Retail Remix

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

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