<description>Beyond Vanilla AI: The Era of Agentic Commerce

The retail industry has moved past experimentation. We are now in the realization phase where AI agents deliver frictionless, store-like expertise to digital channels.

Vic Miles from Microsoft and Crispin Lowery of Rezolve AI join Jeremy Goldman to discuss why the early adopter advantage is now a requirement for brand survival.

Key Discussion Points:

- The Expertise Bridge: How agents bring the nuance of an in-store associate to the digital checkout.

- The Tesla Analogy: Why retail tech is shifting from rigid engineering to fluid, software-first experiences.

- Personalization as a Killer App: Using AI to move from broad demographics to solving singular problems for individual shoppers.

- Choosing the Right Foundation: Why no-hallucination platforms and transparent brand voice control are the new vendor table stakes.

Stop managing metrics. Start mastering the human experience.</description>

Beyond Vanilla AI: The Era of Agentic Commerce

T…

Beyond Vanilla AI: The Era of Agentic Commerce

The retail industry has moved past experimentation. We are now in the realization phase where AI agents deliver frictionless, store-like expertise to digital channels.

Vic Miles from Microsoft and Crispin Lowery of Rezolve AI join Jeremy Goldman to discuss why the early adopter advantage is now a requirement for brand survival.

Key Discussion Points:

- The Expertise Bridge: How agents bring the nuance of an in-store associate to the digital checkout.

- The Tesla Analogy: Why retail tech is shifting from rigid engineering to fluid, software-first experiences.

- Personalization as a Killer App: Using AI to move from broad demographics to solving singular problems for individual shoppers.

- Choosing the Right Foundation: Why no-hallucination platforms and transparent brand voice control are the new vendor table stakes.

Stop managing metrics. Start mastering the human experience.

Agentic AI: The Realization Phase of Retail Commerce

<description>Store design used to be about defining a set path for the customer.  Today, it is about providing a flexible canvas.

Crate and Barrel's VP of Store Design, Nicholas Effler joins Top Retail Expert Cynthia Ortiz to discuss how Crate &amp; Barrel balances historic architecture with the high-tech expectations of the modern shopper.

Inside the Episode:

- Digital Echoes: How the pace of app-scrolling translates to physical shopping behavior.

- Associate Centricity: Why clearing out menial tasks through design is the fastest way to boost sales performance.

- Right-Sizing the Fleet: The transition from homogenous 40,000 square foot "cathedrals" to contextual, localized footprints.

- Architectural Restraint: The discipline required to modernise historic buildings without losing their soul.

Stop building static spaces. Start designing for the fluid shopper.</description>

Store design used to be about defining a set path…

Store design used to be about defining a set path for the customer.  Today, it is about providing a flexible canvas.

Crate and Barrel's VP of Store Design, Nicholas Effler joins Top Retail Expert Cynthia Ortiz to discuss how Crate & Barrel balances historic architecture with the high-tech expectations of the modern shopper.

Inside the Episode:

- Digital Echoes: How the pace of app-scrolling translates to physical shopping behavior.

- Associate Centricity: Why clearing out menial tasks through design is the fastest way to boost sales performance.

- Right-Sizing the Fleet: The transition from homogenous 40,000 square foot "cathedrals" to contextual, localized footprints.

- Architectural Restraint: The discipline required to modernise historic buildings without losing their soul.

Stop building static spaces. Start designing for the fluid shopper.

Crate & Barrel: Store Design for Digital Shoppers

<description>Retail design is at a crossroads. As customer expectations rise, physical stores must offer more than just products: they must deliver animation, meaning, and connection.

Steve Calhoun and Andy Hunt, from The Hershey Company, join Top Retail Expert Elisa Servais to discuss how Hershey’s uses technology to amplify nostalgia and joy without overstimulating the shopper.

Inside the Episode:

- The Digital Interface: Moving beyond multichannel silos to make the mobile phone an integral part of the store journey.

- The AR Sandbox: Using spatial computing and AR to field-test "blue sky" merchandising concepts before they hit the sales floor.

- Inclusive Innovation: Why Hershey’s implements "calm hours" at Chocolate World to accommodate neurodivergent visitors.

- The Invisible Tool: Ensuring technology serves the "moment of goodness" rather than distracting from the brand markers.

Stop building stores. Start designing experiences.</description>

Retail design is at a crossroads. As customer exp…

Retail design is at a crossroads. As customer expectations rise, physical stores must offer more than just products: they must deliver animation, meaning, and connection.

Steve Calhoun and Andy Hunt, from The Hershey Company, join Top Retail Expert Elisa Servais to discuss how Hershey’s uses technology to amplify nostalgia and joy without overstimulating the shopper.

Inside the Episode:

- The Digital Interface: Moving beyond multichannel silos to make the mobile phone an integral part of the store journey.

- The AR Sandbox: Using spatial computing and AR to field-test "blue sky" merchandising concepts before they hit the sales floor.

- Inclusive Innovation: Why Hershey’s implements "calm hours" at Chocolate World to accommodate neurodivergent visitors.

- The Invisible Tool: Ensuring technology serves the "moment of goodness" rather than distracting from the brand markers.

Stop building stores. Start designing experiences.

Digital Joy: Hershey’s Strategy for Retail Design

<description>On the latest RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Toby Pickard of the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) sits down with Aidan Mittra, Co-founder of OrderGrid.

They explore how real-time inventory technology is transforming store efficiency, supply chain management, and the future of grocery retail.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

- Location and expiry awareness is now essential: Retailers need to know exactly where items are and whether they are sellable, not just whether they exist in the system.

- A real-time data layer connects the dots: Bridging ERP and POS systems gives retailers full visibility across the front of house and back room.

- Better data means better orchestration: Precise item location reduces picker search time, improves staff deployment, and enables automated replenishment.

- Hybrid fulfillment is redefining store design: OrderGrid's patented approach blends traditional retail with a micro-fulfillment dark store component, dramatically reducing picking times.

- Emerging technologies are raising the bar: RFID, 2D barcodes, and computer vision are set to transform expiry traceability and strengthen sustainability across the supply chain.

- The hyper-connected store is within reach: AI-empowered physical retail spaces are creating better experiences for staff and shoppers through improved availability and operational transparency.

This episode explores how a clean, real-time data foundation positions retailers to compete in an increasingly connected grocery landscape.</description>

On the latest RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Toby P…

On the latest RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Toby Pickard of the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) sits down with Aidan Mittra, Co-founder of OrderGrid.

They explore how real-time inventory technology is transforming store efficiency, supply chain management, and the future of grocery retail.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

- Location and expiry awareness is now essential: Retailers need to know exactly where items are and whether they are sellable, not just whether they exist in the system.

- A real-time data layer connects the dots: Bridging ERP and POS systems gives retailers full visibility across the front of house and back room.

- Better data means better orchestration: Precise item location reduces picker search time, improves staff deployment, and enables automated replenishment.

- Hybrid fulfillment is redefining store design: OrderGrid's patented approach blends traditional retail with a micro-fulfillment dark store component, dramatically reducing picking times.

- Emerging technologies are raising the bar: RFID, 2D barcodes, and computer vision are set to transform expiry traceability and strengthen sustainability across the supply chain.

- The hyper-connected store is within reach: AI-empowered physical retail spaces are creating better experiences for staff and shoppers through improved availability and operational transparency.

This episode explores how a clean, real-time data foundation positions retailers to compete in an increasingly connected grocery landscape.

The Future of Food and Grocery: Trends, Technology & Global Best Practices

<description>Traditional retail is designed to drive the next transaction, but Patagonia is built to drive a movement.

Angela Clark, VP of Digital at Patagonia, joins Marie Schwartz to discuss leading a digital organization where activism is a primary KPI and short-term conversion is never the goal.

Activism as a Metric: Why Patagonia treats a local cleanup sign-up with the same weight as a high-value product purchase.

The Used Gear Edge: How side-by-side "New vs. Used" product pages have transformed customer acquisition and brand transparency.

Membership vs Loyalty: Why the brand ditched the points-and-coupons model for a community-led experience guided by a company philosopher.

Authentic Transparency: Moving beyond "greenwashing" by openly discussing the challenges of global manufacturing and carbon-heavy supply chains.

Stop building for the next quarter. Start building for the next generation.</description>

Traditional retail is designed to drive the next …

Traditional retail is designed to drive the next transaction, but Patagonia is built to drive a movement.

Angela Clark, VP of Digital at Patagonia, joins Marie Schwartz to discuss leading a digital organization where activism is a primary KPI and short-term conversion is never the goal.

Activism as a Metric: Why Patagonia treats a local cleanup sign-up with the same weight as a high-value product purchase.

The Used Gear Edge: How side-by-side "New vs. Used" product pages have transformed customer acquisition and brand transparency.

Membership vs Loyalty: Why the brand ditched the points-and-coupons model for a community-led experience guided by a company philosopher.

Authentic Transparency: Moving beyond "greenwashing" by openly discussing the challenges of global manufacturing and carbon-heavy supply chains.

Stop building for the next quarter. Start building for the next generation.

Patagonia’s Purpose: Angela Clark on Digital Strategy

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