Farewell to Skype

Today, we honor the memory of Skype, the app that could have ruled the video call world—but instead, fumbled its way into obscurity. Pour one out for - or send a Zoom link - to this fallen icon.

E-Commerce Sales Hit Record in Q4 2024

According to the numbers, online sales reached an all-time high, fueled by deep discounts, holiday panic buying, and that sweet, sweet dopamine hit of clicking "Add to Cart." Amazon, Walmart, and every brand with a functioning website cashed in while we all pretended to "budget."

Weekly active users surpassed 400 million in February 2025, up from 300 million in December 2024, marking a 33% increase in less than three months.

OpenAI  is poised to introduce a new line of AI agents with monthly subscription plans ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, potentially contributing up to 25% of the company's future revenue.

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In this episode of Retail Focus, host John Suder discusses the absence of his co-host Bart Meraz due to illness before diving into several pressing retail stories. 

First, Hooters faces a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing due to significant debt and declining sales, with the company closing numerous locations and struggling with overdue supplier bills. 

The episode also covers Forever 21's potential second bankruptcy in six years, likely resulting in the closure of hundreds of stores. 

Additionally, John explores the rise of TikTok Shop in the e-commerce space, its rapid growth, and potential concerns over data privacy. 

The episode also highlights Amazon surpassing Walmart in quarterly revenue, thanks to its cloud computing and advertising services, although Walmart continues to lead in annual sales. 

Finally, John discusses the failed merger talks between Honda and Nissan, noting their ongoing collaboration on EV and self-driving technologies. 

The episode wraps up with a mention of Amazon's discontinued social commerce feature, Inspire, and its new AI shopping assistant, Rufus.

00:00 Intro

00:17 Hooters Faces Bankruptcy

03:33 Forever 21's Second Bankruptcy

04:30 TikTok Shop's E-Commerce Rise

07:04 Amazon vs Walmart: The Retail Rumble

09:47 Amazon's Social Commerce Failures

13:48 Honda and Nissan End Merger Talks

15:28 Conclusion and Sign-Off

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Retail Focus: Apple & Meta's Humanoid Robot Battle, BuzzFeed's BF Island, and HP's AI Acquire

In this episode of Retail Focus, John Suder and Bart Mroz dive into various tech stories, starting with the competition between Apple and Meta over the next big thing: humanoid robots.

They explore the differing strategies of Meta's open-source approach and Apple's integrated control.

Watch: Apple's Tabletop Robot Demo

The duo also discuss BuzzFeed's ambitious plan to launch a new social network called BF Island, aiming to create a joyful, algorithm-free online space.

Additionally, they cover HP's acquisition of Humane AI's software and IP, while humorously criticizing the failure of Humane's AI pin.

The episode wraps up with light-hearted commentary on the frigid weather in Detroit and anticipation for upcoming events like daylight savings time, spring equinox, and the Phillies home opener.

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John Suder and Bart Mroz on this episode of Retail Focus as they discuss the exciting win of the Eagles in the Super Bowl, the impact of new tariffs on e-commerce, and how it's shaking up the market.

They dive into Apple's renewed focus on small and medium-sized businesses, the troubling rise of unemployment in the tech sector due to automation and AI, and Netflix's potential entry into the video podcasting space.

Plus, they examine Tesla's plummeting sales and what it means for the future of electric vehicles

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In this episode of Retail Focus, hosts John Suder and Bart Mroz delve into multiple topics shaping the retail and tech landscape. They discuss UPS's decision to reduce its reliance on Amazon for deliveries in favor of higher-margin sectors, which includes a focus on healthcare and international logistics. The European Union's efforts to hold e-commerce giants accountable for unsafe goods and new regulatory measures are examined. The hosts also cover the ongoing saga involving potential American investments in TikTok amidst national security concerns, an amusing e-commerce hack in India, and Apple's decision to scrap its AR glasses project. Additionally, they touch on the success of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses and conclude with their predictions for the upcoming Eagles game.

00:00 Welcome to Retail Focus

00:12 Awesome Things of the Week

01:36 UPS Scaling Back on Amazon Packages

06:12 EU's New E-commerce Regulations

10:11 TikTok Ownership Rumors

14:30 The Value of TikTok's Algorithm

15:23 Challenges in Replicating TikTok's Success

16:30 The Future of TikTok and Social Media

19:25 TikTok's Traffic Rebound and Alternatives

19:54 Indian E-commerce Hack Exposed

22:32 Apple Cancels AR Glasses Project

24:15 Meta's Success with Smart Glasses

26:08 Podcast Wrap-Up and Predictions

It's Epsiode 2 of The Retail Focus Podcast, and this week, we discuss DeepSeek's Disruption, OpenAI Introduces Operator, Wix Integrates with YouTube Shopping, eBay Tries to Turn Sellers into Buyers, CVS App to Unlock Secured Merchandise.

The Retail Focus podcast features two podcast and eCommerce veterans: Bart Mroz and John Suder. In their former lives, they produced the eCommerce Minute podcast from SUMO Heavy and released 788 episodes before sunsetting. 

Produced and edited by 1459pm

This program is supported by ⁠Nerve Tonic Brand⁠. Born in 2012 out of sheer boredom and questionable decisions, Nerve Tonic Brand has somehow defied the odds (and logic) to become a powerhouse online lifestyle brand. Visit ⁠nervetonicbrand.com⁠ and sign up for the newsletter to score 10% off your first order and stay ahead of the game with exclusive drops and discounts.

It’s the premiere episode of The Retail Focus Podcast, and this week, we discuss TikTok loaded phones on eBay, Retail Store Openings (and closings) for ‘25, TikTok’s eCommerce push, the CES Wrap-Up, Brands to Watch, and Weekly commerce stats.

The Retail Focus podcast features two podcast and eCommerce veterans: Bart Mroz and John Suder. In their former lives, they produced the eCommerce Minute podcast from SUMO Heavy and released 788 episodes before sunsetting. 

Produced and edited by 1459pm

This program is supported by Nerve Tonic Brand. Born in 2012 out of sheer boredom and questionable decisions, Nerve Tonic Brand has somehow defied the odds (and logic) to become a powerhouse online lifestyle brand. Visit nervetonicbrand.com and sign up for the newsletter to score 10% off your first order and stay ahead of the game with exclusive drops and discounts.