Retail Media Unboxed

Епизоди

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  What AI Will Really Change About Shopping, with Justin Sparks of Teads 03.09.2026 29мин

  AI agents are supposed to transform commerce, autonomously researching products, comparing prices and eventually making purchases on our behalf, but the reality of how people actually shop suggests a considerably more complicated future. In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, we sit down with Justin Sparks, GM of Retail and Commerce Media at Teads, to separate the practical applications of AI in commerce from the hype. Sparks argues that the immediate opportunity isn't autonomous shopping at all, but AI-assisted research, particularly for expensive or complicated purchases where consumers genuinely benefit from having information synthesized for them.  We explore why the infrastructure for true agent-to-agent commerce still has a long way to go, how LLMs could reshape product discovery before shoppers ever reach a retailer, and why publishers, reviews, Reddit, YouTube and the open web could become even more important as sources of trusted information. We also discuss what this means for retail media networks whose lucrative sponsored-search businesses depend on shoppers actually searching retailer websites, and why the arrival of conversational commerce could force retailers to rethink both monetization and the customer experience.  Most importantly, Sparks challenges the idea that AI will make brands less important by turning shopping into a purely rational exercise. If AI recommendations are ultimately informed by reputation, preference, loyalty, trusted editorial coverage and the information surrounding a brand across the web, brand building may become more consequential in an agentic world, not less.  5 Key Takeaways 1. Agentic research is arriving much faster than agentic purchasing.The most compelling current use case for AI isn't handing over the credit card and allowing an agent to shop autonomously, but helping consumers navigate complicated, high-consideration purchases such as televisions, electronics or travel. For habitual purchases and everyday CPG products, autonomous agents may actually introduce more complexity than they remove.  2. The open web could become more important, not less.LLMs need reliable information to formulate useful recommendations, which means publishers, editorial reviews, consumer reviews, YouTube, Reddit and other sources can influence what products ultimately enter an AI-generated consideration set. Brands therefore need to think about their visibility across the information ecosystem rather than focusing exclusively on what happens at the retailer.  3. GEO could become a new battleground for challenger brands.Smaller brands have an opportunity to establish themselves inside AI-driven product discovery by ensuring accurate and consistent information appears across publishers, reviews and user-generated content. If AI systems increasingly mediate the beginning of product research, earning visibility in the sources those systems rely upon could become as strategically important as conventional search visibility.  4. AI may make brand building more important rather than less.An AI can rationally compare price, availability and specifications, but consumers still bring preferences, loyalty and perceptions of quality into the process. If those preferences become part of the context agents use to make recommendations, strong brand equity becomes a signal that algorithms must account for rather than something algorithms eliminate.  5. Retail media's sponsored-search model could face a fundamental challenge.Retail media networks have built significant businesses around monetizing search-results pages, but AI-driven discovery could mean shoppers arrive at retailers already knowing considerably more about what they want. If that reduces searches and page views inside retailer environments, RMNs will need new ways to monetize conversational interfaces and capture demand without compromising the customer experience.
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  Retail Media Doesn't Need More Ad Tech, Featuring Drew Cashmore of Vantage 20.08.2026 14мин

  Retail media has exploded into one of marketing's fastest-growing sectors, but behind the scenes, many retailers are still trying to connect dozens of disconnected systems while advertisers struggle to navigate an increasingly fragmented ecosystem. In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, Drew Cashmore, Chief Strategy Officer at Vantage, explains why retail media has evolved far beyond an advertising channel into a competitive business platform. He discusses why composable architecture is becoming essential, why technology investment—not just media sales—will determine which retailers succeed, how interoperability and standardized APIs could unlock the industry's next phase of growth, and why the industry's obsession with measurement standardization may be distracting from the much bigger opportunity.
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  Retail Media Has Been Measuring the Wrong Things. Hear From Inmar Intelligence’s Leah Logan 06.08.2026 20мин

  Retail media has become one of marketing's most measurable channels, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's measuring what matters. In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, Leah Logan, VP of Retail Media Transformation at Inmar Intelligence, explains why traditional attribution models fail to capture much of today's consumer journey, particularly as creators become a larger influence on discovery and purchase decisions. She discusses why brands need to think beyond last-click attribution, why creator content should be treated as an asset rather than simply another media buy, and how retail media networks can compete for larger brand budgets by focusing on consumer behavior instead of isolated tactics. Leah also shares why planning, creative strategy, and business outcomes—not just targeting and measurement—will define the next generation of successful retail media networks.
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  Retail Media's Biggest Opportunity Isn't Bigger Retailers – Featuring Jon Lowen of Surfside 24.07.2026 18мин

  Retail media has become one of advertising's fastest-growing channels, but most of the industry's attention remains fixed on a handful of giants. In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, we sit down with Jon Lowen, Co-CEO of Surfside, to discuss why the next phase of retail media growth will come from independent retailers, regional chains, and specialty stores that have been largely left behind. We explore why retail media should be viewed as a retailer's operating system rather than simply another advertising product, how first-party data can transform customer experiences beyond advertising, why better measurement is shifting marketers away from media metrics and toward business outcomes, and what needs to happen before thousands of fragmented retail media networks become as easy to buy as search or social.
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  Retail Media’s Growing Pains: Steve Biddle on Fragmentation, Merchant Alignment, and the Next Evolution of RMNs 13.05.2026 16мин

  On today’s episode, we’re joined by Steve Biddle, Chief Commercial Officer at Zitcha. With a career spanning Walmart, Meta, and now one of retail media’s leading orchestration platforms, Steve brings a uniquely deep perspective on how the retail media ecosystem has evolved — and where it still faces major growing pains. In this conversation, we unpack the operational and structural tensions slowing the next phase of retail media growth, including fragmentation across platforms, the disconnect between merchant organizations and retail media teams, and why traditional advertising metrics don’t always reflect real retail outcomes. Steve also shares his thoughts on the future role of AI in simplifying retail media execution, why transparency across networks matters more than ever, and how stronger integration between merchant data and media systems could fundamentally reshape the industry. It’s a thoughtful, candid conversation about where retail media stands today — and what needs to happen next.
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  Beyond the Screen: How Digital Out-of-Home Is Powering Retail Media’s Real-World Moment 16.04.2026 21мин

  In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, we sit down with Intersection CEO Chris Grosso to explore how digital out-of-home (DOOH) is redefining the path to purchase. From LinkNYC kiosks to transit networks across major U.S. cities, Grosso outlines how location, timing, and real-world context are turning everyday environments into high-intent media channels. We dive into the overlooked power of proximity, the role of experiential in a fragmented media landscape, and why marketers may be over-optimizing for short-term performance at the expense of long-term brand growth. Plus, how advancements in foot traffic attribution, mobile data, and AI-driven planning are finally helping DOOH prove its impact alongside retail media networks.
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  Beyond First-Party Data: How Experian Marketing Is Powering the Next Phase of Retail Media 03.02.2026 17мин

  Retail media networks are booming—but they’re also hitting real constraints around scale, signal loss, and measurement. In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, we sit down with Colin Grieves, Managing Director at Experian Marketing Services UK and Ireland, to unpack what’s actually changing beneath the surface of retail media in 2026. We explore why first-party data alone is no longer enough, how privacy-safe third-party insight helps resolve the precision-vs-scale trade-off, and why interoperability and collaboration are becoming essential for retailers, agencies, and brands alike. The conversation also dives into shifting consumer behavior, value-seeking mindsets, and the critical role high-quality data will play as AI becomes embedded across media buying, creative, and measurement.
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  How Amex Ads Connects Brands With High-Spending Consumers in the Moments That Matter 21.11.2025 13мин

  In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, host we sit down with Jacob King, Senior Vice President of Amex Offers & Digital Media at American Express, for an inside look at how Amex Ads is redefining the commerce media landscape. Building on more than a decade of success with Amex Offers—which drove over $15 billion in global spend last year alone—American Express is now extending its relevance, personalization, and value into a full-fledged media offering.   Jacob explains how Amex Ads leverages the company’s closed-loop network, rich first-party transaction data, and premium digital platforms like AmexTravel.com and Resy to help brands connect with 34 million high-spending U.S. card members in contextual, high-intent moments. He shares early results from pilots with partners like Marriott and Tumi—results that far exceeded benchmarks thanks to precise targeting, full-funnel measurement, and both online and offline spend attribution.
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  Retail Media 3.0: Dave Simon on In-Store Innovation and the Next Wave of Shopper Engagement 01.10.2025 24мин

  In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, Vibenomics President Dave Simon breaks down why the future of retail media is firmly rooted in the physical store. Drawing from his ad-tech background, Dave compares mobile gaming’s performance marketing to the opportunities retailers have with their rich shopper data, and explains how AI and machine learning can unlock outcome-based advertising at scale. He shares why in-store audio, immersive LED experiences, and scent marketing are key to “Retail Media 3.0,” and offers a forward look at the creative activations that will define 2026 and beyond .
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  From Inspiration to Transaction: Vudoo’s Nick Morgan on the Future of Commerce Media 24.09.2025 22мин

  In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, Nick Morgan, CEO of Vudoo, reveals how his company is redefining the shopping journey by making every brand touchpoint instantly shoppable. Nick explains why impressions alone no longer cut it, and how commerce media can close the loop between inspiration and conversion. He shares insights on “brandformance,” the importance of real-time shopper data, and how AI and conversational search are reshaping discovery and personalization. From always-on commerce experiences to the evolving metrics of success, discover how Vudoo is building the infrastructure for seamless, 24/7 transactions—and what it means for brands, agencies, and the future of retail media.
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  Unlocking Retail Media: Strategies, Trends, and the UK Perspective with Annie Symonds 06.03.2025 18мин

  <br /> In this episode of Retail Media Unboxed, we sit down with Annie Symonds, Strategy Director at Initials CX, to explore the ever-evolving world of retail media. From breaking down its definition to discussing the latest trends, Annie shares expert insights on how brands can fully leverage retail media to drive conversions, build brand equity, and integrate it into a seamless omnichannel strategy.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Annie dives into the do’s and don’ts of retail media, the importance of breaking down internal silos, and why creative execution is just as critical as data-driven targeting. Plus, hear her take on the future of retail media—how AI, off-site expansion, and the consolidation of networks will shape the industry in the coming years.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you’re looking to optimize your retail media strategy and gain a UK perspective on this fast-growing space, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.<br />
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  Kroger Precision Marketing & The Future of Data-Driven Advertising 10.02.2025 23мин

  <br /> In the inaugural episode of Retail Media Unboxed, we sit down with Cara Pratt, SVP, Kroger Precision Marketing at 84.51˚, to explore the evolution of retail media and its growing influence on the advertising industry. Cara breaks down how Kroger leverages data from its 96% loyalty-connected sales to create precision-targeted media strategies, why first-party data is becoming the gold standard for marketers, and how brands can drive meaningful engagement with customers. We also discuss the role of trust in loyalty programs, the shift towards channel-agnostic advertising, and the future of data-driven marketing in a privacy-first world. Tune in for an insightful deep dive into one of the most exciting spaces in modern advertising!<br />