Hi there!

Within a week, over 3,000 retail and brand leaders will touch down in NYC for the most ambitious Lead Summit to date.

We’re talking:

• The most attendees ever (including execs from Chanel, Amazon, Allbirds, and American Girl)

• The largest Innovation Village yet — from Barbie Dream House moments to tech test-drives

• 1,945+ 1:1 meetings already scheduled — the highest to date

• A speaker lineup featuring top execs from Marc Jacobs, Vans, J.Crew, and more

And that’s before we get to the rooftop cocktails, partner dinners, and four full hours of dedicated networking each day.

The countdown’s on. Let’s make this one count.

📈 Industry Trends & Insights

The Lead Summit’s theme this year is Destination Unknown — but by the end of next week, attendees will walk away with a sharper sense of where everything is headed. Until then, here’s your quick-fire rundown of the trends and moves shaping the road ahead.

🔸 eCommerce to Surpass 20% of Global Retail Sales
Despite a slowdown in growth, eCommerce is projected to account for 20.5% of total global retail sales in 2025, up from 19.9% in 2024. This growth is driven by increased online shopping adoption worldwide, although challenges like economic softness in China and trade tensions may impact the pace.

🔸 Amazon's Retail Media Revenue to Exceed $60 Billion
Amazon's retail media advertising revenues are expected to surpass $60 billion in 2025, highlighting its dominance in the sector. The company's focus on upper-funnel advertising, particularly through Prime Video, and its vast user base contribute to this significant growth.

🔸 Rise of Warehouse-as-a-Service (WaaS) Platforms
The global eCommerce warehouse market is projected to grow from $209.2 billion in 2024 to $576.5 billion by 2030, driven by the adoption of Warehouse-as-a-Service (WaaS) platforms. These platforms offer flexible, pay-per-use storage solutions, enabling e-retailers to scale operations efficiently and meet increasing consumer demand for rapid delivery.

🛍️ Retail & eCommerce Highlights

🔸 Levi Strauss & Co. has announced the sale of its Dockers brand to Authentic Brands Group for $311 million. This strategic move allows Levi's to concentrate on its primary labels, including its flagship Levi's line and Beyond Yoga, aiming to strengthen its DTC channels and expand its women's wear and denim lifestyle collections.

Chinese fashion retailer Shein continues to gain traction in Australia, with 26% of online shoppers having purchased from the platform in the past year. This figure is expected to rise to 28% in 2025. Shein's aggressive pricing strategy and wide product range appeal to value-conscious consumers, despite concerns over trust and quality.

🔸 Adidas is proactively addressing U.S. tariff challenges by rerouting production from China to countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, aiming to mitigate cost impacts and maintain competitive pricing.

💄 DTC & Brand Movements

🔸 Hailey Bieber's beauty brand, Rhode, is set to launch in Sephora stores across the U.S. this autumn, followed by expansions into Canada and the UK. Transitioning from a successful DTC model, this partnership aims to increase brand exposure while maintaining Rhode's identity and exclusivity through selective merchandising and experiential engagement.

🔸 Fair Harbor and Rothy’s—both known for transforming post-consumer waste into wearable essentials—are launching a men’s capsule collection that includes two pairs of shoes and a swimwear piece. The collaboration continues both brands’ commitment to circular fashion, using recycled plastic bottles as the foundation for their eco-forward designs.

🎥 Behind the Agenda with Sonal Gandhi

Curious what’s behind the strongest speaker lineup The Lead Summit has ever had?

In this quick video, Sonal Gandhi — Chief Content Officer at The Lead — breaks down how the 2025 agenda came together, what topics made the cut (and why), and how the conference has evolved into the learning hub for innovation-focused brands.

🔎 What to listen for:
– How this year’s sessions were built around real challenges like AI adoption, omnichannel growth, and cultural moment marketing
– Why The Lead has doubled down on brand-first content and peer learning
– How the event’s DTC roots still influence its approach to strategy and innovation

It’s a quick watch — and a smart primer before you hit the show floor.

*See the full agenda here

Here’s a sneak peek of 2025 attendees:

and here’s the full list 👇

Also, in case you missed the news…

ClickZ is hosting an exclusive drinks gathering on Day 2 (final day) of The Lead Summit—and we’d love to see you there.

We’re bringing together some of the smartest minds in commerce for one evening of sharp conversation and good wine in NYC’s FiDi district.

If you're serious about what’s coming next in commerce, this is where you’ll want to be.

Spots are limited—grab yours below.

🎟️ Last Call to Join The Lead Summit 2025 — On Us

As an official partner of The Lead Summit, ClickZ is excited to extend a special offer to our Unofficially Lead Summit readers:

✅ Work at a brand or retailer? You can attend for FREE.
Just add our name “ClickZ” in the “how did you hear about us?” field when registering.

🔗 Register Here — Complimentary Brand/Retail Pass

💼 Not a brand or retailer? We’ve got you covered too.

🔗 Use this link to get 25% off your ticket

Until next time,

The Unofficially Lead Summit Team

ClickZ is a ClickZ Media publication in the Events division