Show summary Hide summary
- Why the summit is a must-attend for marketing leaders
- Speakers shaping tomorrow’s marketing playbook
- Fresh formats to boost learning and networking
- Top themes marketers must watch in 2026
- Practical pressure points: budgets, CACs, and channel playbooks
- What you should expect to learn
- How to attend and who qualifies for complimentary access
Marketers are asked to predict the unpredictable. As channels shift and tech advances, teams must move faster and smarter. The Modern Retail Marketing Summit aims to turn uncertainty into actionable plans.
Why the summit is a must-attend for marketing leaders
Held April 20-22 in Huntington Beach, California, the event brings together senior marketers from both brands and retailers. Attendees will hear practical strategies for tackling today’s toughest challenges. Expect candid conversations about acquisition, budgets, creative, and measurement.
Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. earns rare Kyrie Irving comp from Bill Simmons
Sean Penn awarded Oscar forged from war-damaged Ukrainian train: he skipped the ceremony
This year’s agenda focuses on how teams are adapting to rapid change. Speakers will share real-world case studies and playbooks you can apply immediately.
Speakers shaping tomorrow’s marketing playbook
Organizers curated leaders from innovative consumer brands and retailers. They represent companies that have recently navigated major shifts in customer behavior and channel performance.
- Kristen Brophy — SVP and head of marketing at ThredUp. Known for driving significant new-customer growth.
- Amina Pasha — CMO of Thrive Market. Her team focuses on membership, retention, and brand differentiation.
- Richard Cox — Chief merchandising officer at Pacsun. He will discuss Gen Z engagement and creator-led product strategies.
- Lindsey Kling — SVP of brand marketing at Coterie. She’ll talk about moving from transactions to community-centered marketing.
Each speaker will break down tactics that worked, what failed, and the metrics they use to decide next steps.
Fresh formats to boost learning and networking
Beyond keynote talks, the summit introduces interactive formats. These are designed for deeper peer-to-peer exchange and lasting takeaways.
- Working groups to tackle specific channel problems.
- On-site podcast interviews capturing candid insights.
- Small roundtables for tactical problem solving.
These formats make it easier to form partnerships and return to the office with concrete plans.
Top themes marketers must watch in 2026
The program explores the major forces reshaping marketing budgets and activation.
AI and search evolution
AI is changing how consumers find products. Brands must learn to appear in AI-driven results like Gemini and other conversational search tools.
Data strategy under pressure
Reliance on third-party signals is declining. Marketers are investing in first-party and zero-party data collection.
- Strategies for gathering consented data.
- Ways to activate first-party audiences across channels.
Consumer behavior and trust
Shoppers are researching longer before purchasing. Many report poor experiences with discovery on social platforms.
Trust-building and transparent value propositions matter more than ever. Brands need to earn attention through consistent experiences.
Practical pressure points: budgets, CACs, and channel playbooks
Marketing budgets are under scrutiny. Customer acquisition costs are rising. Teams must make every dollar count.
- How to prioritize channels with limited spend.
- Measurement approaches that tie activity to revenue.
- Creative testing frameworks that reduce wasted spend.
Speakers will share adjustments they made when performance dipped. Expect repeatable tactics you can test in weeks.
What you should expect to learn
Sessions focus on transferable actions. You’ll walk away with:
- Playbooks for first-party data programs.
- Ideas for creator and community-driven growth.
- Tactics to optimize acquisition in a fragmented search landscape.
- Networking contacts who can help execute new strategies.
Practical takeaways and real examples are the summit’s promise. The event aims to connect strategy with execution.
How to attend and who qualifies for complimentary access
Modern Retail is extending complimentary passes to eligible brand and retail executives. Other attendees can purchase full access passes.
In the weeks before the event, organizers will release more details about session timing and speaker lineups on Modern Retail’s website.
