Essential Guide to Shoptalk 2024: Strategies and Opportunities Across Five Retail Themes

Introduction

Coresight Research is an official research partner of Shoptalk 2024, which will take place during March 17–20 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shoptalk is an annual conference that unites executives from retailers, consumer-facing brands and technology vendors across both physical stores and e-commerce to discuss the latest trends, innovations and challenges in the industry.

• Connections at Shoptalk are unlocked through Shoptalk’s unique, proprietary MeetUp program, enabling every attendee to request and schedule a meeting with any other attendee. At Shoptalk 2024, 75,000 15-minute one-to-one meetings will be scheduled, and to be part of this, you must be registered to attend before Friday, March 1, 2024. Register at www.shoptalk.com.

In this essential guide to the event, we highlight notable sessions for attendees across five major themes, as identified by the Shoptalk team. All times in this report are Pacific Time (PT; local time of the event). We also highlight the “Shark Reef” Startup Pitch competition, which will be held on the first day of Shoptalk.

To ensure you don’t miss out on critical insights, we will provide daily coverage of Shoptalk 2024 on coresight.com. Closing the event, Ben Miller, VP, Original Content & Strategy at Shoptalk, will host the “Shoptalk 2024 Takeaways Live Podcast Recording” session in The Brandlands track: Next-Generation Retail Businesses at 11:05 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20. Coresight Research will also publish a wrap-up of everything you need to know from Shoptalk 2024 after the event.

A Guide to Shoptalk 2024: Coresight Research Insights

Shoptalk is set to showcase more than 225 executives as speakers across its track and mainstage sessions. These industry leaders will delve into crucial business topics, including artificial intelligence (AI), brand influence, shifting customer journeys, unified retail strategies and evolving industry dynamics.

Highly anticipated mainstage speakers include the following:

• Colleen Aubrey, SVP, Ad Products & Tech at Amazon Ads, will share how Amazon continues to redefine the digital marketing landscape, and what innovations lie ahead under her leadership.
• Gina Boswell, CEO at Bath & Body Works, will unveil her tactics for steering the company following its separation from Victoria’s Secret. She will shed light on the retailer’s successful strategies to attract new generations and penetrate different markets.
• Robbie Brenner, President of Mattel Films, and Steve Totzke, President of Mattel, will engage in a collaborative fireside chat discussing the “Barbie” halo effect and strategies to replicate its success with other iconic toys.
• Tom Kingsbury, CEO of Kohl’s, will unveil his vision for a revitalized Kohl’s during a public appearance for the first time. This includes strategies for enhancing the business both online and in-store.
• Maria Renz, Global Head of Commerce at Google, will share perspectives on how the retail industry can leverage AI to enhance efficiency, excitement and relevance for shoppers.
• Tony Spring, President & CEO of Macy’s, will articulate his strategic vision for the largest department store chain in the US during his first public interview. This event is scheduled just one month after he took over the reins from the departing CEO, Jeff Gennette.

Notable Sessions Across Five Major Themes

Shoptalk will provide crucial insights into the dynamic retail environment, with the agenda tackling pressing challenges directly and highlighting innovative strategies employed by influential executives to overcome them. It encompasses the latest technologies, trends and business models, reflecting the rapid transformation of how consumers explore, shop and make purchases across all retail verticals.

Below, we present the five major themes and related notable sessions shaping Shoptalk’s 2024 agenda.

1. Employing AI To Transform Your Business

By embracing AI, brands and retailers can foster more engaging customer interactions, unlock novel business opportunities and accelerate their operations, ultimately leading to enhanced efficiency and cost savings. In a competitive market, implementing AI-powered solutions is not only a strategic move but an essential competitive advantage, ensuring sustained growth and adaptability in an ever-evolving retail landscape.

Coresight Research views generative AI (also known as GenAI) as a key inflection point within the field of AI, and it builds upon decades of work in AI and machine learning. The technology enables retailers to speed up the product-development process, improve decision-making through enhanced data analysis, and personalize digital campaigns. Coresight Research estimates that the global GenAI software market (service providers’ estimated revenue) is growing at a CAGR of 90.3% between 2023 and 2027, when it will total $74.8 billion.

At Shoptalk, sessions under this theme will explore how retailers can utilize AI (and GenAI) to transform their businesses as well as tactical frameworks for the near-term adoption of AI, including how to navigate its risks and shortcomings.

Below, we present notable sessions related to this theme.

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Sunday, March 17
3:40 p.m.– 4:20 p.m.	The AI Opportunity for In-Store Operations and Experiences	The Seamless Shore: Exceptional Retail Experiences: Seamless Stores	Chandhu Nair, SVP, Data, Analytics and Computational Intelligence, Customer & Marketing Technology, Lowe’s Christopher Thomas-Moore, Chief Digital Officer, Domino’s Mandeep Bhatia, VP, Global Digital Product & Omnichannel Innovation, Tapestry Melissa Gonzalez, Founder, The Lionesque Group, Principal, MG2 (Interviewer)
Monday, March 18
9:40 a.m.–10:00 a.m.	Creating the Next Wave of AI-Powered Commerce	The Horizon	Maria Renz, Global Head of Commerce, Google Chris Walton, Co-CEO, Omni Talk (Interviewer)
3:25 p.m.–4:05 p.m.	Track Keynote: Pioneering Applications of Generative AI	The Seamless Shore: Groundbreaking AI and Data Applications in Retail	Ting Cai, Chief Data Officer, Group Senior Managing Executive Officer, Technology Services Division, Rakuten Group, Inc Joe Laszlo, Head of Content – USA, Shoptalk (Interviewer)
	Case Studies: Pioneering Applications of Generative AI	The Seamless Shore: Groundbreaking AI and Data Applications in Retail	Rob Birse, VP, Global Data, Analytics, & Artificial Intelligence, Kellanova Karin Tracy, Head of Industry – Retail, Fashion, Luxury, Meta
4:15 p.m.– 4:55 p.m.	Leveraging AI to Scale Personalization	The Seamless Shore: Groundbreaking AI and Data Applications in Retail	Kelly Mahoney, SVP, Customer & Growth Marketing, Ulta Beauty Kamanasish Kundu, VP, Head of Digital & Ecommerce, Kendra Scott Jessica Lachs, VP of Analytics & Data Science, DoorDash Mark Abraham, Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group (Interviewer)
5:05 p.m.– 5:45 p.m.	Evaluating AI’s Long-Term Opportunities and Challenges	The Seamless Shore: Groundbreaking AI and Data Applications in Retail	Sirley Gao, Chief Digital Information Officer, PacSun Emma McFerran, CEO, Lyst Max Magni, Chief Customer & Digital Officer, Macy’s, Inc. Chuck Reynolds, Managing Director & Partner, L.E.K. Consulting (Interviewer)
Tuesday, March 19
8:30 a.m.– 9:10 a.m.	Tactics for Building the Right Infrastructure and Team for AI	The Buyou: Frameworks, Tactics and Takeaways: Artificial Intelligence	Amitabh Mall, Chief Analytics Officer, Woolworths Group Rogayeh Tabrizi, Co-Founder & CEO, Theory+Practice (Presenter & Interviewer)
9:20 a.m.– 10:00 a.m.	Understanding and Managing the Risks of Generative AI	The Buyou: Frameworks, Tactics and Takeaways: Artificial Intelligence	Nuala O’Connor, SVP & Chief Counsel, Digital Citizenship, Walmart Fred Schonenberg, Founder & CEO, VentureFuel (Interviewer)
4:05 p.m.– 4:45 p.m.	Track Keynote: AI, Data and Personalization Solutions	The Arctech: Tech Solution Spotlight	Amit Jhawar, CEO, Attentive Anna Barber, Partner, M13 (Interviewer)
	AI, Data and Personalization Solutions: A Conversation	The Arctech: Tech Solution Spotlight	Purva Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, Lily AI Tyler Foster, Co-Founder, President & CTO, Evolv AI Daniela Braga, Founder & CEO, DEFINED.AI Anna Barber, Partner, M13 (Interviewer)

Related Coresight Research reports:

• Playbook: Six Quick Wins in Generative AI
• Revolutionize Your Product Launch Strategy: Leveraging Generative AI Applications for Enhanced Speed and Profitability
• Motivating Customer Action and Driving Business Growth with AI-Generated, Personalized Digital Marketing
• Read our five-report series to discover key applications of AI in apparel, beauty, drugstore, grocery and luxury retail.
• The Coresight Research CORE framework for generative AI in retail
• All our coverage of GenAI in retail

2. Harnessing Brand Power and Building Brand Trust

In an era of heightened sensitivity and microscopic focus on missteps, brands must be crystal clear on what they stand for, the purpose of their brand and products, and who their customers are, with little margin for error. Shoptalk will see exploration of how brands and retailers can communicate this information and forge authentic relationships with customers to drive brand success and longevity in a competitive market.

Below, we present notable sessions related to this theme.

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Sunday, March 17
2:00 p.m.– 2:40 p.m.	Track Keynote: Brand Power and Loyalty	The Brandlands: Future of Brands and Brand-Building	Brieane Olson, CEO, PacSun Hilary Milnes, Executive Americas Editor, Vogue Business (Interviewer)
	Brand Power and Trust: A Conversation	The Brandlands: Future of Brands and Brand-Building	Pamela Catlett, SVP, Marketing, Brilliant Earth Chelsea Hirschhorn, Founder & CEO, Frida Alexa Tietjen, Content Director, Shoptalk (Interviewer)
2:50 p.m.– 3:30 p.m.	Case Studies: Legacy Brands Winning Over New Generations	The Brandlands: Future of Brands and Brand-Building	Heidi Cooley, SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Crocs Winnie Park, CEO, Forever 21 Scott Mezvinsky, President, North America & International, Taco Bell Sarah Engel, President, January Digital (Interviewer)
3:40 p.m.– 4:20 p.m.	Building Innovative Products and Brands for Today’s Consumer	The Brandlands: Future of Brands and Brand-Building	Andrea DiNunzio, General Manager, Luxury Skincare, USA, Coty Adeela Hussain Johnson, President, BÉIS Scott Tannen, Founder & CEO, Boll and Branch Hitha Herzog, Chief Research Officer, H Squared Research (Interviewer)
Monday, March 18
9:20 a.m.–9:40 a.m.	Mainstage Keynote	The Horizon	Robbie Brenner, President, Mattel Films, Mattel Steve Totzke, President & Chief Commercial Officer, Mattel Krystina Gustafson, SVP Content, Shoptalk (Interviewer)
Tuesday, March 19
1:20 p.m.–1:40 p.m.	Authentic Expansion: Evolving a Heritage Brand and Building for the Long Term	Main Stage	Dani Reiss, Chairman & CEO, Canada Goose Melissa Repko, Retail & Consumer Reporter, CNBC (Interviewer)

Related Coresight Research reports:

• Rising Above the Competition: Playbook for Emerging Brands To Succeed in a Crowded Market

3. Building Loyalty via Seamless Customer Journeys

There are many opportunities for brands and retailers to increase their visibility and reach through the multiple (and seemingly ever-expanding) online and offline channels available to shoppers to discover products and brands. However, retail companies need to develop a seamless customer experience that engages each consumer from the moment of discovery and takes them to the point of purchase without friction in order to drive conversion and customer lifetime value.

The sessions centered on building customer loyalty will explore the strategies that organizations can employ to stay abreast of shifting consumer behaviors and build a dedicated customer following, regardless of the different routes that shoppers may take when making a purchase.

Below, we present notable sessions relevant to this theme.

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Sunday, March 17
5:30 p.m.–5:50 p.m.	Reimagining Retail Through the Power of Fragrance	The Horizon	Gina Boswell, CEO, Bath & Body Works Simeon Siegel, Senior Analyst & Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets (Interviewer)
Monday, March 18
4:15 p.m.– 4:55 p.m.	Track Keynote: Meeting Consumer Expectations to Maximize Relevancy and Loyalty	The Endless Isle: Understanding the Changing Consumer	Lisa Roath, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Target Krystina Gustafson, SVP Content, Shoptalk (Interviewer)
Tuesday, March 19
9:20 a.m.– 10:00 a.m.	Checkout, Loyalty and Post-Purchase Experiences	The Arctech: Tech Solution Spotlight	Michael Hershfield, Founder & CEO, Accrue Savings Woodrow Levin, Founder & CEO, Extend John Howard, Co-Founder & CEO, Croissant Georgina Nelson, Founder & CEO, TruRating Zach Bratun-Glennon, General Partner, Gradient Ventures (Interviewer)
4:05 p.m.– 4:45 p.m.	New Tactics for Customer Engagement Along the Purchase Journey	The Seamless Shore: Next-Gen Customer Journeys: Loyalty, Engagement and Retention	Oliver Zak, Co-Founder & CEO, Mad Rabbit Cherise Ordlock, SVP, Digital, PetSmart Ben Miller, VP, Original Content & Strategy, Shoptalk (Presenter & Interviewer)
4:55 p.m.– 5:35 p.m.	Case Studies: Using Data and Digital Experiences to Cultivate Loyalty	The Seamless Shore: Next-Gen Customer Journeys: Loyalty, Engagement and Retention	Coulter Lewis, Founder & CEO, Sunday Amanda Bailey, VP, Customer Marketing & Loyalty, Lowe’s Christopher Clark, Co-Founder & Chief Digital Officer, Grove Collaborative Ben Miller, VP Original Content & Strategy, Shoptalk (Emcee)
Wednesday, March 20
8:45 a.m.–9:45 a.m.	Shoppable Video Offerings That Stand Out	The Seamless Shore: Case Studies and Conversation: Outstanding Ecommerce and Digital Shopping Experiences	Chris Lamontagne, President, Fanatics Live, Fanatics Jill Toscano, VP, Head of Media, Walmart Ajay Salpekar, Head of Beauty, TikTok Shop US, TikTok Amy Lanzi, CEO, Digitas North America (Interviewer)
9:55 a.m.–10:55 a.m.	Product Discovery Offerings That Delight Shoppers	The Seamless Shore: Case Studies and Conversation: Outstanding Ecommerce and Digital Shopping Experiences	Kimmy Scotti, CEO & Co-Founder, Fig.1 Jenn Volk, Head of Digital, Americas, H&M Sameer Hassan, SVP, Technology, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Poonam Goyal, Sector Head & Senior Research Retail Analyst, Bloomberg (Presenter & Interviewer)

Related Coresight Research reports:

• All our coverage of livestreaming e-commerce
• Immersive Experiences in Retail: Driving Sales Through Enhanced Shopper Engagement
• The Metaverse in Retail: Taking Brand Recognition, Engagement and Loyalty to a New Level

4. Creating Unified Retail Experiences

In the evolving landscape where customers effortlessly transition between brick-and-mortar stores and online platforms to shop, retailers must strive to craft a cohesive and seamless “unified” shopping experience—taking the concept of “omnichannel” to the next level.

At Shoptalk, the sessions under this theme will cover how to synchronize all retail channels to provide a unified, frictionless and continuous shopping journey.

Below, we present notable sessions relevant to this theme.

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Sunday, March 17
2:00 p.m.–2:40 p.m.	Creating Frictionless and Continuous Store Experiences	The Seamless Shore: Exceptional Retail Experiences: Seamless Stores	Lauren Morr, SVP, Digital Engineering & Architecture, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Patrick McIntyre, Head of Development, Krispy Kreme Steve Dennis, Founder & President, SageBerry Consulting (Interviewer)
2:50 p.m.– 3:30 p.m.	Track Keynote: Setting Store Associates Up for Success Through Tech Enablement	The Seamless Shore: Exceptional Retail Experiences: Seamless Stores	Jon Alferness, EVP & Chief Product Officer, Walmart US, Walmart Krystina Gustafson, SVP Content, Shoptalk (Interviewer)
	Setting Store Associates Up for Success Through Tech Enablement: A Conversation	The Seamless Shore:  Exceptional Retail Experiences: Seamless Stores	Katie Reeves, Managing Director, North America, COS Sonal Gandhi, Chief Content Officer, The Lead (Interviewer)
5:10 p.m.–5:30 p.m.	Transforming the Customer Experience: “A Bold New Chapter” at Macy’s, Inc.	Main Stage	Tony Spring, President & CEO-Elect, Macy’s, Inc.
Tuesday, March 19
1:40 p.m.–2:00 p.m.	Setting a New Course for Growth: The Future of Kohl’s	Main Stage	Tom Kingsbury, CEO, Kohl’s Melissa Repko, Retail & Consumer Reporter, CNBC (Interviewer)
4:05 p.m.– 4:45 p.m.	Understanding and Influencing Today’s Cross-Channel Customer Journeys	The Brandlands: Best-in-Class Unified Shopping Experiences	Liza Lefkowski, VP, Proprietary Brands & Retail, Wayfair Laura Knebusch, SVP, Marketing & CX, Georgia-Pacific Sapna Parikh, Chief Digital Officer, Kendo Brands (LVMH) Jason Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer, Publicis Groupe (Interviewer)
4:55 p.m.– 5:35 p.m.	Track Keynote: Reimagining Business Practices to Deliver a Unified Retail Experience	The Brandlands: Best-in-Class Unified Shopping Experiences	Ashley Buchanan, CEO, The Michaels Companies, Inc Frank Bracken, EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Foot Locker Inc.

Related Coresight Research reports:

• Unified Commerce for the Channel-Agnostic Consumer

5. Navigating Changing Industry Relationships

Retail media networks (RMNs), data monetization and business-to-business (B2B) collaborations are some of change agents impacting key relationships in the retail industry. These can provide robust new revenue streams for retailers beyond the sale of goods. They offer a way to capitalize on existing assets (such as customer data and digital platforms) and adapt to changes in market conditions while minimizing risks associated with traditional sales.

Highlighted sessions explore how to understand change drivers such as RMNs and data monetization and stay ahead in order to thrive in retail’s next decade.

Below, we present notable sessions relevant to this theme.

Time	Session	Track	Speakers/Panelists
Sunday, March 17
4:50 p.m.– 5:10 p.m.	Mainstage Keynote	The Horizon	Colleen Aubrey, SVP, Advertising Products & Tech, Amazon Ads Allie Garfinkle, Senior Finance Reporter, Fortune (Interviewer)
Monday, March 18
10:00 a.m.–10:20 a.m.	Unlocking Market Growth	The Horizon	Shailesh Jejurikar, Chief Operating Officer, P&G Brian Sozzi, Executive Editor, Yahoo Finance (Interviewer)
4:15 p.m.– 4:55 p.m.	Leveraging Data Effectively: Clean Rooms and More	The Buyou: Frameworks, Tactics and Takeaways	Francisco Bram, VP of Marketing & Customer Insights, Albertsons Companies Daryl Porter, Senior Partner, Tomorrow Retail (Presenter & Interviewer)
Tuesday, March 19
8:30 a.m.– 9:10 a.m.	The Future of Retail Media	The Seamless Shore: Next-Gen Customer Journeys: Marketing and Acquisition	Carrie Sweeney, VP of Retail Partnerships, Pinterest Eric Tarnowski, SVP, Connected Commerce, Kenvue Andrew Lipsman, Founder & Chief Analyst, Media, Ads + Commerce (Interviewer)
8:30 a.m.– 9:10 a.m.	New Insights on Retail Innovation in India	The Brandlands: Inspiring Global Retail Experiences and Innovations	Giri Agarwal, Co-Founder, Incisiv Rocquan Lucas, VP Content, Shoptalk (Emcee)
	New Insights on Retail Innovation in China	The Brandlands: Inspiring Global Retail Experiences and Innovations	Deborah Weinswig, Founder & CEO, Coresight Research Rocquan Lucas, VP Content, Shoptalk (Emcee)
9:20 a.m.– 10:00 a.m.	Finding and Reaching Customers in a Fragmented Media Landscape	The Seamless Shore: Next-Gen Customer Journeys: Marketing and Acquisition	Christiane Pendarvis, Co-CEO, PATTERN Beauty Eva Press, VP, Global Business Group, Meta Kimberly Wallengren, VP Marketing, North America, Coach Veronika Sonsev, Co-Founder, CommerceNext (Interviewer)
9:20 a.m. — 10:00 a.m.	Outstanding Marketplace Experiences from Around the World	The Brandlands: Inspiring Global Retail Experiences and Innovations	Karen Bruck, VP of Commerce, Mercado Libre Tarek Mueller, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, ABOUT YOU Zia Daniell Wigder, Chief Content Officer, Insider Intelligence (Interviewer)
Wednesday, March 20
8:45 a.m.– 9:45 a.m.	Optimizing Between DTC and Wholesale Strategies	The Endless Isle: Navigating Changing Industry Relationships	Britt Olsen, GM of the Americas & Global Head of Commercial Strategy, On Natalie Mackey, Founder & CEO, Winky Lux Taymoor Atighetchi, Founder & CEO, Papier Neil Saunders, Managing Director, GlobalData (Interviewer)
9:55 a.m.– 10:55 a.m.	Harnessing Data and Technology to Create New Revenue Streams	The Endless Isle:  Navigating Changing Industry Relationships	Melanie Babcock, VP, Retail Media+ & Monetization, The Home Depot Mark Hardy, Head of Walmart Data Ventures, Walmart Jan Bartels, SVP, ZEOS, Zalando Stephen Mewborn, Partner, Bain & Company (Interviewer)
11:05 a.m.– 12:05 p.m.	Leveraging Marketplaces to Reach New Customers	The Endless Isle: Navigating Changing Industry Relationships	Suze Dowling, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Pattern Brands Evan Moore, SVP, Commerce Partnerships, NBC Universal Juan Arrieta, VP of E-Commerce, Nature’s Way Dan Tedeschi, Managing Director & Partner, L.E.K. Consulting (Interviewer)

Related Coresight Research reports:

• Retail 2024: US E-Commerce Technology Trends—Generative AI, Retail Media and Other Revenue-Generating Opportunities To Transform the Online Landscape
• The US Retail Media Market: Understanding the Ad Buyer’s Perspective in CPG
• Unleashing the Power of Retail Media with First-Party Data and Location Analytics
• Retail-Tech Landscape: Retail Media

Don’t Miss the “Shark Reef” Startup Pitch Competition!

In addition to the sessions mentioned above, we urge attendees to join the “Shark Reef” Startup Pitch competition on March 17 at Track 4: Startup Pitch.

The event will comprise two rounds across three sessions through the day, seeing 12 early-stage innovators present their solutions for solving key retail challenges across four areas of innovation: GenAI/AI-based content; e-commerce operations and fulfillment; post-purchase customer experience and loyalty; and shoppable media and experiential commerce.

In the first round, all 12 startups will pitch their solutions to the audience and an expert panel of judges, which will rate each pitch. The top six companies progress to the second round, in which they will participate in a live Q&A for the opportunity to win the Judges’ Choice and Audience Choice awards.

Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder of Coresight Research, will emcee the competition in addition to participating as the lead judge.

The participating startups are EyeLevel.ai, Raleon, MadeMeBuyIt, Optiversal, Tare, Hue, dotkonnekt, Primis, Node, Portless, PSYKHE AI and Two Boxes.

• Read our preview of the “Shark Reef” Startup Pitch in the lead-up to the event, which profiles each of the participating innovators.

What We Think

Shoptalk plays a critical role each year in helping brands and retailers stay abreast of industry trends. The various sessions within the five primary themes will provide valuable insights and strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and customer experiences, along with building and sustaining customer loyalty in a rapidly evolving market.

It is essential that brands and retailers prioritize innovation, customer-centric approaches and adaptability to successfully navigate the challenges and prospects presented in the dynamic retail environment, as will be showcased at Shoptalk 2024.

Implications for Brands/Retailers

• Brands and retailers can gain insights into the latest trends and technological innovations showcased by startups. This can help them understand and adopt cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, to transform their business processes, enhance operational efficiencies and stay competitive.
• Shoptalk provides opportunities for brands and retailers to network with technology innovators, industry experts and other businesses. This networking can lead to potential collaborations, partnerships and insights into changing industry relationships.
• Brands and retailers should strengthen their identity and build trust among consumers by improving transparency, sustainability and overall brand reputation. Furthermore, optimizing online and offline channels, personalizing experiences and streamlining the customer journey can help brands and retailers enhance customer loyalty.

Brands or Retailers Poised To Gain Advantage

• Retailers investing in creating seamless customer journeys and prioritizing loyalty initiatives may see advantages. Companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Target and Walmart, which have been leveraging technologies to enhance customer interactions, personalization and loyalty programs, stand out in the market.
• Retailers that are actively exploring and implementing innovative technologies are set to benefit. For instance, Macy’s, Ulta Beauty and Woolworths are implementing AI solutions to enhance customer experiences, streamline operations and improve overall business efficiency.
• Fast-growing DTC (direct-to-consumer) brands, such as Lyst, looking to establish themselves in the market or disrupt traditional retail models, can gain from Shoptalk as an opportunity to network, showcase their products, and connect with potential investors or partners.
• Brands and retailers emphasizing brand power, transparency and ethical practices—for instance, Crocs and Coty—are positioned to gain an advantage in an environment where consumers increasingly value trust when it comes to making shopping decisions.
• Retailers working toward creating a unified retail experience, such as The Michaels Companies (which is integrating online and offline channels as it prioritizes a cohesive customer journey), are likely to gain an edge among omnichannel shoppers.
• Retailers capitalizing on existing assets, such as customer data and digital platforms, can generate additional income sources that are less dependent on consumer spending patterns.

Implications for Technology Vendors

• Shoptalk provides a platform to learn about industry dynamics, regulatory changes and evolving partnerships, helping technology vendors adapt their strategies accordingly. Such industry events also offer significant networking opportunities—technology vendors can connect with potential clients, partners and industry experts, fostering collaborations and expanding their business networks.

Notes

Shoptalk 2024 agenda details are accurate as of March 11, 2024.