How can retailers embrace biometric technology without crossing the line with consumers? From facial recognition to an evolving patchwork of privacy laws, the boundaries around consent and responsible data use are becoming harder to define. In Part 2 of our special Cybersecurity Awareness Month series, Karen Schuler, Global Privacy, Data & AI Governance Leader at BDO, helps us explore the risks retailers need to understand as biometric data becomes an increasingly consequential part of the smart-store conversation. Tune in to examine the privacy challenges emerging alongside today's most advanced retail technologies.

What can retailers really learn about shoppers today? As stores become more connected, technologies like AI-powered cameras, sensors, biometrics, and advanced analytics are giving retailers unprecedented visibility into customer behavior. But alongside new capabilities come new questions about privacy, consent, and trust. In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we're kicking off a special three-part series with Karen Schuler, Global Privacy, Data & AI Governance Leader at BDO, exploring the evolving intersection of retail technology, consumer privacy, and data governance. In Part 1, we examine how smart stores are reshaping the shopping experience and what retailers should consider as new forms of customer data collection become increasingly common. Tune in to get ahead of the privacy and governance conversations retailers can't afford to postpone.

Where Could Changing Consumer Habits Create New Growth? The most important GLP-1 retail story may be not what consumers buy less of, but where they begin spending next. In the final installment of our Beyond the Prescription series, we consider how evolving preferences could reveal emerging audiences, unmet needs and new avenues for growth. The conversation challenges retailers to look beyond established assumptions as the consumer landscape continues to shift. Tune in to stay close to the consumer and recognize opportunity as it takes shape."

Can Retail Inventory Keep Pace With a Changing Consumer? As GLP-1 adoption influences consumer habits and preferences, demand could begin shifting faster than traditional planning models can anticipate. In Part 2 of our Beyond the Prescription series, we turn from emerging consumer behavior to its potential impact on inventory, merchandising and forecasting. Tune in to hear what retailers should consider as they evaluate new demand signals without reacting to every market headline. Build the visibility and agility to respond when meaningful change begins to emerge.

How Could GLP-1s Reshape the Retail Consumer? A healthcare trend is beginning to raise broader questions about what consumers buy, where they shop and how they spend. In the first installment of our three-part Beyond the Prescription series, we examine why GLP-1 adoption is becoming a broader consumer story and what retailers should watch as behaviors and preferences continue to evolve. Tune in to see beyond the headlines and learn how to spot the signals that could shape what comes next.

As AI becomes more capable of shaping discovery, recommendations, and shopping experiences, retailers face a new challenge: building the trust and connection that technology alone can't create. Consumers may embrace AI-powered convenience, but they continue to look to creators, communities, friends, and peers when it comes time to make important purchase decisions. Listen in as we discuss why human connection may become even more valuable in an AI-powered retail landscape, and how retailers can use technology to strengthen, rather than replace, customer relationships.

Subscription fatigue is forcing retailers to rethink what value really means. Consumers aren't abandoning subscriptions altogether. But they are becoming far more selective about which ones earn a place in their monthly budgets. As shoppers take a closer look at household spending, retailers are facing a new challenge: proving their programs deliver enough value to justify another recurring charge. Listen in as we discuss what's separating the subscriptions consumers are keeping from those they're cutting, and what those decisions may signal for retailers moving forward.

What happens when tax moves from the back office to the strategy table? As retailers navigate tariff uncertainty, growing demands for transparency, and an evolving policy landscape, tax leaders are taking on a larger role in shaping business decisions. In this week’s episode of 60-second Retail, we examine some of the key findings from BDO’s 2026 Tax Strategist Survey to look at why tax is becoming a strategic function and how leading organizations are adapting their approach in response. Stay ahead of the forces reshaping retail decision-making.

When Does More Become Too Much? For years, retailers expanded assortments, added technologies, and created more ways for customers to shop. But as consumers become more selective and profitability pressures intensify, many organizations are taking a fresh look at complexity itself. In this episode of 60-Second Retail, we examine why retailers may be entering an "era of rationalization," how leaders are approaching assortment and investment decisions, and what separates strategic simplification from simple cost-cutting. Rethink what deserves a place in the basket, the assortment, and the strategy.

What happens when a forecast misses the mark? More than you might think. In today's retail environment, forecasting errors don't stay confined to inventory plans. A single miscalculation can trigger a chain reaction across labor, transportation, markdowns, and cash flow, turning small inaccuracies into enterprise-wide consequences. As uncertainty becomes the norm, retailers are rethinking how technology, data, and human judgment work together to improve decision-making. The question isn't whether forecasts will miss the mark, but how prepared organizations are to respond when they do.