Retail Remix

Have you ever walked into such a beautiful store, you couldn’t mutter another word other than, “dang”? Well, that was Nicki Gitlin’s inspiration when the time came to name her design and architecture business.

With years of hands-on experience, including a stint at Theory when she designed stores worldwide, she focuses on “intersecting architecture and interaction with daily life,” including the unique attributes of a space. During this week’s Retail Remix, Nicki shares: 

• What she believes makes a “dang”-worthy space;
• How her experience at Theory helped her identify her unique approach to designing store spaces; 
• Ways to tap into the distinct features of a space, from lighting to materials, to create a space that shines; and 
• Lessons from working with some of the industry’s most buzzy brands, from Kith to Billionaire Boys Club.

Want to dig deeper into what’s new and what’s next in retail? Subscribe to the Retail ThinkTank hub to get exclusive access to high-value content on the emerging trends poised to shape the future of the industry.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Dang
• Connect with Nicki on LinkedIn
• Get the latest store design news and trend insights at Design:Retail

More than half of U.S. shoppers are concerned with the quality and legitimacy of the product discovery channels they use most, according to research from Reddit. And yes, that includes social media.

That is why, rather than relying solely on social media ratings and reviews, brands need to connect with consumers in context, according to Bob Ferdman, Reddit’s Head of Retail.

During this week’s Retail Remix, we’re replaying a panel session from the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, where Bob sat down with three executives from The Home Depot, Altra Running and PMG Advertising Agency to discuss: 

• What contextual commerce means to them;
• How the innate design and experience of Reddit inspires authentic conversations and commerce moments;
• Campaign strategies and advertising formats that resonate most; and
• Measuring impact and value of contextual commerce and advertising. 

Want to dig deeper into what’s new and what’s next in retail? Subscribe to the Retail ThinkTank hub to get exclusive access to high-value content on the emerging trends poised to shape the future of the industry.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Reddit
• See our coverage of this session in the Retail ThinkTank
• Connect with Bob Ferdman on LinkedIn

Although some use the words “membership” and “subscription” interchangeably, 64% of consumers believe there is a distinct difference in these types of programs. 
 
But what do consumers really expect from these commerce experiences? Retail TouchPoints and CI&T collaborated on a survey of 1,000+ consumers to find out. Melissa Minkow, author of the report, sits down with host Alicia Esposito to dig into some of the report’s key takeaways, including:  

• How consumers differentiate membership models from subscription models;  
• Which categories are seeing the most traction and why;  
• How the economy is influencing the number of membership programs to which they subscribe; and  
• The triggers that drive consumers to register (or leave) a membership program.  

RELATED LINKS 

• Learn more about CI&T 
• Download a copy of Building a Membership Model That Resonates
• Connect with Melissa on Linkedin 

Rebekah Kondrat has worked for brands known (and loved) for their incredible store experiences: Apple, Starbucks and Warby Parker, among others. She has taken these experiences to start Rekon Retail, a company that helps brands scale their retail operations and set them up for long-term success.

During this RetailThinkTank Ideation Session, host Alicia Esposito sits down with Kondrat to discuss the keys to a successful store operation and how Rekon Retail is helping brands like Olfactory and M.M.LaFleur scale their brick-and-mortar strategies to new consumers and new cities. 

Click here to watch the Retail ThinkTank Ideation Session.

Milani Cosmetics has been around for more than 20 years. And although plenty of beauty trends have come and gone in that time, the brand has maintained relevance and even acquired new customers by staying true to its core value props — and its distinct marketing approach.

During this episode of Retail Remix, we’re replaying an episode of Experience Insiders featuring Milani Cosmetics Chief Marketing Officer Jeremy Lowenstein. During their discussion, Jeremy and host Alicia Esposito dig into:

• How Milani Cosmetics has continued to make luxury beauty products accessible and inclusive for all;
• Tips for balancing fundamental values (like inclusivity) and more creative marketing tactics to stand out across channels; and
• Lessons from some of Milani Cosmetics’ most successful campaigns, such as one recent TikTok-driven initiative for its Fruit Fetish Lip Oil.

Want to dig deeper into what’s new and what’s next in retail? Subscribe to the Retail ThinkTank hub to get exclusive access to high-value content on the emerging trends poised to shape the future of the industry.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Milani Cosmetics
• Get the details on the brand’s latest campaign
• Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn

In its early days, Birdy Grey was very much an “Instagram brand.” That means Grace Lee Chen, Monica Ashauer and their entire team looked to social communities (and especially Instagram) to gather feedback and determine what products they should sell in order to grow their business.

Birdy Grey has relied on this community to grow and position itself as a disruptor in the wedding industry, which has evolved significantly with the advent of TikTok and other social channels. During this episode of Retail Remix, Chen and Ashauer reminisce, looking back on: 

• How they successfully went from BFFs to business partners; 
• How Birdy Grey built a loyal community across all channels; and 
• How the brand tapped into the evolution of the wedding industry to identify new ways to stand out.

Want to dig deeper into what’s new and what’s next in retail? Subscribe to the Retail ThinkTank hub to get exclusive access to high-value content on the emerging trends poised to shape the future of the industry.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Birdy Grey
• Stay up to date with Birdy Grey happenings
• Connect with Grace and Monica on LinkedIn

TikTok and Alibaba are just two of many tech juggernauts testing virtual influencers, and these AI-generated personalities are bringing immersive commerce experiences to a completely new level. What is happening in this space today…and what will the future hold? Most of all, what will the rapid evolution and maturation of this space mean for how we build our own digital identities?

Alicia Esposito explored this topic with Sharon Gai, an ecommerce expert and author of the book Ecommerce Reimagined, during a recent Retail ThinkTank Ideation Session. Listen to get a peek into the conversation, and click the link below to watch the full episode.   

Click here to watch the Retail ThinkTank Ideation Session.

Hearst is harnessing its expansive portfolio of brands and its highly credible editorial team to take a curated, content-driven approach to commerce. Robert Gash, the company’s CTO of Ecommerce, has played an integral role in this new, exciting era for the company, onboarding key partners to support the new experience.

During this episode of Retail Remix, Robert shares details into Hearst’s mission and vision, as well as how he’s working with SoundCommerce to collect, aggregate and leverage data to optimize the experience. He and SoundCommerce CEO Eric Best discuss: 

• Why commerce made sense for the next era of the Hearst business;
• How the company is designing a strategy valuable for both consumers and advertisers; and
• How Robert and his team are building upon its tech stack to develop a differentiated commerce experience.

Want to dig deeper into what’s new and what’s next in retail? Subscribe to the Retail ThinkTank hub to get exclusive access to high-value content on the emerging trends poised to shape the future of the industry.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Hearst’s commerce transformation
• Learn more about SoundCommerce
• Follow Robert Gash on LinkedIn
• Follow Eric Best on LinkedIn

Taking a big leap that drives you — and your business — outside of your comfort zone can be scary. But Steve Dennis believes those leaps are critical to surviving, if not thriving, in this new era of disruption.

Host Alicia Esposito has author Steve Dennis back on the show to chat about his latest book, Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption, to discuss the personal and professional experiences that motivated him to put the pen to paper. They also chat about: 

• What’s driving the new innovator’s dilemma; 
• The “confederacy of meh” that is holding back business leaders, especially in retail; 
• How executives should balance taking big leaps with intentional risk assessment; and
• A few of the seven leadership mind leaps, including the importance of crushing your ego.

Want to dig deeper into what’s new and what’s next in retail? Subscribe to the Retail ThinkTank hub to get exclusive access to high-value content on the emerging trends poised to shape the future of the industry.

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Steve Dennis
• Get a copy of Leaders Leap
• Follow Steve on LinkedIn

Despite headlines claiming the death of the shopping mall, some developers are reimagining the experience to make it memorable, even unforgettable, for consumers. 

During this episode of Retail Remix, host Alicia Esposito sits down with someone who is helping shape the future of the mall: Justin Stein, EVP of Leasing at Tanger. During this episode, he shares details on:

• Tanger’s transformation, including thinking more like a curator and less like a traditional operator; 

• His team’s approach to tenant mix, ensuring the right combination of retailers, restaurants, entertainment and more are integrated into experiences; 

• How Tanger is thinking of omnichannel experience design to boost traffic and dwell time; and

• His advice for helping retailers optimize their presence in shopping malls and centers. 

RELATED LINKS

• Learn more about Tanger 
• Read about Tanger’s transformation
• Get more insights on the future of the mall