The Digital Edge: Inside Retail and Ecommerce with Ellie Ronning

The hype around agent commerce is loud. But what's actually happening for ecommerce operators right now?In this episode, host Ellie Ronning sits down with Javier Marimon, VP of Ecommerce at Felina — a 40-year-old intimate apparel brand navigating the very real challenges of AI adoption without a large tech team behind them. Javier brings a rare blend of product management depth and hands-on ecommerce operations experience, having led digital at Hudson's Bay, Hot Topic, and Aloe before landing at Felina.Together, they unpack the gap between the media narrative around agent commerce and the on-the-ground reality for merchants — and where the real opportunities are hiding.In this episode:- Why product data quality is now your most important AI readiness factor — and how Javier is reverse-engineering customer search intent to close the gap at Felina- How Shopify's integration with ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude is changing what small and mid-sized brands need to think about today- The three stages of agent-assisted commerce — from AI-informed discovery to fully automated transactions — and why most merchants are still in stage one- Why first-party data and customer opt-ins become a real concern as AI agents sit between shoppers and your storefront- The returns data opportunity that most merchants are sitting on but haven't yet figured out how to make actionable- How brand loyalty and emotional purchase categories like apparel and lingerie will likely resist full agent automation — and what that means for your channel strategy- Where Javier is already using AI inside Felina's operations, including building an inventory planning tool himself in less than a dayIf you're an ecommerce leader trying to cut through the noise and figure out where to actually focus your energy over the next 18 to 24 months, this is a conversation worth your time.Javier's parting advice: be curious, get your hands dirty, and before you buy another vendor solution, ask yourself if AI can just do it.---The Digital Edge is brought to you by Signifyd, the Commerce Protection Platform trusted by some of the world's leading ecommerce brands. Learn more at signifyd.com.

The retail landscape has officially fractured into a K-shaped recovery. Welcome to the "Whale Economy."With fewer customers spending more money, the old retail playbook is dead. Merchants can no longer make up lost margins through sheer volume.In this episode of The Digital Edge, host Ellie Ronning breaks down the brutal truths of the 2026 State of Commerce Report.Ellie is joined by Grace Olson-Davidson (Partner Marketing Manager), Mike Cassidy (Head of PR & Storytelling), and Vito Petruzzelli (Ecommerce Risk Consultant).They explore the widening gap between high and low spenders, why luxury surged 19% while beauty tanked, and why decision accuracy matters more now than ever before.👇 WHAT WE COVER:🔹 The K-Shaped Shift: Unpacking the massive divide in consumer spending.🔹 Decision Accuracy: Why you can't survive the "Whale Economy" without flawless risk models.🔹 AI & Agentic Consumers: How technology adoption is separating the retail winners from the laggards.⏳ EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro: Welcome to The Digital Edge01:30 - Meet the Panel: Mike, Vito, and Grace04:15 - Breaking Down the "Whale Economy"09:20 - The K-Shaped Retail Recovery (Luxury vs. Beauty)15:45 - Why Merchants Can't Make it Up in Volume Anymore22:10 - Decision Accuracy and the Margin Crisis28:30 - How Agentic Commerce Separates Winners from Laggards34:35 - Outro: The Future of Ecommerce Partnerships🔗 Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellieronning/🔗 Connect with Grace on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/graceodavidson/🔗 Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecassidy/🔗 Connect with Vito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitoatsignifyd/

Brands now face a critical challenge - they must "code their vibe" so AI agents can understand and recommend their products. Alicia Chaffee, Head of Strategy at Dôen, breaks down how retailers are navigating agentic commerce and what it really takes to succeed in this new landscape.While everyone talks about agentic commerce, most retailers are still figuring out what it actually means. The reality is brands need to translate everything that makes customers feel connected - from website energy to product personality - into data tags that AI can process. This feels clinical compared to the emotional brand experiences retailers want to create.The shift from traditional search to agent-powered discovery changes everything. Instead of optimizing for Google keywords, brands must ensure their unique differentiators are clearly defined and accessible to AI systems. The companies that can articulate what makes them special offline will have the easiest time translating that into the digital agentic world.Unified commerce becomes essential as retailers prepare for agent interactions. Unlike omnichannel, which focuses on consistent customer experiences across channels, unified commerce pools all data and inventory into one system. This eliminates silos between online and brick-and-mortar operations, creating a single source of truth that AI agents need to function effectively.The conversation also covers how AI can transform internal operations beyond customer-facing applications. From demand forecasting to dynamic pricing, AI enables more precise, predictive decision-making rather than reactive responses. The key is connecting data insights directly to the people who can take action and test new approaches.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[04:42] Retailers embrace AI but lack readiness[08:51] Coding brand vibes for AI discovery[11:28] Brand loyalty changes agent shopping behavior[16:22] Unified commerce versus omni channel strategy[18:01] Inventory accuracy challenges for AI agents[20:39] Brand differentiation beats keyword stuffing[23:29] AI optimism over workforce replacement fears[25:05] Forward looking metrics beat hindsight analysis[27:17] Breaking silos between data and decisions[28:42] Test brand uniqueness with AI assistantsSubscribe for more retail and ecommerce insights that matter to your business.

Returns peak is the new reality retailers face every January and February, creating bigger operational challenges than holiday shopping season itself. After years of offering free returns to compete during the COVID boom, retailers are discovering these policies are unsustainable as sales normalize but return costs remain high.Ellie Ronning breaks down why 72% of retailers are rethinking their return strategies and moving toward personalized approaches. She explains how smart retailers are using customer segmentation to offer different return experiences - from "keep the item" policies for low-value products to prepaid return fees bundled with shipping insurance.The shift represents a fundamental change from the 2020-2022 era when massive sales growth masked return processing costs including labor, shipping, packaging, and fraud prevention. Now retailers must balance customer satisfaction with profitability using data-driven decisions about which returns to approve, which customers to charge fees, and how to reduce controllable return factors.Key strategies include AI-powered fraud detection, selective appeasement based on customer history, and upstream photo verification to catch fraudulent claims before processing. The most successful retailers are analyzing daily sales data right now to refine their return policies for 2025, rather than waiting for post-holiday reports.Key topics covered:[00:00] Intro[00:46] Returns peak follows holiday peak[02:20] COVID trained consumers to expect free returns[04:02] Hidden costs of processing returns[05:17] Tariffs drive retailers to recoup costs[06:18] Keep the item strategy saves money[07:13] Prepaid return fees through insurance[08:12] Personalized returns without customer backlash[11:18] Merchandising insights reduce return rates[12:21] Controllable versus uncontrollable return factors[14:05] Selective appease prevents claim abuse[16:19] AI deflects manual review workload[17:35] Photo proof technology catches fraud[19:34] Daily data synthesis informs return strategy[20:30] Refining policies for 2026 peakLearn more about intelligent returns solutions at signifyd.comSubscribe for more retail strategy insights and ecommerce operational best practices. Hit the notification bell to stay updated on the latest trends shaping digital commerce.The Digital Edge brings you inside conversations with retail and ecommerce leaders navigating the evolving landscape of digital commerce, customer experience, and operational excellence.

Retail is evolving fast, and Ellie Ronning explains the shifts every ecommerce team needs to understand. Learn how AI elevates consumer experience, strengthens operations, and speeds up holiday read-and-react cycles. Ellie also dives into personalization trends, digital commerce strategy, partner selection, and the path toward unified commerce. A must-listen for anyone navigating the next era of retail.