Retail Remix

Retail TouchPoints

The rules of retail are constantly changing. Today, we're in an exciting new era where brands can differentiate through experience and use technology to connect with customers in new and exciting ways. Retail Remix is a new podcast series brought to you by Retail TouchPoints, the industry's leading source for news, insights and research for all things customer experience. Every week, we sit down with someone who is helping put a new spin on the retail experience. Hear from the top practitioners, analysts and innovators in retail, and see what new engagement opportunities await.

  1. 4 days ago

    Why the Best Subscription Brands Make It Easy to Leave

    Subscription acquisition may be slowing, but that doesn’t mean consumers are falling out of love with subscriptions. Instead, they’re becoming far more selective about which services earn a permanent place in their monthly budgets. In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson sits down with Rachel Sheriff, Chief Customer Officer at Recurly, to unpack the findings from the company’s 2026 State of Subscriptions report. Rachel explains why retention has become the industry’s biggest challenge, how flexible features like subscription pauses are helping brands reduce churn and why fashion rental services like Nuuly are thriving by delivering affordability, convenience and personalization. The conversation also explores what traditional retailers can learn from subscription-first businesses as they look to deepen customer loyalty and create more predictable revenue streams. Key Takeaways Why subscription businesses are shifting their focus from acquisition to retention as consumers become more intentional about recurring purchases How flexible features like subscription pauses help brands reduce churn while keeping customers engaged over the long term Why fashion rental platforms like Nuuly are succeeding through affordability, flexibility and sustainable wardrobe options How traditional retailers are experimenting with subscription models that combine physical products, digital services and exclusive member experiences Why delivering ongoing value, transparency and a strong customer experience has become the key to earning lasting subscriber loyalty  Related Links Explore Recurly’s subscription management platform and the latest subscription commerce insightsGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix

  2. 3 Aug

    How AI Could Level the Playing Field for Independent Grocers

    This episode is brought to you by KWI. As AI reshapes the grocery industry, independent retailers face a critical question: will the technology help them compete, or widen the gap between them and national chains? In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson sits down with Tal Zlotnitsky, Founder and CEO of Breez AI, to discuss why he believes AI represents both the biggest threat and the greatest opportunity for regional and independent grocers.  Tal explains why owning the AI that interacts with shoppers will become increasingly important, how Breez AI is helping grocers create more personalized shopping experiences and why the future of grocery shopping will revolve less around shopping lists and more around planning meals, occasions and everyday life. This episode is brought to you by KWI. KWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP.  Key Takeaways Why independent grocers need to “own” the AI relationship with shoppers to preserve customer loyalty and valuable first-party data How Breez AI is shifting grocery shopping from product-based searches to AI-powered meal and occasion planning Why personalized AI experiences — not generic loyalty programs — will define the next generation of grocery customer engagement How AI can help shoppers save time, reduce food waste and stay within budget without sacrificing control over their shopping decisions Why Tal believes AI should strengthen independent grocers — not replace the community relationships that make them unique Related Links Learn more about Breez AI and its AI platform for independent grocersGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix ---- KWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP.

  3. 27 Jul

    Inside Instacart’s Billion-Dollar Growth Flywheel with CCO Ryan Hamburger

    This episode is brought to you by KWI. Instacart recently crossed $1 billion in quarterly revenue, and alongside its impressive marketplace growth, it’s also evolving into a powerful technology partner for retailers while continuing to redefine the digital grocery experience. In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson speaks with Ryan Hamburger, Chief Commercial Officer at Instacart, about the company’s expanding role across marketplace services, enterprise technology, retail media and AI. Ryan explains why trust has become the foundation of digital grocery, how Instacart is helping retailers modernize their digital infrastructure and why the future of grocery depends on connecting online and in-store experiences—not choosing between them.   Key Takeaways How Instacart’s marketplace, enterprise technology, retail media and AI businesses work together to fuel long-term growth  Why trust—from accurate substitutions to reliable fulfillment—is the biggest driver of customer loyalty in digital grocery  How AI is improving both the customer experience through shopping assistants and store operations through computer vision and shelf monitoring  Why retailers should focus on building connected omnichannel experiences instead of treating digital and physical stores as separate businesses  Why Instacart believes enterprise technology represents one of grocery retail’s biggest opportunities over the next several years  Related Links Learn more about Instacart’s platform and enterprise technology solutions for retailersDon’t miss RTP’s latest reports on Instacart: CEO Chris Rogers Shares AI and Ad Strategy as Instacart Revenues Reach $1 Billion in Q1; Instacart Acquires Arpalus Shelf-Scanning TechnologyGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail RemixKWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP. ---- KWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP.

  4. 25 Jun ·  Bonus

    Deep Dive: How to Maximize Summer Sales with Lightspeed

    This episode is brought to you by Lightspeed. Summer can be one of the trickiest seasons for retailers. Inventory needs to move before fall arrives, demand can shift with changing weather patterns and teams are already looking ahead to the next major buying cycle. In this special bonus episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson sits down with Marie Baldauf-Lenschen, Director of Supplier Network Partnerships at Lightspeed, to discuss how retailers can make smarter inventory, merchandising and purchasing decisions during the critical mid-summer period.  From identifying the metrics that matter most to leveraging AI, storytelling and wholesale data more effectively, Marie shares practical strategies retailers can use to improve sell-through, protect margins and prepare for the busy seasons ahead. Key Takeaways Why retailers should focus on a handful of key metrics (including inventory levels, sales trends and supplier lead times) to make faster, smarter decisions  How AI can help reduce manual work and surface actionable insights without replacing human decision-making  Why merchandising, storytelling and knowledgeable store associates can improve sell-through without relying on markdowns  How tighter connections between wholesale purchasing, inventory management and POS systems can help retailers react faster to demand shifts  Why bundling, urgency-based messaging and personalized service often outperform aggressive discounting when inventory starts to slow   Related Links Learn more about Lightspeed’s commerce platform for retailersGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix ---- Ready to make smarter inventory, merchandising and buying decisions? Discover how Lightspeed helps retailers streamline operations, manage inventory and stay ahead of changing customer demand at lightspeedhq.com/pos/retail

  5. 22 Jun

    From Loyalty Data to Retail Media: Molly Hjelm’s Playbook for RedVest

    Retail media has quickly become one of retail’s most important growth engines, but Ace Hardware is taking a different approach. One that’s built around local ownership, community relevance and real-world customer needs. In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson speaks with Molly Hjelm, CVP of RedVest Media, Ace Hardware’s retail media network, about launching a full-funnel RMN in just six months and what makes the co-op retailer uniquely positioned in the space. Molly shares how Ace is leveraging its network of 5,200 independently owned stores, 70 million loyalty members and deep first-party data to create measurable advertising solutions. She also explains how weather-triggered media, retailer-focused advertising tools and localized customer insights are helping brands connect with shoppers at exactly the right moment. Key Takeaways How Ace Hardware launched RedVest Media in just six months by focusing on measurable, full-funnel advertising solutions  Why Ace’s co-op structure creates unique opportunities (and challenges) for retail media innovation  How weather-triggered advertising helps brands align messaging with real-time customer needs, from snowstorms to hurricane season  What makes Retailer Reach, Ace’s retailer-focused advertising platform, different from traditional retail media offerings  Why first-party data, in-store relationships and local relevance remain critical as retail media evolves alongside AI and changing consumer behavior   Related Links Learn how RedVest Media helps brands reach Ace Hardware customers through localized, data-driven retail media.Learn more about Ace Hardware and its community-focused retail modelGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix

  6. 8 Jun

    Beyond the Dress: Inside David’s Bridal’s Transformative Platform Strategy

    David’s Bridal may be best known for wedding dresses, but the brand’s next chapter is about something much bigger: becoming a digital platform for the entire wedding journey. In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson speaks with Elina Vilk, President and Chief Business Officer of David’s Bridal, about how the 75-year-old brand is transforming from a dress retailer into an AI-powered wedding ecosystem. Elina shares how David’s Bridal is expanding from “aisle to algorithm,” using tools like the AI-powered Pearl Planner to help brides manage the hundreds of decisions behind every wedding and stay within budget, while also growing wholesale, marketplace and commerce partnerships to serve more of the bridal ecosystem. Key Takeaways Why David’s Bridal is expanding beyond dresses to support the full wedding planning journey  How expectations toward the modern wedding experience have shifted with added pressures such as social media How the Pearl Planner uses insights from in-store “dream makers” to guide brides through planning tasks  Why David’s Bridal now views boutiques, marketplaces and other retailers as partners rather than competitors  How wholesale, AI commerce and smaller-format store concepts are shaping the brand’s 2026 growth strategy   Related Links Explore David’s Bridal’s wedding dresses, planning tools and Pearl platformGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix

  7. 1 Jun

    How Frances Valentine Built a Viral Fashion Brand Around Women 50+

    For years, fashion brands chased younger consumers online, but Frances Valentine has found its edge by doing the opposite. Building a vibrant, social-first brand experience around women 50 and up. In this episode of Retail Remix (and the first hosted by new Retail TouchPoints Editor-in-Chief Kate Robertson), Kate sits down with Katherine Brodie, CMO of Frances Valentine, to discuss how the brand is scaling through video-first storytelling, creator-style content and a deeply engaged community built around color, joy and personal connection. Katherine shares how Elyce Arons — who co-founded the brand with her best friend, the late Kate Spade — has become both the face and personality of the brand across social media, why Frances Valentine treats content creation like its own production studio and how the company is balancing digital growth with expanding retail and wholesale partnerships. Key Takeaways Why Frances Valentine has found major success by focusing on the underserved and highly affluent 50+ female consumer  How Elyce Arons’ authentic social presence has become a powerful customer acquisition and engagement engine  Why the brand treats social content and video production as a separate, always-on marketing track  How Frances Valentine balances owned digital channels with retail stores and wholesale partnerships to deepen loyalty  Why Katherine believes today’s marketers need to understand the full business picture — not just impressions and traffic   Related Links Explore Frances Valentine’s colorful fashion and lifestyle collectionsGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix

About

The rules of retail are constantly changing. Today, we're in an exciting new era where brands can differentiate through experience and use technology to connect with customers in new and exciting ways. Retail Remix is a new podcast series brought to you by Retail TouchPoints, the industry's leading source for news, insights and research for all things customer experience. Every week, we sit down with someone who is helping put a new spin on the retail experience. Hear from the top practitioners, analysts and innovators in retail, and see what new engagement opportunities await.

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