Thursday October 23

Retail is Blind: Is Your Store the Perfect Match For Gen Z? (Waterplace Ballroom)

Gen Z isn’t just shopping—they’re looking for retail spaces that truly get them, reflecting their identity, values, and need for community. But are brands designing with them in mind? In this Love is Blind-inspired game show, attendees will step into their role of matchmaker—pairing Gen Z shoppers with retail concepts designed to win their loyalty. Jay Highland and Ambriah Phillips will moderate the session, joined on stage by Meagan Chambers-Lindquist, Miranda Swaney, and surprise panelists from the audience. Through blind pitches, real-time voting, and live feedback, the session will uncover what makes a store “relationship material” and what makes shoppers ghost, challenging attendees to rethink how stores foster connection, self-expression, and belonging—and leaving them with actionable insights to create retail environments Gen Z will commit to and advocate for.