From vending machines to autonomous retail: The evolution of grab and go shopping

Customers want physical shopping to feel as quick and simple as online purchasing. The demand has led to the rise of autonomous retail — stores where customers…

The hidden risks behind retail's AI shopping boom

by Dean Hickman-Smith — Chief Revenue Officer, Testlio

In an era where AI influences $67 billion in sales, the retailers who win will be the ones whose AI earns trust, repeat purchases, and long-term loyalty.

Reputation at checkout: How predictive AI helps retailers maintain trust in a crisis

by Ted Skinner — Vice President, Marketing, Fullintel

A crisis handled well can strengthen customer relationships by demonstrating responsiveness and accountability. Handled poorly, it becomes a digital record…

AI Is redefining the retail experience, but who owns the relationship?

by Adam Brotman — Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Forum3

As AI-powered assistants increasingly guide shoppers from discovery to purchase, the experience itself is being reshaped. It’s faster, more conversational, and…

Why retailers must secure transactional emails to combat scam threats

by Oliver Paetz — Head of Product Management, Transactional Email, Retarus

As online shopping continues to grow in scope and popularity, cyber criminals are finding new ways to exploit trust. For retailers, this is more than a…

What 2025 really taught us about AI, CX and what 2026 holds for the future

by Mike Gadsby — Chief Innovation Officer, O3 World

In 2025, AI's biggest hurdle wasn't technological, it was organizational capacity and readiness.

The hidden customer experience cost of returns: Why apparel brands must rethink reverse logistics

by Jonathan Briggs — SVP of Sales, ShipMonk

Returns are no longer a back-office function. For apparel brands, they represent a defining moment in the customer relationship.

Why CX outcomes, not price cuts, will drive retail growth in 2026

by Banwari Agarwal — CEO Retail & CG and Digital Business, Sutherland Global

Staying competitive shouldn’t start with slashing prices. While discounts may deliver a short-term lift in revenue, they steadily erode margins and train…

Do It Best stores replaces spreadsheets with no-code database and reaps rewards

by Jeff Kuo — CEO, Ragic

Research shows as many as 95% of small retailers use spreadsheets to manage inventory. While spreadsheets are well suited for accounting and basic…

Your digital marketing strategy is only as good as your worst touchpoint

by Jean-Christophe Pitié — Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Partner Officer, Contentsquare

With customer acquisition costs increasing and competition more intense, a digital marketing strategy's success hinges on the strength of its weakest touch…

5 factors driving increased bodycam adoption in retail in 2026 and beyond

by Alan Ring — CEO, HALOS Body Cameras

Body-worn cameras aren’t a cure-all, but they provide a powerful foundation for addressing pressures such as rising aggression, theft tactics and meeting…

Retail’s big reset: Why 2026 will separate brands that execute from brands that just plan

The brands that win in 2026 will be the ones that execute — consistently, visibly, and without excuses.

Why small retailers are ditching tablets for dedicated POS terminals

by Jamie Irwin — Senior Content Manager, Volcora

Consumer tablets helped thousands of small retailers start fast. But for sustained throughput, predictable uptime and stronger long-term economics, dedicated…

What recession pop reveals about the psychology of nostalgia

by Mike Ford — CEO of Skydeo, Skydeo

For marketers and brands, the takeaway is clear: nostalgia doesn’t just tell us what people like — it tells us why they buy.

Global trade shifts show why retailers need agile tech stacks

by Jon Rodgers — VP of Partnerships North America, Patchworks

The lesson from global trade is clear. Agility is the new currency of growth.

The art of retail storytelling: Elevating hospitality through meaningful experiences

Explore how storytelling is reshaping the retail experience by turning stores into meaningful, hospitality-driven destinations.

The endless aisle gets smarter: 5 predictions that will shape retail in 2026

by Bennett Carroccio — SVP, Rokt Catalog, Rokt, Rokt Catalog

The endless aisle isn’t disappearing but it is getting smarter, more intentional, and more aligned with how people actually shop.

Why most brands lose their best BFCM customers and how to fix it in 2026

by Kait Stephens — CEO & Co-Founder, Brij

Your best customers from 2025? They’re already out there. You just need to make sure they’re not invisible the next time they show up.

5 reasons why gamified loyalty programs fail

by Konstantin Melnikov — Founder, NTI Loyalty

Retailers often underestimate the complexity of gamification, and how hard it is to capture and hold consumer attention. This leads to mistakes that cause…

How to make every shopping experience memorable

Explore how retailers can elevate customer engagement by blending physical and digital channels into seamless, memorable shopping experiences.