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 market.
The agenda is organized into four key “Chambers,” each covering a distinct growth path:
Chamber of Logic: Data-Driven & AI-Augmented Retail Intelligence: Hear how retailers are using AI/ML to overhaul forecasting, streamline planning and drive real-time decision-making. You’ll explore practical AI use cases that boost supply chain accuracy, reduce inefficiencies and improve omnichannel.
Chamber of Transmutation: Product Curation & Innovation Under Pressure: Today’s bestsellers can become tomorrow’s dead stock. Discover how format, product and merchandising teams are testing new categories, adapting assortments and rethinking their playbooks.
Chamber of Enchantment: Brand Identity, Loyalty & Customer Experience in a Shifting World: Winning brand loyalty today is more than just storytelling. Learn how marketers and CX leaders build emotional connections that drive performance and customer engagement across every channel.
Chamber of Enlightenment: Leading Through Volatility & Change: Here, executives share how they balance cutting costs with driving growth and align vision while empowering teams. Sessions will tackle the complex mandates leaders face in an ever-changing market.
Shoptalk Fall’s Most-Anticipated Keynotes
Shoptalk’s keynote lineup features retail leaders and tech executives. With 13 keynotes across four Chamber stages, expect sharp insights, future-focused strategies and case studies from major brands and solutions.
Here’s a preview of the confirmed speakers leading this year’s most-anticipated keynotes:
Chamber of Logic: Data-Driven & AI-Augmented Retail Intelligence
Track Keynote: From Tariffs to Tactics: Scenario Planning in a Volatile World
Jamie Bragg, Chief Supply Chain Officer, EVP, Tailored Brands
Session Description: “Agentic AI is ushering in the next era of operational intelligence, going beyond analysis to make and execute decisions across the supply chain with speed and precision. This session spotlights breakthrough technologies leveraging agentic AI to automate complex workflows, adapt in real time, and drive unprecedented efficiency where it matters most.”
Chamber of Transmutation: Product Curation & Innovation Under Pressure
Track Keynote: Future-Proofing the Product Mix: Adaptive Strategies for Influence, Inventory, and Impact
Stephanie Roberson, Chief Merchandising Officer, Shopbop
Session Description: “This session explores how leading retailers are rethinking their product mix to stay ahead by insight and influence to stay relevant and drive sales. Learn how merchandising teams make faster decisions, test smarter, and blend cutting edge data analytics with good old intuition to build assortments that can flex with fast-changing demand.”
Mainstage Keynote:
Keynote: [Title Not Yet Released]
Jonathan Adler, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Jonathan Adler
Session Description: [Not Yet Released]
Chamber of Enchantment: Brand Identity, Loyalty & Customer Experience in a Shifting World
Track Keynote: Winning Brand Expression Across Platforms
Kim Lefko, Chief Marketing Officer, Ace Hardware
Session Description: “Ever-increasing media fragmentation poses the creative challenge of speaking consistently to shoppers who may see your message across one, two, or ten different places, both on- and off-line. This session explores how smart teams are building bold, cohesive brand expressions that stand out across platforms, moving shoppers along the customer journey with every scroll, tap, and swipe. From TikTok to store shelves, discover examples of tailoring content, tone, and storytelling to meet consumers across touchpoints without diluting your message or blowing your budget.”
Mainstage Keynote:
Keynote: [Title Not Yet Released]
Ann-Marie Campbell, Senior Executive Vice President, Home Depot
Session Description: [Not Yet Released]
Chamber of Transmutation: Product Curation & Innovation Under Pressure
Track Keynote: Unified Commerce Tools Powering Seamless Journeys
Ryan Breslow, Founder & CEO, Bolt
Session Description: “Payments and checkout capabilities continue to evolve quickly. Shoppers expect an easy, consistent payment experience no matter where, when, or how they buy. Behind the scenes, that means retailers need to handle complex payment options and adapt to the shopper’s needs and preferences. This Track Keynote features the founder and CEO of a leading payment solution. He’ll share insights into payment trends and preferences, both online and in-store; new innovations in payment infrastructure; and the capabilities and qualities they are prioritizing as they seek to create a U.S. super-app.”
Understanding Shoptalk’s 1:1 Meetings Program
(Shoptalk)
One of Shoptalk Chicago’s popular offerings is its structured Meetup Program: a double opt-in, 1:1 meeting system that matches attendees based on shared interests.
How it works:
- Before the event, attendees opt in, complete a profile and select the retailers, brands, tech providers, investors or media they want to meet.
- Chosen participants will then accept or deny meeting requests.
- If mutually agreed, Shoptalk schedules your 15-minute meetings to be taken during the conference.
These 1:1 meetings (included with your ticket) offer curated networking opportunities for various business needs. Attendees are welcome to connect with potential customers, attend product demos, raise capital or reconnect with old partners and friends.
Interactive Tabletalks, Shopwalks and Women-Led Workshops
In addition to the core Meetup program, Shoptalk offers several other structured networking opportunities for attendee learning, mentorship and relationship-building.
(Shoptalk Europe)
Shopwalks take attendees inside Chicago’s most innovative stores to see firsthand how brands are reimagining the in-store experience to meet consumer expectations. Each store visit is 45 minutes, for groups up to 25 retailers.
(Shoptalk)
Tabletalks match 5-8 retail peers by topic and seniority for focused, small-group discussions on shared challenges. Each session is 50 minutes and is led by an expert moderator. To participate, you must express your interest in Tabletalks when you confirm your ticket.
(Shoptalk)
Meetup for Women fosters female mentorship and professional growth through mutually matched 1:1 meetings, peer gatherings and Tabletalks for women in retail. This opportunity provides an environment for female attendees to support, connect and exchange ideas.
Beyond the Booth: Post-Conference Networking
Some of the most valuable conversations often happen off the clock. After the conference, private dinners, cocktail receptions and brand- or sponsor-hosted parties are held throughout Chicago.
These private gatherings focus on building sponsor-retailer relationships and introductions. They’re often invite-only and limited to senior retail execs and participating sponsors.
Pro Tip: If you’re a retailer, reach out to your partners early to secure access to these private events if you know they’re sponsoring.
For example, during Shoptalk Spring week, CommerceNext hosted our 8th annual VIP Reception at Topgolf.
(CommerceNext)
This exclusive event brought together 300+ tech providers and retail & DTC leaders in a high-energy setting. With a strong sponsor-to-retailer ratio, conversations moved beyond introductions to real, strategic connections. If you’ll be at Shoptalk Vegas 2026, reach out—we’d love to connect!
(Shoptalk)
However, if parties are more your thing, Shoptalk’s Fall Party at the Chicago House of Blues features live music and a lively crowd. It’s open to all ticket holders and geared more toward socializing than business networking.
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Curious How CommerceNext Compares?
Top brands like Sephora, Lowe’s, ULTA, Tapestry, CVS Health and Vuori choose us to grow digital commerce and facilitate connections with tech partners.
If you’re planning your 2026 calendar, the CommerceNext Growth Show returns to NYC on June 23-25, 2026, offering 2,700+ senior attendees, 150+ speakers and 75+ sessions.
Qualified meetings can help accelerate outreach efforts, but if fast-tracking vendor evaluations is your main priority, CommerceNext 1:1 Meetings offer a more intentional alternative. With a 98% fulfillment rate, our invite-only setting is designed for focused discovery. Retailers and tech providers are matched to prioritize fit, timing and business impact, so you can benchmark your tech stack and find the right solutions.
(CommerceNext)
Our conference format strikes a balance between daytime insights and evening networking, where you’ll find impactful roundtables, sponsor activations and keynote speakers from leading brands and tech companies.
(CommerceNext)
Retailers: Check out our Early Access page and highlights from the show this year!
Vendors: Want to meet top retail leaders and host meetings with your ICP? Explore sponsorships and book an intro chat—we’d love to connect.
