RETHINK RETAIL
RETHINK Retail
RETHINK Retail - the evolution of retail in today’s connected world.
Join us as we explore the most recent trends and innovations in commerce.
Join us as we explore the most recent trends and innovations in commerce.
Episodes
Mentioned books

12 snips
Nov 13, 2025 • 18min
Building Community, Innovation, and the Future of Connected Fitness
Bruce Smith, Founder and Chairman of Hydrow, shares his journey from passionate rower to entrepreneur, aiming to redefine home fitness. He discusses the synergy of building hardware, software, and content into one cohesive brand. Bruce reveals how community drives customer loyalty and highlights the shift towards personalized experiences in fitness. With insights on scaling business authentically and the role of AI in the future, he envisions a kinder world through daily movement and connection.

Nov 12, 2025 • 29min
Ep. 1: Are Ecommerce Sites Dead in the Age of AI?
Welcome to Omnichannel Reimagined: A new RETHINK Retail & VTEX Video Podcast Series giving senior retail leaders an insider’s edge on the trends, tech, and tactics shaping the future of B2C and B2B commerce, from seamless digital storefronts to AI-powered experiences.
In Episode 1, Top Retail Expert Brendan Witcher sits down with Santiago Naranjo, CRO at VTEX, to explore how AI is reshaping the buyer journey, whether websites are becoming obsolete in an AI-first world, the risks of letting AI platforms control customer relationships and how enterprise brands can remain indispensable, even when shoppers never visit them directly.
🎧 Tune in now to rethink what omnichannel really means in 2025 and beyond

Nov 7, 2025 • 7min
Crafting Luxury, Connection, and Intelligent Growth
How does a century-old luxury lingerie brand balance craftsmanship, connection, and cutting-edge technology?
In this Rethink Retail episode, Cathy McCabe, CEO of Proximity, sits down with Marianna Satanas, President of Hanro USA, to explore how timeless values can drive modern transformation.
They discuss:
- Turning heritage and craftsmanship into a modern customer experience
- How human connection still defines true clienteling in luxury
- Why authenticity and personalization matter more than ever
- Using AI to empower teams and give customers real choice
- How sustainability, quality, and emotional value shape buying behavior today

Oct 30, 2025 • 44min
Self-Disruption in CPG: Harnessing Data, AI & Cloud to Shape the Future
The shelf era is over—and the rules of CPG growth are changing fast. 🛒💡
Join host Bryan Gildenberg and PwC experts Carla DeSantis & Remzi Ural as they break down how AI, agentic shopping, and moment-based experiences are rewriting retail.
Learn how to turn data into actionable insights, leverage cloud ecosystems, and build an agile, AI-enabled enterprise that thrives in disruption.
Listen now and rethink how your brand connects with consumers

Oct 23, 2025 • 18min
Silk the Rich: Luxury, Sustainability & AI in Retail
How does a Japanese brand turn 150-year-old silk into a global haircare phenomenon?
Alex Baker sits down with Kodai Takahashi, co-founder & CEO of Silk the Rich, to explore:
- Transforming heritage silk into affordable luxury haircare
- Scaling from 4 bottles sold to 10,000+ stores worldwide
- Blending premium product experience with eco-friendly innovation (silk-based plastics!)
- Leveraging AI for customer support and community engagement
- Adapting to cultural differences while maintaining brand consistency
Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Oct 20, 2025 • 26min
The Self-Service Inflection Point: How Grocery Leaders Are Pulling Ahead
Self-checkout is hitting its inflection point in retail!
From frictionless AI-powered produce scanning to better integration with loyalty and payment systems, the future of in-store shopping is all about speed, efficiency, and smart tech.
Key takeaway: Success comes from getting the basics right, integrating technology, measuring the right KPIs, and aligning staff, not just chasing the “next shiny thing.”
Check out the full insights from our Rethink Retail podcast with Host Trevor Sumner, Nino Hörttrich from Diebold Nixdorf and Amar Mokha from Incisiv.

Oct 17, 2025 • 22min
Retailer Tech Tips: The Future of Grocery Modernization
In this special episode of Retailer Tech Tips from Groceryshop 2025, Theo Schweitz, CEO of Drive Wheel and Top Retail Expert, sits down with Rakesh Thaploo, Sr. Partner at Kyndryl, to explore the next era of grocery retail transformation.
Together, they discuss how modern grocers are leveraging AI, analytics, and digital store technologies to reduce shrink, boost margins, and deliver richer customer experiences.
From the evolution of in-store engagement to the rise of connected data ecosystems, this episode offers practical insights into how retailers can modernize operations while staying true to their consumers.
👉 Listen now and discover the strategies shaping the future of grocery retail.

Oct 17, 2025 • 25min
First Stop for New Products? Your Local C-Store
C-stores aren’t just convenience stops, they’re labs for bold new ideas.
On the latest RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Jessica Couch talks with:
- Yvette Fossum from Ferrero about their newest c-store launches and how they test big ideas in small spaces
- Isabella Chia from Wells Enterprises on how ice cream innovations in c-stores spark brand-wide strategies
Fun, fast, and full of real-world insights, hear why brands are leaning on convenience stores to innovate

Oct 17, 2025 • 19min
Inside the Future of Grocery: Lidl US and Diebold on Balancing Efficiency & Customer Experience
How do grocery leaders balance efficiency and customer experience in the age of automation?
Recorded at Groceryshop, this RETHINK Retail podcast brings together:
🎙️ Zara Ngouen, VP of Information Technology, Lidl US
🎙️ Matt Miles, Director of North America Retail, Diebold Nixdorf
Hosted by Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures, IGD, + RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert
Together, they unpack what it takes to design customer-centric self-service experiences, turn data into action, and build partnerships that power progress.
Listen now to explore the future of grocery, where operational excellence meets shopper delight.

Oct 10, 2025 • 42min
Next‑Gen POS: Fiscal Compliance as a Launchpad for Innovation
Fiscal Compliance Isn’t a Hurdle. It’s Your Launchpad for Innovation
Compliance is complex, but ignoring it is riskier. In the latest episode of Next‑Gen POS, host Scott Wueschinski talks with Darko Pavic, CEO of Fiscal Solutions, about how fiscalization can reshape modern retail.
You’ll learn:
- Why fiscalization is more than e-invoicing
- How compliant POS systems enable livestream shopping, self-checkout, and omnichannel promotions
- How AI tools like FiscalGPT simplify country-specific compliance
#RetailTech #POSInnovation #FiscalCompliance #Omnichannel #DigitalRetail


