Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I dive into the luxury flower and gift-giving industry with Samer El Sahn from Floward. We explore how Floward has evolved from a flower platform to a comprehensive gifting retailer, operating across multiple countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, and London. Samer shares insights on their impressive $156 million Series C funding, emphasizing...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Anthony Soohoo, a Fortune 50 executive, to explore the dynamics of investing in marketplaces beyond Amazon. Anthony shares insights from his experience as a former executive at Walmart, discussing the dominance of Amazon in the U.S. e-commerce market and the challenges faced by other retailers. We delve into the evolution of e-...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Sadeq Abdulrasool, co-founder and Chief Digital Officer of Homiez, Bahrain's largest non-food marketplace. Recorded at the Seamless Sounds podcast booth in Riyadh, we delve into the unique business landscape of Bahrain, often dubbed the "mini Dubai." Sadeq shares insights into how Homiez navigated its journey from a broad-spect...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Business Officer of Wego, to explore how this online marketplace is revolutionizing travel in the GCC, Middle East, North Africa, India, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia. We delve into Wego's business model, which offers a one-stop shop for flights and hotels, allowing users to compare prices and book directly...

Join me, Alexander Graf, in episode #126 of Commerce Talks as I dive into the personalized shopping revolution for men with Mahmoud Gao, founder of Mr. Draper. Recorded at the Seamless Conference in Riyadh, this episode explores how Mr. Draper is transforming the shopping experience for men in the Middle East. Mahmoud shares his journey from strategy consultant to entrepreneur, detailing how his c...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Chrissina Tonks from International Diplomatic Supplies (IDS) to explore the unique world of diplomatic commerce. Chrissina shares insights into IDS's niche market, providing duty-free goods to diplomats across the globe, particularly in challenging regions like the Middle East and Africa. We discuss the company's growth journey...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Salah Yamout, Chief Operating Officer of Arabian Automobile Co., to explore the path to becoming a market leader in automobile digital commerce. Salah shares insights into the unique sales model in the UAE, where Arabian Automobiles operates as a national sales company, managing both the upper and lower sales funnels. We discus...

In episode #123 of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Johannes Rastas, Head of Services and Solutions R&D at KONE, to explore the fascinating world of elevators and urban mobility. We delve into KONE's mission to enhance urban life by ensuring seamless and safe micro-journeys for over 1 billion people daily. Johannes shares insights into KONE's global operations, highlighting thei...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Cathy Hackl, the Chief Futurist at Journey, to delve into the fascinating realms of the Metaverse and Web3. Cathy shares her insights on how the Metaverse represents the next evolution of the internet, blending physical and digital experiences. We discuss successful virtual worlds like Roblox and gaming economies that surpass H...

At Seamless Middle East, we spoke with Adam Docrat, Head of IT at Aster Pharmacy and Aster Retail. Aster is a hugely significant player in the pharmaceutical market in the Middle East, and it is now setting its sights on expansion into the health and well-being sectors. Adam discusses how they are approaching that sector while also explaining the world of pharmaceuticals and the future of medicine...

This latest edition of the podcast from Seamless Middle East sees Alex joined by Adnaan Jassat, the CEO and founder of Thriller, the online marketplace for sneakers that sees buyers and sellers come together to exchange sneakers and trainers. The sneaker sector is massive – estimated to reach $40 billion by 2025, according to Adnaan – and he explains how Thriller is establishing itself in that mar...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Karl Lillrud, a speaker at Seamless KSA, to explore the transformative role of AI in retail and e-commerce. We discuss the challenges companies face in adopting AI and the importance of differentiating and measuring its impact. Karl shares insights on using AI for customer interactions, such as implementing AI bots for support...

In this special episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Jennifer Drury, the marketing head for Seamless Middle East and Seamless Saudi Arabia. Jennifer shares insights into the evolution of the Seamless conferences, which have been pivotal in the digital commerce industry for over two decades. We discuss the impressive growth of Seamless Dubai, which now attracts over 20,000...

E-commerce within the fuel industry comes with its own particular challenges, so Alex’s guest for this podcast - Suryaveer Singh, Head of Loyalty at ENOC Retail – was hugely insightful about those challenges and how ENOC was addressing them. They discussed how ENOC had embraced the digital change required to keep pace with changing customer expectations, its innovative loyalty program and use of c...

Join me, Alexander Graf, in episode #117 of Commerce Talks as I sit down with Rajiv Warrier, CEO of Choithrams, at the Seamless Conference in Dubai. We delve into how the Middle East's leading food retailer is navigating the evolving e-commerce landscape. Rajiv shares insights on Choithrams' journey from its origins in Sierra Leone to becoming a retail powerhouse in the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar. Di...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Anton Nehaenko, CEO of Yalla Market, at the Seamless Conference in Dubai. We delve into how Yalla Market is revolutionizing B2B commerce by applying B2C quick commerce strategies. Anton shares insights into their ultra-fast grocery delivery service, achieving delivery times of 11-12 minutes, and their expansion plans across the...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Kartik Bhatt from Sharaf Retail to explore the dynamic world of retail in the Middle East. Kartik shares insights on managing a diverse portfolio of brands, from fashion to adventure, under the Sharaf umbrella. We discuss Sharaf's strategic focus on sustainable growth, emphasizing profitability over rapid expansion. Kartik also...

Join me, Alexander Graf, on this episode of Commerce Talks as I sit down with Piyush Chowhan, the Chief Digital Officer at Panda Retail, to explore the art of picking in the grocery industry. Recorded in Dubai, we delve into Panda Retail's digital transformation journey in Saudi Arabia, where they hold a significant market share. Piyush shares insights on the unique challenges and opportunities of...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Saad Tounzi from ADNOC at the Siemens conference in Dubai to explore the unique intersection of commerce and the oil industry. Saad shares insights into how ADNOC Distribution has become one of the largest merchants in the UAE by operating over 500 service stations and 360 convenience stores. We discuss the customer-centric app...

Mina Salman is the brilliant mind behind the renowned Pakistani fashion and beauty brand, Bagallery. Mina is an accomplished entrepreneur, trendsetter, and a true trailblazer in the industry. Bagallery has disrupted the traditional retail landscape, embracing technology and social media to create an immersive customer shopping experience. We explore her strategies for staying ahead in a rapidly ev...