A quarterly
Exchange of Ideas
RetailX Salon is a quarterly, off-the-record meet-up series to support an exchange of ideas.
The informal, confidential and peer-led programme balances ideas, experience and discussion.
The European Salon is a unique think tank series designed for leaders in digital product development across digital retail and D2C sectors.
Four, quarterly meetings constitute our first season, starting in March 2025 in Amsterdam.
The Salon is a space to make and change your mind!
Format ☕️
Map
- An inspiring and cozy venue (the penthouse at the Allbright Townhouse in London, The Dylan in Amsterdam…)
- A lifebalance-friendly time (afternoon, 2.30~5.30pm)
- Expert thought-seeders and provocateurs kick-start discussion
- A hand-picked, invited group of peers to contribute, challenge and exchange
- Powered by afternoon tea, cakes and savouries.
RetailX supports the topics with a prepared Board Brief for both prep and reference afterwards. Supporting materials will be available to participants in the Salon online resource.
The year in view 🗓️
- Amsterdam – 20 March 2025
- London – 20 May, 2025
- TBD – September 2025
- TBD – November 2025
Our Salons will delve into critical topics shaping the future of digital product development:
- AI and Agentic Systems: The potential of AI in retail
- Interoperability: Bridging products, partners, systems, and channels
- Skills and Operating Models: Preparing for the future of work
- Speed of innovation – what is the best pace for the consumer?
Shopify: our partner for 2025
European Salon Series is made possible through the partnership and support of Shopify. "Shopify is the leading global commerce company that provides essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, scale, market, and run a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for speed, customization, reliability, and security, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers online, in store and everywhere in between. Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Mattel, Gymshark, FTD, Netflix, Kylie Cosmetics, SKIMS, Supreme, and many more. For more information, visit shopify.com/enterprise"
2025 Programme
Amsterdam | 20 March 2025
Explore how AI agents could revolutionize retail relationships in ways that threaten traditional brand control. Sessions will challenge delegates to consider:
- Will retailers become mere data suppliers as AI bots mediate 80% of customer interactions?
- Can brands differentiate themselves when algorithms prioritize price over loyalty?
- Ethical dilemmas: Who do AI agents truly serve – consumers, retailers, or platforms?
Real-world case studies include Google’s “Agentspace” and Amazon’s API economy. Join us to debate whether open data ecosystems or fortress strategies will dominate the AI-powered future of commerce.
London | 20 May 2025
Dive into the $50B opportunity of blended physical/digital products:
- How Nike’s Cryptokicks and Gucci’s NFTs create new value streams
- The reality check: Starbucks’ NFT successes vs metaverse ghost towns
- Critical debate: Revolutionary technology or overhyped distraction?
This Salon will separate Web3 wheat from chaff, examining interoperability royalties, digital twin regulation, and whether retailers should build proprietary systems or partner with existing platforms.
TBD | September 2025
Tackle the existential questions facing traditional retail structures:
- Walmart’s agile “tribes” vs Zara’s centralized model – which wins?
- Solving the 40% AI talent gap: Upskilling vs outsourcing showdown
- The skills paradox: Technical prowess vs customer empathy
Provocations will challenge delegates to dismantle silos while retaining operational coherence. Learn how ASOS and Amazon are rewriting the talent playbook for the algorithmic age.
TBD | November 2025
How we balance the opportunities for new and better product with the consumer’s ability to respond in a commercially-positive fashion. Is “more” better? How should we approach the pace of consumer-visible innovation (as opposed to our internal, operational innovation cycles)?
- IKEA’s “innovation austerity” vs Shein’s endless feature churn
- The 70% problem: Why most new digital features go unused
- Curation vs choice: Can algorithm-driven “edit buttons” save brands?
Provocations will argue for “minimum lovable products” over traditional MVPs. Essential for leaders drowning in innovation debt but needing clear ROI. Each outline emphasizes urgent strategic dilemmas, real-world examples, and actionable debates while maintaining an aspirational tone.
Who is this for?🙋🏽♀️
Commercial leaders in digital D2C businesses. Whether retailers and brands from the UK500 or EU1000 ranking, marketplace leaders, or selling experiences to consumers in hospitality, entertainment, leisure… Typical roles include CTOs and CIOs, Heads of eCommerce, Product Directors, Heads of Technology. Generally those who specify, develop and extend the digital products made available to our customer.
The conversation is driven by D2C professionals and so the Salon is not suited to B2B suppliers, agencies or consultants to the industry. If you’re unsure as to fit, relevance or criteria please contact Ian to discuss.
Join the Salon 🛋️
Membership means that you are part of the year-round cohort and you will be invited to all four Salons. If you can’t join us in person then you’ll still get the Board Brief and the Learning Points document post-events.
Once signed up you’ll get access to the community site where you can access all conversations, materials and Salon details.
Don’t be reserved – tell us of your interest or nominate a peer!
Register for RetailX European Salon
Register your interest for RetailX European Salon. Places are limited to 24 attendees per session but each cohort has up to 100 members over the year. We will contact you to confirm membership of the cohort and availability of sessions.
