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Interview

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Why Retail Media Is Entering Its Most Transformative Phase

📍New York, USA

Retail Media has become one of the fastest growing engines of profitability and transformation in retail. Yet long before the industry understood its potential, Sherry Smith was already shaping its foundations. In this episode of OFFBounds, Sherry, now President of Retail Media at Criteo, takes us back to 2008, when retail media was still undefined and digital activation was experimental. She reflects on an era when companies like Walmart were just beginning to explore digital monetization and when measurement, talent, and structures looked nothing like they do today.

The turning point came in 2020. What was once a gradual rise quickly accelerated as retailers rushed to prioritize ecommerce, strengthen data strategies, and prove measurable value. Sherry describes that period as a crash course for the industry. Retail Media Networks multiplied, talent shifted dramatically, and retailers learned to operate more like publishers. Brands, on the other hand, had to evolve beyond viewing retail media as only bottom-funnel conversion, expanding into awareness, consideration, and omnichannel planning.

Looking ahead, Sherry highlights two transformative shifts. The first is the move to self-serve activation. For years, retailers operated with managed service models that limited transparency and slowed execution. Now, brands want direct control, real-time measurement, and unified planning across media formats. The second shift is the integration of AI and conversational shopping. As shoppers move toward agent-assisted discovery, merchandising, media, and experience will no longer operate in separate tracks. Teams, systems, and investment models must fully connect around the customer journey.

Sherry leaves listeners with candid advice. To prepare for the next 18 months, companies must hire differently, organize teams around shared outcomes, reduce operational fragmentation, and learn quickly. Curiosity, adaptability, and transparency will separate those who lead from those who follow. This conversation is not only a history lesson, it is a view into where retail media is heading and why this next chapter will redefine how brands grow, how retailers operate, and how customers shop.

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Interview

How HANRO US Used Streaming Ads and Clienteling to Accelerate Growth

Growth has not come from nostalgia alone. Under Satanas’ leadership, HANRO USA invested in modern acquisition channels while playing the long game on brand building. Paid social laid the foundation, but streaming ads delivered a breakthrough moment.

Growth has not come from nostalgia alone. Under Satanas’ leadership, HANRO USA invested in modern acquisition channels while playing the long game on brand building. Paid social laid the foundation, but streaming ads delivered a breakthrough moment.

Interview

Growth has not come from nostalgia alone. Under Satanas’ leadership, HANRO USA invested in modern acquisition channels while playing the long game on brand building. Paid social laid the foundation, but streaming ads delivered a breakthrough moment.

How HANRO US Used Streaming Ads and Clienteling to Accelerate Growth

Growth has not come from nostalgia alone. Under Satanas’ leadership, HANRO USA invested in modern acquisition channels while playing the long game on brand building. Paid social laid the foundation, but streaming ads delivered a breakthrough moment.

Interview

Inside Westwing’s Turnaround: The Decisions That Changed Everything

At the center of this transformation sits an unusual balance of rigor and creativity. Hoerning often describes it as the tension between data and intuition.

At the center of this transformation sits an unusual balance of rigor and creativity. Hoerning often describes it as the tension between data and intuition.

Interview

At the center of this transformation sits an unusual balance of rigor and creativity. Hoerning often describes it as the tension between data and intuition.

Inside Westwing’s Turnaround: The Decisions That Changed Everything

At the center of this transformation sits an unusual balance of rigor and creativity. Hoerning often describes it as the tension between data and intuition.

Trends

The Rise of Brand Memberships and the Future of Customer Loyalty

Brand memberships are having a moment in retail, and it is not a passing one. Across fashion, beauty, grocery, and home, brands are moving beyond traditional loyalty programs built on points and discounts and instead creating paid or value-based memberships that promise access, belonging, and emotional connection.

Brand memberships are having a moment in retail, and it is not a passing one. Across fashion, beauty, grocery, and home, brands are moving beyond traditional loyalty programs built on points and discounts and instead creating paid or value-based memberships that promise access, belonging, and emotional connection.

Trends

Brand memberships are having a moment in retail, and it is not a passing one. Across fashion, beauty, grocery, and home, brands are moving beyond traditional loyalty programs built on points and discounts and instead creating paid or value-based memberships that promise access, belonging, and emotional connection.

The Rise of Brand Memberships and the Future of Customer Loyalty

Brand memberships are having a moment in retail, and it is not a passing one. Across fashion, beauty, grocery, and home, brands are moving beyond traditional loyalty programs built on points and discounts and instead creating paid or value-based memberships that promise access, belonging, and emotional connection.

Interview

Leading With Craft: Jonathan Adler’s Next Chapter

Eight weeks into her role as President of Jonathan Adler, Mary Beth Sheridan is already clear on what matters. Craftsmanship, customer connection, and emotional resonance are not marketing language for the brand, they are the foundation.

Eight weeks into her role as President of Jonathan Adler, Mary Beth Sheridan is already clear on what matters. Craftsmanship, customer connection, and emotional resonance are not marketing language for the brand, they are the foundation.

Interview

Eight weeks into her role as President of Jonathan Adler, Mary Beth Sheridan is already clear on what matters. Craftsmanship, customer connection, and emotional resonance are not marketing language for the brand, they are the foundation.

Leading With Craft: Jonathan Adler’s Next Chapter

Eight weeks into her role as President of Jonathan Adler, Mary Beth Sheridan is already clear on what matters. Craftsmanship, customer connection, and emotional resonance are not marketing language for the brand, they are the foundation.

Retail Intelligence in Action

Black Friday Performance Data Explained. What Actually Drove Growth This Year

Across Ometria’s client base, Black Friday revenue grew 15 percent year on year, with orders, average order value, and basket size all increasing.

Across Ometria’s client base, Black Friday revenue grew 15 percent year on year, with orders, average order value, and basket size all increasing.

Retail Intelligence in Action

Across Ometria’s client base, Black Friday revenue grew 15 percent year on year, with orders, average order value, and basket size all increasing.

Black Friday Performance Data Explained. What Actually Drove Growth This Year

Across Ometria’s client base, Black Friday revenue grew 15 percent year on year, with orders, average order value, and basket size all increasing.

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