Why the Best Subscription Brands Make It Easy to Leave

Subscription acquisition may be slowing, but that doesn’t mean consumers are falling out of love with subscriptions. Instead, they’re becoming far more selective about which services earn a permanent place in their monthly budgets.In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson sits down with Rachel Sheriff, Chief Customer Officer at Recurly, to unpack the findings from the company’s 2026 State of Subscriptions report. Rachel explains why retention has become the industry’s biggest challenge, how flexible features like subscription pauses are helping brands reduce churn and why fashion rental services like Nuuly are thriving by delivering affordability, convenience and personalization. The conversation also explores what traditional retailers can learn from subscription-first businesses as they look to deepen customer loyalty and create more predictable revenue streams.Key TakeawaysWhy subscription businesses are shifting their focus from acquisition to retention as consumers become more intentional about recurring purchases How flexible features like subscription pauses help brands reduce churn while keeping customers engaged over the long term Why fashion rental platforms like Nuuly are succeeding through affordability, flexibility and sustainable wardrobe options How traditional retailers are experimenting with subscription models that combine physical products, digital services and exclusive member experiences Why delivering ongoing value, transparency and a strong customer experience has become the key to earning lasting subscriber loyalty Related LinksExplore Recurly’s subscription management platform and the latest subscription commerce insightsGet more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPointsSubscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix