In this episode hosted by Jenny Reese Potter: Investment banker, M&amp;A expert, and contributing writer at Forbes Richard Kestenbaum discusses the evolution of retail from a banker’s perspective—and asserts that the new currency for retailers is original content. How so? The written word helps retailers build a brand across every channel, which in turn generates traffic, and of course, revenue.

Reinventing Retail 20: If You Write It, They Will Come

In this episode, we chat with Mastercard’s SVP of Internet of Things Partnerships Stephane Wyper about the role of IoT in retail—not for the store of the future, but in real-word applications that are relevant today. From the demand for frictionless payments to growing customer adoption, the popularity of wearables, and the convenience of self-checkout, Mastercard’s best-of-breed security and cutting-edge tech like facial recognition is getting people to trust frictionless payments—and giving retailers the confidence to let customers own the process.

Reinventing Retail 21:  Swiping is so last year

In this episode, Matt Gunn and Jenny Potter talk with Justine Santa Cruz, the VP of strategic partnerships &amp; alliances at Satisfi Labs, a company specializing in AI for customer service. We discuss how retailers can differentiate through conversational commerce and AI-powered chatbots, and how these high-tech customer service experiences can feel simpler and more human than speaking with an actual human—especially when the AI is so advanced that customers have no idea they’re talking to a robot. Plus, we chat about the role of AI on backend operations including the supply chain, and what we think brands may be soon be calling “omni-AI.”

Reinventing Retail 22: Pay no Attention to the Chatbot Behind the Curtain!

In this episode we’re joined by Vineet Chaudhary, co-founder of Trendage, a fashion and technology personalization company enabling 3.5 million users to digitally mix and match clothing using avatars, AI, and a vast product database. We discuss how apps like Trendage are leveling the playing field between retailers and consumers, giving them both the tools and reciprocity to establish a two-way street when it comes to giving up personal data in return for great customer experiences.

Reinventing Retail 23: In Retail, You Get What You Give

In this episode, Jenny Reese Potter is joined by Shannon Andrick of Alliance Data, a Fortune 500 company providing marketing and loyalty solutions through branded credit card programs, and Melissa Pegus from MPP Global, a subscription and billing platform which enables businesses to identify, acquire, and retain customers. We discuss how to gain and retail loyalty in the fragile and crowded subscription market through personalization, data science, and targeting only the customers who are truly valuable to a retailer's organization.

Reinventing Retail 24:  It's easy to get a customer. The hard part is keeping them.

In this episode, we chat with Alon Waks of Kustomer and Georg Richter of the subscription retailing platform Ocean X, two up-and-coming retail technologists who are focused on the collection and proper utilization of customer data to create top-notch retail experiences. No other retail model collects more customer data than the subscription service, where cadence (not speed), last-mile fulfillment, and engagement across endless channels can make or break a brand. But with so many touch points for every transaction, how can subscription retailers survive without drowning in data? According to Georg and Alon, the answers lie in leveraging customer data for seamless automation and business intelligence. Listen now.

Reinventing Retail 25: Intelligence is more than AI

In this episode we chat with Tomer Tagrin, CEO and founder of Yotpo: a company out of Tel Aviv that leverages user generated content throughout the buyer journey to increase trust, social proof, and sales.

Reinventing Retail 26: It Takes a Village

Matt Gunn and Puneet Mehta of msg.ai, a Silicon Valley startup focused on conversational AI, discuss how deep learning will shape the future of retail as consumers engage with brands (and their AI) to achieve more personalized, intimate shopping experiences.

Reinventing Retail 27: Stranger than fiction

In this episode, Matt Gunn chats with Tom Barbaro of PebblePost, the company that invented programmatic direct mail. As most retailers have gone digital in their marketing efforts, the mailbox has become relatively vacant, clearing the way for “digitally reactive mail”—allowing retailers to retarget customers at home and capture advanced analytics about buyer intent and conversion.

Reinventing Retail 28: Direct Mail for the Digital Age

With the advent of "cashier-less" stores like&nbsp;Amazon Go, tomorrow's retail shopping experience has the potential to transform in a big way--but are retailers ready? We discuss&nbsp;the benefits&nbsp;and pitfalls of adopting this exciting&nbsp;retail technology in its early stages.

Reinventing Retail 29: Retail Roundup

We take a look at the retail industry's future through interviews that explore emerging retail technology, shifting consumer demands, and the increasing importance of the shopper experience.