Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to IndustriesRetail

The Evolution of Sampling: Retail Refined

In a post-COVID world, sampling will be a new experience. The evolution will be solved by the digitization of vending led by a curated consumer journey. In this episode, host Melissa Gonzalez speaks with Marci Weisler, Chief Commerical Officer of Vengo Labs, a leading digital marketing and retail tech company connecting brands and consumers…

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Retail teams put it to work with Sales Enablement.

Share
The Evolution of Sampling: Retail Refined

In a post-COVID world, sampling will be a new experience. The evolution will be solved by the digitization of vending led by a curated consumer journey. In this episode, host Melissa Gonzalez speaks with Marci Weisler, Chief Commerical Officer of Vengo Labs, a leading digital marketing and retail tech company connecting brands and consumers in the places they go by combining media, product sampling and retail. Learn how digital machines will go contactless and be a key tool for data collection from top of funnel to conversion for brands and retailers, as consumers are empowered to have a “remote controlled” shopping experience in the future.

About Marci

Marci Weisler is an accomplished executive and advisor with broad experience growing and managing digital businesses for both startups and brands, with a focus on strategy and execution, innovation and transformation. She’s currently Chief Commercial Officer of Vengo Labs, and prior she had her own consultancy with clients including Kellogg’s, Gilt and Entertainment Benefits Group as well as startups disrupting health, media, and mobile. Marci also founded SWSI Media (Smart Women. Smart Ideas), which powers women-founded and women-led businesses and co-executive produced Queen Bossa series combining competition and mentorship for black women entrepreneurs that aired on BETher.

About Vengo Labs

Vengo is a leader in marketing and retail technology, at the intersection of unattended retail, digital out-of-home (DOOH) media, and attributable product sampling. Vengo continues to expand both its Core Network and In-Retail solutions and offer new solutions for brands, locations, and stores engaging with consumers.

https://vengolabs.com/

What Melissa Asked

1. Marci, tell us about your role as Chief Commercial Officer at Vengo?

2. You are no stranger to digital strategies and innovation for brands, what are your thoughts on how those aspects will be even more intertwined into physical retail post COVD-19?

3. Sampling in particular will be a challenge in store, especially when it comes to things like beauty testers, how do you see Vengo helping the industry solve for this?

4. What kind of data do you capture and how do you help your clients contextualize that data and glean insights?

5. What have been some of your most successful activations and why? What are key elements for a successful formula?

6. With the world moving to a less touch reliant world, how do you see digital mini machines like yours evolve. You recently implemented contactless machines, how will it work?

Upcoming Event

Melissa will be hosting a webinar titled The New Consumer Behaviors That Will Reshape The Physical Store on June 9th. During the session, she will cover how stores will approach the reallocation of front-of-house and back-of-house employees to better serve new logistical needs and customer expectations.

For more information or to register for the seminar, you can visit Retail Innovation Week.

Listen To Previous Episodes of Retail Refined Right Here!

Retail: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Retail buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. See how AI describes your company today, and where competitors show up instead.

Free workspace

You just read one Retail expert. Imagine publishing your whole team.

This article was produced through MarketScale. Create a free workspace and turn your own team's Retail expertise into the articles, video, and social content B2B marketing buyers in your industry are searching for. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Retail Insights

Retailers restructure digital operations as ecommerce becomes the baseline, not the edge

Retailers restructure digital operations as ecommerce becomes the baseline, not the edge

Retailers are restructuring their digital operations as e-commerce transitions from being an edge case to a fundamental aspect of their business strategies. Companies like Albertsons are centralizing merchandising efforts and Tractor Supply is expanding its digital presence despite economic challenges. Recent data from Forbes highlights the significant stakes involved in this digital evolution for the retail sector.

  • 01E-commerce is becoming a fundamental component of retail operations rather than a supplementary option.
  • 02Albertsons is centralizing its merchandising operations to better integrate with digital strategies.
  • 03Tractor Supply continues to grow its digital operations despite facing economic challenges.

Aug 5, 2026

Sizzle Clip - Victoria's Secret

Sizzle Clip - Victoria's Secret

Melissa Gonzalez, a retail strategist, discusses the transformation and innovation in retail marketing. Emphasizing the role of in-store experiences, the conversation revolves around modern retail trends and strategies. The podcast features insights on how brands can stay competitive and capture consumer attention.

  • 01Innovative in-store experiences are crucial for modern retail success.
  • 02Retailers need to focus on creating dynamic environments to attract consumers.
  • 03Staying competitive requires adaptive retail strategies.

Aug 5, 2026

AI-influenced retail ecommerce is on track to reshape how enterprise merchandisers plan and buy

AI-influenced retail ecommerce is on track to reshape how enterprise merchandisers plan and buy

AI is transitioning from a support role to a key player in driving online retail sales, affecting staffing, sourcing, and forecasting strategies for enterprise merchandisers. This shift presents significant changes in the retail industry, especially regarding how businesses plan and execute purchasing strategies. Retailers must adapt to AI-influenced models to remain competitive.

  • 01AI is becoming a direct driver of online retail sales.
  • 02Retail enterprise merchandisers must adapt planning and buying strategies to incorporate AI advancements.
  • 03The impact of AI on staffing, sourcing, and forecasting is reshaping retail ecommerce.

Aug 5, 2026

Explore More Retail Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Retail.

Browse Retail Hub

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Retail and beyond.

Book a 15-minute demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512