Agenda

Every year, retailers manage billions of dollars in excess inventory and returned goods — and most of it gets written off, liquidated, or destroyed. But a growing number of retailers are discovering something remarkable: that merchandise that can’t be resold is exactly what a family in crisis needs. Join Good360 and two of its retail partners for a discussion on how excess inventory and returns can become a strategic giving asset, and what that looked like in practice for the communities receiving those goods.

Consumer behavior is shaped as much by emotion as by economics, with shoppers seeking joy, reassurance, and a sense of connection – not just efficiency – in their purchasing experiences. Every purchase must “earn its place,” which means retailers need to build trust, personalization, and emotional connections rather than relying solely on convenience-driven tactics. And with AI reshaping the journey and shopper expectations shifting rapidly, retailers that prioritize meaningful, human-centered moments over transactional speed will differentiate themselves – and hopefully build loyalty. Ultimately, consumers want to feel a sense of belonging, community and identity.

Session details are to come. 

Retailers are moving beyond AI pilots toward agentic merchandising—intelligent systems that augment decisions, streamline execution, and enable merchants to focus on strategy. Yet disconnected platforms, legacy technology, manual workflows, and limited real-time visibility can slow progress. This session will explore how agentic capabilities can advance omnichannel planning and forecasting, pricing and revenue growth, and AI-powered commerce—and the data, technology, and operating model changes required to scale value across the enterprise. Hear from industry leaders as they share practical lessons on what is working, what must evolve, and the actions retailers can take to unlock the full potential of agentic merchandising.