TOMORROW

Working at TOMORROW means working alongside some of the sharpest minds in global retail.    People with deep roots in the industry, energized by where it’s headed, and relentless about breaking through for our clients.    Through this series, we want to introduce you to the people shaping the future of retail: what they’re working on, the challenges they’re solving, and a bit more about what their resume alone won’t tell you.    Unofficially dubbed “Recommerce Rotella,” we wanted to know two things about Paul Rotella: What’s the current state of recommerce - and what does he do when he’s not rebuilding reverse supply chains for leading retailers?    Here’s what Paul Rotella is up to. 

Recommerce is no longer a resale side note. It is becoming one of retail’s most underbuilt global growth channels. The US and Europe have moved quickly, but the bigger opportunity may now sit elsewhere: Australia, and parts of Asia, where consumer demand for value is rising, sustainability expectations are sharpening, and recommerce infrastructure is still early. Paul Rotella has long believed that products can have second, third, and fourth lives. Recommerce, when done well, helps people access the things they need at prices they can afford - while helping retailers recover value from inventory that too often gets written off when it still has real commercial value. The opportunity is clear. Read the full interview below. 

Pioneers are not always first. Sometimes they arrive later, see what others missed, and build what the market doesn't even know it needs. Joining Walmart Brazil, just as eCommerce was taking off globally, Flavio Dias was handed a blank sheet of paper. And what followed was one of the most remarkable stories in Latin American retail.  Walmart Brazil's eCommerce business went from zero to $1 billion, setting a pace that would inspire digital and omnichannel leaders across the Walmart International portfolio. His story is a reminder that successful transformation is not always about being the first, fastest, or even the loudest. So in Flavio’s case… what was it? 

This TMRW-Fest, we swapped Starbucks, city streets, and lively nightlife for a few grounding days in the Arkansas forest. And honestly, it was exactly what we needed. Between workshops and team sessions, we made space for the things that don’t always fit neatly between calendar invites: fireside chats, team-building activities, a few moments of questionable outdoor confidence, and the kind of conversations that remind us of our “why.” TMRW-Fest is always one of the most special moments of our year because it gives us space to come back to our roots — as a team, as people, and as TOMORROW.   We left more connected, more aligned, and maybe a little more humbled by nature than we expected. Here’s what we got up to. 👀

What does a future-ready retail business need to look like in 2030? That is the central question World Retail Congress is built around this year, and we are heading to Berlin to find out. We never miss an opportunity to attend WRC. The room is different; it is where the industry's most senior leaders step back from their businesses to pressure-test the decisions and models that will define the next decade. The boardroom of global retail, if you will. This year's agenda was difficult to narrow down, but we’ve earmarked the sessions we will be paying closest attention to. Consider this our pre-read for the week ahead. 👀 These conversations align with the themes we’ve been exploring with clients and discussing across our own teams - but there are a few key overarching themes we’ll be listening for throughout: → What do retailers need to learn to stay relevant through 2030? → Which capabilities are becoming non-negotiable - and which legacy assumptions are quietly breaking down? → And where are the strongest players already moving with a speed and clarity the rest of the market has yet to match? We will be sharing what we hear. Follow along.

For this edition of TMRW-Fest, the team is heading into The Wild. It's been a big quarter. The team has grown, the pace has picked up, and somewhere along the way, a few of us forgot the outside world exists. So, this time, we're taking TMRW-Fest to Buffalo River, Arkansas - same team, same energy, slightly wilder backdrop. While navigating fast-paced briefs, shifting priorities, and the toughest of problems is second nature to us - bears? That's new territory So… who’s going to crack first out here? Our bets are on… 👀

Open roles are not just a talent issue, they are a growth issue. Message me if you want to learn more!

On average, for every 50 corporate roles left unfilled, retailers leave more than $1M in unrealized revenue on the table each year. Because when key roles stay open, transformation does not wait patiently in the background. It slows in real time. Priorities slip. Teams stretch. Opportunities narrow. And in an industry already under pressure to move faster, with new technologies, emerging formats, and shifting customer expectations, that is a serious risk. The warning signs are already there: → 61% say hiring workload and tech limit recruiting capacity  → 33% cite difficulty sourcing qualified candidates  → 32% say the volume of applicants is overwhelming to vet We hear directly from clients that they don't have a fast, scalable way to close capacity gaps, and that it’s limiting their ability to execute faster, adapt faster, and grow faster. This is where TOMORROW is focused: applying our digital expertise to identify and vet the right talent,  with greater speed and precision than traditional models. More on this soon. 🚀 In the meantime, reach out to Valerie for early access to our smart capacity model!

After some very on-brand reflection and a few honest conversations with clients and the team, here’s what Jordan Berke is watching coming out of another incredible Shoptalk. ⬇️

Just back from Shoptalk Spring, Valerie de Charette shares her Hot Takes on building real customer loyalty, why content is one of the most underrated advantages in the AI era, and what agentic commerce means for retail right now. Swipe to see what stood out. ➡️