Retail Remix

Expanding your brand into a new market or category can be tricky. How much should you innovate and expand upon what you already do? What do customers expect from such an experience? Rick Gomez, EVP and Chief Food & Beverage Officer at Target, played a crucial role in transforming the retailer’s identity from a typical retailer with limited food and grocery options to a comprehensive grocery store. 

Last summer, at the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo in Chicago, Rick shared a behind-the-scenes look at how Target approaches innovation and growth to give customers what they want and expect from their shopping experiences.

During this episode of Retail Remix, we give you exclusive access to Rick’s session to learn how he and his team helped transform the retail giant from a typical chain of stores into a one-stop destination for shoppers' culinary needs. Listen to learn: 

• How Target uses data and digital tools to innovate;
• How to show up in new markets in a unique way;
• Ways to create powerful, personalized moments; and
• Industry trends Rick is excited about and considering to drive future growth.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Rick’s work in our Retail Innovator Awards report!
• Follow Rick on LinkedIn and Twitter.
• Learn more about food and beverage trends at Retail TouchPoints.

Want to learn more about what it takes to evolve your brand and fuel growth? Want to learn from other innovative executives like Rick? Register for the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, which is taking place June 13-15, 2023, in Chicago and will be laser-focused on what’s new and what’s next in connected commerce. All-Access Pass holders will get access to three days of content, including sessions on new revenue models like resale, social commerce, and more. Register before April 6 to get Super Early Bird savings, and use the code RRPODD225p to get an extra 25% off all pass types. 

In the luxury space, in-person experiences are still king. Brand representatives are able to provide high-touch service that allows them to personally consult, fit and connect with customers. But as consumers increasingly consult digital channels, luxury brands are struggling to truly capitalize on new service and engagement opportunities. 

During this episode of Retail Remix, host Alicia Esposito chats with Olivia Steele, Co-founder of Conversation Couture, a virtual sales training and consulting firm for the luxury retail industry. They look at what luxury brands can do to bridge the disparity between digital and physical experiences. Listen to learn: 

• Olivia’s “magic trifecta” for creating seamless customer experiences across channels;
• How to connect the dots between technology and customer experience strategy;
• Tips and tactics for branded ecommerce experiences, including virtual services; and
• How Olivia believes the luxury market will evolve over the next year. 

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Conversation Couture
• Follow Olivia and Conversation Coutre on LinkedIn and Instagram
• Read more about luxury trends and news at Retail TouchPoints

Want to learn more about how to refine and optimize your omnichannel customer experiences? Register for the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, which is taking place June 13-15, 2023, in Chicago and will be laser-focused on what’s new and what’s next in connected commerce. All-Access Pass holders will get access to three days of content, including sessions on new revenue models like resale, social commerce, and more. Register before April 6 to get Super Early Bird savings, and use the code RRPODD225p to get an extra 25% off all pass types. 

Connected product experiences require so much more than a QR code and call to action. Brands need detailed insight into audience interests and expectations, robust technology to bridge the gap between physical products and digital experiences and, of course, powerful storytelling forged by a genuine connection established between customers, brands and products. 

With a highly functional and engaging connected product experience, businesses can foster brand loyalty while boosting sales. During this episode of Retail Remix, host Alicia Esposito sits down with Cameron Worth, Founder of SharpEnd, to discuss the secret sauce for rolling out IoT programs and connected product experiences that are effective and “badass.” Listen in to learn: 

• How the role of IoT in the consumer experience has evolved since the pandemic hit;
• What it means to create a genuine connected-product experience that delights customers and accelerates buying decisions; and 
• The future of interactive and digital-driven experiences in the industry.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about SharpEnd
• Follow Cameron and SharpEnd on LinkedIn and Twitter
• Read more about connected-product experiences at Retail TouchPoints

Want to learn more about connected product strategy and its impact on the industry? Register for the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, which is taking place June 13-15, 2023, in Chicago and will be laser-focused on what’s new and what’s next in connected commerce. The SharpEnd team will be speaking with a brand partner so attendees can learn how to make some of these big ideas a reality for their business. All-Access Pass holders will get access to three days of tactical and thought-provoking sessions. Register before April 6 to get Super Early Bird savings, and use the code RRPODD225p to get an extra 25% off all pass types. 

Retail TouchPoints has been studying and reporting on the evolution of resale for years. Over this time, we’ve seen consumer behaviors shift and demand accelerate, which means retailers have had to rethink the way they research and source “pre-loved” goods. How do they find the right wholesale partners? What are the risks they face while selecting products? How can they ensure their customers get the best deal and their business gets the best margins?

During this episode of Retail Remix, host Alicia Esposito dives into the booming secondhand wholesale market with Emily Erkel, CMO and Co-founder at LePrix. Hear her insights regarding the potential risks retailers face when getting involved in reselling items, plus what exactly is propelling them to take those calculated chances. Tune in to learn: 

• How the vision for LePrix evolved from B2C to B2B;
• The unique challenges (and new developments) in the resale market; and
• How LePrix is investing in tech innovation and education to drive the market forward.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about LePrix
• Follow Emily on LinkedIn and Twitter
• Get more resale and recommerce coverage on Retail TouchPoints

Want to learn more about the apparel recommerce market and its impact on the industry? Register for the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, which is taking place June 13-15, 2023, in Chicago and will be laser-focused on what’s new and what’s next in connected commerce. All-Access Pass holders will get access to three days of content, including sessions on new revenue models like resale, social commerce and more. Register before April 6 to get Super Early Bird savings, and use the code RRPODD225p to get an extra 25% off all pass types. 

Branded recommerce is gaining momentum in retail. Could it be the key to success for your company? To find out, you’ll have to do some deep strategic work to ensure your brand, your products and your customer align. 

During this episode of Retail Remix, Alicia Esposito talks with Andy Ruben, Founder & Executive Chairman at  Trove. They discuss how Andy has seen the recommerce space grow and evolve, and the unique approaches brands have taken to use ecommerce to drive acquisition, engagement and loyalty. Check out this episode to learn: 

• How Trove has changed the way resale is done;
• What is stopping some brands from embracing recommerce;
• How to make a profit in the secondary market; and
• Practical advice for venturing into the resale space.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Trove
• Check out how other brands are using recommerce strategies
• Subscribe to the Trove newsletter on LinkedIn
• Follow Andy on LinkedIn and Twitter
• Get more Recommerce coverage on Retail TouchPoints

Want to learn more about the apparel recommerce market and its impact on the industry? Register for the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, which is taking place June 13-15, 2023, in Chicago and will be laser-focused on what’s new and what’s next in connected commerce. Register before April 6 to get Super Early Bird savings, and use the code RRPODD225p to get an extra 25% off all pass types.

Are you in on the NFT craze or playing it safe? If you fall into the latter, you may miss out on some amazing opportunities for engaging with customers and cultivating a loyal community of fans and collectors.

During this episode of Retail Remix, our host Alicia Esposito sits down to chat with Ash Pampati, Head of Partnership at the NFT creation platform Metaplex. The pair discuss who manages NFT projects in today’s market, the strategic priorities, and what opportunities are available to brands and retailers. More importantly, they discuss what teams need to think about as they go on their NFT journey. Tune in to learn: 

• The various opportunities NFTs create for digital commerce initiatives;
• How NFTs are revolutionizing go-to-market strategies like influencer marketing;
• How NFTs are tackling security concerns for growing digital businesses; and
• Predictions of how the Web3 climate will evolve in the coming years.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Metaplex
• Learn more about the Solana blockchain
• Follow Ash on LinkedIn
• Get more NFT and Web3 coverage on Retail TouchPoints

Want to learn more about how your business can capitalize on the Web3 revolution? Register for the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, which is taking place June 13-15, 2023, in Chicago and will be laser-focused on what’s new and what’s next in connected commerce. All-Access Pass holders will get access to the D2 Summit: Retail Edition, a day-long program on June 13 focused solely on how Web3, the metaverse and NFTs are driving the future of retail experiences. Register before April 6 to get Super Early Bird savings and use the code RRPODD225p to get an extra 25% off all pass types. 

Having a focus on the customer has always been an important, if not obvious, part of retail. But in this era of digital transformation, brands need to remain focused on what their customer needs and expects as they try to simultaneously do more with less.

During this episode of Retail Remix, we chat with Kathy Kimple, the Executive Director of OSF Digital’s Strategy Group, to dig into some key findings from the firm’s latest Omnichannel Retail Index. She and host Alicia Esposito discuss how the industry is leaning heavier on customer-centricity to drive success and how the right strategy and supporting tech stack can boost efficiency and business performance. Check out this episode to also learn about: 

• The trends that came into focus in 2022 and will continue to guide digital efforts in 2023;
• How tactics like social proof help build shopper trust and drive conversions; and
• The importance of cross-functional understanding and buy-in as brands re-evaluate and shape next-gen customer experiences.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about OSF Digital.
• Check out the Omnichannel Retail Index!
• Follow Kathy on LinkedIn!

In today’s fast-paced and competitive marketplace, many consumer brands and digitally native DTC brands are fighting to stand out and chart a path to sustainable growth. To fully understand the dynamics shaping this area of the retail industry in particular, we sat down with Jenny Fleiss, Senior Advisor for Volition Capital, who is most known for starting Rent the Runway with her co-founder Jennifer Hyman. 

Now, Jenny works closely with CPG and DTC brands to help them understand new competitive pressures and find the best ways to refine their marketing and advertising strategies, their product sourcing and supply chains and even their revenue models. Tune in to this episode of Retail Remix to learn: 

• Her key lessons from building and scaling the Rent the Runway business; 
• How digital technology has become a driver of efficiency and personalization;
• What Jenny looks for in brands as an advisor for Volition Capital; and
• Jenny’s take on trends to watch for in 2023.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Volition Capital
• Learn more about Jenny’s background and her experiences in retail
• Learn more about Rent the Runway
• Follow Jenny on LinkedIn and Twitter

Technology and ecommerce have certainly changed the face of retail. From innovative payment methods to omnichannel platforms, retailers now have access to a wealth of tools and options that can help them reach customers more effectively while providing better service overall. And after a couple of years of uncertainty for brick-and-mortar stores during the pandemic, signs show retailers need to find that balance of in-person and digital shopping experiences.

During this episode of Retail Remix, we spotlight a conversation with Michelle Evans, Global Lead for Retail and Digital Consumer Insights at Euromonitor, that took place on the show floor at NRF 2023. We discussed critical trends for retailers going into 2023 and how ecommerce, innovative tech, and physical retail experiences will evolve. Listen to learn about: 

• The key 2022 industry themes that will impact the industry moving forward;
• Advice for retailers on how to best balance value and immersive, tech-driven experiences;
• The growing role of automation to drive CX and operational efficiency; and
• How authenticity is becoming more measurable for retail leadership teams.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Euromonitor
• Check out Euromonitor’s Global Consumer Trends for 2023!
• Read Michelle’s summary from her NRF session
• Follow Michelle on LinkedIn and Twitter!
• Register for Euromonitor’s upcoming webinar on top digital shopper trends
• Miss NRF 2023? Check out our recaps and coverage!

When Natalie Gordon started Babylist, she wanted to provide the knowledge, guidance and support she was seeking when she was pregnant with her first child. Now, the ecommerce baby registry company is making it easier for parents, caretakers and all family members to research and purchase the items they need.  

During this episode of Retail Remix, Natalie shares how the business has evolved in the age of social media, and how branded and user-generated content in particular have helped build the Babylist community. Tune in to learn how: 

• Different family members are changing the way they research and shop for products, and how Babylist is supporting them with new features and capabilities;
• Information overload is creating new challenges for expectant parents in the digital age; and
• Babylist is bringing content and ecommerce together to offer unique customer experiences.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Babylist
• Access Babylist’s Future of Family report
• Share your baby shopping stories with us on Twitter & LinkedIn
• Register for the 2023 Retail Innovation Conference & Expo in Chicago