Michael Gunther

The consumer economy is evolving at unprecedented speed - and new spend data reveals that 2026 is shaping up to be a year of dramatic transformation for apparel, luxury, and footwear. As shoppers recalibrate around innovation, value, and new digital behaviors, early signals already point to major category reshuffling, emerging winners, and shifting expectations across demographics and regions.

In this session, Dan Frommer, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The New Consumer, and Michael Gunther, Vice President and Head of Insights at Consumer Edge, will provide a data-rich look at the evolving shopper mindset and the forces redefining retail performance. Leveraging real-time transaction trends, they will unpack the behavioral inflection points that matter most - from technology-driven discovery to the rise of premium tiering and the continued strength of value-oriented formats.

They will be joined by Jordan Welling, Senior Consumer Insights Manager at Tecovas, who will bring a brand-side perspective on how retailers can translate these consumer signals into actionable strategy. The session will also tease in the debut of Dash Cosmos, Consumer Edge’s new AI insights engine, which makes accessing, interpreting, and operationalizing consumer data faster and more intuitive than ever. Together, the speakers will explore how AI-enabled insight discovery is redefining how brands stay ahead of rapid market shifts.

Attendees will leave with a clear, data-backed understanding of the consumer trends most likely to shape 2026 - along with a practical view of how tools like Dash Cosmos can empower teams to navigate change with greater speed, confidence, and precision.