Future of Retail: The Evolution of DTC Brands & Marketplaces

We're delighted to present a thought-provoking session where Brian Walker, Founder and CEO of Retail Doctor Group, chats with AI visionary Chad Lieberman to explore how the 4 pillars of AI in retail are fundamentally rewiring the DNA of search, consumer behaviour, language model learning, and retail commerce overall. Episode highlights include: Why the future isn't "retail without humans" but rather humans amplified by AI Chad's bold prediction: your iPhone will join cassette players in the technology graveyard as AI in retail combines with technology and robotics to create truly hands-free shopping experiences The strategic roadmap every retailer needs now - from table stakes implementations to the big bets that will separate winners from digital casualties in the race to implement AI in retail effectively How to navigate the tension between lightning-fast technological capability and the very human desire for authentic connection  About the 4 Pillars of AI in Retail  Pillar 1 - Awareness & Discovery: Why your website's search bar is about to become as obsolete as a fax machine Pillar 2 - Enhanced Experience: How multimodal agents transform traditional browsing into personalised conversations Pillar 3 - Autonomous Service: How customer service is transforming from frustrating phone trees to intelligent agents Pillar 4 - Future Innovation: The fascinating world of agent-to-agent commerce This isn't your typical "AI will change everything" conversation. Chad brings real-world implementation experience and a refreshingly honest perspective on what's hype versus what's happening right now in retail boardrooms. From generative engine optimisation to the ethics of autonomous commerce, we cover the full spectrum of retail's AI transformation - including the slightly eerie question of whether we're creating shopping experiences that are too good to be human.   𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟱-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. ☎ +61 2 9460 2882 ✉ [email protected] 🌐 https://retaildoctor.com.au/   👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Have a comment on the content? We'd love your feedback... Be sure to let us know in the comments below what you think!   👉 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 Feel free to share, send via DM, or repost to your network for added commentary.    👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘄 https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-white-paper/   👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴 https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-blog/   👉 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗗𝗚 https://www.linkedin.com/company/retail-doctor-group/about/   👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 https://retaildoctor.com.au/ceo-breakfasts/   👉 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 https://retaildoctor.com.au/newsletter/   👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘄:  https://retaildoctor.com.au/speaker/   👉 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 https://retaildoctor.com.au/podcast-library/ 

We're delighted to present a thought-provoking session where Brian Walker, founder and CEO of Retail Doctor Group, chats with retail veteran Paul Greenberg about the evolving landscape of retail in 2025. Episode highlights include: Paul's reflections on his non-linear career journey from psychological services to retail, and his current book project "Strings to Rope" Exploration of how retail has transformed from being physically dominated to a complex mosaic of offers, experiences and expectations Insights from Paul's extensive experience in non-executive roles, including as executive chair at Woolworths and as co-founder of Deal Direct Discussion about forward-thinking retailers and innovative business models reshaping the industry Analysis of how technology is influencing retail at unprecedented rates and what this means for the future Spanning industry insights from both Australia and global markets, this conversation offers invaluable perspective for retail leaders navigating the tension between operational efficiency and meaningful customer experiences. Drawing from Greenberg's 65 years of life experience and diverse career in retail, the discussion provides a balanced view of retail's technological future while acknowledging the fundamentally human nature of shopping experiences. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟱-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. ☎ +61 2 9460 2882 ✉ [email protected] 🌐 https://retaildoctor.com.au/   👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Have a comment on the content? We'd love your feedback... Be sure to let us know in the comments below what you think!   👉 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 Feel free to share, send via DM, or repost to your network for added commentary.    👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘄 https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-white-paper/   👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴 https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-blog/   👉 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗗𝗚 https://www.linkedin.com/company/retail-doctor-group/about/   👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 https://retaildoctor.com.au/ceo-breakfasts/   👉 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 https://retaildoctor.com.au/newsletter/   👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘄:  https://retaildoctor.com.au/speaker/   👉 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 https://retaildoctor.com.au/podcast-library/ 

We're delighted to present a thought-provoking session where Brian Walker, CEO of Retail Doctor Group, reconnects with Nikki Baird, VP Strategy and Product at Aptos, for their second illuminating conversation. Episode highlights include: Exploration of the physical store's critical role in creating emotional brand connections for pandemic-influenced younger consumers Honest discussion about the inventory pendulum swinging between physical and digital channels—and why retailers haven't found the right balance Fresh insights into the "store of the future" concept, including appointment-based shopping experiences and targeted inventory curation Practical considerations about labour challenges and addressing the global phenomenon of deteriorating customer behaviour Nikki's candid assessment of agentic AI at NRF 2025—separating genuine innovation from "shiny object syndrome" Provocative discussion about how consumer-controlled AI shopping bots might eventually commoditise retail brands Pragmatic evaluation of enterprise-level AI adoption and whether current enthusiasm justifies future cost implications The enduring truth that "consumers expect you to solve their loneliness problems" amid technological advancement Spanning Sydney to snow-covered Colorado, this conversation offers invaluable perspective for retail leaders navigating the tension between operational efficiency and meaningful customer experiences. Drawing from Baird's extensive career and frequent Forbes contributions, the discussion provides a balanced view of retail's technological future while acknowledging the fundamentally human nature of shopping experiences. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟱-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. ☎ +61 2 9460 2882 ✉ [email protected] 🌐 https://retaildoctor.com.au/   👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Have a comment on the content? We'd love your feedback... Be sure to let us know in the comments below what you think!   👉 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 Feel free to share, send via DM, or repost to your network for added commentary.   👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘄 https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-white-paper/   👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴 https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-blog/   👉 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗗𝗚 https://www.linkedin.com/company/retail-doctor-group/about/   👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 https://retaildoctor.com.au/ceo-breakfasts/   👉 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 https://retaildoctor.com.au/newsletter/   👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘄: https://retaildoctor.com.au/speaker/   👉 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 https://retaildoctor.com.au/podcast-library/  

We're excited to present a session where Brian Walker, CEO of Retail Doctor Group, engages in conversation with Martin Newman, renowned retail pioneer and customer champion. Episode 44 includes: Deep insights into the future of AI-driven personalisation and its potential to transform retail after 25 years of unfulfilled promises The fundamental shift in consumer power dynamics since the first online transaction in 1994 How legacy retailers can compete with digital-native businesses like Shein and Temu Predictions for retail in 2030, including driverless shopping experiences and robot retail assistants The critical importance of maintaining human connection in an increasingly automated retail landscape Fresh perspectives on building customer loyalty beyond traditional points programs How retailers can create meaningful relationships through personalised experiences, events, and targeted content Sneak preview of Newman's upcoming book "ROI Reimagined" and its framework for sustainable retail success Don't miss this fascinating discussion between two retail industry leaders as they explore the delicate balance between technological innovation and human-centric retail experiences. Drawing from Newman's four decades of experience - from pioneering e-commerce in 1997 to building a global retail consultancy - this conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone interested in the future of retail. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟱-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. ☎ +61 2 9460 2882 ✉ [email protected] 🌐 https://retaildoctor.com.au/   👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Have a comment on the content? We'd love your feedback... Be sure to let us know in the comments below what you think!   👉 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 Feel free to share, send via DM, or repost to your network for added commentary.   👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘄 https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-white-paper/   👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴 https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-blog/   👉 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗗𝗚 https://www.linkedin.com/company/retail-doctor-group/about/   👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 https://retaildoctor.com.au/ceo-breakfasts/   👉 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 https://retaildoctor.com.au/newsletter/   👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘄: https://retaildoctor.com.au/speaker/   👉 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗗𝗚'𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 https://retaildoctor.com.au/podcast-library/  

We're excited to present a session where Brian Walker, CEO of Retail Doctor Group, engages in conversation with Steve Sammartino of Macro3D. This episode includes: AI's evolution from isolated systems to interconnected neural networks The "dichotomy economy" split between luxury and budget retail The future of physical stores and human experiences Predictions for humanoid retail robots by 2030 Implications for workforce and taxation policies Don't miss this insightful discussion on how retailers can balance technological efficiency with meaningful human experiences in an increasingly automated world.

We're excited to present a session where Brian Walker, CEO of Retail Doctor Group, engages in conversation with Dr. Jason Pallant of RMIT University. This episode includes: Insights on the impact of AI and emerging technologies on retail and human interaction. The evolving role of physical retail spaces as community hubs and experiential centers. The importance of human connection and social experiences in an increasingly tech-driven retail landscape. Challenges and opportunities in personalization at scale versus niche, artisanal retail. The future of work in retail, with AI augmenting rather than replacing human expertise. The need for retailers to focus on solving customer problems and providing unique value propositions. The strategic importance of empowering frontline retail staff with technology and data. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the balance between technological advancement and human-centric retail experiences!

In this podcast, Judy, the CEO of Peter Alexander, explores how teamwork and customer feedback fuel innovation, underscoring the necessity for innovation to deliver commercial outcomes. She also delves into cultivating a corporate culture that embraces risk-taking and discusses the supportive role of technology in business development. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

We are excited to present a session where Brian Walker, CEO of Retail Doctor Group, engages in conversation with Marcella Larson, co-founder and CEO of Woven. This insightful discussion covers: The current state and future of AI in retail: separating hype from substance. Practical applications of AI for retailers and consumers, and how it can transform the shopping experience. The importance of data management and the role of AI in personalising customer interactions and driving sales. We hope you enjoy this session!

We are thrilled to present a new session where our CEO Brian Walker conversed with K D Adamson, renowned futurist and ecocentrist. In this session, we discussed: What does the future of AI look like? Should we be bothered by AI itself? How will organisations/CEOs future-proof themselves with AI? How will Chat GPT play an important role in the future for brands? Is there a future for bricks and mortar shops? We hope you enjoy this session!

We welcome our 2023 Inspirational Retail Leader finalist, Shane Lenton, Co-Founder and CEO of The Wishlist Company. Shane talks about how his first few work experiences and how they have shaped and inspired him throughout his career to be the great leader he is today. Enjoy this insightful conversation with our 2023 finalist. https://retaildoctor.com.au/podcasts/