The Voice of Retail · 2026-05-29 · 29 min
On this episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Jackie Swanson, Managing Partner at Gartner Consulting, for a wide-ranging and highly practical conversation about artificial intelligence, agentic commerce, and the rapidly changing future of retail. Swanson brings Gartner’s global perspective to one of the most urgent strategic issues facing retailers today: how AI is fundamentally reshaping customer discovery, commerce channels, operating models, and competitive advantage. Drawing on Gartner’s extensive AI research and consulting work with retailers and consumer brands in Canada and around the world, she explains why generative AI represents a structural shift unlike previous technology waves such as cloud computing or mobile commerce. At the centre of the discussion is the rise of “agentic commerce” - a world where AI agents like ChatGPT, Claude, and future large language model interfaces increasingly sit between retailers and consumers. Instead of browsing websites or apps, customers are beginning to shop conversationally through AI interfaces that recommend, filter, compare, and eventually complete purchases on their behalf.
Talent, Strategy, and Story Telling: James B. Smith, CEO of Rare Placement, on Finding - and Becoming - the Right Retail Leader (Encore Epiosde)59 / 100
Carl Boutet, Retail Futurist and author of “The Flip: Staying Human in an Algorithmic World,” on his new book, AI, Asia Retail Innovation and the Next Era of Retail
Julia Freeman, CEO of The Jilly Box, David Brownstein, President of Browns Shoes, and Selwyn Crittendon, CEO of IKEA Canada, Live on Stage at STORE 2026
Going Global in Uncertain Times with Matthew Merrilees , CEO North America, Global-e and Co-Host Jim Okamura from the Global eCommerce Leaders Forum
Deb Craven, President of Longo’s, on 70 Years of Retail Excellence and being named Retail Council of Canada’s Distinguished Retailer of the Year for 2026