Thinking Out Loud

The only resource dedicated to retail & hospitality technology thought leadership

Nov 21, 2025

6 Wild Truths About America’s Spending in 2025

America went into 2025 with resolutions, routines, and good intentions. Then life happened – and the receipts got weird [Fetch]. 

6 Ways to Improve Customer Support

Does your customer support meet the expectations and preferences of the modern consumer? A survey of over 2,000 online shoppers shows how retailers can provide an ideal customer support experience [Bizrate Insights].

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5 Defining Hospitality Trends of 2025 That You Should Consider in 2026

From hybrid business models to the return of communal dining, these five trends show how creativity is shaping a more resilient, human-centered industry [Tock].​​

 How Grab-and-Go Stations Are Shaping the Future of Convenience Retail

What makes someone choose one convenience store over another? The answer often comes down to the simple details that make the experience more convenient and enjoyable [Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions].

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​Mobility: The Future of Retail Flexibility

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Ron Margulis sits down with Łukasz Wojtasik, Diebold Nixdorf, & Drew Ehlers, Zebra Technologies, to explore how mobility is transforming modern retail.

​AI Is Now Table Stakes, So What Comes Next?

The rapid ascent of generative AI rests on a simple operational truth: travel and hospitality organizations that can harness and unify large, diverse datasets are able to build more efficient systems and deliver more relevant experiences [DerbySoft].

Why Parcel Shipping Is Failing and What Comes Next 

If you’re in supply chain, now’s the time to rethink how your parcel strategy fits into the bigger picture. What’s coming next will test your systems, your partnerships, and your ability to adapt [ProShip]. 

Rethinking QSR: Build Better Customer Experiences with Experience Design

Instead of reacting to what happened, experience design starts upstream with the decisions that shape every step of the guest journey before it begins [Service Management Group].

[Leaders Making Us Think]

Thanksgiving Weekend Is No Longer the Starting Line

By Dan Wallace-Brewster, Principal Consultant, Marketing Endeavors Consulting

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Arti Lead Score: The AI Predictor Built for Retail Tech Marketers

ChatGPT can polish your copy. Arti predicts if it’ll perform.

Exclusively from the Retail & Hospitality Hub, Arti benchmarks your content against real retail tech insights—then scores it for lead potential.

It’s fast, smart, and built for one thing: Retail tech lead generation.

See if your message will resonate with decision-makers before you hit send.

Disclosure: We maintain editorial independence. Content is not sponsored unless indicated.

Thinking Out Loud is published weekly by the Retail & Hospitality Hub.