Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf

Luxury fashion brands have historically relied on relationships and in store experiences with their VIP customers to sustain and grow business. Now with the impact of COVID and the changing expectations of the next generation, luxury brands have had to adapt to evolve to stay ahead of the curve. We spoke with Nisreen Shocair from the YOOX NET A PORTER GROUP in the Middle East about how the brand a...

If you have a car, it’s very likely that you’ve used a Caramba product. We spoke with their CEO, Reiner Eckhard, about the 250 billion and growing automotive aftermarket industry and how they manage B2B and B2C revenue streams with sights set on D2C as well. Listen in to hear about how Tesla and other electric cars are forever changing the market, how Amazon can be your ally, and why the quality o...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Kaan Dönmez, EVP of Digital Channels at Vakko, to explore how the metaverse could revolutionize the luxury fashion industry. We delve into Vakko's rich heritage and its unique approach to luxury retail, balancing tradition with innovation. Kaan shares insights on the challenges and opportunities of bringing a luxury brand onlin...

Did you know that one of the largest toy companies in the world only recently launched their D2C experience? How does a brand so rooted in the brick and mortar experience tackle such a shift? We spoke to Elise Pogliano at Mattel during Shoptalk to discuss their journey into a digital ecosystem. Listen in to learn about their expanding entertainment franchise, recent retail innovations to look out...

At Shoptalk, we spoke with Richard Hurren who is leading the Levi’s DTC strategy for one of the most iconic brands in the world. For a retail brand that has been around for over 150 years, how have they been able to benefit from selling on multiple channels while still investing in brick and mortar? Listen in to learn about this as well as how they’re meeting consumers where they are, what bottlen...

At Shoptalk, we spoke with Anna Farberov from PepsiCo Labs, a team within PepsiCo that’s focused on solving big problems by leveraging startup technology. Did you know that PepsiCo has one of the largest fleets in the world? What about the fact that they work with farmers to implement the latest in waste reducing technology? Listen to hear about how they plan to have a carbon neutral fleet by 2040...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Balki Subramanian from Mars to explore the company's transformative journey from wholesale to direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategies. We delve into how Mars, a global leader in confectionery, pet care, and human food, is adapting to the evolving market landscape. Balki shares insights on Mars' digital demand initiatives, emphasizi...

At Seamless Dubai, we spoke with Apoorva Kumar from the Jumia Group about the E-Commerce ecosystem in Africa. With Jumia being one of Africa’s leading internet ecosystems, we discussed the differences of each African country and how this contributes to the region's growth and E-Commerce development. Listen to learn more about the impact of the high-cost of infrastructure, why payment is the next b...

At Seamless Dubai, we spoke with Sayed Habib, Director of Business Development at Danube Home about how they manage to provide customers with everything they could possibly need to make their dream home a reality. Listen to learn more about their omnichannel strategy, the importance of convenience versus experience, and why other players might fail when trying to come into this region.

In Stockholm, we sat down with Stephan Waldeis who is leading the D2C commerce business for Husqvarna, one of the world's leading gardening brands. Listen in as we follow their customers' D2C journey, learn how partners are becoming an increasingly important part of the ecosystem, and how a global company like theirs chooses different E-Commerce approaches for different regions.

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Mustafa Bartin from Migros Turkey to explore the dynamic world of ultra-fast grocery delivery. Mustafa provides insights into Migros Turkey's pioneering role in online grocery shopping, having launched their online operations back in 1997. We discuss the competitive landscape shaped by ultra-fast delivery services like Getir an...

It seems like every brand is using influencers. But what if you could instead, turn your customers into brand ambassadors and stay true to your company value of authenticity? That’s what Julie Mathers and team decided to do with the major Australian brand Flora & Fauna. Listen to learn more about how they used social media to get those first critical customers, why in-person events are still so im...

Food delivery is an industry that exploded during COVID and while we thought the market would be saturated by now, new companies continue to pop up left and right. We spoke with Christoph Liefländer at Just Eat Takeaway, one of the longest standing and one of the biggest when it comes to online food ordering. Listen in to hear about how they partner with restaurants to help better their businesses...

In episode 73 of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with entrepreneur Nalla Karunanithy in Dubai to explore the dynamic e-commerce landscape of the Middle East. We delve into Nalla's journey from his early days at Rocket Internet to his recent role at Majid Al Futtaim Retail. Nalla shares insights on the rapid growth of e-commerce in the region, driven by giants like Noon and Amazon, a...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Ritz Steyter, the digital e-commerce director for Electrolux in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. We explore why your next washing machine might be rented rather than owned, as Electrolux pioneers the appliances-as-a-service model in Singapore. Ritz shares insights into Electrolux's strategy for entering new markets, empha...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Nick Johnson from Applico to explore the intricacies of launching a B2B marketplace. We delve into the concept of modern monopolies, as discussed in Nick's book, and the evolution of platform business models. Nick shares insights on how companies like Amazon and Alibaba have leveraged these models to dominate the market. We als...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Mitch Bittermann from Dubai CommerCity to explore the innovative FreeZone concept. Mitch shares his journey from Asia to Dubai and explains how FreeZones offer tax benefits and a one-stop-shop solution for brands entering the Middle Eastern market. We delve into the unique ecosystem of Dubai CommerCity, which includes office, s...

If 60% of all ecommerce purchasing takes place on marketplaces like Amazon, how can a brand succeed with their own direct-to-consumer channel? We spoke with Simon Bertschinger about namuk, which produces high quality and long living outdoor clothing for kids, and their D2C strategy. Listen in to hear about how they’re transforming their business from manual to software driven, how they’re choosing...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Kartik Bhatt from Sharaf Retail to explore their strategic shift from brick-and-mortar to e-commerce. Kartik shares insights into Sharaf Retail's expansive operations across 14 geographies, covering fashion, lifestyle, electronics, and more. We delve into how Sharaf Retail leverages an omnichannel approach to connect online and...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Sam Hörbye, co-founder of Olsam, to explore the dynamic world of Amazon brand acquisition. Sam shares his journey from working at Amazon to launching Olsam with his brother, Oli. We delve into the challenges and opportunities of competing with Amazon, particularly for mid-to-high-priced products. Sam explains how Olsam leverage...

How do you feed the planet with as little impact on the environment as possible? Julia Luscher from Tetra Pak joined us to discuss how the global company is focused on making food safe and available everywhere while reducing its impact on nature. Listen to learn more about their B2B marketing strategy, the importance of a circular economy, and why your milk carton might soon have AR components. Ta...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Niels Kuschinsky from Carrier to explore the future of grocery stores and the evolving role of commercial refrigeration. Niels shares insights into Carrier's transformation from a hardware-focused company to one that integrates digital and IoT services. We discuss the increasing demand for refrigerated goods in supermarkets, dr...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Sanjay Aggarwal of Spice Kitchen to explore the fascinating world of spices. Sanjay shares the unique origin story of Spice Kitchen, which began as a retirement hobby for his mother and has grown into a thriving business. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in the spice market, particularly the stagnant nature of superm...

The promise of robots has been around for decades and while the home helper robot is an idea consumers are more familiar with, incorporating robots into more B2B and B2C situations is something that we have yet to see truly unfold. In this episode, we chatted with Julian Bröcheler at ABB Robotics about how robots can help to fill labor shortages, the benefits of robots in our daily lives, and what...

In this episode of Commerce Talks with Alexander Graf, I sit down with Steve Dennis, author of Remarkable Retail and founder of Sageberry Consulting. With over two decades in the e-commerce industry, Steve shares his insights on the evolution of retail, from the early days of e-commerce to the current marketplace wave. We discuss the challenges legacy retailers face in adapting to digital transfor...