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Understanding Retail Media: The basics and beyond

Joacim Gerdbo and in-house Retail Media expert Björn Karlström unpack the essentials of retail media, what it is, and what is driving the wave of buzz surrounding it.

Episode 1_Understanding Retail Media_The Basics and Beyond
Episode 1_Understanding Retail Media_The Basics and BeyondEpisode 1_Understanding Retail Media_The Basics and Beyond

Retail media is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing advertising channels worldwide — but what actually is it, and why is everyone talking about it?

In this episode, Joacim Gerdbo sits down with in-house retail media expert Björn Karlström to unpack the fundamentals of retail media and explore the forces driving its explosive growth across the retail industry.

Together, they break down the core components of retail media, including first-party data, on-site and off-site advertising, programmatic buying, and the evolving role retailers play as media owners. The conversation also explores how retail media differs from traditional trade marketing, why advertisers are shifting budgets into this space, and what retailers need to succeed in a rapidly changing landscape.

Whether you’re new to retail media or looking to better understand the opportunities behind the buzz, this session offers a practical introduction to one of the most important shifts in modern retail and advertising.

What you’ll learn

  • What retail media is and why it’s growing so quickly
  • The role of first-party data in modern advertising
  • The difference between retail media and traditional trade marketing
  • How programmatic advertising works in a retail context
  • Why relevance and shopper experience are critical to success
  • The key components retailers need to build a retail media offering

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