Recap: UNLOCK the Power of Retail Media

The live launch of DOUGLAS’ Self-Service Platform took place.

We hosted an exclusive event in collaboration with DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions. Attendees explored how retail media reshaped digital marketing and witnessed the live unveiling of DOUGLAS’ innovative Self-Service Platform.

Beyond the Retail Media Buzz – What Happened at Our Event

Retail media has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years and our joint event by IBM iX and DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions showcased just how far the industry has come. What once began as traditional in-store advertising has evolved into advanced, data-driven digital platforms. Formerly a side business for major e-commerce players, retail media has now become a strategic growth driver for both retailers and brands.

As e-commerce has grown and consumer behavior has become increasingly digital, retail media has matured into a sophisticated ecosystem. Personalised and targeted advertising is now at the core of driving sales and strengthening brand loyalty.

During the event, IBM iX and DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions – the Retail Media unit of Europe’s leading omnichannel premium beauty destination, shared exclusive insights into how brands and retailers can unlock the full potential of retail media in the future.

Event highlight: A major moment of the event was the live unveiling of the new DOUGLAS Self-Service Platform. This latest development gives brands direct access to DOUGLAS‘ retail media inventory, allowing them to launch campaigns faster, target audiences more precisely, and optimise performance in real time.

Event Highlights

Exclusive insights from DOUGLAS

At the event, participants discovered how DOUGLAS empowers brands to boost visibility, traffic, and conversions through first-party data-driven Retail Media campaigns tailored specifically to beauty audiences.

Breakout sessions and live demos

Participants joined insightful sessions led by experts from IBM iX and DOUGLAS, where they explored how campaigns are set up and gained a behind-the-scenes look at the technical foundations of retail media platforms.

Launch of the DOUGLAS Self-Service Platform

The audience experienced how the new platform empowered marketers with end-to-end control, enabling autonomous campaign management, instant optimisation, and scalable performance impact.

Networking opportunities

Participants met both remotely and on-site with experts from the fields of retail, marketing, and technology.

Event programme

3.30 pm

Arrival & Registration

Welcome drink and check-in

4.00 pm

Welcome

Introduction by IBM iX and DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions

4.15 pm

Keynote

UNLOCK Retail Media – Introduction to the DOUGLAS Self-Service Platform
Charina Lumley, DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions

From idea to launch: Charina Lumley shares the journey behind DOUGLAS’ new Self-Service Platform. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how this innovative solution empowers brands with full campaign control and drives measurable impact in beauty retail.

4.30 pm

Case Study

UNLOCK Success – Real-Life Case with ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND
Dirk Kamphaus & Christopher Hauschild, DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions

Discover how the beauty brand ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND boosted visibility, traffic, and sales using the DOUGLAS Self-Service Platform. This case study showcases the smart combination of Sponsored Product Ads and Audience Ads – and the results it delivered.

5.00 pm

Breakout Sessions

1) UNLOCK Scalability: Inside Our Retail Media Transformation
Abhijeet Rao DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions, Tatjana Voss, IBM iX

2) UNLOCK Campaign Success: Live Demo of Campaign Set-Up & Reporting
Dirk Kamphaus & Christopher Hauschild, DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions

1) In this collaborative session, IBM iX and DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions unfold their retail media vision — from initial concept to a live demo of the Self-Service Platform in action. Learn how the solution significantly increased campaign reach, including real-world results, the business case behind it, and the technical setup.

2) This hands-on demo walks you through the Self-Service Platform and its real-time features. From setting up your first campaign to reporting functionalities: see how ads appear in the DOUGLAS shop, how to improve performance, and how to use analytics to get the most out of every campaign.

6.00 pm

Networking, Snacks & Drinks

Wrap up the event with informal networking and the opportunity to connect with peers and experts from marketing, retail and technology.

Our experts onsite and remote

Charina Lumley

Managing Director

Charina heads DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions and brings global experience in retail, e-commerce, and digital advertising, helping brands grow through innovative retail media.

Dirk Kamphaus

Senior Digital Activation Manager

Dirk brings 9+ years of experience in full-funnel digital marketing. At DOUGLAS, he drives impactful retail media campaigns for FMCG, fashion, and beauty brands with deep expertise in performance marketing and DSPs.

Christopher Hauschild

Customer Success Manager Self-Service

With 7+ years in digital marketing and business development, Christopher brings deep expertise in full-funnel media strategy and client consulting. At DOUGLAS, he leads client success for the Self-Service Platform.

Abhijeet Rao

Team Lead Business Technology

Abhijeet leads tech development at DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions, building scalable tools to power retail media. With 8+ years in ad tech across publishers, agencies, and retail, he focuses on automation, AI, and impactful growth solutions.

Tatjana Voss

Practice Lead CT Customer Strategy and Process

25+ years of experience in Digital Transformation, Market Activation, and Digital product engineering with a special focus on Distribution.

Omar El Agrebi

Executive Director | G2M Lead – Consumer Industry & Retail

Marketing Technology Expert and Senior Advisor. G2M Leader, driving impact across the consumer space — incl. dynamic sectors like FMCG, Retail, Luxury, TelCo, Media & Entertainment.

Key Takeaways of the Event

You missed the event or want to revisit the highlights? No problem! A full recap with key insights, actionable takeaways, and the most inspiring moments from the stage will be available for download soon – stay tuned!