Recorded live at RetailClub AI Festival. Mike Relich asked boards for capital as a CIO and CEO, and now he sits on the Tilly's board of directors deciding who gets it. He tells Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden why so many retail boards think AI means ChatGPT, which metrics belong in every AI business case, and why bad data turns into bad decisions at scale.
Mike also walks through his checklist for approving AI: a pilot with defined KPIs, the real total cost of ownership, proof people will use it, and a business leader who owns the outcome. Casey and Mike get into how Reddit threads shape what LLMs say about your brand. Mike closes with his advice for 2027: size up your board of directors first, then build each AI business case from the business strategy.
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🤖 *Join Us at Retail Agent Con:*
*Retail Agent Con - November 17, 2026*
Explore how AI agents fit into retail work at Retail Agent Con, a live virtual event on November 17, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern, produced by IHL Group with ClearSight AI.
Join retail leaders like Glenn Allison of Tractor Supply, Scott Saeger of David’s Bridal and Justin Emig of Artisan Lane Furniture, Dr. Janet Sherlock on the organizational changes required for agents and humans to work together, analysts like Greg Buzek and Jerry Sheldon of IHL Group and Retail Razor’s Ricardo Belmar, for practical conversations about agents in merchandising, order management, inventory control, store systems, and more.
Retailers attend free, sponsorships and individual tickets are available as well.
Learn more at www.retailagentcon.com.
*The Retail Razor: Blade to Greatness S2E13*
*Released on October 23, 2026*
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL42dOezPrMdD8J5xhOADbsAGCpI9i5UMM&si=OLqRmcvzJvy1XSjE
📡 *Blade to Greatness* is part of the *Retail Razor Podcast Network,* also home to *The Retail Razor Show, Retail Transformers,* and *Data Blades.*
📘 *Guest Info*
*Mike Relich.* https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-relich-7395b01/
_Non-Executive Board Member._ *Tilly’s.* https://www.tillys.com
Michael Relich is a seasoned retail executive, board director, and technology strategist with over 30 years of experience leading major global retail brands through digital transformation and business growth.
Beginning his career in information technology, Michael rose from CIO to COO at Guess?, helping grow the company from $640 million to $2.4 billion in revenue. He subsequently served as COO of Crate & Barrel, Lucky Brand, and PSEB, the parent company of PacSun and Eddie Bauer, before becoming CEO of PSEB and Co-CEO of PacSun.
Today, Michael serves on the Board of Directors of Tilly's and advises several AI and technology companies, including Spangle.ai, Cordial, Fenix Commerce, and Newmine.
He brings a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, retail operations, and executive leadership, with a particular focus on how AI is reshaping the future of retail.
*Chapters*
00:00 $100K Savings or $10M Inventory Cut? Pick One
00:41 Inside the Boardroom: What Gets an AI Project Funded
03:52 Why Retail Boards Think AI Just Means ChatGPT
06:55 AI Is Transformational, So Why Are We Using It for Small Wins?
08:27 $100K Product Descriptions vs. $10M Inventory: Which Gets Funded?
09:43 Garbage In, Bad Decisions at Scale: Fix Your Data First
11:52 Reddit Is Writing Your Brand Reputation Into the LLMs
15:24 A Board Director's Checklist: Pilots, KPIs, and Real Costs
17:34 How to Pitch AI to Your Board for 2027
19:43 Show Close: Rate, Subscribe, and Stay Sharp
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