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CommerceNext Growth Show Main Stage Session

CommerceNext Steps: More 2026 Retail Growth Strategies & Takeaway

Looking for even more actionable ideas from the 2026 Growth Show? We’ve gathered another collection of CommerceNext Steps from sessions at the Growth Show, featuring practical strategies and insights shared by today’s leading retail and DTC executives. Check out the takeaways from this year’s Growth Show sessions:    Not Another Brand Talk: The New Growth Model for Marketers Under Pressure Christine Schrader, VP, Strategic Innovation, WPromote Name your gap. Is it awareness, consideration, or connection? If you don’t know, that’s the first problem. Define success. Before your next campaign, decide what success looks like in 30 days and choose a leading metric to

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CommerceNext

More CommerceNext Steps: 2026’s Top Retail Insights & Strategies

Looking for even more actionable ideas from the 2026 Growth Show? We’ve gathered another collection of CommerceNext Steps directly from Growth Show sessions, featuring practical advice from the retail and DTC executives shaping the industry’s future. These bite-sized takeaways highlight proven strategies you can put to work right away.   Unpacking the 2026 State of Agentic Commerce Report Pooja Chandiramani, VP, Global Marketing Analytics and Media Strategy, Coach         Dan Bennett, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Furniture.com      Caila Schwartz, Director Industry Insights, Salesforce Data is the foundation. Addressing data quality, integration, governance, and skills gaps is essential for organizations to evolve AI from

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CommerceNext

CommerceNext Steps: 2026 Retail Growth Strategies & Takeaways

Skip the theories and drive real growth. CommerceNext Steps delivers exclusive, highly actionable insights directly from the executives steering today’s top retail and DTC brands.  Pulled straight from our 2026 Growth Show speakers, these takeaways offer a rare look at how the best in retail are solving today’s challenges.   The Human Edge: What Tractor Supply Knows About Winning in the Age of AI Kimberley Gardiner, Chief Marketing Officer, Tractor Supply Co Interviewed by: Steve Dennis, Host, The Remarkable Retail Podcast Start with who you serve, not what you sell. When you’re clear about who you’re for, decisions about products, experiences and technology

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CommerceNext Growth Show

Top 5 Things to do at the CommerceNext Growth Show

For two days each June, retail’s most influential brands, fastest-growing companies and sharpest operators gather in NYC for the CommerceNext Growth Show, June 23-24 in NYC. From exclusive networking events to startup pitches and community gatherings, here’s how to make the most of your time at CommerceNext. If you haven’t yet, make sure to register today to join the excitement. 1. Attend the Retail Insiders Party with Retail AI Council As the official closing celebration of the CommerceNext Growth Show, this exclusive gathering hosted by Retail AI Council* brings together senior retail and DTC leaders for an evening of meaningful conversations, new connections

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Where to Go Next: Global Growth Strategies in a Shifting Landscape

Tariffs continue to shift, supply chains remain unpredictable and customer expectations vary dramatically by market. At the same time, brands are under pressure to grow, diversify revenue streams and reach new consumers faster than ever before. In the latest CommerceNext webinar, leaders from U Beauty, Vuori and ESW shared how they are approaching international expansion today. The conversation focused on operational readiness, profitability, brand integrity and adaptation to a rapidly changing global landscape. What We Covered: Global Expansion Requires a Different Playbook Today Market Selection Is About More Than Demand Localization and Brand Awareness Drive Growth Operational Readiness Determines Long-Term Success Protecting Brand

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AI Search, Physical Retail & Breakout Brand Growth: 3 Sessions You Don’t Want to Miss at the Growth Show

3 Must-See Growth Show Sessions on AI Search, Retail & Breakout Brands From AI-driven discovery to the reinvention of physical stores, the lines between channels, experiences and expectations are blurring. At 2026 Growth Show, June 23–24 in NYC, we’re taking these ideas to the stage with leaders from Ulta Beauty, Tecovas, Tractor Supply Co, and The Wharton School, bringing together leaders who are shaping what’s next in retail, and unpacking what’s actually working. Take a look at three sessions you don’t want to miss, and register to be part of the conversation defining the future of growth. Keynote: How AI Search and Agentic

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CommerceNext Webinar

Beyond Guesswork: How Agentic AI Unlocks Marketing Decisioning

Customer behavior is becoming more fluid, less predictable and harder to serve with traditional marketing approaches. Journeys don’t follow clean paths, intent shifts quickly and static segmentation often misses the moment. In this CommerceNext webinar, ThredUp, Artisant Lane Furniture and Aampe explored how agentic AI is changing the way brands approach personalization, how teams are rethinking execution and what it really takes to make these systems work in practice. What We Covered: Segmentation Is Losing Precision Real-Time Decisioning at the Individual Level A Shift in How Marketers Spend Their Time What Readiness Actually Looks Like Measuring Impact Beyond Immediate Conversions Speakers: Kristen Brophy,

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5 Brands with the Best Gen Z Marketing Strategies and Why They Work

Gen Z expects brands to be relevant, transparent, and culturally in tune. So much so, that the most effective Gen Z marketing strategies prioritize community-led experiences, creator partnerships roothed in authenticity and value-driven storytelling.  Here are five brands from CommerceNext’s community of retail leaders that are winning with Gen Z – including Glossier, e.l.f. Beauty, Aerie, Rhode and Nike. With Gen Z’s global spending power projected to reach $12 trillion by 2030, here’s how you can embrace modern retail strategy to appeal to the new customer.   1. Glossier’s Community as Content Co-Creators Glossier’s Gen Z brand marketing succeeds because it was built

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CommerceNext Webinar

2026 Digital Retail Forecast: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies

Economic uncertainty, fragmented discovery, shifting generational behavior and rising expectations around trust are all reshaping how retailers plan for growth. In this CommerceNext webinar, Forrester, Mejuri, B&H Photo and RTB House came together to explore what digital retail leaders need to know about 2026 and how brands can adapt without losing sight of the fundamentals. What We Covered: Peak ambiguity and the new planning environment Discovery is fragmenting, but proven channels still matter Consumer behavior is more research-heavy, generational and multi-device Trust, fulfillment and measurement will define the winners   Speakers: Sucharita Kodali, VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester Rohit Nathany, CTPO, Mejuri Jeff

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Mother’s Day Marketing: Key Trends for Retailers

Mother’s Day presents a valuable opportunity for brands to connect with millions of consumers across the United States. On average, consumers spend about $259 each year on Mother’s Day. With spending at near-record levels, brands must align their campaigns with emerging consumer trends to maximize engagement and sales. The Power of Customer-Centric Storytelling Storytelling remains a key driver of emotional engagement during holidays like Mother’s Day. Shoppers increasingly seek gifts that feel personal and meaningful, making user-generated content and real-life stories especially impactful. Recent research shows that storytelling can increase conversion rates by up to 30%. Additionally, 64% of consumers say stories help

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Important Notice: Avoid Unauthorized Housing Providers

Connections Housing is the exclusive housing partner for CommerceNext and the only trusted source for booking accommodations for our event. Be cautious of third-party companies posing as official housing providers. These entities may attempt to mislead you into booking through them, often resulting in non-refundable deposits or invalid reservations that we cannot assist with.

To ensure a secure and seamless booking experience, always reserve your accommodations directly with Connections Housing. If you are approached by anyone claiming to offer housing for CommerceNext outside of Connections Housing, please report this immediately to commercenext@connectionshousing.com.

For assistance or questions, you can contact the Connections Housing team at commercenext@connectionshousing.com or by phone at 725.201.7302.