Matt Baer

After two days at NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in NYC, one thing is clear: Retail isn’t debating what’s next anymore — leaders are actively rewiring how companies operate, decide, and lead. Across keynotes and panels, from legacy giants to founder-led disruptors, a few themes kept surfacing again and again 👇 ⚡ AI is no longer a technology conversation — it’s a leadership one Sundar Pichai (Google) and John Furner (Walmart) made it clear: AI and agentic commerce aren’t experiments. They’re becoming the connective tissue between discovery, decision, and fulfillment. The real differentiator isn’t the model — it’s whether leadership teams can: - Make decisions faster - Redesign roles and workflows - Trust humans + machines to work together ⚙️ Agentic commerce is already reshaping demand, not “someday” From Google to Shopify-led ecosystems, leaders shared real signals — not hype. Orders coming from AI-native interfaces are growing exponentially, not incrementally. The implication for boards and CEOs: the cost of waiting is now higher than the cost of learning in public. 🧭 Culture has become a competitive advantage (again) Ed Stack (Dick’s Sporting Goods) reminded the room that strategy fails without the right culture. His emphasis on humility, team-first leadership, and building environments where people can win together — not compete internally — was one of the most grounded leadership moments of the show. Similarly, Mary Beth Laughton (REI) reinforced that trust, values, and clarity of purpose aren’t “nice to haves” — they’re how you scale sustainably in uncertain times. 🔥 Focus beats scale — discipline is the new growth skill Michael Rubin (Fanatics) and other founder-CEOs were refreshingly consistent: - Don’t chase every opportunity - Be famous for one thing you do better than anyone else - Build ecosystems, not just channels - In a world of endless options, restraint is leadership. 💡 The customer hasn’t gotten simpler — leadership has to get better Whether it was Gen Z/Alpha discussions, DTC trailblazers, or global brands, the takeaway was the same: - Consumers expect personalization, speed, and authenticity - But they also expect trust and consistency - Meeting those expectations now requires sharper org design, clearer decision rights, and leaders comfortable navigating ambiguity. 👥 The talent bar is quietly being reset Across sessions, a new leadership profile emerged: - Customer-obsessed - AI-literate (not AI-dependent) - Comfortable saying “not now” - Able to scale culture, not just revenue This isn’t about replacing people — it’s about evolving what great leadership looks like in retail. 💡 What excites you most about how retail leadership is evolving right now? #NRF2026 #RetailLeadership #FutureOfRetail #AIinRetail #AgenticCommerce #CustomerExperience #RetailTransformation

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Wednesday, March 11: 🏬 Kohl's signaled improvement in its apparel category in the first quarter, but it warned of another year of declining sales overall. For Q4, total sales fell 3.9% and comparable sales were down by 2.8%. 👖 Fabletics is launching its first denim collection, signaling a shift in consumer preferences away from athleisure. The collection, priced between $79.95 and $174.95, will be available online and in select stores. 🤖 OpenAI has scaled back its plans to turn ChatGPT into a fully integrated shopping destination. The company will now abandon processing purchases inside the chatbot. 🧱 Lego has published its full-year 2025 results, with revenues rising 12% to DKr83.5bn ($12.9bn) and operating profit increasing 18% to DKr22bn, while consumer sales grew 16%. 🧴 Olaplex stock has plummeted nearly 95% since its 2021 IPO due to weakened demand, regulatory challenges, and a lawsuit alleging harmful ingredients. Olaplex is now focusing on product innovation. 🥩 Around 3,800 workers at JBS’s beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, plan to strike from March 16th, potentially disrupting production at one of the largest US beef facilities. 💰 Amazon has drawn about $126 billion of peak demand for its US bond sale, one of the largest ever for a corporate offering. The demand underscores how investor appetite for hyperscaler debt remains strong. 👔 Hugo Boss reported an annual operating profit of €391m, surpassing forecasts. It confirmed its 2026 outlook and plans to realign its brand and channels, focusing on high-growth categories. 🍧 Costco Canada has introduced a new dessert to its food court menu, the Caramel Brownie Sundae, expanding its lineup of sweet treats that already includes ice cream cones and various sundaes. 🍫 Shares in Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli fell yesterday, after the company lowered its 2026 organic sales growth guidance to 4%–6%, down from its previous medium-term target of 6%–8%. 📱 Apple produced about 25% of its global iPhones in India in 2025, assembling around 55m devices, up 53% from 36m in 2024, as it accelerates efforts to reduce reliance on China and avoid US tariffs. 📦 Amazon’s e-commerce business summoned a large group of engineers to a meeting for a deep dive into a spate of outages, including incidents linked to AI coding tools. 🇬🇧 British consumer spending grew slowly in February as households grew more pessimistic about the outlook for the economy with the Middle East conflict raising concerns about a fresh ‌rise in inflation. 🚫 Perplexity AI must for now stop using its Comet web browser agent to make purchases on behalf of shoppers from Amazon's online marketplace, a court has ruled. 🛋️ The Brand House Collective COO, James Schisler, is resigning to pursue other opportunities. Schisler joined the company nine months ago. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Retail Innovations 21 is here!! After more than two decades of tracking global retail innovation, we're releasing the 21st edition of our annual report. This year's report analyzes 51 retail concepts across 20+ countries, examining how leading retailers are responding to changing customer expectations. Three forces are shaping retail in 2026: A Better World – Retailers embedding circularity, responsibility, and community impact into their core operations. Engaging Destinations – Physical spaces reimagined as dynamic, experiential environments. Easy Journeys – Seamless, human-centred experiences that eliminate friction from discovery to delivery. From AI-powered supermarkets in Singapore to circular stores in Amsterdam, from autonomous retail in Tokyo to solar-powered shops in South Africa - this report documents what's working in retail today. Download the full report: https://lnkd.in/ejdk5MZ #RetailInnovations #RetailTrends2026 #FutureOfRetail #JCWG #EbeltoftGroup #RetailExperts #RetailStrategy #RetailConsulting

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Executive compensation continues to rise, with notable increases in both pay packages and benefits. Our very own Elaine Hughes, Managing Director of E.A. Hughes, shared her expert insights in @WWD’s latest feature, which explores the findings of their recent study surrounding the top companies within the fashion industry. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/etEi7kau #ExecutiveLeadership #ExecutiveCompensation #ExecutiveSearch #BusinessStrategy

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In the first half of 2025, retail M&A activity has been nothing short of remarkable — from Skechers’ sale to a wave of acquisitions across beauty, fashion, and home. As my colleague Alain Krakirian at Columbus Consulting International notes, this deal-heavy climate is being driven by global economic shifts and the lasting influence of digital-first consumer behaviour. With margins under pressure and the need for diversification, retailers are seizing the moment to grow and stay relevant. Five standout deals so far include: E.l.f. Beauty acquiring Rhode – expanding into prestige beauty and skincare. Dick’s Sporting Goods buying Foot Locker – creating a $21B sports and lifestyle powerhouse. Michaels acquiring Joann’s IP – reshaping the craft retail landscape. Beyond’s acquisition spree – including Kirkland’s, BuyBuy Baby, and Zulily. Skechers’ sale – signalling shifts in global footwear competition. The pace shows no signs of slowing. In retail, timing really is everything. #Retail #MergersAndAcquisitions #RetailStrategy #ConsumerTrends #ColumbusConsulting

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🔍 🚨 BREAKING: Retailer Optimism: Kohl's Performance Boosts Shares Amidst Leadership Change Kohl's Corporation recently captured significant market attention with a series of noteworthy announcements. The retail company, which had been navigating a period of operational challenges, disclos...📖 read more at 👉 https://lnkd.in/g_ziJ6i3 📰 Published on November 27, 2025 by Aartie on Aakash News and Media Syndicate #News #BreakingNews #TechNews #AI #TrendingNow #LinkedInNews #AakashNewsAgency #ANMS

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