Join the Placer.ai team as they dive into the key data and trends from 2024 and talk about what’s to come in 2025. Our research experts will break down surprising developments, anticipated outcomes, and the implications of these findings in depth in this month’s Discover Virtual event.
2026 in Focus: Retail Trends
In this next chapter of the Discover event, we’ll break down some of the biggest trends that will drive retail and restaurant success in 2026.
2026 in Focus: Chains to Watch in 2026
In this session, we will analyze our 2026 picks for retail and restaurant chains that will thrive in the new year. We’ll break down the strategies they’re deploying, the tailwinds they’re enjoying and the factors that will help them overperform this year.
Ethan Chernofsky is the SVP of Marketing at Placer.ai, the world’s most advanced location analytics platform. Prior to Placer.ai, Ethan was the Director of Corporate Marketing at SimilarWeb and the Vice President at Headline Media. He is considered a key thought leader in the retail space and has featured in Forbes, Reuters, CNBC and Bloomberg.
RJ Hottovy
Head of Analytical Research
R.J. Hottovy, CFA has covered the restaurant, retail, and e-commerce sectors for 20 years as an equity analyst and strategist for Morningstar, William Blair & Co., and Deutsche Bank. Over the past three years, he advised over 50 food service companies on more than $200 million in early-stage capital raises and M&A transactions.
Caroline Wu
Director of Research
Caroline Wu is the Director of Research at Placer.ai and specializes in retail, CRE, entertainment, media, CPG, and tourism. She holds an MA in Sociology and a BA in International Relations from Stanford University. Previously, Caroline was US Director of Consumer Insights at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and VP/Head of Retail Insights and Intelligence at Omnicom.
Elizabeth Lafontaine
Director of Research
Elizabeth Lafontaine is a Director of Research at Placer.ai, having most recently served as Chief Retail Analyst at EnsembleIQ. Backed by a decade of retail experience, she uncovers emerging trends in consumer behavior to help retailers and brands tap into new insights and create winning strategies in the ever-evolving world of commerce.
Physical retail’s renaissance has been marked by the entry of leading Digitally Native Brands into the world of brick-and-mortar stores. What is the unique perspective these players bring to the market? What does their move into physical mean for the wider retail space? How could these brands redefine the future of omnichannel retail? We will discuss all these topics and more to understand one of the more intriguing trends in retail.
Ethan Chernofsky
SVP Marketing, Placer.ai
Brent Paulsen
VP, Head of Retail, True Classic
Transformative Leadership Mind Leaps
In the midst of discussions surrounding AI's transformative impact across industries, the focus often gravitates towards its potential for enhancing productivity. Yet, amidst this excitement, a crucial aspect remains overlooked: the evolution of leadership. How will leadership need to adapt to effectively navigate these transformations? This session delves into precisely that question. Join Steve Dennis and Stephanie Atiase as they explore the Seven Leadership Mind Leaps essential for steering clear of the timid transformation trap, as outlined in Dennis' insightful book, "Leaders Leap."
With today’s shoppers more discerning than ever before, retailers and brands must find creative ways to drive visits to brick-and-mortar locations. This is especially true for brands catering to higher-income households. How can retail regain and maintain its position as an experience provider? What are brands doing to set themselves apart from the competition to provide end-to-end service for visitors? Join us to dive deeper into these and other factors behind creating experiential retail of the future.
Elizabeth Lafontaine
Director of Research, Placer.ai
Rebekah Kondrat
Managing Partner, Rekon Retail
Manuel Neto
Vice President of Global Analytics, Capri Holdings
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