For founder-led brands, physical retail can be a powerful growth engine — strengthening brand affinity, deepening customer relationships, and creating experiences that digital channels alone can’t replicate. But how do brands know when they’re ready to open stores, what do they learn once customers show up in person, and how do they scale successfully? This conversation will explore how brands use in-person retail to build community, gain customer insight, choose the right markets, and create store experiences that drive long-term growth, including why shopping centers can be an especially valuable environment for discovery, connection, and expansion.