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

One half-day afternoon session, on day one of CustomerX.

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

The Think Tank runs the afternoon of day one only, so you're clear to work the rest of CustomerX - the show floor, 1:1 meetings, and the other stages.

THE AGENDA
Three sessions.  Closed door discussions.

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14 Oct 2026
    • Marketplaces
    Marketplaces, Social Commerce and Winning the Next Generation of Consumers
    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, and AI-driven discovery. This panel brings together the trailblazers experimenting with social platforms, marketplaces and DTC, to discuss what's actually working, where the real trade-offs are, and what's next What does the next generation consumer really want? What is actually driving brands to diversify; cost, control, data, risk, or something else? How do these emerging models differ social commerce vs. marketplace V DTC? Where does AI-driven commerce like agents/AI shopping assistants fit into this shift?
    Sponsored by:
    In Post Logo
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Chris Dawson
    Chris Dawson, Editor - CHANNELX
    Speakers
    Speaker image for George Robinson
    George Robinson, Managing Director - SOSWEET
    Speaker image for Herculano Rodrigues
    Herculano Rodrigues, Head of Multi-Category GBS - TIKTOK UK
    Speaker image for Yana Sirenko
    Yana Sirenko, EU Channel Partners Marketing Lead - SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS
    Speaker image for Jon Nicholson
    Jon Nicholson, Chief Commercial Officer - IN POST
    • Marketplaces
    Winning in Crowded Marketplaces: Building Brands Customers Choose
    As marketplaces become increasingly competitive, how can brands maintain differentiation, strengthen customer relationships and avoid becoming commodities? From pricing and merchandising to customer experience and data ownership, what separates the brands that thrive from those that simply compete on price? Building brand equity within third-party marketplaces Creating differentiation beyond price Who really owns the customer relationship? Protecting trust while scaling through marketplaces Using data to create loyalty beyond the transaction
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Georgia Leybourne
    Georgia Leybourne, Founder - GK STRATEGIES
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Leanne Oddy
    Leanne Oddy, Digital and International Lead - ANN SUMMERS
    Speaker image for Anthony Dawe
    Anthony Dawe, Senior E-Commerce Manager - EU - LANSINOH
    • Marketplaces
    Marketplaces as a Growth Driver
    To unlock true scalability, brands must treat digital marketplaces as multi-dimensional engines for geographical expansion and economic performance. This session explores the practical strategic levers required to drive profitable, cross-border marketplace volume What is the relationship between UX and Revenue and how can you convert low-intent marketplace browsers into high-value, predictable economic growth Using existing platform infrastructure to instantly scale territory footprint Protecting margins and keeping product pricing profitable and consistent across different global platforms
    Moderator
    Speaker image for Michel Koch
    Michel Koch - GREY HAIR WORKS
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Nur Eral
    Nur Eral, Senior Ecom Experience Lead - THE CLOROX COMPANY
    Speaker image for Dima Riabenko
    Dima Riabenko, eCommerce & Marketplace Manager - CHARLES BENTLEY

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 (opens in a new tab)

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

Charity Retail Association Objkts Jewelry Heaven Skincare Home & Garden Extras One Retail Group LTD Debenhams Temu Checkatrade Charles Bentley & Son Decathlon Zooplus JD Sports Sweaty Betty

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 (opens in a new tab)

 

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