What Lowe’s, Wayfair & Macy’s Are Bringing to Chicago
Key Topics Shaping the Shoptalk Fall 2025 Agenda
Zihan Lyu
September 07, 2025
Hi there,
Shoptalk Fall is almost here – and so are retail’s biggest power players. The conversations at Shoptalk Fall 2025 will set the tone for how the industry tackles its toughest challenges.
Key Topics Shaping the 2025 Agenda
This year’s Shoptalk Fall agenda focuses on four forces driving retail forward.
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Data and AI are moving beyond dashboards to power real-time forecasting, smarter planning, and sharper execution.
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Merchandising is under pressure as teams test bold assortment choices and new formats in unpredictable markets.
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Loyalty and brand identity are being redefined, with customer experience expected to deliver both emotional connection and commercial results.
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Leadership is facing its toughest test yet, balancing cost control, innovation, and organizational resilience in an era of constant volatility.
Sessions to watch in each key theme
Data-Driven & AI-Augmented Retail Intelligence
Leveling Up on Search in the AI Era
Speakers: Athleta, Target, Edible Brands, Alix Partners
Time & Location: Thu, Sept 18 – 9:35am–10:15am | AIR
Retail Intelligence: What AI Can – and Can’t – Do Today
Speakers: ThredUp, Lowe’s, Tanger, TWO ISAACS
Time & Location: Thu, Sept 18 – 4:15pm–4:55pm | AIR
Another key question raised here: can measurement finally move from reporting to decision-making? Fospha’s full-funnel measurement solution is built for that shift, showing marketers which channels – from Meta to TikTok to retail media – are actually driving incremental growth.
Search, Discover, Convert: Improving the Ecommerce Customer Experience
Speakers: Grendene Global Brands, Eyebuydirect (EssilorLuxottica), Lowe’s, Retail Tech Media Nexus
Time & Location: Fri, Sept 19 – 10:30am–11:10am | AIR
Product Curation & Innovation Under Pressure
Running a Brand in the Face of Change
Speakers: Wayfair, Reuters
Time & Location: Wed, Sept 17 – 2:45pm–3:25pm | FIRE
Making New Formats Stick: Moving Beyond the Pilot Phase
Speakers: SHEIN, Consortium Brand Partners, Simon Property Group
Time & Location: Thu, Sept 18 – 10:25am–11:05am | FIRE
How Retail Media is Rewriting the Storefront and Digital Shelf
Speakers: Target, Expedia Group Advertising, Media, Ads + Commerce
Time & Location: Fri, Sept 19 – 11:20am–12:00pm | FIRE
Brand Identity, Loyalty & Customer Experience in a Shifting World
Creative Optimization in the Age of Automation
Speakers: Stitch Fix, Incisiv
Time & Location: Thu, Sept 18 – 9:35am–10:15am | WATER
Winning Brand Expression Across Platforms
Speakers: Ace Hardware (keynote), COS, Every Man Jack, Warschawski
Time & Location: Thu, Sept 18 – 10:25am–11:05am | WATER
Building Retention in Times of Change
Speakers: Primark, Ruggable, Macy’s, Huemanize
Time & Location: Fri, Sept 19 – 10:30am–11:10am | WATER
Leading Through Volatility & Change
What the C-Suite Can Learn From the Frontlines
Speakers: Fabletics, Coach, Shoptalk Europe
Time & Location: Thu, Sept 18 – 4:15pm–4:55pm | EARTH
Leading Through Culture Shifts: When External Forces Reshape Brands
Speakers: ThredUp, Amazon Ring/Blink, Harvard Business Review
Time & Location: Thu, Sept 18 – 5:00pm–5:40pm | EARTH
What the Best Leaders Are Doing Differently
Speakers: Anthropologie, Elie Tahari, Chameleon Collective
Time & Location: Fri, Sept 19 – 1:05pm–1:45pm | EARTH
Are you a marketing leader who wants to share how your brand is navigating change? The ClickZ team will be on the ground, capturing the stories and strategies shaping the industry.
Like what you’re seeing?
One Final Thought: Show Up Strategic
Here’s how to make your Shoptalk Fall count:
✔ Bookmark sessions that reflect the way your team is actually structured
✔ Don’t just visit the booths – ask the hard questions around performance and ROI
✔ Think beyond brand – look at where marketing, product, and tech intersect
We’ll be back next week. Until then, stay sharp, and start building your game plan for Chicago.
The Unofficially Shoptalk Team
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