Phillip and Brian sit down and have an enlightening conversation with the author of Cultural Intelligence for Marketers: Building an Inclusive Marketing Strategy , Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel. This book is the “How It's Made” for building culture-shaping brands, providing more understanding of how boardrooms, researchers, and foresight professionals think about their work. Listen now and join the conversation! Not a burden of some, but a responsibility of all Key takeaways: {00:07:39} - “When we ...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 351
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was much more than Isaac Newton's rival. He was a polymath who dabbled in everything from music to metaphysics and embodied the spirit of true deep generalism. Modern marketers can connect the dots, even if you didn't know they exist, by studying continual change: from calculus or clicks. "Absorb what's useful, reject what's useless." {00:10:04} - “A lot of people think that there are these tried and true tactics for this and that and the other thing. And there's just s...
May 14, 2024•41 min
Ro Trivedi joins the show to discuss founding Pietra, a modern infrastructure platform that helps entrepreneurs start and operate eCommerce businesses more profitably. Listen now! Nobody Wants to Tinker on a Commodity Key takeaways: The ability to build billion-dollar businesses with small teams is within reach, thanks to technological advancements and the reallocation of resources toward high-value activities. The future of commerce lies in quickly bringing concepts to market, allowing business...
May 10, 2024•47 min•Ep. 350
In this final episode of Step by Step Season 13, we sit down with Andy Judd and Liz Mayer to unpack the transformative power of data in shaping omnichannel strategies. This episode emphasizes the necessity of staying culturally relevant and adaptable to thrive in the ever-evolving eCommerce arena. Listen now! In this episode: {00:20:00} “I use the term ‘1000 points of light’ with my team because that's ultimately what you're trying to do: you're trying to take all of these pieces and say, okay, ...
May 08, 2024•53 min
Hear about Curology’s evolution from acne solutions to anti-aging and hair loss products and its retail ventures, featuring critical insights for DTC brands aiming to elevate their brands. Listen now! Category Expansion and Channel Diversity Hear about Curology’s evolution from acne solutions to anti-aging and hair loss products and its retail ventures, featuring critical insights for DTC brands aiming to elevate their brands. Listen now! {00:20:39} “It's all about buyers. If you don't have peop...
May 07, 2024•35 min
How does a DTC brand “grow up?” In our 13th season of Step by Step, we’re partnering with Keen Decisions Systems to answer that question as we explore how DTC brands evolve beyond their digital origins into mature omnichannel retailers. In this episode, we tap into industry expert, Greg Dolan, CEO of Keen Decision System’s insights and dive deep into topics like measuring ROI, optimizing spend across channels, retaining a brand’s “cool” factor and brand voice, and making data-driven decisions to...
May 06, 2024•35 min
Is the “path of least resistance” a universally true experience? Do all customers experience resistance the same way? In this episode, Rishabh Jain and Rabah Rahil from Fermát explore this idea through the legacy of polymathic thinker Pierre de Fermat, who pioneered the principle of least time in the 1660s. Forging ‘desire paths’ {00:20:48} “In the nondeterministic consumer world, you have millions and millions and millions of opportunities to screw up a test with a customer because they don't b...
May 03, 2024•52 min
The enthusiast economy drives purchasing trends in all areas of the economy—especially in sports, driving consumers to desire the same equipment as the best players. Premium pickleball apparel brand PB5Star is futureproofing by building a sustainable business model and systems during accelerating growth. Listen now! PB5star and the Pickleball Phenomenon Key takeaways: - The enthusiast economy drives purchasing trends in sports, making consumers want the same equipment as the best players. - Pick...
Apr 26, 2024•46 min•Ep. 349
Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 15% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access with BundleIQ Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISIONS) Ad-free episodes and bonus content!
Apr 24, 2024•6 min
Spatial commerce is all the rage thanks to the Apple Vision Pro… but are brands using it correctly? Phillip and Brian chat with a friend of the pod, Rob Petrosino, on the future of (spatial) commerce and digital twinning. Listen now! Your home is the store of the future Key takeaways: - Spatial computing is nascent, with current devices being bulky and heavy. The form factor is a challenge for consumer adoption but has more immediate applications in specific industries like design and repair. - ...
Apr 19, 2024•50 min•Ep. 348
Each season on Decoded, we demystify a nebulous concept in commerce. In this season of Decoded, presented by FERMÀT, Phillip sits down with Rabah Rahil, the CMO at FERMÀT, to examine the legacy of these prolific thinkers, inventors, and polymaths, philosophers, and mathematicians whose work inspired Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates. One of these inspirations from the past is the mathemetician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Listen now! The best time to be excellent, and the worst time to be average. ...
Apr 17, 2024•36 min
Phillip and Brian discuss the forgettable nature of AI music. Corporations' birthdays are an essential thing that we need to care about now. Also, an update on Lammers Law: everything eventually becomes an ad. PLUS: OSHA for the MIND?? Listen now. The Right to Disconnect Key takeaways: - Amazon is scaling back its Just Walk Out technology from its Amazon Fresh grocery stores. Due to technical limitations in grocery stores, it will be constrained to airports and small-format stores. - JPMorgan's ...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 347
There are fewer places for kids to be kids, and there are more places for kids to parrot the behaviors and consumer preferences of the adults. This intergenerational response to culture is affecting commerce… and vice versa. Join Brian and Phillip on this special lunar edition of Future Commerce, which turns into something even more *eclipsing*. How Media Shapes Our Buying Decisions Key takeaways: - Mimesis plays a significant role in shaping consumer trends, particularly among children who mimi...
Apr 05, 2024•52 min•Ep. 346
Phillip and Brian have FOMO over guerrilla marketing in the *bathroom*, and break down the Jackson family walkthrough of Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. Stick around for BigCommerce CEO Brent Bellm’s sit down with Brian live from Shoptalk. “From $70M to $700M” Key takeaways: - ShopTalk has become the biggest pure-play event in North America for e-commerce, showcasing the growth and optimism in the industry. - AI is making its way into various tools and solutions, embedding Gen AI to increase efficiency ...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 345
“Customer obsession” is an overused phrase. But for Frette, it just might be true. Phillip and Brian sit down with Paola Pugliese of Frette to discuss heritage luxury, DTC-specific category extensions, and the future of brand activations at cultural events. Recorded live at eTail West. “Quiet Luxury is Not a Trend” Key takeaways: - The power of consumer demand has grown, with brands needing to be true to their values and work closely with customers for relevance and delight. - Frette focuses on ...
Mar 22, 2024•36 min•Ep. 344
Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 15% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access with BundleIQ Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISIONS) Ad-free episodes and bonus content!
Mar 18, 2024•10 min
For FACEGYM, what is the multiplayer future? What are those incentives, and what do customers want in return? PLUS: A teardown of Web3 as it enters the slope of enlightenment. Listen now and join the discussion! “What does ‘better’ mean?” Key takeaways: - Web3's potential for mass adoption is still hindered by regulatory conditions and technical barriers, but a breakthrough use case could emerge with advancements in technology. - Purpose and values are fundamental in connecting with customers an...
Mar 15, 2024•45 min•Ep. 343
Breakout brand BK Beauty’s co-founders, Lisa and Paul Jauregui, discuss the potential consequences of a TikTok shutdown on the eCommerce landscape. While many brands use TikTok Shops as a growth channel to reach new audiences, the House passing a bill to shut down ByteDance's operation in the United States has sent shockwaves through the industry.
Mar 14, 2024•26 min
MrBeast has some recent learnings in trademark legalities and how hard DTC chocolate can be, and McDonalds is not answering back Phillip’s question. Plus, was the Super Bowl really the most-watched human event or do we just have too many ways you count who is watching, more people, and more widespread and varying broadcast options? And could a giant sphere be coming to a city near you? Or perhaps even your very own home? So much to talk about, so listen in now! “The McRib and Shamrock Shake Loop...
Mar 08, 2024•54 min•Ep. 342
Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 15% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access with BundleIQ Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISIONS) Ad-free episodes and bonus content!
Mar 05, 2024•5 min
Has "doomerism" evolved since last year's report into something much more global? Has the wellness obsession been taken too far? Is the appeal of being a semi-luddite on the rise? Friend of the pod and cultural theorist Matt Klein discusses the findings from his annual META Trends Report. “Going Airplane Mode” Key takeaways: - A key takeaway from analyzing over one hundred trend reports spanning several years: many of the reported trends remain unchanged year after year after year. - Language us...
Mar 01, 2024•44 min•Ep. 341
The allure of building a retail space is strong these days, but doing it right is critical. How do you know when to spend big bucks on fancy tech and when to equip your employees more instead? What is the special sauce to creating an environment where customers will keep coming back? It’s an exciting time in retail and Rebekah and Libby give us insight into why and their take on what is coming in the future in the world of physical retail. Listen now! Retail is Alive and Hot Key takeaways: - One...
Feb 23, 2024•57 min•Ep. 340
Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 15% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel) Ad-free episodes and bonus content!
Feb 21, 2024•4 min
Kyle Chayka joins us to discuss Filterworld , and the impact that algorithms have on culture and connection. Are we at the mercy of rapidly-changing algorithms and recommendations? How do we overcome ‘algorithm anxiety’ and become more intentional and thoughtful in our content consumption and decision-making? Listen now. The Digital Front Porch Key takeaways: - The rise of huge social media platforms has led to algorithmic recommendations and feeds becoming the main way we experience culture on ...
Feb 16, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 339
Kyle Chayka joins us to discuss Filterworld , and the impact that algorithms have on culture and connection. Are we at the mercy of rapidly-changing algorithms and recommendations? How do we overcome ‘algorithm anxiety’ and become more intentional and thoughtful in our content consumption and decision-making? Listen now. The Digital Front Porch Key takeaways: - The rise of huge social media platforms has led to algorithmic recommendations and feeds becoming the main way we experience culture on ...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 339
This week on the podcast, Phillip and Brian discuss the debatable success of the KITH loyalty launch, the “debauchery” during the prior eCom boom cycle, and the forthcoming Apple Vision Pro’s impact on Commerce. PLUS: Save the date for SXSW 2024! Listen now! “No one wants to make a decision about the future without data from the past” Key takeaways: - Incorporating tier-exclusive products into a loyalty program can provide real value and make customers feel special and incentivized to continue p...
Feb 06, 2024•53 min•Ep. 338
There are some compelling storylines to follow already in 2024, and Phillip and Brian have some hot takes on X creator payments and deepfakes, why “boring” seems to cut through the noise now, and some excitement about Vision PRO. Also, are we to the point now where innovation means working with the algorithm versus working around the algorithm? Listen now for this and more. A Boring Membership for Everything Key takeaways: - Deepfakes are becoming more prevalent, creating opportunities for both ...
Jan 30, 2024•54 min•Ep. 337
Our Predictions episode was packed with many great insights and discussion points, but the guys had even more to discuss regarding what 2024 has in store. PLUS: Rite Aid gets a hefty penalty from the FTC, healthcare trends, “Trendcore” and “trendwashing”, and what Phillip and Brian are reading right now. Product is Content {00:08:41} - “The terminally online people are the ones who are constantly trying to gain recognition by glomming onto other people's visible success, and Yotpo just didn't ha...
Jan 23, 2024•55 min
The Vogue of eCommerce {00:10:02} - “Depending on where you sit in your economic pessimism, if you believe that the economy continues to rip in 2024, then Costco is a no-brainer choice. If you believe that the economy is going to see challenges in 2024, then Costco is still a safe choice.” - Phillip {00:22:05} - “The problem is a lot of these brands, Joanns and Michaels in particular, did a really bad job with digital enablement. And so it's gonna be a really hard road for them to come back arou...
Jan 16, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 336
Kicking off our 2024 season of the podcast, Phillip and Brian discuss the storylines of the upcoming NRF Big Show. PLUS: the spatial computing hype cycle is upon us, as is a new handheld device revolution. Listen now! The Year of Spatial Computing {00:09:54} - “Shopify has conquered down market, and so naturally, the most obvious place for growth is in the enterprise, and it's just where they have to go. And then, one of the reasons why Shopify struggled mightily trying to sell to the enterprise...
Jan 12, 2024•56 min•Ep. 335
