In this Friday edition of Watson Weekly, Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky dive into the major shifts rocking the retail and tech landscape. From Shopify’s controversial partner strategy to Apple’s "defensive sprint" into wearable AI hardware, we break down what these moves mean for the future of the industry.

On this week's episode:

* The Fall of Quiet Logistics: American Eagle is sunsetting its Quiet Logistics business. Rick and Jess explore why owning your own supply chain can be a "heavy burden" if it’s not your core business.

* Apple’s Ambient Ambitions: Is Apple panicking over all the OpenAI hype? Learn about the new AI pin designed to combat OpenAI, and why Apple is reportedly paying Google a billion dollars for the use of the Gemini model inside Siri.

* Vinted’s American Dream: The European secondhand giant enters a crowded U.S. market. Can their buyer-fee model disrupt established players like Poshmark and The RealReal?

*Shopify’s "Partner Massacre": Is Shopify abandoning the enterprise? Rick and Jess discuss the recent cuts to Shopify’s partner teams and CEO Tobi Lütke’s drive for "productivity over people".

Key Takeaways:

Why the "platform dream" failed for American Eagle.

The difference between owning a logistics company and owning its "crown jewels".

Why Shopify views anyone between them and their merchants as a "middleman".

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#Ecommerce #Shopify #RetailTech #AppleAI #Logistics #Vinted #WatsonWeekly #thewatsonweekly