In this 31st episode of Watson Weekend, we are joined by the show's producer, Vinny O'Brien, for an engaging deep dive into the latest Shopify Summer Editions! 🌟

Highlights of the Episode:

Headline Hangover: Breaking down the most impactful eCommerce headlines.

Kaplan's Corner: Nick Kaplan returns with his expert insights on industry trends.

Main Topic: Unveiling Shopify's Summer Editions. Discover how Shopify is raising the water level with new features, competitive checks, and enhanced user convenience.

From new default features to competitive advantages and user-friendly improvements, we cover it all. Don't miss our analysis and discussions on what these updates mean for the future of eCommerce!

In our milestone 30th episode of Watson Weekend, hosts Rick and Jess dive deep into critical eCommerce and marketing strategies. 🌟

Topics Discussed:

You Only Move Twice:

Beyond: Confounding their own actions again.

The impact of board meddling on strategy.

When is strategy not really a strategy?

Where is the Customer in All of This?

Overload of tech and tools with little relevance to the customer.

Are the tools we rely on truly making life easier?

Join us as we unravel these topics and share insights on how to navigate the complexities of modern eCommerce and customer experience. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engaging discussions every week!

Watch now and be part of the conversation!

Join us for an electrifying episode of Watson Weekend featuring Erik Huberman, the CEO of Hawke Media, as we dive deep into the transformative world of eCommerce marketing. In this episode, we explore the provocative topic: "Death to ROAS and Attribution: The Art of eCommerce Marketing and the Structure of Finance."

🚀 Key Insights:

- The pitfalls of traditional eCommerce marketing driven by online ads.

- How social media's illusion of brand building impacts new brands.

- The disconnect between financial reporting and true marketing effectiveness.

- The rise of retail media as a holistic approach to marketing.

- The future of agencies in a tech-advanced landscape.

- Erik brings his vast experience and unique perspectives to uncover how financial controls have reshaped marketing strategies and what this means for the future of brand building.

🔔 Don't miss out! Whether you're an eCommerce professional, marketer, or business owner, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you stay ahead in the game.

👉 Subscribe and hit the notification bell to catch all the latest episodes of Watson Weekend!

Join us for an exciting episode of Watson Weekend featuring Vince Santo, President & CEO of Maze Consulting! Vince shares his vast experience and unique insights on the current state of the eCommerce marketplace and the evolution of agencies in response to changing commerce platforms.

Key Topics Discussed:

eCommerce Marketplace Insights:

Current state of the eCommerce landscape

Key players and their strategies

How client feedback shapes agency strategies

Agency Evolution:

Adapting to new technologies and market demands

Strategic innovation for growth and efficiency

The future of digital marketing and commerce

Vince's wealth of knowledge provides a deep dive into these critical areas, offering valuable takeaways for businesses and agencies alike.

Highlights:

The role of technology in transforming business operations

Importance of agility and responsiveness to client needs

Trends and insights driving the eCommerce marketplace

Don’t miss this engaging discussion! Hit the play button and get ready to learn from one of the industry's leading experts.

In this episode of Watson Weekend, we are joined by Matt Ezyk, an expert in digital commerce strategy and operations, for an in-depth discussion on the latest trends and insights in the retail and eCommerce world.

Topics Covered:

- Walmart’s Stellar Performance: Dive into Walmart’s Q1 FY2025 earnings, showcasing their impressive 22% eCommerce growth and strategic shift towards high-margin activities like ads, memberships, and data.

- Modern Retailers: Discover what it takes to be a successful retailer in today’s market and the key lessons other brands can learn from Walmart’s approach.

- A Day in the Life of a Swiss Army Knife eComm Leader: Get an inside look at the versatile role of an eCommerce leader and how they navigate the complexities of modern retail.

- Matt Ezyk’s Journey: Gain insights from Matt’s extensive experience with leading brands like Skechers, LL Bean, Uniqlo, Disney, and more, and how he navigates the complexities of digital commerce.

Don’t miss out on this insightful conversation that will provide valuable strategies and actionable insights for anyone in the eCommerce and retail industry.

🔔 Subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, give it a thumbs up and share it with your network!

💬 Let us know your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

Join us for an insightful episode of The Watson Weekend as we welcome Mariano Gomide de Faria, co-founder of VTEX and a pioneer in digital commerce transformation. With over two decades of experience, Mariano has helped more than 2,600 retailers, distributors, and brand manufacturers globally in their digital transformation journeys.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

The Evolution of eCommerce: How the role of agencies has changed over the last decade and the impact on the industry.

Platform Dynamics: Discussing Shopify's move into enterprise and the quality and scale of supporting agencies.

Talent Shifts: The movement of talent from boutique agencies to the Big 4 and its implications.

Agency Revenue Models: Exploring the changes in revenue streams and the new competition landscape for agencies.

Modern eCommerce Demands: Comparing the eCommerce landscape today with that of 15 years ago and the emerging challenges and opportunities.

Plus, we’ll share highlights from VTEX Day, one of the largest digital commerce events, featuring 23,000 attendees, 260 speakers, and 230 sponsors over two days.

Don’t miss Mariano's expert insights and our lively discussion on the future of digital commerce!

🔔 Subscribe to @RMWCommerce and hit the bell icon to stay updated with all our latest episodes, shorts, and highlights!

Welcome to this week’s episode of Watson Weekend! Join us as we sit down with Travis Hess, the soon-to-be President of BigCommerce, for an insightful discussion on the evolving eCommerce landscape. Here’s what we covered:

Agency Evolution:

The changing role of agencies over the past decade.

Challenges and opportunities for Shopify and other platforms.

The impact of talent migration from boutique agencies to Big 4.

Modern eCommerce Demands:

Shifts in eCommerce demands over the last 15 years.

The upcoming battle between BigCommerce and Shopify for enterprise dominance.

Key blind spots in eCommerce strategies.

BigCommerce & Forrester:

Insights from Forrester's B2C WAVE report.

The case for replatforming in today’s market.

Retail Earnings:

Walmart’s Q1 FY2025 earnings and strategic growth in high-margin activities.

Ad revenue growth and marketplace expansion.

AI Innovations:

How AI is transforming eCommerce experiences on platforms like Etsy and Sam’s Club.

Don't miss out on these engaging discussions! Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more eCommerce insights.

Join Rick and Jess on Watson Weekend as they dissect the latest headlines in the world of commerce! In this episode, we dive into the rollercoaster journey of Peloton, exploring Barry McCarthy's departure and the company's ambitious restructuring plans amid global supply chain disruptions. Plus, we challenge the findings of the Forrester Wave report, sparking a thought-provoking conversation about enterprise positioning and the evolving needs of retailers and brands. Get a sneak peek into Forrester at the Met Gala? And don't miss Kaplan's Corner for the latest trends and insights in commerce! Tune in for an insightful recap of the week's top stories and join the conversation.

In this episode of The Watson Weekend, we're excited to welcome Erik Huberman, founder of Hawke Media, for an engaging conversation about all things marketing and entrepreneurship! Erik shares his journey from a young entrepreneur to leading one of the top-performing marketing agencies in the U.S.

We dive deep into the Blind Side report, providing a quarterly marketing review that unpacks important data and trends shaping the industry. Additionally, Erik gives us an inside look at Hawke Analytics data points and their impact on marketing strategies and performance.

Join us for expert analysis and fresh takes on these critical topics and let us know your thoughts in the comments! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode!

Buckle up! This week's episode of The Watson Weekend is packed with hot topics and lively discussions. Nick Kaplan joins as co-host and brings his signature energy to the show as we tackle the Headline Hangover, including UPS's recent troubles, the Biden administration's TikTok ban decision, Amazon Grocery's new subscription model, and ShipBob's imminent IPO with a potential $4 billion valuation.

Our main event is a deep dive into PayPal Damage Control and the LinkedIn post that caused a stir. We explore the strategy everyone is missing and the agency's take on the partnership, all while enjoying Nick's insights and humor.

Join us for an hour of thought-provoking conversation and a visit to Kaplans Corner. Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the replay now! Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell to stay updated on all things The Watson Weekend!