Epsilon

Gen Z isn’t the future—they’re the present. Do you know how to reach them? Check out our latest Pulse research report for insights: https://ow.ly/rXlX50YofNG #EpsilonPulse

The biggest takeaway from our sports media consumption report? The media landscape is even more fragmented than we thought. Consumers across generations are tuning in to watch their favorite sports via streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube TV, Peacock… and the list goes on. And don’t forget cable and satellite TV. So what does that mean for marketers? Erick Estrada from Publicis Sport & Entertainment believes marketers need to adopt a personalized, multi-platform engagement strategy to get ahead. Learn more about consumers are watching sports in 2026 and what that means for your brand: https://lnkd.in/gw3hEkEy #MarketingTrends #ConsumerResearch

The streaming boom was supposed to make #CTV a marketer's dream—more inventory, more data and more ways to reach consumers at home. Instead, it's created a paradox: the more platforms consumers use, the harder it is for brands to maintain consistent reach, manage frequency and prove that any of it is working. The fix isn't more platforms or more data. It's an identity-driven, audience-first strategy that follows real people wherever they're watching. Next week, experts from Epsilon and Publicis Groupe are breaking this all down in a live webinar with Ad Age. You'll want to tune in! 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gYxKUSHr

We’re pleased to announce that Kate Sirkin has been appointed Chief Data Officer at Epsilon! In this role, Kate leads the teams responsible for developing the unique datasets and data products that power Epsilon PeopleCloud, helping clients grow, enrich and activate their first-party data to deliver more relevant, personalized customer experiences. Please join us in congratulating Kate on her new role 🎉

Our latest research uncovers eight data-driven insights to connect with Gen Z. Learn more from Rachel Cascisa and dive into details on Gen Z's: -AI usage and preferences -Behaviors around when and how they watch TV -Social media habits -Shopping strategies -Loyalty habits and attitudes -Travel preferences and more Download the report: https://ow.ly/tPhG50Yof5f #EpsilonPulse

If you followed along with us at Shoptalk last week, you probably noticed AI was the backdrop to almost every conversation. But stepping back, the bigger takeaway is this: AI is starting to reshape where discovery happens, how decisions get made and who stays closest to the customer. You could see early signs of that everywhere—from SEPHORA bringing shopping into ChatGPT, to conversations with Yum! Brands around making data usable for AI, to the reality check from Currys plc that models alone don't drive outcomes. Different conversations. Same underlying shift. And it creates real tension for retailers and brands. That’s where retail media starts to play a different role. It's still a monetization lever, but it also helps retailers and brands stay present and influential in moments that increasingly happen off‑property. If AI is reshaping the path to purchase, retailers and brands need ways to stay inside that journey. We pulled all of this together in our full #Shoptalk recap: https://lnkd.in/gtN9_6bv

And that's a wrap on Shoptalk 2026. A great few days in Las Vegas, hearing from brands and retailers pushing the industry forward and connecting with the people behind it. From conversations at our booth to catching up over drinks at our Skyfall happy hour at Mandalay Bay, this week made it clear how fast retail is evolving. Good to be in the middle of it. Until next time, #Shoptalk. #Shoptalk2026 #retail #retailmedia

One of the more interesting conversations we caught on Day 3 of Shoptalk was a session with Coach, Crocs and Snap Inc. on Gen Z and Gen Alpha. A few things stood out: 🧠 Gen Z does the homework. This came up a few different ways, but the point was clear: younger consumers are researching deeply, spending time with brands across channels and often showing up with a much stronger point of view than marketers give them credit for. 🎯 Talking to everyone usually means talking to no one. That line of thinking really stood out in Coach’s story. Their shift came from getting much more specific about who they wanted to reach, what that audience cared about and how the brand needed to show up differently to matter to them. 🛍️ The journey is not linear anymore. That was one of the clearest points from Snap. Discovery, research, marketplaces and in-store moments all blend together. The old funnel does not really capture how this generation shops. What was especially interesting is how much of this comes back to something simple: brands have to understand their audience well enough to be relevant without trying too hard. That aligns closely with work we’ve been doing at Epsilon on Gen Z as well. There is a lot of opportunity here for brands, but only if they are willing to rethink the journey from the consumer’s perspective. Check out our Gen Z guide to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g_uDSs4w #Shoptalk #Shoptalk2026 --- Pictured below from the session: Ben Harms, Chief Growth Officer, Archrival Carly Gomez, Chief Marketing Officer, Crocs Jennifer Yue, SVP, Tapestry & Coach Strategy & Consumer Insights, Coach Collaborations and Coachtopia, Coach Sid Malhotra, EVP, SMB & Mid-Market, Snap

Adult beverage retailers and their brands need unique guardrails from a retail media network. So, Epsilon created a data network specific to the alcohol industry. The data model looks different, but the outcome is the same: ➡️ Brands access verified shoppers and measure verified purchases. ➡️ Brands and retailers enjoy growth in consumer spending. Learn more: https://ow.ly/MTz350YoeWq

During Day 2 of #Shoptalk, the conversation shifted from what AI can do to what actually needs to be in place to make AI work. Across sessions from Yum! Brands, Currys plc, Lowe's Companies, Inc., Shoptalk leadership and more, a few themes stood out: 🧠 AI is only as good as the data and systems behind it. There was a consistent reality check: you can’t just “plug in AI” and expect results. At Yum!, that’s meant a multi-year push to unify data and make it “machine-readable for AI.” At Currys, the point was similar—models are just one piece. Without the right context and infrastructure, they don’t actually do anything. It comes down to whether your foundation is ready. 🎯 Personalization is moving from idea to execution. We’ve talked about one-to-one personalization for years. What stood out on Day 2 is how much more focus there is on actually delivering it. From AI decisioning across media and CRM at Yum!, to guided discovery experiences like Lowe’s Mylow, the shift is toward connecting signals, content and channels in real time. What stood out is how much the focus has shifted to actually making this work at scale. 🪪 Identity is becoming part of the value exchange. One of the more interesting predictions: more retailers will push shoppers to identify themselves earlier in the journey, especially in-store. Why? Better measurement, stronger retail media and more tailored incentives. The tradeoff is becoming clearer: if brands can offer more relevant experiences, shoppers are more willing to give something in return. 🤝 Larger, more integrated partners are becoming more valuable than point solutions. Another theme that stood out was a shift away from stitching together a growing number of tools and toward fewer, deeper partnerships. At Yum! Brands, that showed up in a clear preference for working with partners who can operate at scale and integrate across the business. As they put it: “If you have a big enough partnership, you can get stuff built for you. You can actually evolve that relationship and grow it to win-win for you and your partner.” Instead of layering on more bespoke, one-off solutions, the focus is shifting to partners who can plug into your systems, understand your data and help build capabilities that actually scale. What stood out most from Day 2 was the shift in focus. Less about what AI can do. More about what retailers need to fix and rethink to make it work. The brands that win will have the data and identity strategies to turn those tools into better experiences for their customers. More to come from the floor at #Shoptalk2026.