From the floor at NRF 2026, Dan Wittner sits down with Freddy Guard from Snowflake to unpack what retail leaders are really talking about this year.

It’s not just about AI—it’s about making AI real.

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, they cover:

• Why “agentic commerce” has become the word of the show
• What retailers are learning about turning AI into real business impact
• Why data readiness is still the non-negotiable starting point
• How knowledge graphs and business context unlock smarter decisions
• What leading tech companies are signaling about the future of commerce

Recorded live at NRF 2026, this conversation cuts through the buzzwords and focuses on what matters for retail executives trying to move from experimentation to results.

• Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7beK6sx6KpLOBvKI59JMSO?si=UjP2SCwPSWaPrqSiuHlvAw
• Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nrf-2026-key-shifts-that-will-decide-the-agentic-future/id1517831626?i=1000745227526
• Listen on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/51d97767-74ba-487d-8c6b-5442e1855d2d/episodes/87f581cd-daee-48f7-b01e-5c3175233bd6/talk-retail-to-me-nrf-2026-key-shifts-that-will-decide-the-agentic-future
• Listen on Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/talk-retail-to-me/nrf-2026-key-shifts-that-will-decide-the-agentic-future/PE:1321427396?part=ug-desktop&corr=196351888147364396
• Listen or watch all Parker Avery "Talk Retail to Me" podcast episodes: https://parkeravery.com/retail-podcast/

From holograms and go-karts to voice tech and virtual reality, Day 2 at NRF 2026 offered no shortage of surprises—and even more insight into what truly matters in retail innovation.

In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, we bring together three perspectives—a consultant (Dan Wittner from The Parker Avery Group), a retailer (Ryan Holm from Helzberg), and a solution provider (Dustin Sundy from Zipline)—to share what truly stood out on the show floor.

We talk about why “don’t lead with AI” became the smartest message at NRF, how retailers are using voice and transcription as a new demand signal, and which innovations felt more like “must-have” than “nice-to-have.”

You’ll hear highlights including:

• Why problem-first storytelling beats AI-first marketing

• The coolest activations on the floor (yes, including holograms and go-karts)

• How voice, transcription, and feedback loops are changing store operations

• Virtual and augmented reality experiences that delivered value

• Giveaways, food trucks, and the fun side of NRF

If you want a fast, honest recap of what mattered most at NRF 2026 (and what you can safely ignore), this episode has you covered.

• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lANEaSsDJGE
• Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4zcXy3zsovfbBZnM3QeZ1K?si=mEKq9uUxRwyB62EyuXsSFw
• Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-wowed-us-at-nrf-2026-with-helzberg-and-zipline/id1517831626?i=1000745139756
• Listen on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/51d97767-74ba-487d-8c6b-5442e1855d2d/episodes/87f581cd-daee-48f7-b01e-5c3175233bd6/talk-retail-to-me-nrf-2026-key-shifts-that-will-decide-the-agentic-future
• Listen on Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/talk-retail-to-me/what-wowed-us-at-nrf-2026-with-helzberg-and-zipline/PE:1321417884?part=ug-desktop&corr=196351888147364396
• Listen or watch all Parker Avery "Talk Retail to Me" podcast episodes: https://parkeravery.com/retail-podcast/

In this episode of Talk Retail To Me, Parker Avery’s chief revenue officer, Dan Wittner, and Blue Yonder's head of global retail strategy, Jim Hull, discuss the evolving landscape of retail, focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence, the importance of data quality, and the transformation of store models into fulfillment centers.

They explore the challenges retailers face with labor and the need for dynamic data models to adapt to changing consumer demands. The conversation also highlights the upcoming NRF 2026 Big Show and the excitement surrounding innovations in the retail sector.

• AI is now a core part of retail strategy and must be tied to business outcomes. The most successful initiatives focus on measurable impact, such as cost reduction, revenue growth, or operational efficiency.
• Human adoption is critical to AI success. AI works best when it augments teams and is embraced by users, rather than positioned as a replacement for people.
• Data quality and dynamic data models are foundational to modern retail. Clean, consistent data and continuously evolving models are essential for accurate forecasting and decision-making.
• Stores are evolving into hybrid fulfillment hubs. Retailers are hyper-focused on redesigning store models to support fulfillment alongside shopping, improving speed, cost, and customer experience.
• Labor models must adapt to support fulfillment-enabled stores. New operating models require updated labor standards, expanded skill sets, and more flexible workforce planning.
• NRF 2026 will showcase retail innovation moving from concept to reality. The event is expected to highlight proven, market-ready solutions delivering real value at scale.

• Why most AI projects succeed or fail in retail
• How retailers are rethinking demand signals and forecasting
• The growing importance of data quality and dynamic data models
• The evolution of stores into fulfillment and service hubs
• What to expect at NRF 2026 (& meet Parker Avery at booth #2703)

• Blog Post: Optimizing Data Readiness for AI in Retail

• Podcast: Retail’s Data Reckoning: Your First Move in Transformation

• Case Study: New Data-Driven Solution Strengthens Grocer’s Competitive Pricing Capabilities

• Insights: The Expert Guide to Data Governance in Retail

In this episode of The Parker Avery Group's "Talk Retail to Me" podcast, retail experts Marty Anderson and Mike Johnson delve into how our firm collaborated with a major theme park retailer to untangle the complexities of managing over 300 unique stores. From hyper-localized assortments to razor-thin inventory margins, these consultants detail how data, analytics, and a clear roadmap contributed to balancing customer satisfaction with operational efficiency.

• Managing inventory across 300+ hyper-localized stores requires a fundamentally different approach than traditional retail models.
• Balancing customer satisfaction with inventory efficiency is possible—but it demands data-backed insights and operational precision.
• On-site visits, cross-functional interviews, and customized analytics were critical to uncovering actionable opportunities.
• Even highly successful retailers benefit from an external perspective to challenge the status quo and fine-tune strategies.
• Robust data availability and high client engagement dramatically accelerate the path to impactful recommendations.

• Read the project case study: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/retail-inventory-management-assessment/
• Learn more about Parker Avery's consulting services: https://parkeravery.com/retail-consulting/
• Meet Marty Anderson: https://parkeravery.com/marty-anderson/
• Meet Mike Johnson: https://parkeravery.com/mike-johnson/
• Meet Tricia Gustin: https://parkeravery.com/tricia-gustin/
• Listen to more Talk Retail To Me podcast episodes: https://parkeravery.com/retail-podcast/

In this dynamic roundtable, host Sam Iosevich monitors a panel of pricing experts as they discuss how to tackle the complexities of modern retail pricing. From inflation and AI to organizational alignment and price wars, this episode delivers sharp insights and practical guidance.

• Robert McGuire, Retail Pricing Leader
• Jeffrey Kittell, VP, Pricing & Strategy, SpartanNash
• Eddy Salas, SVP Retail Strategy, DataWeave

• How agility in pricing starts with organizational clarity and cross-functional alignment You cannot be agile if your teams are not aligned. A well-defined pricing strategy, clear decision rights, and tight collaboration between merchandising, digital, supply chain, and pricing are foundational.
• Using AI as a strategic “intern” to streamline pricing ops AI is not a replacement for pricing teams—it’s a force multiplier. When treated as an "intern," AI can handle tedious tasks like competitive matching and execution rules, freeing experts to focus on strategy.
• The danger of racing to the bottom—and how to hold the line on value Price wars destroy long-term value. Winning retailers focus on their game—not the competition’s—by reinforcing brand value, leveraging data, and resisting unnecessary discounting.
• The metrics retailers should be watching beyond gross margin Profit matters—but so do frequency, basket size, and customer lifetime value. Broader, customer-centric metrics give a better read on how pricing impacts both the short and long term.
• Real-time pricing: aspirational buzzword or operational reality? Real-time adjustments are only possible with integrated systems and data flow. But even without full automation, having playbooks, streamlined approvals, and analyst autonomy can deliver agility.

Whether you're rethinking your pricing strategy or trying to avoid the next margin hit, this conversation offers a forward-looking playbook for today’s retail leaders.

Parker Avery Insights | The Expert Guide to Retail Pricing

https://parkeravery.com/retail-pricing/

Parker Avery Insights | Price Optimization: Margin Rate vs. Margin Dollars

https://parkeravery.com/price-optimization-margin-rate-vs-margin-dollars/

Case Study | Retailer Sees Strong Results With AI-Driven Price Optimization​ Solution​

https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/retailer-sees-strong-results-with-ai-driven-price-optimization-solution/

Case Study | Markdown Optimization​ Solution Vastly Improves Retailer’s Sell-Through and Margin​

https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/markdown-optimization-solution-vastly-improves-retailers-sell-through-and-margin/