Retail Remix

Companies like Obsess are revolutionizing the ecommerce experience. Brands and retailers that partner with the company have the power to throw away the traditional site “template” and launch creative and immersive virtual experiences.   At the same time, we’re seeing gaming become a new frontier of user engagement and the metaverse become a new source of “real estate.” Obsess Founder and CEO Neha Singh believes there’s opportunity in both digital worlds, and it’s up to brands to test, learn and adapt. During this week’s Retail Remix, Neha helps us answer some top-of-mind questions, including:   What creative approaches to virtual showrooms really rise to the top?  How will the acceleration of virtual showrooms drive interest and adoption in the metaverse?  How can brands and retailers embrace both strategically to meet their unique business goals?   RELATED LINKS Learn more about Obsess’ services Connect with Neha on LinkedIn Check out new research on metaverse shopping See RTP’s coverage on all things “metaverse” 

The surge in ecommerce sales may look good for retailers. But below the surface, brands now have to grapple with rising return rates that lead to significant costs and material waste.   What’s the primary reason most consumers return their purchases? Fit, of course.   But companies like MySize are bringing the try-on experience beyond the fitting room and into digital commerce. The company’s founder and CEO, Ronen Luzon, sits down with us to discuss:  Why fit is still such an issue for ecommerce shoppers;  How data-driven, AI-powered technology is adding clarity and confidence to the fit experience; and  Ways to integrate fit tech into the omnichannel journey to maximize adoption and customer satisfaction.  RELATED LINKS Learn more about MySize  Dig into retail’s big returns problem

The National Retail Federation Big Show is, well, a big show for many in the industry...including Retail TouchPoints. Every year, our team is ready to hit the New York City pavement and dig into the trends and topics that are driving the industry forward.   Although the crowd was a little lighter this year and the exhibit hall was a little emptier, the RTP editorial team wasn’t short on rich insights and takeaways. During this special episode, Adam Blair, Nicole Silberstein and Bryan Wassel join Alicia to reflect on their experiences and the topics that resonated with them most. Listen to get their takes on: The new culture imperative for leadership teams;  New learnings and best practices for sustainability; and  The heightened buzz surrounding the metaverse. RELATED LINKS See key takeaways from NRF  Learn how Chewy is investigating new growth opportunities Read about Ralph Lauren's reinvention for the metaverse Get additional insights on sustainability Dig into lessons on embedding diversity into everything

“How do you define social commerce?” The answer may be different depending on who you ask. But Alessandro Bogliari, Co-Founder and CEO of The Influencer Marketing Factory firmly believes that social commerce should be defined as sales that can be completed within social platforms.   Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are rolling out more social commerce capabilities, which is creating significant opportunities for influencers and the brands they partner with. On Retail Remix, Bogliari discusses:  The evolution of influencer marketing and creator partnerships;   Social commerce considerations and strategic best practices; and  Data on how consumers are currently interacting with, and buying on, social platforms.   RELATED LINKS Learn more about The Influencer Marketing Factory  Get more research and insights on influencer marketing

Over the past 40+ years, Wine Enthusiast has acquired a strong advantage: in addition to its commerce business, it has an incredible media portfolio. But looking forward, Erika Strum Silberstein and her sister, Jacqueline Strum, are working together to bridge the gap between their content and commerce to create a more fluid “wine journey.”   More brands and retailers are trying to integrate powerful content into their customer experiences, and Erika has some great perspectives to help guide their strategies. Listen to learn:  Which tools and tech are supporting Erika’s goals of making shopping online for wine and spirits easier and more fun;   How Wine Enthusiast is using data to understand user intent and create a more fluid customer journey between content and commerce properties; and   The key investments Wine Enthusiast is making beyond content and commerce, including logistics and fulfillment.   RELATED LINKS Browse the Wine Enthusiast site See job openings 

What does it take to create a base of passionate and engaged associates? This is a top-of-mind question for retailers of all sizes and across categories. That is why in this episode of Retail Remix, we have a panel of experts who want to provide answers and guidance for brands as they set their sights on 2022 goals.   We get to the heart of the issues that matter most to today’s employees, including training and enablement, tech empowerment, and even company culture, wage issues and healthcare. Our panel of experts include:  Oscar Sachs, Co-Founder and CEO, Salesfloor;  Bob Phibbs, CEO, The Retail Doctor; and  Regina Aiello, Vice President Pandora, Ben Bridge Jeweler RELATED LINKS Learn more about Salesfloor Learn more about Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor

 Accelerated digital behaviors are accelerating the need for more immersive, data-driven customer experiences. That is why 84.51° and Kroger Precision Marketing are focusing on building, and perfecting, the retail media model for its brand and advertising partners.   But how can brands create highly immersive omnichannel experiences while also being mindful of new privacy guidelines and consumer safety concerns? On Retail Remix, Milen Mahadevan, President of 84.51°, and Cara Pratt, Senior Vice President of Kroger Precision Marketing share their perspectives on:  The present and future of the retail media model;  Why retail media needs to go into stores to scale, and how that can really happen; and  The data and reporting required to ensure campaigns perform successfully and customers have the best possible experience.   RELATED LINKS Learn more about 84.51° See our latest coverage about retail media

 Discount Bandit is a marketplace with one goal: to give consumers access to the best deals on products. But there’s a catch: the listings are “blind,” which means consumers don’t know which retailers are providing these items.   With this unique model, Steven Hong, Discount Bandit’s CEO, has learned a lot about the behaviors and preferences of consumers, especially when they’re in a marketplace environment. During this episode, he reveals what he’s discovered over the years, including:  The ever-present role of frugality in the decision-making process;  How economic volatility has impacted price consciousness, if at all; and  How brands, retailers and marketplaces can collaborate to maximize values for consumers.   RELATED LINKS Learn more about Discount Bandit. Read more of Steven Hong’s perspectives on the frugal consumer. Get more information on the Discount Bandit partner program.

You may have seen headlines that ask a similar question: is Cyber Weekend dead? Taylor Schreiner, Director of Adobe Digital Insights, doesn’t think this reflects the entire story around holiday shopping trends and behaviors.   In this episode of Retail Remix, Taylor gets into the key findings from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, as well as how they were influenced by broader market trends and challenges. Listen in to hear:  How supply chain challenges impact when and how consumers shop;  New trends in device usage and product category demand; and  How hot-button trends, such as omnichannel fulfillment and BNPL, are driving consumer action.   RELATED LINKS Get the latest updates on Adobe’s holiday research. See our recap of Cyber Weekend. Check out more holiday coverage on Retail TouchPoints. 

Jim Inglis has a 60+ year career in retail including a long tenure at The Home Depot. With his book Breakthrough Retailing: How a Bleeding Orange Culture Can Change Everything, he reflects on his time with the home improvement retailer and, most of all, what other brands can learn from the company’s rise, stagnation and rebirth.   During this week’s Retail Remix, Jim shares lessons from the retail trenches, including how to: Create a differentiated brand from the ground up; Design a culture that employees love;  Tackle logistical issues such as pricing and supply chain; and   Inspire employees to build their skill set and foster a career in retail.  RELATED LINKS Buy a copy of Jim’s book  Learn more about Jim’s career