Beyond The Shelf

By David Feinleib

This show is an open exploration of the people and process behind E-Commerce. Through conversations with innovators in the space, we learn the stories of these leaders and their strategies for E

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FAQs about Beyond The Shelf:

How many episodes does Beyond The Shelf have?

The podcast currently has 140 episodes available.

Beyond The Shelf episodes:

June 30, 2026 REWIND: The New Rules of Retail Media Creative - with Walmart Connect's Garima Ahuja
This week we're repeating Dave's insightful discussion with Garima Ahuja, Sr. Partner Development Manager, Creative Partnerships at Walmart Connect. This episode originally aired 6/2/26.
Garima shares how Walmart Connect is helping brands connect with shoppers across the full funnel — from discovery to purchase — using Walmart’s scale, solutions, and first-party signals. She also breaks down why creative has become one of the biggest opportunities in retail media, but also one of the biggest operational challenges. As brands activate across more placements and formats, they need more creative variations, more customization, and faster workflows.
Garima and Dave also discuss the partnership between Walmart Connect and It’sRapid, including It’sRapid Optix™️ is helping brands streamline creative production, optimize before launch, connect performance data, and publish creative more efficiently.
Connect with Garima on LinkedIn

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Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
27min
June 23, 2026 BTS Live from the Digital Shelf Summit: Dawn Powell (Kids2)
Recorded in April at Digital Shelf Summit 2026, this Beyond the Shelf Live "minisode" features Dave's conversation with Dawn Powell from Kids2.
Dawn shares what stood out at the event, including the pace of innovation around AI and how teams are finding more practical ways to bring new capabilities into their day-to-day workflows.
She also discusses Kids2’s partnership with It’sRapid around image translation, and how the team is using the solution to move faster across languages and markets while still preserving brand fonts, creative standards, and human review.
Dawn also reflects on Kids2 winning the Digital Shelf Transformer Award, and why successful AI adoption is not just about the technology itself, but about scaling it in a way that fits naturally into existing processes.
Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker

...more
6min
June 16, 2026 The New In-Store Media Playbook - with LG's Tom Bingham
This week, Dave speaks with Tom Bingham, Director of Vertical Market Sales at LG Electronics.
Tom shares how digital display technology is evolving from reliable screens into broader customer experience platforms across retail, QSR, grocery, C-store, stadiums, venues, and transportation environments.
In this episode, Tom breaks down why in-store retail media is moving so quickly, how retailers are thinking about new surfaces and form factors, and why physical spaces now need to deliver connected, measurable, and meaningful customer experiences.
The conversation also explores how AI, analytics, and data attribution are shaping the next phase of in-store content, advertising, and operations.
Connect with Tom on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
29min
June 09, 2026 Why Complex Categories Need Smarter Content - with Dean McElwee
This week, Dave speaks with Dean McElwee, ecommerce and digital transformation leader and author of Ecommerce for CEOs.
Dean shares what he’s learned working across global brands, complex categories, and digital shelf transformation — including why DIY and home improvement require a very different ecommerce content playbook.
In this episode, Dean breaks down the challenges of managing SKU complexity, spec data, mobile legibility, B2B and B2C shopper needs, and content workflows across retailers. He also shares his perspective on It’sRapid Optix, and why analytics should help teams understand not just what needs to be fixed, but why those fixes matter in the shopper decision process.
The conversation also explores how AI and creative automation are helping ecommerce teams refresh content more efficiently, reduce manual work, and focus on doing the digital shelf basics brilliantly.
Connect with Dean on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
32min
June 02, 2026 The New Rules of Retail Media Creative - with Walmart Connect's Garima Ahuja
This week, Dave speaks with Garima Ahuja, Sr. Partner Development Manager, Creative Partnerships at Walmart Connect.
Garima shares how Walmart Connect is helping brands connect with shoppers across the full funnel — from discovery to purchase — using Walmart’s scale, solutions, and first-party signals. She also breaks down why creative has become one of the biggest opportunities in retail media, but also one of the biggest operational challenges. As brands activate across more placements and formats, they need more creative variations, more customization, and faster workflows.
Garima and Dave also discuss the partnership between Walmart Connect and It’sRapid, including It’sRapid Optix™️ is helping brands streamline creative production, optimize before launch, connect performance data, and publish creative more efficiently.
Connect with Garima on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
27min
May 26, 2026 Always Be Optimizing - with Ferrero's Helen Makri
This week, Dave speaks with Helen Makri, Sr. Manager of eCommerce Digital Content at Ferrero.

Helen shares how Ferrero has evolved its ecommerce content capabilities — from repurposing brand assets for digital to building a more strategic, optimized approach across a large and growing portfolio of brands.

In this episode, Helen breaks down why ecommerce content needs to do more than look good. It has to address shopper barriers, support conversion, and be tailored to the needs of each retailer and audience.

The conversation also explores Ferrero’s partnership with It’sRapid, including how the team uses It’sRapid Optix™ to test content, uncover clearer insights, customize audience inputs, and optimize PDP visuals earlier in the development process.
Connect with Helen on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
26min
May 19, 2026 How AI Agents Are Rewriting Enterprise Workflows - with Field Materials AI's Eldar Sadikov
This week, Dave speaks with Eldar Sadikov, co-founder and CEO of Field Materials AI.
Eldar has spent his career building AI companies — first in retail and ecommerce personalization with Jetlore, and now in commercial construction procurement with Field Materials AI.
In this episode, Eldar shares how AI has changed from classical machine learning to modern LLMs and agents, why vertical AI companies need to start with deep industry pain points, and how AI-native software changes the way teams think about workflows, user interfaces, and automation.
He also shares practical advice for anyone trying to move beyond basic AI use cases and start using AI agents to automate real work.
Connect with Eldar on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
29min
May 11, 2026 Asking Better Questions of Your Data — with John Santaferraro
This week, Dave speaks with John Santaferraro. John is the CEO and Head Research Analyst at Ferraro Consulting LLC. With 30 years of experience in AI, analytics, and data management, he brings a wealth of experiences as an industry analyst, marketing executive at HP and ParAccel, and strategic marketing consultant for companies like Google Cloud, SAP, HP, ThoughtSpot, Informatica, and dozens of startups. He is the host of The Digital Analyst podcast with over a million views in 32 episodes.
John shares how AI is transforming retail, ecommerce, and digital strategy — from the shift from traditional data stacks to AI stacks, to the rise of agentic AI and AI-powered search.
The conversation also explores how leaders can use AI as a strategic thought partner, why AI search is changing discovery and SEO, and what retailers need to rethink as commerce becomes increasingly AI-driven.
Connect with John on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
30min
May 07, 2026 Beyond the Shelf Live from the Digital Shelf Summit: Piyush Chaudhari (Salsify)
We're LIVE from DSS 2026 in Atlanta! Dave catches up with Piyush Chaudhari, CEO of Salsify, live from the show floor.
Piyush unpacks what's driving conversation at the event—AI—and how Salsify is helping brands navigate the shift from digital shelf to agentic shelf, focusing on product discovery, measurement, and efficiency.
He highlights Salsify's latest AI innovations, including Angie and the Intelligence Suite, and speaks to the growing It'sRapid–Salsify partnership and new capabilities around sell sheets, flip books, and B2B industrial use cases.
Connect with Piyush on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
5min
May 05, 2026 BTS Live from the Digital Shelf Summit: Kevin Creese (Wastequip)
We're LIVE from DSS 2026 in Atlanta! First up, Dave catches up with Kevin Creese, Director of Ecommerce at Wastequip.
Kevin shares how Wastequip is approaching AI adoption in a practical, operator-first way—focusing on automating repeatable workflows and avoiding overcomplication early on. He also breaks down how their new interactive parts catalog is transforming the way their team manages content and serves customers.
Through their partnership with It’sRapid, Wastequip has been able to quickly launch and scale a dynamic catalog experience across hundreds of SKUs—empowering internal teams to manage updates seamlessly through Salsify and deliver a more intuitive buying experience.
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn

Follow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedIn

Learn More about It'sRapid
Get the It’sRapid Creative Automation Playbook

Take It’sRapid’s Creative Workflow Automation with AI survey
Email us at [email protected] to find out how to get your free AI Image Audit
Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Producer: Jake Musiker
...more
5min

FAQs about Beyond The Shelf:

How many episodes does Beyond The Shelf have?

The podcast currently has 140 episodes available.