Cleveland Research Company

Eliminating Guesswork in Retail Marketing: How Spin Master is Leveraging AI & Predictive Insights to Maximize Brand Performance
2024-12-11 14:00 - 14:30 UTC
Everyday marketing is far from simple. Brand marketers need to maintain a constant pulse on market dynamics and their impact on sales across target categories and channels. To achieve sustainable growth, marketers must accurately predict how every action influences shopper behavior.
Achieving this requires the right blend of intelligence, partners, and processes to identify the trends shaping buying decisions. By establishing a deeper understanding of their markets, brand leaders can design more engaging ads, improve content conversion, and maximize product visibility – all while upholding budgets and driving incremental growth.
Join Cleveland Research Company on Wednesday, December 11 for our upcoming Thought Leader Fireside Chat.
During this expert panel, CRC’s Sidney Hutson will lead Stackline’s Mattie Berman and Spin Master’s John Panighel in an insightful discussion around the strategies modern leaders are using to define, analyze, and activate their target audiences across retail media programs.
Attendees will gain insights around:

Leveraging AI for visibility into future sales and growth opportunities
Prioritizing high-return advertising and promotional activities
Predicting and adapting to evolving market dynamics
Translating brand priorities into growth-focused search initiatives

Registration includes access to the on-demand replay we’ll send out after the call.

Meet the Presenters

Sidney Hutson
Research Associate, eCommerce
Cleveland Research Company
Sidney is a Research Associate on the eCommerce Council at Cleveland Research Company focusing on the eCommerce industry. In her role, she gathers insights to write the team’s research reports, and connects with eCommerce Council Members via a number of touch points including 1×1 analyst calls and roundtables. Sidney aims to aid branded manufacturers in figuring out how to win with Amazon and other eCommerce-centric retailers.
Sidney holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Economics from Miami University of Ohio.

Mattie Berman
Associate Director, Customer Strategy
Stackline
Mattie Berman is an Associate Director of Customer Strategy at Stackline, where she equips clients with critical insights and analytics to strengthen their retail planning and strategic direction. With over three years at Stackline, Mattie initially led retail media strategy for some of the company’s largest accounts. Her career spans a diverse background in retail, with experience on both the brand and retailer sides in buying and planning roles. She draws from her expertise at large companies like Target, Old Navy, and Amazon to help clients navigate the evolving retail landscape, empowering them to leverage analytics effectively for impactful strategies.

John Panighel
Director, Retail Media
Spin Master Inc.
John has a unique combination of brand, retail, eCommerce and CPG marketing experience. Working for some of Canada’s and the USA’s largest corporations, responsible for driving profitable growth, pioneering innovation, and strengthening loyalty with consumers through data-driven marketing. He is currently managing Spin Master’s North America robust Retail Media strategy and execution driving consumers to purchase online and in-store.

2024 Home Improvement Summit
2024-12-05 08:00 - 15:00 | College Football Hall of Fame, 250 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313, United States
Both Home Depot and Lowe’s experienced fluctuating sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2023, influenced by factors like cold weather and calendar shifts. Despite these shifts, there were indications of stable underlying demand. Building materials notably stood out as a positive growth category for both retailers, driven by ongoing new home construction. However, other categories like big-ticket discretionary items and remodeling showed softer sales. What implications might these trends hold for new opportunities within the home improvement sector in 2024 and beyond?
We’ll answer this question and more during CRC’s 12th annual Home Improvement Summit in Atlanta.
Join us on Thursday, December 5 when we bring together our community of vendors and retailers to share exclusive insights into the evolving landscape of home improvement retail.
Similar to years past, prepare for real-time, actionable strategies tailored to homecenter dynamics, a look at the key changes to shopper preferences, an update on macroeconomic trends set to influence the housing industry, and more, all aimed at elevating your company’s profitability in 2025 and beyond.
In addition to a day full of engaging content, the Summit boasts several networking opportunities. We’re excited to host this year’s event at Atlanta’s iconic College Football Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday, December 4, enjoy an evening exploring five themed galleries and over 50 interactive exhibits showcasing the nation’s best in college football – all while connecting with peers across the industry.
Our team is still finalizing the Summit’s full agenda, but in the meantime, mark your calendar for this December!

Event Details
Kickoff Reception | Wednesday, December 4 @ 5:00 pm ET
Main Summit | Thursday, December 5 @ 8:00 am ET
College Football Hall of Fame
250 Marietta St NW
Atlanta, GA
Founded in 1951, the College Football Hall of Fame celebrates those who have coached or played the game at the highest level. Spanning three floors full of engaging displays, the Hall showcases the history and achievements of college football while also giving back to the surrounding community.

Hotel Information
Omni Atlanta at Centennial Park
190 Marietta St NW
Atlanta, GA
Located in the Centennial Park District, the Omni Atlanta at Centennial Park is a short walk from the College Football Hall of Fame and State Farm Arena. Guest rooms provide uninterrupted views of the city skyline and are a convenient distance from several local attractions. This hotel has four dining destinations with indoor and outdoor spaces, catering to all palettes. Click here to secure CRC’s discounted room rate, available until Thursday, November 12.

2024 Home Improvement Summit Ticket
2024-12-05 08:00 - 15:00
Your Summit registration includes…
+ One seat access to keynotes & insightful sessions
+ December 4 opening night cocktail reception
+ Complimentary breakfast & lunch
+ Limitless peer-to-peer networking opportunities
+ CRC analyst engagement
+ Session presentation decks & replays
* where applicable

2024 Home Improvement Summit GA Ticket
2024-12-05 08:00 - 15:00

2024 Home Improvement Summit Partner Ticket
2024-12-05 08:00 - 15:00

Your Forum registration includes...
2024-10-10 07:00 - 12:00
+ One seat access that includes insightful sessions
+ October 9 opening night welcome reception
+ Complimentary breakfast
+ Peer-to-peer networking opportunities
+ CRC analyst engagement
+ Session presentation decks & replays*
* where applicable

Included with your Forum registration...
2024-10-10 07:00 - 12:00

As a CRC partner, your registration includes...
2024-10-10 07:00 - 12:00

Your Summit registration includes...
2024-10-01 08:00 - 17:00
+ One seat access that includes keynotes & insightful eCommerce sessions
+ Sept 30 opening night cocktail reception
+ Complimentary breakfast & lunch
+ Limitless peer-to-peer networking opportunities
+ CRC analyst engagement
+ Session presentation decks & replays
* where applicable

Included with your Summit registration...
2024-10-01 08:00 - 17:00

As a CRC partner, your registration includes...
2024-10-01 08:00 - 17:00

Your Forum registration includes...
2024-09-18 08:00 - 15:00
+ One seat access that includes insightful foodservice sessions
+ Sept 17 opening night welcome reception
+ Complimentary breakfast & lunch
+ Peer-to-peer networking opportunities
+ CRC analyst engagement
+ Session presentation decks & replays
* where applicable

Included with your Forum registration...
2024-09-18 08:00 - 15:00

As a CRC partner, your registration includes...
2024-09-18 08:00 - 15:00

Case Study: How LIXIL & Stackline Partnered to Create a More Effective Retail Media Strategy
2024-07-31 14:00 - 14:30
CRC Thought Leader Fireside Chat

The digital competitive landscape is continuously evolving, driven by changing shopper demands and a low barrier to entry for emerging brands. As a result, retail media networks see a surge of new entrants annually – increasing competition and costs making it more difficult to grow market share. To address these ever-shifting challenges, brand marketers are now adopting full-funnel strategies that cater to the modern shopping journey, ensuring product visibility every time and everywhere shoppers are ready to buy.
In order to modernize legacy advertising strategies among LIXIL’s expansive product suite within the realm of a healthy (but not endless) budget, the team partnered with Stackline to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their customer’s lifecycle.
Once level-setting with who LIXIL’s shoppers are, Stackline developed an advertising, content, and catalog strategy, to help LIXIL engage customers at every stage of the funnel and effectively drive sales.
Join Cleveland Research Company for our upcoming Thought Leader Fireside Chat.
During this session, CRC’s Nick Fischietto will lead Stackline’s Ericka Cantave and LIXIL’s Mittal Shah in an insightful discussion around the challenges legacy brands like LIXIL are facing and real-world solutions they’ve found to increase visibility and performance in today’s markets.
Other discussion points include:

Identifying whitespace/growth opportunities
Prioritizing the right products across channels
Reaching customers throughout their purchase journey
Implementing full-funnel go-to-market strategies
Increasing sales impact outside of advertising

Registration includes access to the on-demand replay we’ll send out after the call.

About the Presenters

Nick Fischietto
Executive Director, eCommerce
Cleveland Research Company
Nick is the Executive Director of the eCommerce Council at Cleveland Research Company focusing on the eCommerce industry. In his role, he leads the research process specializing in gathering channel insights to identify key inflections and trends within the industry. His goal is to take the proprietary market intelligence to help educate organizations and better enable his clients to navigate the dynamic and blurring channels of ecommerce and retail in order to make better strategic decisions and smarter investments.
Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from The Ohio State University.

Ericka Cantave
Associate Director, Professional Services
Stackline
With over 20 years of experience in the retail industry, Ericka Cantave is currently an Associate Director of Professional Services at Stackline. Her diverse expertise includes fashion buying, merchandising, and e-commerce, making her a valuable asset to her clients at Stackline.
In recent years, Ericka has been instrumental in developing and implementing solid strategies for her clients across various categories, including consumer electronics, vitamins, and baby strollers. She understands the dynamics and challenges faced by today’s retailers, from Amazon and Walmart to Target and beyond.
In addition to her role at Stackline’s Seattle office, Ericka is a proud mother of four. She enjoys spending time with her family and discovering new restaurants in her neighborhood.

Mittal Shah
Director, eCommerce Business Development
LIXIL
Mittal Shah is the Leader of Business Development for E-commerce at LIXIL– home of American Standard and Grohe brands. Mittal leads the E-commerce Center of Excellence at LIXIL. ‘Experimenting and learning’ is at the heart of everything she does, which is apparent in Mittal’s career journey to date. She has worked for companies including Ann Taylor Inc., Bayer, and Mondelez in roles ranging from design, marketing, product design, and now e-commerce.

Navigating Retail’s New Normal for In-Store Engagement
2024-05-15 14:00 - 14:30 | Cleveland Research Company, 1375 E 9th St #2700, Cleveland, 44114, United States
CRC Thought Leader Webinar Featuring Menasha Packaging

Consumer spending patterns continue to shift in response to rising prices, creating an opportunity for retailers and manufacturers to capitalize on new trends and preferences. By staying ahead of the curve and adapting to the changing economic landscape, businesses can position themselves for success in the long term.
We’re excited to announce our next Traditional Retail Thought Leader Webinar alongside Menasha Packaging: Navigating Retail’s New Normal for In-Store Engagement.
Join us on Wednesday, May 15 at 2:00 pm ET when we review strategies and best practices for fostering in-store engagement during inflationary times. We’ll also explore the vital role of customer experience, innovative technologies, and data-driven insights to navigate this challenging environment.
Other webinar topics include:

Using in-store displays to your advantage
Building anti-shrink measures
Offsetting the rising cost to serve retailers

Registration includes access to the slide deck and on-demand replay we’ll share after the call.
Now in its sixth year, CRC’s Thought Leader Webinar Series is a dynamic platform designed to bring together visionaries, industry experts, and forward-thinkers to share their insights and inspire innovation. As part of our commitment to fostering thought leadership, this series aims to cultivate meaningful discussions, promote knowledge exchange, and elevate the collective intelligence of our community. From industry intelligence to essential best practices, this program is ideal for professionals, industry leaders, and enthusiasts who are passionate about staying at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and trends within the retail space.

About the Presenters

Ben Metzger
Executive Director, Traditional Retail Council
Cleveland Research Company
Ben is the Executive Director of Cleveland Research Company’s Traditional Retail Council. He is focused on gathering insights, identifying inflections and providing actionable conclusions for suppliers across the mass, club, grocery, and dollar channels.
Ben holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in Finance and Economics and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University.

Regina Bailey
Senior Director, Retail & Category Strategy
Menasha Packaging
Regina is an experienced CPG executive in the areas of Sales, Shopper Marketing, Retail Category Data Analytics & Insights for customers, consumers, with a marketing focus to achieve bottom line results. She processes issues fluidly by simplifying them to actions that deliver for her retail partners. Prior to Menasha, Regina led the North American Category Management and Shopper Insights team for Unilever and Newell Brands. Prior to that, Regina spent a combined 22 years working with retailers while at Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Unilever in sales, marketing, and business development. Outside of the office, Regina and her family volunteer to raise funds for local cancer charities, as well as Mercy Hospital Foundation. In her downtime, you will find Regina gardening, walking the trails of NW Arkansas, or doing a little retail exploration (that’s code for shopping).
About Menasha Packaging Company, LLC
Menasha is the industry’s largest independent, retail-focused packaging and merchandising solutions provider. Yet, what most impresses the world’s leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies is our commitment to Go Beyond the expected. They receive the greatest measurable value, delivered on time and just in time, across the entire integrated merchandising supply chain.

Unlock the Power of Retail Media: Evaluating Networks for Your Brand
2024-05-08 14:00 - 14:30 | Cleveland Research Company, 1375 E 9th St #2700, Cleveland, 44114, United States
CRC Thought Leader Webinar Featuring Harvest Group

Retail Media Networks (RMNs) continue to evolve – rolling out more advanced capabilities, targeting, and reporting in order to capture a greater share of branded manufacturers’ advertising dollars.
For a brand, the decision of where to invest dollars continues to be increasingly complex and requires consistent education and understanding of what each RMN has to offer.
Join CRC’s Nick Fischietto for a deep-dive on omnichannel RMNs as we bring in Harvest Group’s Mark Stamps to discuss how to assess top platforms like Walmart Connect, Target Roundel, and Kroger Precision Marketing. Specifically, Mark will dig into each platform and provide insights on how to get the best ROI in 2024 – beyond just media execution.
Registration includes access to the slide deck and on-demand replay that we’ll send out after the call.

Now in its sixth year, CRC’s Thought Leader Webinar Series is a dynamic platform designed to bring together visionaries, industry experts, and forward-thinkers to share their insights and inspire innovation. This program aims to cultivate meaningful discussions, promote knowledge exchange, and elevate the collective intelligence of our community. From new strategies to essential best practices, these sessions are ideal for professionals who are passionate about staying at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and trends within the retail space.

About the Presenters

Nick Fischietto
Executive Director, eCommerce Council
Cleveland Research Company
Nick is the Executive Director of the eCommerce Council at Cleveland Research Company focusing on the eCommerce industry. In his role, he leads the research process specializing in gathering channel insights to identify key inflections and trends within the industry. His goal is to take the proprietary market intelligence to help educate organizations and better enable his clients to navigate the dynamic and blurring channels of ecommerce and retail in order to make better strategic decisions and smarter investments.
Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from The Ohio State University.

Mark Stamps
Vice President, Growth & Partnerships
Harvest Group
Mark Stamps is the VP of Growth and Partnerships at Harvest Group, leading strategic partnerships with major retail media networks including Walmart Connect, Roundel, Amazon Advertising (AMC, DSP), The Trade Desk, Sam’s Club MAP, KPM, and more. Mark’s previous roles at Harvest Group have driven the development and deployment of cutting-edge digital capabilities and retail media solutions that empower top brands representing over $6 Billion in retail sales.
Mark began his retail experience by leading merchandising systems development for Walmart and Sam’s Club before launching his career into CPG by joining Procter & Gamble. For P&G, Mark led multiple retail sales teams and ended up managing P&G’s expansive brand portfolio on Walmart’s Global eCommerce platforms. Mark has also led large retail sales teams for Mars-Wrigley Confectionery and Philips Personal Health brands.
About Harvest Group
Harvest Group is a leading commerce agency for CPG brands looking to grow their business at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Costco, Harris Teeter, and Albertsons.
Harvest Group offers a connected commerce solution leading their clients with account management, digital content, retail media management, and replenishment services. Established in 2006, our multi-functional team of retail experts leverages first-class systems and technology to fight for clients along every step of the retail journey.

The Digital Shelf Journey: Starting Out, Optimizing, and Winning Everywhere
2024-04-24 14:00 - 14:30
CRC Thought Leader Fireside Chat Featuring Stackline & Conagra Brands

The digital shelf is the modern, online battleground where brands vie for the attention of high-intent shoppers. Just like physical shelves, the digital shelf is all about how, where, and when your products appear and optimizing every element of that interaction with your potential buyer. Reach the top of the page, and you’ve won the eyeballs of shoppers searching in your subcategory. Sink to the bottom, and your brand suffers with the dregs of ignominy.
For large vendors like Conagra Brands, having a diverse portfolio spanning several grocery aisles means you must tailor your online strategy for both large national retail channels and regional/emerging channels, which each have varying levels of digital capabilities.
With well-known brands like Marie Callender’s, Vlasic, Orville Redenbacher’s, Slim Jim, and more, the Conagra Digital Commerce Team teamed up with Stackline to elevate Conagra’s digital shelf and prioritize content as a pivotal element of its operational framework and marketing strategy. Working with the right tools has allowed Conagra to optimize its digital presence and ultimately improve performance.
We’re excited to collaborate with CRC Thought Leader partner Stackline to host our latest fireside chat The Digital Shelf Journey: Starting Out, Optimizing, and Winning Everywhere.
Join us as CRC’s Nick Fischietto sits down with Reshma Schneider (Senior Director, eCommerce at Conagra Brands) and Mitch Keidan (Co-founder and Head of Product at Stackline) as they share their story on how to take already established brands to the next level.
Other discussion topics include:

Optimizing product content, including descriptions and visuals
Managing customer reviews and feedback
Leveraging the digital shelf for upselling and cross-selling opportunities

Registration includes access to the on-demand replay we’ll share after the call.

Now in its sixth year, CRC’s Thought Leader Webinar Series is a dynamic platform designed to bring together visionaries, industry experts, and forward-thinkers to share their insights and inspire innovation. As part of our commitment to fostering thought leadership, this series aims to cultivate meaningful discussions, promote knowledge exchange, and elevate the collective intelligence of our community. From industry intelligence to essential best practices, this program is ideal for professionals, industry leaders, and enthusiasts who are passionate about staying at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and trends within the retail space.

About the Presenters

Nick Fischietto
Executive Director, eCommerce Council
Cleveland Research Company
Nick is the Executive Director of the eCommerce Council at Cleveland Research Company focusing on the eCommerce industry. In his role, he leads the research process specializing in gathering channel insights to identify key inflections and trends within the industry. His goal is to take the proprietary market intelligence to help educate organizations and better enable his clients to navigate the dynamic and blurring channels of ecommerce and retail in order to make better strategic decisions and smarter investments.
Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from The Ohio State University.

Mitch Keidan
Co-Founder & Head of Product
Stackline
Mitch is the Vice President of Product at Stackline, which is a technology company that builds subscription-based commerce tools and services for thousands of the largest consumer brands, retailers, and professional service firms.
Mitch is based in Seattle, where Stackline is headquartered. The company also has offices in Minneapolis, New York, Salt Lake City, London, and Buenos Aires.
Prior his work at Stackline, Mitch worked as a Senior Strategy Analyst for New Business & Solution Incubation at Diebold. Mitch received his Bachelors of Science in Finance and Accounting from Baldwin Wallace University.

Reshma Schneider
Senior Director, eCommerce
Conagra Brands

Pet Retail & Animal Health Insights to Kick Off 2024
2024-04-04 11:00 - 11:45
Join CRC’s Pet Insights Council on Thursday, April 4 at 11:00 am ET for our upcoming webinar: Pet Retail & Animal Health Insights to Kick Off 2024.
The pet channel is currently navigating various macro pressures impacting wallets, with value retailers appearing to outperform to start the year. Pureplay eCommerce retailers are working to retain market share while Pet Specialty retailers are pivoting strategies to drive traffic.
During this 45-minute session, CRC’s Pet Insights Team will discuss timely insights and share best practices for pet industry participants to effectively strategize in 2024. CRC Analysts Claire Obertin and John Selio will overview the most important changes happening online, in pet retail, and at the vet clinic.
Other discussion points include:

Sales/market share dynamics to start 2024
Different pet parent personas from our recent pet consumer survey
Latest insights from industry trade shows – Global Pet Expo, Western Vet Conference & VMX

Registration includes the slide deck and audio replay we’ll send out after the call.

About the Presenters

Claire Obertin
Market Research Associate
Cleveland Research Company
Claire is a Market Research Associate at Cleveland Research Company, leading the Pet Insights Council, identifying and communicating key insights straddling both the Pet Retail and Animal Health channels. Claire previously worked on the Home Improvement team at Cleveland Research, leading efforts within the eCommerce channel. Prior to joining CRC, Claire worked for J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
Claire holds a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain & Operations Management and Marketing from Miami University.

John Selio
Senior Research Associate
Cleveland Research Company
John is a Senior Research Associate at Cleveland Research Company covering the digital, mass, club, grocery, dollar/value, consumer electronics, and pet retail channels. John networks with suppliers, distributers, and retailers across all covered channels to uncover best practices and share insights on key emerging themes in the market.
John graduated from Miami University in Ohio.

How to Reduce Unauthorized Sellers & Improve Sales with Effective Serialization Strategies
2024-03-12 14:00 - 14:30 | Cleveland Research Company, 1375 E 9th St #2700, Cleveland, 44114, United States
A CRC Thought Leader Webinar Featuring Menasha Packaging

Join CRC on Tuesday, March 12 at 2:00 pm ET for our upcoming eCommerce webinar: How to Reduce Unauthorized Sellers & Improve Sales with Effective Serialization Strategies.
We’re teaming up with our Thought Leader Partner, Menasha Packaging, for this session to share how brand leaders can develop and implement strong serialization programs with their retail partners.
Paul Murphy, Menasha’s Senior Director of Amazon, will share his thoughts on successful programs that have been implemented – helping brands drive transparency throughout the entire supply chain, increase sales, and reduce unauthorized 3rd party selling. He’ll also discuss building a winning approach for Amazon Transparency.
Other webinar topics include:

Implementing serialization strategies with new tools and tech
Ensuring best practice within industry standards
Achieving sales growth and overall success

Attendees can expect 20 minutes of prepared remarks with 10 minutes of audience Q&A. We encourage you to ask questions in the chat box throughout the presentation.
Registration includes access to the on-demand replay we’ll send out after the call.

Now in its sixth year, CRC’s Thought Leader Webinar Series is a dynamic platform designed to bring together visionaries, industry experts, and forward-thinkers to share their insights and inspire innovation. As part of our commitment to fostering thought leadership, this series aims to cultivate meaningful discussions, promote knowledge exchange, and elevate the collective intelligence of our community. From industry intelligence to essential best practices, this program is ideal for professionals, industry leaders, and enthusiasts who are passionate about staying at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and trends within the retail space.

About the Presenters

Paul Murphy
Senior Director, Amazon
Menasha Packaging Company
Paul joined Menasha in 2001 as a General Manager, following Sales, and General Management positions with Boise Cascade, MacMillan Bloedel, and Pratt Industries, and has held leadership roles in multiple Menasha businesses. In the early 2000’s, Murphy helped lead Menasha’s transformation from an industrial and graphics packaging provider, into the leading retail focused merchandising solutions provider in North America, developing meaningful relationships with the Channel Leading Retailers in the U.S., resulting in strong Retailer-CPG collaborations, and thought Leadership. From 2001 through 2019 he held successive leadership positions across the company including General & Sales Management roles. In 2017 he was named Vice President of Sales and Operations for the paperboard packaging business, with multiple operations in the U.S. In 2019, he was named Vice President of Retail Strategy and Sales for Menasha. In April of 2023, he assumed the Senior Director of Amazon role, leading both the commercial and Partnership relationships resulting in significant revenue growth. Murphy has extensive experience in industrial and ecommerce packaging, Retail, POP/Display, and on/off shelf merchandising, and has played a key role in developing strategies and tactics to support the strategic focus and growth of Menasha Packaging.
Murphy is a graduate of Lambuth College (BA) and University of Memphis (MA).
About Menasha Packaging Company, LLC
Menasha is the industry’s largest independent, retail-focused packaging and merchandising solutions provider. Yet, what most impresses the world’s leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies is our commitment to Go Beyond the expected. They receive the greatest measurable value, delivered on time and just in time, across the entire integrated merchandising supply chain.

Nick Fischietto
Executive Director, eCommerce Council
Cleveland Research Company
Nick is the Executive Director of the eCommerce Council at Cleveland Research Company focusing on the eCommerce industry. In his role, he leads the research process specializing in gathering channel insights to identify key inflections and trends within the industry. His goal is to take the proprietary market intelligence to help educate organizations and better enable his clients to navigate the dynamic and blurring channels of ecommerce and retail in order to make better strategic decisions and smarter investments.
Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from The Ohio State University.

2024 Walmart Outlook Webinar
2024-02-28 14:00 - 15:00
Featuring CRC Thought Leader Harvest Group

Join CRC on Wednesday, February 28 at 2:00 pm ET for our 2024 Walmart Outlook Webinar.
During this 60-minute session, we will review highlights from Walmart’s 2023 performance, share the latest supplier benchmark results, and provide our forecasts for 2024.
Walmart Supplier’s access to DSS will be removed in 2QFY25. Suppliers will need to transition to Luminate Basic or invest in Luminate Charter to access their Decision Support data. This shift marks a significant change, ensuring suppliers align with Walmart’s evolving strategies and secure crucial insights. We’re excited to team up with our Thought Leader Partner, Harvest Group, for this session to discuss Walmart’s new Luminate requirements and what best practices look like for suppliers.
Suppliers with access to Luminate will be looking at the same data as merchants – gaining the earliest read on white space opportunities for innovation, strategies to defend their portfolio, understanding the voice of the Walmart customer, and more. This will help suppliers to speak the same language as their merchants.
Additional topics we will also talk through include:

2023 performance recap and 2024 forecasts
Supplier data on price and supply chain expectations at Walmart
Metrics included in Luminate Basic vs. DSS vs. Charter
Keys to leveraging Luminate Basic data
Case studies leveraging Charter data

The goal of this webinar is to unpack the latest insights on Walmart, identify important focus areas, and preview top initiatives for the future.
Upon registration, you’ll gain access to the slide deck and audio replay we’ll send out after the call. We encourage you to ask questions in the chat box throughout the presentation.
Now in its sixth year, CRC’s Thought Leader Webinar Series is a dynamic platform designed to bring together visionaries, industry experts, and forward-thinkers to share their insights and inspire innovation. As part of our commitment to fostering thought leadership, this series aims to cultivate meaningful discussions, promote knowledge exchange, and elevate the collective intelligence of our community. From industry intelligence to essential best practices, this program is ideal for professionals, industry leaders, and enthusiasts who are passionate about staying at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and trends within the retail space.

Meet the Presenters

Ben Metzger
Executive Director, Traditional Retail Council
Cleveland Research Company
Ben is the Executive Director of Cleveland Research Company’s Traditional Retail Council. He is focused on gathering insights, identifying inflections and providing actionable conclusions for suppliers across the mass, club, grocery, and dollar channels.
Ben holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in Finance and Economics and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University.

Tripp Cashion
Vice President, Walmart Consumables
Harvest Group
Tripp Cashion brings over 13 years of experience within the Walmart and Sam’s Club ecosystem across replenishment, analytics, trade management, and account management both at the retailer and prominent CPG companies. In his eight years at Harvest Group, he has specialized in the Consumables division within account management and sales leadership roles guiding clients towards maximizing their potential across Walmart and Sam’s Club.

In addition to his Vice President role, Tripp serves as a leader on Harvest Group’s Luminate Transition team, leading the Client Services integration of Luminate and client strategy development to deliver exceptional value to client partners.

Andrea Villa
Analytics Lead, Walmart
Harvest Group
At Harvest Group, Andrea Villa leads a team of analysts and works strategically alongside clients to grow their business at Walmart as an Analytics Lead. Andrea has been actively working with Harvest Group clients in the Walmart Luminate platform since its inception. She is passionate about developing stories utilizing the platform, helping clients defend shelf space, sell in new items, and find opportunities for innovation.

Andrea began her CPG journey at Reckitt Benckiser, eventually serving as a Senior Planner for custom displays – working with major brands like Mucinex and Lysol before moving into the retail space as an eCommerce Merchandise Planner at Sam’s Club.

End of Year Pet Industry Overview Webinar
2023-12-20 13:00 - 14:00
Join CRC on Wednesday, December 20 at 1:00 pm ET for our End of Year Pet Industry Overview Webinar.
During the event, CRC Analysts Claire Obertin, Andrew Dusing, and John Selio will recap sales/market share dynamics as we close out 2023, share highlights from our latest pet consumer survey, and talk through what to expect as we head into 2024. The team will overview the most important changes happening at pet retail, online, and at the vet.
With value retailers appearing to outperform throughout the year, pureplay eCommerce retailers holding strong, and Pet Specialty retailers pivoting strategies, the CRC Team will discuss key drivers and action items for pet industry participants.
Registration includes the slide deck and audio replay we’ll send out after the call.

About the Presenters

Claire Obertin
Market Research Associate
Cleveland Research Company
Claire is a Market Research Associate at Cleveland Research Company, leading the Pet Insights Council, identifying and communicating key insights straddling both the Pet Retail and Animal Health channels. Claire previously worked on the Home Improvement team at Cleveland Research, leading efforts within the eCommerce channel. Prior to joining CRC, Claire worked for J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
Claire holds a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain & Operations Management and Marketing from Miami University.

Andrew Dusing
Senior Research Analyst
Cleveland Research Company
Andrew is an Analyst at Cleveland Research Company covering animal health, including retailers, pharmaceuticals, distributors, and diagnostics. Prior to his current role, Andrew was an Associate on the Healthcare team at Cleveland Research, covering life sciences, the pharmaceutical supply chain, orthopedics, and dental industries.
Andrew received degrees in Finance and Management from Miami University, OH.

John Selio
Senior Research Associate
Cleveland Research Company
John is a Senior Research Associate at Cleveland Research Company covering the digital, mass, club, grocery, dollar/value, consumer electronics, and pet retail channels. John networks with suppliers, distributers, and retailers across all covered channels to uncover best practices and share insights on key emerging themes in the market.
John graduated from Miami University.

Your Summit registration includes ...
2023-12-14 08:00 - 15:00
+ Complimentary breakfast & lunch
+ Limitless peer-to-peer networking opportunities
+ CRC analyst engagement
+ Session presentation decks & replays*
* where applicable

Winning the In-Store Battle Through Simplification
2023-12-07 14:00 - 14:30
Thought Leader Webinar featuring Menasha

Amid soaring inflation and intensified competition across the marketplace, consumers are increasingly trading down and adopting a more cautious approach to their purchasing decisions, especially with the impending holiday season. What does the shopper want in this pressured economic environment, and how are retailers adapting their packaging, displays, and signage to connect with shoppers and secure sales growth in-store?
Join CRC and Menasha on Thursday, December 7 at 2:00 pm ET for our latest Thought Leader Webinar: Winning the In-Store Battle Through Simplification.
During this 30-minute session, Menasha’s Senior Director of Retail Strategy, Regina Bailey, will discuss ideas and best practices for suppliers looking to secure more in-store displays and win over consumers and retailers in this pressured economic environment.
We’ll explore hot topics like:

Reaching shoppers for various trip occasions
Getting the shopper to notice your product
The use-case for displays

Registration includes the slide deck and on-demand replay we’ll send out after the call.

About the Presenters

Regina Bailey
Senior Director of Retail & Category Strategy
Menasha Packaging
Regina is an experienced CPG executive in the areas of Sales, Shopper Marketing, Retail Category Data Analytics & Insights for customers, consumers, with a marketing focus to achieve bottom line results. She processes issues fluidly by simplifying them to actions that deliver for her retail partners. Prior to Menasha, Regina led the North American Category Management and Shopper Insights team for Unilever and Newell Brands. Prior to that, Regina spent a combined 22 years working with retailers while at Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Unilever in sales, marketing, and business development. Outside of the office, Regina and her family volunteer to raise funds for local cancer charities, as well as Mercy Hospital Foundation. In her downtime, you will find Regina gardening, walking the trails of NW Arkansas, or doing a little retail exploration (that’s code for shopping).
About Menasha Packaging Company, LLC
Menasha is the industry’s largest independent, retail-focused packaging and merchandising solutions provider. Yet, what most impresses the world’s leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies is our commitment to Go Beyond the expected. They receive the greatest measurable value, delivered on time and just in time, across the entire integrated merchandising supply chain.

Ben Metzger
Executive Director, Traditional Retail Council
Cleveland Research Company
Ben is the Executive Director of Cleveland Research Company’s Traditional Retail Council. He is focused on gathering insights, identifying inflections and providing actionable conclusions for suppliers across the mass, club, grocery and dollar channels. Ben holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in Finance and Economics and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University.

Boosting Sales Beyond Ad Budgets: The Power of the New Digital Toolkit
2023-11-02 14:00 - 14:30
Fireside Chat Featuring Thought Leader Stackline

Brands and manufacturers across eCommerce are confronted with mounting challenges such as growing competition, traffic headwinds, advertising budget ceilings, and increasing cost per click (CPC) rates. In response, companies are turning to innovative methods to expand their audiences, personalize customer shopping experiences, and of course, drive sales. Whether you’re in the B2C or B2B space, what new strategies should you consider to remain relevant in a rapidly changing digital marketplace?
Join Cleveland Research and Stackline on Thursday, November 2 at 2:00 pm ET for an interactive fireside chat: Boosting Sales Beyond Ad Budgets: The Power of the New Digital Toolkit.
From harnessing consumer intelligence and crafting compelling content to best leveraging ratings and utilizing generative AI, we’ll dive into the key strategies employed by leading brands and retailers. You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective around new tools to generate sales growth across Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers.
Some questions we’ll answer include:

How do you leverage consumer intelligence into your advertising and content strategies?
What are top brands and retailers doing to best leverage their ratings and review content?
How does the customer engagement playbook shift when targeting B2B shoppers?
In what ways can generative AI help optimize customer engagements?
How critical is content to your digital shelf strategy?
Considering the FTC’s recent rule restricting what constitutes as a real and honest product review, how can brands ensure they follow these guidelines while still generating enough buzz around their products?
If you had incremental marketing dollars, would you invest that money into generating more ratings and reviews from consumers or invest those dollars into an influencer as a form of inorganic rating or review?

Please submit questions ahead of time you would like discussed to nfischietto@cleveland-research.com. Additionally, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions (via chat) during the conversation.
Even if you can’t attend the live session, still register to receive the on-demand replay we’ll send out afterwards.

About the Presenters

Lindey Palmer
Vice President, Solutions Architecture
Stackline
Since joining Stackline in 2017, Lindey has held several key positions and led our Solutions Architect organization to support clients in 26 countries.

Patrick Leake
Vice President, Customer Strategy
Stackline
Since joining Stackline in 2018, Patrick has held several key positions and led our Customer Strategy organization to support clients in 26 countries.
About Stackline
eCommerce is changing the way brands interact with consumers – and Stackline is powering that change by helping companies reach their audience and build loyalty at global scale. The company’s eCommerce platform unites real-time data across shopper, marketing, operations and competitive intelligence. It also equips brands with tools to automate and execute eCommerce marketing and operations, spanning the largest online retail platforms. Stackline’s products are among the critical resources brands need to succeed given the rapid acceleration of the online retail space.

Nick Fischietto
Executive Director, eCommerce Council
Cleveland Research Company
Nick is the Executive Director of the eCommerce Council at Cleveland Research Company focusing on the eCommerce industry. In his role, he leads the research process specializing in gathering channel insights to identify key inflections and trends within the industry. His goal is to take the proprietary market intelligence to help educate organizations and better enable his clients to navigate the dynamic and blurring channels of ecommerce and retail in order to make better strategic decisions and smarter investments.
Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from The Ohio State University.

Achieving Operational Excellence at Walmart With Displays That Drive Sales & Sustainability
2023-08-23 14:00 - 14:30
Thought Leader Webinar featuring Menasha

While Walmart’s momentum for this holiday season and 2024 appears strong, the demands on the supplier community continue to grow exponentially. In response to the dynamic changes, charges, and tools Walmart is introducing, how can brands solidify their planning to deliver goals?
Join CRC and special guest Menasha on Wednesday, August 23 at 2:00 pm ET for our next Thought Leader Webinar: Achieving Operational Excellence at Walmart With Displays That Drive Sales & Sustainability.
During this 60-minute session, Regina Bailey, Menasha’s Senior Director of Retail & Category Strategy, will discuss the key metrics merchants are evaluating in this changing environment. She’ll also share best practices for simplifying execution, improving operational efficiency, and implementing sustainability in store programs.
Other key topics include:

Elements of displays
Complexity of features at Walmart
What to prepare for in the future

Registration includes the full slide deck CRC will send out after the call.
Now in its fifth year, CRC’s Thought Leader Webinar Series is a curated collection of webinars & fireside chats highlighting a variety of omnichannel and retail service providers. From industry intelligence and insights to essential content and best practices, we offer exclusive data to help teams address tactical topics and real-time challenges.

About the Presenters

Regina Bailey
Senior Director of Retail & Category Strategy
Menasha Packaging
Regina is an experienced CPG executive in the areas of Sales, Shopper Marketing, Retail Category Data Analytics & Insights for customers, consumers, with a marketing focus to achieve bottom line results. She processes issues fluidly by simplifying them to actions that deliver for her retail partners. Prior to Menasha, Regina led the North American Category Management and Shopper Insights team for Unilever and Newell Brands. Prior to that, Regina spent a combined 22 years working with retailers while at Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Unilever in sales, marketing, and business development. Outside of the office, Regina and her family volunteer to raise funds for local cancer charities, as well as Mercy Hospital Foundation. In her downtime, you will find Regina gardening, walking the trails of NW Arkansas, or doing a little retail exploration (that’s code for shopping).
About Menasha Packaging Company, LLC
Menasha is the industry’s largest independent, retail-focused packaging and merchandising solutions provider. Yet, what most impresses the world’s leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies is our commitment to Go Beyond the expected. They receive the greatest measurable value, delivered on time and just in time, across the entire integrated merchandising supply chain.

Ben Metzger
Executive Director, Traditional Retail Council
Cleveland Research Company
Ben is the Executive Director of Cleveland Research Company’s Traditional Retail Council. He is focused on gathering insights, identifying inflections and providing actionable conclusions for suppliers across the mass, club, grocery and dollar channels. Ben holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in Finance and Economics and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University.

U.S. Economic Outlook for 2023 & 2024 Webinar
2023-06-21 12:00 - 13:00
The economic landscape remains highly uncertain, and amid the complexities, there are both encouraging and concerning developments. There is optimism for a soft-landing as inflation has started to come down in most sectors, the labor market remains robust, and consumer demand has not exhibited significant retreat. Conversely, we find ourselves confronted with banking risks, geopolitical risks, and other potential challenges that lie ahead.
We understand the importance of staying ahead in these challenging times. That’s why we are delighted to invite you and your team to join us for an insightful webinar on the U.S. Economic Outlook for 2023 & 2024.
As headwinds are expected to continue this year, in this webinar, CRC’s Macro Team will discuss where the U.S. economy is headed in 2023 and into 2024 to help you plan for uncertainties and hedge potential risks in this highly uncertain environment.
Join CRC’s Macro Team on Wednesday, June 21 at 12:00 pm ET when they host the U.S. Economic Outlook for 2023 & 2024 Webinar.
Key discussion topics include:

Economy: what changed in the last 6 months and CRC’s latest 2023 & 2024 forecasts on GDP growth and recession risk
Inflation / Deflation: CRC’s latest overall consumer inflation forecasts and key components forecasts in 2023 and 2024
Household Financial Health: updates on consumers’ borrowing, saving and their financial health post the recent banking turmoil
Consumer Spending: latest consumer spending trends based on our proprietary surveys and our expectation on how spending could change in the next 6 months
Post-recession expectation: how inflation and spending could change post the potential recession

If you cannot make it to the live session, you can still register to receive the webinar presentation deck and audio replay we’ll send out after the call.

About the Presenter

Skylar Xie, CFA
Director of Macro Research
Cleveland Research Company
Skylar is the Director of Macro Research at Cleveland Research Company. She was one of the founders of CRC’s macro research, connecting the dots between CRC’s bottoms-up channel research and top-down economic data.
Skylar holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Beijing Jiaotong University in Beijing, China. She also holds a Master of Science in Finance and graduated with Dean’s Academic Reward from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In May 2021, Skylar received her MBA from the Wharton Business School in Philadelphia, PA and is a CFA® charterholder.

What’s New at Kroger?
2023-06-06 12:00 - 13:00
Albertsons Merger, KPM Expansion & 3CM Rollout

Thought Leader Webinar featuring Harvest Group

Kroger is often considered a leading grocery retailer due to its resilient consumer base, wide selection of private label products, KPM capabilities, and key digital engagement options through drive-up and delivery. Now, there are growing opportunities for the company given the proposed merger with Albertsons and continued rollout of Ocado locations, which presents the ability to reach customers in new markets and likely drive digital sales.
Despite several new initiatives at Kroger, our work suggests the promotional environment will likely intensify this year with food retailers and delivery services improving digital execution to compete online. How could this impact Kroger’s market share overtime, and what can you do to prepare for increasing competition across the retail channel?
Join Cleveland Research Company and Harvest Group on Tuesday, June 6 at 12:00 pm ET for our next Thought Leader Webinar: What’s New at Kroger? Albertsons Merger, KPM Expansion & 3CM Rollout.
During this 60-minute session, our teams will detail the state of the business and the latest developments at Kroger.
Discussion topics include:

Projections for Kroger’s digital mix & growth
Business impact of the Albertsons merger
Direction from Kroger leadership on KPM expansion
Ocado status update
Everything brands need to know about the 3CM rollout
And more!

Attendees will walk away with new strategies and best practices for navigating Kroger’s accelerating omnichannel landscape. Registration includes the full video replay we’ll send out after the call.

About the Presenters

Mark Stamps
Vice President, Digital Commerce
Harvest Group
Mark Stamps is the Vice President of Digital Commerce at Harvest Group. At Harvest Group, Mark leads the development and deployment of digital capabilities and strategies that are leveraged by top brands representing over $6 Billion in retail sales. He has been a leader in establishing retail media partnerships with Walmart Connect, Roundel, Amazon Advertising (AMC, DSP), as well as The Trade Desk.
Mark began his retail experience by leading merchandising systems development for Walmart and Sam’s Club before launching his career into CPG by joining Procter & Gamble. For P&G, Mark led multiple retail sales teams and ended up managing P&G’s expansive brand portfolio on Walmart’s Global eCommerce platforms. Mark has also led large retail sales teams for Mars-Wrigley Confectionery and Philips Personal Health brands.

Nick Spicher
Vice President, Kroger
Harvest Group
Nick Spicher serves as the Vice President of the Kroger team for Harvest Group. Nick started the Kroger office for Harvest Group in 2015 after spending his career with Procter & Gamble.
Nick’s tenure at P&G ranged from category management, account leadership, to National Sales roles for brands such as Charmin, Pantene, and Head & Shoulders. Nick has grown businesses across multiple retail channels with a focus on story-based selling and serving the retailer with excellence.

About Harvest Group
Harvest Group is the trusted omni-channel partner for CPG brands looking to grow their business at Walmart, Walmart.com, Sam’s Club, Kroger, Target, Amazon and Costco.
Harvest Group’s multi-functional team of retail experts leverages proprietary systems and technology to help clients unlock insights and deliver growth. Harvest Group offers a connected commerce solution where we provide account management, digital content management, retail media management, and replenishment services.

Ben Metzger
Executive Director, Traditional Retail Council
Cleveland Research Company
Ben is the Executive Director of Cleveland Research Company’s Traditional Retail Council. He is focused on gathering insights, identifying inflections and providing actionable conclusions for suppliers across the mass, club, grocery and dollar channels. Ben holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in Finance and Economics and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University.

Amazon Marketing Cloud: Thinking Beyond ROAS
2023-05-31 14:00 - 15:00
Thought Leader Webinar featuring The Mars Agency

As shoppers’ path-to-purchase grows increasingly complex and competition continues to ramp, brands are looking to unlock better connectivity to the end consumer in order to gain confidence in what each dollar of ad spend is working to achieve.
For brands looking for deeper insights into shoppers’ journeys and moving away from traditional forms of measurement like ROAS, developing capabilities with Amazon Marketing Cloud and clean rooms will be a key muscle for eCommerce / omnichannel teams to build.
Join Cleveland Research Company and The Mars Agency on Wednesday, May 31 at 2:00 pm ET for our Thought Leader Webinar – Amazon Marketing Cloud: Thinking Beyond ROAS – as we overview Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) and detail the ways your brand can leverage the tool to move your business forward.
Discussion topics include:

How to think about AMC and where it can drive your business forward
Why traditional forms of measurement like ROAS are increasingly being viewed as incomplete
What metrics should your brand be using to best measure the effectiveness of an advertisement

Registration includes the full video replay we’ll send out after the call.

About the Presenters

Jack Lindberg
Director, Media Insights & Analytics
The Mars Agency
Based in New York, Jack Lindberg leads the Amazon/ Amazon Marketing Cloud Analytics and the Data Clean Room Practices at The Mars Agency.
Jack is passionate about and grounded in using data and technology to accelerate commerce marketing. Prior to joining The Mars Agency, Jack spent time building Pacvue’s advertising product. He is also a founding member of Puntalytics, the leading sports analytics Twitter account about NFL punting. He’s been cited in renowned publications such as ESPN, The New York Times, and The Athletic.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jack is a semi-retired professional opera singer with a passion for the arts. He holds degrees in music from Yale College and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

About The Mars Agency
The Mars Agency is an award-winning, independently owned global commerce marketing practice with a growth-for-clients focus. With talent spanning the Americas, Europe and Asia, they create breakthrough, connected commerce solutions by balancing the smartest humanity with the latest technology. Their latest MarTech platform, Marilyn is the first and only end-to-end commerce advisor.

Nick Fischietto
Executive Director, eCommerce Council
Cleveland Research Company
Nick is the Director of the eCommerce Council at Cleveland Research Company focusing on the eCommerce industry. In his role, he leads the research process specializing in gathering channel insights to identify key inflections and trends within the industry. His goal is to take the proprietary market intelligence to help educate organizations and better enable his clients to navigate the dynamic and blurring channels of ecommerce and retail in order to make better strategic decisions and smarter investments. Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from The Ohio State University.

Impact of China’s Reopening and Its 2023 Economic Outlook Webinar
2023-04-19 12:00 - 13:00
China surprised the world four months ago with a U-turn on its stringent COVID policy. Now that society is fully reopened, many expect that the change could stabilize the global supply chain and boost commodity prices. But what is the real impact of China’s reopening on its economy and the world? Could China’s reopening boost global trade demand and alleviate some recession fear? Or will China be too busy fighting its own battles of the US-China competition and domestic debt issue?
Join CRC on Wednesday, April 19 at 12:00 pm ET when they host Impact of China’s Reopening and Its 2023 Economic Outlook Webinar.
In this webinar, our Macro Research Team will discuss the extent of recovery in China’s economic activities based on our channel research, the most followed economic data, and high-frequency data. Our analysts will also discuss CRC’s findings on China’s supply chain recovery, the recent impact on commodity prices, and its overall economic outlook.
Registration includes access to the live session, webinar presentation deck and on-demand replay link.

About the Presenter

Skylar Xie, CFA
Director of Macro Research
Cleveland Research Company
Skylar is the Director of Macro Research at Cleveland Research Company. She was one of the founders of CRC’s macro research, connecting the dots between CRC’s bottoms-up channel research and top-down economic data.
Skylar holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Beijing Jiaotong University in Beijing, China. She also holds a Master of Science in Finance and graduated with Dean’s Academic Reward from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In May 2021, Skylar received her MBA from the Wharton Business School in Philadelphia, PA and is a CFA® charterholder.
