities 45:57 Pop-Ups: The Future of Retail Leasing

May 5, 202611 min

Consumer Sentiment and Retail Trends Amid Economic Uncertainty

Key topics AI Impact Framework in retail Consumer sentiment and spending behavior Tech innovations for business agility Chapters 00:00 Understanding the Changing Consumer Landscape 04:59 Consumer Sentiment and Spending Trends 07:40 Innovations in Technology and Consumer Engagement

April 28, 202633 min

The K-Shaped Economy, Inflation, and Bitcoin’s Escape Hatch for the Middle Class

Key topics Bitcoin rewards and their impact on consumer savings The evolution of financial services with crypto The role of Bitcoin in global financial inclusion Chapters 00:00 The Philosophy of Technology and Consumer Empowerment 02:00 Inefficiencies in the Financial System 05:36 Financial Literacy and Consumer Behavior 07:57 Regulatory Frameworks: Traditional vs. Crypto 12:39 The Impact of Bitcoin on Banking 16:07 The Future of Rewards Programs 18:44 Consumer Behavior in a K-Shaped Economy 22:44 Elevating the Bottom of the Hourglass 27:25 Reflections on the Evolution of Fold 29:35 Lightning Round: Quick Insights

April 21, 202648 min

From Returns to Revenue: How AI is Turning Customer Pain into Loyalty and Insights

Key topics Impact of AI on retail customer experience Supply chain and logistics transformation through AI Measuring ROI and success metrics in AI deployments Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Crescendo and AI in Customer Service 04:31 The Evolution of Customer Experience and Returns 09:33 AI Implementation Challenges and Expectations 14:09 Defining Customer Experience Across Channels 18:36 The Role of AI in Enhancing Customer Experience 26:06 Navigating AI's Potential and Realistic Applications 27:47 Transforming Customer Experience with AI 29:02 Personalization in Customer Engagement 30:59 The Evolution of Consumer Behavior 32:52 The Synergy of Digital and In-Store Experiences 34:39 Empathy in Customer Service 36:38 The Importance of Small Gestures 39:43 Lightning Round: Insights on AI and CX

April 7, 202633 min

From Obscure Forum to AI Goldmine: How Reddit Just Changed the Game for E-Commerce Brands

Key topics Reddit's evolution and business model Leveraging Reddit for brand marketing Reddit's role in AI and LLM citations Best practices for brand engagement on Reddit Community dynamics and subreddit management Chapters 00:00 The Evolution of Reddit 02:17 Reddit vs. LinkedIn: A Comparative Analysis 04:47 Subreddit Dynamics and Brand Engagement 07:32 The Role of Reddit in E-commerce and Marketing 10:31 Leveraging Reddit for AI and SEO Strategies 13:05 Best Practices for Brands on Reddit 16:03 Understanding Customer Insights through Reddit 18:31 The Future of Reddit and Brand Interactions 21:30 Personal Experiences and Community Engagement 23:55 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways