Shoptalk Founders Launch AI-Native Retail Festival in Huntington Beach

BOSTON, MA – May 20, 2026

The minds behind the industry-defining Shoptalk and Groceryshop events are betting on a new formula for retail conferences, this time with a singular focus on artificial intelligence. RetailClub, the new venture from the established event creators, has announced a partnership with the Retail AI Council to launch an exclusive "Beach House Experience" at its inaugural RetailClub AI Festival this September in Huntington Beach, California. The move signals a deliberate shift away from the traditional convention hall model toward a more curated, collaborative, and "AI-native" environment.

A New Breed of Event

RetailClub is positioning its festival not as another conference with an AI track, but as an event fundamentally rebuilt from the ground up for the AI era. The partnership with the Retail AI Council, a retailer-led organization, aims to create a multi-day activation for senior retail leaders and AI developers. This includes the invite-only Retail AI Council Beach House and an exclusive Retail Insiders Party.

"Retail doesn’t need another event with AI bolted onto the agenda—it needs a complete rethink of how the industry comes together,” said Caroline Farley, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of RetailClub, in a statement. Farley argues that AI is not just a topic but a force reshaping the entire industry, necessitating a new kind of community designed for the "scale and speed of this transformation."

This philosophy is a direct challenge to legacy event formats, such as NRF's Big Show, which are now adding dedicated AI stages to their sprawling expos. RetailClub's founders are wagering that executives are fatigued by broad overviews and are instead seeking direct access to peers who are actively testing and deploying next-generation AI solutions. The all-outdoor, beachside setting in Huntington Beach is a core part of this strategy, designed to replace "convention center foot traffic" with what organizers hope will be more honest and direct peer-to-peer exchange.

The founders' track record lends credibility to this ambitious vision. Their previous events, Shoptalk and Groceryshop, became mainstays by pioneering networking-centric features like the "Meetup program," which facilitates thousands of curated, double opt-in meetings. This history suggests a deep understanding of the value of community-building, a principle that appears central to the new AI festival.

Beyond the Hype: Practical AI for the C-Suite

At the heart of the new partnership is the Retail AI Council Beach House, an invite-only experience designed to move discussions beyond surface-level hype. The plan is to host "Council Collab IRL sessions"—in-person roundtables where leaders can pressure-test ideas, share real-world wins, and debate practical adoption strategies.

This focus on candid, practical conversation directly addresses the most significant pain points cited by retail executives grappling with AI. Recent industry analyses show that while 91% of retail IT leaders plan to implement AI by 2026, many struggle to scale initiatives beyond the pilot stage, lack a clear strategic roadmap, and are hampered by poor data quality. The promise of a forum to discuss these specific hurdles with peers is a powerful draw.

“The harder question is what to do now, what to build next, and how to keep pace when the solutions and roadmap change almost every day," noted Doug Weich, Founder of the Retail AI Council. "The Retail AI Council Beach House gives leaders the room to have those conversations with the people actually doing the work.”

The Retail AI Council brings significant weight to the partnership. With over 400 members and an executive committee featuring leaders like Andrew Laudato, COO of The Vitamin Shoppe, and Jenna Posner, CDO of Solo Brands, the council has established itself as a key resource for practical AI education. Its initiatives, including an industry-specific AI assistant and monthly "Council Collab" webinars, are focused on providing actionable, unbiased insights, making it a natural fit for an event promising to cut through the noise.

From Shoptalk to Surf City: The Evolution of Retail Gatherings

The journey from the massive halls of Shoptalk to a beachside retreat in Huntington Beach reflects a broader evolution in business events. As technology accelerates, the demand for more specialized, immersive, and collaborative experiences is growing. The choice of venue is telling. The partnership's evening event, the Retail Insiders Party, will be hosted at The Bungalow, a venue known for its relaxed, "beach house" ambiance, expansive ocean views, and outdoor patios.

This environment is intentionally designed to foster a different kind of networking—one based on relaxed conversation over cocktails rather than hurried exchanges on an expo floor. By curating not just the content and attendees but the physical environment itself, RetailClub is making a statement about the importance of atmosphere in fostering genuine connection and open dialogue. This approach aligns with the founders' earlier, smaller-scale "Retail Club" initiative from 2019, which organized local gatherings in exclusive venues to foster peer-group conversations, indicating a long-held belief in the power of curated community.

The selection of Huntington Beach, with its robust infrastructure for high-end corporate events at venues like the Hyatt Regency and Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, provides the logistical backbone necessary to support a major festival while still offering the unique "Surf City" culture that differentiates it from traditional conference hubs like Las Vegas or New York.

Navigating a Crowded AI Landscape

RetailClub AI Festival enters a competitive landscape. Events like London's AI in Retail and the CommerceAI Summit are also vying for the attention of senior leaders, many offering curated meetings and a focus on practical applications. However, RetailClub's unique combination of its founders' reputation, a strict "AI-native" philosophy, and an unconventional outdoor format sets it apart.

The event's core mission is to provide a dedicated space for the candid, practical conversations that retail leaders need to have as they navigate the complexities of AI adoption. CIOs are currently focused on foundational challenges like data governance, system integration, and responsible AI frameworks—topics that are difficult to address in a large-scale keynote but are perfectly suited for the intimate, collaborative roundtables the Beach House promises.

By bringing together the community-building expertise of the Shoptalk founders with the retailer-led, practical focus of the Retail AI Council, the festival aims to create a powerful new platform. The goal is to help leaders move past "checkbox AI strategies" and prepare for a future where artificial intelligence is not just a tool, but the fundamental operating system of the entire retail industry. This partnership in Huntington Beach will be a key test of whether this new, experiential model is the future of industry events.