What happens when you mix the science of data with the art of human connection? That’s the theme behind Shoptalk Fall 2025, Retail Alchemy.

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, HG O’Connell joins host Sharon Gai to share how ShopTalk Fall is creating an intimate, experimental space for retail leaders.

Highlights include:

- Why Shoptalk Fall is designed as a “lab” for testing new formats and ideas

- This year’s theme of Retail Alchemy and how it plays out across sessions and the show floor

- The rise of AI fatigue, and the demand for real case studies with measurable results

- The return of Shopwalks, taking execs on curated tours

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Hosted by Nino Horttrich, and with the collaboration of Matt Redwood of Diebold Nixdorf, we explore how Tillster is solving some of the biggest challenges in QSR.

From tackling operational challenges to improving speed, personalization, and consistency, this conversation explores how strategic partnerships can transform the customer journey and future-proof restaurant operations.

🎧 Listen now to learn:

- How QSR brands can unify digital and physical channels

- Why integration is the key to efficiency and customer loyalty

- What’s next for restaurant technology innovation

We’re halfway through 2025, and retail is riding a wild mix of breakthroughs, challenges, and shifting shopper habits.

In this special mid-year episode, host Andrew Smith (ThinkUncommon) is joined by top retail experts Neil Saunders (GlobalData Retail), Jerry Sheldon (IHL Services), and Sucharita Kodali (Forrester Research) to unpack:

The biggest retail stories and consumer shifts so far

Which tech is delivering real impact (and which is still just hype)

Smart strategies to protect margins and run leaner ops

Advice for the months ahead

🎧 Tune in now for candid insights and practical takeaways to help you navigate the rest of 2025.

Special thanks to VusionGroup and Kyndryl for making this episode possible!

In this new episode of Retailer Tech Tips, we explore how geospatial data is redefining store planning, logistics, and customer experience in real time.

🧠 Learn how top retail experts use foot traffic, heat maps, and location intelligence to:

- Pick smarter store locations

- Personalize local offers

- Streamline inventory

- And design stores that actually work

Featuring:

- Michael Klein (RCA Advisory Council Member)

- Jake Osborne Business Development Executive at Kyndryl

- Thaddeus Segura, Product Senior Vice President at VusionGroup

Special thanks to Vusiongroup and Kyndryl for making this episode possible.

In this episode of Rethink Retail, host Marie Driscoll sits down with Amrita Bhasin, CEO at Sotira, a leading voice in reverse logistics, to explore how AI, overstock management, and sustainability are transforming the future of retail.

Reverse logistics is now an $800 billion global industry, yet remains one of the most under-discussed pillars of modern commerce.

With e-commerce return rates as high as 50%, and growing concerns over landfill waste, brands are urgently seeking smarter solutions for excess inventory.

🎯 Key Topics Covered:

- What reverse logistics actually means and why it matters

- The environmental and financial costs of overstock, returns, and incineration

- Why traditional outlet models are misleading

- AI-powered liquidation platforms and the future of inventory automation

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Redefining Trust in Online Jewelry Retail by

Nick Harbaugh talks with Shira Libhaber of Marcella, one of America’s fastest-growing fashion brands.

Shira dives into how the company combines timeless design, global expansion, and next-gen tech to create a scalable yet purpose-driven model.

📍 Timestamps:

(0:30) Shira joins live from ShopTalk Europe

(1:02) Marcella’s backstory: from Etsy to high-growth brand

(2:02) Tackling innovation as retail lead

(4:06) Expanding to Europe: UK, France, Germany

(6:08) Purpose in action: design, sustainability, education

(7:10) Fit tech & optimizing customer experience

(9:44) Advice for retail innovators

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Rethink Retail brings together two powerhouses shaping the future of commerce:

🔹 Matt Redwood, VP Retail Technology Solutions at Diebold Nixdorf

🔹 John Harmon, Managing Director, Technology Research at Coresight Research

They explore:

- Why the point-of-sale (POS) is becoming the retail OS

- How AI and automation are driving measurable ROI

- What Gen Z expects from the in-store experience

- Why a modular tech approach is key to future-proofing operations

Whether you're modernizing stores or rethinking your customer journey, this conversation offers strategic insights for leaders navigating the next phase of retail transformation.

🎧 Listen now.

Renee Hartmann chats with Jean-Sébastien Crevier, VP of Sales and Marketing at WeCook, live from Shoptalk Europe in Barcelona.

Jean-Sébastien shares how WeCook is scaling Canada’s ready-to-eat meal space through data-first strategies, predictive churn models, and a no-gimmick approach to loyalty.

Learn how his team balances growth with profitability, what really works in paid vs. organic social, and how AI is reshaping their marketing ops.

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

On the floor at Shoptalk Europe, RETHINK Retail’s Marie Driscoll sits down with Nicolas Kroeger, Chief Digital Transformation Officer at Manor AG, Switzerland’s largest department store chain.

In a dynamic conversation, Nicolas shares how his expanded role is driving process efficiency and innovation through AI across departments.

🧠 Topics covered:

- Automating product data enrichment using AI

- The yin & yang approach to digital transformation

- Training internal teams on AI adoption

- The future of customer experience & personalization

- How to start your AI journey as a retailer

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com