Liza Amlani (Retail Strategy Group) and Aimee Heuschkel (Lectra) joined RETHINK Retail at NRF to discuss why the industry is currently making too much of the wrong product.

The Overdevelopment Crisis Right now, brands are throwing supply at consumers and hoping demand follows. With 81% of retailers struggling to keep up, the result is massive waste and shrinking margins. The fix requires moving from reactive systems to predictive, data-led models.

Breaking Down Retail Silos Teams are often "rowing in different directions." Success in 2026 requires bringing design, sourcing, and materials together at the very start of the process. When everyone aligns on business goals rather than siloed targets, efficiency skyrockets.

Materials as a Strategic Unlock Instead of fabric being a "service" to design, it should be the starting point. Elevating materials teams reduces waste and simplifies calendars, ensuring your brand is ready for upcoming transparency regulations like Digital Product Passports (DPP).

Listen the full podcast to future-proof your product journey.

Marie Schwartz caught up with MaryLeigh Bliss from Ypulse at NRF to talk Gen Z in 2026. The old marketing playbooks? They’re history.

The 20-year trend cycle is over. MaryLeigh explains how social media has created a "firehose" of fragmented trends where Gen Z is nostalgic for everything at once. Whether it’s a 90s reboot or a meme from two weeks ago, the pace is moving faster than most retailers can keep up with.

We’re also seeing the rise of the "AI Detective." Gen Z is hunting for glitches and demanding that AI-generated content be clearly labeled. Transparency is now a requirement for trust, which is why brands like Aerie are winning by doubling down on human authenticity.

Finally, the "post-social" era has arrived. Follower counts don't guarantee reach anymore, the algorithm is the new gatekeeper. From the "social closet" (dressing up for TikTok but living in sweatpants) to the surprising return of cinema-going, this episode covers exactly how to reach the next generation in 2026.

Watch the full interview for the complete Gen Z playbook.

In this episode, RETHINK Retail host Marie Schwartz sits down with Jake Randolph and Adel Cruz from LINKED Permanent Jewelry to discuss the explosive growth of experiential retail.

Key Highlights:

- Experiential Sales: Why "permanent" products are winning on social media.

- The AI Advantage: How solo owners use AI to scale marketing and operations.

- Future of Retail: A first look at LINKED’s new "no-welding" model for traditional stores.

Building 2026 Entrepreneurs From Air Force pilots to estheticians, the permanent jewelry business model is empowering a new wave of retail owners. Discover how simple tech and a "community-first" mindset are redefining the gig economy.

Retailers often chase AI for its own sake instead of solving specific operational problems.

In this session of Retailer Tech Tips, Thaddeus Segura from VusionGroup and Guy Courtin from Tecsys discuss how to move past "irrational exuberance" to build an operating model that survives the current industry bifurcation.

Key Discussion Points:

- The Hardware Flywheel: Intelligence starts at the shelf, using battery-powered cameras to gather necessary AI signals.

- Managing Expectations: The industry must move away from "magic beans" toward transparent conversations about AI capabilities.

- The Future of Discovery: AI tools are changing how consumers find brands, shifting loyalty from ads to personalized recommendations.

- The Omnichannel Hurdle: Traditional safety stock is no longer viable as modern retail demands real-time inventory precisio

Are you ready to "bite the bullet" on tech costs now, or will you wait for another budget cycle?

As Shoptalk Spring 2026 approaches, one theme is shaping the conversation across the retail industry: AI is moving from experimentation to real-world application.

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, Fritz Finlay speaks with Joe Laszlo, Head of Content & Insights at Shoptalk, about the ideas and trends expected to define this year’s event.

Their discussion explores several themes emerging across AI in retail today:

- Human-Centric AI

As automation expands across retail operations, successful brands are focusing on how technology can enhance, not replace, the human elements of service, connection, and experience.

- AI as a Multiplier

Rather than asking what roles AI replaces, retailers are increasingly exploring how AI can expand what teams are capable of accomplishing.

- From AI Hype to Retail Impact

The most valuable AI applications are solving long-standing retail challenges, from merchandising decisions and demand planning to customer engagement and discovery.

Joe also shares how these themes are reflected in the Shoptalk Spring 2026 agenda, where leaders from companies such as New Balance, Victoria’s Secret, and Reddit will discuss how AI is shaping the next phase of retail innovation.

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, Digital Shelf Institute Executive Director Lauren Livak joins Paul Murphy to discuss what’s shaping the next phase of ecommerce, from changing shopper behavior to the growing gap between browsing and buying.

They discuss why many digital experiences still struggle to help shoppers make decisions, and what retailers can do differently to better capture attention and support the path to purchase.

Key discussion points include:

- The Conversion Gap: Why rising site traffic doesn’t always translate into completed purchases.

- The “Imagination Gap” in Ecommerce: How visualization and contextual experiences help shoppers understand products in their own environment.

Explore the insights shaping the next phase of ecommerce.

Retailers often chase AI for its own sake instead of solving specific operational problems.

In this session of Retailer Tech Tips, Thaddeus Segura from VusionGroup and Guy Courtin from Tecsys discuss how to move past "irrational exuberance" to build an operating model that survives the current industry bifurcation.

Key Discussion Points:

- The Hardware Flywheel: Intelligence starts at the shelf, using battery-powered cameras to gather necessary AI signals.

- Managing Expectations: The industry must move away from "magic beans" toward transparent conversations about AI capabilities.

- The Future of Discovery: AI tools are changing how consumers find brands, shifting loyalty from ads to personalized recommendations.

- The Omnichannel Hurdle: Traditional safety stock is no longer viable as modern retail demands real-time inventory precisio

Are you ready to "bite the bullet" on tech costs now, or will you wait for another budget cycle?

Is Your Store Ready for What's Next?

Modern retail is about more than just selling products. It’s about being fast, reliable, and smart right when the customer needs it most. In our latest podcast, Intelligence at the Edge: Powering the Store of Tomorrow, we’re breaking down how the world's leading retailers are using edge computing to transform the shopping experience.

Why Listen?

Host Michael Klein talks with Mariya Zorotovich, General Manager at Intel and Frank Baur, COO at Diebold Nixdorf about the tech that keeps stores running at peak performance. Forget the buzzwords. We’re talking about real solutions for real-time retail.

What You’ll Discover:

- Speed That Matters: Why processing data in the store (not the cloud) is the key to zero-friction checkouts.

- Reliability at Scale: How to keep thousands of locations synced and surging without system failures.

- Smart Growth: How to build a modular foundation that supports AI, computer vision, and personalization today.

Don't let your infrastructure hold you back. Tune in to find out how to build a store that is truly future-ready.

Luxury Retail: High-Tech Meets High-Touch

In a market saturated with options, true luxury is defined by the depth of the experience.

In this episode, Barney Stacher and Shunda D. Lynch of Bloomingdale’s, explore how leading retailers stay relevant in a digital-first world.They break down the necessity of storytelling and why the most advanced AI should serve the sales associate, not replace them.

What we explore in this session:

- The secret to turning one-time shoppers into lifelong clients through rapport.

- Leveraging AI to pinpoint manufacturing defects and minimize return rates.

- How different age groups are adapting to new retail tools and follow-up strategies.

Discover how to blend predictive data with authentic human connection to keep your brand at the top of the luxury market.

The Human Heart of Retail Innovation

The message from NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show was clear: Technology is the tool, but humanity is the strategy.

In this episode, Chris Igwe and Dominik Olejko, Head of Customer Insights at Pepco, debrief on the "thousands of years of experience" that met in New York this year.

They dive into how global leaders are integrating AI to empower staff and why the "User First" mantra is more critical than ever.

Why Tune In:

- Beyond AI: How to shift from "AI everywhere" to "AI integrated."

- Dark Social & Community: Why the best customer insights are moving to private spaces.

- Authenticity: The secret to building trust in an automated world.

Get the boots-on-the-ground insights you need to stay future-ready.