Retail Remix

Amazon Ads’ Former Evangelist on the Future of Retail Media

This episode is brought to you by Commerce [https://www.commerce.com/retailremix]. Retail media — or should we say commerce media — has exploded into one of the fastest-growing opportunities in marketing. But with so many players, platforms and acronyms, where is it all headed? In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein sits down with Jeff Cohen, former Principal Evangelist at Amazon Ads and now Chief Business Development Officer at Skai, to unpack how the space has evolved and what’s coming next. Jeff shares how he went from building one of Amazon’s first third-party ad technologies to helping brands navigate a new era of connected, data-driven commerce. He breaks down the shift from retail media to commerce media, the impact of AI-powered shopping on marketing and how brands can move beyond walled gardens to reach today’s omnichannel shoppers. Key Takeaways: * How retail media has evolved into commerce media — and why the distinction matters; * The role of agentic AI in optimizing campaigns and connecting fragmented data; * What brands can learn from Amazon’s retail media dominance and Skai’s cross-channel approach; * Why unified, actionable data matters more than endless metrics; * Lessons on innovation, adaptation and taking smart risks from Jeff’s eclectic career. Related Links * Learn how Skai [https://skai.io/] is connecting brands and retailers through data-driven media * Related reading: New Research Reveals Agency Execs’ True Opinions on Retail Media [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/digital-marketing/exclusive-new-research-reveals-agency-execs-true-opinions-on-retail-media] * Explore more insights on the future of commerce media on Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/] * Catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] ----- How to Win Customers Across Every Channel This guide from BigCommerce brings you expert insights on data, branding, and marketing to help you grow sales across every major channel. Read the Guide [https://www.bigcommerce.com/resources/guides/bc-channel-guide/].

Legendary Adman Ellis Verdi on the Art of Retail Advertising

This episode is brought to you by Commerce [https://www.commerce.com/retailremix]. For four decades, Ellis Verdi, Founder and President of DeVito/Verdi, has helped shape some of the most talked-about — and often controversial — campaigns in retail advertising. From launching Daffy’s with bold, conceptual creative to working with Macy’s, Kohl’s, Men’s Wearhouse and Meijer, Verdi has built a career on one philosophy: tell the truth, even if it ruffles feathers. Retail Remix host Nicole Silberstein sits down with Ellis to discuss what’s changed (and what hasn’t) about connecting with consumers, the ongoing tension between brand and performance marketing, and why controversy isn’t always a bad thing — if it comes from an honest idea. Ellis shares the stories behind some of his favorite campaigns, including the infamous “straightjacket” Duffy’s ad that sparked protests, and how ads for Macy’s I.N.C. brand and Meijer’s private label spinach redefined how retailers communicate value. He also weighs in on recent campaigns — like Levi’s x Beyoncé and of course, Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle — that signal a welcome return to upper-funnel brand storytelling. Key Takeaways: * Why conceptual advertising still matters in today’s performance-driven landscape; * How controversy can serve a campaign — when it’s rooted in truth; and * The importance of balancing top-of-funnel branding with down-funnel ROI. Related Links * Explore DeVito/Verdi Advertising [https://www.devitoverdi.com/]’s creative work and legacy * Watch the Macy’s I.N.C. ad [https://youtu.be/nTHyUuW2unM] featuring Heidi Klum * Watch the Meijer spinach ad [https://youtu.be/dyhHL0F4PWA] * Related reading: The Top 10 Best-Performing Retail Ads from the First Half of 2025 [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/digital-marketing/exclusive-the-top-10-best-performing-retail-ads-from-the-first-half-of-2025] * Catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] * Get more insights from retail industry leaders on Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] ----- How to Win Customers Across Every Channel This guide from BigCommerce brings you expert insights on data, branding, and marketing to help you grow sales across every major channel. Read the Guide [https://www.bigcommerce.com/resources/guides/bc-channel-guide/].

AI Answer Engines and the New Rules of Ecommerce

This episode is brought to you by Commerce [https://www.commerce.com/retailremix]. AI is rewriting the rules of online shopping — and it’s happening faster than anyone expected. In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein chats with Travis Hess, CEO of the newly rebranded Commerce, about how conversational AI and “answer engines” like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google’s AI Overviews are transforming how consumers discover and shop for products online. Travis shares why these new tools represent the biggest paradigm shift since the dawn of ecommerce and explains why brands that fail to optimize for AI-driven discovery risk disappearing altogether.  Key Takeaways: * How to capture some of the projected $260 billion in sales AI is expected to drive this holiday season; * Why the “customer is the new channel” in our increasingly AI-driven world; * How to adapt your ecommerce strategy for contextual discoverability; and * Why a brand’s “content supply chain” matters more than ever, and how to enhance yours. Related Links * Learn more about Commerce [https://www.commerce.com] (parent company of BigCommerce, Feedonomics and Makeswift) * Related reading: AI Search is Rapidly Gaining Consumers’ Trust [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/data-analytics/ai-machine-learning/ai-search-is-rapidly-gaining-consumers-trust] * Related reading: Salesforce Global Holiday Forecast — AI Will Drive $1.6 Trillion in In-Store Sales [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/industry-insights/salesforce-global-holiday-forecast-ai-will-drive-1-6-trillion-in-in-store-sales] * Catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] * Learn more about AI evolutions in commerce on Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] ----- How to Win Customers Across Every Channel This guide from BigCommerce brings you expert insights on data, branding, and marketing to help you grow sales across every major channel. Read the Guide [https://www.bigcommerce.com/resources/guides/bc-channel-guide/].

Pacsun’s Formula for Relevance: Youth Culture + Co-Creation

This episode is brought to you by Commerce [https://www.commerce.com/retailremix]. Legacy brands from the Y2K era are back — but the smartest ones aren’t just trading on nostalgia, they’re reinventing themselves for today’s digital-native youth. Pacsun is the poster child for this kind of strategic reinvention, and in this episode of Retail Remix the brand’s Chief Merchandising Officer, Richard Cox, unpacks how the company is doing it. From activations at music festivals and college football games to its new Youth Advisory Council, Pacsun is co-creating its future alongside the very customers it serves.  Listen in to hear: * Why Pacsun’s resurgence is about more than Y2K nostalgia; * How the brand has transformed into a purpose-driven, youth-focused powerhouse; * Insights from Pacsun’s first-annual Youth Survey illuminating what matters to today’s youth, with mental health and music topping the list; * What co-creation looks like behind the scenes and how Pacsun pulls it off; and * The power of “anemoia” (and what it is).  Related Links * Explore the latest collections and campaigns from Pacsun [https://www.pacsun.com/] * Dig into the results of Pacsun’s Youth Survey [https://www.pacsun.com/youth-report/], conducted with GlobalData * Related reading: Pacsun Takes Co-Creation to the Next Level with New Youth Advisory Council [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/news-briefs/pacsun-takes-co-creation-to-the-next-level-with-new-youth-advisory-council] * Related reading: Pacsun Follows the Music with Capsule Collection and Pop-Up at NYC’s Governors Ball [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/news-briefs/pacsun-follows-the-music-with-capsule-collection-and-pop-up-at-nycs-governors-ball] * Learn about Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s shopping behaviors and how to connect on Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] ----- How to Win Customers Across Every Channel This guide from BigCommerce brings you expert insights on data, branding, and marketing to help you grow sales across every major channel. Read the Guide [https://www.bigcommerce.com/resources/guides/bc-channel-guide/].

Redesigning with Reverence: Inside the New MoMA Design Store Experience

This episode is brought to you by Commerce [https://www.commerce.com/retailremix]. Gift shops are more than a post-museum pit stop — they can be retail destinations in their own right. In this episode of Retail Remix, host Nicole Silberstein sits down with Jesse Goldstine, Chief Retail Officer at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), to discuss the recent redesign of the MoMA Design Store in SoHo and the unique nuances of museum-affiliated retail. Jesse shares how the iconic museum is connecting culture with commerce in its retail experiences through storytelling, product curation and immersive design.  🎨 Key Takeaways: * What makes museum-affiliated retail different from traditional retail; * Why storytelling and product curation are essential elements of the new MoMA Design Store in SoHo; * Why reducing SKU counts was essential to creating a store “worthy of” the products it sells; and * Insights into MoMA’s global retail strategy, from its stores in Japan to licensing collaborations with brands like LEGO and Vans. Related Links * Explore the latest collections and collaborations from the MoMA Design Store [https://store.moma.org/] * Learn more about the Museum of Modern Art [https://www.moma.org/]’s exhibitions and mission  * Read more from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] ----- How to Win Customers Across Every Channel This guide from BigCommerce brings you expert insights on data, branding, and marketing to help you grow sales across every major channel. Read the Guide [https://www.bigcommerce.com/resources/guides/bc-channel-guide/].