Less Than 3 Weeks Till eTail Connect

Hi there,

Next stop: San Diego

At eTail Boston, AI moved from buzz to business, retail media’s pressure on margins came into sharp focus, and loyalty proved itself as a real growth engine. Now the conversation heads west for eTail Connect West 2025.

September 15–17 | Loews Coronado Bay, CA

This year we’ll be diving into:

• ✨ AI that delivers ROI

• ✨ Loyalty and leadership in volatile times

• ✨ Growth through smarter collaboration

What We Learnt At eTail Boston

Community isn’t just a buzzword — it’s becoming the backbone of brand loyalty.

In Boston, Fospha’s, Dom Devlin joined Lindsay McClelland (Little Sleepies) to explore how today’s fastest-growing brands are building communities that power growth. The strongest ones aren’t built on transactions, but on trust, connection, and shared value.

Key lessons:

• Meet customers where they already are (Facebook groups, due date forums, social touchpoints)

• Use feedback loops as always-on focus groups

• Reward engagement with access, not just discounts

• Surprise-and-delight moments turn customers into advocates

• Protect the community with clear guardrails

The big takeaway: a community isn’t just a channel — it’s an ecosystem that fuels acquisition, retention, and advocacy simultaneously.

Spotlight Themes To Expect in San Diego

AI In The Retail Decision Loop

No more pilots — this year it’s about real deployments: demand prediction, reverse logistics, AI-powered order management and search.

Sessions to watch:

• Keynote Panel: Show Me the Money! AI Use Cases to Increase Productivity and Drive Results (IPSY, Stitch Fix, Williams-Sonoma, Boiron, Coframe)

• Client Case Study: Real-World Applications of Agentic AI in Order Management (Kibo)

• Case Study: Applied AI Powering Brand Transformation (1-800-Flowers)

Attribution And Measurement Pressure Points

Measurement is under the spotlight again. Expect fresh debate on how to connect omnichannel spend with real business outcomes.

Sessions to watch:

• Panel Remix: Revolutionizing Your Approach to Attribution in an Omnichannel Environment (MotoSport, Advantice Health, Draper James)

• Innovation Workshop: From Attribution to Action – Building a Growth Engine with Advanced Analytics (Affordable Care Inc)

Loyalty and Post-Purchase Innovation

The customer relationship doesn’t end at checkout — post-purchase journeys and loyalty data are now the growth lever.

Sessions to watch:

• Panel Remix: Beyond the Cart – Transforming Post-Purchase Moments into Lifelong Loyalty (Mattel, JustFoodForDogs, Manscaped, Fashionphile, GHD)

• Panel: Harnessing Brand Innovation and Data Driven Insights to Lead Market Differentiation (BÉIS Travel)

️ DTC Resilience

The DTC playbook is under pressure, but it’s also where brands can take control of data and margins.

Sessions to watch:

• Presentation: Building a Thriving DTC Channel in a Crowded Marketplace (Stanley)

• Case Study: How MaryRuth’s Scaled TikTok Shops to High 8 Figures Profitably

Leadership and Culture

From tariffs to hybrid work, leaders are adapting fast — and under the spotlight.

Sessions to watch:

• Panel: The Evolving Workplace: Mental Health, Hybrid Work, and Workforce Resilience (Advantice Health)

• Keynote: Elevating Your Leadership Game During Times of Transformation (Fossil)

Boston gave us the signals. San Diego is where the retail agenda for 2026 begins to take shape.

Independently Created. Not affiliated with eTail Boston.

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