Dancing Robots + Retention Strategies: SubSummit Takeaways

This was NPS’ first experience at SubSummit, and while it was a different conference approach than the others we’ve attended this year—education-based vs. client/lead-based, dancing robots, free razors(?)—it provided a wealth of information…not just for our team to take back and refine our best practices, but to share with clients and partners as well.

But first, what is SubSummit? Their tagline: “Where Retail, E-Commerce & Subscription Unite,” sums it up pretty well. While NPS certainly specializes in the publishing industry, we have an internal goal to move into additional subscription markets this year, and we wanted to make sure we’re playing in the right lanes to attract the right mix of clientele. So, SubSummit brings in some of the big subscription marketing and e-comm leaders and holds sessions over 2.5 days to educate other sub brands. There are some vendors and big-time sponsors (think Stripe, USPS…), and the conference itself is a pretty big money play. But, we gleaned some great information and connected with some brilliant minds - and, randomly enough, saw Mike Posner and Brody Jenner perform at the closing banquet. Don’t ask…or, maybe do, but let’s take that convo offline.

Our main takeaways are below - certainly the biggest piece of advice, among all the speakers, was to unify your acquisition + retention strategies, making sure that they’re not seen as separate goals and looking at all results holistically to determine success. And, in regards to tariffs, many of the brands believe that now, more than ever, you should be testing and spending money to identify what is working in this changing environment. Easier said than done, we know :)

INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES YOU SHOULDN’T SLEEP ON…

• Comprehensive Reporting – Tell the full story, not just metrics

• Value-Driven Positioning – Sell benefits, not just price changes

• Omnichannel Clarity – Consistent voice, tailored offers by platform

• Creativity & Innovation – Stay fresh, avoid stagnation

• Personalization & Speed – Fast, tailored experiences are the new norm

• Smart Use of AI – Simplify, measure impact, and drive real value

• Play where it makes sense

• Show up where your customers are

• no “Frankenstein” Systems - all teams + tech need to be talking to each other

  • Including:

    • Marketing and Operations

    • Acquisition and Retention

• Ongoing Engagement Campaigns - reminder of benefits and keep subscribers from going dormant

For a full report on SubSummit, email @Natalie and we will send our comprehensive deck. Thanks for the read. Cheers!