Corey Apirian is the CEO of Davinci Micro Fulfillment, a full-service logistics company that uses technology and partners with brands and retailers to help market, sell, fulfill, and ship their products. As an accomplished supply chain and operations leader, Corey has over 15 years of senior management experience. With more than 20 years of experience in the eCommerce fulfillment industry, Corey has been drop shipping for every major retailer since 2004 and has launched over 50 different subcategories through individual online and brick-and-mortar channels.
As Amazon’s marketplace becomes progressively convoluted, brands are amplifying their advertising and marketing strategies. But with customer acquisition and ad costs rising, this tactic is insufficient for generating influence, so brands must leverage hyperlocal fulfillment centers to enable 1-2 day deliveries. How can you optimize these micro facilities to enhance the customer experience and remain top of mind?
When structuring your D2C business, logistics specialist Corey Apirian emphasizes diversifying your inventory by utilizing multiple micro fulfillment centers, including Amazon Direct. This promotes agility and allows for precise control of inventory through your network. You can strengthen your fulfillment strategy by incorporating order management and checkout optimization software to reduce inventory shortages and costs. It’s also essential to evaluate the KPIs for each potential 3PL and local carrier facility to ensure they possess these capabilities.
In today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant welcomes the CEO of Davinci Micro Fulfillment, Corey Apirian, back to the show to discuss how brands can adapt to Amazon’s fulfillment model. Corey addresses strategies for evaluating 3PLs, how to integrate marketing, product assortment, and delivery into your DTC model, and Flexport’s acquisition of Shopify Logistics.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Udayan Bose is the Founder and CEO of NetElixir, a digital marketing agency designed to help the growth of eCommerce businesses, B2B companies, and retail brands through strategic solutions and an AI-powered platform. Udayan is also the Co-founder of The Udaan Trust, a nonprofit foundation of NetElixir that supports underprivileged young women in India to pursue their education goals and build successful careers.
When it comes to Google searches, approximately 20% of customers venture past the first results page. Consequently, the platform has monetized that page, obstructing results and compromising brand visibility and discovery. The emergence of ChatGPT and generative AI further complicates search marketing efforts, as customers receive answers instantly. How can brands get ahead of these new developments to improve success with the technology?
According to digital marketing and AI specialist Udayan Bose, fully comprehending a new technological advancement takes two to five years. To expedite the process, he says organizations must dismantle departmental silos and encourage all team members to exchange ideas, experiment, and innovate. Although failure can be inevitable in this tumultuous landscape, this approach facilitates learning and growth. As search marketing evolves with ChatGPT, you can also input brand-specific prompts to train the software and assess your processes for future integration and automation.
NetElixir’s Founder and CEO, Udayan Bose, is Aaron Conant’s guest on this episode of The Digital Deep Dive to discuss generative AI’s impact on search marketing. Udayan also shares how experimentation and collaboration facilitate AI adaptation, the effect of conversational search on traditional search results, and his framework for navigating the evolving search ad landscape.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Jon Reily is the SVP of Commerce and Loyalty at Bounteous, a leading global digital experience consultancy. In his role, he leads Bounteous’ Commerce Center of Excellence, providing best practices, thought leadership, and co-innovation for brands. With more than 20 years of experience in the digital space, Jon is a Top 100 Retail Influencer, an eCommerce expert, and a UX/CX specialist. Before Bounteous, he was the Head of User Experience and eCommerce Design at Amazon, where he played a role in the platform’s growth and served as a voice for strong customer experiences and accessible eCommerce.
Although the digital space has transformed considerably in the past four years, many brands haven’t adapted their strategies. Some utilize antiquated customer acquisition strategies by offering loyalty programs that benefit the business rather than the customer. Yet 20% of a brand’s customer base generates 80% of its revenue, and while the average consumer enrolls in 14 loyalty programs, they only use seven. How can you retain your existing customers by meeting their demands?
Customer experience veteran Jon Reily advises against employing customer loyalty programs. Instead, loyalty involves creating positive experiences to help customers resolve their most pressing concerns, keeping you top of mind in your category. You can leverage the customer lifetime value flywheel to generate existing consumer loyalty by personalizing content and accessing and managing data to assess experiences and make informed decisions.
Jon Reily, SVP of Commerce and Loyalty at Bounteous, joins Aaron Conant in this episode of The Digital Deep Dive to discuss customer loyalty and the lifetime value flywheel. Jon talks about the barriers to customer personalization, optimizing the flywheel through content creation and customer feedback, and how to access and organize customer data.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Dries Buytaert is the Founder, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, and Board Member of Acquia, a venture-backed software company offering products and services for Drupal, an open-source website-building platform he founded and leads. Honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, he has also been recognized as CTO of the Year by the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council and a Young Innovator by MIT Technology Review, among other recognitions. Before Acquia and Drupal, Dries was the CEO and Founder of Mollom, which Acquia acquired.
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With digital transformation becoming increasingly prevalent, composable architecture has gained traction in the eCommerce landscape. Yet there’s uncertainty surrounding this concept as organizations struggle to transition from monolithic systems to more flexible software. So what does composability entail, and how can you pivot and adapt to this solution to prepare for the digitally native future?
For Dries Buytaert, composable commerce is a philosophy involving an organization’s ability to acclimate to evolving business needs by incorporating various tech stack components into a comprehensive application. This requires evaluating multiple modules from assorted vendors, testing their synergy, and exchanging them to ensure your system remains agile. But composability extends beyond mere architecture to include no and low-code approaches, which entails unifying content, data, and team participation to create ubiquitous customer and business experiences.
Aaron Conant sits down with Acquia’s Founder, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, and Board Member, Dries Buytaert, in this episode of The Digital Deep Dive to talk about composable commerce approaches. Dries explains how MACH (microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native, and headless) differs from composability, content management strategies for composable architecture, and how to adapt to composable commerce solutions.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Martin Heubel is the Strategy and Amazon Consultant at Consulterce, a strategy consultancy helping B2C household and CPG brands increase their 1P vendor profits on Amazon. As the founder, he has over five years of experience assisting CPG and household brands to master their bottom line. Before Consulterce, Martin was a Senior Category Manager at Amazon, where he helped brands such as Nestle and Mars turn their digital retail operations into high-performing, eight-figure accounts.
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During Q4 in 2022, Amazon withdrew inventory to prevent overstocking, disrupting availability and trade relationships between brands, Amazon, and suppliers. With this risk aversion impacting supply and demand, how can brands remain savvy to sustain inventory and profits?
According to Amazon consultant Martin Heubel, Amazon Vendor Negotiations (AVN) are crucial in developing an operational strategy for the coming year. During these mediations, Amazon determines fair trade agreements, including product pricing and margins, that brands must observe to prevent listing removals, Buy Box suspension, and inventory shortages. Maintaining stock and profitability requires analyzing your portfolio structure to mitigate risk and engaging with Amazon throughout the year. It’s imperative to understand and manage your margins, orders, catalogs, and financials to communicate market value and stay relevant.
Martin Heubel, Strategy and Amazon Consultant at Consulterce, is Aaron Conant’s guest on today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive. They discuss the current and future states of Amazon’s business model. Martin also shares how brands can maintain inventory in 2023, advice for winning AVNs, and how the platform’s risk aversion affects brands.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Franz Jordan is the General Manager and Vice President of Perpetua, a SaaS platform that helps brands, media agencies, and Amazon sellers improve ad performance through AI-powered automation. He has nearly 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the Amazon, eCommerce, and market intelligence spaces. Before Perpetua, Franz was the Co-founder and CEO of Sellics, the premier provider of AI-powered B2B SaaS solutions that Perpetua acquired.
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Advertising is becoming increasingly complex as platforms seek to drive revenue by increasing ad volume and value. With so many factors influencing ROAS and sales, how can you leverage the precise data and strategies to outperform competitors and maintain relevance?
Market intelligence expert Franz Jordan urges brands to analyze long-term, holistic performance data on multiple advertising formats, including DSP and Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC). This data should encompass acquisition costs and customer lifetime value. Yet brand-specific data and goals aren’t sufficient enough to optimize ad performance, so Franz recommends leveraging market-aware and competitive intelligence by evaluating pricing, top-selling ASINS, product reviews, and keyword rankings.
Join Aaron Conant in today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive as he sits down with Franz Jordan, General Manager and VP of Perpetua, to talk about competitive and market-aware advertising strategies. Franz also shares how brands should consider the evolving ad landscape, how to leverage AMC, and cutting-edge strategies to differentiate yourself from competitors.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Todd Hassenfelt is the eCommerce Director of Growth Strategy and Planning at Colgate-Palmolive, an innovative growth company that reimagines a healthier future for people, pets, and the planet. He has extensive leadership experience in brick-and-mortar and eCommerce channels, serving as a leader on both sales and marketing teams.
Todd has also sold some of the top brands in the US to multiple channels, including C-store, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, supermarkets, and eCommerce. As an eCommerce and content contributor, his articles appear in publications, including BRAVE Commerce, Ecommerce Braintrust, and The Digital Shelf Cast.
Chat GPT’s widespread adoption has initiated the release of GPT-4, with capabilities extending far beyond text to include images and videos. GPT-4’s potential has opened up additional opportunities for workflow efficiencies and creativity. What should you consider about this revolutionary technology, and how can you apply it in your organization?
Todd Hassenfelt maintains that adopting GPT-4 requires a delicate balance between use case opportunities and risk mitigation to avoid copyright infringements and other lawsuits. Once you’ve executed the appropriate due diligence with your legal team, you can leverage GPT-4 to analyze product reviews, optimize content, and personalize ads for consumers. For instance, this generative AI can examine a product detail page to determine common themes among customer reviews. It can also recommend top keywords for SEO.
Todd Hassenfelt, eCommerce Director of Growth Strategy and Planning at Colgate-Palmolive, joins Aaron Conant in today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive to talk about how GPT-4 is disrupting generative AI. Todd mentions how brands can implement GPT-4, generative AI’s role in customer personalization, and how to train generative AI models.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Andrew Lipsman is the Principal Analyst at Insider Intelligence, the leading research, data, and insights provider helping companies maximize revenue, optimize ad spend, and anticipate digital disruption. In his role, he reports on retail and eCommerce, following trends, including holiday shopping, retail media, social commerce, DTC brands, and leading marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart. Andrew has spoken at multiple conventions, including Big Show, Shoptalk, and Groceryshop. He is quoted frequently by publications, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Financial Times.
Retail media has monopolized the digital advertising landscape, and major retailers are developing ad networks to compete with Amazon. Walmart is the second largest media system with a $6 ROAS, and Target and Instacart aren’t far behind. Given the recent growth and competition, omnichannel strategies are essential to profit in this evolving space. So how should you structure your advertising efforts to prepare for impending retail media developments?
Digital analyst Andrew Lipsman has observed three key drivers of retail media. With prominent retailers like Walmart and Target optimizing the customer experience, brands must ascend the advertising funnel by leveraging onsite media to deliver ads across social platforms and TV streaming. Traditionally, brands have analyzed ROAS for online sales. Now, you can capitalize on in-store retail media and attribution data to drive offline sales. But Andrew warns against over-personalizing in-store advertising to risk losing customer trust. Instead, develop brand awareness by incorporating on-screen QR codes that tap into loyalty programs and encourage purchases across multiple channels.
In today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant chats with Andrew Lipsman, Principal Analyst at Insider Intelligence, about the current and future state of retail media. Andrew also talks about AI’s role in data analytics, the challenges retailers face when developing ad networks, and the ideal metrics for optimizing ad spend.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Jacob Harrison is the Director of eCommerce Investment Strategy at CMI Media Group, a full-service media agency specializing in strategic healthcare marketing. For more than eight years, he has launched, developed, and implemented some of the largest marketing programs in the retail, finance, and consumer goods spaces. Jacob has built and led world-class teams and driven significant growth for agencies, including Sparkroom and retailers such as Toys R Us and DSW.
In recent years, retail media has dominated the digital landscape, and various industries, including consumer packaged goods (CPG) and fashion, have pioneered major advertising networks to market and sell their products. DTC channels provide viable opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry to target consumers and improve the healthcare experience. But Rx distribution is heavily regulated as brands must comply with HIPAA and other data privacy laws. So what’s the most effective way to employ eCommerce marketing to build brand awareness?
Healthcare has experienced a significant shift to digital with online patient forms, virtual doctor visits, and more. Jacob Harrison says that brands can leverage patients’ growing familiarity with digital to offer information on medications and provide seamless prescription refills. Partnering with leading pharma retailers like Walgreens and CVS allows you to capitalize on consumer data to develop targeted ads, maximizing conversions and ROI.
In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant welcomes Jacob Harrison, Director of eCommerce Investment Strategy, to talk about how the healthcare industry is utilizing eCommerce to enhance the patient experience. Jacob also shares how organizations are leveraging ad networks to market products, the limitations of pharmaceutical distribution, and the importance of a digital R&D budget.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
Rick Watson is the CEO and Founder of RMW Commerce Consulting, which provides eCommerce strategy consulting to help businesses accelerate their go-to-market processes. Rick founded the company after spending more than 20 years as a technology entrepreneur and operator in the eCommerce industry with companies including ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, and Pitney Bowes.
During a partnership with WHP Global, he was a critical resource in architecting the WHP+ platform, a turnkey DTC digital eCommerce platform powering AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com. Rick hosts The Watson Weekly podcast, where he shares his unbiased, expert take on the retail sector’s biggest news and executives. As a television and conference speaker, he has been featured on national news programs and many retail-focused industry events.
The eCommerce business is evolving and becoming more extensive. Amazon is no longer the exclusive selling channel, as brands are beginning to experiment with Walmart and Target’s online marketplaces. So what should you consider about these stores, and how can you diversify your brand to reach a wider audience?
Walmart’s eCommerce channel experienced a higher yearly growth rate than Amazon, with the platform growing 12% in 2022. Yet Walmart is still a growing channel, so Rick Watson warns not to overspend or allocate every resource there. Target offers one to two-day drop-shipping capabilities, and although the emerging marketplace is promising, its categories are broad and unregulated. As a DTC (direct-to-consumer) brand, it’s critical to consider your target audience’s shopping habits and expand your products into multiple marketplaces to attract new consumers.
In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant welcomes Rick Watson, CEO and Founder of RMW Commerce Consulting, back to the show to discuss eCommerce marketplace trends. Rick also addresses considerations for selling DTC, AI’s role in UGC (user-generated content), and how he helps entrepreneurs build their eCommerce businesses.
BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.
In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.
We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.
