Retail Remix Retail TouchPoints

When Anna Harman wanted to get a new ear piercing, she only had two viable options: an upscale boutique that would charge her hundreds of dollars...or a tattoo parlor. While the latter was just as safe as the former, the experience left her feeling wanting more. 
Most of all, the experience made Anna realize what a big white space there was in the market, which inspired her to start Studs with Lisa Bubbers. During this episode of Retail Remix, Anna shares Studs’s origin story, as well as: 
The essence of the Studs brand and how it adapts and amplifies across digital and physical channels; Why it's critical for the marketing team to balance fun, entertainment-driven initiatives and borderline-scientific content; How she and Lisa developed a scalable business framework and service strategy; and Entrepreneurial lessons that all retail executives can embrace and apply.RELATED LINKS
Learn more about Studs Follow Anna on LinkedIn

Will Eadie is in the world of employee experience, also known as EX. He and his company WorkJam believe that a great EX leads to a great CX. 
If that’s the case, why do so many retailers struggle to invest in the right tools and strategies that drive EX? We had Will on Retail Remix to find out. 
Listen to this episode to learn: 
What EX entails and why it matters more than ever; 
How EX can lead to CX outcomes; 
How retailers like JCPenney are seeing success with their EX investments; and 
Tips for finding the right tools and partners to support your EX mission and vision.RELATED LINKS
Learn more about how WorkJam supports retailersGet the JCPenney case studyRead our coverage of WorkJam’s research with ForresterRead our latest report about employee technologyConnect with Will Eadie on LinkedIn

Alex Weinstein is equally passionate about marketing and data science, and he’s putting that passion to good use as Chief Digital Officer of Hungryroot. 
Although one could easily lump Hungryroot in with other grocery delivery services, the company is investing heavily in artificial intelligence to power customer-facing touch points as well as back-end operations. During this episode of Retail Remix, Alex shares: 
Hungryroot’s key differentiators in the fast-evolving digital grocery space; 
The company’s top customer experience priorities, from personalization to mobile app design;
How Hungryroot uses behavioral data and zero-party insights to power back-end operations; and 
How AI is helping Hungryroot tackle food waste and reduce environmental impact. RELATED LINKS
Learn more about HungryrootRead the latest on artificial intelligence (AI) Want to hear from other innovative brands like Hungyroot to learn how they’re investing in AI and other cutting-edge technologies? Register for the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, taking place June 4-6, 2024, in Chicago. Click here to get your ticket and get more tactical tips from her and other forward-thinking executives!

We are taking this week off, but tune in next week for another great episode of Retail Remix! Be sure to subscribe to hear the latest episodes when they launch.

We’ve all heard about subscription models that give customers monetary perks in exchange for recurring purchases. But brands like IPSY are elevating this concept by integrating compelling content, community and exclusive access to products. 
IPSY’s merchandising team plays a central role in bringing the brand promise to life. Led by Chief Merchandising Officer Kristy Westrup, the merch division tests more than 8,000 products per year to curate the best assortment for customers. During this week’s Retail Remix, we dig into this process, as well as: 
How merchandising collaborates with marketing to create compelling content that drives member acquisition and retention; 
How the team applies social media insights and other data points to constantly keep a pulse on what’s trending; and
How the team integrates customer feedback consistently to refine assortment and expand into new brands and categories.RELATED LINKS
Learn more about IPSYRead how other companies are reimagining subscription commerceConnect with Kristy on LinkedInKristy’s colleagues from IPSY will dig deeper into the brand’s membership model during the Retail Innovation Conference & Expo. Click here to get your ticket and get more tactical tips from her and other forward-thinking executives!

As CTO and Global General Manager for Zenni Optical, David Ting plays a critical role in determining the company’s key technology investments and experience priorities. 
It should come as no surprise, then, that artificial intelligence (AI) has been at the top of his priority list. During this week’s Retail Remix, he shares how he researched, tested and optimized AI investments for the business. He shares insights on:  
How consumers search and browse on the Zenni Optical site, and how these behaviors have dictated the company’s technology decisions; Different AI applications and how they have supported operational efficiency and ecommerce performance; 
Workforce and company policies that have had to evolve with AI adoption; and
Lessons he has learned testing and implementing different AI-powered solutions, and the advice he would offer to peers. RELATED LINKS
Visit Zenni Optical to see the site experience firsthandRead more about Zenni Optical’s innovation on Retail TouchPoints Download our Special Report on how generative AI is driving ecommerce transformationDavid’s colleague, Dennis Maxwell, Senior Director of Performance Marketing, will be speaking at the 2024 Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, taking place June 4-6, 2024, in Chicago. Click here to get your ticket and get his insights on how brands can use AI practically to drive performance.