August 11, 2023

AI in Retail

Adapt, Recover, and Thrive With Movement Clarity

The post-pandemic world wiped out “business as usual” in retail.

Shopper habits, technology, and competitive threats rewrote the script before most brands could react. But here’s what the Un_Standard movement sees: It’s not about survival—it’s about using change (and AI) as a catalyst for clarity and momentum.

AI won’t fix muddled vision—a confused brand just automates mediocrity. But when you build with bold, clarity-first thinking, AI turns into your retail rocket fuel.

Why AI Alone Isn’t Enough (But Movements Can Win)

Every retail headline screams AI: “Personalization! Data! Recommendations! Chatbots!”

But here’s the reality for movement brands:

  • AI multiplies whatever it’s given. If your product, message, or strategy is fractured, you get faster confusion.
  • Winners start with a sharp customer promise, then use AI to amplify their edge, not just digitize old routines.

Join The Movement

Clarity is the new growth engine—ditch the templates and join the movement of bold brands rewriting the rules. Whether you’re launching, scaling, or leading, Un_Standard delivers anti-ordinary strategy, story, and systems built for every stage of growth. Ignite momentum with our solutions—all designed to smash bottlenecks, fuel creativity, and turn your business into a story worth following.
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How Clarity-Driven Retail Moves Win With AI

Say Goodbye to Guesswork—Go “Data Deep”
  • Don’t just scrape more shopper data—connect it to your narrative. Is your “recommended just for you” really aligned, or just an algorithmic shot in the dark?
  • Use AI to not just segment but to listen: what pain, dream, or moment makes your offer matter right now?
  • Top brands go beyond product suggestions: they test, learn, and recalibrate at the speed of shopping.
Build Experience Before Predicting Demand
  • In a world trained to expect instant service, AI can help you deliver—but only if you’re clear on the user journey.
  • Use chatbots, automation, and even “predictive checkout” to remove friction, not add flavorless steps.

Modern proof: A mid-market retailer used AI to map not just what customers bought, but why and where they dropped out of the journey. Fixing the sticky spots made the biggest revenue difference—not just chasing more data.

Thrive by Iterating Fast
  • Post-pandemic retail is all about bounce: those who recover fastest, learn loudest, and pivot fluently eat up market share.
  • AI’s biggest ROI comes from creating fast “test and learn” cycles: try campaigns, monitor results, keep what resonates, kill what tanks.

Movement Ritual: Set a quarterly “experiment week”—use AI to map what truly moved your community. Align every department, then move on what the data proves, not just what you “feel.”

Build Loyalty Through Human Touch + Digital Intelligence
  • The best AI-powered brands win not just with smart systems, but by layering on real human connection.
  • Use automation to fuel extra time for your teams to create surprise, celebration, and real relationship at every touchpoint.

Modern Movement Proof

A regional retailer ditched generic “discount” focus for AI-powered customer journeys—mapping VIPs, running micro-campaigns, and surfacing new product rituals. Year-over-year ticket size doubled, and loyalty club engagement soared.

A DTC brand refocused AI investment away from “just in time” banners to analyzing when customers most needed support—leading to a 25% drop in cart abandonment.

Photo by Fanette Guilloud

Smart Moves for Adaptation & Recovery

  • Mix high-velocity AI launches with quarterly clarity jams—don’t automate drift.
  • Audit metrics every month: If an effort doesn’t move engagement, NPS, or sales, pivot or kill quick.
  • Make learning a two-way street: AI for speed, movement-led rituals for empathy.

Ritual: The AI x Clarity Standup

Every two weeks, host a 20-minute sprint:

  • What did AI show us?
  • Did our best customer moments support or challenge those findings?
  • Where can human touch amplify the automation win?

Un_Standard Takeaway

Survival is for those clutching the lifebuoy; growth is for those who build the next wave. Retail may be moving fast—but clarity, creative courage, and AI-powered insight keep movement brands always ahead.

Ready to future-proof, pivot, and build loyalty with clarity-driven innovation?

Book a Retail Resilience Session With Un_Standard →

Click to schedule a complimentary 15-minute call

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Agent Provocateur & Chief Creative Officer at Un_Standard. David helps ambitious brands unearth clarity, break the rules that hold them back, and co-create movement-level growth. When not challenging the status quo, he’s in the kitchen inventing new flavors or chasing after his three cats: Hallie Tosis, Lester Een, and Jim G. Vitis. #BeUnStandard

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