Announcing the 2025 CommerceNexty Awards
ANNOUNCING THE COMMERCENEXTY FINALISTS FOR 2025: Peer-Reviewed Awards for Marketing & Ecommerce Achievements Among Retail & DTC Brands
The CommerceNexty’s are our way of celebrating industry titans and leading brands that deliver outstanding results in marketing and ecommerce.
- Marketing Innovator of the Year
- Most Impactful Social Responsibility Campaign
- Best Use of Data or Technology in Marketing
- Most Effective Brand Storytelling
- Outstanding New Ecommerce Experience
- Best Use of a New Channel
- Women in Retail’s Top Woman of the Year Award
Nominations are now open for the categories above. Please nominate yourself, a client or a colleague using the nomination form
Community-Driven Finalists
After reviewing 100+ nominations, we narrowed it down to 29 finalists across 7 categories. Now it’s your chance to help pick the winner!
*Please note that there is a limit of 3 votes per company and 1 vote per person.*
Below are the finalists for The 2025 CommerceNexty Awards:
1. Marketing Innovator of the Year
American Eagle capitalizes on Kendrick Lamar’s viral Super Bowl performance with “Post-Super Bowl Flares” campaign.
M&M’S and Kate Spade New York team up to launch first-ever collaboration collection, Statement Candy.
Cover FX makes a bold return to the spotlight with Paris Jackson at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
2. Most Impactful Social Responsibility Campaign
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics expands its commitment to female empowerment through the Pretty Powerful Fund.
Patagonia’s "Unfashionable" campaign promotes durable, repairable and timeless products.
The AE Foundation builds on American Eagle’s long-standing commitment to supporting teens and young adults’ mental health.
Thread Haus introduces a new standard for socially responsible fashion by combining sustainability, community impact and technology-driven solutions.
Sephora partners with Love on the Spectrum star and autism advocate to mark Autism Awareness Day.
3. Best Use of Data or Technology in Marketing
Coach implements interactive Gen-AI product previews online.
ANINE BING partners with FindMine to implement AI-powered styling.
Teepublic utilizes AI recommendations to transform customer engagement.
4. Most Effective Brand Storytelling
Philosophy’s “Rated R” campaign blends pop culture nostalgia with beauty education to reframe the narrative around retinol.
Foot Locker introduces “The Heart of Sneakers”, a global brand platform that celebrates sneaker culture and connects the sneaker community.
Steve Madden pays homage to NYC and the brand’s roots in “Never Miss A Beat” campaign.
Bliss launches the Elder Millennial campaign with comedian Iliza Shlesinger.
5. Outstanding New Ecommerce Experience
Paula’s Choice launches AI-powered Skin Analyzer.
Sideshow, a collectibles retailer, partners with iAdvize to improve the customer experience.
Kroger partners with IntelligenceNode to optimize marketplace PDPs with advanced analytics.
6. Best Use of a New Channel
FragranceNet adopts RCS in partnership with Attentive.
Bath & Body Works tackles the challenge of selling fragrances online with TikTok Live Shopping.
Walmart designs Walmart Realm to foster a deep connection with Gen Z.
7. Women in Retail’s Top Woman of the Year Award
Ann Marie Ippoliti, VP of Ecommerce & Marketing, Michael Kors
Kim Waldmann, SVP & Global Chief Customer Officer, Foot Locker Inc.
Liana Thompson, Vice President of E-Commerce, Shutterfly
Lilian Zhu, COO, Wolf & Badger
Award Timeline
| March 3 - April 16, 2025 | Community Nominations |
| April 23, 2025 | Finalists Selected |
| May 7 - May 30, 2025 | Voting on Finalists—OPEN NOW |
| June 25, 2025 at CommerceNext | Announce Winners |
The winners get a special VIP experience at CommerceNext,
including complimentary hotel rooms, press mentions and other perks!
Award Rules:
- Voting is limited to 3 votes per company and 1 vote per person
- Winners are selected based on a combination of our board of judges and a popular vote. The popular vote will contribute 50% to the overall score.
The board of judges includes:
- Andrew Tweed, GM, Fruit Gifting at 1-800-Flowers.com
- Samir Desai, EVP, Chief Digital + Technology Officer at Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
- Chris Hardisty, CEO at Alexis Russell Jewelry
- Craig Brommers , CMO at American Eagle
- Keri McGhee, CMO at Attentive
- Vijay Talwar, Chief Commercial and Digital Officer at Avolta
- Jeff Gerstel, CMO at B&H Photo
- Angela Hsu, frmr CMO at Beyond (frmly Overstock)
- Emily Culp, Chief Strategy & Brand Officer at BodyHealth
- Billy May, CEO at Brooklinen
- Sarah Rasmusen, Chief Customer & Digital Officer Advisor at Build-A-Bear Workshop
- Joe Megibow, frmr CEO at Casper
- Emily Hickey, Co-Founder & CEO at Chief Detective Growth Consulting
- Jon Mandell, Managing Director at The Consello Group
- Jeremy Swift , CEO & Founder at Cordial
- Roshan Varma, SVP Digital at Delta Galil
- Matt Gehring, frmr CMO at Dutch Pet
- Ekta Chopra, Chief Digital Officer at e.l.f. Beauty
- Shawna Hausman, frmr SVP, Global Ecommerce at ESPRIT
- Doug Jensen, SVP, GTM Analytics & Activation and Learning COE at Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
- Geoff Sanders, CMO at Firstleaf
- Javier Marimon, VP of E-commerce at Felina
- Kacey Sharrett, frmr Head of DTC at GoPro
- Danielle Schmelkin, CIO at J.Crew Group
- Derek Yarbrough, frmr CMO at J.Crew Group
- Dana Schwartz, SVP, Global Direct to Consumer & Digital at KEEN
- Kamanasish Kundu, Vice President, Head of Digital & Ecommerce, Kendra Scott
- Anddria Varnado , VP & GM, Consumer Business at Kohler
- Qun Wei, VP of Data Analytics at Lemonade
- Liesel Walsh, SVP Consumer Demand at Many Moons
- George Hanson , EVP, CDO at Mattress Firm
- Andrew Fried, CMO at Mint Mobile
- Sarah Wallis, COO at Minted
- Suruchi Shukla, Vice President Marketing at Minted
- Julie Evans, VP and CMO at Omaha Steaks
- Lev Peker, CEO at Parts iD
- Steven Young, CMO at Poshmark
- Katherine Monasebian, COO at Radwell International
- David Cost, VP of Digital & Ecommerce at Rainbow
- Jason Blom, VP Strategic Opportunities at RTB House
- Tobias Ring, Managing Director, Commercials at SCALE Commerce Engine
- Bree Casart, CMO at Shutterfly
- Jenna Flateman Posner, Founder at Chief Digital Agency
- Josh Krepon, President, US Direct to Consumer & Global Digital at Steve Madden
- Liana Thompson, Vice President of E-Commerce at Shutterfly
- Carolyn Pollock, frmr CMO at Tailored Brands
- Noam Paransky, frmr Chief Omni and Innovation Officer at Tapestry
- Leslie Emmons Burthey, SVP Marketing at TeePublic
- Jason Nickel, SVP of Marketing at Ten Thousand
- Vivian Chang, Vice President Ecommerce at GNC
- Jon Kosoff, CDO at Tillys
- Mike Lackman, frmr CEO at Trade Coffee
- Charlie Cole, CEO at Tribute Technology
- Jeff Hamm, frmr VP, Digital Experience and Operations at Ulta Beauty
- Brian Seewald, EVP, Digital at Victoria Secret
- Naomi Jacobs, Sr. Director, Head of Social at Walmart
- Sarah Henry, VP, Head of Content, Influencer, & Commerce at Walmart
- Pano Anthos, Founder & Managing Partner at XRC Ventures
Join the Award Ceremony at CommerceNext 2025 Growth Show
Community-Driven Winners
1. Marketing Innovator of the Year
e.l.f. Cosmetics launches a true-crime parody documentary capturing widespread ‘e.l.f. pinching’ in households everywhere on Amazon Freevee.
2. Most Impactful Social Responsibility Campaign
Patagonia joins the campaign for a Safe and Healthy California.
3. Best Use of Data or Technology in Marketing
Carhartt collaborates with Bluecore to embrace a customer-centric marketing approach for new revenue opportunities.
4. Most Effective Brand Storytelling
Coach's "In My Tabby" campaign intertwines the iconic Tabby bag with personal narratives, spotlighting the transformative moments and enduring strength that define us.
5. Outstanding New Ecommerce Experience
American Eagle collaborates with Amazon Prime Video's "The Summer I Turned Pretty" for a seamless shopping experience.
6. Best Use of a New Channel
Sephora's SEPHORiA: House of Beauty, merges digital and physical spaces in a tribute to beauty diversity, improving brand image and highlighting product distinction.
7. Women in Retail’s Top Woman of the Year Award
Stephanie Urban, Vice President eCommerce & Marketing, Vince Camuto
