In the final episode of 2025, Chris and Mike trade their suits for matching Christmas pajamas to deliver a raw, honest review of the year in digital marketing. 🎄

They break down the biggest surprises of the year, from Google’s unexpected pivot toward transparency to the "Naughty List" players who frustrated the industry. Mike reveals details about his behind-the-scenes meeting with Temu, while Chris explains why Mark Zuckerberg is on his bad side this year.

Plus, we look ahead to 2026. Will CPCs finally slow down? What is "Gen 2 Commerce," and how will AI reshape the shopping experience next year?

In this episode, Mike and Chris cover:

• The 2025 in Review: Highs, lows, and navigating information overload. 
• The Naughty & Nice List: Why Google’s PMax updates won us over, and why Meta’s ad strategy is failing agencies. 
• The Temu Report: Mike’s personal experience meeting with Temu reps. 
• 2026 Predictions: Economic outlook, AI commerce features, and the future of media buying.

Ready to grow your Ecommerce business? Visit us at: https://smarter-ecommerce.com

About Smarter Ecommerce (smec)

Smarter Ecommerce (smec) helps e-commerce brands scale profitably with AI-driven PPC automation—optimizing for business outcomes while keeping strategic control in the hands of marketers. The platform activates first-party data (e.g., margins, CLV, core business metrics) to automate campaign optimization toward profitability and efficient growth, with transparent insights that reduce manual work and free teams for strategic oversight.

As a Google Premier Partner and three-time Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year, smec manages €500M+ in ad spend and drives €5B+ in annual e-commerce revenue for 350+ global retail clients, including THG, Snipes, REWE, and Intersport.

Follow smec for performance marketing insights:

Website: smarter-ecommerce.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/smarter-ecommerce-gmbh

Newsletter: smarter-ecommerce.com/en/newsletter/

Instagram: instagram.com/smarterecommerce