future of shopping Archives - WSL Strategic Retail

The Agentic AI Revolution: What Companies Need to Know for 2026 | EP98

In this episode: Wendy Liebmann and Justin Honaman (Amazon Web Services) dive into the chaotic yet exciting world of retail and technology as 2025 wraps up. From AI’s real-world impact on commerce to the rise of “agentic AI,” they explore what’s truly changing the business—and what’s just hype. They also touch on talent, innovation, loyalty, ... Read more

How America Shops® in Chaos. What’s Worth It Now? with Rich Kaminski | EP100

In this episode: In this milestone episode, Wendy Liebmann celebrates 100 episodes of Future Shop with WSL’s newest Director of Research & Insights, Rich Kaminski. Together, they unpack the latest How America Shops® in Chaos study — revealing how shoppers are navigating a world defined by constant disruption, rising prices, and shifting trust in retailers. ... Read more

Investing in the Future of Retail – Where, Why, How with Diana Melencio | EP89

In this episode: Wendy Liebmann talks to Diana Melencio, partner at XRC Ventures, an investor in the early-stage intersection of consumer behavior and technology, and its investment approach in the health, beauty, and technology sectors. They discuss: How XRC finds opportunities (one way: scraping the web) The touchpoints of the consumer journey that have become ... Read more

A Preview of 2025. AI, Tech, Culture and More, with Justin Honaman, AWS | EP85

podcast with justin honaman and wendy liebmann

In this episode: Wendy Liebmann, WSL’s CEO and Chief Shopper talks to Justin Honaman, Head of Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Business Development for Amazon Web Services. They preview 2025, and what winning companies are doing – and need to do – to capitalize on the latest technology…and other things. They discuss: The continuing tension around ... Read more