“Five or six years ago, there were a bunch of folks that took a chance in the B2B space and really tried to change their business models to be more digital and commerce-focused, but there's still a fair amount of holdouts…and I think [COVID-19] is going to light a fire underneath them.” Brian Walker has the pleasure of speaking to Brian Grady, CEO of Gorilla Group, one of the industry’s fastest-growing commerce experience agencies. Following a successful career with various technology leaders in the industry, Brian acquired Gorilla in 2008 when it was a small Chicago-based development shop. Since then, Brian has grown the agency into a team of over 370 employees working across 4 countries, with a cumulative 9-year growth rate of 945%. In this episode, Brian and his guest share notes on some of the most pressing topics in digital commerce today, including: - Why the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically accelerated B2B digital commerce and what that means for the industry as a whole. - The top considerations for B2B digital experiences beyond the point of transaction, what customers want to see and how business models need to evolve in response. - How the current travel restrictions will change the face of eCommerce consulting and talent acquisition forever. Whether you focus on B2B, B2C or straddle both, this episode is jam-packed with valuable strategic advice on navigating the digital economy in the current economic climate. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch at https://www.bloomreach.com/en/about/contact-us. To learn more about Brian, check out his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-grady-079a552/. To learn more about Gorilla, visit https://www.gorillagroup.com/.

“If [B2B companies] go online, they can enter markets where they’ve never been before and there are a lot of markets demanding online experiences from them right now.” In today’s episode, Brian speaks with Sirko Schneppe, Founder and Managing Director of diva-e - Germany’s largest independent eCommerce agency. With over 20 years of experience under his belt, Sirko is undoubtedly one of the industry’s most distinguished leaders. Throughout this conversation, Sirko shares his wealth of experience and lessons learned from the German eCommerce landscape, including: - How COVID-19 is going to result in a seismic shift in the German marketplace, working practices and consumer behavior, where traditional retail chains and physical cash still dominate. - Why Germany’s eCommerce industry relies heavily on B2B companies - the so-called hidden champions – and the opportunities this presents for other businesses looking to enter the market. - How the role of consultancies will evolve to help companies implement their digital transformation programs. This episode is filled with valuable insights and gives you a unique European viewpoint on the changing face of eCommerce. If you’re looking to expand your operations into Germany or other central European markets, this episode is a must-listen. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch at https://www.bloomreach.com/en/about/contact-us. To learn more about Sirko, check out his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirkoschneppe/. To learn more about diva-e, please visit https://www.diva-e.com/en/.

“There's a misconception that because it's headless, it has nothing to do with the experience. But it’s the opposite. With the headless approach, it's way easier to build a unique experience that is suited to your customers than customizing an existing one.” In today’s episode, Brian speaks with Dirk Hörig, Founder and CEO of commercetools. Dirk is a true pioneer of the API-first approach. His business, commercetools, has quickly grown from a one-man band to a multinational organization at the forefront of innovation in digital commerce. In this insightful conversation, Brian and Dirk touch on a number of topics relating to commerce platform technology, including: - How Dirk became a pioneer of the API-first approach and why it’s integral to success in eCommerce. - The benefits and misconceptions about headless commerce and how to best articulate its benefits to the key stakeholders in your business. - How Covid-19 will shape the future of eCommerce and what this could mean for the adoption of AR and VR over the coming months. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, this episode is full of information about transforming commerce platform technology. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch at https://www.bloomreach.com/en/about/contact-us. To learn more about Dirk, check out his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhoerig/. To learn more about commercetools, please visit https://commercetools.com/.

“I don’t think Amazon have a single threaded business model where, if any one really negative event happened, it would signal the end of their business" In today’s episode, Brian speaks with advisor, author and Managing Partner at Rossman Partners, John Rossman. John and Brian met while working at Amazon in the mid-2000s, when John ran ongoing services and support for retail customers as part of the Amazon’s Enterprise Services division. Since then, John has published three books focused on what eCommerce businesses can learn from Amazon, including his latest book, Think like Amazon: 50 ½ Ideas to Become a Digital Leader. Throughout this meaningful conversation, John shares a number of strategic insights into the relationship between Amazon and Commerce, including: - How Amazon has responded to the Covid-19 crisis and what other businesses can learn from its response and approach. - What the future looks like for Amazon and what this could mean for eCommerce businesses. - Critical takeaways from his new book, Think Like Amazon, that you’ll want to start applying straight away in your own business. This episode is packed with high-value insights into the current commerce landscape, the impact that Amazon’s having on it and what changes we can expect in a post-Covid-19 world. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch with us. To learn more about John Rossman, check out his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossman/ To learn more about Rossman Partners, visit https://www.Rossmanpartners.com

“The current healthcare crisis has accelerated B2B eCommerce by at least two years. Anyone buying anything for their business right now has to do it via eCommerce channels.” In today’s episode Brian speaks with B2B eCommerce expert, advisor and author, Brian Beck. Brian is a highly respected thought leader in the world of B2B digital commerce and the owner and Managing Partner of Enceiba – the leading eCommerce agency helping B2B and B2C companies grow their businesses on Amazon. The world of B2B eCommerce is one that’s not often talked about, even though it’s close to three times the size of the B2C eCommerce market. If you’re not familiar with the B2B landscape, today’s episode will give you meaningful insights into some of the key topics you’ll want to know about, including: - What the current B2B eCommerce landscape looks like and where the next big opportunities lie for businesses today. - The relationship between B2B companies and Amazon, and how manufacturers and distributors can make the most of the opportunities Amazon offers to them. - And the short and long-term impacts that coronavirus is likely to have on B2B eCommerce. This episode is packed full of valuable insights into the world of B2B eCommerce and what you need to know if you’re looking to make the most of this market to help grow your business. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch. To learn more about Brian Beck, check out his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecommerceexpertbeck/ To learn more about Enceiba, visit https://www.enceiba.com/

“I believe that in the next 12 months we will see the battle between Mercado Libre and Amazon ramp up, because both of them realise that Mexico could be the big Latin American market that scales up so big that it becomes more important than Brazil.” In today’s episode, Brian speaks with Hendrik Laubscher, CEO and Founder of boutique research consultancy, Blue Cape Ventures. Hendrik and Brian have known each other for many years and have shared many meaningful conversations in the past. Knowing how much strategic value Hendrik brings to his clients, Brian invited him on to “The State of Commerce Experience” to share his experience with you. Back in Brian’s Forrester days, Hendrik was his “go-to” source for intel on what was happening in emerging markets such as Africa, Indonesia, South Asia and the Middle East. Continuing the trend, this episode focuses on the impacts that the current healthcare crisis is having on global eCommerce. In today’s show, Brian and Hendrik discuss some of the key topics at the top of many global CEOs’ priority lists, including: - The typical challenges that businesses face when expanding into Africa and the logistical issues to consider. - The future of eCommerce in Mexico and how Mercado Libre is paving the way for Mexico to become an even more important market than Brazil. - How western brands can leverage the opportunities that the Chinese eCommerce landscape has to offer, and what companies need to think about before launching in China. This episode is filled with valuable insights on global commerce developments and what you need to know if you’re operating in some of these rapidly growing markets. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch. To learn more about Hendrik Laubscher, check out his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/henlaub/ To learn more about Blue Cape Ventures, visit https://bluecapeventures.com/

“I think that coming out of this crisis, we're going to see even more distinction between the idea of going shopping as an experience and actually having to buy something, whereas before the internet, the two were intimate. You had to go shopping to buy but today you do not.” In today’s episode Brian speaks with Pam Danziger. Pam is co-founder of Unity Marketing, the disruptive marketing agency helping retailers solve their most complex customer acquisition challenges. She is a respected author, researcher and Forbes senior contributor focused on Luxury, Retail and the affluent American consumer. In this episode, Brian and Pam discuss all things retail, eCommerce and how the current Covid-19-pandemic will influence the ‘H.E.N.R.Y’ (high-earners-not-rich-yet) demographic. In this conversation they dive deep into the role of customer experience in retail including: - The impact that the current crisis is having on retail and Pam’s take on what retail will look like after the Covid-19-pandemic - How the affluent H.E.N.R.Y consumers are changing their buying behaviours and what this could mean in a post Covid-19 world - Pam’s thoughts on the role of AI in retail and why face-to-face customer experience won’t be replaced anytime soon. Pam shares some great insights and offers valuable advice for anyone working in retail. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests you’d like to see us have on the podcast. Please get in touch. To learn more about Pam, you can find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamdanziger/ To learn more about Unity Marketing, visit https://unitymarketingonline.com/ Specific things discussed in the show: Unity Marketing - https://unitymarketingonline.com/ Pam’s Forbes articles - https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/#3a99e7787988 Books written by Pam Danziger - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Pamela+Danziger&ref=nb_sb_noss

"It is somewhat Darwinian...but companies who had already been investing in digital [before the crisis] are in a better position to adapt and survive." In today’s episode, your host Brian Walker speaks with Allen Bonde. Allen has a deep background in eCommerce and has held a wide range of research, consulting and marketing leadership roles over his career. Allen’s current role is VP and Research Director at Forrester, where he leads a group of diverse analysts and researchers covering the strategies, models, services and enabling technologies for digital experience. Allen is a widely respected figure in the field of eCommerce. (So much so that he’s known as the “the godfather of commerce analysts” within Forrester – not a title that’s easy to come by!) In this conversation, Brian and Allen dive into the world of eCommerce as Allen shares his wealth of experience on a range of topics, including: - Insights on how shopping behaviour is changing - How Forrester are guiding commerce companies through the Covid-19-pandemic - His perspective on how eCommerce will change post-Corona Whether you’re new to the world of eCommerce or have decades of experience under your belt – this conversation is filled with valuable insights for you. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests you’d like to see us talk to, so please get in touch. To learn more about Allen, you can find him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenbonde/ To learn more about Forrester, visit https://go.forrester.com/ Specific things discussed in the show: Forrester Research - https://go.forrester.com/ Forrester on Covid-19 - https://go.forrester.com/covid19/ McKinsey - https://www.mckinsey.com/