Join hosts Rick Watson and Jess Lesesky on this edition of Watson Weekend LIVE as they sit down with special guest Scott Lux—a seasoned leader in e-commerce and digital strategy. In this insightful discussion, Scott reveals why the era of explosive revenue growth is shifting towards an "Age of Efficiency" in 2025.

In This Episode:

• How financial pressures are forcing brands to rethink growth strategies
• Why replatforms have become a necessity rather than a luxury
• The critical role of cost optimization and margin expansion
• Real-world insights on navigating the future of e-commerce

Don’t miss these valuable insights that could redefine your approach to business in the new era of efficiency.

Ecommerce has come a long way, but are we still innovating—or just optimizing? In this episode of Watson Weekend, we sit down with Dimple Rao, a seasoned product management leader with over 15 years of experience in retail and digital commerce.

We dive into:

✅ How ecommerce innovation has evolved (and where it's stalled)

✅ The balance between efficiency and true disruption

✅ What the future of retail and customer experience looks like

✅ The biggest challenges brands face when trying to innovate

From Amazon’s early days to today’s AI-driven commerce landscape, we unpack what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and how businesses can truly push the industry forward.

This week on Watson Weekend, we’re breaking down the biggest shifts in e-commerce and AI in 2025 with Bryan House, President of Elastic Path!

🔍 What’s on the agenda?

📰 Headline Hangover: The latest trends in store closures, AI’s impact on retail, and consumer trust.

🤖 Shopping Habits in 2025: Is browsing dead? Has AI taken over the retail experience?

💡 Composable Commerce Unlocked: Bryan House shares how brands can stay agile in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Elastic Path is a flexible, API-first commerce platform helping brands solve their toughest challenges. With over 250 leading retailers, manufacturers, and distributors using their technology, Bryan brings firsthand insights on how composable commerce is shaping the future.

📺 Don’t miss this deep dive into the strategies, trends, and tech reshaping e-commerce!

We’re bringing you the exclusive recording of our live Watson Weekend event at NRF 2025, featuring Rick, Jess, Nick, and our special guest Michael Jones, CEO of Candle Science. Get ready for insights, bold predictions, and even a dance party.

This week on Watson Weekend, Rick and Jess cover the biggest retail and tech news, including the potential TikTok ban, Target's plan to shorten GTM times, Walmart's metaverse move, and the end of "try before you buy."

Plus, a recap of NRF 2025 and insights on the 5 Forces Affecting Commerce. Nick Kaplan joins us for Kaplan's Corner to discuss the Obituary and Resurrection strategy.

Tune in for your weekly dose of retail and tech insights!

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Scot Wingo, a 4-time serial entrepreneur and co-host of the popular Jason and Scot Show, to Watson Weekend! 🎙️

Scot has built some incredible ventures like ChannelAdvisor and Spiffy while passionately supporting startups in North Carolina through the Tweener List and Tweener Fund. Now, he’s joining us to tackle some big questions—and maybe throw a few curveballs along the way! ⚾

What’s on the agenda?

✅ A This or That Quiz

✅ Insights into Scot's podcast, being in stealth mode, and what makes North Carolina so special.

✅ The big question: Where is retail now, and where can tech take it in the future?

✅ Our classic Headline Hangover segment (because headlines never sleep).

✅ A festive finale: Our final holiday video choice 🎄 and the last Kaplan’s Corner of the year!

This week’s Kaplan’s Corner will dive into Retail Enthusiasm vs. Retail Realism—and we want YOUR thoughts too.

In this episode of Watson Weekend LIVE, we’re joined by Gary Benerofe, entrepreneur and investor, to discuss the future of acquisitions, tech investments, and how to build a company in today’s ever-evolving market. Gary shares his journey from real estate to Mu Ventures, offering unique insights into the shifting landscape of SaaS, eCommerce, and supply chain investments.

What we cover:

🔍 Acquisitions in 2024: Why deals are scarce, and what that means for the tech world.

🛠️ The Art of the Pivot: What modern founders need to know heading into 2025.

💡 Building a Company Today: Core requirements and team composition for success.

Gary’s experience in transforming businesses and launching Mu Ventures gives him a unique perspective on what’s next. Tune in for expert insights and thought-provoking conversations.

The good, the bad, and the ugly—Watson Weekend LIVE dives into 2024’s eCommerce rollercoaster!

Nick Kaplan joined Rick Watson to unpack this year’s biggest stories, from moments of triumph to epic fails.

🎙️ Topics we covered:

The Good: Klarna’s IPO momentum, Walmart’s resilience, and Chapter 11 law firms dominating.

The Bad: NRF’s misplaced optimism about “resilient consumers” and Magento agencies stuck in the past.

The Ugly: TEMU’s legal mess, Amazon’s price hikes, and eBay’s stagnant strategy.

Plus: Words and phrases we’re retiring in 2024 (Profitability = Expelliarmus?).

💡 Special thanks to our sponsor, Mirakl, the global leader in eCommerce software solutions! With AI-powered marketplace and retail media solutions, over 450 companies are unlocking new revenue streams. What’s holding you back? Visit mirakl.com.

This week on Watson Weekend, we break down the Gartner Magic Quadrant and its true utility in evaluating platforms. Rick explains why focusing on "Ability to Execute" might be the only lens that matters.

We also sit down with Dina Rosenbloom, CEO of Hairstory, to discuss:

• Her journey from global brands like Estee Lauder to leading Hairstory
• How she supports independent hairdressers and balances creativity with business operations
• What bravery looks like in executing a vision

Kaplan’s Corner explores Nature vs. Nurture—how it impacts growth and talent management.

Don’t miss this deep dive into leadership, growth, and making better decisions in today’s fast-paced business world.

In this engaging Watson Weekend episode, we explore Shopify’s meteoric growth, what it means for their future, and whether they can truly compete as an enterprise and B2B solution. Our guest Paula Macaggi, global retail expert and host of the OFFBounds Podcast, joins us to break down the retail landscape and share what she’s learned from leaders across the world.

🔹 Key Topics Covered:

Is Shopify’s growth sustainable in the long term?

The transformation of Shopify into a payments-driven company

Shopify’s potential (or limitations) as an enterprise and B2B solution

Global retail trends and key leadership insights from Paula Macaggi