Fresh from the recent ShopTalk conference in Las Vegas, Justin Grooms, president of Bolt, joins WWD Voices host Arthur Zaczkiewicz to recap some of the trends that emerged from the event as well as how 2025 is evolving from a payments solutions perspective.
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Grooms discussed navigating market challenges to include increasing uncertainty in the retail and fintech landscape due to tariffs, policy changes, evolving consumer demands and the introduction of new technologies. Grooms said for brands and retailers, challenges lie in adopting technologies that simplify consumer experiences while remaining adaptable in an unpredictable economy.
He also discussed how emerging payment methods like buy now, pay later, or BNPL, have matured amid an expansion into previously unexpected domains, such as food delivery (e.g., Klarna’s partnership with DoorDash). Grooms said retailers are breaking traditional barriers by integrating BNPL into digital and physical environments, underscoring a shift in consumer expectations for flexibility and convenience.
Grooms stressed the importance of creating a “unified customer identity” that allows consumers to access a variety of tools — payment options, delivery methods and loyalty programs — all tailored to their preferences.