Commerce Famous Podcast

In this final episode of Season 2, Ben and Jason discuss their personal journey -- from when they met to what is next on the horizon as Ben moves on and starts his new business venture. Tune in to hear their candid conversation as they reflect on their experiences together over the years, and the transition to a new chapter.

Carrie's background in IT procurement at Ford laid a strong foundation for her career. Her transition from procurement to project management sparked her interest in software development. Carrie emphasizes the importance of agile methodologies in project management. She highlights the evolution of e-commerce platforms and their impact on the industry. Working with a talented team at Classy Llama al...

The Shopware Community Hub aims to enhance community engagement. Quality learning content is essential for community enablement. Community events foster connections and collaboration. The development of the hub involved extensive community feedback. Investing in education is a priority for Shopware. The hub facilitates knowledge sharing among community members. Interactivity in learning paths enha...

Jason Young transitioned from seminary to e-commerce through a passion for technology and community service. His agency, Ballistic, focuses on the firearms industry, which presents unique challenges and opportunities. The firearms e-commerce space is often overlooked by mainstream tech companies due to perceived risks. Building relationships is crucial in the firearms industry, where trust and loy...

Takeaways Customer experience has evolved significantly over the past decade. Brands must focus on intentionality and discipline in their strategies. Data collection is essential, but insights are what drive success. AI is a powerful tool, but organizations must assess its ROI. B2B customers now expect B2C quality experiences. Personalization is still in its early stages of development. Consulting...

In this episode of Commerce Famous, host Ben Marks chats with Eric Erway, Vice President of Product at ShipperHQ, and a former Magento product leader. Eric brings his wealth of experience from his time at Dell, Magento, and Cart.com to explore the intricacies of ecommerce logistics and fulfillment. They dive deep into how ShipperHQ is transforming the shipping experience by providing merchants wit...

In this episode of Commerce Famous, host Ben Marks sits down with Jim Herbert, the CEO of Patchworks, at Shoptalk EU in Barcelona. Jim shares insights from his extensive career in digital commerce, including his time as Senior Vice President of BigCommerce EMEA and his transition to leading Patchworks. They discuss the evolution of ecommerce technology, the growing importance of integration platfo...

In this episode of Commerce Famous, host Ben Marks sits down with Nicole Leinbach Hoffman, founder of Retail Minded and co-founder of the Independent Retailer Conference. Nicole shares her journey from working in marketing for major brands like Adidas to creating a platform that connects retailers with knowledge, resources, and community. She reflects on how she launched her retail education confe...

In this episode of Commerce Famous, host Ben Marks sits down with Paul Rogers, co-founder of Vervaunt, a London-based ecommerce consultancy and performance marketing agency. Paul shares his journey through the ecommerce industry, starting from his early days in scrappy digital roles to leading major replatforming projects for luxury and premium brands. They dive into the challenges of building and...

In the second episode of Season 2 of Commerce Famous, host Ben Marks welcomes Linda Bustos, a well-known figure in the ecommerce world and expert in customer journey analysis. Linda shares her unique insights into the evolution of digital commerce, discussing the rise of social media, the impact of emerging technologies like AI, and the importance of community in the digital age. Known for her wor...

Welcome to Season 2 of Commerce Famous! In this premiere episode, host Ben Marks sits down with Brian Beck, a 25-year veteran in the ecommerce space, renowned for his expertise in B2B. Together, they delve into the evolving landscape of B2B commerce, discussing how digital transformation is reshaping the industry. From customization needs to emerging trends, this episode is packed with insights th...

Join host Ben Marks for another exciting season of "Commerce Famous," where he delves into the world of ecommerce with bi-weekly episodes featuring some of the most influential founders and leaders in the industry. This season promises engaging discussions with guests who bring strong opinions, rich experience, and deep historical knowledge of ecommerce. From exploring innovative tech solutions to...

In this recast episode of Commerce Famous (first published in November 2023), host Ben Marks is joined by Brian Lange, an industry veteran from Future Commerce. They dive deep into the evolution of ecommerce, exploring how the sector has transformed over the years, especially with the rise of mobile and AI technologies. The discussion covers the journey from open-source platforms to the dominance...

Welcome to another great recast episode of Commerce Famous, first published in November 2023: Ben welcomes Nick Johnson to the show. Nick is Managing Partner at Applico, co-author of the book Modern Monopolies (and also the world's first Pokémon master!). "B2B distribution sits behind everything," says Nick who has been working in the industry for many years and explains why B2B distribution is a...

Welcome to one more Recast episode Commerce Famous! Ben meets with fellow "community nerd" Andrew Youderian. Andrew, the legendary founder of eCommerceFuel, built a strong community of entrepreneurs, many from the Shopify world, and made this his own business. Earlier in his career, Andrew pioneered the drop-shipping space and became famous for his transparency and creative marketing ideas. And as...

Welcome to another Recast episode (first published in October 2023). Ben sits down with Lindy Crea, the VP of Strategic Alliances at ReCharge Payments, a subscription service particularly popular with Shopify merchants. Throughout her career, Lindy has focused on building meaningful partnerships; she worked for the Clinton Foundation on establishing public-private collaborations in Mozambique, led...

In this Recast episode, which originally aired in September 2023, Ben meets one of the premier marketplace experts: Jorrit Steinz, Founder & CEO of ChannelEngine and, above all, a serial entrepreneur. Jorrit just enjoys the development and growth of new and exciting business opportunities, and in this fast-paced episode Jorrit takes us on a wild ride through his career and the ever-changing ecomme...

Today, we bring you another Recast episode, first published in August 2023. Ben talks to a true titan of the industry: Darin Lynch, the Founder and CEO of Irish Titan. Darin started the Minneapolis-based agency back in 2004 and, today, almost 20 years later, he and his team are going stronger than ever. Irish Titan builds and grows ecommerce channels, following their unique philosophy. In Darin's...

Welcome to a re-release episode of Commerce Famous. Ben Marks is “Hanging out with Hani” - that is Hani Batla, the CIO & CTO of Adorama, the famed New York City retailer. Hani’s illustrious career has taken him to legendary companies, including Verizon, Comcast, Ericsson, HBO, and now Adorama. Find out why Hani joined a retailer after many years in media, and how he drives modernization at a compa...

Season 1 of Commerce Famous has wrapped up! In today's short bonus episode, host Ben Marks shares an exciting update on what's next for the podcast, how you can become a guest, and details about his second podcast project. Tune in for this brief but important 84-second announcement! Ben on LinkedIn Ben on Twitter/X Find Ben's new podcast here! Commerce Famous is proudly presented by Shopware , the...

In this episode of Commerce Famous, host Ben Marks sits down with Ethan Giffin, founder of Groove Commerce, a creative studio specializing in ecommerce engineering and growth marketing based in Baltimore. They delve into the evolution of ecommerce, reflecting on past changes and current trends, such as the impact of GA4 updates and the significance of site speed and SEO for online retailers. Ethan...

In this Commerce Famous episode, Ben Marks talks with Steve Dennis at Shoptalk 2024 in Las Vegas. Steve reflects on his panel discussion about retail innovation and his career, including pivotal roles at Sears and Neiman Marcus. They touch on Steve's best-selling book "Remarkable Retail," revised for the pandemic's impacts, and the potential of AI in the industry. Steve's new book "Leaders Leap,"...

In this episode of Commerce Famous, Ben Marks is joined by Noah Oken-Berg and Marisol Garcia, co-founders of Above The Fray. Noah, with a background in the wireless world and agency space, alongside Marisol, a seasoned professional in public accounting, share their journey into ecommerce. Their discussion delves into the unique blend of instinct, necessity, and diverse expertise that catalyzed the...

In this episode of Commerce Famous, hosts Ben Marks sits down with Kevin Eichelberger, founder of Blue Acorn, where Ben was employee number one! Kevin shares insights into the early days of Blue Acorn, the challenges of the ecommerce space, and the evolution of the industry. The conversation delves into topics such as the impact of social commerce, the shifting consumer behavior, and the entrepren...

In this captivating episode of Commerce Famous, host Ben Marks is joined by the eminent Jason "Retailgeek" Goldberg, a titan in the commerce realm and the Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis. Jason, also celebrated for his insightful contributions on the Jason and Scot Show, delves into his extensive experience in the commerce industry, highlighting his unique perspective on the evolution...