GROW LA

day TWO | thu april 24

TARIFFS, AI + THE FUTURE OF RETAIL

  • Matt Prater, VP, Digital Strategy, Monks - moderated by Todd Gilchrist, Senior Editor, Variety

    With consumers encountering between 4,000 and 10,000 ads daily, marketers face the challenge of creating campaigns that capture attention and drive results. This fireside chat will showcase how leading brands across apparel, CPG, and home goods are achieving double-digit improvements in CTR, CVR, and CPA by using generative AI to drive full-funnel growth. Key topics will include using AI for consumer research and ad concepting, personalization of assets at scale, combatting ad fatigue, and unifying upper-funnel and lower-funnel acquisition strategies. This fireside chat will empower marketers to refine their creative testing, strengthen their presence in the marketplace, and optimize their DTC and marketplace (Amazon) strategies in today’s saturated advertising landscape.

  • Matt Fey, Director, Marketing, Portland Leather Goods + Amanda Mitzman, Director, Ecommerce, Paul Mitchell + Danielle Nicoll, SVP, Marketing, Cann moderated by Todd Gilchrist, Senior Editor, Variety

    In today’s competitive landscape, growing a brand takes more than great products — it takes smart digital strategy, intentional storytelling, and a deep focus on long-term customer value. In this panel, we’ll dive into how brands are using influencer marketing, rebranding, omni-channel media, and product launches not just to acquire customers, but to keep them coming back.

  • Francis Nguyen, Sr. Director of Ecommerce, 100 Thieves & Higround + Sean Christman, COO, Cuts - moderated by Todd Gilchrist, Senior Editor, Variety

    Relying solely on Meta for customer acquisition is no longer a sustainable strategy - rising costs, increasing competition, and evolving privacy regulations demand a diversified approach. In this keynote session, we’ll explore the next frontier of digital advertising: underutilized channels that are delivering real, scalable ROI. Discover how two household-name online brands are tapping into TikTok, programmatic display, CTV, and emerging ad platforms to drive cost-effective customer acquisition. Learn which channels work best for different audiences, how to optimize creative for each platform and how to build a cross-channel strategy that de-risks your growth. If you’re looking to reduce dependency on Meta, improve ad efficiency, and uncover new pathways to scale, this session will equip you with the playbook to stay ahead in an evolving digital landscape.

  • 11:25 am - 12:05 pm MORNING ROUNDTABLE

    Courtney Claghorn, Co-founder, Sugared + Bronzed - From Apartment Hustle to Industry Leader: A 4th-Gen Entrepreneur’s Journey

    As we wrap up GROW LA 2025, expect a delicious lunch, craft cocktails & an unforgettable atmosphere where you can celebrate a successful conference with new friends & partners. Plus join our final interactive tables to discuss key approaches that help retail operators solve their most pressing challenges. Then it’s time to turn your attention to the official GROW afterparty! More details by SMS - Don’t miss it!

  • Whether you’re sealing deals, swapping stories, or just enjoying the vibe, this is the ultimate way to wrap up GROW in style. More details by SMS - Don’t miss it!

  • Step inside for our second day of powerful insights, game-changing strategies & networking.

  • The ultimate morning meetup for eCommerce leaders. Kickstart your day with fresh insights, meaningful connections & great conversations with good coffee & pastries.

  • Get ready to ignite your day! Join us as we set the tone for an action-packed day with opening insights, key industry trends and a powerful welcome from our Day Two host, Todd Gilchrist. Expect energy, inspiration & a roadmap for what’s ahead. Let’s goooo!

  • Alexandria Collis, Sr Director of Operations and Customer Experience, Princess Polly interviewed by Todd Gilchrist, Senior Editor, Variety

    How brands measure and optimize media impact across brick-and-mortar and digital channels.

  • JM Fabrizi, President, Coalatree + Prem Kiran, Founder & CEO, Hypersonix AI - moderated by Todd Gilchrist, Senior Editor, Variety

    With tariffs shifting, costs rising, and competitors moving faster than ever, today’s Shopify and DTC brands need more than dashboards—they need decisions. Join us for a fireside chat between

    Hypersonix AI's CEO & Founder, Prem Kiran and J. M., President, Coala Tree - Eco-Minded Goods. Topics of discussion will focus on how the Coala Tree team is using

    Hypersonix’s Agentic AI platform to dynamically adjust prices, monitor their competition daily, and plan promotions that dually protect margins and drive growth.

    Learn how the platform helps Shopify merchants like Coala Tree turn rising landed costs and market volatility into strategic advantage—automating complex pricing decisions that once took hours, if not days.

    Whether you're managing thousands of SKUs or reacting to competitor pricing or just gaining revenue momentum, you’ll walk away with a clear roadmap to build a profit-first, future-ready brand.

    Key takeaways include:

    • Future proofing your pricing strategy for AI agents making purchasing decisions on your website in the not-so-distant future

    • Stay ahead of your competitors with daily price and promo intelligence—no more stale data or reactive strategies.

    • Adapt pricing dynamically in response to shifting tariffs, costs, and margin pressures—without lifting a finger.

    • Automate smart decisions with agentic workflows that help lean teams operate like seasoned pricing strategists.

    • Effortlessly manage the long tail of your assortment with automated pricing rules that optimize every transaction for margin and growth

day one | weds april 23

DRIVING GROWTH IN AN ERA OF UNCERTAINTY

  • The wait is over! Step inside for our first day of powerful insights, game-changing strategies & networking.

  • The ultimate morning meetup for eCommerce leaders. Kickstart your day with fresh insights, meaningful connections & great conversations with good coffee & pastries.

  • Get ready to ignite your day! Join us as we set the tone for an action-packed conference with opening insights, key industry trends and a powerful welcome from our expert host, Steve Morales. Expect energy, inspiration & a roadmap for what’s ahead. Let’s make it happen!

  • Sarah Zurell, CMO, Chinese Laundry + Katie Rosen, Co-founder, FabFitFun hosted by Steve Morales, Head of Growth, Kut from the Kloth

    Acquiring customers in today’s saturated eCommerce landscape is tougher—and more expensive—than ever. So how do the biggest brands break through the noise, lower acquisition costs, and scale efficiently? In this data-driven session, two CMOs will unveil the most effective customer acquisition strategies that drive real, measurable growth. From AI-powered targeting and conversion-optimized landing pages to influencer collaborations and untapped paid media tactics, discover how these $100m+ ARR brands are staying ahead of the competition. Learn how to maximize ROI across paid and organic channels, build high-intent audiences, and create acquisition funnels that don’t just attract customers—but keep them coming back. So, if you’re looking to refine your growth strategy, reduce dependency on expensive ad platforms, and scale profitably, this session will deliver actionable insights to help you win in even the most competitive markets.

  • Varun Kundra, CEO, Aftersell + Ben Yahalom, CEO, True Classic hosted by Steve Morales, Head of Growth, Kut from the Kloth

    In today’s competitive e-commerce landscape, brands need more than just traffic—they need predictable, high-LTV customers who convert and keep spending. Join Ben Yahalom, CEO of True Classic, and Varun Kundra, CEO of Aftersell, as they break down new strategies that leading brands are using across the customer checkout and post-purchase journey to drive sustainable revenue growth.

    This session will deliver actionable insights on how forward-thinking brands are leveraging the confirmation page as a powerful acquisition channel and profit driver through AI-driven product recommendations.

    Ben Yahalom will share his firsthand experience using machine learning to optimize product and offer recommendations, unlocking sustainable growth and higher AOV. Learn how True Classic implemented these strategies, the impact they’ve had, and how you can apply them to your own business.

  • Daniel Weinbach, President, The Cat's Pajamas + Nate Rosen, Head of Growth & Partnerships, Instant

    With 98% of site visitors leaving without converting, brands are getting smarter about how they recapture attention and drive action. In this session, we’ll explore how The Cat PJs teamed up with Instant to turn anonymous traffic into real customers - unlocking $50K in incremental revenue in the process. From surfacing intent signals to boosting email performance, learn how performance-minded teams are rethinking retention and activating high-intent visitors before they disappear.

  • Blake Imperl, SVP, Marketing, Digioh + Harry Roth, Director, Ecommerce, AS Beauty hosted by Steve Morales, Head of Growth, Kut from the Kloth

    Zero party data isn’t just a buzzword in 2025 — it’s the key to building personalized experiences that drive real revenue. In this tactical fireside chat, hear how AS Beauty’s Director of Ecommerce, CRO & Customer Journeys, Harry Roth, uses zero party data to personalize every step of the customer journey — from lead capture and guided selling quizzes to retention marketing and onsite experiences. Alongside Digioh’s SVP of Marketing, Blake Imperl, they'll unpack the exact strategies and examples that helped AS Beauty unlock smarter targeting and more meaningful customer connections. Attendees will also receive a free physical copy of The Ecommerce Marketer’s Guide to Zero Party Data to take the tactics even further.

  • Time for a coffee & walk around the exhibit hall! GROW has amazing tools on display all day! And if you’re part of our 1:1 Matchmaking Program, please make your way to the Green Monster sign to take your meetings.

  • We’re Back! Let’s keep the momentum going. To kick things off, Todd from Variety Magazine will welcome us back and set the stage for an exciting second half of the morning.

  • Sara Ahmed Holman, CCO, Bobbie + Alexander Uruchurtu, Chief Product & Innovation Officer, Dr. Squatch + Rory Garton-Smith, Co-founder & CTO, Checkmate hosted by Todd Gilchrist, Senior Editor, Variety

    More than ever, shoppers are moving fluidly between online & offline experiences, expecting seamless engagement at every touchpoint. Where are your customers right now? And how are you bridging the gap to drive conversions across both channels? Join Heads of Growth & Innovation from Dr. Squatch, Bobbie & Checkmate as they share how they’re integrating digital strategies with in-store experiences to maximize sales and customer engagement. From leveraging first-party data and AI-driven personalization to optimizing omnichannel checkout and fulfillment, this panel will unpack the tactics that are driving higher conversions both online and in-store. Whether you’re an eCommerce brand exploring retail expansion or a brick-and-mortar business looking to enhance your digital presence, this session will deliver the very latest actionable strategies to unify the shopping experience & drive measurable growth. Don’t miss it!

  • Antonio Garcia-Galan Viejo, Director, Retention, Dr. Squatch + Brooke Cullison, Director, eCommerce & Media, Liquid I.V. + Michael Epstein, Co-founder & Co-CEO, PostPilot moderated by Steve Morales, Head of Growth, Kut from the Kloth

    Direct mail is making a serious comeback — not as a throwback, but as a high-performing growth channel for modern eCommerce brands. In this session, hear how leading marketers are using direct mail to drive acquisition, boost retention, and cut through the noise of saturated digital channels. From creative that converts to segmentation strategies and real-time tracking, this panel will break down what it takes to make direct mail measurable, scalable, and profitable.

  • Megan Smith, Director, Media Strategy, Tecovas + Greg Kalin, Director, Client Development, Tatari


    Many DTC marketers still wonder: can TV really drive measurable results—or is it just a big-budget gamble? Tecovas had those same doubts. Now, the premium Western brand is pulling back the curtain on how they turned TV into a performance engine. Megan Smith, Director of Media Strategy, will share how the team overcame internal skepticism, proved the impact of both linear and streaming campaigns, and built a full-funnel strategy that blends performance with powerful brand storytelling.

  • Laptops closed please! It’s time to eat a very tasty lunch! Then join eight interactive tables, with eight deep-dive discussions. Discuss key approaches & technologies that help retail operators solve their most pressing challenges.

    Last few table spots available! RSVP HERE.

    12:35pm sharp! Join Table 1 - 4:

    TABLE 1: Ben Miller, VP, SMB Growth Team, NBCUniversal Advertising & Partnerships - TV simplified with NBCUniversal: Unlocking premium video for brands of all sizes

    TABLE 2: Maasai Ephriam, Co-Founder & President/CEO, Bristol Studio + Jake Fenster, Co-Founder & CFO/COO, Bristol Studio + Matias Marquez, CEO, ethos - Building community: How exciting loyalty programs fuel eCommerce success

    TABLE 3: Austin Harrison, CEO, Northbeam - Clicks and views enhanced - A new attribution model for modern marketing challenges

    TABLE 4: Ben Yahalom, CEO, True Classic + Nathan Vanschaik, Head of Sales, Aftersell - What’s working now: Real talk on acquisition, ads and tariff tactics

    1:10pm sharp! Join Table 5 - 8:

    TABLE 5: Matthew Seifert, VP, CRM, Pretty Litter + Manish Goyal, CEO, Friendbuy + Steve Yang, Director, Customer Success, Friendbuy - The loyalty program blueprint for modern eCommerce brands

    TABLE 6: Dan Lapinski, Head of Product Strategy & Operations, Roku Ads Manager - Beyond search & social 

    TABLE 7: Prem Kiran, Founder & CEO, Hypersonix AI - Outsmart. Outprice. Outperform: Future-proofing Shopify brands with agentic pricing

    TABLE 8: Arjun Bhargava, Co-Founder & CEO, Rye - eCommerce's new frontier: Democratizing the online selling experience

    Then after lunch:

    It’s time to choose your own adventure! Head back to the main stage for “TRACK A” talks & panels, or take a seat in the Shopify Theater for a whole new “TRACK B” lineup. There’s talks for everyone, all afternoon! Don’t miss them.

  • 1:45pm - Welcome Back with Steve Morales, Head of Growth, Kut from the Kloth

    1:50pm - Building brands through influence: The power of eCommerce communities

    Jim Lee, President, CrunchLabs and Mark Rober Youtube Channel + Nicole Harvey, Influencer Marketing & Community Partnerships Lead, Recharge hosted by Steve Morales, Head of Growth, Kut from the Kloth

    The competitive landscape of eCommerce demands more than customer acquisition - it requires building engaged communities for sustainable growth. This keynote features Jim Lee, President & COO at Crunch Labs, alongside Nicole Harvey from Recharge, exploring how influencer partnerships drive brand scaling while maintaining authenticity. Discover how Crunch Labs has built loyal audiences beyond transactional relationships, leveraging Recharge's retention strategies to support long-term growth.

    2:10pm - How Pressed Juicery is making confident decisions faster than ever

    Daniel Washburn, Director, eCommerce, Pressed Juicery + Jenna Crane, VP, Marketing, Triple Whale hosted by Steve Morales, Head of Growth, Kut from the Kloth

    Data has become the competitive edge that separates thriving eCommerce brands from those merely surviving. Join this exclusive conversation with Triple Whale and Pressed Juicery as they reveal how leveraging real-time insights and sophisticated attribution modeling has transformed their marketing performance and accelerated business growth. Discover how their data-first approach enables smarter decision-making across all channels, empowering their team to scale confidently while maximizing ROI in an increasingly complex digital marketplace.

    2:30pm - The revenue you’re missing: How to turn browsers into buyers before they bounce

    Brendan Roeschel, CMO, Fresh Clean Threads + Jon Zacharias, Co-Founder/President, GR0 + Tom Rowe, SVP, Sales & Marketing, Opensend hosted by by Steve Morales, Head of Growth, Kut from the Kloth

    eCommerce brands are investing heavily to drive site traffic — but most of that traffic leaves without converting. Whether it’s through paid ads, SEO, or influencer campaigns, marketers are seeing diminishing returns when they can’t identify or engage high-intent visitors. In this session, Fresh Clean Threads and GR0 join Opensend to share how they’re unlocking hidden revenue by resolving identity, capturing intent, and retargeting smarter — all without overhauling their tech stack or increasing spend.

    2:50pm - AFTERNOON BREAK | Kiosk Meet + Greet | 1:1 Meetings

    3:25pm - Welcome Back with Adele Dagher Nasr, CMO, JoyJolt

    3:30pm - Messaging Your Way Through Market Disruption moderated by Adele Dagher Nasr, Fractional CMO, Select Brands

    Jamie Arneson, Director of Retention, Thrive Causemetics + Attila Armos, Manager of Customer Success, Postscript

    We’re living in unprecedented times right now, and there are some real challenges ahead ecommerce. With owned marketing like SMS, leaning into innovative solutions can be one solution for merchants to make more money and add to their bottom line. We’ll chat with Attila Amos, Manager of Customer Success at Postscript and Jamie Arneson Director of Retention at Thrive Causemetics, to talk about how they lean into this channel to drive incremental revenue

    3:50pm - Capitalizing on consumer insights to nail product market fit

    Justin Maddahi, CMO, Lumineux + John LeBaron, CRO, Pattern hosted by Adele Dagher Nasr, CMO, JoyJolt

    Unlocking unprecedented eCommerce growth demands more than intuition—it requires actionable intelligence derived from massive datasets. Pattern, the industry's leading Ecommerce Accelerator and Amazon's largest marketplace seller, harnesses a data lake exceeding 37 trillion data points alongside cutting-edge generative AI to transform raw information into strategic advantage. Join Pattern's executives as they reveal how brands leverage these powerful data-driven insights to optimize product-market fit, anticipate consumer behavior patterns, and build resilient growth strategies that consistently outperform the competition.

    4:10pm - New customer acquisition and the quest for incrementality: Navigating a changing media landscape and new channels

    Justin Kassan, VP, Media, Fabletics + Dennis Mistrioty, CEO, Co-founder, BATCH  + Mark McMaster, VP, Performance Marketing, Nift hosted by Adele Dagher Nasr, CMO, JoyJolt

    How do retail and eCommerce marketers maximize acquisition channels in an increasingly saturated media landscape? We'll hear directly from a panel of leading growth marketers on what's working today and how they measure and manage goals. Are fast-growing retail networks relevant for direct-to-consumer brands? Have we passed the peak of influencer contributions? We'll learn new approaches that are driving growth and dive into the holy grail of media management: identifying truly incremental growth tactics.

  • 1:45pm - Welcome Back with Adham Aljahmi, VP, Growth, Fragrant Jewels


    1:50pm - Social commerce playbook: TikTok Shop, influencers & affiliates

    Bianca Anastasio, Director, Marketing, Prime Bites + Zohaib Rattu, VP, Growth, Social Snowball hosted by Adham Aljahmi, VP, Growth, Fragrant Jewels

    Join us for an unfiltered conversation on what’s actually working in social commerce today. Featuring Bianca Anastasio, Director of Marketing at Prime Bites, a brand that’s done millions through TikTok Shop and TikTok Shop Live, and Zohaib Rattu, VP of Growth at Social Snowball, the platform powering modern affiliate programs for customers, influencers, and creators, with native TikTok Shop integration. We’ll break down real strategies, real numbers, and the systems behind scalable growth through TikTok Shop, influencer partnerships, and affiliate programs. Whether you’re experimenting with TikTok Shop or looking to scale a word-of-mouth engine, this session may help guide your playbook for turning social into performance.

    2:10pm - Your one-size-fits-all checkout is losing you sales!

    An Executive from PDQ + Retail Client moderated by Adham Aljahmi, VP, Growth, Fragrant Jewels

    Today’s shoppers expect options - and if your checkout experience doesn’t deliver, they’re gone. In this session, an executive from PrettyDamnQuick will unpack how rigid, outdated checkout flows are quietly killing conversion rates and what leading retailers are doing to fix it. Learn how to turn shipping and fulfillment into a competitive advantage by offering tailored delivery options, real-time clarity, and post-purchase experiences that actually build loyalty. If you’re still relying on a generic checkout, it’s time to rethink what “pretty damn quick” really looks like.

    2:30pm - Content that converts, anywhere in the world

    Paul Giugeu, Founder, Rework + Spencer Toomey, Sr. Growth Manager, BYLT

    Does content convert anywhere in the world? Discover how BYLT is turning everyday customers into powerful brand advocates through a high-impact UGC strategy that's fueling its global growth. In this session, Spencer and Rework will share how they source authentic content at scale, integrate it across channels to boost performance, and use real customer voices to build trust in new markets.

    2:50pm - AFTERNOON BREAK | Kiosk Meet + Greet | 1:1 Meetings

    3:25pm - Welcome Back with Elise de Saint Didier, Partner, Chameleon Collective

    3:30pm - From Personalization to conversion: AI Agents you can deploy in 5 minutes

    Rapha Cohen, CEO, Moojo - moderated by Elise de Saint Didier, Partner, Chameleon Collective

    What if every shopper felt instantly understood—without giving up their data. In this session, we’ll explore how AI agents are transforming eCommerce by creating one-to-one experiences that feel personal, not intrusive. You’ll learn how brands can deploy these agents in minutes to guide discovery, boost engagement, and drive conversion.

    3:50pm - Retail risk: Navigating the new landscape of ‘gotcha’ lawsuits

    Scott Hampton, VP & General Counsel, Forever 21 + Harrison Brown, Partner + Ana Tagvoryan, Partner, Blank Rome

    eCommerce businesses face a growing wave of “gotcha” lawsuits. In this panel, this panel will equip you with the knowledge to identify and mitigate these risks. We will cover key risk areas and provide actionable strategies to protect your company.  Join us to learn how to avoid costly litigation and stay ahead of evolving legal challenges in the retail sector.

    4:10pm - The Ultimate Guide to Brand Storytelling

    Greg Fass, VP, Marketing, Liquid Death moderated by Elise de Saint Didier, Partner, Chameleon Collective

    Liquid Death isn’t just selling water - it’s building a movement. In this exclusive fireside chat, Greg Fass, VP, Marketing at Liquid Death breaks down how the brand has mastered the art of disruptive storytelling, viral marketing, and cultural relevance. From outrageous ad campaigns to collaborations with icons like Travis Barker and Martha Stewart, Liquid Death has rewritten the rules of brand marketing—blending humor, shock value, and social impact to create a fiercely loyal fanbase. Learn how they turn unconventional ideas into shareable moments, leverage social media to spark organic engagement, and use content to drive not just brand awareness, but real sales. If you want to understand what it takes to create a brand that people don’t just buy but obsess over, this session will deliver behind-the-scenes insights and actionable takeaways from one of the most talked-about marketing teams in the game.

  • After a day packed with insights and connections, it’s time to kick back, grab a drink & relax. Join us at the Directors Guild bar, where great conversations flow as freely as the cocktails. Whether you’re sealing deals, swapping ideas, or just celebrating a day well spent, this is your chance to hang with the very best people across our industry.