Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Marius Ciavola, CEO of Tradeling, to explore the burgeoning world of B2B marketplaces in the MENA region. We delve into how Tradeling is poised to become the largest digital marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa, capitalizing on Dubai's strategic position as a global trade hub. Marius shares insights into the challeng...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Josue Munoz, former head of global e-commerce at Colgate-Palmolive, to explore the brand's digital transformation journey. We delve into Colgate's dominance in the toothpaste market, driven by innovation and consumer understanding, and discuss their strategic shift towards e-commerce and direct-to-consumer initiatives. Josue sh...

Ahead of Alex’s presence at Seamless Middle East, this episode sees him catch up with The Toufic Kreidieh, founding partner and CEO of Brands for Less Group. BFL Group is a company that dominates the off-price business in the Middle East and will be present at Seamless in May. BFL Group is the parent company of several retail chains, headquartered in Dubai, but present across the GCC with 100+ sto...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Jose Manuel Esparza, CEO of Duplo, to explore the evolution of grocery shopping in Mexico. As Mexico's first digital CPG wholesaler, Duplo is revolutionizing the traditional cash and carry model by transforming Mercado Maico's 30-year legacy into a digital powerhouse. We delve into the unique dynamics of Mexico's tienditas, sma...

Join me, Alexander Graf, on this episode of Commerce Talks as I dive into the dynamic Australian e-commerce landscape with Brian Walker, known as the Retail Doctor. We explore the challenges and opportunities facing Australian retailers as they navigate the rise of Amazon and the evolving market dynamics. Brian shares insights into the country's unique retail environment, characterized by a strong...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Leena Khalil, co-founder of Mumzworld, to explore the challenges of building a leading brand in the GCC's e-commerce ecosystem. Leena shares her journey from struggling as a new mom to launching Mumzworld in 2011, aiming to provide a trusted platform for mothers in the Middle East. We discuss the unique hurdles faced in the reg...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I dive into the vibrant retail landscape of Kuwait with Ahmed Alghanim, head of e-commerce at City Centre Kuwait. We explore why Kuwait is often dubbed the Switzerland of the GCC, highlighting its unique market dynamics and entrepreneurial spirit. Ahmed shares insights into Kuwait's high internet penetration and young, tech-savvy population, m...

L’azurde is a Saudi-based jewellery company that manufactures and distributes gold jewellery through wholesale channels and via its own stores and franchise brands. The company has around 3,000 stores worldwide, is the fourth largest gold jewellery manufacturer globally and is the only listed jewellery company in the MENA region. I caught up with Artem Avdeev, brand director at L’azurde to discuss...

In this episode, I spoke with Nils Radsak, an expert in the automotive world who has led digitization for major car brands such as Volkswagen and Porsche. We talked about what dealers of the future will look like, connected services, and tensions between dealers and OEMs. We even discussed the Chinese Tesla competitor, BYD, and why they are putting customer centricity first.

Automobile marketplaces are very established in Western Europe, and SellAnyCar.com is setting about proving that the model works in the Middle East too. It’s the region’s first car buying service, which offers free and instant online car valuation, free car inspection, and a guarantee to purchase any car within 30 minutes. I recently spoke with Anuvrat Gaurav, regional country manager at SellAnyCa...

B2B marketplaces are a fascinating concept – more complex than their B2C counterparts but potentially hugely transformative. Ekuep is such a marketplace, supplying restaurants across the Middle East with kitchen equipment, and known for its quality products, large stock (10,000+ products), and capability to ship fast. I spoke with Shafi Baig, at Ekuep (and also consumer coffee marketplace Qavashop...

In this milestone 100th episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Athbi Al-Enezi, co-founder of JustClean, live from the Seamless Conference in Riyadh. Athbi shares the innovative journey of JustClean, a marketplace revolutionizing the offline laundry sector in the GCC. We delve into how JustClean aggregates laundries into a single platform, offering users the convenience of s...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Frederic Levy-Perrault, CEO of Alraya Supermarket, to explore the challenges and opportunities of bringing e-commerce to the Saudi grocery market. Alraya, a 31-year-old supermarket chain, is known for its unique presence in the western part of Saudi Arabia and its pioneering approach in smaller towns. Frederic discusses the tra...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Rob Silsbury, VP of E-commerce at Alshaya Group, to explore the dynamic landscape of e-commerce in the Middle East franchise sector. We delve into Alshaya's transformation from a traditional bricks-and-mortar retailer to a digital powerhouse, managing 80 global brands like Starbucks and H&M across the GCC and MENA regions. Rob...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Tom McFadyen of McFadyen Digital to explore the evolving landscape of marketplaces. We delve into the marketplace maturity model, examining the transition from traditional e-commerce to platform-based models. Tom shares insights from his extensive experience in digital commerce, highlighting the shift from labor-intensive pipel...

Gen Z is taking over the consumer population and with that, social commerce is finding its way into the discussion for all commerce leaders. We spoke with Kapil Sethi at GMG about how they have evolved over decades to operate a global omnichannel experience for a number of brands. Listen in to learn about their bet on the growing health and wellness industry, how their logistics cater to both a B2...

Lals Group is a GCC retail brand that operates a diverse portfolio of home-grown and franchise brands. With co-host Lina Gallagher, I spoke with Dharmendra Mehta who leads the e-commerce business, and offers his insight on the current market and the key learnings from helping to grow the e-commerce channels for both furniture and children’s clothing brands. Listen in to learn about their journey f...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Muhammad Rehan Qadri, CIO of Khaadi, to explore the intricacies of building brand trust in new markets. Rehan shares insights into Khaadi's journey as Pakistan's largest fashion apparel brand, with a presence in the UK, UAE, and Qatar, and shipping to 20 countries. We discuss the impact of e-commerce in Pakistan, the challenges...

Is it too late to join the ecommerce party? According to Curt Anderson from B2Btail, it's just getting started and now is the time to get in on it. Curt is a legend when it comes to ecommerce for B2B manufacturing and together, we had a great conversation about how companies can find what sets them apart and capitalize on it. Listen in to learn how to find your niche, the importance of a strong ne...

At Seamless Saudi Arabia, we had the pleasure of speaking with Muzzammil Ahussain, EVP at Seera Group, about their travel sector and how they’re bringing the entire regional industry to the forefront of modern travel and commerce. Seera Group has expanded on the possibility of omnichannel travel purchases and guidance to bring new travelers to Saudi Arabia as well as help locals travel abroad. Lis...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Ronny Froehlich, co-founder of GoldenScent, to explore the burgeoning e-commerce landscape in Saudi Arabia. Recorded at the Siemens conference in Riyadh, Ronny shares his journey from Germany to leading the Middle East's largest online perfume retailer. We delve into the unique challenges and opportunities of launching an e-com...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Julian Lee, the founder and CEO of Airmee, to tackle the complexities of last mile delivery. As e-commerce continues to expand, the demand for efficient delivery solutions grows. Julian explains how Airmee integrates into e-commerce platforms like Amazon, offering fast, transparent, and reliable delivery options. We delve into...

A frequent speaker in the retail conference circuit, Kate Ancketill joined us to discuss all the latest in the retail world and what’s to come in the future. What are some brands that are doing innovation and experimentation really well? How can companies begin to explore the metaverse? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and learn about the omni-fulfillment revolution, how the fourth...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Brett Sinclair, founder of the B2B Commerce Association, to delve into the complexities and challenges of the B2B market. Brett shares insights from his 15 years in the industry, highlighting the unique dynamics of the Australian B2B ecosystem. We discuss the shift from B2C to B2B focus among vendors, the impact of COVID-19 on...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Mark Baukmann from Gastrohero to explore the fascinating world of e-commerce in the industrial kitchen equipment sector. Mark shares insights into how Gastrohero has evolved over the past eight years, expanding from heavy-duty kitchen appliances to a comprehensive range of professional kitchen supplies. We discuss the shift fro...