Unlocking Retail Media Retail Revolution: Navigating the Future with Matt Nichols
Nov 12, 2025
In this discussion, Matt Nichols, a partner at Commerce Ventures and seasoned retail-tech investor, dives into the booming world of retail media and AI's transformative role. He highlights how COVID accelerated the shift to in-house retail media and why executives are prioritizing it as a revenue stream. Topics include AI-driven search optimization to boost ROI, the rise of agile supply chain models, and the creative potential of chat shopping as a future e-commerce frontier. Nichols also shares insights on Amazon's enduring advantage in fulfillment.
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Early DTC Exit Sparked Retail Media Thesis
- Matt Nichols recounts running a DTC jeweler (Gemvara) and selling it to Berkshire Hathaway, which exposed him to early retail media needs.
- That experience and using HookLogic inspired his search for a modern HookLogic and eventual investment in retail media startups.
Retail Media Became Core To Retail Strategy
- Retail media has matured from an outsource-or-build choice to a core capability retailers want to control.
- Larger retailers now prefer owning differentiated retail media while avoiding building every underlying technology themselves.
Prepare Sites For AI Discovery And Transactions
- Bring AI-powered search and capabilities to your site to keep shoppers on your domain.
- Prepare feed management and transactional tooling so AI platforms can find and transact your products.