RETHINK RETAIL

Hosted by RETHINK Retail

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500

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

RETHINK Retail - the evolution of retail in today’s connected world. Join us as we explore the most recent trends and innovations in commerce.

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60 recent

June 15, 202620 min

Preserving Human Ownership: The Key to Measurable AI Success in Retail

As retailers scale AI across their operations, a clear picture is emerging of exactly where automation elevates the business and consumer experience, and where it creates friction. For Eyebuydirect, success came by optimizing technology to enhance human ownership and streamline pain points throughout the buyer's journey. In this episode, Eyebuydirect CEO and President Sunny Jiang sits down with Jeremy Goldman to break down how her team approaches AI as an employee-enablement engine. They discuss everything from deploying the technology across customer service and engineering to developing an AI-powered prescription scanner that solves a massive user friction point, driving higher conversion and deeper customer engagement. Inside the Episode: - Why AI should support people rather than replace accountability, ensuring teams continue to steer the business - Why curiosity, experimentation, and adaptability matter far more than surface-level enthusiasm when driving tech adoption - How Eyebuydirect's prescription scanner successfully solved a clear customer problem while tangibly improving engagement and conversion Listen above to discover practical strategies on how to successfully embed AI into your workflows.

June 12, 202631 min

AI in Retail: Operational Enabler, Not a Strategy

While agentic AI is reshaping operations, retail still runs on its core fundamentals: great products, strong brand identity, exceptional service, and operational excellence. In this week's episode of Retail Therapy, Top Retail Experts Ricardo Belmar, Brandon Rael, and Marie Driscoll break down why AI matters most as an operational enabler, not a creator of customer demand. “Keep the focus on the customer, keep the focus on the fundamentals, keep the focus on the product, the sourcing, the merchandising experience.” Ultimately, most retailers do not sell technology. They sell products and experiences. True brand heat and customer loyalty stem from sharp merchandising and powerful storytelling, not automated tools alone. Inside the Episode: - Why any technology implementation must start with strict business discipline rather than a tech-first rush - Why the most profitable automation happens in backend operations rather than through flashy, customer-facing tools - How to realistically evaluate what automated tools can and cannot do for the physical store and associate experience - Why the true financial impact of AI is incredibly difficult to isolate and measure using narrow, short-term attribution metrics The bottom line: AI can improve retail, but it can’t replace the fundamentals. Listen above to learn why the winning brands use AI to support what already matters, rather than pretending the technology itself is the strategy.

June 10, 202626 min

AI Is Changing How We Shop. Are Retailers Ready?

“Ultimately, it's the people that determine the success or the failure of technology, not the technology itself.” The latest report by Arktic Fox and Six Degrees dives deep into why brands and retailers will only win in retail media, personalization, and AI if they pair rising investment with stronger data foundations and better product content. Teresa Sperti, Director at Arktic Fox, sits down with Jeremy Goldman to discuss how achieving these results ultimately requires credible measurement alongside teams capable of turning technology into execution. Inside the episode: - Why brands are shifting away from marketing to humans and moving towards optimizing for AI-driven discovery and decision-making - How brands can shift their tech approach toward loyalty and personalization - Why retailers need to invest in eCommerce and stronger digital shelf capability to defend share and improve performance - Why brands must better prepare their talent, as companies are currently buying technology faster than they are building the organizational skills to run it Don't let your technology investments outpace your team's capabilities. Listen to the full podcast episode above to bridge the execution gap.

June 8, 202615 min

Beekman 1802: Beating Content Slop with Creative AI

In an already competitive market, Beekman 1802 is maintaining steady growth through human connection and is using AI to do it. David Baker, Chief Revenue Officer at Beekman 1802, sits down with Jeremy Goldman to discuss how his team is cutting through industry traffic and content using human creativity and emotional brand building. "AI is not coming for our jobs. People who know how to use AI will come for the people who don't know how to use AI.” Inside the Episode: - Ruthless Inventory: Why you need to avoid the micro-trend trap, and double down on what your customers are loyal to. - Operational Simplification: How reducing SKU count freed up working capital, eased vendor management, and improved store planning, without sacrificing brand identity - Getting Creative with AI: How to position your tech into a ‘red-teaming’ approach to aggressively stress-test ideas, name options, and look for vulnerabilities before any capital is deployed - Keeping AI Out of Creative: How to establish market differentiation amid the influx of AI-generated content - Stop letting tech run your creative. Start using it to clear out the daily clutter so your team has the breathing room to stand out. Catch the full conversation and more inside the episode.

June 5, 202617 min

Build for Omnichannel Success: Partnerships, AI, & Clean Data

As the path to purchase continues to splinter over multiplying channels, brands need to be everywhere their customers are. Suzy Davidkhanian, Vice President of Retail Insights at eMarketer, sits down with Jeremy Goldman to discuss why long-term retail success depends on a multichannel model and durable partnerships, despite the rise of generative AI. Inside the Episode: - The Omnichannel Business Model: Why the direct-to-consumer approach is no longer sustainable as a standalone business model - Creating Strong Partnerships: Why brands should evaluate partners based on shared values and audience alignment, focusing on building long-term equity rather than short-term sales spikes - Practical Impact of AI Shopping: How AI and predictive technology will automate routine reorders, shifting where ad dollars are spent rather than destroying them - Clean Data as the Foundation: Why true personalization and relevance are impossible without a solid data foundation AI is a powerful tool, but without a clean, focused retail operation, technology alone cannot salvage a broken strategy. 🎧 Listen to the full episode.

June 3, 202622 min

The Chatbot Hangover Is Over: The Future of Retail Customer Service

Are basic chatbots hurting your customer experience? In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, guest host Christine Russo sits down with Antanas Bakšys, CEO and Co-Founder of Ace Waves, to discuss the massive transformation happening in retail CX. Antanas shares insights from his 15 years in ecommerce, explaining how retail customer support is shifting from rigid software into an elite autonomous workforce. KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Beyond Chatbots: Why legacy retail automation fails and how to transition to true AI teammates. - Customer Service Debt: How to identify this hidden burden in your organization and clear it out. - Risk Management: How autonomous AI agents safely handle sensitive tasks like refunds and cancellations. - Future of Retail CX: A contrarian 12-month prediction on where retail automation is heading. Meet Ace Waves at Shoptalk Europe! > Heading to Barcelona this June 9th through 11th? Meet Antanas and the team in person at the Ace Waves booth.

May 19, 202625 min

Shoptalk Europe 2026: Moving from AI Theory to Execution

As retail leaders prepare for Shoptalk Europe 2026, the conversation is no longer centered on what AI could do. It’s shifting toward what AI in retail is already doing, where it is creating measurable value, and what it takes to move from pilots to profit. In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, Jeremy Goldman, VP of Insights at RETHINK Retail, sits down with Joe Laszlo, Head of Content at Shoptalk, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the Shoptalk Europe agenda is built, and why this year’s program reflects a more execution-focused moment for retail. The conversation explores: → Why the Shoptalk Europe 2026 agenda moves beyond theory and into real-world retail AI application → How European retail leaders are navigating AI, customer connection, and physical retail reinvention → Why agentic commerce is being approached with both excitement and scrutiny → What makes the European retail conversation distinct across markets, regulations, and consumer behaviors → Which sessions and speakers are set to shape the biggest retail conversations in Barcelona With leaders from Vestiaire Collective, Arc’teryx, Christian Louboutin, Zalando, Estée Lauder, Sephora, L’Oréal, Google, and more taking the stage, Shoptalk Europe is bringing together the people defining what retail execution looks like next. 🎧 Listen to the full episode for a preview of the themes, speakers, and conversations shaping Shoptalk Europe 2026, taking place June 9–11 at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona.

May 14, 202647 min

Insights from eTail Toronto 2026 (Part 2)

The conversation continues! In the conclusion of our special two-part coverage from eTail Toronto 2026, host Jeremy Goldman sits down with four more industry experts to explore the shifting dynamics of modern retail and what it takes to stay ahead in an increasingly automated landscape. Featured in this episode: - Janet Ihm (Vice President, Channel Strategy & Digital Experience, Ontario Cannabis Store): Using retail data programs to level the playing field for mom and pop shops and the importance of intentional, cautious AI strategy. - Thomas Hamilton (VP of Sales & Marketing): Why he’s teaching his team philosophy and critical thinking to act as tastemakers who audit the machine. - Mario Lemieux (Partner, DAC): The collapse of the traditional marketing funnel and the rebirth of the physical store as a billboard for the brand. - Roger Emeka (Director of Customer Experience, Browns Shoes Inc.): Why Customer Experience is a profit center and the immediate fallback rule that keeps humans at the center of the journey. Listen now to hear the full conclusion of our eTail Toronto series!

May 13, 202622 min

Beyond Viral Trends: Stanley 1913’s Strategy for Lasting Relevancy

Stanley 1913 has moved far beyond a single blockbuster product. Graham Nearn, Chief Product and Sustainability Officer, PMI WW Brands, LLC (Stanley 1913), sits down with Jeremy Goldman to discuss how a brand with a century of history stays absolutely relevant in a trend-driven market. Inside the Episode: - The Credibility Ladder: Why every expansion must pass the four filters of quality, originality, invention, and mission to avoid overextending the brand. - Lifestyle Evolution: How the Vitalize collection and the new Clutch Bottle move the company beyond hydration and into everyday essentials. - Universal Truths: Adapting a global strategy to meet hyper-local needs, from car culture in the US to commute culture in Asia. - Circular Success: A look at the award-winning Take Back program that reclaims 96 percent of materials for the supply chain. - Predictive Learning: Using real-time social dialogue and data to inform the next move before the market catches up. Stop managing a blockbuster product. Start fueling the human experience.

May 12, 202625 min

Store to Door: Making E-commerce Operationally Viable

Retailers have spent 25 years trying to make in-store picking profitable. Most are still struggling because fulfillment is managed as an afterthought. In this episode, Top Retail Expert Vinny O'Brien sits down with Xavier Pym, Partnerships Development Manager at Vusion and Kristofer Browall, Head of Solution Sales at StrongPoint, to bridge the gap between digital strategy and operational reality. Discussion Highlights: - The Design Conflict - Direction Over Data - The Human Factor - The Connected Advantage Stop managing the store as a side project. Start building a real-time fulfillment engine.