At NRF 2025, RetailNext hosted a dynamic Fireside Chat featuring Ayotunde Gibbs, Vice President of Enterprise Systems and Data at Dave & Buster’s, and Joe Shasteen, Global Manager of Advanced Analytics at RetailNext. The conversation focused on how data is transforming the arcade-meets-dining experience and why personalization, adaptability, and strategic visibility are essential in retail entertainment.

Gibbs explained that Dave & Buster’s operates a wide variety of store formats. These range from mall-based locations to destination venues over 70,000 square feet. With such a diverse footprint, it has become critical to understand guest behavior at a granular level. Every store requires tailored decisions based on its unique layout, flow, and function.

This is where RetailNext provides value. As the first IoT platform built specifically for brick-and-mortar retail, RetailNext delivers real-time insights into shopper behavior using ecommerce-style analytics. Shasteen emphasized that this type of data helps businesses move beyond assumptions to make informed, precise decisions. Retailers can track traffic, monitor dwell time, and identify patterns that guide merchandising, operations, and guest experience strategies.

The discussion also highlighted how data empowers brands like Dave & Buster’s to create stronger connections with their guests. From the moment a customer enters the space to the time they leave, the experience can be designed to feel seamless, personalized, and engaging.

The key message? Data is no longer just a support function. It is a strategic asset driving performance across the entire guest journey.

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