Episodes

  • GLP-1s Aren’t Just a Drug—They’re Rewriting the Entire Retail Playbook
    Jul 28 2026

    Key topics

    • Evolution of retail technology from typewriters to AI
    • Impact of AI and automation on pharmacy operations
    • The role of pharmacists in patient care and diagnostics
    • The significance of store experience and customer engagement
    • Future trends: longevity, personalized medicine, and digital health

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Steve Perlowski and NACDS

    00:31 Historical perspective: retail tech in 1988

    01:01 From typewriters to mail correspondence

    01:15 Early retail data collection methods

    02:34 Impact of internet, cloud, and AI on retail

    03:22 Prioritization of pharmacy tech investments

    04:12 Transformations in pharmacy customer experience

    05:26 Automation and AI in pharmacy operations

    07:05 Centralized pharmacy fulfillment and robotics

    08:42 Pharmacy's role in healthcare and longevity

    09:40 Implications of extended lifespans and biotech advances

    12:23 Misunderstandings about pharmacy and healthcare

    13:50 The complexity of prescription fulfillment and insurance

    17:47 Technological improvements in prescription accuracy

    19:02 AI and computer vision in medication dispensing

    20:06 GLP1s and the broader store health story

    24:37 Emergence of new health categories and merchandising

    27:24 Creating experiences and merchandising by life stage

    32:22 The evolving role of pharmacists and in-store health services

    39:11 Challenges facing pharmacy location sustainability

    41:27 Tech industry disconnect and opportunities in retail

    44:57 AI build vs. buy and organizational ownership

    45:41 Data privacy, HIPAA, and AI regulation

    47:06 Lightning round: personal preferences and insights

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    42 mins
  • Beyond the Hype: Where AI Is Actually Changing Retail
    Jul 14 2026

    Key topics

    • Impact of AI on retail strategy
    • Evolution of retail events and networking
    • Future trends in retail technology
    • Leadership and organizational change in retail
    • Real-world applications of AI in retail

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Krystina Gustafson and Retail Innovation

    02:02 Krystina's Journey from Journalism to Retail

    03:55 Lessons from Early Digital Transformation at Women's Wear Daily

    07:00 The Role of Content and Curiosity in Retail Leadership

    10:10 Transition from Journalism to Shop Talk and Retail Events

    13:03 Insights on Building a Successful Retail Conference

    16:01 The Rapid Evolution of AI in Retail

    20:08 Strategic Planning and Long-term AI Roadmaps

    24:09 Operational Applications of AI in Physical Retail Spaces

    27:58 The Future of Personalization and Customer Experience

    32:59 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Adoption

    38:10 The Importance of Connection and Authenticity in Events

    41:47 The Intersection of Physical and Digital Retail

    45:06 AI's Role in Enhancing Customer Engagement

    49:08 Lightning Round: Retail Predictions and Trends

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    51 mins
  • The Next Trillion-Dollar Company Won’t Be an App – It’ll Run on Robots and Real-World AI
    Jun 9 2026

    Key topics

    • AI in physical supply chains
    • Testing and building in fast-paced tech environments
    • The impact of GLP-1 on health and consumer behavior

    Chapters

    00:00 Navigating the Information Overload in Venture Capital

    02:17 The Importance of Testing and Building in Tech

    04:52 The Shift Towards a Builder Culture

    07:36 Evaluating Build vs. Buy in Technology Investments

    10:10 The Role of Interns in Modern Organizations

    13:01 The Future of AI in Supply Chain and Logistics

    15:42 The Ripple Effects of AI on the Physical World

    18:12 Challenges in Supply Chain Automation

    20:55 Complexities of Robotics in Warehousing

    25:30 Automation and Workforce Dynamics

    26:49 The Impact of GLP-1 on Consumer Behavior

    31:03 Healthcare Innovations and Continuous Care

    33:49 Investing in a Changing Landscape

    37:33 The Future of Shopping and Agentic Commerce

    41:06 Lightning Round Insights

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    46 mins
  • Agentic Commerce: The $1 Trillion Retail Revolution Coming by 2030
    Jun 3 2026

    📌 Key Topics Covered in This Episode:
    • The rise of agentic commerce and AI-driven autonomous transactions.
    • How GLP-1 medications impact apparel sizing profiles and consumer grocery spending.
    • New Coresight Research data showing 60% of consumers want to use GenAI for shopping.
    • Overcoming the three main challenges of AI in retail: trust, checkout friction, and user inertia.

    #RetailTrends #AgenticCommerce #AIinRetail #Retailistic #CoresightResearch #RetailTech

    0:00 - Weekly Research Highlights & Reports
    0:53 - Introduction by Deborah Weinswig
    1:10 - Defining Agentic Commerce Strategy & Architecture
    2:24 - Projecting the $1 Trillion Agentic Commerce Market Size by 2030
    3:10 - Use Cases: Demand Forecasting & Inventory Allocation
    3:23 - The Retail Impact of GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications
    4:00 - Solving Apparel Sizing vs. Non-Apparel Dietary Shifts
    4:44 - Consumer Insights: GenAI Shopping Survey Results
    6:06 - 3 Major Challenges Facing Autonomous AI Commerce
    7:12 - Looking Ahead: The Future of Retail Tech
    7:30 - Conclusion & Coresight Research Services

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    8 mins
  • The End of Middle-of-the-Road Retail: How Discounters, Experiences & Healthcare Malls Will Reshape What You Buy, Where You Go, and How Much You Spend
    May 12 2026

    Key topics

    Resurgence of malls and entertainment concepts

    Grocery store evolution and value shopping

    Impact of AI and PropTech on retail real estate

    Consumer behavior shifts and proximity effects

    Revitalization strategies for dead malls

    Luxury retail trends and customer focus

    The role of pop-ups and short-term leases

    Global retail insights from China and Mexico

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Passion for Retail

    02:57 The Evolution of Entertainment in Retail

    05:36 Changing Consumer Relationships with Malls

    08:18 The Grocery Landscape Transformation

    10:46 The Rise of Discount Retailers

    13:23 The Future of Drugstores

    16:19 Department Stores: A Dying Concept?

    18:52 Experiential Retail and Consumer Engagement

    21:32 Emerging Retail Concepts and Trends

    26:17 The Rise of Luckin Coffee

    29:48 Consumer Expectations and Product Innovation

    30:30 The Mall Experience in China

    31:37 Food and Beverage Trends in Malls

    33:13 Healthcare in Retail Spaces

    33:57 The State of Luxury Retail

    36:00 The Lightning Round Begins

    42:44 Misconceptions in Retail Real Estate

    44:29 Future Cities and Retail Opportunities

    45:57 Pop-Ups: The Future of Retail Leasing

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    49 mins
  • Consumer Sentiment and Retail Trends Amid Economic Uncertainty
    May 5 2026

    Key topics

    AI Impact Framework in retail

    Consumer sentiment and spending behavior

    Tech innovations for business agility

    Chapters

    00:00 Understanding the Changing Consumer Landscape

    04:59 Consumer Sentiment and Spending Trends

    07:40 Innovations in Technology and Consumer Engagement

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    12 mins
  • The K-Shaped Economy, Inflation, and Bitcoin’s Escape Hatch for the Middle Class
    Apr 28 2026

    Key topics

    Bitcoin rewards and their impact on consumer savings

    The evolution of financial services with crypto

    The role of Bitcoin in global financial inclusion

    Chapters

    00:00 The Philosophy of Technology and Consumer Empowerment

    02:00 Inefficiencies in the Financial System

    05:36 Financial Literacy and Consumer Behavior

    07:57 Regulatory Frameworks: Traditional vs. Crypto

    12:39 The Impact of Bitcoin on Banking

    16:07 The Future of Rewards Programs

    18:44 Consumer Behavior in a K-Shaped Economy

    22:44 Elevating the Bottom of the Hourglass

    27:25 Reflections on the Evolution of Fold

    29:35 Lightning Round: Quick Insights

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    34 mins
  • From Returns to Revenue: How AI is Turning Customer Pain into Loyalty and Insights
    Apr 21 2026

    Key topics

    Impact of AI on retail customer experience

    Supply chain and logistics transformation through AI

    Measuring ROI and success metrics in AI deployments

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Crescendo and AI in Customer Service

    04:31 The Evolution of Customer Experience and Returns

    09:33 AI Implementation Challenges and Expectations

    14:09 Defining Customer Experience Across Channels

    18:36 The Role of AI in Enhancing Customer Experience

    26:06 Navigating AI's Potential and Realistic Applications

    27:47 Transforming Customer Experience with AI

    29:02 Personalization in Customer Engagement

    30:59 The Evolution of Consumer Behavior

    32:52 The Synergy of Digital and In-Store Experiences

    34:39 Empathy in Customer Service

    36:38 The Importance of Small Gestures

    39:43 Lightning Round: Insights on AI and CX

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    48 mins