Retail has always been about influence. But today, the most innovative retailers aren’t just competing for shelf space. They’re looking for new revenue and profit channels.
Welcome to the world of retail media. And for the innovators, it’s quickly becoming their next frontier of growth.
Everyone in retail knows it...margins are thin, operating costs are rising, and digital ads are delivering less every year. On the flipside, retail media is booming:
The market is set to grow from $120B in 2023 to $160B+ by 2027 (yes, that's a B in that number)
Leaders like Walmart and Tesco already see 30–50% of EBITDA from retail media
Amazon Advertising generated $47B in 2023 alone
This isn’t incremental revenue. It’s a structural shift for the entire industry, and the retailers who innovate first are the category kings and queens, setting the pace.
Until now, most retail media lived online. But the leaders know the next frontier is actually in-store. By 2027, half of all retail media spend will be physical via screens, playlists, kiosks, queue displays, even scent activations.
Your store isn’t just a point of sale. It’s a programmable media channel.
In a post-cookie world, first-party data is the fuel. Loyalty insights, POS transactions, and shopper behaviour are what make retail media hyper-targeted, compliant, and valuable to brands.
The result? Media that feels like service, not interruption.
Retail innovators aren’t just sellers, they’re media owners. They’re building creative studios, packaging campaigns, and launching networks that rival publishers.
This is how retail leaders are transforming customer attention into a new growth engine.
Audit your assets: Every screen, playlist, and app is potential media real estate.
Pilot smart: Run a 90-day campaign with 1–2 brand partners.
Package it: Create simple, buyable ad bundles.
Scale fast: Layer in data and attribution as you grow.
Retail media is the next growth channel for innovators. Will you switch yours on?