For my 500th episode, I sit down with Jim Okamura, Partner at McMillan Doolittle Live from Narvar podcasting studio at the NRF Big Show in New York. Jim is a long-time friend and colleague, and my partner in the Global eCommerce Leaders Forum (GELF) community, to unpack the biggest signals shaping retail’s future. From circular store models and luxury resale to AI-driven productivity and global commerce strategy, Jim explains why 2026 will be a defining year. We explore how retailers must simplify operations, rethink talent, and strengthen data governance to scale innovation and compete in a rapidly changing, borderless retail landscape. We finish with an update on the GELF community that brings together brands and retailers looking to expand globally.
Recorded live from the Narvar podcasting studio at the NRF Big Show in New York, this 500th episode of The Voice of Retail features Michael LeBlanc in conversation with Jim Okamura, Partner at McMillanDoolittle and Co-Founder of the Global E-Commerce Leaders Forum (GELF). With nearly three decades of NRF attendance, Jim brings rare perspective on how retail has evolved—and why this year’s show feels like a turning point.
The discussion opens with the shifting mood across the industry. After a year defined by uncertainty and stalled investment, Jim notes a renewed sense of confidence and proactive thinking among retailers. Despite geopolitical volatility and tariff risks, brands are beginning to move from defensive postures toward growth strategies grounded in technology, experience, and global expansion.
From there, Michael and Jim explore what’s happening inside physical retail through store tour insights. They revisit standout experiences from Tecovas in New York, Patagonia’s re-commerce flagship in Chicago, and Fjällräven’s repair-driven store model—each illustrating how brands are using service, repair, and resale to create emotional loyalty and long-term customer value. Jim emphasizes that circular retail is no longer a niche or sustainability checkbox; it is becoming a core brand strategy, even in luxury.
The conversation then shifts to AI, the dominant theme at NRF. Jim highlights how retailers are moving beyond pilot projects and into real operational use—especially in content creation, product imagery, associate tools, and internal data analysis. One recurring theme: simplification. AI’s greatest value, Jim argues, is its ability to reduce friction—whether for customers navigating e-commerce, or for store associates juggling dozens of disconnected systems.
Michael and Jim also examine the organizational implications of AI. As automation replaces many entry-level tasks, they raise critical questions about talent development, culture, and “reverse mentoring.” Younger employees—native to prompts and digital tools—may become essential guides in shaping how retailers evolve.
Finally, the conversation returns to global commerce. Through GELF, Jim (and Michael) works with brands navigating cross-border growth, tariffs, marketplace complexity, and brand integrity across regions. He believes 2026 will mark a return to global growth—driven by smarter governance, better data readiness, and peer-driven learning models.
Jim’s closing advice is clear: retailers must invest now in AI governance, data infrastructure, and scalable use cases—or risk being left behind in a rapidly transforming industry.