Preparing to step onto the floor of Shoptalk 2025 this week with my comfy shoes on and hydration packs ready, one thing is clear: e-commerce is undergoing a transformation unlike anything the industry has seen before.  

In reviewing the Shoptalk agenda, and in the conversations the Rithum team is having as we set up meetings, I’m seeing three major themes at the top of everyone’s mind:   

1. The growing role of AI/genAI: how to capitalize on it without losing track of value
2. The rise of retail media networks and what it means for brands working with major retailer
3. Tariffs and supply chain concerns (oof)

Together, these forces are redefining how retailers and brands operate, innovate, and stay resilient in an increasingly unpredictable global market. Experts across retailers and brands of all sizes and shapes are looking for new ways to redesign strategies and mitigate risks before they impact their bottom line (while working relentlessly to truly understand their profit margins)  

Shoptalk couldn’t be coming at a better time.  

Here are my top 3 predictions for what everyone will be talking about the most across the floor this week. 

Prediction 1: AI Has its Breakout Moment  

AI has been a retail buzzword for years, and the emergence of genAI has turned that buzz into a full-on roar. AI/genAI is one of the most agenda-heavy innovations at Shoptalk 2025. And it’s no wonder, with brands leveraging it to drive personalization, optimize logistics, and improve customer engagement. This year, I’m particularly excited to hear how industry leaders are using AI to: 

• Supercharge Personalization: Retailers are using AI-driven recommendation engines to suggest products based on browsing history, purchase patterns, and even real-time behavior. AI chatbots and virtual shopping assistants are enhancing online and in-store experiences by providing instant support and tailored product suggestions. With genAI, chatbots and virtual assistants are leveling up, delivering more human-like customer service at scale. 
• Optimize Supply Chains: Predictive analytics help brands and retailers forecast demand, reducing overstock and understock issues. AI-powered automation in warehouses and logistics is improving efficiency and reducing fulfillment times. 
• Enhance Visual Search & Augmented Reality (AR): Shoppers can now snap a photo and instantly find similar products (changing the competitive landscape across the real-world and e-commerce). Brands are increasingly rolling out AI-driven AR tools for virtual try-ons, and according to Macy’s and Shopify, this tool has had a drastic impact on return rates (something I also expect to hear a lot about at Shoptalk). 

What to Watch for at Shoptalk:

Google, Amazon, Shopify, and others will be showcasing the latest AI tools that help brands increase efficiency, cut costs, and enhance customer experiences. AI is the new baseline for retail success and Shoptalk is going to be a showcase for this technology in all its forms. 

Prediction 2: Retail Media Networks Make Waves 

There’s been an explosive growth of retail media networks(RMNs) and retailers are transforming their digital platforms into powerful advertising hubs. As third-party cookies phase out and brands seek new ways to reach shoppers, retailers are leveraging their first-party data to create highly targeted ad opportunities within their own ecosystems. Major players like Walmart, Amazon, Target, and Kroger are expanding their retail media networks and enabling brands to place sponsored product ads, display ads, and even video content directly within their shopping platforms. This shift is reshaping the digital marketing landscape, with AI-driven personalization enabling real-time ad placement, dynamic pricing strategies, and seamless integration across e-commerce and in-store experiences.  

What to Watch for at Shoptalk:

At Shoptalk, I expect to hear industry leaders emphasizing how retail media is becoming a multi-billion-dollar revenue stream, offering brands a direct line to high-intent shoppers while giving retailers new ways to drive profitability beyond traditional sales. If you haven’t yet explored this arena, Shoptalk is a great place to explore the pros and cons.

Prediction 3: Tariffs at a Tipping Point  

Retailers have spent years optimizing their supply chains, especially coming out of COVID’s chaos, but sudden policy shifts are throwing a wrench on even the most carefully calibrated operations. This year, brands are facing: 

• A 25% tariff on select imports from Mexico and Canada, with some exceptions. This could force many to rethink North American sourcing strategies.
• A 10% tariff on goods from China, impacting pricing and sourcing strategies and making cost optimization more critical than ever.

I expect we’ll get some deep discussions in the panels and roundtables about how retailers can maintain profitability and customer satisfaction despite rising costs. And I know from my discussions that many are already putting new strategies into play that will help them stay competitive while navigating higher costs and supply chain disruptions, including:  

• Supply Chain Diversification: Many brands are talking about shifting manufacturing to Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America to reduce dependency on China. Some are even exploring near-shoring and re-shoring to bring production closer to home and minimize risk. 
• Real-Time Inventory and Pricing Adjustments: Machine learning and AI-driven demand forecasting and dynamic pricing tools are emerging as the chosen solutions to manage fluctuating costs (and ensure those fluctuations don’t derail margins). 
• Trade Policy Awareness: Retailers are working closely with trade experts (and even policy analysts) to stay ahead of regulatory changes and avoid unnecessary supply chain disruptions. 

What to Watch for at Shoptalk:

I expect that speakers will emphasize that in this era of global trade instability, agility is the key to survival—and that extends beyond supply chains into digital commerce strategies as well. 

What are your thoughts on how AI/genAI, tariffs, and retail media networks will shape e-commerce, brands, and retailers’ strategies in the coming years? Stop by booth #1536 to let me know this week! See you there!

The post 3 Predictions for Shoptalk 2025: How Tariffs, AI, & Retail Media Networks Are Transforming the E-commerce Landscape appeared first on Rithum.

From supply chain resilience to TikTok shop and everything in between, Rithum experts have big thoughts on how brands and retailers can scale, optimize, and future-proof their businesses. During our webinar last week, Rithum’s James Lang and John Fobare joined Rithum’s Director of Product Marketing, Brandon Klein, to talk about where third-party (3P) commerce is headed and how businesses can best keep up. 

Here are the three biggest takeaways from their deep-dive conversation: 

Takeaway #1: Selling on multiple channels builds business resiliency 

Much like a well-balanced investment portfolio, having multiple sales channels is key to weathering economic volatility and shifting consumer behavior. In the webinar, these multiple channels were defined as third-party (3P) commerce; fast-growing business models where brands sell their products through a retailer’s storefront, such as a marketplace or dropship program, instead of managing direct sales themselves. 3P commerce enables retailers to offer a wider product selection without holding inventory. For brands, it helps them reach more customers across multiple sales channels. Marketplaces such as Amazon and Walmart have made this approach popular, with consumer shopping on these platforms growing 30% in 2023 compared to 2022. 

The value of 3P is evident in the numbers, which Brandon talked through in the webinar: 99% of the surveyed global brand and retailer executives say that 3P selling is the best business model to weather economic volatility and 70% of executives report that up to half of their total revenue comes from 3P sales. James emphasized the importance of 3P in today’s complex e-commerce ecosystem:”3P commerce is one of the fastest ways for brands to expand their presence and grow revenue. It allows businesses to tap into new customer bases and diversify their sales strategy without heavy upfront investment.”  

With consumers able to “shop-hop” (as Fobare called it) across channels, comparing prices and reviews, 3P commerce also helps businesses maintain visibility where their customers are most active. With 68% of global executives reporting an increase in third-party commerce sales over the past year, and 59% planning to expand their 3P strategies even further over the next twelve months, multiple channel selling doesn’t just build resiliency but also is the key to staying competitive. 

Final thought:

For those still focused on a singular marketplace, Lang was sympathetic . . . but still stressed the importance of not falling behind: “The resistance to change is understandable, but 3P is simply evolving with the trends. If you’re not meeting the customer where they are and offering the choices that they’re looking for, your customer will just go and find it where it’s available. Brands and retailers that can overcome some of these hurdles can really unlock the full potential of 3P.” 

Takeaway #2: AI and automation are growth game-changers

AI and generative artificial intelligence (genAI) are playing increasingly vital roles in our world, and e-commerce is no exception. Many executives are turning to automation and AI to help optimize inventory, improve fulfillment accuracy, and personalize customer interactions at scale. 

“AI is helping to deliver a lot of value,” said Lang. “You know, we see resources being deployed to add higher value to operations or replace a lot of that mundane work and getting them into greater value-added activities.” Seventy-one percent of survey respondents in a recent study said that AI is very important to their business and their ability to manage e-commerce successfully. But at the same time, a separate study shows that 71% of C-suite execs report genAI adoption challenges, with concerns about its use in silos across the company. This is the hurdle with any new tech: getting past the “new hotness” of something exciting and figuring out how to strategically get the most value out of a technology investment. 

At Rithum, our AI Magic Mapper, powered by RithumIQ, is a great example of how AI and automation can help remove silos, instead of build them. The Magic Mapper supports marketplace expansion by mapping product catalogs across multiple channels in minutes instead of days, and helps you analyze trends, improve personalization, and optimize pricing in real time—ultimately enhancing customer experience and driving conversions. 

Final thought:

As Fobare explained, “Retailers and brands want to focus on what adds the most value—consumer engagement, storytelling, and product development—not on the technical complexities of integrating new sales channels. AI and automation free up resources so they can do just that.” 

Takeaway #3: Social selling is the future of commerce

With e-commerce becoming more complex, many businesses are looking for unified solutions that bring inventory, fulfillment, pricing, and customer data under one platform. Managing multiple channels separately creates inefficiencies, while a centralized system provides real-time insights that enable better decision-making. “Once we get past the strategy part—we know we’re going to do it, we know where and why—it all comes down to efficiency,” Fobare said. “Businesses have scarce resources, and no one  can afford to reinvent the wheel every time they expand to a new channel. Instead of spending valuable time figuring out how to make these connections work from scratch, companies need to streamline the process and focus on what drives growth.” 

Social selling is one of the biggest new channels that businesses are looking to pull into their system right now. As Klein pointed out, 82% of executives rely on social commerce as part of their 3P selling strategy and “29% went so far as to say they rely on social commerce ‘a great deal.’”

Younger generations increasingly rely on social platforms to not only research products, but to also purchase what they discover. Retailers and brands who use 3P commerce to get a unified view and meet customers where they are shopping (be it social media or a marketplace) will capitalize not only on the ongoing shift to social selling, but quickly capture future channels (wherever they may be). 

Final thought:

3P commerce isn’t just an add-on, but a competitive necessity and major revenue driver for brands and retailers that use it wisely. Whether you’re expanding into new marketplaces, fine-tuning your pricing strategy, or streamlining your fulfillment process, success comes down to having a clear plan and the right tools. 

________________________________

These takeaways just scratch the surface of the hour-long webinar roundtable, which covered everything from TikTok shop to supply chains. Watch the full webinar recording for a deeper dive into all the trends shaping e-commerce today. 

 (Some quotes have been lightly edited for context and clarity.) 

The post AI & Automation, Ecommerce Resilience, & the Power (and Pitfalls) of Diversification: 3 Hot Takes from the Future of 3P Commerce Webinar appeared first on Rithum.

How does Gem Stone King keep up with more than 300,000 SKUs listed on Amazon, Walmart, eBay, its own direct-to-consumer (D2C) website and other channels during peak selling for Valentine’s Day? By using Rithum.

“As we’ve prepared for the busy Valentine’s Day season, Rithum’s platform has been an essential tool, ensuring our product listings remain accurate and up to date across multiple sales channels,” said Gem Stone King E-Commerce PPC Manager Andrew Molchan.

Rithum provides support when consumer demand spikes during peak sales periods

Gem Stone King is managing a vast catalog across multiple marketplaces. Pivoting during the fast-paced sales event is the difference between conversions and empty carts.

“The ability to push quick updates, adjust listings, and maintain pricing consistency across multiple platforms is critical during this time. Since consumer demand spikes during Valentine’s Day, we can’t afford to have outdated product information or stock inaccuracies.”

– Andrew Molchan, E-Commerce PPC Manager, Gem Stone King

A curated collection and positive customer experience for Valentine’s Day

Gem Stone King has the flexibility to curate collections for Valentine’s Day. Top-selling products include sophisticated gold and platinum jewelry, as well as lab-grown diamond jewelry, heart-shaped designs and stones. Consumers can also customize pieces with their birthstones or add custom engravings.

Rithum enables Gem Stone King to create customized product feeds tailored to each marketplace channel’s specific requirements. Powerful reporting tools provide valuable insights into performance trends, enabling the brand to make data-driven decisions and spot trends followed by reallocating resources to support those fluctuations in demand.

“Over the last year, we’ve seen a huge improvement in how we manage our multichannel selling strategy and listings. The integrations with marketplaces have been significantly enhanced, allowing us to manage listings more efficiently,” Molchan said.

Reach more Valentine’s Day shoppers through retail media ads

Brands and retailers using Rithum can adjust for content optimization and assist with advertising to reach consumers across the multiple sales channels they are shopping. Sponsored ad placements allow consumers to engage with brands and products, allowing advertisers to tell their story directly. According to Walmart first-party data, marketplace sellers who advertise with sponsored ads see, on average, $4 in attributed product sales for every $1 of ad spend.* Compared to non-ad exposed customers, those exposed to a brand’s Walmart Connect ads were 6x more likely, on average, to buy brand items.**

For more insights into how Rithum can help you elevate your multichannel selling strategy and ensure smooth operations during peak selling events, contact our team and schedule a demo today.

The post How Gem Stone King Manages 300,000+ SKUs Across Multiple Marketplaces for Valentine’s Day appeared first on Rithum.

Have you decided on what date to launch your Easter campaign?

There’s a lot to plan for in 2022 — and with so much on your plate already, it’s challenging to look too far ahead. 

That’s why we’re releasing our latest Essential E-Commerce Calendar, covering January through June. This highly anticipated asset is a favorite among digital marketing managers, e-commerce managers and marketplace managers. 

We’ve done tons of research so you don’t have to. 

Timely Tips and Actions 

From checking how holiday returns have impacted your overall marketplace performance to prepping for Prime Day, we’ve done our due diligence to come up with a whole host of actions for your teams to implement. 

Throughout the calendar, you’ll find smart ideas and reminders across these important categories:

• Digital Marketing
• Strategy
• Marketplaces
• Brand Analytics
• Fulfillment
• E-Commerce Success
• Direct to Consumer

E-Commerce and Retail Industry Events

Inside our e-commerce calendar for 2022, you’ll also find the dates for the biggest industry events, including eTail West in Palm Springs and RetailX in Chicago. 

Even if you don’t attend live, you might want to scope out the events’ websites and social media accounts to get a feel for what people are talking about and to stay on top of trends.

Holidays & Campaign Launch Dates

This isn’t just your average calendar. We kick things up a notch by showing you not only the dates of upcoming holidays, but also when to plan ahead for them — we’re talking weeks or months in advance depending on the importance of that holiday for most brands. 

Resources to Help You Succeed

You won’t be left alone when it comes to implementing the strategies and tips inside the calendar. Each month, we offer several resources to help steer you in the right direction. For example, we offer tips and best practices for Walmart advertising in February and show you how to diversify your marketplace expansion in March. 

Want to be prepared for 2022? Download the Essential E-Commerce Calendar now. 

The post E-Commerce Calendar 2022: Essential Dates for January-June appeared first on Rithum.