2024 BFCM Holiday Recap: Performance – Tidbits – Trends – Predictions

In this episode of Listrak's Innovation Unleashed podcast, Listrak CEO Ross Kramer sits down with David Cost, Chief Digital Officer at Rainbow Shops, to explore how AI is changing the way retail teams work, create, and optimize performance. From AI agents that identify website friction to AI-generated imagery that opens new opportunities for A/B testing, Ross and David discuss practical applications of AI and what retailers should be thinking about next. In this episode: How Rainbow is using AI to improve ecommerce operations Why AI-generated imagery could be the next frontier of conversion rate optimization How AI is making creativity an even greater competitive advantage Why leaders need to build a culture of AI experimentation What the AI hype gets wrong about consumer adoption and the future of shopping Discover how retailers can put AI to work today while preparing for what's next. Explore more from Listrak: https://www.listrak.com 

Subscription is more than a recurring purchase - it’s an opportunity to build stronger, longer-lasting customer relationships. In this episode of Innovations Unleashed, leaders from Listrak and Recharge discuss how brands can use subscription signals like skips, pauses, cancellations, and reactivations to deliver more personalized marketing, strengthen retention, and grow customer lifetime value. Plus, hear how the Listrak + Recharge integration connects subscription behavior with cross-channel engagement to help brands make the most of these high-intent customer moments.

RCS is transforming what's possible in mobile messaging. In this episode of Innovation Unleashed, Listrak Chief Product Officer Deanna Ballew and Cheryl Sanders, VP of Mobile Strategy, discuss how RCS is helping brands move beyond traditional SMS and MMS with verified branding, rich media, interactive experiences, and deeper customer engagement. Drawing from Listrak's early RCS campaign experience, they share performance insights, emerging use cases, and practical guidance for marketers looking to test and scale RCS as part of their mobile strategy. In this episode: What RCS is and why adoption is accelerating How verified branding builds trust and improves engagement Early performance results from real-world RCS campaigns Conversational commerce and interactive shopping experiences Using RCS to collect first-party data and personalize messaging Best practices for launching your first RCS campaigns The future of mobile messaging and customer engagement

In this Partner Spotlight episode of Innovation Unleashed, we sit down with Carla Donahue, Senior Director at WITHIN, to explore how brands can unlock growth through smarter lifecycle and post-purchase marketing. While many teams focus heavily on acquisition, a real opportunity lies in what happens after the first purchase. This episode dives into how brands can build stronger customer relationships, drive repeat purchases, and increase lifetime value through more thoughtful, personalized engagement. We cover: Why the second purchase is the most important milestone in the customer journey How to tailor messaging for new vs. repeat customers The role of post-purchase education and product-driven personalization Strategies for upselling, cross-selling, and replenishment How to use testing and data to challenge assumptions and improve performance Ways to engage customers who enter during peak moments (like holiday)  You’ll also hear real-world examples from retail and beauty brands, plus practical ideas you can implement across email, SMS, and broader lifecycle programs. If you're looking build lasting customer relationships, smart, personalized lifecycle marketing is the key – and this episode breaks down exactly how to do it.

Dive into Listrak’s 2026 Cross-Channel Benchmark Report in this episode of Innovation Unleashed, featuring expert analysis of the data and the marketing insights behind it. Hear the trends shaping retail marketing today from shifts in email and SMS performance to the campaigns driving the most engagement and revenue. Key insights from the episode include: • Why transactional messaging is emerging as a critical revenue driver • How email continues to serve as the workhorse of the marketing mix • The evolution of SMS programs as they mature across industries • Why welcome series, cart abandonment, and post-purchase messaging remain foundational lifecycle campaigns Plus, broader topics like how brands can drive growth by focusing on high-value VIP customers, and the real buzz and impact of AI-driven discovery and conversational commerce on the future of retail marketing. Explore the data behind these insights: download Listrak’s 2026 Cross-Channel Benchmark Report and the Beauty-Fashion Benchmark Report.

In this episode of Listrak’s Innovation Unleashed, host Jamie Elden reunites with Allie Naughton, Head of Client Strategy, to dig into what’s fueling fashion’s momentum in H2 across prestige and luxury. From DTC darlings opening boutiques to the surge in SMS and the rise of value-driven fashion, it’s a pragmatic roadmap to finish 2025 strong. Why omnichannel is resurging - smaller format stores, smarter co-tenancy, and how DTC data is picking winning locations Value-driven fashion: private label expansion, resale/rental, and the nostalgia cycle paying off Turning reactive marketing into revenue-driven strategy with AI (trend detection, predicted reorder timing, weekly merchandising signals) SMS/MMS/RCS growth: list-building that actually scales, guardrails for compliance, and how beauty/fashion lead adoption Inventory volatility → opportunity: low-stock and back-in-stock alerts that convert (and where TikTok Shop/Amazon assortments fit) Luxury outlook: why confidence (and margins) diverge -and the “entry price point” strategy to seed lifelong loyalty Holiday, extended: longer promo windows, transparent offer calendars, and “buy-more-save-more” mechanics that lift AOV Whether you lead a DTC rocketship or a 250-store powerhouse, you’ll leave with field-tested plays to grow acquisition, margin, and loyalty - without wasting spend. Download the latest insights, reports and learn more at https://www.listrak.com

In this episode of Listrak’s Innovation Unleashed, host Jamie Elden sits down with Allie Naughton, Head of Client Strategy, to unpack key findings from the new half-year report. From the explosion of TikTok Shop and experiential loyalty programs to mobile’s dominance and the shifting role of AI in personalization and predictive marketing - this is your inside look at the trends, data, and strategies shaping the rest of 2025. How Apple iOS18 and inbox changes are impacting engagement Why loyalty is shifting from points to VIP experiences The surge in SMS, MMS, and RCS - and why it matters now more than ever Retailer predictions on holiday performance, inventory volatility, and price sensitivity How AI is redefining product discovery, personalization, and replenishment What TikTok Shop’s rise means for DTC and enterprise brands alike Whether you're a retailer, marketer, or tech leader, this episode will give you actionable takeaways and strategic foresight to close the year strong. Download the full report: https://www.listrak.com

In this episode, we take a deep dive into Listrak’s 2025 Cross-Channel Benchmark Report, providing expert analysis of the data and the insights behind it. Jake and Allie discuss trends in send volume, channel performance, and campaign successes, highlighting how these factors are driving smarter engagement, revenue, and loyalty. They also reveal industry trends and movements we’re seeing across Auto, Beauty, Big Box, and Fashion. The report offers performance metrics and takeaways for all 13 retail verticals and across 15 campaign types. In an era of fierce competition and evolving consumer behaviors, listen to the data signals!

In the first episode of Listrak’s Innovation Unleashed for 2025, Jake and Allie break down the key insights from Listrak’s latest client survey and share predictions for the year ahead. They discuss how brands are adapting to evolving consumer behavior, the shift toward hyper-personalized marketing strategies, and the transformation of loyalty programs. Plus, they explore the rise of "click and mortar" experiences—blending online and in-store shopping seamlessly. Tune in for expert insights on driving growth in an unpredictable retail landscape!

Listrak’s own Jake Pasini and Allie Naughton dive into “The Cyber Five” performance as reported from Listrak’s platform data to uncover key insights and trends. Hear performance highlights such as revenue trends, channel performance, and vertical-specific growth. How advanced AI enhanced the customer experience, and boosted conversions and revenue across ecommerce. Learn the tactics that worked for retailers and brands from discount strategies, the in-store comeback, mobile, and emerging trends, plus their 2025 predictions into the evolving consumer mindset focused on value and loyalty.