NRF’s annual Big Show has kicked off with a bang! Thousands of retail enthusiasts have flooded the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York to get the inside scoop on the industry's future. At the RetailNext booth, we launched this year’s iteration of The Pulse, our series of insightful fireside chats with industry experts, and conducted live product demonstrations, and hosted the reTAILGATE party with our friends Zipline and Legion.

Missed out on today? There's no need for FOMO, as we’ve compiled the highlight reel for you here!

READ MORE: 2025 Retail Trends That Are Changing The Game

The Pulse: Today’s Tech Talks

Our thought leadership program, The Pulse, started strong with three insightful sessions at our booth (#4657). 

The Beauty Of Accurate Data Insights

Jimmy Elzaky, Director of Retail and Real Estate for Bilogique Recherche, sat down with Joe Shasteen, RetailNext’s Global Head of Advanced Analytics, to discuss how Biologique Recherche uses store data to reach new heights. 

Biologique Recherche: A Legacy Of Personalization

Jimmy Elzaky took the audience through the fascinating journey of Biologique Recherche, a brand synonymous with hyper-customized skincare solutions. Since its first store opening on Champs-Élysées in 1992, Biologique Recherche has focused on delivering luxurious, personalized experiences. With offerings that range from body and scalp treatments to tailored skincare routines, the brand has always championed the notion that skincare is not one-size-fits-all.

Expanding its footprint into the US, Biologique Recherche recently opened a flagship store, aptly referred to as one of its "embassies," in Los Angeles. Traditionally focused on in-person, boutique experiences, the brand is cautiously venturing into e-commerce, ensuring the online experience mirrors the meticulous personalization of its physical stores.

Operational Excellence Through Data

Elzaky emphasized the importance of data in scaling operations. As the brand expands, a master checklist with designated stakeholders ensures that each new store launch is seamlessly executed. Data has been pivotal in this process, providing insights that inform everything from stakeholder responsibilities to customer preferences.

Beauty Industry Resilience

Joe provided a broader perspective on the beauty industry, highlighting its resilience, especially during economic downturns. The "lipstick effect," where consumers continue to invest in smaller luxury items like beauty products, has been evident during the recent global challenges. Despite the pandemic, the health and beauty sector saw strong performance in 2023, with a continued emphasis on wellness and self-care.

Leveraging RetailNext For Enhanced Customer Experiences

Biologique Recherche leverages RetailNext’s data analytics to refine its appointment-based business model. With 50-55% of clients being repeat customers, understanding peak days and optimal scheduling is crucial. Contrary to traditional beliefs, traffic data revealed that Mondays, not Saturdays, are the busiest days. This insight has revolutionized labor scheduling and in-store event planning.

RetailNext’s traffic counting also aids in understanding customer acquisition, conversion rates, and return rates. For instance, tracking how many customers transition from purchasing products to booking facials has allowed the brand to fine-tune its customer journey, ensuring a seamless and personalized experience.

Shopper Behavior Analysis

Shasteen delved into the role of shopper behavior analysis in optimizing store layouts and merchandising strategies. Heatmapping has become an indispensable tool, revealing customer movement patterns and engagement levels with various products. This data-driven approach has enabled Biologique Recherche to enhance the effectiveness of new product launches and refine store layouts for maximum impact.

Internal Data Sharing And Strategic Growth

Both panelists highlighted the importance of internal data sharing. Biologique Recherche uses RetailNext data to back its test-and-learn initiatives, review store performance, and set international KPIs via BI dashboards. Seasonal trends and unique traffic patterns across different store formats inform labor allocation, revenue forecasting, and long-term planning.

Elzaky underscored the brand's commitment to maintaining a niche, luxury identity. Strategic store placements in key cities, alongside co-tenancy with other luxury retailers, ensure that Biologique Recherche remains exclusive and sought-after. Despite its expansion, the brand is focused on delivering consistent, exceptional customer experiences across all locations.

The session "The Beauty of Accurate Data Insights" provided a compelling look into how Biologique Recherche and RetailNext are leveraging data to drive growth and enhance customer experiences. By integrating advanced analytics into their operational strategies, these leaders are setting new standards in the beauty retail industry. For Biologique Recherche, the journey of scaling while preserving its luxury essence continues, guided by the insightful use of data and a commitment to personalized excellence.

Store Traffic Trends Unpacked

Joe also presented the 2024 YoY traffic trends, focusing on festive traffic. Joe emphasized the positive performance of key shopping occasions, such as Black Friday, Easter, Mother's Day, and Super Saturday, in physical stores. He explained that since 2017, these occasions have provided remarkable spikes in store traffic, and the levels are now comparable to the pre-pandemic performance.

Moreover, we’ve tracked a large increases in shopper traffic after Christmas 2024 compared to previous years, signifying pent-up demand. Jewelry came out tops as the best-performing category in 2024 in terms of traffic, with home being lowest. Post covid, the category has struggled to recover from the lockdown-era spike compared to when people were investing more markedly in home goods and refurbishment. 

Joe also presented key takeaways from our UK and US Consumer Sentiment Surveys.

READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT: Empowering Retail’s Future: RetailNext’s New Chapter 

Keynote Callout: Game-Changing Times For Retail

NRF Chairman, John Furner, who is also the President and CEO of Walmart U.S., welcomed attendees at the Big Show and provided insights into the current state of the retail industry. He emphasized that we are not just experiencing changes; we are witnessing a revolution, particularly driven by AI, which is fundamentally transforming business operations. 

In an in-depth discussion with tech industry leader Azita Martin from NVIDIA—an organization, like Walmart, at the forefront of using AI in retail—they explored how AI enhances customer experiences, empowers employees, and drives greater operational efficiency. Together, they examined how AI is enabling smarter and more agile operations while redefining possibilities for both consumers and businesses.

As the retail landscape grapples with lingering inflation, elevated interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainties, Furner emphasized the critical need for physical retail to unite and navigate these turbulent times. He underscored the importance of embracing risk in both personal and professional realms, as well as in technological advancements. Quoting a famous analogy, he remarked, “When you’re asked to get on a rocket ship, you don’t ask which seat. You just get on.” This sentiment resonates deeply as retailers face a pivotal moment where innovation is no longer optional but necessary for survival.

AI In Retail In 2025 

The session highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping the retail industry. With more than 125 exhibitors demonstrating AI solutions, the Big Show showcased the significant strides AI has made. Martin illustrated how NVIDIA, once synonymous with gaming, is now leading the charge in AI with its accelerated computing platform. This platform, combining advanced hardware and acceleration software, enables the creation of scalable AI products that power giants like Meta and OpenAI.

Martin shared an intriguing example of AI's application in retail through L’Oréal’s use of 3D digital twins. These digital replicas of products are shared with marketing partners and processed through generative AI, yielding high-quality, quickly produced collateral. This approach has notably boosted conversion rates on social media, showcasing AI's ability to enhance both efficiency and scalability with minimal capital investment.

Personalization emerged as another crucial theme, with AI enabling retailers to offer highly curated experiences. AI-powered search engines have revolutionized e-commerce, helping customers find exactly what they need. Moreover, the advent of digital twins of in-store shopping assistants has made it possible for retailers to extend the expertise of their most knowledgeable staff to the online realm, providing 24/7 assistance.

The discussion also delved into the evolution from traditional machine learning to transformer architecture, which underpins generative AI and large language models. These advancements allow companies to optimize customer service, supply chain management, and marketing. Martin noted that while AI handles the bulk of the work, the human touch remains indispensable for final checks and strategic oversight.

AI In The Supply Chain

One of the most promising applications of AI in retail is within the supply chain. The introduction of physics AI, capable of understanding volume and weight, enables retailers to create accurate digital twins of stores and distribution centers. This technology facilitates the simulation of layouts and processes, allowing for improvements in throughput and order fulfillment without costly disruptions. Additionally, agentic AI enhances worker safety and accuracy, ultimately leading to higher employee satisfaction.

Advice For The Implementation Of AI

Furner and Martin provided practical advice for retailers looking to adopt AI. Executive sponsorship is crucial, as is a clear focus on addressing key challenges. Assigning dedicated teams to AI projects and establishing metrics to measure success are essential steps to ensure these initiatives add genuine value. As Furner succinctly put it, “Be clear on what you’re trying to solve.”

In conclusion, the NRF Big Show’s keynote session underscored the transformative power of AI in retail. As the industry stands at the cusp of unprecedented change, the insights from Furner and Martin serve as a guiding beacon, urging retailers to embrace innovation and collaborate to navigate these game-changing times.

Zipline, Legion, RetailNext Score At The reTAILGATE Party

Snacks, insights, and touchdowns? That’s a win-win-win. Zipline, Legion, and RetailNext joined forces to cheer the Philadelphia Eagles versus the Green Bay Packers game. Read more about Retail’s Fantasy Draft Pick.

See you tomorrow for day two of retail’s big show! Be sure to stop by Booth #4657 on January  13 for presentations by Dave & Busters and our analytics experts.

Book a meeting with us to get dedicated time with one of our seasoned retail experts and a real-time demo of the suite!