SubSummit 2025 Preview: Where Subscription Commerce Meets eCommerce Operations

SubSummit 2025 Preview: Where Subscription Commerce Meets eCommerce Operations

Tomorrow, Dallas will host the kickoff of SubSummit 2025, the world’s largest conference dedicated to subscription commerce. This three-day event unites stakeholders from retail, e-commerce, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, and the logistics sector under one roof. Its focus is on all things recurring revenue – from subscription boxes and membership programs to streaming services and loyalty plans – making it especially relevant for eCommerce brands and the warehouses and fulfillment providers that support them. Now in its 10th year, SubSummit has become a key forum for sharing strategies on scaling subscription businesses, improving customer loyalty, and fine-tuning the operations behind these models. In short, it’s billed as the place “where retail, e-commerce & subscription unite,” bringing together everyone from startup founders to Fortune 500 executives in the fast-growing subscription economy.

Event Overview

SubSummit 2025 runs May 28–30 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel and promises an expansive program for attendees. More than 2,000 executives and operators are expected to attend this year’s summit and over 100 speakers will present across five stages. The event celebrates the evolution of the subscription business model – spanning membership, subscription, and loyalty programs – which has boomed in the past decade with the rise of streaming services and DTC subscriptions. The 2025 theme, “Level Up: Commerce Without Limits,” reflects a forward-looking agenda focused on innovation and growth through immersive storytelling and data-driven strategy.

Attendees represent a broad mix of industries, underscoring how subscription models touch all corners of commerce. Executives from traditional retail and CPG companies like Albertsons, Staples, and Panera Bread will mingle with leaders from eCommerce giants such as Alibaba.com and Audible, as well as health and beauty brands like GNC and Madison Reed. On the DTC side, fast-growing subscription box and membership startups are well-represented – think FabFitFun, ButcherBox, BarkBox, HelloFresh, and many others. Even media and service providers have a seat at the table, reflecting the “commerce without limits” ethos. SubSummit’s programming is accordingly diverse, with content tracks delving into everything from emerging AI tools and marketing techniques to customer retention tactics and operational best practices across the subscription lifecycle.

Beyond the talks, SubSummit offers a rich on-site experience. The conference features the industry’s largest expo hall of subscription-focused solution providers and an extensive 1-on-1 hosted meetings program that pairs brands with potential partners like fulfillment services and tech vendors. These curated networking opportunities enable attendees to forge high-impact connections in a low-pressure setting. Another highlight is the CUBE Awards, which celebrates the year’s most innovative and successful subscription brands. And to keep the atmosphere lively, the agenda even sprinkles in some entertainment, such as a live performance by Grammy-nominated artist Mike Posner during the event’s evening festivities.

Sessions to Watch

With five stages running sessions in parallel, there’s a lot on the schedule. Here are a few key sessions and themes that should be on your radar:

• Opening Keynotes (Main Stage):
• Bolong Li, VP and Global Head of Growth Marketing at Audible, will discuss “Thriving Through Turbulence: Scaling Subscriptions in a Shifting Global Landscape.”
• Michael Broukhim, Co-founder and CEO of FabFitFun, will deliver “A Decade of Subscription Growth with FabFitFun.”
• Courtney Owumi, VP of Consumer Experience at Shipt, will present “Loyalty Reimagined: How Shipt is Shaping the Future of Memberships.”
• Trovon Williams, SVP of Marketing & Communications at the NAACP, will speak on “The Power of Purpose: How Subscription Models Can Drive Social Impact and Equity.”

• Data-Driven Growth & Retention: A session on May 29 titled “Cracking the CPG Subscription Code” features Natalia Alikhashkina of Albertsons and Madalina Defta of Kaizen Food Company discussing how they use analytics to drive loyalty and reduce churn.

• Fulfillment & Supply Chain Optimization: Patrick Allard, President of Fulfillment Services at Essendant, leads a session on scaling fulfillment beyond Amazon. This panel includes insights from FulfillmentIQ and Staples, focusing on inventory planning and delivery reliability for recurring shipments.

Notable Speakers and Participants

• Natalia Alikhashkina – Head of Omni Programs, Albertsons
• Bethanie Clar – Director of Loyalty and Subscriptions, Panera Bread
• Adam Moriarty – VP of Supply Chain Operations, Staples
• Mattia Miglio – Director of North America Business Development, Alibaba.com
• Jacob Saperstein – Head of US Streaming, Prime Video
• Reba Hatcher – Chief Commercial Officer, ButcherBox
• Katie Diasti – CEO, Viv for Your V
• Julie Hansen – U.S. CEO, Babbel
• Rebecca Quarls – Executive Director of Consumer Strategy, The Atlantic

Why It Matters for Warehouses and eCommerce Operations

For professionals in warehouse management, fulfillment, and eCommerce operations, SubSummit 2025 offers more than just buzzwords – it provides tangible insights and connections that can directly impact your bottom line. Subscription brands depend on reliable, repeatable operations. Topics like fulfillment strategy, last-mile delivery, inventory optimization, and packaging all feature prominently in the agenda.

Sessions led by Staples, FulfillmentIQ, and Essendant go deep on real-world fulfillment challenges and scaling logistics in support of DTC brands. Meanwhile, hosted meetings provide opportunities for 3PLs and tech vendors to pitch their solutions to high-growth eCommerce operators.

Insights gained here – from customer experience expectations to sustainability packaging innovations – can help warehouse teams align their operations with modern subscription business needs. With the subscription economy growing year over year, the ability to support recurring fulfillment workflows is becoming a major competitive advantage for 3PLs and warehouse providers.

Conclusion

As SubSummit 2025 opens its doors tomorrow in Dallas, it brings together a vibrant cross-section of the subscription commerce ecosystem – from marketing visionaries to fulfillment leaders. For warehouse and eCommerce operations professionals, the summit offers a chance to see the big picture of where the industry is headed, while also drilling down into practical solutions that can streamline day-to-day operations. With its blend of strategic keynotes, hands-on sessions, and networking opportunities, SubSummit 2025 aims to equip businesses with the knowledge and partnerships needed to “level up” their subscription game – and deliver exceptional experiences to customers, time and time again.