#USA #Austin #AI Shopping #Curated for You #Brad Klingenberg

Curated For You Appoints Brad Klingenberg as CTO

In a significant move to enhance its technological capabilities and customer-centric approach, Curated For You (CFY) has announced the appointment of Brad Klingenberg as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Klingenberg, who previously served as the Chief Algorithms Officer at Stitch Fix, is set to spearhead the engineering and data science teams at CFY as it accelerates its growth in the AI-driven shopping landscape.

A New Era of E-commerce

CFY, an innovative platform focused on AI purchase intent, aims to reshape how customers experience online shopping. The company’s fundamental philosophy revolves around tailoring the shopping experience to align with each customer’s unique lifestyle and context. By leveraging real-world triggers like weather conditions, local events, and individual preferences, CFY intends to transform the traditional digital catalog into a dynamic, personalized journey for shoppers.

Klingenberg emphasizes this vision by stating, "We're building tech to capture the intent behind purchases, defining the next era of shopping." The goal here is to move away from the conventional retail patterns that typically follow rigid marketing calendars, such as holiday seasons or specific promotional periods, to something more fluid and personal - a true reflection of each customer’s life journey.

Vision for Personalized Marketing

Curated For You’s co-founder and CEO, Katy Aucoin, articulates the necessity of creating individualized marketing approaches. According to Aucoin, traditional retail strategies are inadequate because they fail to account for the nuances of individual lifestyles. With Klingenberg onboard, CFY aims to build a future where marketing communications are tailored to significant life events—be it a vacation, a new job, or even personal milestones.

"Our vision is to create true one-to-one marketing calendars, focusing on what matters most to each customer at any moment in time. That's where commerce becomes deeply personal," Aucoin notes.

Klingenberg is no stranger to personalization. At Stitch Fix, he was instrumental in crafting their renowned personalization engine. Now at CFY, his directive involves scaling up automation systems that empower brands such as REVOLVE, Steve Madden, and URBN to offer customized, proactive shopping experiences that resonate with shoppers on multiple levels. The CFY platform is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing retail technologies, making partner data readily available for the advanced AI tools needed to meet evolving consumer expectations.

Bridging the Intent Gap

Klingenberg identified a critical gap in e-commerce: the lack of understanding of the ‘why’ behind customer purchases. He explains, "E-commerce often misses the 'why'—the specific motivation or intent behind a purchase. CFY is building the tech to bridge that gap, learning what shoppers like over time so every visit feels more helpful, inspiring, and intuitive." This commitment to enhancing the shopping experience is pivotal, especially as consumers increasingly seek engagement and inspiration when shopping online.

Conclusion

With Brad Klingenberg's expertise driving CFY forward, the company is poised to redefine the nuances of online shopping. The integration of real-world context into the shopping journey not only elevates user engagement but significantly boosts conversion rates, with partners witnessing up to a two and a half times increase. As Curated For You evolves with Klingenberg’s guidance, it is on track to position itself at the forefront of personalized commerce in an ever-competitive landscape.

In a rapidly changing retail environment, where consumer expectations continue to escalate, the focus on creating more personalized and relevant shopping experiences will undoubtedly set Curated For You apart in the marketplace.