Think Tank - Marketplaces - CustomerX 2026

THE DECISION ROOM
Growth without brand or platform compromise.

The Marketplaces Think Tank explores how businesses can use marketplaces to accelerate online growth while protecting brand identity and customer loyalty.

Across three sessions, the discussion covers innovative marketplace business models, differentiation in crowded platforms, brand dilution, price sensitivity and the risks of relying too heavily on dominant players. It also examines the rise of vertical, social and AI-driven marketplaces—and what these shifts mean for future marketplace strategies.

THE OBJECTIVE
Scale with distinction and resilience.

The discussion: how to harness marketplaces for growth, stand out in an increasingly competitive environment and balance diversification with the cost and risk of expanding beyond dominant platforms.

The Panel Provocation

A series of high-intensity panel discussions designed to challenge the status quo and surface the real constraints.

The Roundtable

You're not watching this part. Each panel breaks straight into a small-group discussion to pressure-test the provocations against your own business reality.

The Output

Every brief concludes with a set of clear options and strategic next steps- not just more questions.

THE COMMITMENT
What attending actually means

Two half-day morning sessions, one on each day of CustomerX.

Come to one, or come to both — the room resets each day!

Each session splits evenly: 25 minutes of panel provocation, then 25 minutes of discussion. Every attendee brings live problems to the table; the room works through it together.

DAY 1 - WED 14 OCT
Scale. Stand Out. Diversify.

14:00 | Unlocking the Power of Marketplaces for Growth
14:50 | Standing out in the Marketplace Battleground to Avoid Brand Dilution and Increase Customer Loyalty
15:40 | Beyond Amazon - Diversification, Risk, and the Next Wave of Marketplaces

DAY 2 - THURS 15 OCT

SESSIONS COMING SOON

Your afternoons stay free. The Think Tank runs mornings only, so you're clear to work the rest of CustomerX - the show floor, 1:1 meetings, and the other stages - in the afternoon, both days.

THE AGENDA
Three sessions a day. Closed door discussions.

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Think Tanks

Marketplaces, Social Commerce and Winning the Next Generation of Consumers

14:00 14:50
( Your local time: - )

Brands are increasingly wary of over-relying on any single dominant platform — and at the same time, new models are emerging fast: vertical marketplaces, social commerce, retailer-owned marketplaces, …

George Robinson, Managing Director , SOSWEET
Winning in Crowded Marketplaces: Building Brands Customers Choose

14:50 15:40
( Your local time: - )

As marketplaces become increasingly competitive, how can brands maintain differentiation, strengthen customer relationships and avoid becoming commodities? From pricing and merchandising to customer e …

Leanne Oddy, Digital and International Lead , ANN SUMMERS
Beyond Amazon - Diversification, Risk, and the Next Wave of Marketplaces

15:40 16:30
( Your local time: - )

Brands are overexposed to a handful of dominant platforms. At the same time, new marketplaces, such as vertical, social, and AI-driven are emerging super fast. The question is no longer whether to div …

Apply To Attend

Register today and sign up to your choice of Think Tank - we'll confirm within 5 working days.

Requests are reviewed to keep the room senior and on-topic.

Apply to attend

THE OUTCOME FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Three things you'll walk away with

01

Look beyond one platform
Explore how businesses are using established, emerging, social and AI-driven marketplaces.

02

Stress-test your marketplace model
Challenge your approach to platform reliance, brand differentiation, customer loyalty and diversification.

03

Choose where to compete
Leave with clearer options for where to scale, how to stand out and when to diversify.

WHO'S IN THE ROOM
Curated for seniority, not headcount

Every seat is reviewed before it's confirmed. This keeps the room senior enough that people speak freely — and relevant enough that the conversation moves fast.

Senior Manager+

100%

Director / VP+

74%

Retailers & Commerce Media Networks

55%

Brands & Agencies

45%

CONFIRMED ORGANISATIONS IN THE ROOM INCLUDE

Debenhams Mars Kingfisher Ahold Delhaize Shell Church & Dwight Rohlik Group Coop Norge Unilever John Lewis Partnership OMD EMEA

Before you request a seat

No. Each morning is self-contained — join Day 1, Day 2, or both. Most senior guests attend both days but you are more than welcome pick and choose to fit your diary. We do ask that you commit to the full session 10:00-13:00.

Senior Manager and above. Every request is reviewed before a seat is confirmed, to keep the room senior enough for an honest conversation.

Seats are issued by name and reviewed individually, so they're not transferable. If your plans change, let us know and we'll open the seat to the waiting list.

The Think Tank is included for confirmed guests — there's no separate ticket. You'll need a CustomerX 2026 pass to attend the wider event.

Your afternoon is free to use across the rest of CustomerX — the show floor, 1:1 meetings, or the other stages — on both the 14th and 15th.

The Commerce Media Think Tank is curated by the team behind Retail MediaX, RetailX's dedicated retail media event. Expect the same senior audience, the same high level discussions on this time its a closed-door, decision-grade discussion brought into the CustomerX programme.

Apply To Attend

Register today and sign up to your choice of Think Tank - we'll confirm within 5 working days.

Requests are reviewed to keep the room senior and on-topic.

Apply to attend

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