This week's Watson Weekend episode features hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky, who deliver a news analysis in an entertaining Headline Hangover, plus holiday advertising commentary you do not want to miss. 

The show reflects on a turbulent retail year, previews a memorable holiday Jeopardy-style episode, and features an in-depth interview with James Lang, Head of Marketplace at Ulta Beauty.

Holiday Advertising Recap

Underwhelming holiday ads in 2025, with many brands recycling familiar creative.

Notable highlights:

The Farmer’s Dog: emotional, pet-focused storytelling that resonated strongly.

LEGO: creative anti-doomscrolling message that celebrates play and imagination.

Amazon: reused a proven holiday ad, reinforcing speed, convenience, and family moments rather than novelty.

Headline Hangover

Major retail headlines discussed:

Uber + Shopify: Partnership enabling one-hour delivery for millions of merchants, intensifying last-mile competition with Amazon.

Walmart: Expanded drone delivery pilots (Atlanta and other metros), following earlier success in Dallas–Fort Worth.

Saks Global: Deep financial distress highlighted by delayed vendor payments, revenue declines, EBITDA losses, and aggressive discounting—raising concerns about long-term viability.

Urban Outfitters: Adoption of an AI-powered supply chain compliance platform to manage regulatory complexity, traceability, and supplier data.

James Lang, Head of Marketplace, Ulta Beauty, joins the show to discuss Ulta Beauty’s marketplace, which launched in October 2025.

Ulta Marketplace Strategy

Positioned as the “second floor” of Ulta’s digital store, not a separate experience.

Fully integrated: one cart, one checkout, loyalty rewards, and easy returns.

Invite-only marketplace with curated, brand-direct sellers (no resellers, no buy box).

Core Principles

• Guest-first mindset: trust, consistency, and ease matter more than fulfillment mechanics.
• Brand protection: brands do not compete against themselves; authenticity is non-negotiable.
• Asset-light, margin-accretive model: reduces inventory risk while expanding assortment.

Internal Alignment

• Strong executive sponsorship and cross-functional buy-in.
• Marketplace seen as a strategic growth lever, not a side experiment.

The Watson Weekend is sponsored by Mirakl.

“In commerce, you don’t need another tool. You need a growth partner. The Mirakl platform is powering the next era of retail for the brands and retailers ready to move. Powered by AI and built for what’s next."

Chapters

Introduction - 0:00

Headline Hangover - 7:39

Introducing James Lang - 19:21

Show ends - 57:13

#watsonweekend #marketplace #retail #ultabeauty

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