Retail War Games

In this session from the Retail Collective Summit, industry leaders from Nostra, Spreetail, SmartScout, Redo, and Bispoke dive into the rapidly shifting landscape of retail technology. As the cost of building tech drops and innovation accelerates, the panel explores how brands are moving away from "growth at all costs" toward a "profit-first" mentality driven by data accuracy and AI-powered insights.

The conversation tackles the "trash in, trash out" reality of AI, explaining why specific, product-level models are essential for avoiding hallucinations and gaining true visibility into profitability and inventory. From managing a $1 billion e-commerce operation to handling returns for over 3,000 brands, these experts reveal the internal metrics—such as Incremental POAS (Profit After Ad Spend) and LTV—that actually define success in 2026.

Is physical retail dead, or is it the most powerful growth tool for modern brands? In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with Rebekah Kondrat, Founder and Managing Partner of Rekon Retail, to explore the renaissance of the storefront. Rebekah, who has led physical expansion for giants like Warby Parker and Joybird, discusses why digital-native brands are increasingly moving into the physical world to secure long-term customer loyalty.

The conversation takes a deep dive into the "Anthropology of Shopping"—the study of how human behavior and psychology dictate the success of a retail space. Rebekah explains that successful retail is not about the transaction, but about creating environments where customers feel comfortable, welcomed, and connected to the brand's story.

In this session from the Retail Collective Summit (Panel 9), industry leaders from Baker Tilly, Mett Naturals, Life Cider, Nutriient, and Just Ingredients discuss the evolution of the health and wellness industry.

Moving beyond simple shelf presence, these brands are developing holistic ecosystems rooted in radical transparency, rigorous testing, and founder-led storytelling.The conversation explores how these companies maintain a "brand promise" of high-quality, real-food ingredients while navigating global economic pressures like rising whey protein costs and new tariff rounds.

From the science behind Paraxanthine to the rise of clear proteins and the impact of GLP-1 drugs on consumer fiber and protein needs, the panelists reveal the strategies necessary to stay ahead of the rapidly shifting wellness curve.

How does a brand evolve from sewing wallets in a basement to raising millions on Kickstarter? In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with Jacob Durham, co-founder of Nomatic, to deconstruct the journey of one of the most successful travel gear brands in the world. Jacob shares the strategy behind positioning Nomatic in the top 1% of crowdfunded projects by prioritizing high-function gear that removes friction for people on the move.

The conversation explores the critical shift from a startup to a global operation, managing retail partnerships and a complex expansion into apparel. Jacob offers raw insights into why the digital advertising tactics of 2014 no longer apply and how "Innovation over Transaction"—including their massive partnership with Peter McKinnon—became the brand's rocket ship. Whether you are validating a product or scaling a company, this is a masterclass in design, operational resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit.

In this session from the Retail Collective Summit, founders and CEOs from Rags, &Collar, Beard Club, Caddis Sports, 47G and Spreetail dissect the shifting balance between D2C and marketplaces like Amazon and TikTok Shop.

The conversation reveals the raw reality of channel profitability, comparing high D2C gross margins against the lower acquisition costs and fulfillment efficiencies found on Amazon.The panel explores tactical "Trojan Horse" plays—using marketplaces for demand capture and customer acquisition, then driving that traffic back to branded sites for premium experiences and long-term loyalty. From navigating the "nerves" of TikTok Shop to the importance of "lean and mean" operations, these leaders share why being where the consumer already exists is the ultimate competitive advantage.

Finally, the group discusses the future of retail operations, including the strategic use of 3PL partners and the role of AI in streamlining creative testing and SEO. Whether you're building a brand moat or optimizing for higher LTV, this episode provides a masterclass in staying nimble in a volatile market.

In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with a staple of Utah broadcasting, Nicea DeGering. With a career spanning over 30 years at ABC4, Nicea shares her journey from being a 29-year-old crime reporter to becoming a pioneer of "infotainment" as the face of Good Things Utah.

She offers a rare look into the survival skills required to stay relevant in a transitory business, having successfully navigated her role through seven different station owners.The conversation explores the profound shift in local media—from the strict lines of 90s traditional news to the personality-driven, community-focused landscape of today. Nicea breaks down why local storytelling remains essential even in the age of social media, describing the early days of her show as a "community gathering place" that functioned like Facebook before Facebook existed.Beyond the industry shifts, Nicea speaks candidly about the personal toll of being in the public eye. She discusses her evolution from trying to please every social media critic to finally embracing her own authenticity, concluding that "the only person I'm good at being is me".

Whether you are a brand looking to tell your story or a leader navigating a changing industry, this episode is a masterclass in staying power, authenticity, and the art of human connection.

In this strategic session from the Retail Collective Summit, leaders from iconic brands including LoveSac, R.C. Willey, Harmon's Grocery, Christy Sports, and Minky Couture convene to break down the operational challenges of navigating a market defined by uncertainty. The conversation dives deep into how decisiveness and aggression in decision-making allowed companies like LoveSac to anticipate tariff crises and pandemic shifts, transforming obstacles into opportunities to onshore production to American soil through automation.

Throughout the episode, the panelists explore the tension between adopting new technologies like Artificial Intelligence for inventory forecasting and the absolute necessity of preserving the human experience and personalized service that defines traditional retailers. From the evolution of a brand that began selling blankets out of the back of a car to the management of industry giants with 94-year histories, this panel provides a roadmap for maintaining a clear "North Star" in the face of economic volatility and changing consumer behaviors.

"Nobody knows how to make 100 million view videos until they just start posting."

In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with Isaac Cook, former Lead Producer at MrBeast, former producer for the massive Beast Games production and now founder of White Rock Media and Farther Media.

Isaac shares the high-stakes tactical lessons learned while managing $2.5 million production budgets per video and leading teams of over 1,000 people on set. We dive into the granular "science of the click"—from why the shape of a smile on a thumbnail can drive millions in revenue to why the CEO of McDonald's recently went viral using nothing but an iPhone. Isaac breaks down the strategic void many retail brands face: spending millions on massive sponsorships while neglecting the authentic, raw content on their own digital channels that actually builds long-term consumer trust.

Whether you are a founder scaling a $5M brand or an executive at a billion-dollar enterprise, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the world's most successful content engine to show you how to turn digital attention into a measurable retail advantage.

In this strategic panel from the Retail Collective Summit in January 2026, we bring together the visionaries behind some of the most disruptive brands in retail to discuss the brutal reality of competition. These leaders share how to handle the moment your "moat" is breached by industry giants and fast followers. We move past the spreadsheets to explore the "Blue Sky" mindset, the danger of resting on a healthy P&L, and the tactical maneuvers required to launch a brand in Target and Walmart while staying under the radar of multi-billion dollar competitors.

If you are a founder or executive navigating a crowded market, this conversation is your playbook for constant reinvention and long-term dominance.

In this episode of Retail War Games, Jeremy sits down with Jason and Meradith Christensen, the husband-and-wife duo behind Blue Unicorn Bar.

After building Northstar into one of the largest home security companies in the nation and exiting to private equity, Jason "disrupted himself" to enter the brutal world of CPG.

We dive into the "Willy Wonka" chemistry behind their proprietary manufacturing, the logistical nightmare of shipping real chocolate in the summer, and how they landed major retailers like Harmon's and Associated Food Stores in record time. From the high-stakes pivot of a tech founder to the molecular science required to create a "fluffy" protein bar without additives, this conversation reveals what it truly takes to scale a premium brand while maintaining total control over production.