From Revolution Beauty’s AI-first Black Friday to Abercrombie & Fitch streamlining store processes to improve inventory availability, and predictions that AI will evolve 3 in 4 retail tasks by 2035, what’s been making waves in retail this week?

Abercrombie & Fitch taps Nedap to improve stock accuracy & availability

Abercrombie & Fitch will deploy Nedap’s iD Cloud platform to improve inventory visibility and on-shelf availability across its global store network.

The roll out underscores Abercrombie & Fitch’s strategic focus on improving omnichannel fulfilment, inventory accuracy and product availability.

Leveraging Nedap’s iD Cloud Store, Abercrombie & Fitch will streamline store processes, including in-store order fulfilment and inventory replenishment, improving stock visibility and reducing out-of-stocks.

“Inventory visibility is crucial to serving our customers seamlessly, both digitally and in-store,” said Lauren Morr, SVP of Digital Operations at Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

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TALA founder Grace Beverley to headline at RTS 2026

Brand founder and serial entrepreneur, Grace Beverley, is confirmed to headline at the 2026 Retail Technology Show (RTS).

Taking place on 22 & 23 April 2026 at London’s ExCeL, RTS will welcome 16,000+ senior retailers to the flagship event, which connects retail’s changemakers with leading innovators.

Beverley will draw on her wealth of experience launching, running and growing successful multichannel brands. Her session will cover the social/influencer opportunity, strategies for channel expansion from clicks to bricks, personalisation as well as the big tech challenges facing retailers in the year ahead.

“Grace’s experience makes her a powerful voice,” said Matt Bradley, Founder & Event Director at RTS. “She brings a unique perspective on how brands can build real connection, harness technology and operate with purpose.”

To register for RTS, visit: https://www.retailtechnologyshow.com.

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2026 Trends: Martin Newman’s inside track on the next CX evolution

Kicking off Retail Rewired’s new series of guest articles exploring the trends set to define retail in the coming year, Martin Newman explains why CX is no longer a department or a set of initiatives, but the operating system of successful businesses.

In his RRW 2026 Trends article, he explores:
🎯 Hyper-personalisation that moves from “you might like…” to intuitive, contextual experiences powered by unified data
🛍️ The shift from points to principles with customers rewarding transparency, integrity and value-led loyalty
📈 The new ROIs, from Return on Inspiration to Return on Inclusion, that will shape how leaders approach transformation in the next 12months

Read the full article here 👉 Retail 2026 | Martin Newman on CX’s next evolution: human at the core, AI at the edges.

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AI set to transform three quarters of retail tasks by 2035

Such is the speed of AI advancement and adoption that its report predicts that by 2035 almost three quarters (73%) of tasks within retail will be AI-enabled, according to new data from law firm Eversheds Sutherland and Retail Economics.

However, it warns that progress is increasingly vulnerable to longstanding operational barriers including legacy systems, skills gaps and rising integration costs

“Disruption will happen in waves as retailers test, learn and iterative generative and agentic AI technologies. But without tackling legacy systems and closing critical skills gaps, retailers will struggle to unlock the full gains AI offers,” said Richard Lim, CEO at Retail Economics.

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Revolution Beauty uses AI for 1 in 4 Black Friday customer queries

Revolution Beauty said a record-breaking number of customer enquires were handled by AI over the Black Friday weekend.

Data from the beauty retailer and CM.com showed that during Black Friday Revolution Beauty’s AI chatbots handled nearly a quarter of all customer queries end-to-end, without the need for AI agents to handover to human customer care reps.

With AI fielding more queries, the retailer’s customer service teams were freed to focus on other essential tasks, while Revolution Beauty was able to reduce unresolved queries by -95% compared to 2024.

“Having AI-assisted chatbots working in sync with our team of service agents meant every customer got the help they needed, fast,” said Steve Griffiths, Head of Digital Development at Revolution Beauty. 

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2026 Trends: Pinterest predicts the trends tipped to drive commerce next year

Continuing our series of 2026 Trends articles, in which industry thought leaders, retail insiders and technology gurus spotlight what will rewire retail in the year ahead, Pinterest‘s MD for UK&I, Caroline Orange-Northey, reveals the cultural shifts set to become powerful commercial engines over the next 12months.

In her guest post, she explores two standout trends from Pinterest Predicts for 2026:

🧸“Throwback Kid” – nostalgia will evolve from a mood to a strategy, with consumers seeking comfort, simplicity and emotionally resonant design in their purchases.

🌫️“Scent Stacking” – individualism becomes the new luxury as shoppers – not satisfied with just following the trends, will seek to remix, personalise and recreate – layering products to create their own signature vibes.

She also explores predictive intelligence, where brands can leverage visual search and intent cues to design, plan and merchandise with clarity, rather than guesswork.

Read the full article here 👉 Retail 2026 | Unpacking the consumer mindset: Pinterest’s Caroline Orange-Northey outlines a blueprint for retailers.

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Gumtree links with ShipStation for seamless marketplace deliveries

Online marketplace, Gumtree, has announced a multi-year partnership with ShipStation, implementing its API to integrate delivery functionality and allow sellers to easily ship products directly via its website. 

These capabilities reduce friction for both buyers and sellers, giving buyers greater confidence through reliable delivery and tracking services, while helping sellers reach more customers with flexible delivery options. 

Kim Faura, Joint Managing Director at Gumtree, said: “ShipStation’s expertise in advanced technology, logistics and carrier management will ensure our customers experience smooth and efficient transactions that transform how people buy and sell on the platform.”

“As marketplaces become the go-to destination pre-owned items, our APIs empower platforms like Gumtree to offer seamless delivery experiences [to] drive engagement and loyalty while simplifying operations,” said Kelly Vincent, CPO at Auctane, ShipStation’s parent company. 

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