Don’t Miss These Retail Leaders Speak at Shop! MarketPlace 2026

With Shop! MarketPlace quickly approaching in New Orleans this May 6-7, we’re excited for the variety of industry experts and brand leaders set to speak on consumer experience, trends, branding and more. You can hear these retail thought leaders, and more, speak in-person and discover what’s next in retail at Shop! MarketPlace.

MAY 6

Opening Keynote – Retail Reset: Trends Shaping the Next Era of the Store

Retail is evolving faster than ever, and the role of the physical store is shifting along with it. As digital capabilities grow and consumer expectations continue to change, retailers across North America are rethinking what stores are meant to do, and how they deliver value. In this forward-looking panel presentation representing well-known retailers and brands, we’ll explore the key trends shaping today’s retail landscape, from experience-driven environments and service-based flagships to technology integration, operational efficiency and the growing influence of hospitality and community. Through real-world examples, we’ll examine how brands are responding to pressure points such as rising costs, shifting shopper behaviors and the need to seamlessly connect physical and digital channels. Join us for a fast-paced look at the ideas, innovations and strategies redefining the store, and what they signal for the future of retail design.

Speakers:
David Meyer, Design Lead, Target
Tiffany Pieja, Senior Manager, Permanent Merchandising, Hershey
David Kepron, Retail Studio Principal, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting Inc.

Built to Perform: A Conversation with SNIPES

Join Bevan Bloemendaal, Founder of BB Creative Consultancy, for a fireside chat with German-based streetwear brand SNIPES. The conversation will explore SNIPES’ role in this past year’s Shop! Ideation Conference & Retail Challenge, the impact the brand is making within the communities they serve, and what’s next as they continue to shape culture through retail.

Speakers:
Pamela Demarest, Director of Procurement, SNIPES
Tony Igneczi, Senior Director of Construction, SNIPES
Danilo Williams, Regional Director, SNIPES
June Padilla, Art Director, SNIPES
Bevan Bloemendaal, Founder, BB Creative Consultancy

Optimizing Global Rollout: The Project Delivery Efficiency Model Driving Levi’s Store Expansion

As retail continues to evolve, efficiency and standardization are proving just as important as design for ensuring quality brand environments. This session will explore how Levi’s is critically assessing its global store rollout through a multi-year initiative that gathers data and leverages learnings to continually improve. Discover how data-driven insights, regional collabs and an evolving playbook are reducing complexity, controlling costs and accelerating timelines through real-world case studies, including the brand’s immersive Champs-Élysées flagship and other projects around the globe.

Speakers:
Jeffrey Eggert-Peluso, Vice President, Store Development, Levi’s
Kate Culley-Rapata, Principal, Design & Architecture, Globeateliê

Puma’s Smart Stores: Agents and Digital Humans Redefine Customer Interaction

Explore how AI-powered agents and digital humans are reshaping the in-store experience, transforming how retailers connect with customers, empower employees and streamline operations. In this forward-looking session, discover how PUMA is leveraging intelligent, human-like interfaces to deliver multilingual support, real-time product education and personalized recommendations, all while seamlessly integrating with core retail systems. Attendees will gain insight into how these technologies enhance service, drive efficiency and elevate the overall shopping journey, redefining what’s possible on the sales floor.

Speakers:
Ivan Dashkov, Head of Emerging Marketing Tech, PUMA
Jesse Marseille, Head of Go To Market, LiveX AI
Payom Niazmandi, Head of Omnichannel AI Agents, LiveX AI
Bob Mitchell, Principal, Founder, Mitchell Partnership Alliances

MAY 7

Culture as a Catalyst: Elevating Performance and Consumer Experience

Exceptional consumer experiences begin before the sales floor – it starts with culture. This keynote session will explore how a two-year transformation of a regional VM team at New Balance reshaped performance, customer impact, and collaboration. Discover the importance of empowering teams, embracing strategic evolution, and fostering trust – all of which can unlock and eliminate bottlenecks. Through real-world lessons, understand how intentional culture building creates future ready organizations, ones that elevate both internal performance and the experiences delivered to today’s consumers.

Speaker:
Amber Bazdar, Director of Visual Merchandising, North America, New Balance

Fast Forward – Transforming the QSR Customer Experience

Quick-service restaurants are rapidly redefining what convenience, speed and experience look like for today’s customers. As expectations evolve, from digital ordering and seamless pickup to more welcoming dine-in environments, the design of QSR spaces must adapt to support new behaviors while maintaining operational efficiency. This high-impact panel brings together senior executives leading QSR brand evolutions and refreshes happening today. Through conversation and real-world examples, panelists will explore how changing customer preferences are influencing store layouts, service models, technology integration and brand expression inside the physical environment. Attendees will gain insight into how QSR brands are rethinking their spaces to balance speed, flexibility and experience, ensuring stores remain relevant as dining habits, ordering channels and customer expectations continue to shift.

Speakers:
Chris Tebben, CEO & President, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.
Andy House, Senior Director, Agency, Imagine Studio
David Milne, Formerly of Inspire Brands
Paul Gresham, Architect, Managing Principal

Shop! MarketPlace is the ultimate experience for the future of retail. From the show floor to the city retail tour, networking happy hours and more, Shop! MarketPlace is the place to be this spring. Secure your spot today to experience all the Shop! MarketPlace has to offer. Shop! members and retail brands receive discounted rates.