Retail Remix

Merchandising a Marketplace: The Magician Behind Etsy’s Curatorial Magic

With more than 120 million listings and millions of active sellers, Etsy operates one of the most unique marketplaces in retail. But surfacing the right products for the right buyers requires more than algorithms alone. In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein speaks with Mary Andrews, Head of Global Merchandising at Etsy, about how the company balances human insight and instinct with AI-driven discovery to curate a shopping experience that feels both personalized and culturally relevant. Mary shares how her team identifies emerging trends, translates cultural moments into shopping occasions and uses AI to scale those insights across Etsy’s massive inventory.  Key Takeaways * How Etsy uses a combination of AI and human curation to translate cultural trends and buyer signals into an ever-changing slate of collections and experiences;  * Why AI will actually make human merchandisers even more valuable;  * Insight from Etsy’s early experiments using AI answer engines like ChatGPT and Gemini to expand product discovery;  * Lessons learned from working alongside Depop’s team of merchandisers, who have their finger on the pulse of Gen Z;  * How AI personalization is helping to amplify niche interests rather than homogenize the internet; and  * Why the future merchandiser will spend less time programming products and more time shaping taste and culture.  Related Links * Explore Etsy [https://www.etsy.com] and discover one-of-a-kind products from independent sellers * Related reading: Etsy, Shopify Among Early Partners for Microsoft’s Copilot Checkout [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/digital-commerce/etsy-shopify-among-early-partners-for-microsofts-copilot-checkout] * Related reading: Etsy Debuts Ad Campaign in Bid to ‘Keep Commerce Human’ [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/digital-commerce/e-commerce-experience/etsy-updates-policies-debuts-ad-campaign-in-bid-to-keep-commerce-human] * Related reading: Ebay to Acquire Depop Resale Fashion Marketplace from Etsy  [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/news/ebay-to-acquire-depop-resale-fashion-marketplace-for-1-2-billion/157018/] * Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts]

Scaling With Soul: Beyond Yoga’s Playbook for Authentic Growth

In the crowded activewear market, Beyond Yoga has built its brand around something deeper than product: comfort, body inclusivity and the belief that wellness should feel good — not unattainable. In this episode of Retail Remix, Nicole Silberstein speaks with Katie Babineau, CMO of Beyond Yoga, about how the brand has scaled its presence while staying rooted in the values that built its loyal community. From its cult-favorite Spacedye fabric to its long-standing commitment to body inclusivity, Beyond Yoga has focused on building trust with customers rather than chasing short-term trends, even as it evolves following its acquisition by Levi Strauss & Co. Key Takeaways * How Beyond Yoga differentiates itself in the fast-growing premium activewear category;  * Why the brand’s “progress over perfection” philosophy resonates with today’s wellness-focused consumers;  * How the Seek Beyond brand platform guides both marketing strategy and internal culture;  * What the Levi’s acquisition has enabled in terms of infrastructure, scale and speed to market;  * Why real-life community experiences and brick-and-mortar expansion are central to the brand’s growth strategy; and  * How social-first storytelling and user-generated content are helping Beyond Yoga build deep, authentic connections with customers.  Related Links * Explore Beyond Yoga [https://beyondyoga.com]’s activewear collections and brand story * Related reading: Beyond Yoga Expands to East Coast with Connecticut Store Debut [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/news/beyond-yoga-expands-to-east-coast-with-connecticut-store-debut/152253/] * Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts]

The Iron Man Suit of Fashion: Stitch Fix’s Human + AI Formula

AI may be everywhere right now, but for Stitch Fix, it’s been foundational for 15 years. In this episode of Retail Remix, Nicole Silberstein sits down with Tony Bacos, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Stitch Fix, to explore how the brand blends data science and human instinct to power personalized styling at scale — and how that balance is helping fuel a business turnaround. Tony shares how Stitch Fix’s recommendation engine has evolved from early algorithms to today’s generative AI tools, including the new Stitch Fix Vision experience that lets clients see themselves in curated outfits. He also explains how AI is enhancing (not replacing) human stylists, from drafting personalized styling notes to enabling real-time stylist chat. Key Takeaways * How Stitch Fix blends AI-driven recommendations with input from its thousands of human stylists;  * How generative AI is improving stylist productivity without sacrificing authenticity;  * Why bringing stylists “out from behind the curtain” has strengthened customer loyalty;  * The strategic moves behind Stitch Fix’s recent business turnaround;  * Why personalization may matter even more as AI reshapes online discovery; and  * Tony’s take on the ultimate retail question: algorithm or instinct? Related Links * Explore Stitch Fix [https://www.stitchfix.com]’s personalized styling experience * Related reading: Why Stitch Fix is Focusing on its Human Stylists When Everyone Else is Talking About AI [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/digital-commerce/why-stitch-fix-is-focusing-on-its-human-stylists-when-everyone-else-is-talking-about-ai] * Related reading: Stitch Fix Returns to Growth as Turnaround Strategy Bears Fruit [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/market-news/stitch-fix-returns-to-growth-as-turnaround-strategy-bears-fruit] * Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts]

Agentic Commerce & the Marketplace Boom with Mirakl’s Scott Eckert

In less than five years, launching a third-party marketplace has gone from a questionable move to a strategic imperative for many major retailers. Recorded live at NRF 2026, this episode of Retail Remix digs into that shift with Scott Eckert, CEO of the Americas at marketplace operator Mirakl. Scott explains why retailers are embracing curated marketplaces as an offensive growth strategy — no longer just as a defensive reaction to Amazon — and how brands like Ulta Beauty, Best Buy and Lowe’s are expanding assortment without diluting brand identity. The conversation also dives into how AI answer engines are reshaping product discovery, and why clean, machine-readable catalog data may soon matter more than traditional SEO. Plus, Scott shares Mirakl’s growing role in retail media and the company’s vision of becoming an orchestration layer across emerging AI-driven commerce channels. Key Takeaways * How the proving power of Amazon and, perhaps more importantly, Walmart has completely shifted retailers’ attitude toward online marketplaces; * Why retail media and marketplace strategies increasingly go hand in hand; * The important role marketplaces will play in the world of AI commerce, when done right; * Why product data must be optimized differently for different AI platforms like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic; and * The essential quality of a truly disruptive product or service.  Related Links * Learn how Mirakl [https://www.mirakl.com] powers enterprise marketplaces and retail media * Related reading: Mirakl CEO: Marketplaces are ‘Arming the Rebellion’ of Traditional Retail Against Big Tech [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/digital-commerce/mirakl-ceo-marketplaces-are-arming-the-rebellion-of-traditional-retail-against-big-tech] * Related reading:Best Buy’s New Third-Party Marketplace is Now Live [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/digital-commerce/best-buy-to-launch-third-party-marketplace-again] * Explore more NRF26 coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] from the show floor of NRF26

From Overstock to Opportunity: How B-Stock Powers Inventory’s Second Life

Resale may be having a mainstream moment on the consumer side — but behind the scenes a much larger B2B engine has been quietly evolving for nearly two decades. Recorded live from the show floor at NRF 2026, this episode of Retail Remix features Nicole Silberstein in conversation with Marcus Shen, CEO of B-Stock, a technology platform and marketplace that helps major brands and retailers efficiently sell excess and returned inventory to a network of small business buyers. Marcus shares how the resale landscape is shifting, why brands increasingly need tighter control over where their excess inventory lands and how AI is helping both sellers and resellers manage volatility, pricing and profitability. The conversation also explores how inflation and changing consumer attitudes have reduced the stigma around secondhand goods, fueling downstream growth in the resale ecosystem. Key Takeaways * How B-Stock connects major retailers and brands with small business resellers to reduce the financial impact of returns and overstock; * Why brands now demand more discretion and control over secondary market distribution; * How AI is helping normalize messy inventory data and predict resale value; * Why volatility in inventory mix makes technology essential in B2B resale; and * How inflation and shifting consumer sentiment are accelerating resale adoption. * PLUS Hear about the craziest products Marcus has seen come through the platform recently. Related Links * Learn more about how B-Stock [https://bstock.com/] powers B2B resale and liquidation * Related reading: A Better Return on Returns: How Data is Redefining B2B Resale Strategies [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/executive-viewpoints/a-better-return-on-returns-how-data-is-redefining-b2b-resale-strategies] * Explore more NRF26 coverage and retail insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe so you don’t miss more episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] from the show floor of NRF26