Coworking with Ashley Raysin

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Ashley Raysin is US sales director at retail communications solution platform VoCoVo, which works with retailers like ShopRite, Goodwill, and Skechers.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I help retailers create a more connected, responsive, and effective in-store environment for both associates and customers. In retail, seconds matter, whether it’s helping a customer find a product, responding to theft, managing curbside pickup, or supporting associates on the floor. My role is about helping retailers connect their people, technology, and store workflows so frontline teams can move faster, feel more supported, and deliver a better experience in the moments that matter.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? One thing you may not guess from my LinkedIn profile is how much of my job is about translating between worlds: store operations, technology, loss prevention, customer experience, and executive strategy. Retail is incredibly complex, and the best solutions only work when they make sense for the people actually using them in the store.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? One of my favorite projects was working with a national sporting goods retailer to change how they managed and conducted in-store inventory. They had relied on a traditional approach for decades, largely because that was how it had always been done. Through education, proof points, and partnership, we helped them see a better way forward. It’s always rewarding to find efficiencies that improve ways of working in-store.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? I’m most excited about the evolution of the in-store environment and how retailers are using data and technology to make the store experience feel more human, not less. Retailers have more systems, data, and automation than ever, but the real opportunity is turning that information into simple, actionable moments that support the most valuable asset in the store: their people. When AI and automation are done well, they don’t replace the human element. They help frontline teams move faster, feel more supported, and create better experiences for customers.

What’s your go-to coffee order? A dirty matcha latte!

Worst piece of advice you’ve received? To stay in my lane. The biggest growth moments in my career have come from stepping outside of what was technically “my job function” and taking ownership where something needed to move forward.

What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? At 15, my favorite retail products were probably fun, kitschy things I could find at the mall. The kind of small purchases that felt exciting just because they had personality. Now, I’m much more drawn to products that are practical, well-designed, and make everyday life easier.