Second WiresConnect Concludes with Consensus that AI Is Leveling the Commerce Playing Field in Fashion and Beauty

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2025--

WiresConnect concluded their second-ever invite-only conference, which brought together visionary designers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and industry leaders shaping the future of fashion and beauty for a day full of strategic conversation and insightful collaboration. The attendees explored timely topics such as sustainability, digital innovation, inclusivity, and the evolving relationship between style, self-expression, and technology.

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Deborah Weinswig, CEO of Coresight Research, delivered the keynote address, setting an inspiring tone for the event, highlighting the importance of collaboration.

“WiresConnect gives us a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the results of this turbulent year,” said Weinswig. “As we look ahead, it’s vital that we set a path driven by innovation and technology, which now sit at the center of brand success. Encouraging meaningful cross-industry dialogue will help create a more unified commerce landscape and bring clarity to an otherwise clouded road forward.”

Kimberly Carney, founder of WiresConnect and CEO of The Wires, opened the event by laying out what’s to come.

“We created WiresConnect to bring the most forward-thinking people across fashion, beauty, retail and technology into the same room to spark meaningful conversations about what is working, what is not, and how to navigate what’s ahead,” said Carney. “The success of our first conference highlighted the importance of these discussions and emphasized the need for collaboration to truly deliver the most impactful outcomes.”

One of the most memorable moments was a fireside chat between Carney and Daymond John, founder of FUBU and longtime investor on ABC’s Shark Tank. A key takeaway from Daymond John’s message is that real success starts with solving meaningful customer problems while staying financially disciplined. He reinforced that having limited resources can sharpen innovation, force smarter decisions, and build stronger brands. Understanding cash flow and margins and making decisions rooted in financial intelligence is essential for sustainable growth. Just as important is learning from rejection, setting clear, measurable goals, and recognizing that passion and grit must be matched with financial awareness and resilience to build lasting companies.

“I always leave my conversations with Daymond feeling inspired,” said Carney. “His depth of experience grounds the discussion, yet he consistently challenges the room to widen its lens and look ahead, especially during times like these where a forward view matters most.”

Key takeaways from the conference emerged across panels and sessions:

1. AI has moved from experimentation to transformation.
The conversations made one thing clear: AI is no longer a pilot project, it is now redefining how fashion and beauty brands create, operate, and connect. Technology is becoming a true partner to creativity.

2. Personalization will shape the next decade of consumer engagement.
AI allows us to finally deliver beauty and fashion experiences tailored to each individual. The brands that win will be those that can translate data into deeply human experiences.

3. Connected commerce is emerging as the new industry standard.
Consumers no longer shop in channels, they shop in ecosystems. AI gives us the ability to create seamless, connected journeys across discovery, social, content, and purchase.

4. Human creativity, trust, and authenticity must stay at the center.
As AI becomes more powerful, the role of human intuition and brand values becomes more important. Technology should enhance trust, never erode it.

5. AI and sustainability will advance hand-in-hand.
Circularity, clean beauty, and responsible production will increasingly rely on intelligent systems that provide transparency, precision, and efficiency. Sustainability and AI are now mutually reinforcing priorities.

6. The future belongs to brands with clarity of vision and AI-ready teams.
Investors and partners are looking for companies that understand exactly where AI fits within their core value proposition, not as a trend, but as a strategic differentiator.

7. Community remains the heartbeat of brand loyalty.
AI enables scale, but community builds meaning. The brands that merge advanced technology with genuine relationship-building will lead the next generation of retail.

For more information on WiresConnect and to get updates on future events, visit https://wiresconnect.com, follow @WiresConnect, and search #WiresConnect on social media platforms. Any brands, retailers, technology providers, or creatives interested in attending or learning more about WiresConnect can contact info@wiresconnect.com.

About WiresConnect

Founded by Kimberly Carney, WiresConnect is a conference and collaboration company that unites brands, retailers, influencers, and industry leaders through education, discovery, and meaningful connection. Designed for brands to showcase their products, innovations, and perspectives, WiresConnect creates an environment where participants learn from thought-leadership sessions and engage directly with key partners. By blending purposeful networking with rich educational content, WiresConnect is redefining how modern businesses connect, communicate, and grow in a digital-first world. To learn more about WiresConnect, visit https://wiresconnect.com.

Daymond John, founder of FUBU and longtime investor on ABC’s Shark Tank, with Kimberly Carney, founder of WiresConnect, at the WiresConnect invite-only conference in New York City on December 10, 2025.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, the last Democrat to hold statewide office in Alabama, kicked off his campaign for governor Friday, saying voters deserve a choice and a leader who will put aside divisions to address the state's pressing needs.

“With your help we can finish what we began. We can build the Alabama we’ve always deserved,” Jones told a packed crowd at a Birmingham campaign rally featuring musician Jason Isbell.

He said the state has urgent economic, health care and educational issues that are not being addressed by those in public office.

The campaign kickoff came on the eighth anniversary of Jones' stunning 2017 win over Republican Roy Moore, and Jones said Alabama proved back then that it can defy “simplified labels of red and blue.”

“You stood up and you said something simple but powerful. We can do better,” Jones said. “You said with your votes that our values, Alabama values, are more important than any political party, any personality, any prepackaged ideology.”

His entry into the race sets up a possible rematch with Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who defeated Jones by 20 points in 2020 and is also now running for governor. Both will have party primaries in May before the November election.

Before running for office, Jones, a lawyer and former U.S. attorney, was best known for prosecuting two Ku Klux Klansmen responsible for Birmingham’s infamous 1963 church bombing.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Jones said families are having a hard time with things like health care, energy bills and simply making ends meet.

“People are struggling,” he said. “They are hurting.”

Jones used part of his speech to describe his agenda if elected governor. He said it is time for Alabama to join most states in establishing a state lottery and expanding Medicaid. Expanding Medicaid, he said, will protect rural hospitals from closure and provide health care coverage to working families and others who need it.

He criticized Tuberville's opposition to extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. Jones said many Alabama families depend on those subsides to buy health insurance "to keep their families healthy."

Alabama has not elected a Democratic governor since Don Siegelman in 1998. In 2020, Tuberville held Jones to about 40% of the vote, which has been the ceiling for Alabama Democrats in recent statewide races.

Retired political science professor Jess Brown said Jones lost in 2020 despite being a well-funded incumbent, and that's a sign that he faces an uphill battle in 2026.

“Based on what I know today, at this juncture of the campaign, I would say that Doug Jones, who’s a very talented and bright man, is politically the walking dead,” Brown said.

Jones acknowledged being the underdog and said his decision to run stemmed in part from a desire for Tuberville not to coast into office unchallenged.

Jones pointed to recent Democratic victories in Georgia, Mississippi and other locations as cause for optimism.

Tuberville, who previously headed up the football program at Auburn University, had “no record except as a football coach” when he first ran, Jones said. And “now there are five years of being a United States senator. There are five years of embarrassing the state.”

Jones continued to question Tuberville’s residency, saying he “doesn’t even live in Alabama, and if he does, then prove me wrong.” Tuberville has a beach house in Walton County, Florida, but has repeatedly said Auburn is his home.

Tuberville's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment but has previously noted that he defeated Jones handily in 2020. Tuberville spent part of Friday with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Huntsville to mark the official relocation of U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama.

Jones' 2017 victory renewed the hopes, at least temporarily, of Democratic voters in the Deep South state. Those gathered to hear him Friday cheered his return to the political stage.

“I’m just glad that there’s somebody sensible getting in the race,” Angela Hornbuckle said. “He proved that he could do it as a senator.”

Former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., and gubernatorial candidate waits to speak during an event Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., and gubernatorial candidate speaks during an event Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., and gubernatorial candidate speaks during an event Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Gubernatorial candidate former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., speaks during an event Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)