Retail Remix

6 Nuggets of Wisdom for 2026 from Pacsun, ThredUp, Adobe & More

As we kick off 2026, Retail Remix is spotlighting some of the most illuminating moments from last season that bear repeating. In this special episode, host Nicole Silberstein revisits standout insights from 2025 that continue to resonate as the industry navigates AI, shifting consumer expectations and the evolving role of physical retail. Highlights Include: * Why retailers must do (beyond optimizing their product data) to stay visible in AI-powered search platforms; * How “napkin math,” that is, thinking in orders of magnitude, can help leaders better size opportunities and manage expectations; * What truly drives brand value and affinity today, and why investing in brand equity during times of disruption pays off; * How PacSun has so successfully created a culture of community and how other brands can do the same; * What today’s consumers are really looking for from store experiences; and * Why resale hit a tipping point in 2025 and what that means for brands’ circular efforts in 2026. Full Episodes & Related Links * Episode 252: What $24B in Prime Day Spending Tells Us About H2 [https://pdst.fm/e/media.transistor.fm/90cba437/65ca5bb6.mp3] * Episode 268: AI Reality Check: Klaviyo CEO on What’s Hype, What Matters & What Comes Next [https://pdst.fm/e/media.transistor.fm/0bd02579/d1e88dd5.mp3] * Episode 255: The Experience Equation: What Retailers Need To Get Right [https://pdst.fm/e/media.transistor.fm/f364e4f3/99d4ff95.mp3] * Episode 259: Pacsun’s Formula for Relevance: Youth Culture + Co-Creation [https://pdst.fm/e/media.transistor.fm/a73d1dec/8f776336.mp3] * Episode 254: Inside ThredUp’s Surge: What’s Fueling Resale’s Surge [https://pdst.fm/e/media.transistor.fm/e89ad985/15a06af9.mp3] * Episode 246: Lessons from the World’s Top Brands [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12DI1miQCyuiws1TMnmCZj6WFjP35uYbh?usp=sharing] * 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]

Bonus: A Brief Ode to the Joy of Shopping

As a final send-off to the year, host Nicole Silberstein shares some off-the-cuff thoughts on something we forgot to talk enough about this year — the irreplaceable pleasure of shopping in stores, and why AI won’t change that. Happy Holidays from your friends at Retail Remix — see you in 2026! Key Takeaways * Maybe what we all need a little more of right now is in-person shopping Related Links * Episode 258 - Redesigning with Reverence: Inside the New MoMA Design Store Experience [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts/redesigning-with-reverence-inside-the-new-moma-design-store-experience] * Episode 253 - How Primark Is Rewriting the Rules of Value Fashion in the U.S.  [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts/how-primark-is-rewriting-the-rules-of-value-fashion-in-the-u-s] * Related reading: How Printemps’ New NYC Store Supports ‘Democratic Luxury’ with Subtle Technology [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/retail-success-stories/how-printemps-new-nyc-store-supports-democratic-luxury-with-subtle-technology] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts]

AI Reality Check: Klaviyo CEO on What’s Hype, What Matters & What Comes Next

AI is reshaping the retail landscape faster than any technology in recent memory, but with the hype comes confusion — and a lot of big questions about what AI can actually do for retailers today. In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein sits down with Andrew Bialecki, Co-founder and CEO of Klaviyo [https://www.klaviyo.com], to separate reality from speculation and explore how AI is changing marketing, customer service and the entire shopping experience. Andrew shares the origin story behind Klaviyo’s “digital brain for businesses,” explains why retailers will increasingly become hybrid product-and-service companies, and breaks down the AI behaviors already shaping consumer expectations. He also takes a look into his crystal ball to offer a forward-looking perspective on how voice, avatars and in-store AI agents could define the next era of commerce. Key Takeaways * How retailers will evolve into hybrid product-and-service brands as AI makes information and personalization easily accessible to all; * Why multimodal AI — including chat, voice and in-store agents — could propel the next wave of omnichannel experiences; * The role humans will continue to play in the AI future through creative direction, brand judgment and defining customer experience goals; * What consumers actually want from AI: speed, summarization, better recommendations, and easier product discovery;  * Why the ability to do “napkin math” is critical for businesspeople of all stripes; and * The hardest thing about going from being a private to a public company. Related Links * Explore Klaviyo [https://www.klaviyo.com]’s AI-powered marketing and customer relationship tools * 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]

Independent Retail in a Time of Change

Independent retailers have always been nimble, but the past few years have demanded even more adaptability. In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein is joined by Jen Burke, Chief Revenue Officer at wholesale marketplace Faire, who helps us dig into how independent retailers are thriving amid so much socioeconomic and technological change. Jen shares how this powerful segment of retailers — which account for more than half of all U.S. retail sales — are shifting buying strategies, navigating economic pressure, responding to fast-moving trend cycles, and using Faire’s tools to better manage cash flow, discover products and respond to customer demand. She also reveals what Faire is building next, from improved platform capabilities to new fulfillment solutions. Key Takeaways * How independent retailers are adjusting order volume, frequency and sourcing strategies in response to tariffs and other headwinds; * What wholesale buying patterns on Faire foretell about the trends and categories that will be hot in 2026; * The growing importance of reflecting the cultural zeitgeist on shelves and how to do it; * Why curation will remain retailers’ superpower despite the potential of new technologies like AI; and * A peek at Faire’s next big move — fulfillment services. Related Links * Explore how Faire [https://www.faire.com] supports independent retailers of all sizes * Related Reading: Faire Surpasses 100K Members as Indie Retailers Seek Out Value, Variety [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/supply-chain-sourcing/exclusive-faire-surpasses-100k-members-as-indie-retailers-seek-out-value-variety] * Related Reading: Inside the Luxury Advent Calendar Boom with DTC Brand Cheese Brothers [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/consumer-trends/small-business-big-ideas-inside-the-luxury-advent-calendar-boom-with-dtc-brand-cheese-brothers] * Get more retail industry insights at Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts]

How Anthropologie is ‘Curating a Lifestyle’ with its Maeve Brand

Private label brands aren’t just supporting acts anymore — many are becoming stars in their own right, and Anthropologie’s Maeve label is proving the point. In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein sits down with Anu Narayanan, President of Women’s and Home at Anthropologie Group, to go inside the decision to elevate Maeve from an in-house favorite to a standalone brand with its own stores, website and social presence. Anu shares how the decision was rooted in clear customer demand — millions of searches, TikTok engagement and a fiercely loyal fan base — as well as a bold vision for how Maeve can evolve while still staying connected to Anthropologie’s DNA. From boutique-style store design to influencer-led storytelling to curated multi-brand assortments, Maeve is charting its own path into the future. Key Takeaways * The strategic choice to open first stores in markets like Raleigh, N.C. and Atlanta rather than major coastal cities; * How Anthropologie is differentiating Maeve’s boutique store aesthetic from its core stores; * Inside Maeve’s marketing engine from TikTok and the company’s first Substack to a growing community of influencer “Mavens”;  * Why Maeve standalone stores are multi-brand and which brands are being brought in; * The role of catalogs (yes, catalogs) in modern brand storytelling and customer engagement; * PLUS Anu’s top merchandising tip for any kind of store. Related Links * Explore Maeve [https://www.anthropologie.com/maeve]’s latest collections and campaign storytelling * Related reading: Anthropologie Promotes Maeve to Standalone Brand, Plans Stores and Exclusive Catalog  [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/news-briefs/anthropologie-promotes-maeve-to-standalone-brand-plans-stores-and-exclusive-catalog] * Stay ahead with more retail insights and analysis from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts]