Retail Remix

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

Inside the World’s Most Interesting Stores with Jack Stratten

What makes a great store in 2026? Sometimes, it’s not clarity — it’s curiosity. Recorded live from the show floor at NRF 2026, this episode of Retail Remix features host Nicole Silberstein in conversation with Jack Stratten, Director at Insider Trends and one of the industry’s most well-traveled retail observers. Jack spends his time visiting stores around the world, identifying what works, what doesn’t, and, most importantly, why. From a wellness-meets-retail concept in Soho to immersive flagships in Paris, Jack breaks down the common thread between standout store experiences: a clear ambition, commitment and, sometimes, a willingness to prioritize discovery over efficiency. The conversation also explores why ecommerce’s continued growth is forcing stores to raise their game — and why legacy department stores are having such a difficult time evolving. Key Takeaways * The most interesting new stores you need to check out; * Why the best stores succeed by meeting their ambition, not chasing trends; * How discovery, trial and serendipity differentiate physical retail from ecommerce; * Why Paris (not New York) is the most exciting city for retail experiences right now; * How global markets and historic shopping experiences still influence modern store design; * Why the growing ubiquity of ecommerce is having a positive effect on store experience; * Why department stores are having such a difficult time tapping into their legacy of innovation today; and * Travel hacks from someone who travels the world for a living. Related Links * Explore global retail insights and store safaris from Insider Trends [https://www.insider-trends.com] * 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

How Fabletics Hit $1B and What’s Fueling Its Next Phase of Growth

In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein chats with Meera Bhatia, President and COO of Fabletics, on the strategies powering the brand’s impressive momentum. Fresh off hitting the $1 billion revenue milestone, Meera breaks down how Fabletics has driven sustained growth through category expansion, measured store growth and a flexible membership model that delivers both value for consumers and predictability for the business. She also shares how AI is being deployed across the organization — from smart fitting rooms and associate coaching to inventory optimization and loyalty-driving personalization. The conversation offers a candid look at how Fabletics is blending fashion, function, value, and technology to stand out in the crowded activewear market and why comfort-forward “lifewear” is shaping what comes next. Key Takeaways * How Fabletics scaled past $1 billion in revenue through category, channel and geographic expansion; * Why the brand’s membership model drives loyalty, predictability and lower supply chain waste; * How physical retail is fueling omnichannel growth, with 120+ stores and more on the way; * Inside Fabletics’ AI-powered flagship store, from smart fitting rooms to real-time associate coaching; * Why AI is less about replacing fundamentals — and more about delivering them better; and * What’s next for Fabletics in 2026, including international growth and new category plays. Related Links * Explore Fabletics [https://www.fabletics.com]’ latest collections and retail experience * Related reading: New Fabletics Flagship Brings AI-Powered Operations to Westfield Century City [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/news-briefs/new-fabletics-flagship-brings-ai-powered-operations-to-westfield-century-city] * Related reading: Fabletics Deploys RFID-Powered Inventory Management Solution [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/news-briefs/fabletics-deploys-rfid-powered-inventory-management-solution] * 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

Inside Google Cloud’s Vision for the AI Era

AI took center stage at NRF 2026, and few moments underscored its importance more than Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s keynote, where he outlined how shopping is evolving in an increasingly agentic, AI-driven world. This episode of Retail Remix, recorded live from the show floor, features host Nicole Silberstein in conversation with Anil Jain, who leads Global Strategic Industries at Google Cloud. Anil shares how Google Cloud is working with retailers to reimagine everything from product discovery to post-purchase service and why agentic AI represents a fundamental shift in how consumers will interact with brands. Key Takeaways * Why AI is becoming the great equalizer, helping smaller companies compete with limited resources; * How AI experiences in general-use platforms like Google Search are upping the ante for everyone, and how to keep up; * What multimodal search unlocks when consumers can shop using not just text, but also voice, images and video; * Why hyper-personalization is finally within reach after decades of promise; * The change management that will be required as AI shifts the way we all work;  * How Google and its Cloud division are building for this future. Related Links * Related reading: Google Launches Direct Checkout in Search, Gemini [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/data-analytics/ai-machine-learning/google-launches-direct-checkout-in-search-gemini] * Learn how Google Cloud [https://cloud.google.com/solutions/retail] is helping retailers adopt AI at scale * 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

Deep Dive: AI’s Next Chapter in Retail — Scale, Security & Strategy

This episode is brought to you by Airia [https://airia.com?utm_source=Retail+Touch+Points&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Podcast+Email]. AI dominated conversations at NRF 2026—but as adoption accelerates, so do the risks. In this Retail Remix Deep Dive bonus episode, host Adam Blair, Editor at Retail TouchPoints, sits down with Kevin Kiley, CEO of AIRIA, to explore how retailers can unlock the promise of AI without exposing themselves to unnecessary vulnerability. Together, they unpack where AI is delivering real value across retail, from store associate enablement to back-office operations, while also addressing the growing challenges around security, governance, reliability, and ROI. Kevin shares why “AI sprawl” is becoming a serious issue, how model outages and hallucinations can derail critical workflows, and why retailers must avoid locking themselves into a single AI provider. The conversation also draws parallels to earlier tech shifts like mobile and e-commerce, offering a grounded look at what retailers should prioritize now—and what to be cautious about—as AI moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment. Key Takeaways * Why AI is a strong fit across retail functions, from the store floor to legal and supply chain * The hidden risks of agentic AI, including data access, outages, and model drift * How governance, observability, and auditability are becoming non-negotiable * Why flexibility across AI models is critical as capabilities evolve at breakneck speed * Where retailers are seeing the biggest ROI today—from associate training to contract review * A realistic outlook on AI’s trajectory through 2026, including where hype may cool Related Links * Learn how AIRIA [https://airia.com] helps enterprises govern and secure AI deployments: * Explore more retail insights and and NRF26 coverage at  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. ----- Discover how Airia’s no-code AI platform empowers retail teams to automate inventory, customer support, and more—without technical expertise. Ready to make AI work for you? Visit airia.com/retailtouchpoints [http://airia.com/retailtouchpoints] to learn more.