Category: Marketing How-To

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nordstrom

The Nordstrom Playbook: Omnichannel Strategies That Connect Digital, Stores and Customer Engagement

At CommerceNext, we dive deep into brands excelling in retail’s most pressing innovations, and Nordstrom stands out as a leading example. The retailer continues to set a benchmark for omnichannel excellence; not simply by offering multiple channels, but by orchestrating them into a cohesive platform that drives customer loyalty and operational efficiency. From real-time inventory and mobile innovation to loyalty programs, Nordstrom’s approach illustrates how to unify physical and digital commerce for maximum impact. Strategic Pillars: The Foundation of Nordstrom’s Omnichannel Play Nordstrom defines its customer strategy around three core pillars: Compelling product Outstanding services & experiences Connected capabilities   Nordstrom exemplifies how

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Resale Retail

Innovation in Secondary Marketplaces: Three Resale Platforms Leading the Way

At CommerceNext, we focus on the trends shaping the future of modern retail, bringing together the most innovative minds in digital marketing and ecommerce to explore the strategies driving growth.  One standout development is the rapid rise of the secondary-market (resale) segment, a powerful new growth channel fueled by community engagement and omnichannel and digital innovation. We’ll examine how three platforms, eBay, The RealReal and Depop, are embracing key trends and deploying marketing and commerce innovations to stay ahead. eBay: Focusing on Community/Relationships As secondary retail marketplaces mature, community-building has emerged as one of the most powerful drivers of loyalty, trust and long-term growth—transforming

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CommerceNext

The Secrets Behind E.L.F.’s Marketing Success

How e.l.f.’s Marketing Shakes Up the Beauty Industry with Bold Campaigns Few brands embody modern marketing innovation quite like e.l.f. Beauty. Once known primarily as an affordable cosmetics line, e.l.f. has evolved into one of retail’s most agile and culturally relevant brands. At CommerceNext, we’re passionate about uncovering what drives retail’s fastest-growing brands. In this case study, we explore how e.l.f. became a trend-savvy innovator in the fiercely competitive beauty industry.  e.l.f. Beauty’s Marketing Strategy: Using Innovative Channels, Partnerships, Product Launches and Community-Based Strategies At its core, e.l.f.’s marketing approach is defined by: Leveraging Innovative Channels: e.l.f. is often first to test emerging

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Retail

The Post-Purchase Playbook: How Leading Retailers Win Beyond the Checkout

With customer acquisition costs at unprecedented highs, the real battleground for growth now lies beyond the checkout. Post-purchase presents an exciting opportunity: transform first-time buyers into loyal advocates by marrying smart tech, streamlined returns and memorable experiences that stick. Let’s examine the trends shaping post-purchase success and highlight leading retailers setting the standard today. Take these insights to the next level by applying for CommerceNext’s Post-Purchase Forum, October 15th in NYC.   Trends & Best Practices Shaping Post-Purchase  AI-Powered Personalization & Communication From tailored product recommendations to virtual shopping assistants, AI is transforming how brands engage with customers after a purchase. The 2024

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What to Expect From Shoptalk Fall

What to Expect From Shoptalk Fall 2025

If you missed Shoptalk Spring, you’re likely asking: was it worth it and is Shoptalk Fall? With AI, personalization and evolving customer journeys reshaping retail, it’s hard to know where to focus first. Shoptalk Chicago 2025 is one of many stages for retail innovation. If you’re planning your event calendar, here’s what to expect, how to get the most from attending and how other industry events like CommerceNext compare.   Shoptalk Fall is about Practical, Growth-Driven Strategy (Shoptalk) While Shoptalk Spring focused on retail trends and industry shifts, Shoptalk Fall (themed “Retail’s Power Players. One Critical Moment”) emphasizes decisive action in a volatile

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Women doing makeup

The Secret Behind Sephora’s Successful Marketing Strategy

CommerceNext gathers insights from top retail leaders like Sephora on how to stand out in a competitive landscape: personalization, inclusivity and seamless omnichannel experiences are must-haves. We break down Sephora’s marketing strategy below.  Sephora Empowers Customers With Educational and Inspiring Digital Content At the core of Sephora’s marketing strategy is a mission to empower individuals through inclusive, innovative and high-quality beauty experiences. Every brand experience reflects this, starting with their tailored social media content: tutorials on YouTube, trending content on TikTok, polished visuals on Instagram and conversations with customers on X (Twitter).  Across industries, 80% of users prefer watching a video, while only

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Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott’s AI-First Commerce Revolution: Cracking the Code on AI Revenue Generation

Under the leadership of Kamanasish Kundu, SVP of Digital & E-commerce, Kendra Scott unlocked a new frontier in digital retail: an AI strategy designed not just to save money, but to drive revenue. The results are staggering: a 6x conversion lift, 9x engagement lift and a blueprint for how conversational AI can move from a support expense to a frontline sales engine. Read on to learn how Kendra Scott’s partnership with iAdvize redefined what AI means for commerce, and why others risk leaving millions on the table if they don’t follow suit. From Cost Center to Revenue Driver The traditional AI playbook is

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Estée Lauder

Inside Estée Lauder’s Winning Marketing Strategy

At our annual NYC conference, top retail marketers reveal how they stay ahead. Estée Lauder, a consistent presence, proves legacy doesn’t mean stagnation. They blend core brand identity, modern storytelling and cutting-edge tech to create emotional, effective marketing that moves at culture’s speed. Here’s how Estée Lauder remains iconic and relevant despite being an 80 year old brand.    Micro-Storytelling: Maintaining Brand Identity with Every Decision Micro-storytelling distills a company’s narrative to its core, conveying a brand’s essence in a single image, sentence or video clip. It grabs attention and leaves a lasting impression. Estée Lauder’s micro-stories stem from its founder’s legacy: the

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The 6 Most Important Gen Z Shopping Habits for Retail Brands

6 Gen Z Shopping Habits Shaping Retail Trends Gen Z’s shopping habits were a popular topic at this year’s CommerceNext Growth Show, highlighting how they discover, compare and buy products all at once, often while scrolling social media. Their expectations are high, attention spans short and loyalty tough to earn, but brands that get it right see big rewards. Catch the replay of the CommerceNext panel “From Gen Z to Alpha: Redefining Acquisition for Emerging Audiences” here, and read on for more insights on how this generation is reshaping retail. Gen Z Behaviors & Characteristics  Gen Z, born roughly between 1997 and 2012,

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TikTok Shop

How Retail Brands Can Win on TikTok Shop

How Retail Brands Can Win on TikTok Shop In 2025 alone, U.S. sales on TikTok Shop jumped by 120% year-over-year, and over 83% of shoppers say they’ve discovered a new brand via the platform. TikTok Shop has elevated the platform beyond just a place for awareness or inspiration. Consumers can now discover, evaluate and buy products without ever leaving the app. This experience effectively collapses the traditional marketing funnel, blending content, consideration and conversion into a single scroll. With millions tuning in to TikTok Shop daily, it now represents the future of “discovery commerce,” merging the appeal of influencers with instant buying capabilities.

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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.