What RETHINK Retail does

RETHINK Retail is a privately held B2B media, events, and community platform serving the global retail industry from its headquarters in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 2018, the company operates five proprietary professional communities: Global Retail Leaders (GRL) for senior retail executives, Top Retail Experts (TRE) for industry thought leaders, AI in Retail (AiR) for AI transformation leaders, Media in Retail (MiR) for commerce media professionals, and Supply Chain in Retail (SCiR) for operations leaders. The platform combines these communities with editorial products (articles, podcasts, videos, research reports), flagship events co-located with the industry's largest conferences (NRF Big Show, eTail, Shoptalk, Groceryshop, The Lead Summit), and B2B services including a Speakers Bureau and custom event management. RETHINK Retail holds an official media partnership with NRF for the year-round Retail Voices program, positioning the company at the center of the retail industry's primary thought-leadership venue.

Name

RETHINK Retail

Legal name

Rethink Retail LLC

Website

https://rethink.industries

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RETHINK Retail is a privately held B2B media, events, and community platform serving the global retail industry, operating five proprietary executive communities plus editorial content, flagship conferences, and a speakers bureau anchored by an official NRF partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Industry Media and Events

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Retail industry media
• Trade events and conferences
• B2B executive communities
• Speaker bureau services
• Event sponsorship packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Sponsorships: Solution providers, technology vendors, and brands pay for sponsorship packages at RETHINK Retail events including dinners, galas, media packages, and branded activations at major retail conferences.
2. Speaker Bureau Services: RETHINK Retail curates and books expert retail speakers for third-party events, earning fees for speaker matching and coordination services.
3. Content Partnerships and Reports: Branded content, research reports, and thought leadership content produced in partnership with sponsors. Companies like YOOBIC featured in AI in Retail reports.
4. Custom Event Services: End-to-end event planning including venue finding, private dinners, VIP coordination, and personalized activations for corporate clients.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RETHINK Retail operates proprietary professional communities and produces content (research reports, podcasts, videos, articles) for senior retail executives, retail technology vendors, and consumer brands. It runs flagship events such as the AiR Summit & Soirée and the Media in Retail Summit during NRF's Big Show, and offers B2B services including a curated Speakers Bureau and end-to-end event sponsorship and private event management at major retail industry conferences.

Product overview

RETHINK Retail is a retail industry media and events company operating as a platform of interconnected communities and content services. The core portfolio consists of five professional communities: AI in Retail (AiR) for AI transformation leaders, Media in Retail (MiR) for commerce media professionals, Supply Chain in Retail (SCiR) for operations leaders, Global Retail Leaders (GRL) for senior retail executives, and Top Retail Experts (TRE) for industry thought leaders. These communities are supported by content products including research reports, podcasts, videos, and articles, as well as events such as the AiR Summit & Soirée and Media in Retail Summit. The company also offers B2B services through a Speakers Bureau for expert speaker booking and event sponsorship/management services for retail industry conferences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Retail Leaders (GRL): A private, peer-driven network for senior retail and brand executives navigating real-world challenges and decisions.
• Top Retail Experts (TRE)
• AI in Retail (AiR)
• Media in Retail (MiR)
• Supply Chain in Retail (SCiR)

Products and services

• AI in Retail (AiR) A global community for senior retail leaders and AI innovators driving AI transformation across retail, featuring the Top AI Leaders recognition program and events such as the AiR Summit and AiR Insiders Mixer.
• Media in Retail (MiR) A professional network for leaders steering retail media platforms, partnerships, and revenue streams, focused on the commercial engine of retail from media networks to brand monetization.
• Supply Chain in Retail (SCiR) A community for leaders driving the systems, operations, and infrastructure behind retail performance, focused on the operational backbone from supply chain to fulfillment.
• Global Retail Leaders (GRL) A private, peer-driven network for senior retail and brand executives providing trusted conversations and practical insight on retail industry challenges.
• Top Retail Experts (TRE) A recognized network of thought leaders whose insights influence how retail is understood, analyzed, and communicated through content, speaking, and collaboration.
• AiR Summit & Soirée An annual flagship event during NRF's Retail's Big Show combining a summit focused on AI in retail with an evening networking experience.
• Media in Retail Summit A Commerce Media Saturday event during NRF's Retail's Big Show bringing together executives from retailers, retail media networks, brands, and agencies to explore commerce media expansion.
• Research Reports Industry research reports covering AI in retail, retail trends, checkout performance, inventory management, grocery operations, and retail media, produced for retail leaders and often sponsored by technology partners.
• Speakers Bureau Expert speaker curation and booking service connecting event organizers with top retail leaders and AI innovators for conferences and B2B events.
• Event Sponsorship & Private Events Event sponsorship packages and private event services including dinners, galas, happy hours, and awards ceremonies at major retail industry events such as NRF, eTail, Shoptalk, and Groceryshop.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple communities serving distinct retail industry segments with active membership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NRF (National Retail Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026RETHINK Retail is the official partner for NRF's Retail Voices program, hosting the year-round platform for retail thought leaders honored at Retail's Big Show. This partnership positions RETHINK Retail at the center of NRF's annual flagship event and extends engagement throughout the year through the online community.
• YOOBICminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYOOBIC was featured as a Featured Innovator in RETHINK Retail's 'AI in the Everyday Store' report and participated as a speaker in the AI in Retail Virtual Summit, highlighting companies pioneering applied AI for physical retail environments.
• eTailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia partnership for eTail events including eTail UK 2026 and eTail Boston 2026, with RETHINK Retail hosting Global Retail Leaders dinners and providing event coverage and promotion.
• ShoptalkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresence at Shoptalk Spring and Shoptalk Europe with Happy Hour Meet & Greets, VIP Media Packages, and event coverage during major retail industry conference.
• GroceryshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Groceryshop conference with kickoff party hosting and event programming during the grocery retail industry event.
• The Lead SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Retail Leaders dinner hosting and event coverage during The Lead Summit, a major retail leadership conference.
• Retail Technology ShowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent coverage and presence at Retail Technology Show in London, showcasing retail technology innovation.
• PwCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Top AI Leaders program, supporting recognition of AI innovation leaders in retail.
• MiraklminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Top AI Leaders program, supporting recognition of AI innovation leaders in retail.
• ToshibaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Top AI Leaders program, supporting recognition of AI innovation leaders in retail.
• Centric SoftwareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the AI in Retail Masterclass Webinar on The Retail AI Maturity Curve, providing expert panel speakers and promotional support.
• WayfairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWayfair executive Stefan Poninghaus participated as panel speaker in AI in Retail Masterclass Webinar, representing AI and retail technology leadership.
• SAPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting Global Retail Leaders dinners during major retail conferences.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Retail Dive: Industry Dive-owned B2B media brand covering retail executives with newsletters, events, and research. Directly competes for the same retail-decision-maker audience and the same sponsorship / newsletter / events budget that RETHINK Retail sells against.
• Retail TouchPoints: Long-standing B2B retail media brand producing articles, research, and the Retail TouchPoints Signature Awards. Comparable in mission - serving retail executives with editorial content, events, and custom programs - and competes for the same advertising and sponsorships pool.
• Chain Store Age: Established B2B retail media brand (Encore Media) covering retail executives with news, features, and industry awards/events. Closely comparable editorial-to-events business model targeting the same retail executive audience as RETHINK Retail.
• Digital Commerce 360 (formerly Internet Retailer): B2B media brand covering digital retail with research, events (IRCE/RetailX), and editorial content. Comparable breadth of products (events + editorial + research) and competes directly with RETHINK Retail's events, research, and content programs.
• Total Retail: B2B publication and events brand serving retail executives with newsletters, webinars, and awards (Total Retail Awards). Comparable editorial + events monetization mix and targets the same senior retail decision-maker reader/sponsor pool.
• RIS News (Retail Info Systems): B2B retail technology media brand covering retail IT, loss prevention, and operations with editorial content and the Retail Technology Show ecosystem. Closely comparable in retail-tech editorial/events focus and competes for sponsorships from the same retail technology vendor set.
• CommerceNext: Retail executive community and conference organizer (CommerceNext Summit, awards, executive roundtables). Directly comparable community + summits business model targeting retail and brand leaders and competing for the same sponsorship dollars.

Broad incumbents

• eMarketer / Insider Intelligence: Larger B2B research and media firm covering digital commerce and advertising with subscription research, reports, and events. Comparable retail-vertical content/research monetization model but at substantially greater scale and with a broader cross-industry research portfolio.
• Forrester Research (Retail research practice): Large B2B research and advisory firm with a substantial retail practice serving retail executives with research, events, and consulting. Comparable retail executive audience but competing from a research/subscription base rather than community-led content.
• Industry Dive: Large B2B media company owning multiple vertical publications including Retail Dive. Provides resources, scale, and a sponsorship platform that Retail Dive can leverage against RETHINK Retail, making it the most important incumbent competitor to track.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RETHINK_Retail
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmUO3UiqjPtw90rh_h1AvHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/rethinkindustriesretail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rethink-industries
• Instagraminstagram.com/rethinkretail

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RETHINK Retail