Retail Refined
In-store technology and consumer experience trends for retail leaders.
Retail Refined, hosted by Melissa Gonzalez, is a podcast and content series built for retail executives and brand leaders exploring the technology and experience trends reshaping physical and digital retail. Episodes cover in-store innovation, customer experience design, and the tools vendors and retailers are deploying to meet modern shopper expectations. The channel is a trusted resource for retail decision-makers sourcing ideas and vendor knowledge.
Retail wins on emotional connection, not noise or novelty
Retail Refined argues that brand loyalty flows from authentic value, local relevance, and human moments, not marketing volume. The channel grounds this in founder stories, consumer behavior data, and measurable retail outcomes.
Retail Refined's core argument is that the brands winning today are those that build genuine emotional connection and authenticity rather than chasing trends or shouting loudest. The channel supports this through founder and CMO interviews that trace how brands scale by listening to real customer needs, designing for specific life stages or identities, and embedding hospitality and community into the retail experience itself.
Drawn from Retail Refined Podcast - Sali Christeson and 4 more →
“The fight is won or lost by where the bottle sits in the store.”
Maria Stipp, Suja Life CEO
By the numbers
86%
of consumers say authenticity influences brand choice
$210-220B
current global secondhand luxury fashion market size
3x
resale market growth rate vs. primary luxury market
45%
of Gen Z handbags already purchased secondhand
What the channel argues
What you'll learn
What to do about it
Who and what shows up
Maria Stipp
CEO, Suja Life
Articulated how produce placement beats center-store noise; allocates 10% of net revenue to full-funnel marketing to drive awareness and conversion.
Sali Christeson
CEO and founder, Argent
Launched workwear brand on 2015 research showing clothing affects women's professional perception; builds community beyond apparel to connect working women across industries.
Craig Brommers
CMO, American Eagle
Leverages 35,000 Gen Z store associates and 2,000-person youth panel as real-time trend feedback; Lived In store concept is brand's most successful in 48-year history.
Elizabeth Preis
CMO, Anthropologie
Developed AnthroMagic framework balancing data-driven insights with creative storytelling using What, So What, Now What approach to turn raw data into actionable marketing.
Mary Beth Sheridan
Executive, Jonathan Adler
Scaled founder-led home brand from growth to expansion into hospitality experiences while engaging Gen Z through authenticity and community participation.
Questions this channel answers
How do heritage and founder-led brands scale without losing their soul?
By balancing creative DNA with operational discipline, expanding thoughtfully through channels and partnerships that align with brand values, and engaging younger generations through authenticity and community rather than trend-chasing.
The Art of Evolution: Leading a Founder-Led Brand Into I… →What do Gen Z and Gen Alpha actually want from retail?
Co-creation, authenticity, and digital identity expression. Gen Alpha buys apparel for social content and values peer validation over traditional advertising; both generations shop with values in mind and expect brands to deliver experiences, not just products.
A Gen Alpha Take on Experiential Retail: What Works, Wha… →Where should brands physically locate and merchandise products for discovery?
Category structure and buyer behavior matter more than conventional shelf placement. Produce placement for beverages, for example, aligns with how produce buyers operate and competes on relevance rather than noise.
Suja CEO: Produce placement beats center-store noise →How do you sustain emotional brand connection at scale?
Through local, hyper-relevant experiences that reflect community culture, embedding hospitality and ritual into retail spaces, and maintaining consistent brand pillars while adapting execution to regional needs.
Delivering Moments That Matter: The Art of Joy, Memory, … →What role does data play in brand loyalty?
Data informs but should never override creative storytelling. The most effective brands use analytics to understand customer behavior, then translate insights into emotionally resonant experiences and messaging.
A Look into Anthropologie’s AnthroMagic: The ‘What, So W… →Best place to start
Building Loyalty Through Generational Evolutions: Inside the Mind of American Eagle CMO Craig BrommersConcrete example of how legacy brands listen to Gen Z in real time through staff and consumer panels, driving measurable store performance.
Suja CEO: Produce placement beats center-store noiseIllustrates the channel's core thesis that strategic positioning and category alignment matter more than product novelty or marketing volume.Industry context
Retail leaders are increasingly leveraging experiential elements and generational insights to differentiate in competitive markets. Gen Z's preference for niche brands, meaningful in-person experiences, and authentic narratives is reshaping how retailers approach merchandising and customer engagement strategies.
Episodes
Retail Refined with Woof Gang Bakery CEO Ricardo Azevedo
Woof Gang CEO Ricardo Azevedo balances scale with local community presence through franchise operations, targeting 450 North American locations by 2027.
Retail Refined Podcast - Sali Christeson
In the latest episode of MarketScale's Retail Refined podcast, host Melissa Gonzalez engaged in a focused conversation with Sali Christeson, CEO and founder of Argent. Argent is known for sitting at the nexus of fashion, work, ambition, and cultural change. With a mission to redefine workwear and bo
Building a Fine Jewelry Brand on Trust, Craft, and Long-Term Relationships
In the fine jewelry industry, Simon G Jewelry has carved out a distinct identity rooted in family legacy, craftsmanship, and enduring partnerships. With over four decades of experience in the business, this family-owned brand has established a robust reputation for quality and authenticity that reso
Sizzle Clip - Victoria's Secret
For a brand as globally recognized as Victoria's Secret, the challenge is not getting noticed. It is staying meaningful.
Physical Retail’s Next Infrastructure Layer: Item-Level Intelligence with Radar
Physical retail is under pressure to become as measurable and responsive as e-commerce. While retailers have spent years optimizing digital channels with real-time data, store teams have often had to make decisions with incomplete inventory visibility and delayed operational signals. That gap matters because stores still account for 80% of U.S. retail sales, making…
From Monitoring to Knowing: How Owlet Is Redefining Infant Health at Retail
Baby monitors have long promised parents the ability to see and hear their child from another room. But as connected health devices become more normalized in everyday life, from smartwatches to sleep trackers, parents are beginning to expect more than visibility. They want insight. For Owlet, that shift matters because its wearable monitors track…
A Gen Alpha Take on Experiential Retail: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Missing
Gen Alpha is no longer a future consumer segment—they are already shaping how retail and entertainment experiences are designed today. Research from MG2 shows that a whopping 70% of Gen Alpha influence what adults in their lives purchase, reshaping brand decisions faster than many companies are prepared for. As experiential retail continues to evolve—with…
Building Beauty for Real Women: Why Brands Must Focus on Longevity, Not Hype
Walk into any beauty aisle—or scroll through your feed for five minutes—and it’s clear the industry is obsessed with what’s new. New formulas, new trends, new “rules.” But for many women, especially those who’ve been using makeup for decades, the question isn’t what’s new—it’s what actually works. And increasingly, the answer isn’t coming from the…
The Art of Evolution: Leading a Founder-Led Brand Into Its Next Chapter with Mary Beth Sheridan
For many retail brands, growth today isn’t just about innovation — it’s about keeping pace with customers whose expectations are evolving in real time, led by younger generations who expect brands to reflect their values and show up with cultural relevance. In fact, recent research from MG2 found that the overwhelming majority of Gen Z…
Designing a Brand Kids Love to Live In, and Parents Choose with Confidence
Gen Alpha’s coming of age is reshaping retail, with children playing a more visible role in purchase decisions through early preferences around color, comfort, and self-expression. Research continues to show that kids increasingly influence household purchases, especially in apparel and lifestyle categories, pushing brands to rethink how early identity, confidence, and joy are designed…
Delivering Moments That Matter: The Art of Joy, Memory, and Meaning at Anthropologie Home
These days, ‘home’ means more than just four walls. It’s where people reset, gather, and express who they are—raising the bar for what they expect from the brands that help shape those spaces. Consumers are no longer just buying décor—they’re investing in meaning, memory, and moments that last. Research continues to show that people…
How Luxury Resale Became Big Business: Inside Fashionphile’s Playbook
Luxury retail is in the midst of a reinvention. Circular fashion has moved from trend to transformation, reshaping how consumers perceive value, ownership, and access. According to the 2025 BCG × Vestiaire Collective Resale Report, the secondhand fashion and luxury market now totals $210 to $220 billion globally and is projected to reach $320…
From Heritage to Hospitality: The Faherty Blueprint for Authentic, Community-Centered Branding
Great clothes may be where it starts, but today’s shoppers are looking for something more — a sense of connection, belonging, and shared purpose. Research shows that 90% of consumers value authenticity when deciding which brands to support: a clear reminder that while quality and design remain vital, meaning has become the new measure of loyalty….
Fashion, Identity, and Digital Life Collide: Why Brands Must Listen, Collaborate, and Co-Create With the Next Generation of Youth
As the lines blur between fashion, identity, and digital life, brands are racing to understand how today’s youth are reshaping culture and commerce. Pacsun’s new Youth Report 2025, produced in partnership with GlobalData, offers one of the most detailed portraits yet of Gen Z and Gen Alpha—two generations united by self-expression but divided by…
Consumer Brand Growth Formula: Value Proposition, Platform Strategy, and Wellness Integration
Building consumer brands today requires more than clever marketing; it demands brand trust. Consumers want proof that products work, delivered at prices that feel accessible. That shift has raised the bar for founders, especially as 86% of consumers say authenticity influences which brands they support—with Gen Z placing even greater emphasis on it. Credibility…
Scaling A Heritage Brand: Bringing a Local Lens to Growth Strategy
Retail is evolving at a lightning pace, with consumer expectations higher and more informed than ever before. Deloitte research shows that 80 percent of consumers prefer brands that offer personalized experiences, with those customers spending up to 50 percent more. For heritage retailers, this shift presents both opportunity and challenge: how do you honor local…
A Look at the Rise of Commerce Media Networks: How Nift Helps Brands Own How Their Message Shows Up
As traditional digital advertising struggles to retain consumer trust, brands are exploring new, more authentic ways to connect with shoppers. Platforms like commerce media networks, which weave together commerce, content, and data, are emerging as powerful tools in this shift. Research from MG2 Advisory reveals that only about 37% of consumers feel brands genuinely…
Bringing Hospitality to Retail as an Authentic Community Anchor: 15 Minutes with Coach’s Giovanni Zaccariello
Luxury retail is no longer confined to storefronts and seasonal campaigns. Brands are bringing hospitality to retail, building deeper emotional connections, and extending their presence beyond the product. Coach, among other heritage labels, is experimenting with cafés, branded bars, and immersive spaces that offer more than a transaction—they offer belonging. According to MG2 Advisory,…
How LEGO Puts Play to Work Across Retail Experiences: Breaking Down the Formula with PJ du Toit
As in-store experiences become key to brand loyalty, LEGO is doubling down on its core brand essence of play, using it as both a design philosophy and a strategic lever. The company is transforming its physical spaces into destinations that spark imagination, encourage interaction, and strengthen emotional connections with shoppers of all ages. With…
Building Loyalty Through Generational Evolutions: Inside the Mind of American Eagle CMO Craig Brommers
As Gen Z cements its role as the cultural vanguard and Gen Alpha begins to assert its voice, brands face mounting pressure to not only keep pace but to actively shape youth identity. With social commerce booming and physical retail undergoing reinvention, staying relevant means delivering experiences as dynamic as the customers themselves. One…
What is Unreasonable Hospitality in EV Environments?
EV charging stations are transforming into lifestyle destinations where hospitality redefines the entire driver experience
A Look into Anthropologie’s AnthroMagic: The ‘What, So What, Now What’ Approach with CMO Elizabeth Preis
The luxury retailer's framework for blending analytical rigor with creative storytelling reveals how brands can sustain emotional connection amid rapid retail t
Madewell’s Data Driven Evolution for Today’s Consumer
The denim retailer is using customer data and strategic vision to reshape its shopping experience and product lineup for evolving buyer demands
True Religion Sets the Bar for Legacy Brands Seeking Cultural Relevance and Authentic Connections
The majority of consumers demand authenticity, and one denim icon is proving heritage brands can thrive by staying culturally connected while evolving their app
Urban Outfitters is Shaping the Future of Retail with Gen Z and Gen Alpha in Mind
The retailer is cracking the code on serving digitally native shoppers who demand authenticity and community alongside their purchases
Milani Cosmetics Redefines Beauty Standards with a Commitment to Inclusivity, Innovation, and Cross-Generational Appeal
Beauty brands that embrace real diversity are capturing consumer loyalty while those clinging to outdated standards risk irrelevance
Leading With Curiosity, Creating a Playbook of Store Experiences with Victoria’s Secret & Co.
How retail brands are using curiosity-driven design to transform stores into spaces that build lasting customer loyalty
A New Era of Retail is the Rise and Integration of Social Commerce
Live streaming and social platforms are fundamentally reshaping how brands connect with shoppers in real time
The Rise of Regenerative Agriculture and Strategies for Generating Capital with Steward CEO Dan Miller
Regenerative farming is reshaping how investors and consumers think about sustainable food production and profitability
Transforming Ear Piercings into a Tailored Journey: How Studs is Redefining the Industry with ‘Earscaping’
A personalized approach to ear piercing is reshaping how retailers cater to consumers seeking both comfort and self-expression in their jewelry choices
A New York Pop-Up Experience Where “Motion is Magic”: Kizik’s Innovative Approach to Footwear and Retail Expansion Takes the Stage
A footwear brand merges cutting-edge retail technology with hands-on customer experiences to redefine how shoppers discover their next pair
A Look Into MG2’s Sustainability Impact Report
Strategic sustainability reporting creates measurable benefits across environmental, business, and community outcomes
American Freight’s Open-Box Approach Sets a New Standard in Retail Where Quality and Affordability Go Hand-in-Hand
Recertified returns at steep discounts are reshaping how shoppers balance quality with affordability in today's retail landscape
Loyalty in Retail: Mastercard is Shaping the Future of Retail by Creating Meaningful Connections with Customers
Retailers are leveraging personalized data and technology to build deeper customer relationships and drive loyalty in an increasingly competitive market
Stepping into the Future at Shoptalk 2024: Creating a Flagship Brand Experience with APL
Luxury athletic brands are reshaping retail by transforming storefronts into immersive destinations that prioritize experience over transactions
Domino’s Leads the Pack in Digital Innovation by Embracing AI Across All Operations for Unmatched Efficiency
The pizza chain's comprehensive AI strategy demonstrates how intelligent automation can streamline every aspect of operations, from customer ordering to kitchen
AI Reshaping the Retail Industry One Personalized Experience at a Time
Retailers are discovering that machine learning algorithms can predict customer preferences with stunning accuracy, fundamentally changing how brands engage sho
Brand Trust and Authenticity: Two Essentials that Will Make AI a Valued Resource in the Unified Retail Experience
Retailers must prioritize trust and authenticity to transform AI from a tool into a customer asset
Unpacking the Future of Wellness and Retail in 2024
Wellness founders are reshaping how retailers think about customer experience and brand loyalty in 2024
GNC’s Omni-Channel Evolution From Brick and Mortar to Commerce Hub
Retailers that blend physical stores with digital channels are capturing customer loyalty in ways traditional competitors cannot
The Power of Machine Learning and AI for Carriers
Advanced analytics are reshaping how carriers manage the complexity of modern e-commerce fulfillment demands
The Power of Consumer Insights: Enhance Performance and Customer Loyalty with Data
Companies that decode customer behavior across generations unlock competitive advantages and build lasting loyalty
Adapting to a Constantly Changing Market: Leadership and Impact with Warby Parker’s Co-Founder
Blumenthal shares how one eyewear disruptor balances rapid innovation with social impact while staying true to core values
Innovation Through AI is Helping Major Shifts in the Retail Landscape
Retailers face a pivotal choice: harness AI's optimization power to match rapidly evolving consumer demands or risk being left behind
Blending Digital and Physical Realms for the Future of Retail
Retailers who unify online and offline channels create emotional connections that drive lasting customer loyalty beyond transactional convenience
Understanding Current and Incoming College Students and Their Generation is Vital for Company Growth
Brands that understand Gen Z's desire for personalized spaces gain competitive advantage in the rapidly growing student housing market
Bridging the Gap Between AI and Retailers
Retailers are using AI to translate product data into the language customers actually search for, unlocking hidden revenue
Prioritizing Customers Needs Enhances Every Shopper’s Buying Experience
Retailers that blend digital and physical touchpoints create seamless experiences that drive customer loyalty and sales
Retailers Are Moving More Towards a ‘Digital-First’ Strategy. It’s Greatly Improving D2C Numbers
Brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platforms are rapidly blending, adopting a digital-first strategy is crucial for retail giants. Straddling the evolving terrains of customer preferences and technological advancements, companies are faced with a monumental task of transforming their operations end-to-end, effectively marrying their wholesale brands with a direct-to-consumer operational model. Amid this challenge and opportunity, businesses…
The Impact of Wellness in Retail Experiences
In the latest episode of Retail Refined, host Melissa Gonzalez converses with Dawn Clark, Co-Founder of Osean Studios, a design strategist, and retail design expert. The spotlight of the conversation is the impact of wellness in retail experiences, delving into Clark’s professional journey that spans eminent brands like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nike, Amazon,…
Global Retail Brands: The Relevance of Being Local, Yet Remaining Global with Giovanni Zaccariello from Coach
Global retail brands have a reputation for going big. But how do the best brands find a way to make a powerful consumer impact globally while maintaining that local feel so crucial to long-stranding relevancy? As technology advances and consumer behavior shifts, brands face the challenge of creating unique, immersive experiences that resonate with…
How Sensory Design Plays a Vital Role in Reshaping the Retail Experiences of Today
Sensory design is an emerging marker of today’s retail experience. The digital age continues to transform the retail industry, and the advent of Sensory Enabling Technologies (SETs) is revolutionizing how consumers interact with brands online, creating immersive, multisensory customer experiences that were once only possible in physical stores. According to a study by McKinsey,…
Chubbies Shorts Seeks to Capitalize on the Latest Retail Trends and Innovations
RICE 2023 (the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo) brought out all the latest trends and innovations for retailers to experience. Halfway through 2023, the retail industry is clearly emerging from a pandemic. The sector faced everything the pandemic could throw at it, supply chain issues, inflation, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical factors. However, consumers are…
Locus CEO Nishith Rastogi Wants His AI Tool To Help Meet Customer Demands
Consumer behavior continues to change in the wake of the pandemic. One trend found by 6 River Systems is that consumers demand “omnichannel” retail experiences that are consistent across channels. It can be very difficult for retailers to bridge the gap between brick-and-motor and online delivery of their products. How can retailers create seamless experiences…
Conversations from Shoptalk Europe: Retail Refined meets with Christoffer Sellin from COS
Shoptalk Europe 2023 brought the technologies and channels driving the future of retail into a clear perspective. This year’s annual event from May 9-11 in Barcelona allowed Retail Refined’s Melissa Gonzalez to sit down with key stakeholders making a difference in the market. COS (Collection of Style) is a European fashion brand doing innovative things…
Upskilling and Upscaling for the Future at IKEA
As AI advances with technologies such as GPT-4, companies are beginning to come to terms with the fact that “soft skill” education is crucial in creating a future industry for the retail world. GPT-4 functions as a natural language processing tool driven by tech that can use its language model for hard skills such as…
Reimagining Retail with IKEA Digital Transformation & New Store Formats
In the swiftly evolving retail industry, the conversation around digital transformation and retail technologies is more urgent than ever. Amid this tech-driven revolution, IKEA is pioneering a remarkable journey. The stakes are high, as IKEA aims to shift from being primarily a physical retailer to incorporating a substantial omni-channel presence. As of 2016 only…
Retail Refined with Henry Stupp
The retail industry is a dynamic landscape that demands constant adaptation to shifting consumer habits, market fluctuations, and technological advancements. With retail spending projected to reach a staggering $31.3 trillion by 2025, it is crucial for brand management companies to stay ahead of the curve. One such company making waves in the industry is Authentic…
Deep Dive into Innovations in Luxury Retail
As the landscape of luxury retail is rapidly evolving, a fresh perspective and innovations in luxury retail comes to the forefront from Lauren Barrie, the Group Head of Luxury Retail at Frasers Group. In a world still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, this topic is more timely than ever as we explore how…
Finding the Perfect Balance of Inspiration and Ease
In this episode of Retail Refined, host Melissa Gonzalez, sits down with Richard Lems, the Director of Format and Design at Rituals Cosmetics, to discuss the concept of balancing inspiration and ease in retail. They delve into the unique experience offered by the House of Rituals in Amsterdam, exploring its vision and the ways it…
Activating the Power of Brand
Toys “R” Us is an unforgettable part of many Americans’ childhoods, bringing back nostalgic memories of aisles upon aisles stacked high with all the toys a little mind could imagine. That’s why it was saddening for many who grew up with the chain to hear they filed for bankruptcy in September of 2018. It’s quite…
Brand-To-Consumer: The Evolving Landscape of D2C Strategies and Experiential Retail
As retail evolves, so do many of the business models and strategies that are crucial to its success. Direct-to-consumer, or D2C, is the model that ensures that retailers sell and distribute their products directly to consumers. This allows them to avoid any other parties in the process. As a result, many brands are also shifting…
How Clientelling Technology is Transforming the In-Store Experience for Customers and Retailers
Picking It Up OnMyWay with Mavi.io’s In-Car Shopping and Marketplace
Retail’s Digital Workforce: How Workjam Is Scaling Customer Satisfaction Through Employee Engagement
The Power of Resell Strategy with Archive
In this episode of Retail Refined: Shop Talk Europe 2023, host Melissa Gonzalez discussed the power of resell strategy with Emily Gittins, CEO and Co-Founder of Archive, a platform that empowers the resale revolution. Gittins discussed how Archive assists brands in launching their resale programs, allowing them to tap into the growing trend of…
The Power of Sensors: How RADAR is Simplifying Customer Experience Operations for American Eagle
How AI Vision is Shaping The Future of Personalized Retail Experiences
The Future of Social Commerce and Content Creation Via AI
Social commerce may be a newish idea for U.S. retail brands, but it is a trendy marketing tool in China. How popular? Sales in China from social commerce platform purchases reached $363 billion in 2021. Compare that with the U.S., where social commerce sales were $36.6 billion in the same year. The trend is growing,…
Revealing the Future of Retail: Revolutionizing Insights Live from NRF
How Retailers are Revolutionizing Customer Experience with Cutting-Edge Holographic Technology
How Retailers are Staying Ahead: The Evolution of Personalized Signage
How Retailers are Using Computer Vision and AI to Solve the Footwear Fit Challenge
How AI Video Analytics is Helping Retailers Deliver Better In-Person Experiences
In this episode of Retail Refined, host Melissa Gonzalez, Principal at MG2/ Founder of The Lionesque Group sits down with Tracy Benaman, Deep North VP of Retail Sales, at NRF’s Big Show to discuss how AI video analytics is revolutionizing the retail industry. Tracy shares how retailers are using AI video analytics to gain valuable…
How Stylitics’ Technology Can Benefit Brands and Retailers
How exactly are companies like Stylitics entering the fashion field and helping to expand fashion customization and personalization in today’s world? Fashion is part of who we are—it is a silent form of self-identity for an individual that portrays beliefs, preferences, religion, occupation, social class, and so much more. And fashion is ever evolving; trends…
How Daniel’s Jewelers is Utilizing the Recent Successes of the Jewelry Industry
The jewelry industry stands unique compared to other retailers for a lot of reasons, and most of that being with how personal a jewelry purchase can be. Despite flourishing over the years, that growth saw a quick decline in 2020 due to the pandemic. But later the industry saw a rapid increase in sales just…
Bubble Skincare Refreshing and Authentic Consumer-Centered Products
As any good entrepreneur knows, starting a new business should address a consumer gap. For Bubble Skincare CEO and Founder, Shai Eisenman, she identified the need of affordable skincare that was accessible, made with clean ingredients, and centered around its target consumers – Generation Z teens. With such a refreshing approach to business, host…
How Retail Brands Can Embrace Authenticity, Accessibility and Inclusivity Across Generations
Generation Z, better known as Gen Z, is the generation that is increasingly drawing more attention from brands and companies. With this in mind, brands are ensuring they are not only meeting the spending needs of Gen Z, but also addressing the social issues and concerns that they care about. As a demographic, their…
Study Finds 60% of Consumers Take Advantage of Loopholes in the Return System
Building brand loyalty is about putting the customer first, in every aspect. Tuned into this idea of proactive communication, Amit Sharma founded Narvar, a pioneering platform that helps brands engage with consumers beyond their purchase. In this episode of Retail Refined, host Melissa Gonzalez spoke with CEO and Founder Amit Sharma about engaging customers…
The Importance of Sustainable Fashion for Gen Z with Maya Penn
Generation Z likes their fashion to be sustainable. A Forbes Study found that 62% of Generation Z prefer to purchase from sustainable brands. And this generation is backing that pledge with their wallets—they are willing to pay more for ethically produced goods. Utilizing the powerful influencing tools of social media, Generation Z makes known…
Taking a Metaverse and Web3 Approach to Retail
Retail brands recognized the need for dominance in the eCommerce space, but omnichannel today means there is a new world to embrace, the Metaverse. Brands that fail to embrace the Metaverse could miss out on millions of consumers who spend hundreds of hours a month on virtual platforms. One retailer who understands the value…
Why Retailers are Using Computer Vision to Help Customers Find the Perfect Shoe
Currently, the customer journey for shoe shopping is quite involved and tedious. Consumers shop for shoes, read reviews and shoe sizing graphs, maybe even go in store to try shoes on, and often buy multiple pairs in various sizes. Sometimes they even buy the same product in different sizes — only to ultimately return…
Why Gen Z’s Collaboration With Retail Brands Will Fashion the Future
When the C-Suite needs to know the hot retail fashion trends, they check into the Z Suite. At the recent Retail Influencer CEO Forum featuring the Z Suite on September 12, 2022, C-suite retail and brand leaders came together to discuss this critical demographic with an exclusive network of diverse Gen Z voices. But…
Behind WorkJam’s Mission to Improve Retention and Training in Retail
Steve Kramer, CEO at WorkJam, is a twenty-year veteran in e-commerce. His specialty is finding the gaps in how organizations manage their frontlines. He founded WorkJam in 2014 as a digital frontline workplace to solve retail industry issues. “Our platform essentially helps retailers and companies and other industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and distribution,…
Platform Unification Is More Important Than Ever for Retailers
Successful retail requires flexibility. Recently, omnichannel was groundbreaking, but Retail Dive now reports it as a consumer baseline expectation. Let’s say a consumer is shopping on their mobile device. They transfer to their laptop to complete the transaction only to find an empty cart. These disconnections create enough friction for shoppers to jump and abandon…
How Buy Now Pay Later is Impacting the Store Experience
The popularity of BNPL (buy now, pay later) has grown tremendously over the past decade. The attraction of breaking purchasing payments up over weeks without interest or late fees is undeniable. In fact, “BNPL spending in the US is up 230% since 2020, per a September report by Accenture… [and] it’s estimated to total ~$226 billion this year,…
How Retailers Are Rethinking Their Space to Maximize Experience and Flow
Retail in 2022 and surviving as a brick-and-mortar store means keeping up with the consumers and consistently improving the customer’s experience. Keeping up with the consumers means being able to know what is convenient for them and what drives a consumer to make a purchase. In this episode of Retail Redefined, hosted by Melissa Gonzalez…
Moving Online to Brick & Mortar Has Helped UNTUCKit Thrive
With over 12K retail locations closing in 2020, leaving 159M square feet of retail space unoccupied, many might be thinking that the future of brick and mortar retail locations is permanently on the decline. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, retailers opened more stores than they closed in 2021, “with a nearly…
How American Eagle Outfitters Went by Acquisitions to Fill Logistics Gaps
At a time when the supply and demand chain is experiencing growth in the retail sector, companies are focusing now more than ever on their efforts to keep up with the increasing pressures. Retail Refined host Melissa Gonzalez sat down to talk about the matter, and with her, Shekar Natarajan, Chief Global Supply Chain Officer…
IBM Study Shows a Growing Portion of Consumers Embrace Hybrid Shopping
It’s the age-old question advertisers ask themselves: How do I ensure the brand is placed at the right place and right time to successfully engage our target audience throughout the customer journey? Discussing this loaded topic with Retail Refined Host, Melissa Gonzalez, is Karl Haller, partner of the consumer center of competency at IBM. One…
$40 Million in Funding Allows HugePOD to expand to the US
The Head of Global Expansion at HugePOD discusses custom apparel with Retail Refined host Melissa Gonzalez. HugePOD is a global leader in print-on-demand apparel design and manufacturing. Formally launched in 2021, HugePOD includes a worldwide network of diverse manufacturers and has developed a flexible fashion supply chain for world-class retailers, including Steve Madden, Forever New, Landmark,…
Studies Show Consumers Spend More Time Shopping in Digital Realities Versus a Digital Page
The convenience of online shopping means those crowded malls are no longer. No more waiting in a long line to purchase an item, no more pushing through crowds. But also, no longer being able to see the item in a room, on display. No more walking into a store and seeing the products incorporated…
Why Virtual Dressing Rooms Will Be Key for Differentiating in Retail
The days of retail clothiers needing to stock multiple garment sizes could be drawing to a close. NOBAL Technologies developed a product poised to revolutionize the customer retail experience with its interactive iMirror solution. Daniel Maher, VP of Technology at NOBAL, joined Retail Refined’s Melissa Gonzalez at NRF to talk about the positive impact iMirror…
How Fast Fashion Can Fix Its Sustainability Reputation Through the Supply Chain
While at the world’s largest retail conference and expo, Retail Refined Host Melissa Gonzalez spoke with Chris Georgen, Founder and Chief Architect of Topl, a company that sits at the intersection of sustainability, deep-technology, and innovation. Topl, whose mission is to build trust between consumers and products, is set largely within an industry which…
Bringing One-click Checkouts to Merchants of All Sizes
Ian Leslie, Senior Director of Retail Advocacy at Bolt, joined Retail Refined for a live chat at NRF 2020. Bolt is a San Francisco-based one-click checkout solution powering checkout across e-commerce merchants across the internet. “We’re trying to bring one-click checkout to all merchants whether they’re big or small,” Leslie said. “Give them a best-in-class…
How Will A Decrease in Foot Traffic Impact the In-Store Environment?
What is the social and economic impact of declining foot traffic at malls around the country? To get insight into this question the Host of Retail Refined, Melissa Gonzalez, sat down with Karen Bomber, the Vice President of Global Marketing for Honeywell, at NRF 2022 to discuss the direct correlation between foot traffic and the…
Having Funding Isn’t Enough, Entrepreneurs of Color Need an Ecosystem of Resources
Making a difference for black-owned businesses is Kendra Bracken-Ferguson. Bracken-Ferguson’s establishment of BrainTrust, an innovative social, digital, and influencer marketing agency focused on growing brands from organic communities since 2016, recently launched BrainTrust Founders Studio. This membership-based community platform creates inclusive economic opportunities for Black Beauty and Wellness Founders, increases business performance, and builds…
Pop-Up Retailers Will Finally Have Analytics to Chart Success
This episode of Retail Refined explored the emerging spatial intelligence technology that provides pop-up stores the opportunity to utilize real-time analytics to enhance the buying and selling experience. George Shaw, founder of Pathr.ai, and Melissa Gonzalez of The Lionesque Group discussed the technology that is set to transform retail environments throughout the world. “We’ve…
How Will Sustainability Go Together with the “On-Demand” Economy?
Ohi’s mission is to enable every brand to offer instant post purchase experience. Ben Jones, Founder of Ohi, chatted with Melissa Gonzales about Ohi’s origin and values. Jones founded Ohi when he had an injury that left him bedridden, and he realized he couldn’t order any of the products he needed and get them…
How CPGs Are Using Retail Sales Data to Set Their Brand Apart in 2022
With the assumption supply chain issues will continue to impact retail for the foreseeable future, how can retailers best optimize their assortments heading into 2022? This question was on Retail Refined’s Melissa Gonzalez’ mind when she spoke with Andrew Criezis, Head of Product for SMB Globally, at NielsenIQ. At NielsonIQ’s SMB segment, Criezis and his…
The New Profile of the Store Associate
The role of the store associate continues to evolve. This new profile is entrepreneurial and adaptive, selling to anybody anywhere. Brands with associates that build bonds versus being transactional only can see shopper value increase. Discussing this buzzy topic, Retail Refined host Melissa Gonzalez welcomed two experts, Bob Phibbs, Founder of the Retail Doctor, and…
Data is Shifting the CPG-Retailer Relationship
CPGs and retailers have always had strong ties. With consumer behavior shifts, more competition, and new technology tools, that relationship is evolving. In the center of the CPG-retailer relationship are AI and machine learning. Taking on this topic, Retail Refined host Melissa Gonzalez spoke with Ryan Powell, VP Retail Strategy and Consulting, at Insite…
One Company Wants to Fix How eCommerce is Built
Designed for retail leaders and lovers alike, Retail Refined explores the in-store technology of the future, challenges the industry’s preconceived notions, and brings together retail’s biggest names to understand the brand strategies that will define the next decade in retail. Transactions are the objective of any business. In those moments, whether online or in-store, the brand…
Live Streaming Has a Permanent Place in Retail. Here’s Why.
Live streaming adoption is accelerating for a host of reasons and has many applications. Retailers can take advantage of this channel to connect with consumers and sell directly to them. Talking about this emerging trend, Retail Refined host Melissa Gonzalez spoke with Kenneth Tan, Co-founder and CEO of BeLive Technology. The company offers live streaming solutions…
How Revlon Thinks Through Its Innovation Process
Leveraging retail trends and data are keys to staying on the minds of consumers. This week on Retail Refined, host Melissa Gonzalez talks with Keyla Lazardi, Revlon’s Chief Scientific Officer about how the cosmetics giant utilizes both trends and data when it comes to innovation. The two also discuss the future of the beauty industry and what trends Lazardi is most…
The Future of Grocery is Here Live at GroceryShop 2021
What’s the future of grocery? In an industry that’s evolved dramatically since 2020, there are lots of trends to discuss. Retail Refined host Melissa Gonzalez spoke with multiple stakeholders to get their take. First, Gonzalez chatted with George Shaw, CEO of Pathr.ai, a spatial intelligence platform. “We apply data to questions our customers have, which…
Ecommerce Websites Have the Same Basic Structure. Will Higher Consumer Expectations Change That?
Ecommerce adoption has never been higher, but that doesn’t mean shoppers want standard shopping experiences. They’re expecting more and for brands to delight them. Many of these companies are investing in experiential ecommerce. Retailed Refined host Melissa Gonzalez spoke with Neha Singh, the Founder and CEO of Obsess, about this topic. Singh, a returning guest, started…
Exploring Experiential Ecommerce
Ecommerce adoption has never been higher, but that doesn’t mean retailers can rest on their laurels when it comes to creating engaging experiences for shoppers. Engagement is an area where consumer expectations have evolved over the last 18 months. The host of MarketScale’s Retailed Refined, Melissa Gonzalez, spoke with Neha Singh, the Founder and CEO…
Will Stores Carve Out More Space for Ecommerce Fulfillment?
Designed for retail leaders and lovers alike, Retail Refined explores the in-store technology of the future, challenges the industry’s preconceived notions, and brings together retail’s biggest names to understand the brand strategies that will define the next decade in retail. Over the past year, ecommerce and online shopping, as well as BOPIS, saw a significant bump. Now,…
How Brick and Mortar Stores Will Personalize the Guest Experience
Designed for retail leaders and lovers alike, Retail Refined explores the in-store technology of the future, challenges the industry’s preconceived notions, and brings together retail’s biggest names to understand the brand strategies that will define the next decade in retail. With customer expectations higher than ever before, will brick-and-mortar stores lean more heavily into personalizing the guest…
How Brick & Mortars Should Prepare for 2021
Seeming to spare no one in its path of devastation, the coronavirus not only brought about health concerns for populations around the world, it’s wreaked havoc on the traditional brick and mortar landscape, with many filing bankruptcy and more than 8,000 retail locations going dark for good. In an industry where trends are constantly shifting…
New Data Shows Downtrend in Brick and Mortar Holding into 2021
Shopping in the modern world looks much different now than it did at the beginning of the year. In fact, numbers were up before the pandemic. Looking to the end of 2020, dramatic downturns are holding steady for brick and mortar. Discussing these data points today with Daniel Litwin is John Kelly, CEO of Zenreach. Zenreach’s data suggests that…
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