What's Inside
Shoptalk 2023 is nearly here! We offer a guide for attendees of notable sessions across the major themes of this year’s event.
We also highlight the “Shark Reef” startup pitch competition as well as the sessions in which Coresight Research will participate.
Coresight Research is a research partner of Shoptalk 2023.
Other relevant research:
- In the lead-up to Shoptalk 2023, we will publish an Innovator Profile on each of the participating companies in the “Shark Reef” startup pitch competition.
- Look out for our coverage of Shoptalk 2023 during the event.
- All Coresight Research coverage of emerging technology
- 2023 Retail and Technology Outlook: Facing into the Headwinds
- Global Retail in 2023: Five Forces, Five Trends
This report is available for free.
Executive Summary
Coresight Research Insights
- Key sessions during Shoptalk 2023 cover five major themes, as identified by Shoptalk: shopper engagement, emerging channels, store experience, technology and organizational changes.
- The “Shark Reef” startup pitch competition will see 12 startups present on their innovative technologies that are solving challenges in retail.
- The Coresight Research team will participate in two panels and a workshop during the conference, exploring Web 3.0, supply chain, beauty retail, opportunities in luxury, and more.
Introduction
Coresight Research is a research partner of Shoptalk 2023, which will take place during March 26–29 in Las Vegas. Shoptalk is an annual retail conference focusing on retail innovation and the trends, business models and technologies that are shaping the future of retail.
In this report, we offer a guide of notable sessions for attendees across five major themes identified by the Shoptalk team: shopper engagement, emerging channels, store experience, technology and organizational changes. We also highlight the “Shark Reef” startup pitch competition (which will take place on the first day of Shoptalk) as well as the sessions in which Coresight Research will participate.
To ensure you don’t miss out on critical insights, we will provide regular coverage of Shoptalk 2023 on coresight.com. Closing the event, Ben Miller, Director of Original Content at Shoptalk, will host the “Shoptalk Recap: Key Takeaways for 2023” session in the Lyceum Theatre at 11.05 a.m. on Wednesday, March 29. Coresight Research will also publish a wrap-up of everything you need to know from Shoptalk 2023 after the event.
Guide to Shoptalk 2023: Coresight Research Insights
Notable Sessions Across Five Major Themes
Shopper Engagement
With more brands, products and marketing noise than ever before, retailers need to provide unique and immersive shopping experiences to capture consumers’ attention and wallets.
What does best-in-class shopper engagement look like? Highlighted sessions explore how retailers can engage shoppers through immersive technologies and channels, such as livestreaming and personalized experiences powered by AI (artificial intelligence) and data. Sessions will also cover how retailers can improve the customer experience to increase product discovery and drive conversion across channels.
Below, we present notable sessions relevant to this theme.
Date | Time | Location | Session | Interviewer/ Presenter |
Participating Companies |
Monday, March 27 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Palace Theatre | The Forefront of Livestreaming and Shoppable Video | Kendra Braken-Ferguson, Founder & CEO, BrainTrust | NEST New York
Qurate Retail Group |
Monday, March 27 |
4.05– 4.25 p.m. |
Lyceum Theatre | Track Keynote: Innovative Approaches to Customer Loyalty
Innovative Approaches to Customer Loyalty: A Conversation |
Linh Peters, SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Walgreens (Speaker)
Lokesh Ohri, Partner, EY (Interviewer) |
Casey’s
Petco Walgreens |
Monday, March 27 |
4.55– 5.35 p.m. |
Beacon Theatre | Customer Care, Loyalty, and The Post-Purchase Experience | Tony Ward, Retail Leader, Ernst & Young | Co:Create
EON Forethought |
Tuesday, March 28 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Apollo Theatre | Facilitating Product Discovery Online and In Stores | Anne Mezzenga, Co-CEO, Omnitalk | Meta
Savage X Fenty Wayfair |
Tuesday, March 28 |
4.05– 4.45 p.m. |
Apollo Theatre | Achieving Personalization at Scale | Veronika Sonsev, Co-Founder, CommerceNext | The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Kate Spade Shipt |
Tuesday, March 28 |
4.05– 4.45 p.m. |
Fox Theatre | Deep Dive: Catering to Today’s Beauty Consumer | Alexa Tietjen, Content Director, Shoptalk | Bubble Skincare
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. WinkyLux |
Tuesday, March 28 |
4.55– 5.35 p.m. |
Fox Theatre | Deep Dive: New Challenges and Opportunities in Luxury | Marie Driscoll, Managing Director, Beauty and Luxury, Coresight Research | Coach
Saks Vestiaire Collective |
Wednesday, March 29 |
9.55– 10.55 a.m. |
Apollo Theatre | The Rise of the Creator Economy | Jasmine Enberg, Principal Analyst, Social Media, Insider Intelligence | Overstock
TikTok UTA Ventures |
Wednesday, March 29 |
11.05 a.m.– 12.05 p.m. |
Apollo Theatre | The Latest Omnichannel Marketing Tactics | Beth Wade, Global Chief Marketing Officer, VMLY&R | Georgia-Pacific
HARMAN International On |
Related Coresight Research reports:
- All our coverage of livestreaming e-commerce
- Think Tank: US Retail Loyalty Programs—Redefining Customer Engagement
- Five Strategies for Success in US Grocery Retail: Leveraging First-Party Data To Offer a Connected Shopping Experience
Emerging Channels
In the current uncertain macroeconomic environment, retailers can turn to new and emerging channels to drive alternative revenue streams.
What emerging channels will deliver business growth? At Shoptalk 2023, sessions under this theme will cover established channels such as DTC (direct to consumer), wholesale and marketplaces, as well as new developments in Web 3.0 and retail media networks.
Below, we present notable sessions relevant to this theme.
Date | Time | Location | Session | Interviewer/ Presenter |
Participating Companies |
Sunday, March 26 |
2.50– 3.30 p.m. |
Lyceum Theatre | Track Keynote: Building an Omnichannel Organization
Building an Omnichannel Organization: A Conversation |
Seemantini Godbole, EVP, Chief Digital & Information Officer Lowes (Presenter) and Brendan Witcher, VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester (Interviewer) | Boardriders
Lowe’s Navy Exchange Service Command |
Monday, March 27 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Globe Theatre | New Insights on Global Retail Trends | Joe Laszlo, VP Content, Shoptalk | McKinsey & Company |
Tuesday, March 28 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Palace Theatre | Web3 in Retail: Virtual Goods and Immersive Consumer Experiences | Hilary Milnes, Executive Americas Editor, Vogue Business | American Eagle
PacSun Snap |
Tuesday, March 28 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Lyceum Theatre | Optimizing Between DTC and Wholesale Strategies | Sonya Brown, General Partner & Co-Head of Growth Equity, Norwest Venture Partners (Interviewer) and Daniela Sirtori-Cortina, Reporter, Bloomberg News (Interviewer) | Grove Collaborative
Kohler Co. Randa Apparel & Accessories |
Tuesday, March 28 |
9.20– 10.00 a.m. |
Apollo Theatre | Track Keynote: Building Unified Retail Experiences | Krystina Gustafson, SVP Content, Shoptalk (Interviewer) and Hilary Milnes, Executive Americas Editor, Vogue (Interviewer) | Best Buy
Signet |
Tuesday, March 28 |
9.20– 10.00 a.m. |
Lyceum Theatre | Brand Executives’ Perspectives on the Evolution of Marketplaces | Jamie Dooley, Partner, The Partnering Group | Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health
Otrium The Vitamin Shoppe |
Tuesday, March 28 |
4.55– 5.35 p.m. |
Apollo Theatre | Next-Generation Retail Media Offerings | Stephen Mewborn, Partner, Bain & Company | Church & Dwight
Mondelēz International Walmart |
Wednesday, March 29 |
9.55– 10.55 a.m. |
Globe Theatre | Pursuing New Revenue Streams and Adjacent Industries | Jare’ Buckley-Cox, VP, Walmart Fulfillment Services, Walmart
Jessica Ringena, President, Vivid Clear Rx, SVP, Hy-Vee |
Hy-Vee
Walmart |
Related Coresight Research reports:
- Retail Media—New Opportunities for US Specialty Retailers
- Metaverse Pioneers: Learnings for Fashion Brands from the Web 3.0 Strategies of Adidas and NIKE
- US Apparel and Footwear Brands Adopt Hybrid Wholesale-DTC Models
Store Experience
After experiencing the convenience and benefits of online shopping over the past couple of years, consumers’ expectations around the in-store shopping experience are more demanding.
How can retailers deliver an outstanding store experience? The reimagining of the physical store will be key for retailers to meet consumers’ evolving needs and will have impacts across the business, from store operations to merchandising.
Below, we present notable sessions relevant to this theme.
Date | Time | Location | Session | Interviewer/ Presenter |
Participating Companies |
Sunday, March 26 |
2.00– 2.40 p.m. |
Apollo Theatre | Using Customer Data to Surprise and Delight | Kelly Pedersen, Partner, US Retail Leader, PwC | McDonald’s
Rebag Stitch Fix |
Monday, March 27 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Apollo Theatre | Track Keynote: Transforming the Store Workforce with New Roles and Capabilities | Melissa Repko, Retail & Consumer Reporter, CNBC | COS
Macy’s |
Monday, March 27 |
9.20– 10.00 a.m. |
Apollo Theatre | Providing Inspiration and Ease: Balancing Store Design Imperatives | Melissa Gonzalez, Founder, The Lionesque Group, Principal, MG2 | Studs
WHP Global and Toys “R” Us YourStudio |
Monday, March 27 |
4.05– 4.45 p.m. |
Globe Theatre | A Global Perspective on the Evolving Role of Stores | Joe Laszlo, VP Content, Shoptalk (Interviewer)
Hilary Milnes, Executive Americas Editor, Vogue Business (Interviewer) |
Canada Goose
Ingka Group (IKEA Retail) |
Related Coresight Research reports:
- Coresight Research has identified physical retail renewal as a key theme in retail this year under our RESET framework: Global Retail in 2023: Five Forces, Five Trends
- How US Malls Can Embrace Digital Trends in Retail
- Copley Place and Prudential Center—Demonstrating the Potential of Urban Mixed-Use Malls
Technology
In the face of brisk headwinds, strong technology investment plans will be crucial in reducing inefficiencies and driving growth.
Which tech investments will boost retailers’ revenue and profitability? Retailers and industry experts will share how next-generation technologies, such as AI, blockchain and digital twins, are transforming operations with positive impacts on the bottom line.
Below, we present notable sessions relevant to this theme.
Date | Time | Location | Session | Interviewer/ Presenter |
Participating Companies |
Monday, March 27 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Lyceum Theatre | The Efficient Retailer: Case Studies on Successful Tech Deployments | Poonam Goyal, Sector Head & Equity Analyst, Bloomberg | GNC
Kroger Lowe’s |
Monday, March 27 |
9.20– 10.00 a.m. |
Beacon Theatre | Data and Personalization Technologies | Adam Pressman, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners | Google Cloud
Netomi Persado Tandym |
Monday, March 27 |
4.05– 4.45 p.m. |
Palace Theatre | New Applications of AI and Machine Learning | Lauren Wiener, Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting Group | Peapod Digital (Ahold Delhaize)
Poshmark Under Armour |
Monday, March 27 |
4.55– 5.35 p.m. |
Palace Theatre | Track Keynote: Leveraging Data Effectively Throughout the Organization | Brendan Witcher, VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester | H&M |
Tuesday, March 28 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Fox Theatre | Leveraging Zero-Party Data | Sam Tomlinson, EVP of Strategy & Analytics, Warschawski | Mars Wrigley |
Tuesday, March 28 |
9.20– 10.00 a.m. |
Lyceum Theatre | Pricing and Merchandising Technologies | Amanda Astrologo, Partner, The Parker Avery Group | Competera
Nextail NuORDER by Lightspeed SKYPAD |
Tuesday, March 28 |
4.55– 5.35 p.m. |
Globe Theatre | Web 3 and the Supply Chain: Blockchain, Digital Twins and More | Deborah Weinswig, Founder & CEO, Coresight Research (Speaker)
Ben Miller, Director of Original Content, Shoptalk (Emcee) |
Coresight Research |
Tuesday, March 28 |
4.55– 5.35 p.m. |
Palace Theatre | Rapid Fire: Debating Nine Trending Retail Technologies | Chris Walton, Co-CEO, Omni Talk (Interviewer) | CB Insights
Patagonia Ulta Beauty |
Related Coresight Research reports:
- Retail Challenges Drive Edge Technology Investment
- Motivating Customer Action and Driving Business Growth with AI-Generated, Personalized Digital Marketing
- The Future of AI in Retail: What Technology Could Make Possible by 2030
- All Coresight Research coverage of emerging technology
Organizational Changes
Making structural and organizational changes is crucial for retailers to remain competitive in an uncertain and challenging macroeconomic environment.
What organizational changes will help retailers win? Retail leaders will share how they leverage data and technology to better equip their workforce and access and share insights in order to maintain business agility.
Below, we present notable sessions relevant to this theme.
Date | Time | Location | Session | Interviewer/ Presenter |
Participating Companies |
Sunday, March 26 |
2.00– 2.40 p.m. |
Lyceum Theatre | Creating and Maintaining a Culture of Excellence | Sarah Engel, President, January Digital | Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
PepsiCo Under Armour |
Sunday, March 26 |
3.40– 4.20 p.m. |
Fox Theatre | Track Keynote: The C-Suite on Thriving in Today’s Retail Environment | Krystina Gustafson, SVP Content, Shoptalk (Interviewer)
Joe Laszlo, VP Content, Shoptalk (Interviewer) |
OLAPLEX
Target |
Monday, March 27 |
9.20– 10.00 a.m. |
Lyceum Theatre | Leveraging Automation in a Tight Labor Market | Gerry Hough, Partner, McKinsey & Company | Nordstrom |
Tuesday, March 28 |
8.30– 9.10 a.m. |
Globe Theatre | Making the Supply Chain a Strategic Differentiator | Lindsey Mazza, Global Retail Lead, Capgemini | Gap Inc.
SHEIN |
Tuesday, March 28 |
4.05– 4.45 p.m. |
Palace Theatre | Track Keynote: Perspectives on the Future of the Industry | Joe Laszlo, VP Content, Shoptalk (Interviewer) | Google
Macy’s |
Wednesday, March 29 |
8.45– 9.45 a.m. |
Globe Theatre | Attracting Top Tech Talent to Shape the Future of Retail | David Welch, Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group | Advance Auto Parts
L’Occitane Group MC Sonae |
Wednesday, March 29 |
11.05 a.m.– 12.05 p.m. |
Globe Theatre | Innovation Strategies to Thrive in Retail’s Next Decade | Steve Dennis, Founder & President, SageBerry Consulting (Presenter and Interviewer) | maude
Tractor Supply Company UGG |
Related Coresight Research reports:
- 2023 Retail and Technology Outlook: Facing into the Headwinds
- The C-Suite’s Evolution: Embracing Technology and Adapting to Hybrid Working in Retail
- RetailTech: Collaboration Tools for Retailers—Increasing Workplace Productivity
Don’t Miss the “Shark Reef” Startup Pitch Competition!
In addition to the aforementioned sessions, we strongly urge attendees to join the “Shark Reef” startup pitch competition, which will take place on Sunday, March 26, at the Beacon Theatre.
The event will comprise two rounds across three sessions through the day. In the first round, 12 startups will present on their innovative technologies that are solving key retail challenges. A panel of expert judges will lead a short Q&A following each presentation, before selecting six companies to progress to the next round. During the second round, the finalists will participate in a more in-depth Q&A session. The judges will then reveal the Judges’ Choice winner, and the audience will have the opportunity to cast their votes for the Audience Choice winner.
Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder of Coresight Research, will emcee the competition, in addition to participating as one of the judging panel.
Participating startups in the Shark Reef Startup Pitch include Drop, Factored Quality, Frate, Gander, Hark, IN BOLD PRINT., Reflekt Me, Seer, Syrup Tech, Tolstoy and Wink.
- Look out for our separate coverage of the Shark Reef Startup Pitch, including an Innovator Profile on each of the participating startups, which we will publish in the lead-up to the event.
Coresight Research at Shoptalk 2023
In addition to the “Shark Tank” startup pitch competition (see above), the Coresight Research team will participate in two panels and a workshop during the conference, the details of which we provide below.
Web 3 and the Supply Chain: Blockchain, Digital Twins and More: 4.55–5.35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Weinswig will deliver a Shoptalk Original Content presentation featuring a proprietary model from Coresight Research to help retailers leverage Web 3.0 technologies, such as blockchain, computer vision and augmented reality, to create “digital twins,” improving visibility and operational efficiency in their supply chains.
- Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder of Coresight Research
- Ben Miller, Director of Original Shoptalk Content at Shoptalk
Deep Dive: New Challenges and Opportunities in Luxury: 4.55–5.35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Marie Driscoll, Managing Director of Beauty and Luxury at Coresight Research, will present insights on the luxury market, including new trends and opportunities across technology, gaming, the metaverse and more. Following the presentation, Driscoll will interview two brand leaders to understand how they are addressing evolving consumer needs and expectations.
- Marie Driscoll, Managing Director of Beauty and Luxury at Coresight Research
- Emily Essner, Chief Marketing Officer at Saks
- Samina Virk, CEO North America at Vestiaire Collective
- Sandeep Seth, Global Chief Marketing Officer and President of North America at Coach
Women in Retail Pavilion Leadership Chat: 10.05-10.25 a.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023
Driscoll will speak with leading female retail executive JuE Wong, CEO of Olaplex, to discuss Wong’s career journey and the secrets to success that have enabled her to become a leading woman in beauty retail.
- Marie Driscoll, Managing Director, Beauty and Luxury at Coresight Research
- JuE Wong, CEO of Olaplex
This document was generated for