RETHINK RETAIL

What does it really take to win over Gen Z and Gen Alpha in 2026? Aliyah Flowers, B2B Community Manager at RETHINK Retail, connects with Sourabh Sharma, Head of Marketing at Histoires de Parfums, to unpack what younger generations actually value. They discuss: - Why community and values now matter more than visibility - How Gen Z and Gen Alpha think differently about sustainability and spending - Where AI genuinely adds value in personalization and where it’s just noise From cultural relevance to conscious consumerism, this conversation challenges brands to think deeper, not louder. Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

At NRF 2026, April Sabral, Founder of April Sabral Leadership & Ask April AI, spoke with Marie Schwartz, CEO of RETHINK Retail, about leadership, community, and the real future of AI in retail. They explore: - Why true community starts with deep listening, not followers - What retailers must prioritize in 2026 beyond chasing every new AI trend - How leading with vulnerability can be a competitive advantage - From venture-backed founder to community-driven CEO, Marie shares why 2026 must be the year of execution and application in retail. Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

From garage startup to global cult following. During NRF 2026, one thing really stood out in this conversation between Marie Schwartz and Jennifer Sprague, CMO at Hammit. Hammit has built something rare. Customers do not just buy a bag. They collect them. They trade them. They know the story behind the rivets. That kind of loyalty is intentional.. They discuss: - How Hammit protects its brand identity while expanding physical retail - Why resale and community are strengthening long-term loyalty - The operational discipline behind rapid DTC and store growth - Luxury today is built on identity, connection, and strategic retail expansion. Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Enterprise AI doesn’t fail because the models aren’t ready. It stalls when operating models, data foundations, and decision paths can’t keep up. Recorded at NRF, this AiR Podcast features Yael Kochman in conversation with Rakesh Srinivasan (The Estée Lauder Companies) and Chris Daniels (Toptal) on what it takes to move from scattered experimentation to repeatable, enterprise deployment - across brands, regions, teams, and partner ecosystems. Key takeaways - Why saturation, skepticism, and a fragmented customer journey are forcing beauty brands to rethink how innovation gets delivered - What must change inside the enterprise to scale AI: product-oriented teams, clear intake and sequencing, and strategy-led roadmaps - The real governance challenge: maintaining brand voice and trust as data flows through platforms, vendors, and generative layers - How modular, “build once, scale many” platforms enable faster deployment across brands - When partnering accelerates outcomes - and why building everything internally can slow progress - A concrete example: Jo Malone London’s Scent Finder and what it shows about treating AI as a product, not a pilot Learn more about The Estée Lauder Companies and Toptal

There is a reason NRF is called Retail’s Big Show. Each year, it generates an unmistakable buzz across the retail industry. What matters most, however, is how that buzz translates into real insight and action. NRF 2026 delivered bold predictions, big ideas, and no shortage of conversation around AI. The real question is what retailers actually took seriously this year. In this episode of Retail Therapy, host Andrew Smith of ThinkUncommon is joined by Liza Amlani of Retail Strategy Group and Casey Golden of CI&T to break down the signals that mattered most from both the show floor and the stage. Rather than rehashing headlines, the conversation focuses on the realities retailers are facing today, including: • Why NRF 2026 felt fresher and more grounded than recent years • The shift from AI education to AI implementation and accountability • Where pressure is building around data readiness, change management, and ROI • Practical examples of what is working, what remains difficult, and what may be overhyped • Why transparency, experimentation, and learning from failure stood out this year Whether you missed NRF or attended in person, this episode offers a clear, honest debrief designed to help retail leaders cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters. Listen to the full episode of Retail Therapy

Recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show, The RETHINK Retail Podcast features Fritz Finlay, Head of Production at RETHINK Retail, in conversation with Will Burghes, Head of Professional Services at Rockerbox & DoubleVerify. The discussion focuses on how retail media measurement is evolving as brands and retailers move beyond impressions and clicks toward outcome-based metrics that matter to the business. Key insights from the episode include: - Why impressions and clicks are no longer enough for measuring retail media success - How retailers and brands are shifting toward revenue, incrementality, and ROAS - The role of verification, fraud prevention, and brand suitability as table stakes - How retail media networks, CTV, and walled gardens should be measured - Where AI fits into the future of advertising measurement, and where human judgment still matters With retail media networks growing rapidly, this episode breaks down what “good measurement” actually looks like in 2026 and how retailers can prioritize smarter budget decisions without waiting for perfect data. 🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear the top NRF insights on retail media measurement.

Unlock the Future of Brand Growth Discover what’s changing fastest in how brands grow today, straight from industry leaders who are shaping modern commerce. The RETHINK Retail Podcast takes you behind the scenes of marketplace strategies, ecosystem-driven growth, and omnichannel success. Learn from the expertise of Tim Derner of Authentic Brands Group and Remington Tonar of Cart.com as they explore: - Marketplace acceleration: How Amazon, TikTok Shop, and global platforms are driving brand expansion. - Ecosystem advantage: Why combining brands, IP, talent, entertainment, and retail partnerships creates outsized impact. - Omnichannel pitfalls: The most common traps brands fall into when trying to be everywhere at once. - AI in operations: Where automation and intelligence are quietly improving efficiency without being the headline. Whether you’re a brand manager, retailer, or commerce innovator, this episode provides actionable insights to help your brand scale globally, simplify operations, and stay ahead of the competition. 🎧 Listen now and transform the way your brand grows.

Recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show, this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast features Michelle James, Vice President at CTIA, in conversation with Melissa Blassingame, RVP of Partner Alliances at Twilio. As consumers increasingly ignore unknown calls, this episode explores how Branded Calling ID in retail is helping brands rebuild trust and improve voice engagement. - Why trust in voice communications is critical for modern retail - How Branded Calling ID improves answer rates and customer experience - Real-world retail use cases, including delivery and customer support - How industry standards and collaboration are restoring trust in voice 🎧 Listen to the episode to learn how Branded Calling ID is bringing trusted voice back to retail.

Can technology actually make shopping feel more personal? Recorded live at NRF 2026, this RETHINK Retail Podcast moves past the AI hype to focus on the people behind the counter. Host Michael Klein is joined by David Weissman from Tulip, Rissa Jarrat from Jenni Kayne, and Kimberly Levine from TUMI for a candid conversation about the future of clienteling. In a world of digital noise, these leaders are using AI to bring back the "little black book" of retail, at scale: - The "Gift of Time": How TUMI uses technology to free up associates so they can focus on the person standing in front of them. - Authenticity First: Why Jenni Kayne prioritizes "reading the room" over automated messaging. - Million-Dollar Performers: What happens when you give every associate the tools to build their own book of business. This isn't just about efficiency; it's about making sure the "human" stays at the heart of your brand.

Recorded live at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show, the RETHINK Retail Podcast dives into how Rebag is using conversational AI to transform luxury resale. Olivier Hepner, CPTO at Rebag and Howe Gu Senior Vice President, Partnerships & Ecosystem at Rezolve AI, discuss moving beyond traditional search, helping shoppers make confident decisions, and blending AI with human expertise. Discover what intelligence-driven retail looks like in a one-of-a-kind product world.