American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has implemented new technology to help build more personalized and integrated customer journeys that define competitive retail today and, more specifically, reduce transaction processing times.  In its journey for seamless customer experiences, AEO’s leadership knew its legacy POS system wasn’t equipped to handle today’s fast-paced demands and need for scalability. Outdated legacy systems also meant ‘disconnected channels,’ or silos of data that weren’t talking to each other, crippling the omnichannel experience. AEO set goals to remove these silos and cen ..read more

By Matt Redwood Retail has undergone seismic shifts recently, with the evolving ‘customer journey’ becoming a critical focal point for retailers vying for a future-proof business. The advent of global retail chains and the proliferation of eCommerce have birthed a savvy consumer base armed with extensive knowledge and unprecedented access to a broad spectrum of products and services. Physical retailers are now tasked with integrating eCommerce’s tailored algorithms and adaptability into the tangible immediacy of in-store shopping. This hybridization takes different shapes across industries ..read more

The 4th Annual Top Retail Influencer (TRI) Awards ceremony will be held during RETHINK Retail’s GALA presented by Cognizant in New York City on January 15th RETHINK Retail—the world’s leading authority in retail coverage and insights, –will award its 2024 Class of Top Retail Influencers at the RETHINK Retail Gala on January 15th, 2024 in New York City. RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Influencers is an annual recognition of the most influential voices in the retail industry. Conducted in partnership with Microsoft, the Top Retail Influencer award pays tribut ..read more

Ready to supercharge your 2024 with the most dynamic and influential retail events and conferences? Look no further, as RETHINK Retail is here to guide you through next year’s calendar. These events are where supply chain logistics meet groundbreaking AI innovations, where the pulse of the fashion industry’s latest trends beats, and where the bustling realm of eCommerce evolves. We’ve handpicked the crème de la crème of retail shows, offering not just insights but unparalleled networking opportunities with the brightest minds and trailblazers in technology and retail.  The National Retai ..read more

Get to know RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Influencers through the “Meet the TRI” Q&A series! Dive in to learn about a member of the thought leader community and follow their work and insights across our content and their social channels. Shannon Flannagan is Vice President and General Manager of Retail and Consumer Goods at Talkdesk. Name, Full Title, and/or Company Shannon Flanagan VP|GM Retail & Consumer Goods at Talkdesk “Tell us about your background.” I’ve been retailing it since I was 18. Now I consider myself a retailer gone tech, at least for now :). Over t ..read more

With record-breaking attendance, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show 2023 proved to be a resounding success. This year’s NACS Show, held from October 3-6 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, drew in 24,084 attendees from 67 countries.  With such impressive attendance numbers, NACS is the go-to show for anyone in the industry. “We’re focused on building our brand, and we can’t think of a better place to do it than NACS.” Josh Griffin, Vice President of Distribution at PSR Brands.  Spanning across a 436,100-net-square-foot expo, the NACS Show feature ..read more

For years, Hy-Vee has etched out territory for itself as a leading retail innovator. By employing an experimental and diverse approach to ‘finding out what works,’ Hy-Vee has secured for itself multiple innovation awards, demonstrating leadership within the broader industry effort to digitize operations and engage the ‘new customer’ within an omnichannel framework. It’s in the process of Hy-Vee’s experimentations in customer engagement and effective store digitization that they launched RedMedia, a ‘tool’ with which brands can “access smart tools and customized solutions to directly target mi ..read more

In a world where leadership can seem confined to specific titles and approval from higher-ups, the truth is you don’t need permission to be a leader.  Leadership isn’t limited to a select few or predefined roles: It’s a mindset, a way of being and it’s accessible to all, regardless of your current position or background. This realization has become the cornerstone of my coaching philosophy, and it’s a message I share with my clients, especially those from first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds. Think back to a time in your career when you held back, doubting your abilities, or ..read more

Image courtesy of Hy-Vee Hy-Vee, a prominent supermarket chain with a peak revenue of $12B in 2022, has seen continual success in its innovation strategy by implementing new digital technologies and taking chances to find out what works best for its customers and stores.  As a chain with a history of diverse and continually expanding services–including food court areas and even in-store pubs–experimentation has served Hy-Vee well in finding the goldilocks combinations of tech innovations that meet their needs. Like the rest of the industry, it is all part of an effort to digitize store ..read more

Alex Lindstro In 2021 and 2022, rising inflation hit hard, peaking at nearly 10%, the “largest increase in 40 years.” The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to historic heights, with food at ‘home’ and ‘away-from-home’ both sitting 8- 9% higher over March 2022.  Today’s trying economic conditions have resulted in an estimated 64-87% of consumers ‘trading down,’ which is to say bargain hunting, across all age groups and especially for low-to-middle income ranges. These numbers don’t fully capture the actual experience on the ground for cash-strapped shoppers, who have seen essentials like ce ..read more