Much has been written about the state of commerce today.  It's either dying or thriving, thanks to online competition, depending on who you talk to.  But after attending Shoptalk in Las Vegas March 3-6, it's clear that retail's transformation is picking up steam as retailers build out and reap the benefits of a robust omnichannel program, and direct-to-consumer brands fuel growth in stores, and online marketing remains the key to achieving personalization.

Today’s connected consumer is unpredictable, messy and awash in contradictions.  We love our devices and want them to enhance our experiences in increasingly exciting ways.  Culturally, there’s a growing consciousness of tech’s ability to distract and our need to be more present in our real life with real people.  Yet still, we can’t let go of our ability to keep checking up on our world, our work, our home, our health and more whenever we want.

It's still early in 2019, but already there are signs that commerce is poised for some dramatic change.  CES and the National Retail Federation's Big Show are annual rites of passage for retailers, brands and marketers, and after visits to both it's clear one big change is that commerce is no longer confined in stores or online.  The notion that "commerce is everywhere" is forcing brands to re-examine how they approach and connect with customers.