Unlocking Retail Media
Kevel
Unlocking Retail Media is the essential podcast for leaders and marketers navigating the rapidly evolving world of retail advertising. We move beyond day-to-day operations to explore the strategic future of the industry, covering major investment trends, the shift to hybrid marketplace models, and the existential disruption posed by Agentic Commerce. Host James Avery brings in top industry veterans and visionary founders to analyze how ground-breaking technology is transforming customer journeys, influencing product catalogs, and forcing retailers to rethink on-site, in-store, and digital media strategies to remain competitive in the modern age.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 19, 2025 • 37min
The Agentic Commerce Threat: Why RMNs Must Evolve for AI with Scot Wingo
Scot Wingo, a serial entrepreneur and founder of ChannelAdvisor, joins to tackle the impact of Agentic Commerce on Retail Media Networks. He discusses the evolution of large language models like ChatGPT into powerful marketplaces that disrupt traditional shopping channels. Wingo emphasizes the need for RMNs to enhance user experience, fix product catalogs, and rethink advertising strategies, using Instacart's success as a model. He urges retailers to adapt quickly, as even small losses to agentic commerce could lead to significant consequences.
Nov 12, 2025 • 35min
Retail Revolution: Navigating the Future with Matt Nichols
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.
Nov 12, 2025 • 40min
The Brand Buyer's Playbook: Unlocking RMN Scale and Metrics with Mark Mannino
Retail media success hinges on giving brands what they truly need: measurable, incremental sales growth. This episode of Unlocking Retail Media with expert Mark Mannino—from VidMob, Amazon Ads, and Flywheel—focuses on strategic RMN packaging and measurement. Key takeaways include moving beyond simple ROAS to prioritize incremental ROAS and new-to-brand metrics. Retailers must clarify how they handle omnichannel attribution and utilize unique first-party data for both onsite and offsite targeting. To scale, smaller RMNs should adopt programmatic practices, like Private Marketplaces (PMPs), to attract demand without becoming commoditized, and all networks must operate with the primary rule: "first do no harm" to the core customer relationship.
Nov 12, 2025 • 32min
Unlocking the Power of PayPal's Advertising with Dr. Mark Grether
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Mark Grether, a leader at PayPal's advertising business, dives into innovative strategies that harness PayPal's unique transaction data from 400 million consumers. He elaborates on the future of commerce media amidst AI advancements and the importance of measurement and incrementality for retailers. Mark also addresses the shift towards commerce media over traditional retail, the role of offers and nudges in boosting conversion, and forecasts industry consolidation, positioning PayPal as a frontrunner in the evolving landscape.
