Introduction

Coresight Research is a research partner of Shoptalk Spring 2026, which will take place during March 24–26, 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shoptalk Spring is an annual conference that brings together executives from retailers, consumer-facing brands and technology providers across physical stores and e-commerce to discuss the latest trends, innovations and challenges shaping the retail industry.

In this preview guide to Shoptalk Spring 2026, we highlight notable sessions and speakers across four primary content themes: AI, Marketing and Media, Human-Centric Retail, and Technology. Together, these strands reflect the overarching theme “Retail in the Age of AI.” The agenda explores how artificial intelligence is influencing all aspects of retail while also examining the critical role of emotion, experience and human connection as counterbalances to automation. All times referenced in this report are Pacific Time (PT), the local time of the event.

In addition to the Main Stage and four primary content themes, Shoptalk Spring 2026 will also feature two tactical Lab stages. Lab A will focus on practical AI applications, and Lab B will explore a mix of marketing, technology and operational topics in smaller-format sessions designed for deeper, implementation-oriented discussion.

Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder of Coresight Research, will moderate the Startup Pitch session on Tuesday, March 24.

To help readers navigate the agenda and identify the most high-profile moments, this guide places particular emphasis on Main Stage Keynotes and Track Keynotes (one‑on‑one interviews) alongside selected sessions across the broader program.

Coresight Research will provide coverage of Shoptalk Spring 2026 on coresight.com throughout the event.

Essential Guide to Shoptalk Spring 2026

Main Stage Keynotes to Watch

Shoptalk Spring 2026 will feature a series of Main Stage Keynotes designed to frame the event’s central theme, “Retail in the Age of AI,” through the perspectives of senior leaders from retail, consumer brands and technology platforms. These sessions will set the strategic context for the agenda, addressing how retailers are navigating scale, innovation, customer experience and long-term growth in an increasingly AI-driven environment.

• Niraj Shah, CEO & Co‑Chair, Wayfair
  Tuesday, March 24, 3:15 p.m.–3:35 p.m.
• Christine Barone, CEO, and Tana Davila, Chief Marketing Officer, Dutch Bros
  Tuesday, March 24, 3:35 p.m.–3:55 p.m.
• Nicola Mendelsohn, Head of Global Business Group, Meta
  Tuesday, March 24, 3:55 p.m.–4:15 p.m.
• Hillary Super, CEO, Victoria’s Secret & Co.
  Wednesday, March 25, 2:30 p.m.–2:50 p.m.
• Barbie Cameron, Chief Stores Officer, and Max Magni, EVP, Chief Customer & Digital Officer, Macy’s
  Thursday, March 26, 9:05 a.m.–9:25 a.m.
• Joe Preston, President & CEO, New Balance
  Thursday, March 26, 9:25 a.m.–9:45 a.m.

Main Notable Sessions Across Four Major Themes

1. Scaling Artificial Intelligence Across the Retail Value Chain

Artificial intelligence is now well past the experimentation phase in retail and is becoming foundational infrastructure across the value chain. Retailers and consumer brands are increasingly embedding AI into merchandising, pricing, forecasting, supply chain optimization and customer engagement, reflecting a broader shift from pilot initiatives to enterprise-wide integration. As competitive pressures intensify and consumer expectations for personalization and efficiency rise, AI is evolving from a differentiator into a strategic necessity.

Related Reports

• Coresight Research’s Retail 2026: 10 Trends in Retail Technology identifies agentic AI, in-store automation and real-time decision-making systems as key forces shaping retail transformation in 2026, underscoring how AI is expanding beyond customer-facing applications into operational and strategic functions across the organization.
• Further reinforcing this shift, ongoing coverage of AI in retail from Coresight Research highlights that AI has become the preeminent technology influencing retail transformation, with adoption spreading across pricing optimization, demand forecasting, personalization and supply chain intelligence.
• At the consumer level, Coresight Research data illustrates how generative AI is increasingly shaping how shoppers discover products, interact with brands and navigate commerce journeys, signaling a deeper integration of AI into everyday retail experiences.
• Looking ahead, Coresight Research expects retailers to prioritize scalable AI ecosystems that connect customer data, operational intelligence and real-time decision-making across channels. As adoption deepens, issues surrounding governance, transparency and workforce enablement are likely to become more prominent considerations for retail leaders.

Agenda Highlights

Other than examining enterprise AI strategy, sessions related to this theme at Shoptalk Spring 2026 will explore practical applications of AI in personalization, operational efficiency and executive decision-making, highlighting how leading retailers are moving from experimentation to measurable impact.

Shoptalk Spring Sessions

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Tuesday, March 24
10:20 a.m.–10:40 a.m.	Track Keynote: Using AI to Amp Up Personalization	Reshaping Shopping & Customer Behavior	Matt Madrigal, Chief Technology Officer, Pinterest Hilary Milnes (Moderator), Executive Editor, Vogue Business
10:40 a.m. –11:00 a.m.	Track Keynote: Using AI to Amp Up Personalization	Reshaping Shopping & Customer Behavior	Sven Gerjets, EVP & Chief Technology Officer, Gap Inc. Gabrielle Fonrouge (Moderator), Retail Reporter, CNBC
12:00 p.m.–12:40 p.m.	Debate: AI Agents Will / Will Not Transform Retail	Reshaping Shopping & Customer Behavior	Scot Wingo, CEO, ReFiBuy Ekta Chopra, Chief Digital Officer, E.L.F Beauty Andrew Lipsman, Independent Analyst & Consultant, Media, Ads + Commerce Sarah Marzano, Principal Analyst, Retail, Ecommerce & Retail Media, EMARKETER Ben Miller (Moderator), VP, Original Content & Strategy, Shoptalk
Wednesday, March 25
9:30 a.m.–10:10 a.m.	Rapid Fire: Assessing the Most Impactful AI Application	Corporate & Frontline AI Applications	Alex Richardson, Chief Technology Officer, Khaite Christian Fortucci, Chief Technology Officer, David Yurman Katia Unlu, Chief Commercial Officer, Boll & Branch Anne Mezzenga (Moderator), Co-CEO, Retail Field Report
10:20 a.m.–11:00 a.m.	AI Applications for In-Store Physical Retail	Corporate & Frontline AI Applications	Andrew Laudato, Chief Operating Officer, The Vitamin Shoppe Kevin Harwood, Chief Technology Officer, Tecovas Jordan Berke (Moderator), Founder & CEO, Tomorrow
11:10 a.m.–11:50 a.m.	Using AI to Optimize Operations	Corporate & Frontline AI Applications	Velia Carboni, Chief Information Officer, SharkNinja Ryan den Rooijen, Managing Director, AI & Monetization, Currys Rajat Shroff, VP, Head of Product & Design, DoorDash Mark Ruston (Moderator), VP, Global Retail Lead, Capgemini
Thursday, March 26
12:40 p.m.–1:00 p.m.	Track Keynote: Strategic Leadership in the Age of AI	Planning and Managing in an AI-First World	Matt Baer, CEO, Stitch Fix Jason Del Rey (Moderator), Founder, The Aisle
1:00 p.m.–1:20 p.m.	Track Keynote: Balancing Excitement and Anxieties Around the Age of AI		Elina Vilk, President & Chief Business Officer, David’s Bridal Sarah Engel (Moderator), President, January Digital
1:30 p.m.–2:10 p.m.	Case Studies: Using AI to Translate Business Data into Profitable Growth	Planning and Managing in an AI-First World	Christopher Carl, US Head of Marketing, AliExpress Heather Mitchell, SVP Growth Partnerships, Shipt, Target Rakesh Srinivasan, Global SVP of Data & Analytics, The Estée Lauder Companies

2. Advancing Marketing, Media and Social Commerce in an AI-Driven Retail Landscape

Retail media is rapidly evolving from a secondary monetization channel into a major profit driver for retailers, while also strengthening retailer–brand partnerships and shaping product discovery across digital commerce platforms. As commerce increasingly converges with content and media, retailers are leveraging their first-party data, digital ecosystems and owned platforms to create advertising solutions that offer measurable performance and closed-loop attribution. At the same time, social platforms continue to reshape product discovery, blending community, entertainment and transaction into more seamless purchase journeys.

Related Reports

• At Coresight Research, we recently noted that retailers have opportunities to grow margins this year, even if their options to grow sales meaningfully may sometimes be more limited. Retail media is one means of expanding margins.
• Coresight Research’s report on 10 trends in retail media highlights the accelerating sophistication of retail media networks, driven by AI-enabled targeting, advanced measurement capabilities and deeper integration of first-party data. The report underscores how retailers are expanding media offerings beyond onsite placements to include offsite activation, omnichannel integration and enhanced personalization.

Complementing the Marketing & Media Stage discussions, Tactical Lab sessions will also address emerging strategies for AI‑driven discovery. “Tactics for AEO and GEO,” scheduled in Tactical Lab A for Tuesday, March 24, from 10:20 a.m.–11:00 a.m., will explore how retailers and brands can optimize their digital presence for AI‑powered search and conversational interfaces. The session will outline practical approaches to AI engine optimization and generative engine optimization (AEO and GEO), including how companies can prioritize efforts across major AI platforms, develop AI‑trusted content and evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies.

Agenda Highlights

In addition to strategic discussions on retail media growth and platform partnerships, sessions related to this theme at Shoptalk Spring 2026 will explore case studies from retailers and consumer brands, influencer and creator strategies, and practical approaches to monetizing attention in an increasingly AI-driven media ecosystem.

Shoptalk Spring Sessions

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Tuesday, March 24
9:30 a.m.–9:50 a.m.	Track Keynote: Visions for the Future of Marketing & Branding	The Evolution of Retail Media	Anca Marola, Global Chief Digital Officer, Sephora Mahak Sharma, Product Partnerships, Search & Commerce, OpenAI Hilary Milnes, Executive Editor, Vogue Business
9:50 a.m.–10:10 a.m.	Track Keynote: Visions for the Future of Marketing & Branding	The Evolution of Retail Media	Steve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO, Reddit Joe Laszlo (Moderator), Head of Content & Insights, U.S., Shoptalk
10:20 a.m.–11:00 a.m.	Retail Media Innovation: Retailer + Brand Case Studies	The Marketing & Media Stage	Taryn Dominie, Head of Industry, Orange Apron Media, The Home Depot Andy Lopez, SVP & Head of Global Marketing, Behr Paint Company Andrew Hotz, Director, Consumer Brands, Government & Entertainment, Google Nicole Pawlukowsky, General Manager & VP, Kimberly-Clark Christine Foster, SVP, Kroger Precision Marketing, The Kroger Co. Amy Andrews (Moderator), President, Mars United Commerce
12:00 p.m.–12:40 p.m.	Innovative Approaches to Marketing Across the Customer Journey	The Evolution of Retail Media	Amanda Bailey, VP Customer Marketing & Loyalty, Lowe’s Meredith Glansberg, CEO, Quip Carina Ertl, Chief Marketing Officer, Tourneau | Bucherer Lauren Wiener (Moderator), Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group
Wednesday, March 25
9:30 a.m.–10:10 a.m.	Building and Optimizing Social Media Strategies Today	Influencer & Social Marketing	Karin Tracy, Group Lead, Retail & E-Commerce, Meta Craig Brommers, Chief Marketing Officer, American Eagle Paul Toms, Chief Marketing Officer, Wayfair Joe Yakuel (Moderator), Founder & CEO, Within
10:20 a.m.–11:00 a.m.	Maximizing the Return on Influencer Marketing	Influencer & Social Marketing	Jennifer Brown, Head of U.S. Influencer Marketing & Talent Partnerships, SHEIN Lisa Horton, Chief Communications & Creative Officer, David’s Bridal
11:10 a.m.–11:50 a.m	Debate: Your Next Brand Ambassador Will / Will Not Be AI	Influencer & Social Marketing	Mike Jacobs, Chief Growth Officer, Consortium Brands David Katz, Chief Marketing Officer, Randa Apparel & Accessories Amanda Cole, Chief Marketing Officer, Bloomreach Joe Maglio (Moderator), CEO, Cheil Agency Network
Thursday, March 26
12:40 p.m.–1:20 p.m.	Reinventing Brands for the Next Generation	Marketing Tactics and Execution	Shivram Vaideeswaran, SVP of Brand Marketing, Papa Johns Christie Sclater, SVP Global Marketing, Clinique Gloria Canales, Chief Digital Officer, Coppel Debra Aho Williamson (Moderator), Founder & Chief Analyst, Sonata Insights

3. Cultivating Emotional Connection, Loyalty and Human-Centric Retail Experiences

A counterpoint to automation and AI, emotional connection and human-centric experiences are emerging as critical sources of differentiation in retail. Brands must balance efficiency with authenticity, ensuring that technology enhances, rather than replaces meaningful customer relationships.

Physical retail continues to evolve beyond its transactional roots, with stores increasingly positioned as spaces for discovery, community and brand storytelling. Retailers are investing in experiential formats, curated assortments and hospitality-inspired service models designed to deepen engagement and foster long-term loyalty. At the same time, richer customer insights are enabling more responsive merchandising and marketing strategies that reflect shifting generational preferences and behavioral patterns.

Related Reports

• Coresight Research’s report on global luxury real estate highlights how leading brands are investing in flagship locations designed to serve as immersive brand destinations rather than purely transactional retail spaces. The report examines how experience-rich environments, brand storytelling and curated in-store interactions are helping retailers strengthen customer engagement and deepen emotional connections with consumers.
• The Coresight Research report on the tech-driven future of US retail examines how advances in AI and data analytics are enabling retailers to deliver more personalized customer experiences. The research highlights how technologies that support predictive insights, personalization and integrated commerce platforms can help retailers better understand customer behavior and build stronger long-term relationships across digital and physical channels.
• Looking ahead, sustained growth is likely to depend on blending transactional loyalty with emotional resonance. While AI may optimize targeting and operational efficiency, enduring brand equity will increasingly be shaped by trust, cultural relevance and the ability to create memorable experiences across both digital and physical touchpoints.

Agenda Highlights

Sessions related to this theme at Shoptalk Spring 2026 will explore how retailers are engineering serendipity, leveraging customer data for smarter merchandising and designing store environments that strengthen connection and repeat engagement.

Shoptalk Spring Sessions

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Tuesday, March 24
9:30 a.m.–10:10 a.m.	Case Studies: Winning Customers Through Nostalgia	Cultivating Community	Ed La Bay, EVP, Merchandise, Marketing, Licensing, Product Development & Design, Hot Topic Matt Repicky, SVP, Chief Brand Officer, Tailored Brands Jenica Myszkowski, CEO & President, CAMP
10:20 a.m.–11:00 a.m.	Stores as Venues for Connection	Cultivating Community	Heather Bennett, President, Michaels Stores Emily Lewis, GM of Retail, Glossier, Lee Sterling, Chief Marketing Officer, Simon Property Group Simeon Siegel (Moderator), Senior Managing Director & Consumer Equity Research Analyst, Guggenheim Securities
12:00 p.m.–12:20 p.m.	Track Keynote: Using Customer Data for Effective Merchandising		Anu Narayanan, President, Women’s & Home, Anthropologie Neil Saunders (Moderator), Managing Director, GlobalData
Wednesday, March 25
9:30 a.m.–10:10 a.m.	Engineering Serendipity to Inspire Purchases	Seeking, Finding, and Discovery	Patrick Nommensen, Head, Strategic Initiatives, E-Commerce, TikTok Jessica Ozella, Chief Digital Officer, Reformation Joe Cano, SVP, Digital Commerce, Lowe’s Amanda Rosen Bailey (Moderator), Chief Client Officer, VML
10:20 a.m.–11:00 a.m.	Case Studies: Redefining Site Search and Discovery	Seeking, Finding, and Discovery	Rafe Colburn, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Etsy Colleen Waters, VP, Ecommerce, Steve Madden Tess Kornfield, VP, Product & Data Science, ThredUp Sarah Engel (Moderator), President, January Digital
Thursday, March 26
12:40 p.m.–1:20 p.m.	Tactics for Enticing Gen Z and Gen Alpha	Cultivating Community	Carly Gomez, Chief Marketing Officer, Crocs Jennifer Yue, SVP, Tapestry & Coach Strategy & Consumer Insights, Coach Collaborations and Coachtopia, Coach Sid Malhotra, EVP, SMB & Mid-Market, Snap Ben Harms (Moderator), Chief Growth Officer, Archrival
1:30 p.m.–2:10 p.m.	Transactional and Emotional Loyalty	Building Emotional Connections with Shoppers	Joe Shoemaker, VP, Digital, SNIPES Bradley Breuer, SVP, Marketing, PetSmart Hannah Roshetko Raser, AVP, Retail Strategy & Transformation, CVS Health Valerie de Charette (Moderator), Partner, Tomorrow

4. Enabling Retail Transformation Through Technology, Innovation and Investment

Technology continues to serve as the backbone of retail transformation, enabling operational efficiency, scalable growth and new business models across the industry. The ability to integrate platforms, automate processes and leverage advanced data capabilities will determine long-term competitiveness. Collaboration with technology providers, start-ups and investors is playing a growing role in shaping the next wave of retail innovation.

Related Reports

• Coresight Research’s report on 10 AI trends in retail highlights how AI is becoming a foundational technology across the retail value chain. The research examines how generative AI and advanced analytics are enabling retailers to automate processes, improve decision-making and develop new technology-driven business models that support long-term transformation.

Looking ahead, retailers will increasingly need to adopt scalable technology architectures and integrate emerging tools across their operations to remain competitive. As AI, automation and advanced analytics continue to reshape retail capabilities, companies that successfully combine technological innovation with strong strategic partnerships will be best positioned to unlock new efficiencies, accelerate innovation and respond to rapidly evolving consumer expectations.

Agenda Highlights

The Technology Stage at Shoptalk Spring 2026 will convene technology innovators, founders and investors to explore the infrastructure powering modern retail—from commerce platforms and MarTech systems to fulfillment and operational technologies. In addition to deep dives into emerging solutions, the agenda will spotlight the Startup Pitch competition and feature perspectives from leading retail technology investors. The stage will also include a Track Keynote conversation with the chairman of OpenAI, offering insight into the broader technological forces influencing the next phase of retail evolution.

Shoptalk Spring Sessions

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Tuesday, March 24
9:30 a.m.–10:10 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.–11:00 a.m.	Startup Pitch: Technologies Reinventing Customer Experience and Technologies Driving Operational Efficiencies	The Technology Stage	Max Sinclair, Founder & CEO, Azoma Ben Seidl, Co-Founder & CEO, Autolane Rajan Balasundaram, Founder & CEO, Bayezon AI Vita Mallela, Co-Founder & CEO, Flock AI Anna Liang, Founder & CEO, SocialQ AI Josh Payne, Co-Founder & CEO, Coframe Evan Smith, Co-Founder & CEO, Ethosphere Bijan Vaez, Founder & CEO, Merchkit Karolina Smith, Co-Founder and President, RateRunners Nick Davis, Founder & CEO, ShopSight Deborah Weinswig (Moderator and Lead Judge), CEO and Founder, Coresight Research Danielle Lay (Judge), Partner, NEA Kamanasish Kundu (Judge), SVP, Head of Digital and E-Commerce, Kendra Scott Matt Nichols (Judge), General Partner, Commerce Ventures
12:00 p.m.–12:20 p.m.	Track Keynote: Sorting Agentic Hype from Reality	The Technology Stage	Bret Taylor, Co-Founder & CEO, Sierra, and Chairman of the Board, OpenAI
Wednesday, March 25
9:30 a.m.–10:10 a.m.	Insights on the Future of Retail from Transformative Technology Leaders	Tech Spotlight Stage	Ethan Chernofsky, CMO, Placer.ai Ethan Goodman, President, Profitero Tomer Tagrin, Co-Founder & CEO, Yotpo
10:20 a.m.–11:00 a.m.	Technologies Transforming Marketing and Advertising	Tech Spotlight Stage	Jacob Ross, CEO, PebblePost Bruce Richards, Head of Industry Strategy and Marketing Retail & Consumer Goods, Adobe James Cadwallader, Co-Founder & CEO, Profound Kristen Wiley, Founder & CEO, Statusphere Jill Smith (Moderator), CEO, Americas, IRIS
11:10 a.m.–11:50 a.m.	Driving Costs Out of Fulfillment and Delivery	Tech Spotlight Stage	Heather Rivera, Chief Business Officer, Wing (Alphabet) Salman Habib, Co-Founder & CEO, Burq Chloe Songer, Co-Founder & CEO, SuperCircle Gaurav Pant (Moderator), Co-Founder & Chief Insights Officer, Incisiv
Thursday, March 26
12:40 p.m.–1:20 p.m.	Technologies Enabling Unified Commerce	Tech Spotlight Stage	Adriana Bourgoin, Chief Customer Strategy Officer, Commerce Cloud, Salesforce Jan Arendtsz, Founder & CEO, Celigo Woodrow Levin, Founder & CEO, Extend Brian Peters, VP, Strategic Partnership Innovations, PayPal Hitha Herzog (Moderator), Founder & Chief Research Officer, H Squared Research
1:30 p.m.–2:10 p.m.	Agentic AI Technologies	Tech Spotlight Stage	Misbah Uraizee, Co-Founder & CEO, Nectar Social Keri McGhee, Chief Marketing Officer, Attentive Mansi Jain, Chief Operating Officer, Glance Anisa Kumar, CEO, Narvar Bala Parameshwaran (Moderator), Partner, Bain & Company