Dr. Mark Chrystal

Speaking today at eTail™ Boston (Aug 11–14, Sheraton Boston): AI Keynote Fireside Chat: Foundations for Agentic AI in Retail. Agentic AI isn’t hype. It’s production systems that reason and act across merchandising, supply chain, and CX. I’ll cover what works, what fails, and how to ship governed, real-world agents. Session details: https://lnkd.in/eQUaazWg #agenticai #ai #retail #eTail #boston

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Always a good weekly read from Nikki Baird. -Consumer spend is higher YOY at 4.4% however lower than April suggesting that the pull forward buys due to tariffs is going down. - Consumer sentiment index improved for the first time in 6 months however still fairly low since Dec '24. -True effect of tariffs on prices hasn't shown up as of yet as most of this inventory was bought pre tariff hikes. So likely BTS (Back to school) is the time when the impacts can be seen. - However, Business confidence especially that of CFO's is very low effecting investments, spend and hiring. "More recessions have happened because of business hesitation than low consumer confidence." #retail

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"As the industry becomes increasingly dependent on data analytics, AI and digital operations, the ripple effects are clear: Grocery retailers must rethink how they source, train and retain talent in a world where AI may become the “silent visa holder.”

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🚀 Big news just dropped: Walmart and OpenAI are joining forces — and it’s about to redefine how we shop, work, and learn. Yesterday, we announced a bold new partnership that brings the power of ChatGPT + AI into the heart of retail. Together, we’re enabling customers to browse, chat, and buy — all in one seamless experience. But this isn’t just about convenience for shoppers. It’s about empowering people. We’re also rolling out AI training and certification for Walmart associates via Walmart Academy — giving our teams a real the tools and opportunities for continued learning. Here’s how I see it: 💡 From reactive to proactive — We’re moving shopping into natural, AI-powered conversation. 📚 Upskilling at scale — Investment in people is at the core. This is about creating opportunity for our associates to grow, learn, and lead with AI. 🌍 The start of something bigger — What we launch now will shape expectations for how retail, tech, and human potential come together. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead! Daniel Danker Suresh Kumar #AI #RetailInnovation #FutureOfWork

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Generic AI shopping agents will struggle with grocery retail as individual products might seem unremarkable, collectively they reveal highly personal preferences that prove difficult to automate. This challenge reveals a significant opportunity for retailers themselves.

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I have shared before this truth and in the AI space conversations are mistakingly focused on tools data and analytics team, tuning models while clueless as the how it delivers to your consumer, associates, Wall Street and other stakeholders. What are you solving for, does it really matter and how do you share that with the specific audiences? Most of what you are seeing is delivering zero value because the story is absent, misaligned or wrong… because you don’t really know how to write your story. So your work is missing the story. Storytelling is a skill that requires as much or more training, effort and investment than any skill based role but companies do not get it, value it and even worse think anyone can do it. Investments in storytelling is proven to drive more profitable growth, shareholder value and consumer engagement than most roles in a company. Winners will invest and the others will lose

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Algorithmic Pricing: Separating Myth from Reality in Modern Retail I’m frequently asked by members of the retail trade press about “algorithmic pricing” — often framed as a looming risk to consumers. This recent National Retail Federation piece does a great job addressing the misconceptions: 👉 https://lnkd.in/g8a-B-vk And candidly, much of the concern stems from misunderstanding, or from conspiracy theorists. 💡 A few realities worth grounding in: 📉 1. Pricing algorithms are not new — they’re just faster Retailers have always used data to set prices — cost, competition, demand, seasonality. Algorithms simply allow those decisions to happen more quickly and more accurately at scale. → This is evolution, not disruption. 🛒 2. The primary outcome is often LOWER prices, not higher Despite the narrative, most algorithmic pricing is used to: • Trigger promotions • Personalize discounts • Optimize markdowns • Reduce waste (especially in perishable categories) → In many cases, it’s about delivering more value, not extracting it. ⚖️ 3. Retail remains one of the most competitive industries in the world Consumers have more price transparency than ever before. If a retailer gets pricing wrong, shoppers can switch instantly. → That competitive pressure is the ultimate guardrail. 🏪 4. This connects directly to what we’re seeing at Walmart (and others) As I shared following Walmart’s earnings: • Pricing is part of a broader omnichannel value equation • It’s enabled by data, scale, and operational efficiency • And it’s increasingly tied to ecosystem monetization (media, marketplace, membership) → Pricing doesn’t operate in isolation — it’s part of the modern retail operating model. 🔍 The bigger issue isn’t the technology — it’s trust and transparency There are valid concerns when: • Personal data is used in opaque ways • Pricing lacks clarity • Governance isn’t well-defined That’s where the conversation should focus — not on the assumption that algorithms are inherently harmful. 💭 For retail leaders, the question isn’t “Should we use algorithmic pricing?” It’s: “How do we use it responsibly — to drive value for the customer AND the business?” Because in today’s environment, precision, speed, and competitiveness in pricing are not optional. They’re foundational. #RetailStrategy #Pricing #AlgorithmicPricing #Omnichannel #RetailInnovation #CustomerExperience #RetailMedia #Ecommerce #FutureOfRetail #TheDigitalFrontDoor https://lnkd.in/g8a-B-vk

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The company has identified more than 35 internal AI use cases spanning supply chain, merchandising, marketing and call centers, as well as customer-facing and omnichannel functions https://lnkd.in/eYcKFeab Macy’s Media Network grew revenue 12.5% in Q4. #retail #Pymnts #AI PYMNTS

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Walmart, in its recently published Retail Rewired report, highlights an interesting trend - increased trust of customers in AI-based recommendations. In fact, it is already at par with the social media influencers: 47% of research respondents say they would trust a digital assistant or agent to choose and purchase household essentials for them within a set budget. This signals an upcoming fundamental shift in marketing, opening doors for AI-powered experiences that are predictive. But there is a fine line: although customers start feeling positive about a digital assistant or agent knowing their preferences so well it suggests purchases before they consider them, over 30% feel negative towards such function - think about it, adepts of hyper-personalization.

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A solid Q2 print for Walmart. US Comp Store sales were up 4.6% slightly ahead of the 4.4% industry average, and e-commerce was up 26% for the second largest e-com site in the US. That's far faster digital growth than the industry (5.8%), and Amazon (~11%). Store delivery (think fresh, frozen, and same-day) and 3P marketplace led the way. 2025 is going to be a year of clear share gainers and losers, and Walmart continues to be in the gainers colum.

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Clarkston Consulting recently partnered with a #footwear company on a MP&A platform vendor selection. The client needed to leverage modern merchandising systems to support their merchandise teams across multiple functions (e.g., planning, allocations), enabling teams to evolve from excel-driven processes to integrated systems, allowing for more advanced capabilities and less reliance on manual processes. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ggg8rEkD #FootwearRetailer #Retail #VendorSelection

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The AI tool is fine. The data feeding it may not be. Demand forecasting models running on incomplete inventory data produce confidently wrong forecasts. Dynamic pricing without real-time ASN coverage will optimize against a stock position that no longer exists. The failure mode I see repeatedly: ML-driven inventory tools deployed on top of EDI networks with partial supplier coverage, manual exception handling, and 24-48 hour data latency. The model performs exactly as designed, but the inputs create a problem. Before evaluating AI vendors, audit the data layer first: ASN compliance rates across your supplier network, ERP/WMS integration latency, how many trading partners still require manual intervention to process. Those numbers will tell you more about AI readiness than any vendor demo. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gfw-Ue4u

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Category management is getting much smarter as businesses bring together data and AI with category experience and instinct, and get the right blend between structure and speed. Assortment decisions now perform better as they’re shaped by real-time impact analysis, while still guided by strategic guiderails, such as loyal customer importance or target demographics. Additionally pricing is becoming more effective as it reflects demand elasticity and customer perception, with the right category and customer-level strategies.

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Walmart’s Q2 results are drawing mixed headlines, but they show acceleration across the areas that matter most to advertisers. Signals from this quarter: - Ad revenue +31% in the U.S., +46% globally (including Vizio) Walmart’s acquisition of VIZIO is now flowing into results, linking CTV with closed-loop attribution. Brands can plan top-of-funnel video and lower-funnel search in one ecosystem, measured directly against sales. This quarter, the numbers show advertisers clearly leaning in. - Same-day delivery volumes up ~50% Store-fulfilled delivery is up nearly 50%, and one-third of digital orders arrive within three hours. That fulfillment velocity creates new high-intent ad moments (shoppers checking their app for pickup readiness, adjusting baskets, planning quick replenishment orders). Lots of opportunity to align retail media with these moments and influence purchase decisions in real-time. - Global e-commerce +25% YoY E-commerce outside the U.S. grew +22%, while international advertising rose +15% (led by Flipkart). Walmart’s retail media flywheel is scaling internationally – and it's a chance for advertisers to test, learn, and replicate strategies across regions, with Walmart as a unifying partner. - Sam's Club e-commerce +26% Between Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Flipkart, Walmart has built a multi-faceted and international network that reaches diverse shopper segments. More places to activate retail media, more audiences to engage, and more opportunities to coordinate strategies across platforms. I think Q2 underscores the breadth of Walmart’s ecosystem and the pace at which it’s evolving. For advertisers, the challenge lies in tapping into that while staying agile to shopper and market dynamics.

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AI isn’t a feature… it’s becoming the operating system for modern retail. At Lowe’s, we’re seeing high-intent customers who engage with our AI-powered MyLow experiences convert at 2× the rate of those who don’t. That’s not about novelty, it’s about relevance, confidence, and helping customers move from inspiration to execution faster. What excites me most is what’s ahead: AI that understands projects end-to-end, anticipates needs before customers ask, and empowers associates with real-time intelligence on the floor and online. This is how we scale expertise, not just transactions. We’re still early and the opportunity to redefine home improvement through AI has never been bigger. 🚀 #Lowes #AI #FutureOfRetail #DigitalTransformation #RetailTech #CustomerObsessed #Personalization #eCommerce #Innovation #Leadership

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Why retail leaders can’t afford to misread this moment: the U.S. economy is growing, but the consumer is splitting into two different species By Carsten KrauseJanuary 13, 2026 At NRF, the economist panel didn’t sugarcoat it. Mark Mathews set the tone with the kind of line that sounds casual… until you realize it’s a warning: “What a year.” That wasn’t nostalgia. That was triage. Because 2025 delivered a rare combination: policy shocks that actually moved the needle, an AI capex surge that’s starting to resemble a new industrial cycle, and a consumer who keeps spending while loudly insisting the economy is terrible. #nrf #NRF2026 https://lnkd.in/exFYiD-s

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