Retail Remix

With more than 120 million listings and millions of active sellers, Etsy operates one of the most unique marketplaces in retail. But surfacing the right products for the right buyers requires more than algorithms alone.

In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein speaks with Mary Andrews, Head of Global Merchandising at Etsy, about how the company balances human insight and instinct with AI-driven discovery to curate a shopping experience that feels both personalized and culturally relevant.

Mary shares how her team identifies emerging trends, translates cultural moments into shopping occasions and uses AI to scale those insights across Etsy’s massive inventory. 

Key Takeaways

• How Etsy uses a combination of AI and human curation to translate cultural trends and buyer signals into an ever-changing slate of collections and experiences; 
• Why AI will actually make human merchandisers even more valuable; 
• Insight from Etsy’s early experiments using AI answer engines like ChatGPT and Gemini to expand product discovery; 
• Lessons learned from working alongside Depop’s team of merchandisers, who have their finger on the pulse of Gen Z; 
• How AI personalization is helping to amplify niche interests rather than homogenize the internet; and 
• Why the future merchandiser will spend less time programming products and more time shaping taste and culture. 

Related Links

• Explore Etsy and discover one-of-a-kind products from independent sellers
• Related reading: Etsy, Shopify Among Early Partners for Microsoft’s Copilot Checkout
• Related reading: Etsy Debuts Ad Campaign in Bid to ‘Keep Commerce Human’
• Related reading: Ebay to Acquire Depop Resale Fashion Marketplace from Etsy 
• Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix

In the crowded activewear market, Beyond Yoga has built its brand around something deeper than product: comfort, body inclusivity and the belief that wellness should feel good — not unattainable.

In this episode of Retail Remix, Nicole Silberstein speaks with Katie Babineau, CMO of Beyond Yoga, about how the brand has scaled its presence while staying rooted in the values that built its loyal community. From its cult-favorite Spacedye fabric to its long-standing commitment to body inclusivity, Beyond Yoga has focused on building trust with customers rather than chasing short-term trends, even as it evolves following its acquisition by Levi Strauss & Co.

Key Takeaways

• How Beyond Yoga differentiates itself in the fast-growing premium activewear category; 
• Why the brand’s “progress over perfection” philosophy resonates with today’s wellness-focused consumers; 
• How the Seek Beyond brand platform guides both marketing strategy and internal culture; 
• What the Levi’s acquisition has enabled in terms of infrastructure, scale and speed to market; 
• Why real-life community experiences and brick-and-mortar expansion are central to the brand’s growth strategy; and 
• How social-first storytelling and user-generated content are helping Beyond Yoga build deep, authentic connections with customers. 

Related Links

• Explore Beyond Yoga’s activewear collections and brand story
• Related reading: Beyond Yoga Expands to East Coast with Connecticut Store Debut
• Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix

AI may be everywhere right now, but for Stitch Fix, it’s been foundational for 15 years.

In this episode of Retail Remix, Nicole Silberstein sits down with Tony Bacos, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Stitch Fix, to explore how the brand blends data science and human instinct to power personalized styling at scale — and how that balance is helping fuel a business turnaround.

Tony shares how Stitch Fix’s recommendation engine has evolved from early algorithms to today’s generative AI tools, including the new Stitch Fix Vision experience that lets clients see themselves in curated outfits. He also explains how AI is enhancing (not replacing) human stylists, from drafting personalized styling notes to enabling real-time stylist chat.

Key Takeaways

• How Stitch Fix blends AI-driven recommendations with input from its thousands of human stylists; 
• How generative AI is improving stylist productivity without sacrificing authenticity; 
• Why bringing stylists “out from behind the curtain” has strengthened customer loyalty; 
• The strategic moves behind Stitch Fix’s recent business turnaround; 
• Why personalization may matter even more as AI reshapes online discovery; and 
• Tony’s take on the ultimate retail question: algorithm or instinct?

Related Links

• Explore Stitch Fix’s personalized styling experience
• Related reading: Why Stitch Fix is Focusing on its Human Stylists When Everyone Else is Talking About AI
• Related reading: Stitch Fix Returns to Growth as Turnaround Strategy Bears Fruit
• Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix

In less than five years, launching a third-party marketplace has gone from a questionable move to a strategic imperative for many major retailers. Recorded live at NRF 2026, this episode of Retail Remix digs into that shift with Scott Eckert, CEO of the Americas at marketplace operator Mirakl.

Scott explains why retailers are embracing curated marketplaces as an offensive growth strategy — no longer just as a defensive reaction to Amazon — and how brands like Ulta Beauty, Best Buy and Lowe’s are expanding assortment without diluting brand identity.

The conversation also dives into how AI answer engines are reshaping product discovery, and why clean, machine-readable catalog data may soon matter more than traditional SEO. Plus, Scott shares Mirakl’s growing role in retail media and the company’s vision of becoming an orchestration layer across emerging AI-driven commerce channels.

Key Takeaways

• How the proving power of Amazon and, perhaps more importantly, Walmart has completely shifted retailers’ attitude toward online marketplaces;
• Why retail media and marketplace strategies increasingly go hand in hand;
• The important role marketplaces will play in the world of AI commerce, when done right;
• Why product data must be optimized differently for different AI platforms like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic; and
• The essential quality of a truly disruptive product or service. 

Related Links

• Learn how Mirakl powers enterprise marketplaces and retail media
• Related reading: Mirakl CEO: Marketplaces are ‘Arming the Rebellion’ of Traditional Retail Against Big Tech
• Related reading:Best Buy’s New Third-Party Marketplace is Now Live
• Explore more NRF26 coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26

  
  

Resale may be having a mainstream moment on the consumer side — but behind the scenes a much larger B2B engine has been quietly evolving for nearly two decades.

Recorded live from the show floor at NRF 2026, this episode of Retail Remix features Nicole Silberstein in conversation with Marcus Shen, CEO of B-Stock, a technology platform and marketplace that helps major brands and retailers efficiently sell excess and returned inventory to a network of small business buyers.

Marcus shares how the resale landscape is shifting, why brands increasingly need tighter control over where their excess inventory lands and how AI is helping both sellers and resellers manage volatility, pricing and profitability. The conversation also explores how inflation and changing consumer attitudes have reduced the stigma around secondhand goods, fueling downstream growth in the resale ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

• How B-Stock connects major retailers and brands with small business resellers to reduce the financial impact of returns and overstock;
• Why brands now demand more discretion and control over secondary market distribution;
• How AI is helping normalize messy inventory data and predict resale value;
• Why volatility in inventory mix makes technology essential in B2B resale; and
• How inflation and shifting consumer sentiment are accelerating resale adoption.
• PLUS Hear about the craziest products Marcus has seen come through the platform recently.

Related Links

• Learn more about how B-Stock powers B2B resale and liquidation
• Related reading: A Better Return on Returns: How Data is Redefining B2B Resale Strategies
• Explore more NRF26 coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26

What makes a great store in 2026? Sometimes, it’s not clarity — it’s curiosity.

Recorded live from the show floor at NRF 2026, this episode of Retail Remix features host Nicole Silberstein in conversation with Jack Stratten, Director at Insider Trends and one of the industry’s most well-traveled retail observers. Jack spends his time visiting stores around the world, identifying what works, what doesn’t, and, most importantly, why.

From a wellness-meets-retail concept in Soho to immersive flagships in Paris, Jack breaks down the common thread between standout store experiences: a clear ambition, commitment and, sometimes, a willingness to prioritize discovery over efficiency. The conversation also explores why ecommerce’s continued growth is forcing stores to raise their game — and why legacy department stores are having such a difficult time evolving.

Key Takeaways

• The most interesting new stores you need to check out;
• Why the best stores succeed by meeting their ambition, not chasing trends;
• How discovery, trial and serendipity differentiate physical retail from ecommerce;
• Why Paris (not New York) is the most exciting city for retail experiences right now;
• How global markets and historic shopping experiences still influence modern store design;
• Why the growing ubiquity of ecommerce is having a positive effect on store experience;
• Why department stores are having such a difficult time tapping into their legacy of innovation today; and
• Travel hacks from someone who travels the world for a living.

Related Links

• Explore global retail insights and store safaris from Insider Trends
• Explore more NRF26 coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26

In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein chats with Meera Bhatia, President and COO of Fabletics, on the strategies powering the brand’s impressive momentum.

Fresh off hitting the $1 billion revenue milestone, Meera breaks down how Fabletics has driven sustained growth through category expansion, measured store growth and a flexible membership model that delivers both value for consumers and predictability for the business. She also shares how AI is being deployed across the organization — from smart fitting rooms and associate coaching to inventory optimization and loyalty-driving personalization.

The conversation offers a candid look at how Fabletics is blending fashion, function, value, and technology to stand out in the crowded activewear market and why comfort-forward “lifewear” is shaping what comes next.

Key Takeaways

• How Fabletics scaled past $1 billion in revenue through category, channel and geographic expansion;
• Why the brand’s membership model drives loyalty, predictability and lower supply chain waste;
• How physical retail is fueling omnichannel growth, with 120+ stores and more on the way;
• Inside Fabletics’ AI-powered flagship store, from smart fitting rooms to real-time associate coaching;
• Why AI is less about replacing fundamentals — and more about delivering them better; and
• What’s next for Fabletics in 2026, including international growth and new category plays.

Related Links

• Explore Fabletics’ latest collections and retail experience
• Related reading: New Fabletics Flagship Brings AI-Powered Operations to Westfield Century City
• Related reading: Fabletics Deploys RFID-Powered Inventory Management Solution
• Explore more NRF26 coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26

AI took center stage at NRF 2026, and few moments underscored its importance more than Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s keynote, where he outlined how shopping is evolving in an increasingly agentic, AI-driven world.

This episode of Retail Remix, recorded live from the show floor, features host Nicole Silberstein in conversation with Anil Jain, who leads Global Strategic Industries at Google Cloud. Anil shares how Google Cloud is working with retailers to reimagine everything from product discovery to post-purchase service and why agentic AI represents a fundamental shift in how consumers will interact with brands.

Key Takeaways

• Why AI is becoming the great equalizer, helping smaller companies compete with limited resources;
• How AI experiences in general-use platforms like Google Search are upping the ante for everyone, and how to keep up;
• What multimodal search unlocks when consumers can shop using not just text, but also voice, images and video;
• Why hyper-personalization is finally within reach after decades of promise;
• The change management that will be required as AI shifts the way we all work; 
• How Google and its Cloud division are building for this future.

Related Links

• Related reading: Google Launches Direct Checkout in Search, Gemini
• Learn how Google Cloud is helping retailers adopt AI at scale
• Explore more NRF26 coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26

This episode is brought to you by Airia.

AI dominated conversations at NRF 2026—but as adoption accelerates, so do the risks. In this Retail Remix Deep Dive bonus episode, host Adam Blair, Editor at Retail TouchPoints, sits down with Kevin Kiley, CEO of AIRIA, to explore how retailers can unlock the promise of AI without exposing themselves to unnecessary vulnerability.

Together, they unpack where AI is delivering real value across retail, from store associate enablement to back-office operations, while also addressing the growing challenges around security, governance, reliability, and ROI. Kevin shares why “AI sprawl” is becoming a serious issue, how model outages and hallucinations can derail critical workflows, and why retailers must avoid locking themselves into a single AI provider.

The conversation also draws parallels to earlier tech shifts like mobile and e-commerce, offering a grounded look at what retailers should prioritize now—and what to be cautious about—as AI moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment.

Key Takeaways

• Why AI is a strong fit across retail functions, from the store floor to legal and supply chain
• The hidden risks of agentic AI, including data access, outages, and model drift
• How governance, observability, and auditability are becoming non-negotiable
• Why flexibility across AI models is critical as capabilities evolve at breakneck speed
• Where retailers are seeing the biggest ROI today—from associate training to contract review
• A realistic outlook on AI’s trajectory through 2026, including where hype may cool

Related Links

• Learn how AIRIA helps enterprises govern and secure AI deployments:
• Explore more retail insights and and NRF26 coverage at  Retail TouchPoints
• Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26.

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Discover how Airia’s no-code AI platform empowers retail teams to automate inventory, customer support, and more—without technical expertise. Ready to make AI work for you? Visit airia.com/retailtouchpoints to learn more.

The NRF Big Show is always a whirlwind and this year was no exception. In this special episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein is joined live from the show floor by her colleagues Adam Blair of Retail TouchPoints and Kate Robertson of Shop Eat Surf Outdoor to break down what stood out while everything was still fresh.

From first-time impressions (Kate has never been before) to veteran perspectives (Adam has attended going on 20 years), the trio reflects on the themes that dominated conversations across sessions and booths. Unsurprisingly, AI was everywhere but the editors also dig into the growing emphasis on humanity, trust, authenticity and culture as retailers figure out how (and where) new this technology fits in.

This candid, on-the-ground conversation captures what NRF really feels like — and what retail leaders are wrestling with as 2026 gets underway.

Highlights from this episode include:

• How the AI conversation shifted at NRF 2026 from hype to hands-on learnings;
• The striking quality and confidence of Gen Z voices on stage — and what that says about the future workforce;
• Why retailers like LVMH are doubling down on the human element, even as automation accelerates;
• How creators, trust and authenticity are becoming more critical in a world of AI-driven discovery;
• Leadership lessons from Dick’s Sporting Goods on culture, competitiveness, and rewarding the unglamorous work.

Related Links

• Related reading:Dick’s Sporting Goods Chairman Ed Stack on House of Sport, Corporate Culture and Fixing Foot Locker
• Related reading: AI in Luxury: Why LVMH Won’t Let AI Eclipse Humanity or Creativity
• Related reading: How Inviting Consumers to ‘Ask Ralph’ Deepens Their Connection to the Ralph Lauren Brand
• Explore ongoing NRF coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints.
• Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix from the show floor of NRF26.