Writing

Latest thinking

On AI-enabled growth, revenue systems, and what actually drives sales for small and midsize businesses.

March 2026

The Next Wave of Retail Growth Isn't a New Channel

Retailers keep looking for the next channel to invest in. The real growth is in connecting the channels they already have.

March 2026

Strategy Sprints vs. Year-Long Transformations

Retail doesn't need another 18-month roadmap. It needs a focused sprint that proves the economics of connecting loyalty, media, and AI.

March 2026

The CRO's Blind Spot: Media and Loyalty Running on Separate P&Ls

When retail media and loyalty report to different leaders with different KPIs, the customer pays the tax. So does the margin.

March 2026

What GameStop Taught Me About Retail Media Before It Had a Name

Before 'retail media network' was a category, we were monetizing a 65M-member loyalty database through owned content and targeted campaigns. Here's what that looked like.

March 2026

First-Party Data Is the New Moat — If You Actually Use It

Every retailer claims first-party data is a strategic asset. Most are using it for email segmentation and calling it a day.

March 2026

Why 'Doing AI' Isn't a Strategy

Every retailer is experimenting with AI. Almost none of them can explain what problem it's solving or how they'll measure success.

March 2026

The Flywheel: How Loyalty, Media, and CX Compound

The next wave of retail growth isn't a new channel. It's connecting three things that already exist into a system that gets smarter over time.

March 2026

AI Personalization That Actually Moves Revenue

Most AI personalization in retail is a recommendation widget. The real opportunity is journey orchestration — and it requires loyalty, media, and CX to be connected.

March 2026

The Loyalty Data Goldmine Retailers Are Sitting On

Most loyalty programs measure redemption rates. The real value is in the behavioral signal they generate — and almost nobody is using it.

March 2026

Why Most Retail Media Networks Are Stuck in Silos

Retailers built the ad inventory. They built the loyalty program. But almost nobody connected the two — and that's where the real money is.