WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPED SEGMENTS

TOP QUOTES 

ABOUT THE GUEST

Laura Ritchey is President & CEO of the Americas region at GEODIS and a member of the Group’s Executive Board. She leads nearly 20,000 teammates across eight countries, overseeing contract logistics, freight forwarding, and transportation operations throughout North and South America. With more than 30 years of experience—including 15 years in supply chain leadership across retail and third-party logistics—Laura previously served as CEO of Radial, Inc., driving growth through operational excellence. Her background spans finance, sourcing, distribution, and strategic transformation. She holds a J.D., MBA, and bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.

LINKS MENTIONED

Laura's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-ritchey-55836a8/

GEODIS website: https://geodis.com/

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WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 

• Why decision quality matters more than perfect systems in today’s supply chains
• How leaders are shifting from growth-at-all-costs to margin-first thinking
• What’s actually breaking inside warehouses amid labor churn and volatility
• Where AI is helping operators—and where hype still outpaces reality
• Why explainability, KPIs, and guardrails matter for AI adoption in operations
• How leadership expectations are changing across supply chain organizations
• What conversations operators are prioritizing heading into Manifest 2026

HIGHLIGHTS

• 00:00–02:35 | Why 2025 forced hard reflection across supply chain
• 03:17–04:30 | Decisions feel heavier, mistakes cost more
• 05:23–06:49 | The shift from growth to margin as a first principle
• 07:05–07:43 | Why warehouse systems lag brand expectations
• 08:08–08:58 | Recalibration after stacked volatility
• 09:48–11:20 | Why peak season planning never really ends
• 12:32–13:45 | Labor, churn, and execution pressure inside warehouses
• 14:35–16:51 | AI as decision enablement—not the strategy itself
• 18:14–21:43 | From AI fear to outcome-driven adoption
• 22:23–25:44 | What leadership looks like in volatile environments
• 26:47–28:16 | What leaders are watching heading into Manifest 2026

QUOTES

• [00:03:17] “Decisions feel heavier. Mistakes are more expensive.” – Tanzil Uddin
• [00:05:45] “There’s a shift away from growth at all costs, really a repositioning of margin as a first principle.” – Kinta Gates
• [00:12:32] “The complexity with labor, training of the labor, churn of the labor, weather events, and the geopolitical state really impacts warehouse services.” – Linda Ewing
• [00:22:23] “Leadership looks like getting in the weeds. We don’t have the luxury of just delegating.” – Kinta Gates

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Tanzil Uddin
SVP of Content & Partnerships at Manifest, where he works closely with supply chain leaders to shape programming around real operator priorities, partnerships, and emerging challenges across logistics and technology.

Kinta Gates
VP of Supply Chain & Operations at Glossier, overseeing end-to-end product operations. Kinta brings a people-first, margin-aware approach to scaling fulfillment, manufacturing, and supply chain execution.

Linda Ewing
SVP Strategy & Operations at ID Logistics with deep experience across manufacturing, supply chain, and warehouse services. Linda focuses on execution reality inside 3PL environments, labor challenges, and responsible technology adoption.

LINKS MENTIONED

Manifest 2026 Agenda: https://manife.st/agenda/

💡 Planning to attend Manifest 2026? Use this exclusive link for $200 off the current registration price: https://partner.manife.st/partner/ecomlogistics

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What You’ll Learn

- Why legacy commerce APIs and EDI no longer suffice in today’s fragmented commerce landscape
- How AI and emerging protocols like MCP are accelerating the need for real-time fulfillment integration
- The structure, tools, and resources defined by OnX for seamless order management across ecosystems
- The nonprofit "business league" legal framework that keeps OnX vendor-agnostic and collaborative
- The challenges commerce platforms face with OMS integrations and how OnX aims to reduce friction
- The shift from platform-centric to protocol-centric commerce enabled by open standards
- How industry players—brands, 3PLs, ERP, WMS, and commerce platforms—are rallying behind OnX

Hihghlights

- 00:00 — Welcome, introduction to Kelly Goetsch and the focus: “Connected Commerce”
- 02:00 — The fragmentation problem: marketplaces, social commerce, AI, and legacy EDI
- 04:00 — The rise of MCP and Agentic Commerce Protocol as enablers for a new standard
- 06:00 — Building a “big tent” network: OMS, 3PLs, WMSs, ERPs connectivity challenges
- 10:00 — Commerce platform vs fulfillment backend: the tech and mindset divide
- 14:00 — What is OnX? Tools, resources, member base, and the standard’s scope
- 18:00 — How MCP makes OnX possible, collapsing layers between selling and fulfillment
- 22:00 — OnX’s “business league” structure explained
- 24:00 — Platform, payment, and AI player involvement and adoption challenges
- 28:00 — How to participate: advisory boards, GitHub access, and community involvement
- 30:00 — The future of connected commerce and invitation to join OnX

Quotes
[00:02:00]: "If the last decade was about composable commerce, the next one is about connected commerce." - Ninaad 
[00:04:00]: "AI is the reason for both of these. We’re really, really collapsing down." - Kelly Goetsch 
[00:10:00]: "About 70% of enterprise brands still run point-to-point integration, and that has its own set of challenges." - Ninaad 
[00:22:00]: "The benefit of that is: we, as a community, get together and evolve and change as technology changes. And that’s great." - Kelly Goetsch 

About the Guest

Kelly Goetsch is a technologist and strategist shaping the future of digital commerce and order fulfillment. Known for his leadership in the MACH Alliance and now Pipe17, Kelly has been a central voice in evolving commerce technology standards. He currently chairs the Commerce Operations Foundation, driving the development and adoption of the OnX standard for connected commerce.

Links Mentioned

- Commerce Operations Foundation website: commerceopsfoundation.org
- Commerce Operations Foundation GitHub: github.com/commerceopsfoundation
- Kelly Goetsch on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kgoetsch
- MACH Alliance: machalliance.org
------------------------------------------

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What You’ll Learn:

• The enduring priorities in fulfillment despite two decades of industry change: focus on the end-consumer experience and aligned people/process
• The definition and strategic value of connected commerce as a frictionless end-to-end ecosystem across sales channels and fulfillment
• Why tech integration across OMS, WMS, TMS and digital marketplaces remains the biggest hurdle to unified fulfillment
• How Essendant repositions fulfillment from cost center to growth enabler, leveraging digital teams and marketplace expertise
• When to accelerate 3PL expansion versus stabilize and optimize existing operations, anchored on clear value and identity assessment
• The realities and opportunities around Seller Fulfilled Prime, including network scale, inventory optimization, and performance requirements
• Key operational metrics beyond OTIF, including inventory health and profitability by channel, critical in managing complexity
• Peak season outlook: early marketplace promotions, supply chain stability, and the goal to flatten the demand curve for better operational control

Highlights

• 00:00 – Guest Introduction & Industry Background
• 01:00 – Consistencies & Changes Over Two Decades in Fulfillment
• 03:00 – Defining Connected Commerce & Its Strategic Objectives
• 05:00 – Common Fulfillment-Tech Challenges & Silo Breakdown
• 07:00 – Unlocking Fulfillment as a Revenue Lever, Not Just Cost Center
• 10:00 – When to Accelerate vs. Stabilize 3PL Operations
• 14:00 – Procurement & Evaluation Dynamics in Mid-Market Deals
• 17:00 – Seller Fulfilled Prime: Market Demand & Execution Challenges
• 22:00 – Focused Operational Metrics to Drive Business Outcomes
• 28:00 – Peak Season Predictions & Advice
• 30:30 – Closing Thoughts & Contact Info 
   

Quotes:

• [00:02:00]: “The things that remain consistent would certainly be focusing on the end consumer... building the right team around us to align with that strategy and then making sure that we had the right processes.” - Patrick Allard
• [00:04:00]: “Connected commerce to us is really about creating that frictionless end-to-end ecosystem... from product discovery through the purchase cycle, all the way through fulfillment, delivery, final mile returns.” - Patrick Allard
• [00:10:00]: “How do we know when to pour gas on the fire and really go for expansion, and when is it time to maybe take a step back, pause, and get the house in order?” - Dan
• [00:19:00]: “There's still quite a bit of pain for the larger brand retailers that might have a really good dominant market and brand recognition, but where they want the prime badge, but having that inventory all locked up in Amazon...puts them in a financial challenge.”- Patrick Allard
• [00:23:00]: “There’s a million things you can track and it is data overload... but the key is focusing on promise metrics, inventory health, and profitability by channel.”- Patrick Allard

About the Guest:

Patrick Allard is President of Fulfillment Services at Essendant, driving the transformation of a traditional B2B distributor into a connected commerce powerhouse. With over 20 years in e-commerce and logistics, Patrick has held leadership roles at Newgistics, Pitney Bowes, and Radial. His expertise spans M&A integrations, fulfillment scalability, multi-channel retail logistics, and leveraging fulfillment as a revenue growth lever rather than simply a cost center.

Links Mentioned:

• Essendant Fulfillment Services: https://www.essendant.com/
• Patrick Allard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-allard-04657111/

------------------------------------------

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What You’ll Learn

• How recent de minimis and tariff changes impact international customer behavior and brand pricing strategy
• The evolving complexity of cross-border returns and strategic decisions on return policies
• Carrier rate shifts: oversized fees, peak surcharges, dimensional weight changes, and their real cost impact
• Why accurate rates and delivery promise engines remain table stakes — and why most still fall short
• The role of AI in improving warehouse operations, HS code auto-classification, and carrier selection
• Insights on agentic AI’s potential to revolutionize e-commerce shopping and logistics decision-making
• How bundled logistics connects carriers, warehouses, and tech providers to streamline cross-border trade

Highlights

• [00:00:00] Intro
• [00:02:00] Advice navigating current cross-border chaos and customs tightening
• [00:04:00] Impact of tariff/de minimis changes on international shopper behavior
• [00:06:00] Preparing for peak season: item selection, returns policy, and brand impact
• [00:09:00] Strategies around secondary market liquidation vs. returns complexities
• [00:11:00] Carrier pricing updates, surcharges, and dimensional weight changes for peak season
• [00:14:00] AI’s growing role in warehouse efficiency and logistics decision-making
• [00:18:00] Advances in HS code auto-classification powered by AI
• [00:20:00] Agentic AI and its future impact on shopper intent and carrier selection
• [00:23:00] Importance of relationships and bundled logistics connecting tech, carriers, warehouses
• [00:25:00] Reducing returns through better product info, website UX, and AI applications
• [00:27:00] The painful reality of rates & delivery promise engines still lagging in 2025
• [00:29:00] Key 2025 e-commerce outlook takeaway focused on returns management timing
• [00:30:00] Closing, social links, and final thoughts

Quotes

• [00:03:45]: “The retailers who are taking it seriously and really are trying to make that good faith effort are the ones that are gonna succeed. They’re trying to adapt to new normals, new narratives, and trying to get a hold of it first rather than just throwing up their hands.” - Krish Iyer
• [00:07:30]: “What are my return costs? What are my processing costs? How badly do I need that item back in my inventory for resale? And what’s gonna be my brand experience if I have a ‘keep it’ philosophy?” - Krish Iyer
• [00:27:30]: “If you ship more than a hundred units a day, you should have the technology capable of actually making a commitment as to when the shipping is going to happen. That should be absolute table stakes for anyone that does meaningful volume.” - Ninaad
• [00:19:15]: “If you give more data and granularity around what you’re shopping for—the intent, what it’s being used for—you can get some pretty good answers from agentic AI.” - Krish Iyer

About the Guest

Krish Iyer is the VP of Global Partnerships at EasyShip, where he supports brands scaling cross-border e-commerce logistics. With a career spanning FedEx, Pitney Bowes, and ShipEngine, Krish brings a comprehensive industry perspective on strategy, carrier integration, and international fulfillment. Known for blending deep operational insight with a human-centered approach to logistics, he’s also a repeat guest on this show.

Links Mentioned

- Krish Iyer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/globalkrishna/

- EasyShip website: https://www.easyship.com/

- Previous episode with Krish Iyer: https://ecomlogisticspodcast.com/podcast/unboxing-e-commerce-efficiency-with-krish-iyer/
 

------------------------------------------

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What You’ll Learn

• Why sustainability wasn’t the initial growth lever and how ThredUp found product-market fit by prioritizing value and convenience.
• The pivotal shift from a peer-to-peer marketplace to an asset-backed resale model through bag-drop logistics.
• How ThredUp scaled partially automated distribution centers to process over 100,000 unique items daily.
• The key metrics that balance throughput, speed, and quality in large-scale resale operations.
• How generative AI and visual search transformed discovery, personalization, and customer confidence.
• The cultural practices — hackathons, AI bootcamps, and atomic building blocks — that sustain innovation and rapid adoption internally.
• How Resale-as-a-Service enables major brands like Madewell to run white-labeled resale programs powered by ThredUp’s technology and operations.

Highlights

• 00:00 – Introduction: Dan’s 15-year journey at ThredUp
• 02:00 – Why sustainability alone didn’t drive growth
• 04:00 – The bag-drop pivot: asset-backed vs. P2P resale
• 07:30 – Marketplace dynamics: limited buyer-seller overlap
• 09:00 – Jobs-to-be-done thinking & unlearning old models
• 12:00 – Scaling ops: from scrappy warehouses to the world’s largest clothing carousel
• 17:00 – Throughput vs. quality: metrics that matter
• 21:00 – AI-powered search & discovery: cottagecore to mermaidcore
• 26:30 – Internal AI adoption: hackathons & “atomic building blocks”
• 33:30 – Building a culture of innovation and infinite learning
• 36:30 – Resale-as-a-Service for brands like Madewell
• 39:30 – Future of shopping: agentic AI and frictionless commerce
• 42:00 – Shoptalk Fall preview + closing thoughts

Quotes

• [00:02:30]: “Even if someone cares about the planet... we did not find product-market fit. We had to work a lot early on to better understand the needs of both buyers and sellers.” - Dan DeMeyere
• [00:12:15]: “It was a little bit like jumping out of an airplane and just having trust in ourselves that we're gonna build or find a parachute before we hit the ground.” - Dan DeMeyere
• [00:20:30]: “Trust is so important, especially in the used space. We have to become clever in helping customers feel confident with the potential fit and flattery of every item.” - Dan DeMeyere
• [00:39:30]: “If your core experience can be improved through AI, why do you need to put ‘AI’ on the website? It’s about the value you bring, the job they’re hiring you for.” - Dan DeMeyere

About the Guest

Dan DeMeyere is the Chief Product and Technology Officer at ThredUp, a leading online resale platform pioneering sustainable fashion through technology and operational innovation. With 15 years at ThredUp starting from its inception, Dan has overseen the company’s evolution from a peer-to-peer marketplace into a high-velocity, AI-enabled resale giant processing over 100,000 items daily. He is passionate about customer-centric product development and leveraging AI to transform retail experiences at scale.

Links Mentioned

- ThredUp: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thredup/

- Dan DeMeyere on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandemeyere/

👉 Don’t forget to join us at Shoptalk Fall, October 16–18 in Chicago!
🎟️ Grab your tickets here: https://fall.shoptalk.com/tickets

Featured Sessions at Shoptalk Fall:

• Harshida Acharya, Partner & CSO at Fulfillment IQ – Scenario Planning in a Volatile World
• Ninaad Acharya, Co-Founder & CEO at Fulfillment IQ – Supply Chain Agility in the Age of Disruption
• Dan DeMeyere, Chief Product and Technology Officer at ThredUp – Retail Intelligence: What AI Can – and Can’t – Do Today
• James Reinhar, Founder & CEO at ThredUp – Leading Through Culture Shifts

Check the full agenda here.

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 What You’ll Learn

• How to reverse-engineer the customer journey to simplify complex operational challenges
• Why grounding teams in customer empathy unlocks better delivery across multi-site venues
• Cross-functional collaboration’s role in innovating under tariff pressures and supply chain disruptions
• Balancing brand standards with local authenticity in high-scale venue operations
• Embedding real-time two-way feedback channels with frontline teams for continuous improvement
• Cultivating inclusive teams through targeted skill-building and representation to drive diverse leadership
• Lessons from hospitality and gaming industries on agility amid market volatility and post-COVID shifts

Highlights

• 00:00 – Intro and Erin Chamberlin’s operational background at Topgolf and Caesars
• 01:22 – Erin’s career path: transitioning from consulting to casino and hospitality ops
• 04:50 – The “work backwards from the customer” framework for experience design
• 08:40 – Cross-functional innovation example: rethinking Topgolf’s donut hole injectors under tariff risk
• 12:00 – Scaling consistency across 97 venues through systemized audits and local empowerment
• 15:30 – Culture of innovation fueled by frontline feedback and open idea channels among Playmakers
• 20:15 – Managing growing complexity, market volatility, and agility post-COVID
• 24:50 – Building inclusive, diverse teams with skills development and mentorship programs
• 29:40 – Erin’s personal “lean-in circle” and the importance of peer support in career growth
• 32:00 – Upcoming innovations and expansions at Topgolf: new venues and new game experiences
• 33:20 – Closing and how to follow Erin on LinkedIn

 Quotes

[00:04:54]: “You have all of these lenses and perspectives you've gathered throughout your career, and you try to simplify all of these complex challenges by working backwards from the customer.” - Harshida Acharya

[00:07:42]: “What the tech team needs to deliver, what the supply chain team needs to make sure that we have staffed and inventory—we peel that back at each step until you get to the most simple form of what you need to accomplish.” - Erin Chamberlin 

[00:26:41]: “It's really about providing skills for folks... Getting them to feel comfortable about reading a P&L, getting them comfortable presenting to large groups... We put in place concrete things that folks could do to level up their skill sets—to make them feel more confident.” - Erin Chamberlin 

[00:30:48]: “It's meant to be, ‘Let's support each other. Don’t think that you’re alone in this.’ There are lots of us who are not sure if we belong here and if there’s a path for us to grow.” - Harshida Acharya 

About the Guest

Erin Chamberlin is the Chief Operating Officer at Topgolf, leading operations across over 90 venues globally. With deep expertise from leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment and Penn Entertainment, Erin combines analytics, hospitality, and customer experience to deliver scalable, consistent, and playful experiences. She is passionate about building inclusive teams and fostering culture-led innovation in complex, rapidly growing organizations.

Follow Erin on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-chamberlin-7360814/

Topgolf venues: https://topgolf.com/ 

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

What You’ll Learn

• The origins of integrated parcel shipping systems and Clippership’s impact (1991)
• Why traditional carrier APIs limit cost optimization and how Sendflex’s engine solves this
• The critical gap between expected shipping costs and actual carrier invoices (north of 15%)
• How a multi-carrier strategy is essential for modern fulfillment, especially PO box and regional delivery
• - The rising complexity of omnichannel distribution and its impact on 3PL operations
• - Lessons from enterprise acquisition failures and maintaining agile, mission-driven growth
• - How data-driven carrier diversification can unlock real savings versus sales pitches

Timestamped Segments

• 00:00–00:50 – Introduction to Bob Malley and his legacy in parcel logistics
• 00:50–04:39 – Bob’s early career and development of Clippership & Tracer
• 04:39–07:24 – The evolving parcel market, rise of multi-carrier shipping, complexities of e-commerce
• 07:24–10:57 – The critical issue of landing cost variance versus expected shipping costs
• 10:57–15:02 – Operationalizing auditing and cost variance fixes through automation
• 15:02–20:04 – Carrier perspectives on load optimization, dimensional weight, and waste
• 20:04–23:30 – Insights on carrier integration and the promise of new, niche carriers
• 23:30–27:33 – B2B ecommerce growth, omnichannel maturity, and the rise of 3PL dynamics
• 27:33–31:17 – Hard lessons on acquisitions and maintaining agility in logistics tech companies
• 31:17–33:06 – Closing thoughts and where to learn more about Sendflex

 Quotes

• [10:13] "The cost variance between expected costs and actual costs is north of 15%.” — Bob Malley
• [06:13] “The real question is: how do shippers narrow the gap that’s been growing between expected costs all through that journey of the order...” — Bob Malley
• [30:44] “I believe in companies that have a mission, are small enough to be agile, and stick to what they do well.” — Bob Malley
• [21:52] “That’s what we’re really excited about — data-backed carrier diversification that makes business sense, not just sales sense.” — Bob Malley

About the Guest

Bob Malley is a pioneer in parcel logistics technology with a track record spanning over three decades. He launched Clippership, the first integrated parcel shipping system, scaled Tracer, led e-commerce at Kewill as CEO, and founded Pierbridge, creating the first enterprise cloud-based parcel TMS. Today, as CEO of Sendflex, he is driving innovation in intelligent modular delivery software built for omnichannel complexity and global shipping optimization.

Links Mentioned

Sendflex website
Sendflex LinkedIn

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

What You’ll Learn:

• Why supply chain must sit at the strategy table - not behind it
• How SKU discipline drives faster growth and cleaner margins
• What “AI as servant” really means in ops leadership
• Why executional control beats theoretical plans every time
• What separates founders who scale from those who stall
• How to balance autonomy and shared services in multi-brand orgs
• How ops becomes the difference between brand hype and brand health

Quotes:

• [00:07:25] – “Everything is theoretical - until the customer doesn’t get their order.” - JuE Wong
• [00:22:25] – “World domination with one SKU is better than SKU proliferation going nowhere.” - JuE Wong
• [00:30:59] – “AI is your servant, not your master.”  - JuE Wong
• [00:35:08] – “If you’re not making money, it’s a hobby.”  - JuE Wong

About the Guest:
JuE Wong is CEO of PBG, a PE-backed portfolio of six brands and three manufacturers. A six-time CEO across public and private companies, she’s known for scaling teams, transforming operations, and embedding supply chain as a core lever for growth, not just cost.

Links Mentioned:

• JuE Wong on LinkedIn
• Performance Beauty Group

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

 What You’ll Learn

• How DHL responded to USPS’s $40B modernization
• Why DHL scrapped fixed automation in favor of flexibility
• What “middle mile” scale looks like in action
• Why giving GMs shadow P&Ls boosted morale and results
• How DHL realigns pricing and sales incentives to protect GP
• The downstream risks of misjudging demand post-COVID
• DHL’s mindset shift: from prediction to adaptability

Highlights

• [00:00] Who is Scott Ashbaugh?
• [04:00] USPS reform: pain, logic, and adaptation
• [07:30] Network design: why DHL embraced the pullback
• [10:30] DHL’s middle mile moat
• [12:30] Warehouse automation: from fixed to flexible
• [18:00] Aligning ops, pricing, and sales strategy
• [23:00] Betting on customers: what DHL looks for
• [27:00] Pricing transparency as a competitive edge
   

Quotes

• [00:05:08] “In an organization that big with that many stakeholders, you gotta take 10 steps forward knowing that you're gonna get beat up nine steps backward just to get one forward.” - Scott Ashbaugh:
• [00:13:04] “We got a crossbelt sorter… but it’s a very fixed machine. You can’t just unbolt it and move it.” Scott Ashbaugh:
• [00:21:24]: “They felt like they actually could control their fate. You really get to see the creativity of the folks in the field.” - Scott Ashbaugh
• [00:03:21] “When you can bring that empathy and that experience and that knowledge to the commercial side, it just resonates internally and externally tremendously.” - Dan Coll:

About the Guest

Scott Ashbaugh is Chief Commercial Officer at DHL eCommerce Americas. With over 16 years of experience across operations, automation, and commercial strategy, Scott brings an insider’s view into how DHL scales under pressure while staying agile.

Links Mentioned

• DHL eCommerce
• Scott Ashbaugh | LinkedIn

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

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