How many times have you not hit publish, not applied, or not shared your achievements because of fear of what others might think? In this episode, I’m diving into the concept of Tall Poppy Syndrome - a cultural tendency to cut down those who stand out - and how it feeds into FOPO, the fear of other people’s opinions.

After being named one of the National Retail Federation’s 2026 Top Retail Voices, I found myself wrestling with the same insecurities so many of us face: “Will people think I’m full of myself if I share this?” This episode is a candid, honest look at why it’s so hard to own our success, and why we need to do it anyway. Whether it’s hitting publish on your next blog post, launching your podcast, or applying for that award, I’m here to remind you: apply for the damn award!

This episode is sponsored by Mirakl Ads

Timeline

[00:00] – Reflecting on imposter syndrome after being named a National Retail Federation 2026 Top Retail Voice.

[01:00] – Introducing Tall Poppy Syndrome and how it affects ambitious professionals.

[02:15] – Understanding FOPO: the fear of other people’s opinions.

[03:05] – Why applying for awards feels uncomfortable—and how to reframe it.

[04:30] – My five practical steps for getting past FOPO and putting yourself out there:

[06:00] – Access my Notion database of retail media industry awards to help plan your 2026 goals.

[06:30] – Closing reflections and what’s coming next on the podcast.

Links & Resources

• Check out the full list of 2026 Retail Voices by NRF honorees
• I have compiled a living database of awards relevant to the retail media industry, with dates, rules, and how to apply. You can access it here.
  The database is open-source: if you work for a company that hosts industry awards which are relevant for people & companies in the retail media & ecommerce space, please feel free to add your award (or update any out-of-date info I have here!)
• Subscribe to Retail Media Breakfast Club's daily newsletter
• Follow Kiri on LinkedIn

In this 'Snips' episode, I’m adding commentary to clips of one of my favorite ecommerce podcasts: Cocktails & Commerce with Brian Walker and Bill Friend. These two industry veterans bring on some of the sharpest minds in digital commerce, and in this snippet, they’re joined by John Andrews, co-founder and CEO of Cimulate, a generative AI company focused on commerce platforms.

If you’ve been seeing the term 'CommerceGPT' floating around and wondering what it actually means (like I was), this is the perfect primer. John breaks down the idea behind CommerceGPTs: what they are, how they might transform the way brands connect with customers, and why they could soon become the “brains” behind future retail experiences. We also hear fascinating insights into the rise of “answer engines” like ChatGPT and Perplexity, how they’ll change product discoverability, and what brands can do right now to stay visible in this new era of AI-driven commerce.

This episode is sponsored by Mirakl Ads

Timeline

[01:00] – John Andrews explains the concept of a CommerceGPT and how it represents a new layer in the commerce technology stack.
[02:15] – What it means for a model to truly “understand” customer behavior and use that knowledge to enhance shopping experiences.
[03:00] – Imagining a focused AI model that knows everything about a product category or retailer (and uses it to drive smarter engagement).
[05:00] – The rise of answer engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and what that means for product discoverability.
[06:15] – How brands can position themselves to be seen by these AI systems, and why visibility will require new kinds of data accessibility.
[08:05] – The future of “agent-to-agent commerce” — where AIs talk directly to each other to fulfill transactions.
[09:30] – Brian Walker’s perspective on consumer trust, behavioral change, and how long it may take for AI-powered commerce to go mainstream.
[11:15] – My takeaway: perfection isn’t the goal. Brands that experiment now will be best positioned for what’s next.

Links & Resources

• Listen to John Andrew's full Cocktails & Commerce episode
• For more info about CommerceGPTs check out Brian Walker's essay Surf’s Up! The Next Wave of Commerce is Here - Amplified and Shaped by AI
• Subscribe to the Cocktails & Commerce podcast on Spotify
• Subscribe to the Cocktails & Commerce newsletter on Substack
• Read my article While We Debate What's 'Really' Agentic, Retail Media's Foundation Is Already Shifting
• Read my article Meet The First Retail Media Federations & Consortiums
• Follow John Andrews, CEO and Co-Founder of Cimulate on LinkedIn
• Follow Brian Walker from Cocktails & Commerce on LinkedIn
• Follow Bill Friend from Cocktails & Commerce on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to Retail Media Breakfast Club's daily newsletter
• Follow Kiri on LinkedIn

Despite the buzz surrounding in-store retail media, most retailers are still struggling to move beyond the pilot phase. But Sam’s Club? They’ve done it, and done it well. After touring one of their clubs in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with Harvey Ma, Head of Sam’s Club’s Member Access Platform, I witnessed firsthand how they’ve turned what’s typically a complex, fragmented endeavor into a well-oiled, data-driven ecosystem.

In this episode, I break down exactly how Sam’s Club is scaling its in-store retail media efforts, uniting their teams, and rethinking the shopper experience. From tech-powered measurement to their innovative “Retail Experience Network,” Sam’s Club is setting a new benchmark for what in-store retail media can achieve. If you’ve been curious about how physical retail can deliver digital-level insights and measurable sales impact then this episode is for you.

This episode is sponsored by Connected Commerce at Acosta Group

Timeline

[01:12] – Why most in-store retail media programs get stuck in pilot purgatory.

[02:20] – The massive infrastructure and organizational hurdles that make scaling so tough.

[02:43] – Sam’s Club’s early investment and the simple principle guiding their approach: advertising exists to sell more things.

[03:07] – Introducing the “Retail Experience Network” and how it redefines in-store activations.

[04:00] – Behind-the-scenes of Sam’s Club’s IndyCar sponsorship and what made it a success.

[05:11] – How everyday tech like floor scrubbers and Scan & Go contribute to measurement and personalization.

[07:00] – Rethinking Joint Business Planning (JBP): how Sam’s Club integrates media and merchandising conversations.

[08:22] – A reality check on in-store media spend projections and why Sam’s Club’s model stands out.

Links & Resources

• Read my full article in The Drum, Sam’s Club shows how in-store retail media should really work
• Read my article Best Buy Wants To Become An Ad Platform, Not Just Another RMN
• Read my article The Last Mile of America: Inside Austin Leonard's Plan For Dollar General Media Network
• Read my article Brian Monahan's 'Bloody Obvious' Bets Are Shaking Up Albertsons Media Collective
• Subscribe to Retail Media Breakfast Club's daily newsletter
• Follow Kiri on LinkedIn